Pre-Games: Shadows

District Four:

Alexis Andromeda's POV:

"Order up!"

A bell dinged as the fryer sizzled loudly. I marched to the back of the restaurant with my tray. I loaded several plates onto the large saucer and held it above my shoulder. I looked past the tiny window and into the kitchen. My mom worked hard on a side of fries while my dad tossed some shrimp in the fryer. He glanced up at me and grinned. I smiled back and nodded, knowing anything said would be lost in the noise of the hustle and bustle of the Deep-Fried Grubbery.

As I walked past the counter, I grabbed a pitcher of water. I refilled glasses effortlessly as I glided past talkative customers. I was nothing more than a ghost to many; letting them fully enjoy their meal with their loved ones. I continued down the aisle until I reached the table the order was meant for. I smiled tentatively at them as I passed the plates to the appropriate person.

"Thank you, Alexis." The mother of the group smiled as her children began to dive into their food. "I have been craving a fried shrimp burger for days, and we both know the DFG makes the best in District Four."

"You have that right," I smiled as I emptied the pitcher with these final refills, "Enjoy your meal."

The DFG was the pride and joy of our family. My grandfather started it when he was in his mid-twenties after he had grown up in the fishing business. Unlike his family, he had no passion for the sea and harvesting the ocean. Instead, he had a love for cooking. He swiftly turned his little shack into a busy dive bar. He shared his passion with his children and my father took the dive bar and developed it into a full restaurant. The DFG was a lucky gem in our family. It was where my grandfather met his wife and my dad met my mom. It was this beloved family business that brought us wealth and happiness.

What more could you ask for in the scheme of things?

I shuffled to the bar and leapt onto the counter. Lunch rush hour was just finishing up, which meant no more constant waiting on people. I saw my fifteen year old brother, Aquarius, delivering several checks as well as busing tables. My parent's preferred for me or my older brother to take care of the large plates of fried food. Aquarius had a tendency to drop the ball or, more realistically, the plates. It was far less severe to stumble and drop a piece of paper than it was to shatter plates and spill fresh food everywhere.

The side door opened and I closed my eyes, enjoying the sea breeze as it blew across my sweaty face. I didn't even have to open my eyes to know it was Briney who entered through that obscure exit. Briney was an older man who loved his habits. He came to the DFG every day at the same time, ordered the same thing, and took it outside. I had spied on him a couple of times, and every time he slowly ate his food on the docks while throwing bits and pieces of it to any nearby gulls. I was glad he went away from the restaurant; otherwise I knew my parents would have confronted him about attracting flocks of birds to our already full restaurant. No chef wants loiters, human or animal.

"Did you enjoy your meal?" I recited as I grabbed his empty plates from him.

"Yes, very much so," he replied religiously before taking a seat on the barstool.

I casually stacked the plates with the other dirty dishes, knowing my older brother would clear them once he was done moving in supplies specifically for the dinner rush.

"How are you today?" he asked as he gazed out the window.

"Very good and you?" I reflexively replied as I wiped down the counter.

"I'm fine," he said dreamily as his mind wandered off like usual.

He was a mysterious old kook, albeit a very kind one. Never once had I ever felt intimidated or judged by him. Although this might seem normal to some, it felt very uncommon in a district where everyone felt, and looked, perfect. I wouldn't say District Four was an overly superficial place. It was prosperous and wealth wasn't uncommon. Even those with little usually found happiness in the simple things that nature had to provide us. Most people were kind and easy to talk to… Yet I couldn't help but feel the judgment of some. Mainly the Careers, who would sometimes frequent the DFG because of the low prices and good food.

My parents believed in hard work, mainly because that was what they had done their entire lives to create such a prosperous business. However, this was enforced on us as well. All three of us went to school, worked at the restaurant, and trained with the other Careers. My parents told me repeatedly that this was the perfect balance that would prepare us for anything in life. No matter what we would want to do in the long run, we would be ready to pursue it.

