Wow, such positive feedback for so early on! I love hearing from you guys! Unfortunaltely, I still need tons of tributes, so send them in!
Yasmin sat in an armchair in the president of Panem's office, tapping her foot and checking her watch. She had been called here on 'urgent business,' and she hadn't been made Head Gamemaker yet. She was sure that she was summoned because she'd been caught.
All the same, though, she didn't really care. Calvin's plans for the 103rd Games were horrible, with no danger to the tributes other than their opponents. That wouldn't do at all.
She would be the Head Gamemaker, and a damn good one at that. Calvin was nothing compared to what she could be.
The president walked in purposefully, his shoulders back and his head held high. Without a word of greeting, he sat down in the armchair across from Yasmin's and looked at her in silence, as if expecting her to speak.
"Is there a reason why I'm here, sir?" she asked, annoyed.
His expression remained solemn as he stared into Yasmin's eyes. "Of course. You have been called here to speak of the former Head Gamemaker, Calvin Grommet. You were there during his passing, yes?"
Yasmin nodded, keeping her composure. She wasn't about to correct the President and reveal herself; the real reason should be kept a secret. Bragging rights didn't apply to this.
"He had a supposed heart attack after taking a sip of wine. He dropped the glass, fell to the floor, and cut his head, only speeding up his death. A real shame, it was. He was a great man, a great Gamemaker, and... now he's gone. No one seems to know if the theorized cause of his death is true."
The president reached into his pocket, and pulled out a vial, filled with a dark red liquid.
The same liquid that Yasmin had put in Calvin's wine.
"I, however, have my own theories. Nightlock berries work in mere minutes, killing their victim without much of a fight. When made into liquid, they can be used as an untraceable poison."
He set the vial down on the arm of his chair, carefully so he wouldn't break it. "I don't suppose that you have an explanation for why this fatal poison was found in your wine cellar?"
Yasmin smiled. "Catching on yet, sir?"
He nodded. "You're absolutely mad, Miss Crofter. I like mad."
Yasmin laughed. "So, no arrest? No sentence? I'm getting off clean?"
For the first time that day, the president cracked a smile. It wasn't a joyful or playful smile, but one full of sinisterness and bloodlust. "As Head Gamemaker, I expect you to create the best Games that Panem has ever seen."
Yasmin stood and held out her hand. "It'll be a pleasure working for you, sir."
His smile vanished. "I did not say that you could rise."
She fell back into her chair, her smug smirk not leaving her face. She wasn't about to show any willingness to give in to orders. That was a job for a tribute escort, or a lesser Gamemaker.
"I have a request for you, Miss Crofter."
The statement took Yasmin by surprise. She wasn't expecting any input from the President, but if he had it, she'd be sure to put it to use.
The president looked her right in the eyes. They were almost devoid of emotion, completely blank. "Make them pay. Show them that the Capitol always wins, that the Districts are meant to bow down. Show no mercy."
Yasmin's eyes went to the vial of nightlock poison, her own secret weapon. She laughed. A single drop could bring down the strongest of beasts.
"I'm very good at not showing mercy, sir. I won't fail."
The President nodded. "For your sake, I hope that your words are true. If they aren't..." He held up the vial of poison, the dark red liquid sloshing around in the glass. "I have my own ways of punishment."
"Great, great." Yasmin stood, bored. "Got it. If I fail, it's a painful death for me, and blah, blah, blah. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have twenty-three early deaths to plan."
With that, she left the President's office, shoulders back, head held high, hips swaying, a confident smirk on her face. She knew that she'd succeed, and if she didn't, at least she'd go out in style.
And as she left, he watched her with a ghost of a smile on his face, thinking of how proud his predecessors would be. They'd want him to be a strong leader who made decisions that were best for Panem.
And something told him that appointing this feisty young girl as Head Gamemaker would be the best decision that he'd ever make.
Well, that's the second prologue. We've met the president of Panem, who shall remain unnamed for a little while. But keep sending those tributes, and check the list (previous chapter) for updates on what I'm looking for.