Uncharted Waters [1]

Chapter 18

That night, the two tributes were given an hour each with Finnick and Mags to learn how to properly deal with tomorrow's interview. They just had dinner, and while Destan was doing his session with Finnick and Mags, Mira took the time to take a long bath.

Mira watched as an Avox set up the bathtub, observing how she worked on the unfamiliar knobs and switches until bubbles were forming in the water. Mira smiled in delight at the idea of being immersed in them and skipped happily towards the tub, throwing a quick 'thank you' and a sweet smile to the Avox who helped her. Once the Avox left, she quickly emptied her clothes and got into the warm water full of bubbles that smelled like coconuts.

Mira closed her eyes at the familiar feel of being enveloped with water and smiled sadly. She couldn't help but think of home and the people she left there- how were they doing? Did they miss her? Did they think she would be coming back? The questions kept running in her head making it hurt.

She couldn't cry- Thalassa would kill her before she could even step into that arena if she would. Crying would make her eyes puffy, and puffy eyes aren't exactly advisable for a televised interview, which is one of the factors that could help determine one's survival.

It was crucial.

So, to avoid the tears spilling out, she took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and let the water erase her worries.

When Mira opens her eyes, she finds herself in an arena, wearing a tight suit and with other people whose faces are shadowed by the hot sun. From afar, she hears Finnick's familiar voice, and she instantly whips her head in the direction of the voice and sees his face contorted in fear. Her smile vanishes and is replaced by a look of confusion until she feels the ground beneath her moving, and before she knows it she is thrown into the salty water, struggling to resurface. Her body was being thrown everywhere, and she could only see the light from above the water as she felt her lungs burning up. It was only a matter of time until-

She was pulled out of the water.

"What do you think you're doing? Trying to find the easy way out sweetheart?" Mira struggled to catch her breath, coughing out water as her eyes adjusted to the sudden light. She came face to face with no other than Finnick Odair, who gave her a murderous look.

Suddenly feeling conscious about her current state when she remembered that she was naked and that most of the bubbles practically popped, showing everything she had to offer, her arms immediately covered her chest area and her legs curled up to cover the rest of her body.

"I'm naked."

"The hell you are- you're getting out of the water immediately." Finnick's jaw was clenched as he took a towel and tried his best not to look under the water by staring intently into Mira's blue eyes. "Well? Stand up."

"I'm nak-" Mira wasn't able to finish her sentence because Finnick quickly grabbed her by the shoulders and wrapped her body with the towel, not caring that her arms were also tucked inside of it.

She was left standing on the bathtub, with her arms inside the towel staring at Finnick's retreating form.

"Make it quick, you already wasted a lot of time."

Mira was quick to oblige, she didn't want to anger her mentor even more. Right after she changed into the comfortable set of clothes placed on the sink, she went out of the bathroom to find Finnick sitting patiently on her bed.

"Now explain to me why I almost found you drowning in the bathtub?" Mira bit her lip at the question and refused to take another step closer to her mentor as she shamelessly hung her head down.

"I fell asleep. I swear I wasn't trying to kill myself. I wouldn't give the Capitol a reason to harm you and everybody else." She heard Finnick's heavy steps until they stopped before her. She felt the heat from his body and his warm hands gently grabbing her chin until she looked into those beautiful green eyes again. It was as if he was searching her eyes for any signs of trouble, and was trying to make sure that she wasn't lying.

She was about to get lost in his eyes again when he suddenly dropped his hand and turned around. "That's good to know. We should start with your interview now."

They spend the next hour trying to find the perfect personality for Mira. Finnick kept on throwing her questions, and she had to answer them in a way that could make the crowd fall for her charms even more. Mags didn't bother to join them anymore since Mira and Finnick didn't hate each other's guts, unlike Destan and Finnick who didn't want to be in the same room together. 

"Innocence is good, but it doesn't quite match your face especially when you have makeup on. You have strong features and look mature when you are all dolled up. Your beauty is your asset, use it." Finnick said. "Be you, but the bold and confident you. Remember that," he adds.

Mira nods in understanding and a silence envelopes them. They were sitting beside each other on the bed, exchanging no words. That is until a thought crosses Mira's mind and lets her curiosity out.

"What happens if I die before the games Finnick?" She observes how Finnick pursed his lips making his dimple pop out before answering, "Usually the capitol prevents those kinds of things from happening. A tribute dying before entering the arena makes the games lose its purpose and so they do everything they can to keep the tributes alive- until they slaughter each other the moment that timer stops." He lets out a bitter laugh before looking at Mira. "You're lucky I got to you on time. I'm not sure how long you were underwater but next time be more aware."

"I'm sorry." She whispers, and the bed dips on her side. Finnick stands up from his place. "You should get some rest, you have a long day tomorrow." He says, leaving Mira alone in her room with her thoughts.

Mira's prep team was hanging over her in the morning, and they worked on her until late afternoon. They turned her skin into glowing satin, painted her nails and accentuated them with pearls and gems, and colored her eyes with the colors of the sea. One of the twins did her hair and peppered it with small iridescent pearls that shimmered in the light. 

She was staring at the mirror while Bythe was helping her put on the sea-stone earrings that matched her nails and eye makeup, when Nixie entered with a big smile on her face, holding the dress that she was going to wear, covered to protect its beauty from curious onlookers. 

"Close your eyes, my dear." 

And Mira does, as she feels the silken inside as they slip the gown on her naked body. She felt it was light and cool, especially in the chest area. Realizing that her full breasts were practically spilling out of the dress, she reached up her hand attempting to cover it more, but was stopped when a hand slapped hers away. 

"Show those assets, my dear. Do not cover them." Mira feels her blood rushing to her face as she dejectedly brings her hands back down and blindly steps into her heels, clutching onto Bythe's hand. She still had her eyes closed when she felt no hands touching her anymore. It was as if the room went silent and all pairs of eyes stared directly at her. She starts to feel uncomfortable with the silence and shifts her weight on one foot, until she feels cold hands on her shoulder and a hot breath behind her ear as Doris tells her to finally open her eyes, "Be enamored of your beauty, Mira Fairkin." 

She couldn't believe her eyes, because the woman- no, goddess in front of her, staring back from the full-length mirror looked ethereal. It was as if she was sent down from heaven. If she looked beautiful during the tribute parade, she looked as radiant and majestic as the glimmering sea. 

Her heels were silver and encrusted with pearls, matching the belt on her waist that defined her already thin waist. Her dress was light and flowy that changed colors with every movement and gave away an iridescent glow when hit with light, much like the theme from their tribute parade.  As expected, her breasts were practically spilling out of the gown, but looks rather appealing than she expected. Her skin was soft and glowing, and observing herself made a soft "Wow." escape from her pink-painted lips. 

"I know doll, we did a very good job." Bythe arrogantly declares sending a wink to the twins, who nod in agreement. 

"You look beautiful Mira." They say in unison. 

"Isn't she though?" Nixie steps up, holding Mira's shoulders as they look at her from the mirror. "You look radiant my dear." 

"It's because of your dress and the make-" 

"Nonsense. It's-" Nixie steps back before continuing her sentence making Mira turn around to face the people who worked on her as they all looked at her in awe. "-all you."