Happy New Year's random dwellers of fanfiction. Sorry these aren't new tributes I'm introducing to you, but I find that this chapter is necessary for authorial things. Enjoy.
Post Reaping Day
The Shadows
the room is dark, cool. The darkness seems as if it's a living breathing thing, and maybe it is. Certainly many have died in here. More have been sentenced to die. The life on Panem is controlled in here, and it's no wonder that every new president who's ever stepped into the room of the Shadows has suddenly realized just how insignificant their lives, all their work truly was.
"Well well well, looks as if a nice bunch has been picked." A voice comes from a corner of the room. It belongs a a man, who despite his young features has a voice of an eighty year old man.
"You mean that mix of psychos, criminals, rebels, spitfires, and so called stars we somehow managed to amass. Yes, quite a nice bunch." Another says sarcastically.
"Yes, yes. Just look at this one!" A woman holds up a picture from the file she had been shuffling through. It's of Alice Winer, one of the female tributes from District One. Her bright smile lights up the entire shot.
"It's Alice, the girl young Ruby volunteered for a few years back. She's grown."
"Why yes she has, remember that fierce little scrap of a thing she was back then? It's only a wonder what those years of training has done for her."
"I'm very much excited." One women says in a quiet voice. "These might be some of the best mass group of tributes we'll receive in awhile. I think it might be time again."
As one, every head in the room snaps towards the women. Feeling their scrutiny, she squares her shoulders and holds her chin high. She was through being the quiet one, letting her opinions go unheard. She wanted this, she needed for them to hear her.
"Just what do you believe your saying?" Ask the women with the files. She now puts them down and puts her hands on her lap, tilting her head curiously.
"I believe I'm saying, it's time to bring another arena out of the file."
There is no uproar in the room. Instead, there's just silence. The shadows, once alive and moving, are now still and waiting, as if listening.
"I agree. So let us have a vote. Who ever thinks this would be a good year to bring an arena out of the file, raise their hand."
A second passes, and the quiet women who no longer wants to be quiet holds her breath. Then, one by one, every hand in the room raises up. It's unanimous.
"Page!" The file women snaps. "Go to the Gamemakers. Tell them we will be picking an arena from the file. Tell them we want number thirteen. And I don't care how long through the nights they have to prep it, there will be no delay. Got it?"
A young girl bobs her head up and down, her dark black curls bouncing around and her hazel eyes narrowed in concentration as she writes down the information on her thick multicolored pad. When she's done, she tucks her pen behind her ear and runs off towards the door, her silver bracelets jingling as they always do when she runs.
"Well, this certainly will be an eventful year." The not so quiet women mutters to herself. Though no one answers, they all agree, but stressful might be a better word.
"Now, let's discuss. We now need to cover security, strategy, and pick out our tributes."
The Page
I take extra care to jingle my bracelet on my way out to activate the bugs I left in there. Usually my pen is the one that records their conversations. But on the rare occasion I'm dispatched, I had to use those bugs. Why we can't just have the bugs on all the time, I don't know. Mom says the frequency from my pen and the bugs might clash, and I need my pen.
Speaking of my pen, I took it from behind my ear and started to roll it up and down the pad, letting it scan the information. The things I do for my cause.
I continued walking down the hallway, every now and then blinking my eyes to adjust to the feel of the semi permanent contacts in my eyes, or irritatingly blowing a curl of dyed black hair out of my face. I can't wait till these games are over. Then I'm out of here.
Then, this stupid "End Result, New Beginning" can actually kick off.
Not my best, not by a long shot. But not my worst. I'd say my worst chapter is the first, which in retrospect, I should probably fix. So, what are ya'lls New Years resolutions? Mine is to get my life together. Which I need.
What I also need is a beta. Please check my profile for details.