Our first outlier District! The update was a lot faster this time as I am trying to get the reapings/introductions done as fast as I can. Today we meet Marzio Ottone and Annabella Giada, they are both Warrior Partners in Electrical Engineering. Oh, and while we are on that topic, the rule about a tribute's Warrior Partner being the only ally they get is revoked. While planning, I realized it backs me into too many corners and stifles the story lines I can do.

HOWEVER! Allying with your partner brings many benefits. This will be talked more about later on but I can't explain now without spoiling the arena.

Anyway, enjoy this chapter and be sure to tell me your thoughts!

Marzio Ottone, District Three Male.

Marzio Ottone stood nervously on the stage with his parents, his mother holding him close as they waited for the escort to call out the male tribute's name. His family never meant for him to get that far, like most people in the District. They just wanted to get the money from volunteering their son but instead, he was in the final three, one of them due to go into the Games.

As the escort pulled the name free from it's paper tomb, Marzio felt his breath hitch. "Marzio Ottone!" the escort cheered but no one said anything back, the crowd silent as they watched the boy's mother sink to her feet, her body shaking as she sobbed from hearing her son's name. The other families, instead of cheering him on, comforted his family instead.

Marzio turned to hug his mother but was pulled towards the microphone. He was now Capitol property, his parents had no custody of him.

10 Years Later...

Mazio sauntered out of his room, his leather combat boots squeaking on the wooden floor of the tribute house. All around him, people rushed to and throw, flipping through scripts the camera crews had given them and arguing their case when it came to things they didn't want to partake in. As the dark haired boy leaned against the door frame, his brown, almond shaped eyes darted among the tributes until they were met with Venus Atwoods of Twelve, Ice blue irises. The dark haired girl hurried over to him, cradling a small, tablet device in her hands, her face panicked.

"Can you fix it for me, please?" she asked, holding out the sleek, black tablet that's screen was flashing red.

Marzio looked at the device from over his sunglasses and frowned. "Did you do a virus sweep like I told you to?" the girl's face dropped as she cast her eyes down to the tablet.

"I forgot," she sighed. Venus was a smart girl, someone Marzio admired in that area but when it came to technology, the girl was useless, unfortunately. The Asian boy frowned as he stuffed his hands deep into the pockets of his skinny, black jeans. He was used to being the tech guy in the household but during an episode so close to the Games, no one could really afford the lack of screen time. However, after looking at the crew setting up and assuming his theory about the problem was correct, he knew what to do.

"Okay, come in," he said, opening his door for Venus to hurry inside, himself quickly following suit. So much so was Marzio used to clients begging him to fix their technology, he had purchased and furnished his room with chairs. Venus took a seat in the comfy, red velvet seating that took up most of the boy's room. Marzio on the other hand seemingly glided across the room, pulling a large desk light out as he sat at his work station.

Venus craned her neck as Marzio wired up the tablet to a projector, the old machine sparking to life, literally. It projected a scrolling image of white text, words that included symbols, similar to modern Panemian. It was a language Marzio knew all too well. It was Ancient American English, a few words that stumped most of the population but to Marzio, it made him smile. Since he was a child, the language had fascinated him, something only the most gifted inventors understood. So, once he was shipped off to The Capitol, he made decoding it his hobby. Even now, there were certain words and phrases he struggled to understand but with good old fashioned common sense, he was able to decipher most of it. After ten years of learning, he read it with ease, his fingers typing in the ancient language without even looking at the projected keys.

It was fairly generic that both of the tributes from Three both were placed in the Electrical Engineering skill sector but no one expected anything different from Marzio. His Grandfather, aside from being a large conspiracy theorist, was a mastermind when it came to technology, teaching a little Marzio. He was against Marzio being volunteered for the Games, even if his father assured him they would never pick him. Sadly, the boy's grandfather passed away a year after he was chosen, leaving an empty hole in Marzio's heart, something he filled with cheap one night stands and plenty of technology. He knew if his grandfather could see him now, he would be riddled with disappointment. His loving grandson nothing more than a nervous wreck, drinking and fucking himself towards his possible death. A fate he could not escape.

Marzio thought about if his grandfather was still alive and saw him. "Take those glasses off boy, you are inside!" he would shout as he ripped the blacked out sunglasses off his face and crushed them underfoot. The thought made a small, worn out smile form on his face as he thought about his Grandfather's quivering lip as he tried to look threatening. People said Marzio had inherited this, his lip making it look like he was chewing, his puffed up cheeks resembling that of a bratty child when he tried to seem scary. That's why he preferred for his machines to do the handy work for him.

"It should work perfectly now...just, next time, do a virus check weekly, like I said," Marzio sighed, turning around and handing the tablet back to Venus. "It is an old machine and needs looking after more than most."

Venus gave a large grin as she took the tablet, marveling at the fact the red, flashing screen had now been replaced and tranquil forest. "Thank you, Marzio...you can have my dessert tonight!" Venus cheered. Marzio gave a little nervous laugh as he waved her off, blushing slightly.

"It was nothing, really." and with that, Venus rushed out of the door, shutting the door behind her, leaving Marzio to himself to work on the electric spear Berik had requested.

Annabella Giada, District Three Female.

