A/N: No, don't worry, the submissions aren't closed, not yet, carry on submitting! but here's another prologue in the meantime.


'The price of knowledge, can sometimes be death.'


Secluded Minds: Prologue, Part 2

The Danger

Eli Yates, 18

District 11

Victor of the Second Hunger Games

"I'm alive."

There was a small ounce of satisfaction that revealed itself each time he said those two words. He was actually alive. It had been an entire week since he ended the games in murder, but it still seemed unreal. His heart still pumped repeatedly through his chest as he constantly found himself on the edge of his seat, half-expecting someone to take an attempt on his life.

"This was the worst part for me." Her voice was like a sudden shot of ice, the bitter and cold tone was obvious, even now.

Eli stayed silent as he tightened the blue and gold tie around his neck. He really was not in the mood to face Violet, who was otherwise known as 'the other victor'. He wondered whether she was angry he stole her title.

"You know, you could at least give me a chance, I'm only trying to be nice!"

It was quite humorous, really. How could someone insist on their kindness whilst sounding so full of hate?

Eli gradually glanced up at her, his face as hard as stone and as strong as a mountain. Violet didn't appear the least bit intimidated by this, she leant against his doorframe, her red hair brushing over her soft, ivory skin, and her red-painted lips were in a permanent straight line. If Eli had met her in a different situation, he would have probably had an initial attraction towards her, but, right now, he couldn't stand her.

"Why don't you just leave me alone?" he whispered in a sigh.

To his surprise, she left almost immediately, and as she did, her voice blew over to him in an airy sound which made the hair on his arms stand on-end. "Well, don't run back to me when it gets difficult."

Eli rolled his eyes and smothered his face with his hands, "wouldn't dream of it."

He soon grew bored and decided to take a dive into the wide selection of books which covered the shelves in his suite. He was never much of a reader but sometimes his curiosity got the better of him, he just wanted to know what they read in the Capitol.

Most of it was the usual stuff which he could have easily have found in his local library, 'The Poor Child', 'Alice in Wonderland,' 'The war in three stages', 'The life of Berry Aton,'- whoever that was. There was nothing that really interested him, that was until a piece of lose paper fell out of a dusty old book with no name.

He narrowed his eyes and picked it up.

'The Hunger Games'

His eyes scanned across the paper in a panicked flurry, his mind not fully picking up on what he was reading, but he was able to understand it enough. This was a hit list, or a tribute list? Something along those lines, but neither his nor Violet's name were anywhere on the sheet, so this couldn't have been a list of Hunger Games tributes, could it?

Without much more contemplation, he scrunched the paper up in his hands and then took off in a rush, down the lavish Capitol corridor. Peacekeepers gave him peculiar looks, but he simply ignored them and continued to sprint forward.

"Violet!"

The red-head span around on the stairs and looked down at him with a roll of her eyes. She was about to say something, most likely lecture him about his volume or about how he disregarded her just a few minutes before, but he cut in before she had the chance.

"Look at this!" he ran up the stairs to meet her, practically shoving the piece of paper in her face. He lowered his voice and spoke in her ear. "It seems to be a hit list of sorts, but it has The Hunger Games written at the top of it, do you think that- wait- what are you doing?"

Violet was busy rummaging in her purse and paying almost no attention to him nor the list of names. "Looking for this," she whispered under her breath. She pulled out a simple metal cigarette lighter and took the paper from Eli. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened as she set the paper alight.

"What are you doing? That could have been something important, that could have answered many historical questions and-"

When the paper was almost completely destroyed, she blew out the remaining flames before lighting a cigarette in her mouth. After taking a puff on it, she looked at Eli with a serious face.

"You have no idea how lucky you are that I happen to smoke," she muttered.

She turned and began to walk away from him, but he wasn't about to let her leave so easily. He took a hold of her arm and turned her to face him.

"Violet-" he began but Violet stopped him. She took the cigarette out of her mouth and puffed out a circle of smoke. Her green eyes gave him an icy stare up and down, causing him to move awkwardly on the balls of his feet.

Finally, she spoke, "Listen and listen carefully, we all know something we're not supposed to. Keep what you know, or what you think you know, to yourself and everything will be fine."

"But Violet-"

"Don't! - you don't want to find an arrow through your chest now, do you?"

Then, she stormed off into her room, leaving Eli stood there, on his own, in an empty corridor. He watched her leave for a moment as he felt rather dumbfounded. He knew she was referring to the mysterious death of the thirteen year old in her games, it was the only thing the rebels and the districts spoke of during last year's games, but he didn't understand how it had anything to do with him.

"There you are Mr Yates; you're wanted on stage for your victor interview!"

Eli slowly nodded his head and then he reluctantly followed his escort to the stage.


A/N- Hi, don't worry, no tribute list yet. I decided to do three 'prologues' although the next one is more of a chapter than a prologue as it's actually not set in the future, but the tribute list will be with that chapter.

Speaking of which, I am closing submissions early, I am closing them in a week's time, so, about a week and a half early. (23rd December 2014). This is because I have just published the finale of my other story and I really want to start it, I currently have 23 tributes (but please don't let this put you off, I can always push the 24 number if I want to, there aren't any set rules as such).

Saying that, I really don't need anymore 16-20 year olds, I have so many already and I will not be accepting them all, unfortunately, just because I want a varied age range (hopefully with the average age about 35?)

The two victors who are in this prologue, you will be seeing them again :3 So, yeah.

Till next time, bye!