Chapter One: The New Head Gamemaker

Fabius sat in front of his desk, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead as he buried his face in his hands. He was wearing his usual attire, only now it was drenched in sweat and was heavily ruffled in different portions. It would have been a smart suit, black all over with a red tie but it's splendor has faded over the days of being worn. His graying dark brown hair was ruffled as if he just woke up from a deep sleep and there were dark circles under his eyes. A product of not sleeping for three days. It was expected that he wouldn't of course. The Games were only weeks away with it's first step five days from now; The Reapings. And since he was just legally the Head Gamemaker last night, he had some catching up to do. He thanked technology, knowing only too well that Arenas wouldn't need much work to be put up anymore unlike the Arena's in President Corolianus's time. It could be put up in a matter of hours if needed thanks to the new line of technology which have been developed not long from now. He should know this of course. Studying at the top university in the Capitol made him a genius over matters concerning anything about the games. He planned to be a Gamemaker. Just a man in the Muttations Department only that he got more than he wished for. Head Gamemaker himself.

Fabius scratched his head, wondering why the President needed a new Head Gamemaker in such a hurry. Only last night was he awoken from his sleep by the constant ringing of the phone. Picking it up, his jaws dropped to the floor. President Caecelia called him at such an late hour asking him whether or not he wanted to be Head Gamemaker or not. It wasn't much of a decision. Agreeing is the choice if you want to live. The choice he made. Anything else would mean certain death. The President was a harsh woman. Stand in her way and you'll find yourself decapitated in seconds. That's the kind of woman she is. In fact, harsh was an understatement. She was cruel and sadistic. Yes. Those words hit the spot. Only days ago was he enjoying the luxuries in the Capitol but with the President Caecelia's call. Whoosh! Gone were the good days replaced with days of no sleep, little time to eat and not to mention a lot of work. Couldn't the president have given him an earlier warning? "Oh look my jolly Fabius old Rufus dropped dead from the my little drink! Won't you be so kind to please fill up the position he left? But since I'm Panem's number one jerk, I'll give you weeks to prepare when I know you need months! Ta-ta!" He felt like his head was gonna burst. No worries, though. He has finished what was needed to be done last night.

He looked at his desk, where papers were piled on top of each other. He smiled. He has accomplished a week's worth of work from last night. Perhaps President Caecelia was right. He is the man from the job. Graduating as a valedictorian from Rosecreek University was his greatest feat so far. He chuckled a little. Rosecreek. It sounded as if it was a small innocent kindergarten knowing it was the complete opposite. Dealing with the Games, it was no place for a child. Packed with knowledge about how to make creatures which can rip a person to shreds without the slightest hesitation, to make plants which can squirt acid to melt off your face, no. It is where people aspiring to be Gamemakers would be. He hasn't paid much though of the Games and planned to join the Gamemakers for next years Games, knowing only too well that managing a Quell is difficult. But here he was in the Head Gamemaker's office, whipping up all sorts of animals, plants and other wildlife from nightmares and designing a kick-butt arena for twenty-three tributes to die in. Fun.

Fabius glanced at the clock. It was 7:45 in the morning. Approximately an hour from his meeting with the President. Cursing as he did so, he stood up and headed straight to the bathroom turning on the shower and taking a bath. The sweet scent lingered in the room as he dried himself and he quickly changed into fresh new clothes. They were the exact replica of the ones he just marked for washing. Black with a red tie. He went over his desk and got a briefcase. It was a simple one. Black with a silver handle. If one would observe closely, however, he would notice that there is no way to open it. It had no buttons, no switches. In fact, the only way which would seem to make it open was to pry it open yourself. Fabius ran his hands on the surface. There was a soft click and the briefcase gently swung open like a flower. This was another new invention of course. Opening only when the correct person runs his fingerprints on the surface, it was the safest way to keep documents. Just make sure you keep your hands from the surface though. Wouldn't want it opening in the wrong time now, would you? Fabius gently arranged the papers on his desk into different folders marked with names such as "MUTTS", "ARENA DESIGN" and many more. After doing so he glanced back at the clock. 8:30. Half an hour before his meeting with the President. He picked up his telephone and told his chauffeur to park the car in front of the building within the minute and hung up. He rushed to the door, clutching the briefcase with dear life, ran his hands over the scanner and it opened with ease.

