The next morning, they arrived in the Capitol. Any attempt of hiding awe was futile. It was dazzling. Wealth and excess. Splendor. The embodiment of the Capitol Even this train station gleams. Everything gleams, overly bright. The colours look like candy. Beautiful music drifts through hidden speakers. The citizens are well-dressed and well-fed. And attentive. They stop to wave at the pair (The arrival of a Tribute Train is a very big deal around here). Adults, kids, waving at them like they were celebrities.
Helena puts on her best smile and waves at them enthusiastically, leaning out of her window to do so, and the crowd eats it up. Cole just nods his head at them and holds Helena, making sure she doesn't fall head first out of the train.
Moments later, Haymitch and the two escorts lead the two junior celebrities through the station, weaving through crowds of people. Ambrosia held onto Helena's hand as the girl took in this entire new world. They passed by a Virtual Newsstand. One face appeared on Dozens of the I-Magazine Covers: "Seneca Crane - the genius behind the Hunger Games." A face Helena thought to remember.
A girl passed by, a few years older than Helena... with two healthy parents,
The pair were just introduced to their first restaurant, ever. A clean place where families eat... as she and Cole were driven down the biggest street in The Capitol. Think Emerald City - but with a sinister underbelly. The colours are heightened and saturated. The architecture is immaculate. People are grinning. But it all feels synthetic. "Now I know where all that coal goes." The boy from District 12 muttered as he followed the group.
"Let's get you two cleaned up. Your presentation to the Capitol is today." Ambrosia spoke. "No one's going to sponsor you looking like that, Cole. Not with that rugged look." He looked offended at the escorts' comment. "I mean, some people like their men on the rougher side." Effie giggled, glancing towards Haymitch. They then stood face to face with the remake centre. An industrial, sterile building, glistening white amongst the cityscape.
They were brought inside before being separated and stripped. The stylists began scrubbing Helena down, and it felt like his skin was on fire. Once washed, they scrubbed her skin with an exfoliating scrub. By the end of the scrubbing process, her skin was red raw. They lay her down on the table before covering her from head to toe in an aloe vera and gold leaf cooling gel before rinsing her off an hour later.
"Could I get a robe please, it's cold?" She asked politely. The stylists cooed at her cuteness and gave her one of the fluffiest robes they had.
Helena's hair was washed, dried, and cut straight before the stylists got to pampering her. Her nails were shaped and painted nude on both her finger and her toes. Her eyebrows were plucked, and she received a leg massage whilst her teeth were whitening. "You know what, I think I prefer the younger tributes." Venia spoke. "Yeah?" Flavilus asked. "They are less hairy, more polite, and they have just the sweetest faces." She replied. "Oh, I agree completely. This one is just the cutest." Octavia chimed in. Eventually, they all stepped back.
"Right, we're all done here, doll. We're just going to get Rosier." Flavilus stated. With that, the three of them left.
Helena was left alone, admiring her nails. Then she noticed she was being watched. Three stories above this room, visible through its glass ceiling, fifteen people were looking down at her from an interior balcony - each of them sipping a cocktail.. The Gamemakers - studying the Tributes in each Prep Room without expression. Helena observed them, unnerved and feeling violated. Her privacy invaded. "You must be Helena." She heard a voice speak. Turning around, she came face to face with a man who looked like he was made of snow. His skin and hair were white whilst his eyes were a strikingly icy blue. Rosier.
"We must seem cruel to you. Despicable even." He spoke. He seemed decent, unaffected - even his voice. But still, Helena was wary. "I would say that there is no need for you to be afraid, but here you are abducted, in a place so alien to you." His voice was whimsical and calming, not haughty like the Capitol accent. "I'll be your stylist - which means I'm here to help you survive. Are you hungry?" Rosier asked, pressing a button on the side of a table. Immediately, a platter of fruit appeared on the table. "I'm scared." Helena replied reflexively, touching Rosier. "I know." He responded, providing a little bit of comfort to the girl. He smiles warmly. That fast, a trust begins to grow.
Helena made her way over, observing the fresh food. It looked mouthwatering, a variety of berries unlike the ones in the forest and large vibrant coloured fruits. She began to graze on the fruit as Rosier took her measurements. "I shall be back momentarily. Please enjoy your fruit." He said before leaving.
When he returned, he brought a dress bag with him alongside some undergarments. "How'd you get stuck with District 12? I know y'all hate it." Helena asked as she munched on a piece of mango. "They lack imagination. Lena, I asked for District 12. I wanted the challenge, and not because I like those stupid coal-miner outfits the Tributes from Twelve always get presented in. Right?" Rosier answered. He might just be sincere. Human. He seems to be it. They sit. "I have an idea, but it's going to require you to trust me a little. Can you do that?" Helena nodded. "Are you afraid of heights?" He asked. It was one of her minor fears.
Underneath the remake centre, Helena was wearing a gorgeous dress that looked like hot burning coals. It had decorative chains around it with large poofy sleeves. It was also rather heavy due to the golden band around her waist. Her hair was styled into a crown with red roses sticking from it. Cole wore an outfit of a similar design. Each of them wearing a chain headdress. Upon each of Cole's shoulders sat large shoulder pads. "So Helena, Cole will be lifting you onto his shoulder. Afterwards, press this crystal." Rosier said, pointing to a large ruby. Helena nodded in acknowledgement as they boarded the chariot that was being drawn by four horses.
