All That Glimmers Isn't Gold

Nine

Marvel

"I going to make sure you win tomorrow," I said, sitting down across from Glimmer. She was sitting in the windowsill looking out at the celebrators.

She glanced at me, then back out the window. "Marv, I can't ask you to do that. Games are played. Deaths are planned. You're going to win."

I shook my head. I scooted over next to her and wrapped my arms around her. She didn't think she could win. I had believed in her this long, I knew she would make it out.

"Glimmer, you are so strong. And courageous and you morph into what people want you to be. So do this for me."

"What is it?"

"Win. And if it comes down to the two of us, I will take my own life so you can reign victorious."

A clear teardrop rolled down her cheek, and I smoothed it away with the rough pad of my thumb.

"I want you to win. For me, Glimmer."

She nodded and leaned her head on my shoulder, letting out all of her emotions at once, sobbing away her pain.

"These games have changed me, Marvel. I don't know what to do anymore. If I win, my identity belongs to the Capitol. If I lose, I'm a lost memory."

"Glimmer, there's a reason why I like you, you know. Even now in the worst of times."

"Why's that?" She asked.

"Because you're beautiful. The Capitol won't change that, they won't change you. Your natural beauty is what's inside. The Capitol just changed what's on the outside. But you're still the caring, nice, gorgeous girl I've known since we were kids. When Dash, Codley and I walked from the center to my house, I looked back and saw a carefree girl driving away. You can't tell me that you used to have fun and laughed, because I know you did. I was there."

"That girl can't be me anymore, Mavel."

"But I know she's still you. These games haven't changed you, you've lead yourself to believe you've changed. You're still amazing."

Glimmer snuggled into my shoulder a bit more. "Thanks, Marvel."

~~~

Glimmer

"Give me your arm." An attendant said.

I looked over at Cato who was now getting an injection in his arm. It seemed like it stung at first as it went in, but Cato flexed his arm to get some feeling back into it.

An attendant came to stand in front of me and said the same thing the other said to Cato, "Give me your arm."

I hesitantly moved my arm to her hand, and she took it quickly and injected something into my arm. It stung just a little, but left no mark.

"What is that?" The girl from 12 asked.

"A tracker." One of them said.

A tracker? What would they track us for?

Marvel caught my eye and mouthed, "The arena." I nodded in understanding then sat back in my seat. Pretty soon, the lights dimmed out, and I heard one of the attendants say, "We are getting closer to the arena."

I let out an unsteady breath and closed my eyes, slowly opening them. It was game time.

"You aren't scared are you?" The guy across from me smirked. I recognized him as the boy from 10.

"No, because its your ass that I'll slaughter first." I snarled back.

"Tributes, leave it to the arena." The attendant said.

I rolled my eyes and closed them again. There was a sudden jolt, signifying that we had touched down. I quickly unbuckled the seat belt and stood up.

As soon as we got off the aircraft, I was escorted inside a building by two peacekeepers. They led me inside a room, where Dharma was sitting, back straight, one leg over the other, hands clasped in her lap.

"Glimmer, you look lovely this morning." She stood and took me in her arms. "Good luck in the arena."

"Thank you," I said quietly.

Dharma handed me a jacket and helped me slip it on. It was only an outer layer, nothing to keep me warm or anything. Its hood had drawstrings on it, and there were two pockets to put my hands in.

"I know its nothing, but its something." Dharma then handed me a pair of boots. I sat down and began to lace them up. They were tight fitting, but had excellent support. The black leather was dulled and worn already, a sign they were somewhat broken in.

"These are good quality boots, I know you're going to be doing a lot of running. And they are very comfortable."

I nodded and walked over to the tube that slid up to the arena. My heart was pounding in my chest. The first obstacle I would face would be the bloodbath.

Marvel may not make it out alive.

I may not.

I stepped into the tube after the monitor on the wall said "5 seconds."

The walls closed in around me, and I could feel my breath getting shakier and shakier. The tube rose up to a light above me.

The light of the arena surrounded me, blinding me. I closed my eyes and then opened them. I slowly regained my vision to see the giant cornucopia sitting in front of me. My eyes first landed on the skiny bow and quiver of arrows nestled right inside the opening.

I then looked to see where Marvel, Cato, and Clove were standing. Marvel was 3 to my left, Cato was 7 to my right, and Clove must have been on the other side of the cornucopia.

The giant numbers illuminated on the cornucopia counted down how much time left until our sudden doom. Or, in Cato, Clove, Marvel, and mine's case, how much time we had to regain our composure and take over the cornucopia.

5.

4.

3.

2.

1.

My legs took me off the plate I was standing on and race towards the cornucopia. I made it there before anybody else, and I immediately grabbed hold of the bow and arrow.

Someone was already racing towards me, and a flash of fear shown in his eyes as the arrow was launched from the string.

My first kill was the boy from 10.