I wake to Iris shaking my shoulder. "Wake up! Come on, it's almost time for your private session!" At that I jerk up, and am about to run straight out the door when I suddenly feel wobbly. And sweaty. What exactly do I do when I'm asleep? I sit back down on the bed, clutching the comforter for support. Iris gives me a concerned look and sit next to me. "What's going on, Piper?" she feels my head with her palm. As if looking for a fever. "I... don't know. I was fine earlier. Maybe just nerves?" She looks at me for a long moment then says "Probably nerves. But you can't let those show. This is your last and final chance to impress the Gamemakers. If we had caught whatever this was earlier we might've been able to get you a calming med or something..." Gee, way to rub it in lady. I try to stand again. I wobble, but I manage to stay upright. "I'm fine. Really. I just need a minute to collect myself." Iris watches me for a moment and I try to look like I'm holding it together. She gives me a time look then leaves. As soon as she's gone I pull the crumpled piece of paper from inside my shirt and stash it under my mattress. I stumble into the bathroom and splash my face with some cold water. It helps. I make quick work of making myself look presentable. I pull my hair back and knot it in a ponytail, I try to scrub my face so I look less like a sea monster who's been swimming in her own sweat, which does get some of the work done but I still look a little shriveled. I stand up tall and put on my best "game on" face for the mirror, it makes me feel a little better. I quickly brush any stray flint from my front, and triple check my anklet to make sure it's in place. It stays. Whatever Alexis did to get this made was worth it. I hope she knows I'm thinking of her. I head out the door and find Iris at the dinner table with Dior. He looks better. More presentable, but theres still something off about him. I guess looks can't do it all. Iris looks up and says "Follow me." I look around. "Where's Thorn?" "He had to take care of something." I follow Iris down a hallway, where she stops and says "In here. Wait until your name is called, then only speak when spoken too, and show 'em that Twelve isn't something you want to mess with." I nod and walk down the rest of the hallway and into a room filled with tributes. I catch Rosemary's eye and am about to say something to her when a voice interrupts. "Aurelia Beauport, District 1,” I watch as the b**** struts passed me and into the show off room, as I had named it. I try to catch Rosemary's eye again but she seems to have zoned out. Instead I make eye contact with Arbor, who gives me a look somewhere between a glare and a smile. What is his problem with me? I'm trying hard to be nice, like a worthy ally. But he doesn't seem to want me. I semi-consciously watch Districts 2-6 walk in, and then Seven is called. "Rosemary Fraser, District Seven." She doesn't seem to register at first, as if she had dozed off or something, but after Arbor nudges her with his shoulder she stands and heads toward the show off room. I try to meet her eye, to give her thumbs-up or something, but her eyes never meet mine. It seems like no time and all the time in the world has passed before I hear my name. "Piper Ivory, District Twelve." Thats it. Thats my name. I stand and walk towards the exit. It's very bright when I enter the show off room, I shield my eyes while my eyes take it in. Theres knives for throwing, paint and mud for camouflage, and so much more. I turn to face the Gamemakers. A tall lady with a tight white bun looks me over. "State your full name and District." I sound like the shell of a human when I say "Piper Ivory. District Twelve." She nods then says "Any skills?" I think, then say "I'm a decent knife thrower." "Demonstrate." So I do. I pick up a knife and throw. It hits right in the chest. I throw again. And again. And again. Until I've practically run out of dummies. I turn around and see everyone watching me with a strange look on their faces. Pity. They feel sorry for me. I don't know what it is, but something in me that has been giving way for days now finally snaps. I spot a pot of red paint near the Gamemaker stands and throw my knife at it. It explodes with a CLANG, and splatters the Gamemakers in red. I take in what I've just done. I just defied the Gamemakers. Their authority. Their power. I can feel any chance I had in these games fading by the second. I look down at some of the paint that made it onto my hands. My anger is fading, but not before I turn, look the bun lady in the eyes and say "Happy Hunger Games." And without a sound, I strut out of the room, wondering what I've just done. Then I answer my own question. I just sentenced myself to death.
