The Factions' Fall, Book 2: The Faction Games

Chapter 4

We boarded the small train the Eatons provided all at once, Alec and I quickly sitting in the two seats closest to the back. "So, you ready?" Alec asked quietly, his hand sliding into mine. "Yep, and I'm fantastically excited. I've never been to the Capitol  before, but I'm also nervous because we don't know if Jeanine is plotting or not..." I sighed, shaking my head. Alec smiled at me, kissed my forehead. "It'll be fine, I'm sure," he said, squeezing my hand reassuringly. I looked around at the other tributes, trying to read them as I had the day we arrived at the medical facility; Annora looked as crafty as ever in a white gown with a black sash, true to the Candor faction. "We'll want to be wary of her in the arena," I said to Alec, who nodded, pointing out Anarchy and Jax. "Them too. I think they've got the idea of allying with each other." I nodded, worrying at the bracelet that held either my saving grace or my death sentence- not that the games weren't. I sighed softly, resting my head on my boyfriend's shoulder.

I started talking without even thinking. "You know my dad used to call me Princess. It's one of my favorite memories... anybody who looked at family photos could tell I was a total daddy's girl, and he loved us all so much, but he had a real soft spot for me. My favorite memory is when I was about four- he'd gotten off work early that day- and when he came in, I ran to him, yelling 'Daddy! Daddy!' and he scooped me up, and he said, 'There's my princess!' I've relived that one whenever I can't sleep- for some reason it helps." Alec rested his head atop mine, and I could almost feel his smile. "Maybe it's your dad saying goodnight or singing a lullaby." The train came to a silent halt as I said, "Yeah. Let's go; I don't want to miss anything." We walked onto the platform to loud cheering and the flashes of cameras, microphones thrust into our faces, and people chanting various names of the tributes. My arm was looped through Alec's as we smiled and waved with our free hands. A group of men dressed in black with guns gleaming in holsters at their hips loosely formed a barrier around us, the first saying, "We have been assigned to guard you as you make your way to the Capitol Building. It's not a long walk, but the reporters and civilians will swarm if given the opportunity." Alec and I glanced at each other in concern but hurried to keep up with the guards' brisk pace. It was like fighting our way through quick-drying cement because of the crowd. At one point, the first guard pulled out his gun and shot at the sky in order to create a path, which allowed us about thirty seconds before the waves of people again surged. Finally, we made our way to the front steps of the Capitol Building, and I marveled at the structure.

Having wanted to be an architect as a child, I had read about various styles and where each originated. The Capitol's columns were Corinthian, a type where the top is elaborately sculpted, and each was engraved with the symbols of each faction. Amity was represented by a tree practically overflowing with fruit, Abnegation by one hand clasped around someone's wrist, as though helping them up from a cliff they were about to fall from. Candor was shown with a set of scales, the side of truth much lighter, Dauntless by a brightly burning flame, and Erudite by our watchful eye. Jeanine and Marcus, dressed in dove gray, stood at the top of the steps, doing just as my boyfriend and I had done, greeting the people. "Tributes, welcome! Come inside, if you will, and we'll be right there," Marcus said, and so we obliged, waiting inside the entrance hall. 

The marble floor and stone walls echoed our footsteps as I looked around. The vaulted ceilings were painted with a blue sky and puffy white clouds, and I fondly recalled my days as a small child, James and I pointing out shapes we saw. Shaking myself out of my memories, I glanced around at the decor. Small, well-placed side tables flanked a velvet sofa, one sporting a lamp with an ornate glass shade, the other a vase of fresh roses. "I hate roses. They're deceptively beautiful, but they hurt," I muttered, and Alec smiled. "Just like you. I'm gonna go sit down," he said, and as he moved toward the couch, he tripped and knocked the vase over. The glass shattered everywhere, water splashed onto his suit, and several tributes (Anarchy included) screamed.

 Marcus rushed through the door, shouting, "Tributes! What's wrong?" Alec, sopping wet and looking sheepish, said, "I'm really sorry, sir. I was going to sit down and lost my balance, and crashed into that vase." Marcus blinked, asking if he was all right. "Yes, sir. I'm just soaked, that's all." The co-leader of New Chicago nodded. "What's your name, son?" My boyfriend ducked his head and replied, "Alec Yeoman. It's a pleasure." Marcus nodded. "Serafina Hayes- you're, ah, involved with her, correct?" Alec smiled, "Happily, yes. May I wait with her somewhere for the suit?" He looked a little taken aback but finally said, "Yes, but you'll be supervised. We have something you can wear for those ten minutes." Alec thanked him as an attendant went to get the garment, and I looked at him. "You did that on purpose," I said quietly. "Yes, I did," he replied evenly. "Why?" Alec smiled. "You hate roses. And this will give us a chance to talk to Nolan." The orange-clad attendant returned with a robe in hand, passing it to Alec and pointing him to the bathrooms. I recognized him as the one who'd brought me to Jeanine- Edward. "My father knew you." He looked over at me and touched the eyepatch he wore with one hand. "He's the reason I have to wear this thing. It was a butter knife he used- not even a proper blade. Couldn't keep up in the faction after that- I left, stayed with the factionless. Evelyn was good to me, helped me. I plan on returning that favor. I don't like you in the slightest, but-" he held up his wrist, where a plain black wristband rested. "I'm in the FFM. Watch your back; there are eyes everywhere."

Alec came back in five minutes, the robe wrapped around him, glanced over at me, then at Edward. "It's fine. He's on our side," I told him, and although he seemed wary, he relented. "Okay. Nolan, you there?" The same tiny blip from before came from the bracelet, and I said, "Just a quick heads-up, we're going in about five minutes. Edward has agreed to keep an eye on us in case we need help. Good?" Nolan replied, "Good. Remember, two taps equals emergency. Be prepared for the worst, but hope for the best." Then the line went silent.