I look out at the sea of faces. Some jeer, some wink or hollar. I blush in modesty. I move my hands lower, almost as if to cover myself with the thin strip of chain. It is the only familiar clothing I've got left; they took the rest from me when I turned 18 last night, but as the descendant of a conquered people, I've never been allowed to move through the city without chains before. My pale skin, unfamiliar with the sunlight, appears to reflect it off of my skinny form.
I get up to the platform and there is a man I have never seen before. He takes my chains from me, a sudden coldness on my wrist. That moment of freedom immediately ends when he grasps a fistful of my curly blonde hair, lifting me to my tiptoes. I know better than to raise my arms to fight it. The pain makes me let out a soft whimper, and i hear a roaring from the crowd. They wave fistfuls of bills, all well-dressed and some drunken. He fastens my arms to a fixture overhead, as if I'd flinched, and I'm almost insulted. When they took me from my home, they said everything would be well for my parents and brother if I cooperated. I know that they will kill them if I do anything to resist, so i want to show my enthusiasm, do the best I can to protect them.
He introduces me as a "fine specimen" and I'm flattered. He keeps using the word "pure" and I don't understand what he means. He keeps mentioning how small I am, but describes me as tight. I've never heard a petite girl described that way before, and i think people in the capitol have funny language.
He brings the microphone up to my mouth and asks, "You ever cum, honey?"
I want to ask where, but I don't want to sound dumb so I assume.
"No," I answer, "I've never come to the Capitol before."