Crown Jewels: Cashmere's Story

Chapter 8: Mirror Mirror On the Wall

I see one thousand reflections of myself.  

Green eyes. Blonde hair. Vanilla skin. All trapped in a thousand different shards of glass. 

I am everywhere.    

60. 59. 58. 

This year's outfit is unlike anything I've seen before. Black, sturdy lace up boots that rise to my calf. Black pants. A bright red tailcoat atop a shot white blouse. Black cuffs embroidered with gold trim. 

47. 46. 45. 

I nearly laugh at this costume they're putting us in.  All 24 of us dressed like ringmasters. What a spectacle they're making out of this. 

 36. 35. 34.

Everything except my podium is glass.  I'm surrounded by three walls, and in front of me, a long hallway stretches. It tapers off into something I can't see on my right. The ceiling, the floor (with the exception of my podium) are also mirrors.  

21. 20. 19. 

Mirrors. Something I've been surrounded by my whole life. This is a mirror maze. And I need to find my way out of it.    

10. 9. 8.  

The games really are beginning. This is it! This is what I've been waiting for! I can already imagine winning! The post interviews, the fame! Seeing mom and dad and Gloss. Seeing Amethyst and all my friends back home. 

But you won't get to see Jasper. 

"Keep your eye on the prize," I whisper to myself. "You are running a circus, after all." 

3. 2. 1.  

Before I know it I'm sprinting down the hall, my 1000 reflections doing the same. I manage to narrowly avoid crashing headfirst into the mirror at the end of the hall, and skid to the right. 

I meet a dead end as I turn left, silently cursing. Seconds mean everything in the games.  I keep running down the halls, making a left and reaching....a tent. 

A giant, humongous tent striped red and white. The cornucopia.  

I spot Sakura a few feet away, who gives me a darting glance but disappears into the tent with Aidan.    

I follow, kicking up a large cloud of dust. In the middle of the tent is a large pile of supplies. Red and gold backpacks. Large water canteens. A first aid kit. 

Never mind those, I think.  Rose is getting supplies. Barley water. Poseidon first aid. What I need are the weapons. 

When I lunge to snatch a glittering knife belt, I can't help but notice the peculiar styling of all the weapons.  The knives are almost comically large, with golden brass handles and slightly curved blades. 

I find a knife vest as well, but the same girl I fought against in Training wants it too. 

We grapple for it, and I throw a punch at her to distract her. When her eyes flit away momentarily, I draw a knife from my belt and her blood spills onto the vest. 

Out of the corner of my eye, a snarling Beatrix is making a gory mess on the floor. In her hands is a whip, and the lashes ring out across the tent like a wet rag hitting cement. 

I hear something whistling and suddenly pain explodes across my left shoulder in multiple places. 

And it's Aidan, wielding what looks like a spiked juggling pin. Right. Just an act.  

But I don't think it's an act when he swings again and narrowly misses my head.  My knife is at his head but then I hear Marshall whoop,"Cannon ball!" And know I must get out of here.