One Fell Swoop { A Banana Bus / Hunger Games Story }

Chapter Three - Welcome To The Capitol

The train ground to a halt and Craig's hyperventilation started up again. They have arrived in the Capitol. Tyler and Craig were escorted off the train by their mentor and two peacekeepers. Craig inhaled at the vibrancy that burst in front of his eyes.

Women with towering hats and long eyelashes painted black and white. Men in suits with strange swirling patterns and jarring colours. Dresses and skirts fluttering flashes of rich purples and greens and golds. Children chasing each other with silver-tinted plastic swords, swinging and stabbing at one another, feigning death. They were mocking him, Craig thought, they were mocking him and the tributes, making the games seem like innocent child's play.

"Craig, keep up," their mentor, Diana, said. She motioned her hand in a 'come here' fashion. Craig picked up his pace and soon he was falling in sync with Tyler. They were walking so close together that their arms were brushing each other, sending jolts on electricity through Craig. Craig swung his hand away from Tyler's, instead grasping his opposite elbow.

They weaved through crowds of unassuming people, people going about their daily lives with families and children, shopping or smoking as they stroll. Every so often, a couple or a group of friends would stop and point, excited to see the tributes from District 3. Why would they root for District 3? District 3 does not usually have a high chance of winning. Then Craig spotted two girls, one pointed at Tyler while fanning herself, thank god Tyler didn't see them. Ah, they were attracted to Tyler, that's why. Of course they wouldn't be cheering for Craig, who cares about a stick of a man going into a death match?

"Craig, Tyler, stop here," Diana commanded, stopping the pair in their tracks. They had reached a huge arena like building and they were at the gates leading into the backstage areas.

"This is where you separate. As you know, tonight there will be a parade of tributes, and beforehand you two will be split to be groomed. Afterwards, you will reunite with matching costumes and enter the chariot which will take you around the arena. Everyone will be watching, make yourselves presentable, even hold hands, people from the Capitol love that kind of stuff," Diana explained considerately.

She entered the building with Tyler and Craig on her heels. They twisted and turned through hundreds of corridors before stopping right in front of a metal door with a sign above it reading "District 3".

"This is your stop, once you enter there will be separate rooms with your names above the door, enter your room and be civil towards the groomers, they are just trying to do their job. I'll see you two before the parade commences." With a click of her heels, Diana turned and strutted away.

Tyler and Craig looked at each other reassuringly before entering the room. They each made their way to their own doors, on opposite sides of the room and entered. Two men and a woman were in Craig's room, all eying him like a fresh piece of meat.

"Ah, I thought it was only male tributes this year," one man remarked, smirking. The woman laughed.

"Come here, lad, we've got to make you look like a star in the next two hours before your designer, Florence, arrives," the third man stated, gesturing for Craig to lie down on the metal table. Here goes nothing.

***

Brian couldn't breathe. However, this was not from nerves or fright or anger at the Games, this was from awe. Awe at the Capitol and all it's quirky citizens. Of course Brian loathed the actual people, they never protested the cruel Hunger Games, in fact, they encourage it with their bets and cheers. The people are rancid, vile, and morally corrupt.

However, Brian couldn't keep himself from staring at every inch of them. The people wore bold, clashing colours that contrasted with their pale skin. Many had tattoos, piercings, facial surgeries, body enhancements, and Brian even spotted some more extreme examples where people had implanted objects into their skin to give it more texture. The children were running around, screaming and laughing, and their parents were sitting nearby not reprimanding them for their disruptive behaviour. If Brian had acted like that in District 10, he wouldn't have lived to even be eligible for the Hunger Games.