I couldn't help but agree with them… Except for the fact I didn't get along with the other Careers. The ones who were intent on volunteering for the Hunger Games were either terrifying or inflated bullies. The ones who just trained out of tradition were a tad too frivolous for my tastes, and I tended to not have anything in common with them. Add in the fact that most had this effortless attitude and beauty that could leave anyone feeling inferior, and you create a situation I wanted to avoid.

Except I was forced to go through it almost every day.

"Hey sis, why are you sitting here looking so lonely?"

I perked up when Cetus slapped me on the back as he grabbed the stack of dirty dishes.

"Oh I'm not lonely," I smiled, "and I have company right-"

As I waved to my left, I saw that Briney had disappeared in my slight musing. Always the elusive one, I supposed.

"Oh great, now you're hallucinating," he chuckled as he moved past me.

I followed close behind him, cleaning small messes and fixing tiny details along the way. Cetus was by far one of the most talented people I knew. Only three years older than me, I always looked up to him during training. Although I was afraid for him and his intention of going into the Hunger Games, I was amazed at his natural finesse for every training exercise. If anyone could have steam rolled the games on skill alone, it was Cetus. Sadly (but happily for me) he tore a muscle a month before the games when he was eighteen. After much discussion between my parents and a doctor, Cetus decided it wouldn't be a good idea to enter the games. Although the Capitol was known to fix injuries during your stay in the Capitol, those injuries were also usually received there. There was no guarantee they would repair it, and it wasn't a risk any of us wanted him to take.

"No, I was just lost in thought."

"I can't wait to tell Mom you were taking an unscheduled break."

"I was talking to a customer."

"No, but you were drooling a little."

I rolled my eyes as we reached the kitchen. My brother was one of the only people I took harassment from. Not to say many people made jokes at my expense, but I usually didn't take it well. I liked for everything to be perfect. I wanted each hair to be in place, my outfit to be coordinated, and any acne to be smothered from existence under mounds of concealer. I knew when others looked at me they didn't see a strong warrior or a breezy beauty. I doubted sometimes they even saw me. However, on the off chance they did, I wanted them to at least see something normal. I never wanted someone to see something out of place and then think "Wow, what a slob" or "Hey so-and-so, do you see that on that chick's face. Gross."

"Are the customers taken care of?" Mom asked as she furiously scrubbed at a pan while Dad stepped out to survey the restaurant.

"If they aren't, they will be in a second," Cetus pointed at the door swinging back and forth.

"If he leaves me to clean the fryers again, I swear to all that is holy…" she muttered quietly.

Cetus and I rolled our eyes as we began to load the dishwasher. Although our family got along swimmingly, we were prone to the dramatics. Mom was usually yelling out orders while Cetus quipped back with swarmy remarks. Aquarius tended to skip out and do his own thing, which always threw my father into a tizzy. Maybe it was because of this fiery family that I turned out to be the low key one. All I knew was that I hated to be in the hot seat, especially when my family actually argued. I loathed whenever their usually tiny squabbles blew up into something massive. Whenever this happened, I was usually dragged into the middle and used as a mediator. A mediator who had a bit of a panic attack inside, not wanting to upset anyone.

"Any big plans for the afternoon?" Cetus asked, "Seeing as there is no training today."

"No, not really. Maybe I'll head down to the beach… The temperature is dropping rapidly and this will probably be our last nice day for a while."

As we loaded the last of the plates and moved onto the silverware, Cetus barked, "I'm going to head down to the docks, thank you for asking."

"Sorry, I thought since you went there every day for work it was kind of a given."

"I could have quit. Maybe even eloped or something crazy like that."

I sighed heavily, shaking my head at my brother. I firmly believed all the attention he received during training over the years pampered him too much. He usually stole the limelight and made conversations revolve around him. Maybe that was why we got along so well. He garnered so many looks that I never had to worry about what others were thinking about me. Their minds were so tuned to Cetus' words that I was just a mere shadow.

