"If payback is a bitch and revenge is sweet. Then I must be the sweetest bitch you'll ever meet." -Anonymous

Twenty minutes after the reapings

President Frost's POV

"So here's the re-cap on the reapings," My secretary, Yori, excitedly said to me as I took a quick breather from finishing up everything that was going into the games and explaining to the gamemakers, engineers, and mutt controllers, what was basically going to happen in the arena this year. I couldn't guarantee them that everything I said to them was going to happen, but I did tell them what to maybe expect at least. Like if a tribute went into a certain building a certain kind mutt would be in there. But for the most part, I was just going to play it by ear. Nothing was ever certain, even if you spent months planning it.

It was my first year as president, and I wanted to make sure that I made an impact on the audience this year, show them that I can handle one of the more important things in the world's eyes, the Hunger Games. Really, it was one of the few things that everyone in the Capitol looked forward to, and as such, they wanted everything as close to perfect as you could humanly get it. The districts on the other hand just viewed it as another year of kids killing kids and wanted it done as quickly as possible as the parents and siblings and other kin wanted their family member to come back home and not die.

Well, this year was going to be perfect. A little different from what they normally expect, but perfect, because I was going to direct the games myself. This year, the head gamemaker was only going to be on display for show, because there had to be someone in that position of power. Presidents weren't supposed to get directly involved with the games themselves, but we were always there to either praise the head gamemaker, or to get rid of them if things didn't go over well.

All that was left was to see who would take part in this creation of mine, and I was excited to see who was going to play this year. "Starting in District One is Griffin Holloway and Lynsa Fylar." She explained to me as she dropped two open manila folders on my desk. Thankfully I had cleared the desk of notes, binders, snack wrappers, coffee cups, and other similar items off earlier today. I still couldn't believe that I spent over half the time at my desk doing paper work and writing up designs and the likes.

The bright orange haired women pointed to the picture of the male first. Short, messily gelled black hair and muscled all around with bright hazel eyes. He wore a stunning suit encrusted with jewels along with a simple rope necklace.

In big, bold text above his photo was his name, Griffin Holloway. Below his picture were basic facts about him, such as his district number, his age, how much he weight, hair colour, eye colour, family members both alive and deceased, and crimes if they had committed any. Just like the basic files were supposed to say. "First up is Griffin Holloway," She explained to me. "Age seventeen, volunteered, had to fight a couple of kids to get the spot." I liked that she spoke only what needed to be heard and not much more, it saved a lot of time.

Seventeen years old, he looked more like he was twenty, but being that strong would do things to people's looks. "Next up is Lynsa Fylar," My secretary told me as she moved her finger from the boy to the girl.

The next picture she pointed to showed a thin, pretty girl with brown blond hair with bright hazel eyes that looked nearly golden. She was wearing a white-pink sleeveless dress. "Age eighteen, volunteered, fought nobody to get on stage."

I was only mildly surprised to hear that she didn't have to fight anyone. Sure there were the occasional fights, but it still surprised me that there weren't more kids wanting to get the position badly as they had all been breed for the games.

Another set of heavy papers hit my desk with a light, scraping splash like sound before the open binders overlapped the previous tribute pictures. "Next up is District Two." Yori told me as she pointed to the male. He had shoulder length dirty blond hair and facial features that looked too small for his rounded face, and that included his light blue eyes. "First up is Lucifer Despar. Age eighteen, volunteered, fought every kid from age fourteen to age eighteen, or so it seemed."

That was typical for District Two, they fought things out rather than outright volunteered. I wasn't surprised to hear that he had to fight through nearly every kid to get his spot. "Next up is Helena Draconix," She explained to me as she pointed to the next photo.

In that photo was a girl who looked far too young to be a career with long black hair, almond shaped emerald eyes. She had a really small build, but was pretty at that. She wore a coral pink, knee length dress. "Who seems to want to be called Howl for some reason." That part didn't interest me as much as her name, I felt as if I heard that name before.

