Chapter One

Night had fallen, the sky a blanket of pitch black; starless.

Senna walked briskly down the long silent corridor, the smart rap of her footsteps on the polished floor echoing off the walls.

The huge doors loomed before her, the muted murmur of voices drifting through it, a sliver of light spilling out from underneath it.

Senna didn't hesitate for a second as she pushed open the doors.

Heads snapped around to face her; many wore expressions of disgust, begrudged admiration – fear.

The observation neither pleased nor annoyed Senna.

She knew what the people of the Capitol thought of her.

They looked down upon her, yet acknowledged her work with grim smiles.

It mattered little to her, but all the same Senna was far from foolish and she made sure to keep informed of all Capitol gossip, no matter of how little interest it was to her.

"Senna," the woman turned sharply at the call of her name.

Clark marched determinately towards her, his lips pursed in annoyance. He reached her and folded his arms crossly, arching an expectant brow.

Around the room low murmured conversations began to spring up again as people turned back to their private company.

Senna stood silent, unmoving, waiting.

Clark huffed a little; miffed that Senna would not rise and play his game but he had expected no less from the expressionless woman.

"Your designs," Clark hissed.

Senna didn't speak a word.

Clark sighed in annoyance before he elaborated, "I thought I told you to cut down on your contraptions," Clark stressed with disgust.

"President Kravosk ordered me to include them," Senna answered before she turned away from him, considering the issue closed.

Suddenly, as if on cue the huge doors swung inwards and President Kravosk stood in the threshold beaming.

"Hello all!" President Kravosk announced brightly as he swaggered into the room, "how is my arena coming on, hmm?" President Kravosk walked to the main table as those around him scurried to attention, eager to gain his approval.

Kravosk cast a critical eye over the numerous plans laid out on the table, a happy smile on his face as he rubbed at the short stubble on his jaw contemplatively.

Someone beside Senna pointedly cleared their throat and Kravosk glanced up from his musing.

"Sir," Clark addressed Kravosk with a polite smile, "Senna has included far more designs than we had originally agreed," Clark pointedly let his gaze slide over to Senna who stood stoically beside him, her gaze fixed ahead.

The smile immediately fell from Kravosk's lips, "and why shouldn't she?!" he bellowed.

Clark clearly not expected such a response spluttered for a moment as those around looked on in hushed anticipation.

"B-But Sir I thought we agreed…" Clark trailed off unsure as he tugged at the tight collar of his silk shirt.

Kravosk rolled his eyes before he wandered over to the table that held refreshments.

Idly Kravosk picked up a red apple before he ripped a huge bite out it with an audible crunch.

Clark cringed as he watched the juice dribble down his President's chin, though the man seemed unfazed by it.

"Clark if you want to remain on this side of the Games and not in them I recommend you quit your whining," Kravosk said in a completely amicable tone with a pleasant smile.

Clark visibly paled as a hushed dangerous silence fell over the occupants of the room.

Kravosk suddenly laughed loudly startling all, except Senna who watched the proceedings without so much as a twitch of her lips.

"Now – how are things coming along? Updates people! Updates! I want updates," Kravosk demanded impatiently, almost bouncing on his toes as he munched greedily at his apple.

"The creatures that were requested are almost complete – we would like to test them first," a small man with wire-rimmed glasses piped up.

Kravosk laughed callously in understanding, "there should still be some rebels left in the cells to be of some use."

"Very good Sir," the man nodded with a smirk, the artificial lighting catching his glasses so they glinted cruelly.

"Construction on Senna's designs can commence immediately Sir," another man said gravely.

"Good – good!" Kravosk nodded.

"And…Sir; the media representation of the Games," a brave soul piped up in the form of a short woman with cropped red hair and bright pink lips.

Kravosk ripped another chunk out of his apple as he chewed noisily, seemingly in thought for a few moments.

"What about it?" Kravosk finally remarked in an irked tone.

The woman exchanged nervous glances with her companions who all nodded her on encouragingly.

"Well Sir my team and I were…were…"

"Hurry up!" Kravosk demanded.

The girl jumped and nodded vigorously with a muttered apology.

"Well we were thinking of mentors for the tributes Sir."

A silence fell across the room for a split moment in which everyone held their breath as Kravosk looked almost thoughtful.

Then…

"CLARK!" Kravosk threw his apple core across the room, missing Clark by an inch.

The man jumped almost a foot in the air with a startled yelp.

"WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO MY GAMES?!" Kravosk demanded.

"S – Sir?!" Clark squeaked, his eyes bulging as those closest to him discreetly edged away.

"I do NOT want this to be turned into one of your silly little shows!" Kravosk's voice lowered in volume but it lost none of its spite.

Clark nodded furiously as though his head were attached to a string, "of course Sir – of course!" Clark readily agreed.

Kravosk grumbled under his breath, a frown etched deeply on his face as he walked slowly towards a trembling Clark.

But Kravosk merely narrowed his eyes at the said man before turning his attention to Senna, who stood silent and dispassionate.

Kravosk looped an arm around Senna's narrow shoulders, "You're the only one that understands me Senna," Kravosk whispered loudly as he glared suspiciously at all else gathered in the room.

The other occupants of the room remained in fearful silence; they by now knew their President's erratic and questionable moods and did not want to suffer for it.

As the silence stretched on, a grin slowly spread across Kravosk's face which in turn then produced dark chuckling to wild laughter.

Many shuddered in fear, cowering behind friends; the state of their Presidency's sanity had long been a topic of discussion for a long while now as well, but none dared raise the subject.

"I want my arena in two weeks' time," Kravosk turned on his heel, humming as he went.

Chaos erupted behind his back as the man in charge of construction looked fit to collapse and everyone else seemed close behind him.

Two weeks?!

"Senna surely you can reason with him!" one of the women called to the expressionless woman.

Senna faced the woman, her face completely unsympathetic.

"Reason!?" another man gave a bitter laugh, "You cannot reason with madness."


Right well; just to say still places left! Can't start the Games until I have all the tributes!

District 1 Female;

District 1 Male; TAKEN – Sparkler 'Sparky' Sterling

District 2 Female; TAKEN – Zee Adams

District 2 Male;

District 3 Female;

District 3 Male; TAKEN – Sebastian Lone

District 4 Female;

District 4 Male;

District 5 Female;

District 5 Male;

District 6 Female;

District 6 Male;

District 7 Female; TAKEN – Ashni Took

District 7 Male; TAKEN – Woody Westbrook

District 8 Female;

District 8 Male;

District 9 Female; TAKEN – Collette McLellan

District 9 Male;

District 10 Female;

District 10 Male;

District 11 Female; TAKEN – Courtney Herzog

District 11 Male;

District 12 Female;

District 12 Male;

District 13 Male/Female – Idea if anyone wants to toy with it; survivors of the 'annihilated district' – Capitol wants to get rid of them?