Shine
Chapter 4
Mr. and Ms. Presley
A/N: This chapter doesn't have anything to do with our current Tributes, but it does have to do with two Gamemakers who will be important later on. Also, this is to say: I need Tributes! I currently have 7, but only one pair, and I can't do a Reaping without a pair! So, please, submit some of your wonderful Tributes! I look forward to seeing them!
Also, some background. Kai Presley was a Tribute from last year's Games. He died protecting the woman he loved. He believed both of his parents to have been killed when he was young.
Lauren Presley –40- -Capitol Resident- -Gamemaker- POV
I and my husband's meeting with the head Gamemaker went well. As well as it ever does, that is. He wants us to design a special kind of mutt this year. Of course, one specifically for the District Four Tributes. They're never going to let us forget this. I guess that this is still technically a punishment. That night, I lay in bed with my husband, and tap out a message to him.
"... - .- .- .-. . -.- - ..- ··-··" How are you?
"..-. .. -. . ·-·-·- -.- - ..- ··-··" Fine. You?
".. .- .. ... ... .- . -.. .. -.. -. ·-· - ... .- ...- . - - -.. . ... .. -. -. - ... - ... . - ... .. -. -. ... ·-·-·-" I wish we didn't have to design those things. I pause. ".- -. -.. .. .- .. ... ... -.- .- .. .- .- ... ... - .. .-.. .-.. .- .-.. .. ...- . ·-·-·-" And I wish Kai was still alive.
"- . - - - ·-·-·-" Me too.
I really wish that this wasn't the only way we could communicate, taps on each other in bed. Morse Code, good thing we knew it, and it didn't seem suspicious to brush up on a few of the letters we forgot. They're always watching, that's why we can't communicate any other way. Every word we say and expression we have has to be adamantly pro-Capitol or… or they'll torture on of us, and make the other one watch. I still can't believe that things are this way… I was… what, twenty-three? I was twenty-three when it happened. Kai was two. I and my husband were younger then, and stupider. And it nearly got Kai killed. Heck, maybe it did, I don't know. The butterfly effect and all. It was stupid.
Seventeen Years Ago…
Outside a Research Lab in District Four
Heavily Secured
"A-" The Peacekeeper's scream is cut off my husband, Liam's, hand around his mouth.
"Shh now," Liam says. "It's time to go sleepy. For a long long time."
I grab the sidearm I carry, and shoot the Peacekeeper in the head. He slumps to the ground. "Just through those doors, and then we'll have it," I say. "The documents that prove that District 13 isn't gone."
"I know," he says. "Can you believe it?"
"I really can't," a voice says from behind me. Suddenly, lights flood the corridor. "Put your hands up, turn around slowly, Ms. Presley, and drop the gun." I comply with the orders, feeling a sinking in my stomach as I turn to face the Head Peacekeeper, and drop my weapon. It clatters to the floor. The Head Peacekeeper has two guards behind him, both in full armor, with their rifles pointed at me. He himself is wearing no armor, and has only a sidearm. It's pointed directly at my chest though. A glance behind me shows three guards behind my husband, all with rifles. No way out of this.
"So, what now?" I ask. "You shoot us and leave us here as a sign not to rebel?"
"Oh, no," he says, with a smile on his face. "I have special orders from the Capitol for you two. Since you've been such troublemakers. Yes, we know what you've been up to, we just haven't been able to catch you yet. Or, we could have, but the Capitol wanted to see just how devious you two would get. Apparently, they would like you to become Gamemakers, instead of being executed."
"I'll take the execution, thanks," I spit on the floor in front of him.
"I'm sorry, it's non-negotiable," he says. I dive for the floor, and barely get my hand around the grip of the gun before I feel a round hit me in the back.
I'm surprised when I wake up in the back of a car, next to the town square. The doors are locked. I look up front, only to see someone sitting next to me. It's the Head Peacekeeper. My husband is in the passenger seat, and there is another Peacekeeper in the drivers seat.
"How am I alive?" I ask.
"Stun rounds," the Head Peacekeeper says. "A nice new invention from the Capitol. I hope you enjoyed your experience. Now, before you depart for the Capitol, there's a show for you to watch," he points to the town square. "As you guessed, somebody needs to be executed for your crimes. So, you will be. To everyone in your District, at least. We've had these two in holding for a while, it's about time they finally got what they deserved." As he speaks, two Peacekeepers come out, dragging a man and a woman in ragged clothes, with dirt and grime on their faces. They look close enough to me and my husband, the same body type, height, and hair color, that if somebody wasn't paying attention (which they won't be), they could easily be mistaken for us. I turn my head away, I don't need to see what comes next. But the Peacekeeper grabs my head in his rough hand, and turns it back to the square. "Watch," he says. I see my husband being given the same treatment from the Peacekeeper in the front seat. We're forced to watch as the couple are brutally whipped, and then eventually shot in the back of the head. After their bodies fall forward, the Head Peacekeeper motions to the driver. "Get us going," he says.