Annabella gave a childish grin as she watched the other children flock to the city square, some looking broken while some looked excited. Annabella had no interest in the Games, only coming to understand them in the past year. However, the fact she fit into the age bracket made her feel special and she refused to be left out.

As she went to walked towards the crowd, her father grabbed her by the arm, his eyes teary as he held her volunteer money. "Don't do this," his whispered, tears forming in his eyes.

As the escort cheered her victory in being chosen, Annabella buried her face into her single father's coat. Thick, salty tears streaming from her eyes as she sniffled. The escort gave a sigh, tapping his foot on the wooden stage in frustration.

"I will come home, daddy," she whispered as two Peacekeepers pulled her away from her father's embrace, Marzio's parents comforting him.

10 Years Later...

Annabella ran through the wheat field, the tall plants whipping at her bare thighs. She refused to look behind her, the sound of her pursuer grunting as he trampled everything in his path barreling towards the blue haired girl. She kept her eyes focused on the forest that was about a meter away, the dense cover promising safety. However, despite not feeling worn out or strained, her feet refused to go any faster, not even flinching as she screamed at them to hurry up. She glanced around her for places she could dart into but the wheat was far too short to conceal her, the woods was the only way she was going to escape. However, when she was close enough to the tree line that she could touch the assorted bushes, the dew on the leaves rolling onto her fingers, she was pulled backward.

The attacker flung her behind him, her body flailing through the air until it came into contact with the hard ground. Instead of wincing in pain, the girl attempted to scramble to her feet. Sadly, her movement seemed restricted, her body paralyzed as Maurice, holding a large battle axe above his head came towards her. He smiled at his defenseless victim, his mouth seemingly unhinging as a loud, screeching noise shattered the still silence from before.

With the terrifying noise still tearing at her eardrums, Annabella lifted her head to look at the clear blue sky, the burning sun shimmering above her. The girl glanced back over to Maurice but the curly haired boy just stood there, sparking like he was a robot that was malfunctioning, his eyes burning bright with flames. Annabelle continued to watch in horror as the boy melted before her very eyes, his metallic frame rocking back and forth before tumbling down towards the blue eyed girl.

Annabella's eyes shot open, her body jerking before she sat up in a panic and looked around a room for Maurice's battle axe. However, all she found was her small dragon the desk letting out a metallic scream as sparks flew out from its joints. She patted blindly on the bedside table until she found a small controler, aiming it at her creation and shutting it down.

As the room fell silent once more, Annabella gave a large sigh and swung her legs off the bed. She leaned over, cradling her upset stomach as she thought about the terrifying image of Maurice. It was not the District One male she knew, he was a monster, the attractive male warped to terrify her and give her another sleepless night. She had similar dreams before and everyone was someone trying to kill her during the Games, even Nero. He said he loved her and although Annabella was not sure if he loved her enough to give his life for her. People liked to throw the saying around but when it came down to it, how many would really allow themselves to die to save the one they loved? Annabella was not even sure if she could kill herself for the love of her life. She would never know until it came down to it and that was something that terrified her.

When her body had stopped shaking, she rose to her feet and slid her silk dressing gown over her skinny, fragile arms and made her way towards the seating arena. The truth very few people knew about Annabella was that she was suffering from severe paranoia and sleepless nights and sleep paralysis had become common things. It was easy for an outsider to call her weak but when every second of the day she was plagued with the notion that in a matter of weeks, she could be dead, killed long before her time by someone who was just frightened and wanted to go home. She wanted to say she was strong and deadly but she was the weakest tribute there and everyone knew that.

As she entered the tribute lounge, tying her dressing gown, her eyes fell on a dark haired girl who sat in front of the TV. "Hello, Coutille," Annabella said with a sigh to her fellow tribute who was rewatching a series of old Capitol Cartoons.

The girl looked up with her green eyes and smiled. "You are up late, you okay?"

"Yes," Annabella lied, just forcing a smile on her face. "Just had a silly nightmare-"

"Ah," Coutille sighed, nodding her head and muting the TV that showed a baby hitting a cartoon cat over the head. "I am sure everyone is having them," she said this with such a calm tone and warm grin that Annabella felt safe and warm. To the point that she could take a seat next to the girl.

"I wouldn't say that everyone else here has trained-"

"Lack of fear does not exist, everyone, even the bravest warrior in the world has nightmares, it is what makes even evil people part of the human race human...nightmares are common when you are being punished for something you did not do." Coutille grumbled the last part, her face becoming grim. However, she quickly regained her smile and turned to the pretty girl.

"Hm, well I doubt they dream about people killing them-"

"Do you want to talk about it?" Coutille asked but Annabella just shook her head, looking ashamed at herself. "Well, this is my two cents, I think if you can make it past the elimination, you have a shot, you don't need to always be deadly to win."

"I doubt people will vote for me-"

"No matter how you feel on the inside, you are a likable girl with a prize boyfriend and have you ever tried to make something deadly?"

Annabella had to think about this for a second before shaking her head with defeat. "I like making cute dragons-"

"Then make something deadly, I don't expect you to use it in the arena but building it and promising the audience an interesting death, you might be able to sway the odds in your favor."

District 3:

Marzio Ottone, 15

Annabella Giada, 17

Tributes Mentioned:

Venus Atwood, District 12

Berik Mathews, District 12

Coutille Harrow, District 8

Nero Anghel, District 2