Post by Talia Zinten on Aug 5, 2013 19:44:09 GMT -6
The chair under Talia was luxurious, with a leather covering that seemed to emanate its own warmth in stark contrast to the manacles on her arms. She watched as a screen descended from a hidden panel in the ceiling.
"I presume I will not be partaking in an interview this evening." Raising an eyebrow, she looked across the desk at President Snow.
"After your last stunt with the demonstration? I should think not." He replied, "But don't tear out your braid, my dear. The folks at home won't be missing you." The leader of Panem gestured toward the screen, which flickered on to reveal the end of Adriana's interview.
"Our next tribute, hailing from District Three: the Wild and Unpredictable Talia Zinten!" Caesar Flickerman stood and shook hands with ... Talia.
The real Talia's mouth hung agape. There she was, on the screen in front of her! Her long braid doubling back for a beautiful cascade effect to match the flowing black dress draped on her shoulders.
"Pretty good likeness," Mused President Snow, eyeing her reaction. "From the same team that makes my body doubles, think we found her in District 11. Nobody'll miss her, I'm sure."
"Salutations, Mr. Flickerman!It is wonderful to see you again." It was Talia's own voice that came out of her doppelganger's mouth.
"Well same here, Talia! Let's get down to what everyone is dying to know: You’ve got both friends and enemies in this game. How can you know who to trust out there?" Flickerman's smile seemed to leap from his face onto Talia's.
"In our predicament; trust is scarce, Mr. Flickerman. I will put faith in two things: My enemies to hunt me now, and my allies to hunt me tomorrow."
The real Talia understood now. Cameras and microphones must be surveilling every corner of the training center. Snow smirked at her from across his desk.
"Think you're the first tribute to rebel during the games?" He scoffed. On the screen, Caesar continued the interview.
"Talia, Tell us about the friends you have made here in the training center. What drew you to them and what's going to happen to that friendship in the arena?"
"When this entire affair began, I was with Quinn in the transport from our district to the Capitol. Since then, he has been inordinately cheerful and outgoing to every tribute we have met!" The fake Talia bubbled.
"But when the doors open, other alliances that have been amassing will dominate the field. Anyone that finds themselves alone will be fodder for large groups of tributes. I do not intend to be in that predicament."
Talia slumped into the leather chair, defeated. Her last moments before the world were stolen from her, replaced with a lie that nobody would uncover.
"Little girl, you must understand by now. The noose is already around your neck."
Talia's composure was crumbling. There she was, beautifully waving to the crowds with a huge smile on her face. The lie she would never be able to live.
"We aspired toward equality!" She yelled, her voice cracking. "My family was starving every night as we constructed electronic toys for other people's children!"
"So your friends conspired to destroy a factory. A production plant for cameras, I believe." President Snow chuckled, opening a drawer within the desk. "How ironic that we caught an image of you providing the scouting role with those very cameras."
Talia's eyes were welling with tears. That explained everything, from the new electronic reaping-lottery to how she was chosen despite being twelve and not having applied for tesserae like the other children. She forced herself to look up toward President Snow.
"And Quinn? Was he selected from a fraudulent drawing like me?"
"Of course, my dear! Mr. Watson is brilliant enough to eventually discover one of the many food production techniques we use in the Capitol." Snow retrieved an engraved bottle and popped it open. The sweet smell of wine filled the room. "Obviously we cannot allow this, as District Three must remain hungry to be controlled."
"So like me, he has no opportunity for survival." Talia bristled, regaining her composure as anger replaced despair.
"If he wins, he wins. Provided he seeks to not continue persuing discoveries detrimental to the nation's stability, he will be happy."
"But why expend this much effort?" Asked Talia. "Why the intricate deception?"
"You should know that answer, Talia. We cannot hope to quell unrest by executing a girl of twelve for standing on a street corner and a boy of fifteen for being too intelligent.
Now, enjoy your last night with your future executioners. I look forward to hearing which final words you'll choose from that rich vocabulary of yours!"