I looked down to the family section and noticed that everyone in her family was either a victor or a trainer. No wonder I recognized the name. "Age twelve, volunteered, fought every kid that wanted to volunteer. But she didn't fight directly per say, she hopped across their heads and shoulders before getting to the stage and knocked over the reaping bowl. Needless to say, there were lots of kids that didn't like that a twelve year old stole their spot in the games."

The girl interested me, not only from her family name, but her age and how she was able to get to the stage and beat the older kids to it. She hadn't been scared to go up against the bigger, older kids, and that was saying something considering her size and age. And the way she made an entrance was interesting as well.

Another set of open documents fell onto the District Two files. "District Three has this girl," She continued. "Nessa Christine Johnston. But for short, we'll just call her Nessa Johnston. Age twelve, reaped, shacked while trying to put on a brave face."

A girl the same age as Helena, but their looks were much different. This girl had a medium toned tan with red hair and green eyes, which was an odd combination of body features. But the real defining thing that differed them was that Helena willingly volunteered while Nessa had been reaped and scared.

But what interested me more was the boy that was reaped with her. The one wearing a fully covered metal facial muzzle around his mouth along with a tight straightjacket and a thick black cloth hanging loosely around his neck. He had dark brown hair that exceeded his shoulders in tatters along with a heavy build and sharp, dark green eyes. And like Griffin, he looked like he was in his twenties. "The guy you're looking at now is Zap Philistone, though he claims his real name is Tharizdun. Age eighteen, reaped, hated that the name Zap was called instead of Tharizdun."

Very interesting. "He had to be escorted by five peacekeepers to, and from the stage. Everyone seemed to of loved that he got reaped, except for Nessa and the escort." Very interesting indeed, he could be very useful in putting on a dream game. "Speaking of the District Three escort, you should probably have a talk to her about asking for volunteers and having an attitude problem. It's bad for television."

It was also bad for your career, or your life if it comes to that. I will have a talk with her when she comes back to the Capitol. If I don't give some sort of punishment, the Capitol citizens will be out raged, and the gamemakers and other escorts will think that they can get away with things, which wouldn't make anything better.

Another set of files appeared on top of the District Three pair. "First we've got Shoney Germoal," She continued as she pointed to a kid with ice blue eyes, short and messy light brown hair, and a barely noticeable tan. Something I would of expected to be heavier since he was from District Four.

And while he was small for a career, he was still healthier looking than a lot of kids in the non-career districts. "Age fifteen, volunteered, didn't have to fight anyone." Well, District Four was that career district where they may of been trained, but they still didn't have the same enthusiasm as Districts One and Two.

I looked over to the girl's photo as my secretary started to explain more about the wavy red headed, green eyed, and thin girl that, like her district partner, was thin but healthy. She wore a costume made of green scales. "Evaline Ellery." She told me as I looked at the girl with the scar across her right eye brow. "Age sixteen, reaped, was happy getting to the stage, but then her smile faded when nobody volunteered for her."

Reaped huh. Well, again, this is a place where some years aren't that full of volunteers in District Four. Kind of disappointed that there weren't two volunteers from Four.

The two District Four tribute photos disappeared as they were replaced by two new ones. "District Five." She said before pointing to the girl. A brown haired girl with brown eyes with large breasts. "Valerie Snake. Age eighteen, reaped, pleaded for someone to volunteer for her. Threw a tantrum like a little kid. Mayor's daughter."

Well that explained a lot, she was a spoiled kid that wanted everything her way. Being the mayor's daughter probably had a lot to do with it.

I looked at the other photo, to see a strange sight. A boy with white hair that hadn't been whitened by time and blood red eyes that looked like they hated the world. "Alexander Natas." She told me as she pointed her finger towards the white haired albino. "Age fifteen, reaped, walked up to the stage while ignoring the insults thrown his way."

Well, I guess he was hated in the district. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they called him a freak or a demon with that hair and eyes of his.

Another pile of files quickly appeared on top of the District Five ones. "District Six has Rayne Page." She told me as she pointed to the girl of District Six.