Just how I liked it.

The waves caressed my skin as my arms cut through the surface like a knife. I counted to three before I turned my head and breathed. The sun was hot on my back, but the waves were a cool salve for my skin. The constant change in feeling brought about a familiar comfort. Everything changed in the ocean. Nothing was forever definite.

I changed from my crawl stoke into a simple dive. I swam completely submerged for several seconds before breaking the surface. I wiped the hair off my face and rubbed the water away from my eyes. The sun was harsh in the sky, but shimmered on the glass ocean. I waded confidently in the sea as I observed the coast. I had swum all the way from the productive docks to the casual and fun filled beaches. Teenagers lay on the sand as they soaked up the last sun of the season. Others kicked at the approaching tide, but most just enjoyed each other's company in one way or another.

Sometimes I found myself envious of these people. Every day was a holiday for some in this district. Once they turned eighteen, some would face the harsh reality of dock labor, but not all. They could just coast by on odd jobs and enjoying the free things our district had to offer. Their life seemed so easy, and I secretly wished I wasn't constantly busy with the responsibilities my parents thought were best for me.

However, those times were far and few in between. Every time I tried to imagine being one of those people, I simply couldn't. What I did was a part of what made me who I was. I was a waitress who always smiled and kept a fresh face for the customers. I was a student who learned to the best of her ability and completed all of her work. I was a daughter who loved her family dearly and tried to keep the peace.

If any of that didn't exist, I had no idea who I was. I would just be a girl… A girl with no purpose.

I noticed some people looking out at me, and I realized that was all I was to them. A girl swimming in the distance with no story. I could be anyone or anything… As long as I was free in the sea.

I hitched my leg over the dock and rolled onto it. Water drizzled down my body, but I just lay on the scorching wood. At this time in the day everyone was either out at sea or at home. The sweltering day wasn't always the best time to catch the best fish.

I sat up and shook my hair out. I grabbed the towel I had brought out earlier and finished drying whatever the sun hadn't. Once I was done, I stood up and walked back to the DFG. I entered through the back, not wanting whatever strangers inside to see me half naked.

"You had better be as dry as reed," Mom called out as I walked past.

"I am," I muttered as I went to the backroom to find my clothes. I changed back into my uniform and wandered outside. Like usual, my younger brother wasn't back yet. Usually when we went to training, he disappeared. We would reach the building, and he would just vanish. I still had never asked him where he went, but I didn't really care. My parents still hadn't found out, and I didn't see the point of forcing him to do it. My eldest sibling had trained with the intention of volunteering, but never did. Why couldn't we train (or in his case not) with the purpose of never putting those skills to use and just growing old? I found it to be a bit of a double standard, but it was truly only the older generation who believed in tradition. Most people my age seemed to be over the glory of going into the games. The ones who volunteered now weren't the ones seeking fame… They were the broken ones who were looking for an escape.

I sighed as I watched a group of several people enter the DFG. I suppose Aquarius was going to be late today. I had better get started without him. As I entered the familiar restaurant, I easily found my place. My smile fixed itself easily on my face and my demeanor became one of pure compliance. Here, I was meant to serve. Any other aspect of me wouldn't show its face until I was in a different situation. Until then, they would just hide themselves away in the shadows.

Nimmo Flim's POV:

"And cheers to Nimmo. Best of luck in the Hunger Games, although we doubt you'll need it," my mother ended eloquently as we clinked our glasses. My family politely clapped around me as I sipped at the glass. The fine liquor was overwhelmingly sweet, but it was nothing I couldn't handle. A waitress set down several appetizers, and I immediately picked at the fried dough. When my family first told me that we would be celebrating my last night in the district with dinner at the DFG, I almost threw a fit. The DFG didn't have an ounce of sophistication. It was a place anyone could afford to go to at any time.

