The 'Flower of Panem' or 'The Angel of Mercy', Seraphine Reza is the jewel and pride of Panem. One of their most treasured victors in the history of the Hunger Games and a favorite of President Snow.
While she smiles, comforts and plays her part ev...
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Every single year, crowds would gather at the Capitol station like bees. Every single year, the poor workers would have to say a silent prayer for the object of their insane actions and themselves.
Yet, it would not be a complete lie for some of those that worked there, whether as cleaning staff or selling train tickets, they too wanted to catch a live glimpse of the newly crowned victor.
Seeing the newly crowned victor of Hunger Games at the Capitol train station was almost a tradition. Some would even try to touch the victor, believing it would bring them luck, not the annoyance or ire of the victor.
Some would try to talk to them, asking them of their journey and how they won. While others would scream out their devotions while chasing the victor each step along the way.
It sounded terrifying to Sera. Strangers that she had never met chasing her down to get a glimpse of her or touch her were nightmarish. She would rather go back to seeing Gene's phantom than experience what Emilia was telling her. She felt like she was going to be an exotic animal being transported back to her natural habitat.
Emilia had pulled her aside for a moment and warned of the crowd but most of all of those that blindly followed the new victor, star struck by their presence for no reason whatsoever.
"There are some odd ones in the Capitol, those that worship victors. Do be wary of them, they might try to touch you or pull at your hair if they manage to get close enough." Emilia had said while looking around, checking the two were alone from prying eyes and curious ears. "I'm afraid, it may be worse for you since you were too kind in the arena."
She didn't understand then what Emilia meant. Seeing the look of confusion, Emilia pulled her closer and lowered her voice to a bare whisper.
"You see no one has ever acted as you have, true or faux kindness. It was...refreshing to say the least." That was all the escort had said. She did repeat her warnings once more and warned her to be careful of her own words.
Words had power.
Now that her face was known all over Panem, she had to be careful of her image. Emilia had emphasized this quite clearly even before her departure day. She had told Sera time and time again that Sera should be careful with her words as some may use it to attack her while some will hang by every word she said like blind worshippers.
It was strange knowing that to some she was considered an idol or god-like but to others she was a mere form of cheap entertainment.
A lump formed in her throat as she swallowed bitterly. Like these people Emilia was warning her of, she too was human. The only difference was that she didn't have the luxury of simply treating the games as games. Perhaps it was that notion that set her and the rest of the victors along with the rest of Panem apart from these people.
"Children, calm down!" A mother dressed in a bright orange dress with feathers and jewels pulled her children back as Peacekeepers passed through, leading Sera and her party to their destination.