After a long car and train ride, separated from my husband, we finally arrive at the Capitol. We're dragged into President Snow's office, and made to kneel before him in handcuffs. I spit on his perfectly shined shoes.
"Hello, Ms. Presley, Mr. Presley," President Snow says.
"Screw you," I say. A Peacekeeper steps forward, but Snow puts a hand out to stop him.
"There is no need for that," Snow says. "Or for hostility, Ms. Presley. You should know, your son is still alive. You should also know, that, as part of your punishment, you will watch him grow up. Without you. If he survives, that is. I fully expect him to starve. You'll have to watch that, too."
"And what exactly is our punishment?" Liam asks.
"Ah," Snow says. "You wish me to tell you your punishment? Very well. You have done everything in your power to destroy the Capitol, to assault the hand that feeds you. You have tried to stop Reapings since you were teenagers, you have repeatedly broken into Capitol property in your District, and your most recent quest is to 'prove'," he puts air quotes around the word, "that District 13 still exists. To do what, start another silly rebellion? Whatever the case," he waves his hand to dismiss the question, "you have been quite a problem for the hard-working Peacekeepers in your District," he pauses, most likely for dramatic effect. "Since your early efforts were focused on disrupting the Hunger Games, and since those remain the ultimate symbol of what happens when the Districts folly, you will become Gamemakers here in the Capitol. You will design mutts, under supervision of a Senior Gamemaker. You will control these mutts in the Arena, forcing them to rip apart children. You will be assigned to attack the Tributes from District Four, and to make mutts that do well against them. And, you will watch your son grow up. Or, more likely, die from starvation. Whichever the case, you will watch. You will be provided an apartment here in the Capitol, within walking distance of the Games Control Center. Be aware however, that your apartment is constantly being monitored. Any attempt to destroy property, kill Capitol citizens or yourselves, or preform any other crime will be responded to immediately with maximum non-lethal force. Any questions?" All I can do is stare in shock at him. He smiles. "Very well. I look forward to working with you," he pauses. "Oh, and one more thing. If you mention to anyone, anyone at all, where you are from, you will be confined and… incentivized not to do that again, and the person you told will be tortured in front of you, before they are executed. Guards, take them away," he says, motioning to the Peacekeepers behind us. They grab us roughly and take us out of the office.
The next few years were hard, but eventually we got used to it. Then it got hard again. We figured out the Morse Code communication system pretty quickly, within a few nights. After all, we had nothing else to do, certainly not sleeping. We watched Kai grow up. We were so happy when he defied the President's expectations and didn't starve. We were happy when he fell in love. It always hurt not being able to be there with him, but we got to see him grow up. We were sad, and angry, when his girlfriend got Reaped. Poor Galia. We were sad, watching him despair. We were especially sad when he volunteered for the Games. We were happy when he found love again with that Brooke girl. We were sad when he died, although we knew it was what either of us would have done for each other. We were said that Brooke didn't make it out, but you know, we had never met her. Very rude of her, not to introduce herself to her boyfriend's parents. We were happy that the Gamemakers were banned from killing anyone that year. I'm sure that the President must have hated that he missed out on such a golden opportunity to torture us. And now? Now we're wondering why we're here. We have no friends, Kai is dead. And we're contemplating doing something about it.
A/N: What are our conniving Gamemakers up to? Will they succeed? Will they fail? Will I forget to ever bring them up again? (No). :) Anyway, thanks for continuing to read, and please, continue to submit your Tributes! I only need 17 more! They've all been wonderful so far, so I encourage you to submit your Tribute now! I'll probably start working on the District Five Justice Building scenes soon, so stay tuned!
Tribute List:
D1M: Open
D1F: Diamond Knowles, 18, by Tyquavis (Previous character connection)
D2M: Ares Moretti, 18, by Andii99
D2F: Open
D3M: Open
D3F: Open
D4M: Open
D4F: Thia Zollis, 15, by JustAPersonReading
D5M: Emery Colt, 17, by Hawkmaid
D5F: Serena Holden, 16, by Andii99
D6M: Andrew Spayler, 15, by AspiringSteampunk0909
D6F: Open
D7M: Open
D7F: Vallory Stensland, 16, by Hawkmaid
D8M: Open
D8F: Open
D9M: Open
D9F: Open
D10M: Open
D10F: Open
D11M: Open
D11F: Open
D12M: Open
D12F: Open
