Chapter 1: Girl on Fire

With dinner out of the way it was now time for the highlight of the evening’s entertainment at Everdeen’s. As the house lights dimmed and a drum-roll sounded the waitresses, all dressed as Katniss, moved to their allotted open space between the tables.

“Who will it be tonight who has to run the trial?” Called the compère. “Have you bet on the right Katniss, Have you bet on her endurance?”

The drum-roll continued building the suspense. Brandi was relieved she had managed to get the ‘Girl on Fire’ outfit. It was such an expensive prop that it was so rarely used, having only been used once since the restaurant opened.

There was just as much trepidation from all the waitresses as to what would happen. They knew what was to come if they were chosen, but did not know who it would be.

The drums built up to a crescendo and then Brandi’s heart sank as the spotlights shone on her.

“A big round of applause for Katniss 33!” Called the compère.

The audience clapped.

Brandi heard the ignition fire under her skirt and felt the heat as the flames started to lick her ankles. As she had trained she started to pirouette on the spot, spinning her skirt out as wide as it would go, spotting on the compère and his minute timer clock.

“So who bet on Katniss 33? I know some of you have, and we have had bets on forty seconds, fifty seconds, and even the full minute!” Said the compère.

Brandi continued to spin. She knew that she must look gorgeous with the flames under her skirt, but a whole minute was a long time to keep spinning. Brandi noted the timer which showed that just five seconds had passed, and already the heat was starting to build under her dress. The flames were not just licking her ankles - she could feel the heat on her knees already.

Brandi winced as she felt a flame on her finger tips. She needed to keep her arms in to spin as fast as possible, but did not want to burn her hands. As she spun she gingerly bent her arms at the elbows so her hands were above the tips of the flames.

“Ten seconds. She’s doing well don’t you think, doesn’t she look pretty, another round of applause!” Said the compère whipping the audience up into a frenzy.

The audience clapped again.

Brandi knew her dress was now burning. She could feel the charred fragments of melting fabric falling on her feet. She dared not try and kick them away, instead just intently concentrating on spinning, watching the timer hit twenty seconds as the flames started to lick her elbows.

“Twenty seconds. She’s doing well. I think someone might be winning their bet here tonight. Another round of applause please for Katniss 33!”

The audience clapped again, louder than before, taken with the excitement of Brandi battling the fire.

The heat began to get much more intense. Brandi was finding it hard to breathe with the wisps of smoke making their way into her lungs. She could feel her elbows burning as if they were now completely consumed by the flames but she dare not look down to check for fear of losing her balance. Unable to stand the burning pain on her elbows Brandi thrust her arms out wide and put more effort in to spinning to try and keep up the momentum.

“It is a long while since we have had a girl on fire here at Everdeen’s, but hasn’t it been worth the wait. Looks like she is going to last to thirty.” Said the compère.

Brandi wondered why the clock seemed to run so slowly. Time was time, and she knew there was a theoretical chance of lasting the whole minute, but the heat was building under her skirt she could feel the skin on her thighs burning.