“Olive!” Ember screams, running, and almost knocking me over with a hug. “You’re blonde!” She screams. I nod. “You’re leaving!” I nod again. 

“Em, stop shaking her. She’s traumatized enough,” Flint says with a smile, then hugs me. “We came to say goodbye.” Ember smiles and hugs me again, bouncing. 

“I’ll miss you,” She says, smiling.  

“I’ll bring you something cool from the capital,” I promise. Ember squeals, then hugs me a third time, this time tighter. She lets go of me and glances between Flint and I. 

“I’ll let you two have a moment alone for goodbyes,” She says, winking, and running off. I glance over at Flint, awkwardly. He shrugs, and pulls me behind a couple crates. 

“Flint, I told you, I don’t-” I sigh. “Have you told Ember what happened?” Flint shakes his head. 

“I’ve been saying to her that we’re dating for a while now, and it’s a little embarrassing to explain…” He trails off. 

“You can just tell her the truth. And if you want to date me, you should still try. I’m not sure it will work, though,” I offer. He nods, and hugs me tightly, kissing my head. Jackson calls for me, and I jerk up. “I have to go.” I mumble, my eyes wide. 

“See you in a month.” He says sadly, and squeezes my hands one last time before I get on the train. 

The train runs down the side of the island, heading towards what I think is a bridge in the distance. 

The dress fitter measures my waist, as I hold my arms out in a T. Jackson looks through papers. The train compartment is like a little hotel room, with a domed glass ceiling. “What’s this dress for?” I ask, as the black fabric is pulled over my head. 

“It’s what you’ll wear to present yourself to the Governor. And to attend the welcome party tomorrow night,” I nod. 

“So I get a goodbye party and a welcome party,” I say. “Nice.” Jackson laughs, as the dress fitter fixes the length on my dress, because I’m too short for it. I look out the windows, and see that the train is heading towards the water, and there’s no bridge. I gasp, and get ready for our derailed train to take us underwater and suffocate us. 

“Relax,” Jackson says, and I open my eyes. “The train is supposed to go underwater. We’re in a glass tube under the surface.” I look around and see the deep blue ocean, swirling around the train. Tiny little orange fish watch us through the glass, then turn to blurs as the train accelerates. 

The dress fitter sighs as I step down off my pedestal and run to the window, goggling at the sun shining through the surface of the water. Jackson laughs, and goes back to his desk. 

“Wow,” I say, my hands pressed to the glass. 

“Miss?” The dress fitter asks. I groan, and walk back to the pedestal, pricking my skin on at least six of the pins. The dress fitter glares at the scars on my arm. “Just hold still!” He yells, as I spin around, looking through the glass roof as we go deeper and deeper. 

“How long until we reach the mainland?” I ask, abruptly turning to face Jackson. The dress fitter just throws down his pins and leaves the compartment, grumbling under his breath. I pull the dress off, and put it with the dress fitter’s stuff, going to sit on the couch. 

“About an hour,” Jackson answers. I nod, and poke at the glass, watching the waves above us.

“All you have to do is walk out there and smile,” Jackson explains. “I have handled everything, to explain how your family got elevated to Gold, so just play along.” I nod. “You’ll do fine,” He explains. 

I listen to the crowds cheering as the limousine door is opened for me. A long blue carpet is laid out for me to walk on, and is lined with hundreds of screaming people. 

“Don’t be scared,” Jackson mutters. I take a deep breath, and step out of the car, a smile on my face. A loudspeaker announces my name. 

“The champion from Metal, Olive Ferrum!” They yell, and people scream louder. “She was born an Iron, but was elevated to Gold for saving Mayor Mountbatten’s children from dangerous traffic.” 

Interesting story. I smile into the cameras, as Jackson loops his arm in mine and walks with me up the carpet. 

“She’s the sweetheart of the Metal Island.” And that’s why they attacked my house last night. I grin, as we reach the stage. 

Jackson directs me to a throne decorated with the symbols of Metal. Six other thrones, for each of the other Divisions, sit around the stage. I sit down on my throne with Jackson next to me, and watch as the other champions arrive. I hold my breath. 

“From Fire, Julia Montgomery!” A red-haired tan girl with her lips painted red steps out of the next car, waving at the cameras, but barely smiling. 

As soon as Julia gets onto the stage, she gives me a threatening look, and sits in her own red throne that looks like it’s made of fire. Note to self, I am scared. 

“From Stone, Dennis Manning!” A dark-eyed boy with black hair, does not smile. 

