Arvium

13: Arrival

The gentle swaying of the long train car was the only reminder that Aella was speeding toward the Game Center.

The Arctic Circle was a strange place to stick a capital. But the clean energy from the volcanoes below the ice did well enough to keep the biospheres and life support working to create a warmer climate with abundant plant life. Only the high-speed bullet trains could traverse the high tracks above the snow and ice surrounding the city, ensuring intruders had a hard time gaining access. And it did make the Capital look pretentious, sitting alone at the top of the world.

The Game Center was in its own biosphere several deca miles outside of the main Capitol biosphere, and would be her home for the duration of the Beta Game. She would arrive in the center's media hall to allow the media and camera crews to gain pictures and video interviews of the players before they entered the Game Center's restricted area.

She leaned her head against the metal-paned glass window, watching the glittering diamonds of glaciers and black shadows of caverns of the ice below the speeding train, stretching far into the dusty horizon. The sunlight reflected off of the craggy needles and sloping frozen waves in prisms, sending shards of light flashing across her line of sight. It had been the same view for three hours, only occasionally interrupted by penguins or a polar bear. Sometimes the ice had broken to reveal navy water below the glaciers. Here and there fuzzy seals were lounging in the summer sun, glad for the little warmth they could receive.

She sat in the back corner, where it was quieter from the hustle and bustle of the other thirty players who were eating their meals. Her own bowl of soup and crusty slice of bread steamed in front of her, the smell enticing her to eat. Once she reached the Game Center, she would have to eat to keep her strength up, but until then she could go without.

Her hand aimlessly wandered over the dress she was wearing. She didn't like this one. She wanted the easy, flowing dress she had worn to the celebration last night. This one was confining and though the color, vivid red, looked good on her, she felt like she couldn't breathe. Chloe would be mingling with all of the other players, learning all about them. Chloe had loved it all—the game, the Capital, the Founder. This is who I am now. But it feels wrong, as if I'm watching someone else walk around in my own skin.

She turned back to survey the car. There were fourteen cars in all—twelve of them were filled with up to twenty-five players, followed by a dining car and a control car at the front. She sighed as Fox walked up to her, carrying a plate and glass. He sat down on the booth across from her, and grinned as he arranged his food.

She stared at him, her eyebrow raised. "May I help you?"

He shook his head. "You're sitting all by yourself."

"That was the general idea."

"Hey," a girl's voice piped up.

Aella glanced above Fox's head to see Seashell sticking her head over the booth so her chin rested on the scarlet plush fabric.

Fox drummed his fingers on the table, drawing Aella's attention back to him. She leaned back in her seat and watched as he glanced around the dining car before turning back to her.

"So, are you excited?" Seashell said.

"Excited for what?" Aella answered, looking up at her.

"The game, of course. What do you think of Bringer of Death and Prince becoming the Legend at the same time? I didn't think it was possible. The High Council was formed to make sure the situation doesn't happen again."

Aella hung her head, seeing the blue crystal glow of her necklace glow against her skin in the early morning light. The girl was so cheerful it made her want to cry.