The girl had an interesting hair colour. She had many shades of blond on her head that went a little over shoulder length. The dye job was most likely homemade, as it had flaws all over the place. The eyes the colour of champagne, a thin body that was noticeably thin at the neck. She also had thick eye lashes with an uneven tan on her body along with a hooked nose. She also wore a simple red shirt and black pants. "Age seventeen, reaped, acted confident."

She probably acted that way. Most older kids try to do that instead of crying all over the stage. It looked pathetic when an older kid cried. "The next person is Ricky Coler." My secretary said before pointing to the male. A kid with pale skin, strawberry blond hair, and black eyes that looked more like huge pupils than eyes. "Age fourteen, reaped, just walked up there."

Hmm. Nice, nice. Interesting, though really, I was forgetting about Ricky already. The only reason I was still remembering him was because of his black, hole like eyes.

Another set of files appeared in front of me. "Up next is Sami Lavisa." She said to me, pointing to the orange haired girl, green eyed, pale skinned girl who wore a vintage tan dress. An interesting choice of dress. "Age fifteen, reaped, was scared."

Well, most kids seem to be that way, though this year's batch seems to be handling it quite good. Making me wonder how they'd react in the arena. I also wondered if they were faking emotions to make them look braver than they really were. "Next is Bo Heatherfield," She told me, pointing to the male. A blond, spiky haired under a white bandana, blue eyed kid with freckles across his nose and cheeks. "Age seventeen, reaped, scared."

Well, looks like the District Seven tributes had something in common with each other. "Oh yes, they also cried while shaking hands." My secretary added. It made me wonder if they knew each other, or were just that scared to go into the games.

Another pile of papers landed on my desk covering up the pictures of the two criers. "District Eight has December Juliet Varen, but to make things simple, she likes to be called Ember." Perfect, not too many people would want to say that whole name too many times.

I looked at the springy, curly, chocolate coloured hair that ran down to her mid back, her oval dark chestnut coloured eyes and slender body with a medium tan and wondered what her reaction was as she walked to the stage in a green shirt and white skirt. "Age fifteen, reaped, ran to the stage as fast as she could." Wonder why she did that? To get it over with?

"Next we have Dav Anders." She said before pointing to a picture of a kid that was fat in certain places on his body, black spiky hair, and blue eyes. "Age eighteen, reaped, angry." Angry. Well, that was uncommon of a tribute. A surprise if I can say that much. "He refused to shake Ember's hand, like he was too good for that." Must be a rich snob, like that Valerie girl.

The sound of heavy paper falling occurred again before their pictures were covered up and I was presented with two new pictures. "Now we've got District Nine," Yori said as she pointed to the girl with a thin body, brown skin, dark brown hair with dark brown eyes that appeared to be almost black. She wore a tanned, collared dress. "This one's Talliana Messine. Age seventeen, reaped, had a snarky attitude when asked if anyone wanted to volunteer for her. She claimed that nobody would volunteer for her."

I'm guessing she was right, she was on her way here, and hardly anyone would volunteer out of the career districts. "Up next is Arrowe Winter," She continued, pointing to a boy who had a pretty muscular body along with a semi-tan, short black hair, two black stud piercings in his right ear, and multi-coloured eyes. The one on his left was a dark brown while his right was a bright green. He wore a dark green button up shirt with three of the button missing from the top along with beige pants.

It interested my curiosity and made me wonder how he got the different colours. Was he an albino like Alexander? Or was it the results of something else? Heterochromia perhaps? "Age eighteen, volunteered, didn't have to fight anyone."

Volunteered huh. What an interesting kid, because as I had thought earlier, hardly anyone volunteers from the non-career districts. I wonder what made him do it.

I didn't even begin to think when another set of files were slapped on my desk. "I don't think District Ten has much of a chance and are better left forgotten, but, I might as well intreg you." My secretary told me as she pointed to the ginger haired girl with a really thin body, light blue eyes, small eyelashes and small lips. She wore a faded blue dress that looked a bit too small for her under an old work jacket. "Name's Life Lee, age seventeen, reaped, vomited on stage."