The two stood side by side as the chariot moved into the wide boulevard. The lights and the screaming from the people of the Capitol were blinding. Helena only hoped that the plan would go well. Cole took Helena's hand and raised it up, showing unity, and the crowd loved it. The crowd blew kisses, calling out her name now: "Lena! Lena!" It gives her an odd feeling of hope. A citizen threw her a red rose. She caught it and sniffed before waving at the crowd.
Halfway down the boulevard, he hoisted her onto his shoulder, and the crowd went. She pressed the ruby and was in awe when the golden belt around her waist unfolded into two golden wings, like a canary. Additionally, Cole and Helena's outfits appeared to be glowing like embers. The crowd loved it. Helena sat on her perch on his shoulder, smiling and waving to the people of the Capitol. Cole smirked and looked up at the girl. She was having the time of her life, and he decided then and there that he would do anything to protect her smile.
A broadcast was playing at the same time. Claudius Templesmith was doing play-by-play live. He had a special guest that evening: Seneca Crane. "Tell me, Mister Crane. What are you looking for at this point in the proceedings? What characteristics in a tribute catch your eye?" He asked. "I'd imagine I'm looking for the same things bettors look for: athleticism, intelligence. Except my goal is to deliver a great event, as opposed to picking a winner." Crane replied. Claudius laughed. "That you do, Sir. That you do. Your Games can always be counted on for great drama and breathless pace! And even on those rare occasions when they hit a slow patch, we know we can count on you to liven things up - when appropriate, of course." He said.
"Now, now, Claudius. Don't go starting trouble! You know that my Gamesmakers and I would never do anything to influence the outcome of The Games." Seneca stated with a dry chuckle. "Just now and then! Only now and then! " He laughed before getting distracted. "Dazzling display tonight from District 12; the crowd certainly seems taken with it. And Helena, the youngest of our tributes and star of the show at the minute." Crane smiles. "Yes, the biggest bought of popularity District 12 has had since the Quarter Quell. Sad to say."
"Hopefully, she'll be the picture people remember from The Reaping - as opposed to Haymitch Abernathy's stumbling drunkenly on to the stage!" Claudius laughed. "Frankly, that's something I wish hadn't been aired. The Games are meant to be family entertainment, after all." Seneca stated grimly.
The Tributes reached the Hall of Justice at the end of the parade route, where they were greeted by the president. Helena dismounted from Cole's shoulder, but he held her hand in reassurance, feeling as it trembled. A shiver went down Helena's back as President Snow locked his cold eyes on her. "War, terrible war. That is why we are here." He began his speech. "For the Widows, orphans, and all the lives lost in the act of rebellion. Thirteen districts rebelled against the country that fed them, loved them, and protected them. Brother turned on brother until nothing remained. And then came the peace, hard fought, sorely won. A people rose up from the ashes, and a new era was born." He looked out across the people of the Capitol before returning his gaze to Helena. "When the traitors were defeated, we swore as a nation we would never know this treason again. And so it was decreed that, each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice. This is how we remember our past. This is how we safeguard our future." The people of the Capitol broke into applause, cheering.
Snow raised his hands, silencing the crowd. "And so, our dear tributes, we welcome you. We salute your courage and your sacrifice... and we wish you... Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour." The people cheered once more, celebrating their favourite annual event. With the wave of a hand, Snow dismissed the carriages. They continued through the streets of the Capitol until they reached the training centre.
After the parade, the doors to the catacombs of the training centre close as Cole and Helena and last to enter. They hop of the chariot and shimmy out of their outfits like strippers disrobing backstage at a nightclub. Rosier passed them both some warm pj's. "That was wonderful! Wonderful! I knew there was a pretty girl under there somewhere! And you too, Cole." Effie said, her heels clattering and echoing in the catacombs. "Let's get you both headed to bed." Ambrosia smiled warmly.
They got into the elevator. "Each district gets their own floor. We get the penthouse." Haymitch explained. As the elevator lifted them higher and higher to the lobby.
"This is the Training Centre, your home sweet home until the Games begin!" Effie said excitedly. "Breakfast at seven, training
during the day; at night, you'll be making appearances. Do either of you have any special skills?" Ambrosia asked as the group walked. "Skills?" Helena questioned. The place was teeming with Support Staff -
to clean, to bring towels, etc. Something odd about them, though. "A talent that might be of use in the Arena. Anything." Effie spoke. "I don't know. I'm good with survival skills." Helena shrugged. "And Cole is strong. He used to push carts full of coal in the mines." She added.
"As you can see, there are Avoxes all over the Training Centre. They're here to make your stay more comfortable. So don't hesitate to -" Effie spoke. "Avoxes?" Cole asked. "Avoxes are criminals of the State, traitors. They work - and they don't bitch - mostly because their tongues've been cut out." Haymitch explained. Helena's eyes widened in shock and she felt sick to her stomach.
They rode the elevator to the top floor of the complex.
Dinner was waiting for Helena in her room. On a silver tray: steak, rice, salad...and a scoop of ice cream. She smiled and mentally thanked Ambrosia before tucking in. The flavours of the dish were amazing, the steak was perfectly tender, and the salad had a nice crunch to it. Then she tried the ice cream, it was cold and sweet but also creamy and it hurt her brain when she ate too much, but it was delicious. After finishing her dinner she settled down before falling asleep.
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