Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games plot, but the President belongs to me
A/N: So I'm joining the leagues of other writers and doing a SYOT story (submit your own tribute – people have asked me what the T was) and I would love for you to submit characters, of which you can PM me and I'll reply with the form – there are 24 spaces left to fill and I would love for anyone to get in touch and if you want to submit an escort, stylist, or mentor, then don't hesitate PMing me!
Chapter 01
The Capitol
President Phoenix stared out the window at her twelve year old granddaughter walking along a marble bench beside a circular pool. A lone blue admiral butterfly circled around the youngster's head, fluttering its wings gently to remain airborne.
The President watched her granddaughter, wondering how different life might be like for her now that she is old enough to be in the reaping bowl once. And the President made sure it was only once. There was no way that President Phoenix was going to allow the child to go through the Games and experience what the President had seen and condemned so many children to go through.
She took presidency of the Games after the last President died from poisoning. Conspiracies and rumours amongst Phoenix's colleagues sparked when she took the throne, but that was in the past. A new Gamemaker had been brought in, along with a whole new workforce that would make the next Hunger Games were even better than the last.
"President Phoenix," a voice whispered from the door.
When she turned around, she saw her Gamemaker associate standing in the doorway. He was a tall but sturdy man who had an unusual haircut for a man of the Capitol. It was a normal mound of mousey brown hair that was styled with a short quiff at the front. This morning, he was wearing a crisp white shirt and a deep red velvet cropped blazer. The gloves on his hands were only there to hide the burns that he had endured during a freak accident when he was a child.
"Leo Fox- it has been a while." President Phoenix held her hand out for him.
Fox shook her delicate hand gently. "Your granddaughter had grown up to be quite a charming young lady. I saw her just outside and I cannot believe that she is actually twelve years old – has she undergone training for the Games?" He walked her over to the long table that sat in the middle of the room, the first thing you'd see when you entered the room.
Phoenix just managed to keep calm. "How dare you- no, of course she has not, because she is not going to be reaped. I will make sure of it."
"I'd like to know what you're insinuating, Phoenix." One of Fox's thick and dark eyebrows rose like it was a fish being reeled in on a hook. "Because I need to know what's going in behind closed doors, despite your position. Then I may be able to have your back, should anything become unearthed in future years."
There was a moment of silence whilst Phoenix pondered whether to inform Fox of what she had arranged regarding her granddaughter's safety.
"Let's take a walk outside." The train of Phoenix's dress disturbed the dirt and dust that had been dragged in by Fox as she walked towards the door with Fox behind her like a puppy to its master. "Are you prepared for the next Hunger Games, Fox?"
"I am ready for whatever may come my way, it's what I have been preparing for the past years when I was an apprentice to the, the last Gamemaker. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve regarding the Games and it will be interesting to see how they unfold. The thought of being a puppeteer intrigues me. What is it like to have the power of control?"
"It's like being able to decide the fate of children – they are players of a game where you are the dice. Miss a go and it's all over." Phoenix walked down the stairs towards the garden. "But with great power, you have to find a way to cope with knowing that you are the reason children are dead."
"How do you deal with that pressure?"
"I get on with it, my granddaughter will live past her eighteenth birthday – I have made sure of it."
"You never told me how?" Fox was insistent on knowing the truth. He couldn't afford to let President Phoenix try and drop in him it if push came to shove.
"I've sort out a replacement volunteer – that way she'll be safe… That's how it works, but you are the third person to know. Other than me and the volunteer, there's only you who knows. You'll be the one to take the fall," President Phoenix replied with a ruthless tone to make sure that the message was clear.
"Right."
"So now you'll be preparing for the Games, won't you? Because the reaping is fast approach and I've been told that there has been an influx of names that have been put into the reaping bowls. Goodbye Leo Fox." President Phoenix turned to look at her granddaughter, calling for her to follow.
The girl stopped peering into the pond that was bare from the koi that used to swim freely within it and turned towards her relatively young looking grandmother and nodded. She quickly ran up to her grandmother's side, taking a hand that felt frail and fragile to hold onto in hers.
"What's going on, Grandma?"
"I'm just protecting you my dear…"
Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = Hiya – hope you enjoyed this first chapter, and please do PM if you want to submit a tribute for the games, or an escort, or a mentor, or a mentor, or anything else I've missed! I'll reply with the profile form for you to fill out simple!
