Aunt V fitted the lace to her face with gentle hands, adjusting the eye holes so Daisy could see comfortably and tying the ribbons at the back of her head. Daisy’s heart raced as she adjusted the ties, her fingers close to where the locket hid.
“There.” She stepped back and grinned. “Shall we join the others?”
When Daisy emerged from the dressing rooms, the windows had darkened with the sky. Her breathing became unsteady. It was finally happening.
The sitting room was controlled chaos. Tributes in gowns of every color filled the space, their faces hidden behind masquerade masks as they stood nervously, waiting for the festivities to begin.
She spotted a few male tributes, but the women far outnumbered them. “Are there female hunters?” she asked as Aunt V walked beside her.
“There’s one that I know of. But most of the hunters are male.”
“One woman for five stags?”
Aunt V chuckled. “No, darling. The stags are for everyone. You’ll see.”
Her lips parted, but Aunt V was calling out another safeword drill to the room before she could respond.
Daisy found Maggie by the windows. She barely recognized her in the emerald gown with an open back that plunged to the base of her spine. Her dark hair had been swept up in an elaborate twist, and her mask made her enormous eyes look even larger.
“Daisy?” Maggie’s voice was uncertain. “Is that you?”
“Barely.” Daisy laughed, the sound strange and brittle. “You look stunning.”
“I was going to say the same to you. My God… This day has been utter insanity.”
She was grateful to have someone who shared her experience. Otherwise, she’d mistake it for a dream.
A woman in a white lab coat approached with an IV stand. Daisy stepped back, and her smile faltered. Lab coats had a way of making her stomach drop.
“I’ll need your arm.”
Daisy tucked her hands behind her, taking another step back. “Why?”
Her hesitation drew Maggie’s concern.
“For energy,” the woman in the lab coat explained. “It’s a mixture of vitamins and electrolytes.”
“Is it required?”
“It’s highly recommended. I suggest you take it.”
Daisy looked around the room at all the tributes getting hooked up to IVs.
“What do you think?” Maggie looked up at her, unsure.
Trust no one.
She shook her head. “I’ll pass.”
“You’ll regret that,” the tech said, without pressuring her.
Maggie held out her arm, and the woman swabbed the inside of her elbow. A second later, she was hooked to an intravenous energy drip.
When they were alone again, Daisy asked, “What does it feel like?”
Maggie shrugged. “A little cold. Nothing compared to that thing they stuck up my arse earlier. What an ordeal that was. I hope I never have to look at that man again.”
Daisy laughed.
