The Hanging Tree. *ON HOLD*

Chapter Ten ~ Breakfast

Chapter Ten ~ Breakfast 

After I had finished my mini meltdown I made my way toward the Training Centre that would house my family and I right up until the Games began. The Training Centre stood tall and proud, unaffected by the long ago rebellion, however some construction was done as soon as Snow became President. District 13 had to stay somewhere. I sighed, not particularly willing to go up and see Althea’s disgust and my family’s disappointment. But I was drained and I really needed to sleep so I walked in trying to put a bit of my old cheeky, confidence into my stride but it was hard enough walking because I was so exhausted. I kind of just gave up and ended up dragging my feet to the lift. I punched the number 12 and I felt myself being lifted upwards. The lift was made out of crystal so that you could see everyone down below. As I went up and up they seemed to shrink into the size of the beetles that Ollie and I used to collect. I felt a pang as I remembered Ollie’s handsome face, knowing I may never see it again.

The doors opened onto a huge open space with sofas and comfy chairs scattered around the room. I noticed Althea dozing on a sofa. Her vibrant orange hair lay on a pillow behind her and I was shocked at how young she looked without her eccentric make-up caking her face. She couldn’t be much older than me, maybe 20, 22 years old, no more. Her skin was still inked with the night-sky but she looked so innocent and normal.

Not wanting to wake her I crept past taking my shoes of at the same time. I looked down and was shocked that my elaborate costume Terragon had made for me was still in one piece after everything that had happened. I yawned, real wide, I tried stifling it but it was almost impossible so I didn’t bother. I heard Althea stir and I sprinted through the first door I found. Luckily enough no one was in the room and a new made up bed was in the middle of the room. I walked over to it and collapsed onto it not bothering to even change into pyjamas; I just shut my eyes and drifted off.

The next morning I was left to sleep, but my growling stomach woke me up. I had completely skipped dinner in the aftermath of the events of last night; my eating patterns were becoming completely messed up. I glanced across to my bedside table on which a small electric clock lay. 9:13. I sighed stretched my limbs out and rubbed my sleepy eyes. I swung my feet over the edge of the bed and looked down at my legs. I was still wearing my dress from last night. But now it was a lot more crumpled and it looked like there might be a tiny tear in the ‘wing.’ Oh well. Terragon probably wasn’t going to use it again anyway. I decided to take a quick shower before going to grab some food because my hair was entwined with salty tears and my eyes were red and blotchy. I turned and there were two doors next to each other but with enough space for a mirror to be mounted in between them. I couldn’t imagine why I would need two doors but I walked through the one on my left and found out soon enough. In front of me was a wardrobe with the most clothes I had EVER seen in my entire life. Dresses, trousers, skirts, tights, t-shirts, shirts, jackets, shoes, everything you could possibly imagine, all this big room. It was at least twice the size of my room at home and probably twice the length. I stood there a while just gaping, my mouth open. I shut my mouth after a bit and noticed a control panel which lay to the left of me on a shelf. I picked it up gingerly. It was light, thin. I pressed a button on the side which I assumed was on and a low buzzing started to issue from it. I waited a few seconds before the screen came alive. It had a light background with black writing saying, ‘What would you like to wear?’ By this time I had completely forgotten my hunger and my need to get clean. Instead I was awe-struck with this strange little device. I managed to find my voice and said quietly.

‘T-shirt and urrr comfortable trousers...’ Nothing happened for a few moments so I repeated myself enunciating all my words and pronouncing all the syllables, loud and clear. All of a sudden a rack of clothes came flying out further down the room and I stepped gingerly towards them. There in front of me was a tight white t-shirt and a pair of soft blue jeans. I smiled, real big.