I have decided to upload the first chapter of my new story. I couldn't help myself. I will be updating a little less with this story, as chapters may take a little longer to write. In my other stories, the main character, Phoenix, is very easy to write for. I find it very easy to step into her shoes, and see the world in the way that she would. However, in this story, the main character's thoughts are going to be a little more complex. I want to make sure that this story really shows that.

I knew I wanted to write this story for a while, but I was holding back until I decided on what all the main characters should be like. Today, I was sitting in math class, and I thought of a name for the main character. Everything fell into place after that, and I just couldn't wait any longer.

So, this is where the story begins. I hope you enjoy.

I do not own the Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins does.

Among The Ash Heaps

Chapter One - Dancing with Monsters

In my younger and less vunerable years, when nothing was to be questioned and I accepted my fate, my father gave me a piece of advice that I have been turning over in my head ever since.

"Whenever you feel like giving up," he had told me, "Remember that not everyone has had the same upbringing as you. You are important, special, and this is your duty."

He has never been a real father to me, but we've always been usually communicative in a reserved, respectful way. He never gave me much helpful advice, but when he told me this, I understood that he meant a great deal more than what his simple words suggested.

Since a young age, my father has taught me to reserve judgements and be tolerant. At one point, he offered a brief explaination as to why he wanted me to be so mild mannered and reserved, but it has been many years since I believed a single word that escaped his lips. I have learned since then.

My obedient ways have attracted attention from every corner of our district. I despise the attention, but my father loves it. A star in the making, that's what he calls me.

Of course, I don't get a choice when it comes to my future, my father already has it worked out, and elaborate scheme, which involves risking my life, all for his own benefit and financial gain.

I'm his daughter, his flesh and blood, and he would send me to my death without shedding a single tear. Instead, he would be smiling for the cameras and drawing all of the attention he could to himself, while I'm in the middle of a deathmatch.

Unfortuanatley, this petrifying scenario is all too realistic for me. I've been training for that almost inevitable deathmatch since I was a young child. I am what the people of my district call a career.

Even the mention of that name sends shivers up my spine. In my mind, that word equivilates to monster.

I do see why we are labelled as monsters though. We are trained since birth to kill. To the people of District One, we are no better than the peacekeepers that perform executions daily.

It hurts, deep down inside. We've been taught, of course, to ignore them, and regard them as inferior. Yet every time I go to fetch bread from the baker, or pass a message on to one of my father's terrifying friends, I see the looks that I receive, from small children, to elderly people, it seems like everyone hates me. I honestly can't blame them for their stereotypical opinions. I just wish that one day, they would take the opportunity to introduce themselves, or offer me a polite handshake at least. They would eventually get to know the real me, and realise that I'm not a cold blooded murderer.

The truth is, I have no desire to volunteer, guaranteeing me a place in the games. I don't live to kill like my peers. I had no choice in the matter of my future, and so, my life turned out like this.

I probably would have been hated anyways, even if I somehow didn't turn out as a career. People from rich families are always rejected from the community.

I have never felt as if I belong anywhere. I'm just drifting, tied down by my father and his plans.

I should say, after boasting about tolerance, that my patience does have a limit. Ever since I realised that I could think for myself, I've wanted to escape from the clutches of my father, and live a real life. Shortly after that, I realised that it was never going to happen, and that my own plans for my future were nothing but daydreams. The frustration has been building ever since. I'm not angry with the world, just with my parents, who have forced me to grow up like this. At age seventeen, I've already missed out on my whole childhood, and the majority of my teenage years. I blame it all on them.

I turn over in my bed, the sheets clinging to my body, brushing against the smooth skin of my legs. My alarm hasn't gone off yet, but I do not wish to stay in my bed any longer.

Alas, I am not just doing simple tasks today. My life runs on a tight schedule, and with the reaping in just a few weeks, I need to be prepeared for every single aspect.

If I am correct, the first thing I have to do today is have my fitting for a reaping dress. My mother will be taking me to the seamstress, and paying a hefty sum of money for me to look like I stepped straight out of the Capitol.

Where my parents get all of this money from, I am unsure of. We have a small hardware store, just down the lane from our home, which does surprisingly well considering the high prices of the items my father sells, and how poor his customers are.

I never ask, as I have been taught that curiosity can only lead to trouble. How I wish I could be free of the many rules drilled into my brain, dislodge them, just for a day. To live life like a normal tennage girl, whatever that entails.

My alarm sounds, and I know that this is the start of another ordinary day, for a supposedly extraordinary person.

My name is Quinn, and I am trapped in the life that has been chosen for me.

So, that was kind of a introductory chapter. For those who have read my other stories, you will understand what I meant when I said that Quinn would be harder to write for than Phoenix.

Quinn has very different views on things, and has different problems, which will be explored later in this story. Chapters for this story will take longer to write, but I hope you think they're worth waiting for! Be sure to let me know what you think in the reviews, it would be much appreciated.

Thank you for reading,

BethanyDee x x