“From Sky, Hadley Mackenzie!” A tiny, shy-looking girl with light brown hair in pigtails and big brown eyes. She smiles at me as she sits down in her throne of clouds. 

“From Water, Ashton Reeves!” A tall boy with a bright smile and stunning blue eyes. He stops to say hi to some of the people on his way up the carpet. The Mayor from Water smiles as he urges Ashton to keep moving. The second-to last car stops in front of the carpet. 

“From Life, the sweetheart of the capital, Angel Bellerose!” A blonde girl steps out of the limousine. A streak of red is the only color in her hair. “She certainly lives up to her name, and donated over ten thousand dollars of her tuition money from school to underprivileged children.” Angel bends down and signs a child’s sign with her name on it. She walks up the stairs, and sits in her throne of flowers. 

The last limousine drives up, and the air is pierced with screams. Female screams. A thousand screaming girls, holding up signs with one name on them. Oh, gosh. 

“From Light, the prince of the world, Caden Imperos!” The voice over the loudspeaker says. “Thousands of his admirers have turned up today to show their support.” 

I knew he was stuck-up. A boy steps out of the car. I can’t see his face because of the towers that girls are making climbing on top of each other, like those ants in documentaries, making bridges. 

“He looked at me!” Someone screams. I roll my eyes, and tap my foot. Caden walks up the steps to the stage, and I finally get a glimpse of his face. My own face falls. 

“Cai?” I ask, my blood cold. He grins at me and waves. So much for keeping a smile. 

“Time to present yourself to the governor.” Jackson says as he stands in my room, and I nod, distracted. Cai is the champion from Light? He isn’t really Platinum? 

I speed-walk over to the vanity table to pull my hair up, but a maid gets there first and ties it into a braid, weaving golden thread into my blonde hair. She places a golden tiara on my head, decorated with spiky stars and diamonds. 

The maid tightens my dress even more, and I prepare to not exhale for the next hour or so. I nervously run to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror before leaving. 

The dress is jet black, and has a long train, though it isn’t as poofy as my gold dress from the party last night. It’s more dramatic. The top is fitted and sleeveless, with a black cloak attached to the shoulders, made of a sheer silver material. All over the dress, gold and silver swirls make me look… kinda okay. I fold my arms. 

I take Jackson’s arm when I get into the hallway, and walk with him. The other champions wait outside the door of the throne room. All the boys wear a suit with the colors of their Division, and all the girls wear a dress identical to mine, but their colors. 

Hadley walks over to me in her sky blue dress with a white cape, and hugs me. I hesitantly hug back, surprised. I can feel Cai’s eyes on me but I ignore him. 

“We should have a slumber party tonight.” She says, then brings over the other two girls, Julia in red, and Angel in green. “Just the four of us, no boys allowed.” I smile. 

“It’s better that way anyway,” I say, gritting my teeth. I can’t believe Cai played me. I’m such an idiot. You cuddled him, Olive! Angel smiles warmly at me, while Julia glares.

“Boys would ruin it anyway,” Angel says with a grin. Ashton, in his deep blue suit, stares at us. “I’m kidding! You guys are great.” Ashton smiles, Dennis stands awkwardly in his brown suit, and I don’t look at Cai, so I don’t see his reaction. 

“Okay, it’s our turn now,” Jackson whispers, and I walk towards the Governor’s throne, and curtsey uncertainly. Everyone else has already gone. I am the last one. 

“Rise,” The governor says, and I stand up straight. Jackson stands by my side. “You say you used to be an Iron?” He asks, and I nod. He turns to Jackson. “You should know better than to bring an Iron here. I told the Council not to choose a young person to be the mayor.” Jackson flinches. 

“Why can’t Irons come to the mainland?” I ask. The Governor looks at me. Oop. I spoke without permission. He stares straight at me, as if reading my mind. He doesn’t answer my question. 

“Good luck in the competition, Lady Ferrum,” He says, nodding his head. 

“Lady?” I ask Jackson, as we walk back to the group. 

“You’re noble now,” He says. “All champions receive a noble title.” He points to Cai. “Caden is Sir Imperos.” I refuse to look at Cai. “I bet you got a shock when your tutor turned out to be your opponent. I wish I could have told you, but it’s against the rules.” 

“I understand,” I say, sitting down in my seat. “Why can’t Irons come here?” I ask. Jackson shrugs. 

“Guess I never got the memo,” He says. “But it does mean you’ll have to work harder here to prove yourself.” 

I nod, and fold my hands in my lap, trying to hide their shaking. Cai stares at me, but I don’t look at him and watch the wall instead, as the Governor stands up.