My parents assuaged me when they politely reminded me that this restaurant was the one who catered for the Victory Tour the past several years. If their fried, fatty food was good enough for a victor it was surely appropriate for a future one.

"Hey Sis," I called out as we each dished up different pieces of food. Three heads turned towards me, each with a different expression. My three older sisters hated when I referred to them in such a general term since it wasn't clear who I was speaking to. Of course, this only made me do it more often.

"I'm speaking to the cultured one," I grinned as I turned to Carrifa, while Delta rolled her eyes.

My sisters were identical triplets and the stars of this family. For as long as I could remember they had been dancing and performing all throughout the district. They were a part of a dance troupe, but were very valuable because of their looks. Having three identical girls leading the background dancers added a certain air to the performance. Everyone loved a matching set.

"Yes, Nimmo?" she asked as she sipped at her wine.

"Will you be in the Capitol while I'm in the games?"

"I don't see why I wouldn't be. It is where our home is," she answered as she patted her husband's hand.

Herne Kane sat rigidly by her side as he eyed every single morsel on the table suspiciously. I couldn't quite tell whether he was judging the amount of calories that was in a single, fried shrimp or if he was worried that all of this would give him food poisoning. I supposed if it was the latter he would have no need to fret over the first.

Herne was an interesting man, even if it was solely based on the fact he originated from the Capitol. He flipped his viridian hair out of his face and grasped his glass far more robotically. Whenever Herne was forced back to District Four for family events, he was always clearly uncomfortable. Every move was well thought out and he looked at everyone as if they might attack him. Even though this was one of the most stunning places in Panem and it was filled with wealth, he couldn't seem to find any beauty in it. The first time I met him, I truly questioned what my sister saw in him. She and I both had a love for the elegant and beautiful things in life. I felt as if this man couldn't appreciate something of that nature, even if he was surrounded by it (which he was).

It wasn't until I attended their wedding in the Capitol that I truly understood. In his own waters, he was a man who oozed elegance. Every movement was effortless as he glided through the room. His gracefulness almost rivaled that of my sister, someone who was a trained dancer! They made a striking couple; one who could easily work their way through the social games that were ever prevalent.

Social games had always been my favorite type. Watching others squirm as I asserted my dominance and superior wit. There was something addicting about beating others. It didn't matter if they were strong or weak. No matter who they were their eyes always had a distinct reaction. They seemed to lose a certain shimmer or light to them. A light that was forever dimmed when I was in their presence. That was the true sign of victory to me.

"I was just curious, that's all," I smiled.

Meaningless small talk settled over the table. Father spoke about his shipments and several of his contacts in the Capitol. Mother prattled on about the food with two of my sisters, Delta and Hope. Carrifa quietly chastised Herne (per usual) for how out of character he was acting. I knew a majority of people would find these conversations boring or unimportant, yet I couldn't help but be enthralled. I saw every conversation as a small look into learning all the quirks and mannerisms that made every person different from one another. Conversing and figuring others out was always the most important thing to be doing. That and doing whatever else I damn pleased.

"Are you going to be cheering me on, Herne, or your own people?"

All conversations around the table quieted slightly before continuing on. My family, by now, was used to my frequently 'inappropriate' questions. I failed to see why there was such a taboo when it came to certain things. I only ever expressed what was on my mind. Whether that be a silly story, a deep question, or a wanton desire; it didn't matter. Certain things just had to be expressed. What was the purpose of our minds and tongues being interlinked if they weren't meant to always work together?

"I would say," he phrased carefully, "That you are one of my people now."

"We're his family," Carrifa nodded as she sent me a dirty, yet slightly amused, look.

"But I'm just a district savage," I mocked, remembering him once referring to those outside the Capitol as such.

"I would hardly refer to you as being either of those," he chuckled haughtily, acting like the Herne my sister frequently spent time with.

