Author's Note: Hey there! Before I start the actual fanfic, I just wanted to say that this story is an SYOT. The form to submit a tribute can be found on my profile and the form must be PMed to me. I will not consider any forms posted in the reviews.
Elements
Fire wants to burn...
Water wants to flow...
Air wants to rise...
Earth wants to bind...
Chaos wants to devour...
The tributes want to live...
~ Adapted from Cassandra Clare, The Iron Trial
- Head Gamemaker Xavier Burns -
- August 17, 20 ADD -
President Ariana Snow was not known for giving second chances, much less third chances.
I knew how badly I had failed for the Twentieth Games just last month. The snowy arena my fellow Gamemakers and I had designed had been beautiful, but too many tributes had died from the bitter cold. The Games had been over within ten days, when the girl from District Seven beheaded the boy from District Two, who had been weakened from th cold. I had been surprised when President Snow had forgiven my foolishness, excusing it as a lack of experience, and allowed me to try again. Usually, this lack of experience would cause Head Gamemakers their lives.
This would be the last chance, I knew. President Snow would not grant me any more mercy. I had to succeed.
As I unrolled the diagram of the arena that we Gamemakers had pored over for hours, I heard President Snow inhale sharply as she took in the painstaking details and neatly-written notes. Silently, she ran a hand over the smooth parchment, her hawk-like eyes scanning the map.
Finally, she looked up at me, her intense stare burning into me. I wondered if she had decided it was time for me to die and I couldn't help but flinch away from her accusing gaze.
Then, she smiled, though her smile held no joy. It was cruel, evil almost. It was a smile that scared me. I couldn't help but smile back, but my smile felt painful... forced.
"I knew I made the right decision when I chose you as Head Gamemaker, Xavier, and again when I chose to forgive you. If you can make this plan work, the Twenty-first Annual Hunger Games will be more exciting than any of its predecessors. Construction of the arena must commence immediately." she announced, dismissing me with a flick of her hand.
I dipped my head to her respectfully, rising to my feet and rolling the map back up, before heading for the door. Just as I set my hand on the doorknob, I heard President Snow speak again.
"Oh, Xavier?"
I gulped, turning back to look at her. The hard stare she gave me was enough to send shivers down my spine. "Yes, President?"
"Don't fail me. I never give third chances."
- Felicia Crow, Lead Gamemaker in the Muttation Department -
- January 8, 21 ADD -
As I typed commands into my computer, I heard footsteps slow and pause behind me. A soft, masculine voice interrupted my thoughts. "Felicia, this is not acceptable. Double your efforts. These Games must be the best yet."
I looked up from the shark mutt I was designing. Head Gamemaker Xavier stood behind me, his eyes coldly staring at the mutt. "I'm sorry, Xavier, the-" I began.
He interrupted me. I couldn't remember when he had ever interrupted any of us Gamemakers before, especially when we had been explaining our ideas to him. "Felicia, time is running out. We failed last year. We cannot fail again. Do you want to die? I don't want to die, Felicia."
I replied with silence.
Xavier turned away, his eyes staring at the map of the arena that had been posted on the wall of the Gamemakers' meeting room. When he spoke again, he was not looking at me. I could tell that he was not just speaking to me. He was also speaking to himself.
"Felicia, we need to make the Twenty-First Annual Hunger Games a Games that will go down in history. Make that mutt better."
Then, he left, his boots clattering on the ground as he walked away briskly. Shakily, I turned back to the shark mutt, erasing the saved file and starting over.
With Xavier this serious about every detail, the Twenty-First Annual Hunger Games could not possibly fail. Just as he said, these Games would go down in history.