Lies.
Prologue Part Two – Zabian Galavan, Capitol.
"A lie can run around the world before the truth can get its boots on." - James Watt.
The newspaper clippings leave black marks on my fingertips, tracing down to my knuckles. I shove them away with a grunt and stare upwards. A bead of sweat rolls down the back of my neck and I shift uncomfortably, the shackles digging into my wrists as I stare into his beady little eyes.
Whatever happens, I won't show him the satisfaction of breaking me. Even if... if Elora is brought up into this. I've learnt to keep up my resolve, a trick of the trade almost. This... animal won't shatter what I'm holding up for my protection, I won't let him.
"So, the results are pretty much clear," the corner of his mouth twitches and he moves one hand on top of the other. His eyes find mine and I bite back a remark, now's not the time to irritate him further. "The President is happy, more than happy considering these headlines. But I'm not, and when I'm not happy I tend to get a little angry."
My heart pulsates rapidly in my chest, the nerves sinking in my gut as I stare him down. He sniggers and brings the little sheet of paper to his eyes, scanning across text he must have spent hours debating over. Behind his head a picturesque view of the Capitol stretches from one curled back curtain to the next, the sun a red drop in the sky cast behind the skyscrapers we so arrogantly occupy. Right now being in the centre of this city doesn't give me the satisfaction it once did, all I see behind these doors is politics tearing lives and families apart. What started off as fun is nothing more than horror at the ways people live.
I hope for Elora's sake she's spared the graphic details of what it is I have to do. Even if I'm nearing my own end, she doesn't deserve to know. It's not her fault, none of this was.
"What am I going to do with you?" he lengthens out a hiss and sinks into the plush cushions of his armchair. The enjoyment on his face is vile, three chins wobbling under a heavy bristle of a moustache. The days we used to poke fun at him during high school have well and truly come back to bite us in the backside. Revenge they say is sweet, a part of me knows I can't blame him for what he's doing right now. I'd do the same if I was in his shoes. I was a right bastard back in school.
"Let bygones be bygones? You'd like that wouldn't you Zabian, after all if the President is over the moon with joy why shouldn't I? He is my master after all, the man in charge. One might think if I have a problem it's my own fault. It isn't though is it? Oh no it isn't," he grins and stretches forwards, resting his grotesque chin on his fingers.
"The President enjoys his favourites winning, that's why they're called favourites," he hisses once more. "When a favourite is on the verge of dying it is our job to help them, or at least stall their death so the President can enjoy them for a little longer. What he doesn't know is that a certain... someone, seems to be against this notion."
"Well that certain someone should be very mad with themselves shouldn't they Rodolphus?"
He puckers his lips and for a second I see something sinister flash in those blue eyes of his, then he leans back and chuckles. The ceiling echoes it back to him and he nods his head fervently. "They should indeed, Zabian, they should indeed."
I know what he's hinting at. I'm well aware of the suspicions within the Gamemaker circle, a certain someone seems to be demonstrating bias but in completely the wrong direction. There's no such thing as bias in the eyes of the Capitolites, sitting below this very window with their heads in the clouds. For them it's about what the tributes are doing rather than what we are doing. But it isn't. A favourite is a favourite for a reason and it's why careers win so very often. Those wonderful brutes the ladies swoon over and every gentleman is envious of.
"You know you have the wrong man."
"Ah but do I? Do I really? Last year was perfect with Shine taking the crown but that finale was less than satisfactory for me. The President and everyone else was perfectly fine but I knew that whoever was controlling those mutts was trying to draw them to our precious victor rather than that rather drab girl from Ten. It seemed, from my perspective, that they wanted her to win rather than our wonderful Shine."
My lungs start to ache as I hold my breath, staring into his accusing eyes as his lips narrow, cheeks glow red and fingers dig into the grooves on his desk. I didn't... I would never do something like that, why risk my neck for such a stupid thing? The victor never matters to me anyway, it's always the violence that gets me going not whoever comes out as the survivor. Hope is meant to be essential for Panem's structure but I'd rather no victor at all, I rarely see the point in such an icon. There's little difference between idolising such a victor and following them into revolution. A particularly... difficult victor could be what lights the fire. None of us want that.
"It's why I've been on your back for quite some time now. I didn't want to make it too obvious but I found out soon enough, you were the one secretly whispering orders into the lovely Head of Muttations' ear. The lady your wife so despises for her excellent parties. It's why she's out of the job this year no matter what happens, and why I said you would be following very shortly. I don't care if the President is completely unaware of what went on. I'm not. I understand what you did and what you're trying to do and I will not allow someone to get in the way of the President's wishes. A favourite doesn't have to win but when that favourite is in the finale... they do."