He motioned to my hair, and I acknowledged he was right. Whenever Herne and Carrifa came to visit, they brought gifts for all of us. Jewelry, gadgets, and clothes had been distributed among us for years now. My exposure to these gifts, their culture, and their knowledge had turned me into some sort of hybrid creature. Half of my head was shaved with the other half being combed over in a wave-like pattern. Carrifa always brought expensive dyes home that left glittering streaks of ocean blue through my dark brown hair, while Herne kept me up-to-date with the latest men's fashion. Currently, my eyebrows were plucked to perfection and my eyelashes were coated in blue mascara. My body was covered in an almost magical concoction that turned my once pale skin into a gentle caramel. When you added on the clothes and the jewelry, my family and I didn't look like we belonged here. We appeared to be Capitol born.

This was part of the reason I was volunteering for the Hunger Games. As much as I loved District Four, I wanted to experience every beauty and person the Capitol held within its walls. Their wedding was a special event, and one Herne had to pull many strings to allow us to attend. Going to the Capitol on business was common, but for pleasure? Not only was it unheard of, but impossible. I knew I could become a merchant like my father and go to the Capitol periodically on business trips… But how could I experience all the things I longed to if I was stuck in stuffy rooms in a suit? There was no way to immerse myself in their culture unless I lived there full-time.

The only way to achieve that was by becoming an immensely popular victor… Something I knew I could do with ease.

The other reason I was volunteering was something I didn't mention to my family. I wanted to play the Games. No, I wasn't talking about going in and slaughtering those around me. I wasn't thinking about district pride or being the best Career. What I wanted was to play. The Hunger Games were a free pass to play whatever twisted game I wanted to. I could talk to tributes how I wanted, treat them how I wanted, and kill them how I wanted. The more sick and warped I was, the more the Capitol would love me. Add on my charisma and my looks, and I had them in the palm of my hand. The crown was practically mine.

"Then obviously you don't know me," I smiled as I sipped from my wine once more.

My comment seemed to spook Herne slightly as he dropped back into his weary, robotic expression. Sizzling plates were brought around the corner and set down in front of us. A slender arm reached across to place my entrée in front of me. I glanced up and took in the waitress. The first noticeable feature was that a slight smile was fixated firmly on her lips. It was a salesmen's smile, something I had seen most of my life. Her hair was in a perfect bun, and she served us without any effort on her part. Our eyes met, and my heart immediately began to beat swifter. When she saw me, her smile faltered slightly and anxiety filled her eyes. She obviously knew who I was, and she didn't like what she saw.

As she scuttled away, I excused myself to the restroom. I stood up, pushed in my chair, and peered above the booths and tables. The girl tossed a rag at a smaller boy and weaved through the crowded joint. I followed her path, walking the same trail she created. I noticed her arguing with a bigger man. He shrugged as he carried plates and she scowled at him as she marched further back into the recesses of the restaurant. He looked very familiar, and it wasn't until he passed by that I remembered his name. Cetus, one of the most skilled Careers I had ever seen. I vaguely recalled that he injured himself, but look how the mighty had fallen. One second he was the biggest competitor District Four had to offer, and now he was a simple laborer.

I shook off the thought as I passed by the bathrooms and then the kitchen. I walked down the shadowy hallway until I came to a partially opened door. I heard a small scuffle and creaked the door open with my foot. Inside, the girl was bent over several crates. She was able to push them around, but struggled to lift all of them at the same time.

"Would you like some assistance," I called out.

She shrieked as she jumped up and spun around. Her face was flushed from being startled, and she clutched the boxes tightly.

"Customers aren't allowed to be back here," she flatly stated.

"I go where I please," I shrugged as I walked closer.

She scampered to the right as I kicked the crate lightly with my foot.

"Seafood?"

"Potatoes."

"How silly of me! Of course fresh seafood wouldn't be back here in a crate," I laughed.

