Bluebelle

My eyes are stinging and my legs, screaming. My body has completely been removed of all hair, except for my head. I think. They gave me some fancy Capitol anesthesia that put me under and I have awoke, crying inside with pain. Quickly, I flash my left hand to my head to find that although it has been cut up to my shoulder, I still have my soft brown hair. My stylist blurs into my vision and I see a young woman, with purple hair and gold tatoos running up and down her arms. She's smiling, with her unnaturally white teeth, and she looks kind of scary, but she can't be more than twenty. "Hi, Talia, I'm Gem, your stylist! I am excited to make that dreary District 7 a place to remember!" Dreary? Well, we don't make anything the Capitol can glue to their bodies, but still, we aren't as bad as District 12 was. I'm not so sure about Gem. She's looking for a response but I just smile and nod. Her smile fades a little as she stands me up fit me for my costume. "You're quite skinny, darling. We'll have to fix that!" Her Capitol accent is so prominant it's insane. She presses a button on the side of the couch and just like that, a huge tray appears with a thick stew with carrots and some meat that can only be some type of waterfowl, a bowl of fresh blue melon, and four different types of rolls. I gorge myself as Gem asks me some questions. "So, Talia, tell me something about yourself, so I can get a clear view of what to do for your chariot costume. Because, honestly, I don't have anything." She looks at me, waiting for a response, and I think. What I can I say that wont make me look like a fool in front of all of Panem? This is very important, if I want sponsors to like me. All I can think of is my motivation to win these games, which can make me seem weak, but it's the best I've got. " I live alone, with my sister Bluebelle, who lights my face up when I see her. She's everything I care about, and love her." I say as I look down at the blue melon, not daring to meet my stylist's eyes. "Well, then, Talia, I think I can get something from that." She has a sinister expression on her face and I don't know if I said the right thing. She walks out of the room slowly, and my prep team come in to do my hair and make-up. When I'm all done, it's incredible how amazing I look. My newly short, thick hair looks fabulous pulled back in a bun, and my body looks flawless. Just when I thought I couldn't look any better, Gem is walking in and immediatly pulls my dress over my shoulders. I'm expecting a tree, like they do with District 7 every year, but no. It's an incredible strapless, soft green gown with sparkles and a blue flower designs running up and down the front and sides. A bluebell bush. And suddenly, all my hatred of my stylist flushes out.

The Capitol Ride

I awake early in the morning, not wanting to miss a thing. Effie Trinkit, who seems more bright and bubbly than ever, after being slightly upgraded to a better district than 12, is knocking on my train car door, informing me of a "big big big day!" I quickly dress in a simple blue shirt and jeans, and brush out my long brown hair. I open the door to the door to the dining car, so see a tired Jonah, staring out into the seas of District 4 outside. He looks sad, not his bright, full of life face I see daily in school when I pass him in the halls. He's a year older, but he seems so much younger, with his begging, helpless face. I sit next to him and he manages to work up a smile."Hey." I just blush, trying not to get lost in his eyes. "Aren't you, um, excited to see the Capitol?" He says, being polite. I respond while looking out the window. "Oh, yes." But I'm not. I don't think I'll ever be excited ever again. "Me too." After that, we just continue our small talk as we stuff ourselves with Capitol food. We talk of school, District 7, the uprisings, neither of us wanting to talk about the Games. When we hear the train horn, we realize we've reached our destination, the Capitol. I look outside to see the shining Capitol everyone talks about. Its bright, with insane people walking around. I see neon green flesh. Hot pink spiked hair. Jewels are substitutes for fingernails. It's incredibly insane. But, it all goes by in a flash when Jonah and I are dragged into the Remake Center, preparing for the insanity that the people of the Capitol do to their bodies.

Jonah Green

I clutched onto Bluebelle and held back my tears. I couldn't stand it. I had to leave behind her, my friends, everything I ever loved. "Fight. Fight hard. I love you." She was crying as the Peacekeepers took her away. The last memory of her. Next it is Ileana, my best friend that says goodbye. I've known her since we were 8 years old. I met her when she was trading at the black market, swaping her brothers tesserae for some wool. She had her eye on my squirrel I shot and begged me for it. It was an albino, probably worth 10 times as much wool as she had in her hand. I gave it too her, with her hollow cheeks and ragged shirt. She was pitiful looking, and she looked alone. "Talia. Oh, Talia." She clutched on to my jacket never wanting to let go. "You're strong, known that since the day I met you." She wiped her tears away from her eyes. "Please try, please, Talia!" She continued to scream please as she was dragged out the door. Others from around town came in went in what seemed like a minute. Then, it was time to leave. Probably leaving forever. The train moved slow and seemed to drag on forever. Jonah was sitting on the side of the train car, looking out over the district as we left it behind. He was taking this hard, not communicating with anyone. I decided I should go out there, just to see him. I never liked him, not really. All the girls were completely head over heels. Ugh. Romance. "Hey." He stayed silent. "What arena do you think we'll be in?" Nothing. Finally he catched me by surprise. "We can do it, you know." "What?" I'm lost in his eyes. "Win. You and I." I don't understand. I mean, it has happened before, but I doubt after the uprisings anyone would let that happen again. "Jonah, I.." I start. He catches me. "The Capitol may think they have control. But there's always a loophole. I think you and I, Talia, just might find it." He knows my name? Since when? He isn't making any sense. I'm zoning off when the call from the attendant catches my attention, and Jonah puts his hand on my shoulder, and guides me in. Thats when I realize, I've liked Jonah all along.

The Reaping

It is a sad, cool day in District 7. I sit alone with my tea in my little house in the Seam. Today is the day of the Reaping, where they choose 1 boy and 1 girl to compete in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. It's scary, after the Quarter Quell (the 75th Hunger Games) last year, the tributes still unknown of their presense, or even if they are alive. And the previous year, where not 1 but 2 tributes, Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen, came out alive, and victorious. But unfortunatly, their rebellion against the Capitol has caused mayhem in Panem. So only 7 districts remain, they only ones that had the will to rebuild after the bombing. So 14, instead of 24 tributes will compete. I live with my little sister, Bluebelle, forced to take care of her after my parents have gone; gone far away to the now powerful District 13, where Bluebelle and I were left behind. I hear the anthem and get Bluebelle from her room. "Ready to go?" She's quiet, not even looking at me, gazing out the window at the stage where Effie Trinkit stands. "Talia, what if I get picked?" I stare at her, worried myself, but never letting it show. "You wont. You only have 1 entry, you're only 12." Its true, she really has no risk. But I do. At the age of 15, I have 4 automatic entries plus 14 tesserae. Thats 18. I grab her trembeling hand, and take her downstairs and outside into the Reaping. I release her into the 12 year old line, and I take my place with the other 15 year olds. Effie Trinkit is sporting a lime green wig and a ghost white smile. "Come on, take your places! Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!" I stand, cold and scared for Effie's next words. More scared for Bluebelle than myself, I look at her, not Effie as she pulls a name from the glass ball. "Talia Endonia." I stand in shock, only hearing the cry of Bluebelle. "Come on, don't be shy!" I walk to the stage, looking for people to take my place, but no one does. "Wonderful! Alright gentelmen, here we go!" She tosses her hand around a few times. "Jonah Green." Jonah. Jonah was a boy who everyone loved, honored, and as for the girls, loved. He stood up and stood next no me, and we avoided each others gaze. We were then led to the Justice Building to say goodbye to our family and friends.