100th Hunger Games

Chapter 5 ~ The Opening Ceremonies

(Rose's POV)

We arrived at the capitol two days ago. Mother is still unconscious, an egg sized bump where dad threw a small cat figurine at her. A mahogany figurine. The opening ceremonies have been postponed until mother wakes up.

It has been quite boring here actually. There isn't anything to do, but dad introduced Jackson and I to a game he and mother played on their last night before the Quarter Quell. We throw apples at the force field above the training centre roof until we get bored. Jackson and I have already agreed to form an alliance, we are still thinking about Fred. He doesn't know we have an alliance, so we don't have to have him as an ally.

I also spent half of the first night reassuring dad that it isn't his fault mother is unconscious, that he has no control over the venom. I wonder what Finnick must be feeling, all they said on the broadcast was they had to postpone the ceremonies, they didn't give an explanation why.

I'm quite worried about mother, she shouldn't have been out this long. The doctors say it's due to the fact her brain isn't fully healed from when Johanna knocked her out to take out her tracker in the Quell. And not to mention all the other times mother kept getting hit in her head.

'Rose, they can't hold off the ceremonies any longer'

Haymitch walks up behind me. He has definitely aged since 25 years, not that I was there to see him then, but I've seen pictures. The alcohol makes his skin yellow, and he hasn't slept in days.

'They are going to hold the ceremony tomorrow'

I nod, not that I can do anything about it.

'You might have to go into the games without a mentor'

That surprises me.

'But Haymitch she should wake up by then, the Games are held 1 week after the opening ceremonies, she seriously can't still be knocked out by then can she? It was only a small figurine!'

'Yes but your mother has gone through unimaginable pain, the more injury she does to her brain, the longer the brain takes to heal. It may be a small figurine but your father is quite a strong man, he really could have knock her out with anything'

I turn and walk away, ready to meet my stylist. The ceremonies are tomorrow, meaning I have to be prepped by my prep team.

I walk into the room and find 3 figures standing in front of a mirror. When they spot me they rush straight to me and start introducing themselves.

The first one is a small, skinny woman named Purlivia. She has a bright pink pixie cut that looks awful paired with her fluoro yellow skin.

The second one introduces herself as Vinetta. She has long, silky auburn hair. I have to stop myself from literally stroking her hair as it looks so pretty. She is quite tall and had violet stencil tattoos on her.

The third person tells me his name is Trojan. He is a plump man who has rich brown hair and green dyed skin. He seems quite jolly and keeps beaming. He reminds me of the hulk.

Immediately after we finish introductions my prep team get started. My stylist isn't allowed to see me until they are finished. They begin waxing me and I am trying not to let tears fall down my face. This is so far, the worst pain known to mankind. After all of my hair from my body is gone my prep team rub some oil onto skin. It stings at first but relieves my skin soon after.

'You're a quiet one aren't you?' asks Vinetta

'Yea, everyone else seemed to ask a whole lot of questions, the girl from last year was crying the entire time. It was quite annoying I must say' adds Trojan.