She bent down to grab one and lifted. I latched onto it mid-ascension and took most of the weight.

"Thanks," she huffed as I let go.

"It would be so easy to murder you right now."

She gasped, and dropped the crate with a thunderous crash.

I made a showing of cupping my ear with my hand, and then shook my head, "See? No one heard that or even your shriek earlier. They certainly wouldn't hear your other screams as I bashed your skull repeatedly into the floor."

Her eyes rapidly darted to the door and then to me as she backed up. I relished her reaction, and found it kind of endearing. She reminded me of a cornered kitten. All wide-eyed and quivering. I stepped closer as I laughed, "I could hide your body in one of these boxes. By the time they found you, I would be long gone. I'm surprised more people don't ponder murdering someone before they enter the games. You won't get convicted for it, whether you win or lose. You'll either be dead or the Victor."

I waited for some sort of response, but she seemed speechless. I didn't understand her fear, especially since I knew I had seen her training before, but I cherished it just the same. I gazed into her eyes as I waited for the light to fade away. I had to stop myself from frowning when they were as alive as ever.

Then, just as quickly as it began, I ended it. I stepped back and swooped up one crate. I stacked the second on top of the first.

I smiled at her and asked, "Now where am I taking these bad boys?"

Her jaw dropped as she exhaled sharply, "Oh darling, what's the matter? I was just stating a fact. I found the scenario quite funny and just had to share it."

I hoped this comment might cause her eyes to dim, but they changed. I couldn't tell what emotion was in them now. It wasn't relief, and it certainly wasn't still fear. Was it… Anger?

"Kitchen," she barked as she practically sprinted out of the room.

Suddenly I was dissatisfied. This didn't feel like victory. Never had someone started out frightened of me and then become defiant. Usually, they ended up shattering or breaking… Just like darling Katrina… I marched out of the room and sped up to catch her. She pushed through the door, letting it swing back and hit me harshly. This automatically made my temper flare. I was just fooling around before. It didn't require her to respond with such horrible manners. Nothing upset me more than rudeness.

I entered the kitchen and set the boxes on the ground.

"He offered," I heard her say, missing the beginning bit of the conversation.

"In that case, thank you so much," a man said as he broke open the first crate.

"Not a problem, sir," I smirked, sending a quick glare towards the waitress. She stood rigidly, refusing to make eye contact with me. I forced myself not to glower as I turned around and exited. This one girl wasn't going to ruin my night. Tomorrow was my big day… The day I was here celebrating with my family. Ease flooded my body and a smile came naturally once again. Starting tomorrow, all of these tame games would mean nothing. I would have thirty-one other tributes to toy with and play far more serious games with. When I was done with them, they would all be nothing more than former shadows of themselves.

Hello readers, so it's been awhile. Yes, I know I said maybe it would take a couple weeks and here I am three months later with an update. What can I say? My first quarter at college kicked my ass! I took too many classes and had no free time. I was constantly studying, going to class, doing homework, writing papers, and then after that just trying to enjoy the college experience. Everyone told me the first quarter at college was the hardest, and they weren't kidding. I've made plenty of friends, which is great, and gone through my number of college boy, which is even better xD

Thankfully, this next quarter should be far more tame and I will be updating hopefully every other week or maybe even every week if I have enough time! The point is, I will make time for fanfiction starting now! I've gotten used to flow of college and I know I can handle it once again!

I hope all of you enjoyed this chapter, since half of it has been sitting on my laptop since September haha. I also hope all of you have been well and that you will continue to read and review this story. Some of you asked if I had given up, and I'll continue to say that I'll never give up on this story! I've never given up on a SYOT and I'm certainly not starting with this exciting one! I have so much of it in my head, I just got to spend the time putting it on paper! I've missed writing and reading all of your thoughts terribly! I can't wait to get back into the flow of things once again and continue to work on writing! Tell me what you think of our lovely District Four tributes!

Talk to you later,

Europa