Fabius stepped outside. The sight of the corridor greeted him. With walls made of fountains lined with beautiful genetically engineered plants and a marble floor, the sight was stunning. He continued to walk towards the elevator where an Avox stood ready to attend to his every need.

"Morning." he said. The Avox was shocked. People would usually pay her no notice unless they needed something. She brushed some of her red hair over her ear and looked at him with deep blue eyes.

"Ground floor, please. And kindly step on it I don't have much time." he said, making sure his attire was appropriate for the meeting.

The Avox ran his hands over the holographic controls. She pressed a couple of buttons, flicked a couple of switches and the elevator swooped down sending butterflies in Fabius's stomach. Within seconds they reached the ground floor.

Muttering thank you, Fabius began to jog towards the great double doors which slid open long before he reached it revealing the sight of Capitol streets bustling with flocks of Capitol citizens dressed in the new fashion sense "Flight". They were dressed in gowns and suits made entirely of feathers which ranged from deep black to blinding white. Trotting around, they looked a lot like ducks. In front of the building was the car. Black in color. He rushed towards it and snapped not out of irritation but out of fear that he may be late, "President's Mansion." There was someone beside him. His bodyguard, which changes almost everyday.

The car went off at once. It was a smooth ride considering that there was very little traffic on the road. They reached the President's Mansion with fifteen minutes to spare. Fabius came jogging about, nearly losing his balance as he got out of the car but paid no heed to the people who saw him. Instead, he rushed towards the doors which was answered by a Peacekeeper armed with a gun which could kill a group of people with the grip of a trigger. He ran to the elevator, his bodyguard catching up with him with ease and almost jumped inside. The Avox there looked at them, her lips pursed in distaste. She had the same red hair but had deep green eyes which studied them carefully. Great. Even the President's Avoxes are something. He looked at her and said flatly. "President's Office." She nodded, configured some settings and the elevator swooned up to the last floor. The President's Office.

The doors opened and Fabius came trotting in clutching the briefcase to his chest.

"Fabius." said President Caecelua flatly to acknowledge his presence. She was wearing a simple red dress which ran towards her ankles but her arms were left naked. Her hair was tied up nicely into a very tight bun.

"Good Morning, President Caecelia." he said simply, his voice heavily tinged with courtesy. He lied down the briefcase on the President's desk.

"Are this the papers I asked for?" she said simply gesturing at the papers in front of her.

"Yes, President." he said with a bow of his head.

She ran her hands on top of the briefcase which cliked open almost immediately. She opened the folders and began to read. For a moment, there was silence in the room. President Caecelia smiled as she went over Fabius' work. This are exactly what the Games needed she thought to herself. She knew she made the right decision to recruit Fabius as Head Gamemaker. Of course. Often her decisions ended in success.

"That is all, Fabius." she said. "You may go."

Fabius bowed courteously and left the room leaving President Caecelia alone once more. Not that it bothered her, of course. She has been alone in this room for such a long time that the silence sounded almost deafening. She was used to the sense of isolation from the outside world. She smiled viewing some nice plant mutts which could bite off a tribute's head at will. This is what she wanted. Fine results. Not Rufus's mediocre work. The only thing which peaked her interest there was a wasp that could melt your veins with a sting to cause internal bleeding. he used to design works of art. Bats the size of dogs which could carry off tributes when bothered from their slumber. Fishes which could drag a tribute to the depths and reveal their true forms. Yes. Those were Rufus Spectral's glory days. But they have long been gone. He began to grow weak and she would not tolerate weak members in her team. That's why she saw the need for Fabius Whishart. He was excellent. He reached for the glass champagne on her desk and raised it slightly into the air. It would seem silly to toast on her own. That's true. But she did it anyway. Raising her glass in the air. She smiled. "To the Games." she muttered, drinking down the fluid which set warmth on her lungs. All her plans were clicking into place with someone new. The Head Gamemaker.

A/N: I'm so sorry this chapter took so long. :(( It's just that our exams are coming up and I didn't have much time to write recently. For that I am sorry. :(( Anyway, there are a lot of things which must have disappointed you in this chapter. I rushed through it. And also I was in a hurry to update this. If you have something to say just put it in the reviews and I'll try to do better on the next chapter. :))

The next chapter MIGHT be updated this week or the next. I'm so sorry. Exams are coming up.