I open my mouth to try and say something. In the face of a death threat I thought I'd be more responsive, at least kick up a bit of a fight. Cowardice isn't something I'm known for. But right now there's nothing except the fear that pumps my heart faster, worry that fuels the burning in my chest and the pain that spreads behind my eyes and leads to the back of my head. If he's going to kill me over something less than a rumour, what about Elora?
"I know," he states calmly, happy at the battle my body is raging against. "I know what you're thinking my dear Zabian. Elora. Sweet, pathetic Elora. Don't worry, if I choose to have your head I'd rather I kept hers on. I have a rather interesting fact for you. My divorce is final around the same time the Games end... I'd love a new wife. Good for the reputation I'm sure you're aware of. Elora would be..."
"... don't," I whisper.
"Good day to you Zabian," he presses a button and the shackles round my wrists draw back into the chair. A red ring is all that's left, I pull my sleeves down and stare at him. I so very much want to push him out this window, or at least make his fat disgusting body squirm. I can't though. Not if I want any chance of living, of saving Elora from what this man does to his wives.
Rumours are abundant within this city. My bias towards the underdog being one, the torture of his spouses being another. Elora cannot endure that, death would be easier.
And since that isn't an option for my love, my survival is the only thing left. I plan to keep it. I turn on my heel and strut down the corridor, head held high as I leave through the double doors.
If he wants to play, I'll hold back. None of his allegations have any truth behind them, but a single whisper is enough to bring my life to an untimely end. That's the problem with the very city I live in, it's all about the game behind closed doors. A single word is deadlier than any blade, I know that now. I've known that for a long time. The trouble is finding something even worse, and that's what I must do. Destroy him before he destroys me.
A game within a game. I really hate politics.
Tribute List
District One:
Male- Alistair Tempest (ImmyRose)
Female- Calliope Cartier (Cashmere67)
District Two:
Male- Lochlan Clarington (Anime'sPrincess)
Female- Saskia deValier (I'mCrazyAndProudOfIt)
District Three:
Male- Tyndall Martinez (Chaos In Her Wake)
Female- Ada Bertrand (Lupus Overkill)
District Four:
Male- Matteo Dallas (jessicallons-y)
Female- Megaera Cassian (LokiThisIsMadness)
District Five:
Male- Cynder Duke (nb1998)
Female- Celene Fontaine (May38)
District Six:
Male- Ward Bingham (mangesboy01)
Female- Tatum Caville (thgfan9)
District Seven:
Male- Graeden Peltz (Call Me Fin)
Female- Tirzah Ovata (Nrrrd-Grrrl-Meg)
District Eight:
Male- Davin Carrick (DA Member Hogwarts)
Female- Kennedy Ames (District11-Olive)
District Nine:
Male- Elijah Fawkes (JabberjayHeart)
Female- Atarah Neve (Sunlight Comes Creeping In)
District Ten:
Male- Alton Shelding (Elim9)
Female- Raelyn Houchens (QuietConspiracy)
District Eleven:
Male- Sloan Ryker (Burning Stars)
Female- Sabrina Calladine (Cosmoguy)
District Twelve:
Male- Raven Stillman (Rebirth Of A Demented Kitten)
Female- Kitty Lynch (dark clouds on a winter night)
Blog link is on my profile. Check it out to see this year's tributes! If anyone notices any mistakes please let me know via PM and I'll edit it as soon as possible.
Reviews aren't the first thing I look at when it comes to decisions. Most of all, realism and the tributes themselves all factor into how the Games turn out, however if there ever comes a time when I am conflicted about what to do, I will go back to reviews. If you don't want to review you don't have to, but even a line or two helps to show me you are reading. At the end of the day, why would I keep a tribute from someone who might not even be following the story over someone who's showing me they are still around?
I am deeply sorry to anyone that didn't get in. Believe me when I opened submissions I didn't expect to get so many that I'd have to reject tributes that I actually really liked. Don't take it personally but with limited spots already open in the first place, I had to really be strict with who I was accepting. I looked at diversity more than anything amongst the tributes. If yours wasn't accepted feel free to submit it to another SYOT, I have no problem with that.
From this chapter onwards there will be a question or two asked, as well as a review of the chapter it would interesting to hear your answers.
From the blog, based on first impressions, who are your favourites and why?
The next chapter will be up hopefully within a week's time. With the epilogue to do for Fight or Flight it may be longer but once that is done I have nothing else to get in the way of my commitment to this story.
Thank you to everyone that submitted, I'm excited to get this up and running!