Голодные игры

           It’sbecauseyouhavenochoice.

           IstartlewhenIcatchsomeonestaringatmefromonlyafewinchesawayandthenrealizeit’smyownfacereflectingbackintheglass.Wildeyes,hollowcheeks,myhairinatangledmat.Rabid.Feral.Mad.Nowondereveryoneiskeepingasafedistancefromme.

           ThenextthingIknowwe’velandedbackontheroofoftheTrainingCenterandthey’retakingPeetabutleavingmebehindthedoor.Istarthurlingmyselfagainsttheglass,shriekingandIthinkIjustcatchaglimpseofpinkhair-itmustbeEffie,ithastobeEffiecomingtomyrescue-whentheneedlejabsmefrombehind.

           WhenIwake,I’mafraidtomoveatfirst.TheentireceilingglowswithasoftyellowlightallowingmetoseethatI’minaroomcontainingjustmybed.Nodoors,nowindowsarevisible.Theairsmellsofsomethingsharpandantiseptic.Myrightarmhasseveraltubesthatextendintothewallbehindme.I’mnaked,butthebedclothesarcsoothingagainstmyskin.Itentativelyliftmylefthandabovethecover.Notonlyhasitbeenscrubbedclean,thenailsarefiledinperfectovals,thescarsfromtheburnsarelessprominent.Itouchmycheek,mylips,thepuckeredscarabovemyeyebrow,andamjustrunningmyfingersthroughmysilkenhairwhenIfreeze.ApprehensivelyIrufflethehairbymyleftear.No,itwasn’tanillusion.Icanhearagain.

           Itryandsitup,butsomesortofwiderestrainingbandaroundmywaistkeepsmefromrisingmorethanafewinches.