Everything was kind of a blur between our arrival in the Capitol and when I found myself sitting at table, watching the young thing that came with me devour pancakes as if she's never seen them before. It was as if I completely blacked out. One minute I was strapped in, the next I was in a pair of jeans that weren't mine, a grey vintage tee that definitely wasn't mine, and stuffed into some boots that I actually really liked. A knife and fork in my hand, my plate was already full of food - steak and eggs to be exact. I blinked and there I was, in the middle of some fancy room with a girl who was the last piece of the district I left behind. Fucking weird, right?
Before long, the silence was broken by a group of fairly... well, some of them were downright odd, while the one male in the front of the pack was really quite average. He offered a wave to the girl I came with before nodding to me in a more manly fashion. Joining us at the table, I quickly assessed those around me, making immediate assumptions and judgements, as I usually do, but reminding myself that I still had plenty to learn about these strangers. The thing that I found most odd, however, is that no one really introduced themselves to us... not that I had bothered to do that either. The girl and I still hadn't really spoken to each other, so what did it matter if I was less than concerned about doing the same with these people?
Settling in, I could tell everyone was very nervous about what could happen next. The room quieted when the blonde one stood up and introduced herself to us, along with her partner in crime. What came next was only half-shocking, as I expected the twist to be revealed at this time. But the fact that we all had gifts? Powers? Growing vines, seeing the future? I swallowed hard, feeling suddenly uneasy about the words Persephone and Ewya were speaking. Half-bloods? What the actualy fuck was a half-blood? I sat up in my seat, trying to make sense of the rubbish they were spewing. Gods of Olympus? Mortals and affairs and... what? Nothing made sense to me, especially when they mentioned that some of us already knew about this.
They were vague, as if they weren't explaining this to a group of kids who probably didn't even know what Olympus was. As smart as I was, I had no knowledge of this place. Of course, one can only really learn what is taught in schools or books, and some subjects are hard to find information about. Many of the tributes shouted, screamed, demanded answers but were all immediately silenced by the Game Makers. I needed answers, more information, but I wasn't about to riot to get it. I sat back in my seat, knowing that at some point I'd have to get someone alone long enough to explain everything to me.
The sound of whispers caught my attention and I looked over to find the same average looking man from earlier consoling the girl I'd come with. His name was Colin, and her's Marlee, that was as much as I picked up from their exchange. That and something about him being our mentor. I didn't know him at all, I was only familiar with Holland Gage, Six's only victor in the 25 years that the Games had been running. But this guy, he was much older than she and definitely struck me as odd. And yet, he wanted Marlee to trust him, he probably wanted me to trust him, too. And as much as I really wanted to ignore him, I found it impossible to do so.
Within minutes, he was seated next to us with little Marlee perched in his lap. One of the girls that had been in the audience jolted out of her seat, rising up to the stage. Her aura shined a bright blue and she walked as if she was possessed, something I was all too familiar with. On stage, she seemed to be hypnotized, or channeling something from the mummy looking thing that I nearly forgot about. Spouting some nonsense, she sealed our fate as tributes and warned that our kind would not be allowed to rise up and take control. I rolled my eyes, not buying the ridiculous spectacle that was taking place before my eyes. I knew the Capitol really liked to jazz things up, but this was on a whole other level. While Marlee was clutching to Colin as if he was life support, I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back, waiting for the show to end.
This was, without a doubt, the lamest and most ridiculous trick to play. And, ironically enough, by the way these other tributes were buying it, I was actually slightly impressed.