Talia was wheeled out of the room, still manacled to the luxurious chair, oblivious to the tears streaming down her face.
"I presume I will not be partaking in an interview this evening." Raising an eyebrow, she looked across the desk at President Snow.
"After your last stunt with the demonstration? I should think not." He replied, "But don't tear out your braid, my dear. The folks at home won't be missing you." The leader of Panem gestured toward the screen, which flickered on to reveal the end of Adriana's interview.
"Our next tribute, hailing from District Three: the Wild and Unpredictable Talia Zinten!" Caesar Flickerman stood and shook hands with ... Talia.
The real Talia's mouth hung agape. There she was, on the screen in front of her! Her long braid doubling back for a beautiful cascade effect to match the flowing black dress draped on her shoulders.
"Pretty good likeness," Mused President Snow, eyeing her reaction. "From the same team that makes my body doubles, think we found her in District 11. Nobody'll miss her, I'm sure."
"Salutations, Mr. Flickerman!It is wonderful to see you again." It was Talia's own voice that came out of her doppelganger's mouth.
"Well same here, Talia! Let's get down to what everyone is dying to know: You’ve got both friends and enemies in this game. How can you know who to trust out there?" Flickerman's smile seemed to leap from his face onto Talia's.
"In our predicament; trust is scarce, Mr. Flickerman. I will put faith in two things: My enemies to hunt me now, and my allies to hunt me tomorrow."
The real Talia understood now. Cameras and microphones must be surveilling every corner of the training center. Snow smirked at her from across his desk.
"Think you're the first tribute to rebel during the games?" He scoffed. On the screen, Caesar continued the interview.
"Talia, Tell us about the friends you have made here in the training center. What drew you to them and what's going to happen to that friendship in the arena?"
"When this entire affair began, I was with Quinn in the transport from our district to the Capitol. Since then, he has been inordinately cheerful and outgoing to every tribute we have met!" The fake Talia bubbled.
"But when the doors open, other alliances that have been amassing will dominate the field. Anyone that finds themselves alone will be fodder for large groups of tributes. I do not intend to be in that predicament."
Talia slumped into the leather chair, defeated. Her last moments before the world were stolen from her, replaced with a lie that nobody would uncover.
"Little girl, you must understand by now. The noose is already around your neck."
Talia's composure was crumbling. There she was, beautifully waving to the crowds with a huge smile on her face. The lie she would never be able to live.
"We aspired toward equality!" She yelled, her voice cracking. "My family was starving every night as we constructed electronic toys for other people's children!"
"So your friends conspired to destroy a factory. A production plant for cameras, I believe." President Snow chuckled, opening a drawer within the desk. "How ironic that we caught an image of you providing the scouting role with those very cameras."
Talia's eyes were welling with tears. That explained everything, from the new electronic reaping-lottery to how she was chosen despite being twelve and not having applied for tesserae like the other children. She forced herself to look up toward President Snow.
"And Quinn? Was he selected from a fraudulent drawing like me?"
"Of course, my dear! Mr. Watson is brilliant enough to eventually discover one of the many food production techniques we use in the Capitol." Snow retrieved an engraved bottle and popped it open. The sweet smell of wine filled the room. "Obviously we cannot allow this, as District Three must remain hungry to be controlled."
"So like me, he has no opportunity for survival." Talia bristled, regaining her composure as anger replaced despair.
"If he wins, he wins. Provided he seeks to not continue persuing discoveries detrimental to the nation's stability, he will be happy."
"But why expend this much effort?" Asked Talia. "Why the intricate deception?"
"You should know that answer, Talia. We cannot hope to quell unrest by executing a girl of twelve for standing on a street corner and a boy of fifteen for being too intelligent.
Now, enjoy your last night with your future executioners. I look forward to hearing which final words you'll choose from that rich vocabulary of yours!"
Talia was wheeled out of the room, still manacled to the luxurious chair, oblivious to the tears streaming down her face.