Some kids did do that upon realizing that they are going into the games, usually with the thought that they're going to die along with built up emotions. She must of felt like a damn fool after. "Next is Max Starling," She continued, pointing to the young boy with slender tan body, long brown hair, grey eyes and freckles across his face. He wore clothes that more resembled rags than clothes. Though that might be all his family could afford. "Age thirteen, reaped, cried on stage saying that it wasn't fair." Most little kids to that, it was annoying to watch. Those kids cried and cried, and yet, they thought that they could get out of it by simply using the sympathy card. "You might also want to have a conversation with that district's escort, Aera Hibiscus," The girl told me. "She also picked out the names without asking for volunteers, forced the two kids hands together, threatened the audience, and scratched the tribute Life Lee."

Damn. Not only did I have to deal with Starbright Williams of District Three, but now I had to deal with Aera Hibiscus of District Ten. It was going to take time out of designing the arena and making last minute preparations as well as disciplining the gamemakers to some changes that were going to be made for the games.

Another set of files was set on top of the previous files. "On to District Eleven which has this girl, Angel Hale." She explained to me as I looked at the picture of the girl who didn't look like she should be from that district. Light skin, green eyes, wavy black hair, and a minimal amount of freckles. She also had large breasts, surprising for someone that was supposed to be under developed. She wore a simple yellow dress.

I wonder how she managed to keep her skin white while in District Eleven. "Age fourteen, reaped, tried to look brave and failed." Expected as much. "The next one is Aerin Sevani. Escort had trouble saying his name." I would of loved to see her making a fool of herself. "Age fourteen, reaped, actually seemed kind of calm, helped his escort say his name properly."

He was probably putting on an act, kids that get reaped are scared, despite how they act. "Oh yes," She said like she just suddenly remembered something. "A search party was sent to get Aerin, something about misinformation or something or other."

What exactly did that mean? Did he try to run away?

No, this brown skinned, black haired, stocky kid wearing a white shirt and black pants wouldn't of been so calm going up on the stage if he was trying to run away. So why did a search party have to called for him?

Another set of papers was piled onto my desk. The last set of papers. The last tributes. District Twelve, the home to that mockingjay girl. The one who made a false promise to free the districts and bring ruin to the Capitol through a doomed rebellion.

I hated District Twelve with a passion because of that girl.

The rebellion may of not of gotten far, but she managed to create enough chaos for it to reach into the Capitol itself. And because of that, one of my best friends got killed by suicidal citizens of our hometown before the fuckers moved in to kill members of her family.

Some escaped, but I remember that they got caught and were executed in vicious ways. It was kept in the dark except for those related to the deceased family members. And because they had taken me in when my parent's lives had expired two years before the rebellion, I was considered part of their family, and was allowed to watch the executions.

While the Capitol folks around me were disgusted by the peacekeepers heinous acts, I watched with glee as they tortured the information out of them before lighting them on fire while they were still alive. I could still smell the stench of burning flesh to this day.

Thinking back, I found it funny how they cheered and loved the murders of the Hunger Games, but when the killing was in front of them, they puked their guts out and didn't want to look at what was happening in front of them. A complete contrast to how they acted back home.

District Twelve, I wonder what they had to offer. "Last up is District Twelve. That district might be trying to spark a third rebellion, or they just hate the Capitol a lot, because someone attacked the new escort, Crystal, by throwing a rock at her." Of course District Twelve would be the district to do something like that, I thought, as she pointed to the girl tribute. A blond haired, blue eyed, pale skinned that was actually good looking. She wore a blue dress with white trim on it. "Name's Evanlyn Scott, age fourteen, reaped, looked worried." Typical. "Next we have Colin Aldrin," She explained as I looked at the photo of the overweight kid with short blond hair and blue eyes. "Age seventeen, reaped, clumsy as hell as it took him a few tries to get up the stairs to the stage. Actually made everyone laugh." I bet, it was funny seeing someone hurt themselves. "And that's all." She finished, leaving a stack of manila tag portfolios containing basic tribute files on my desk.

I thought of the tributes and how some were different in their own ways, while others were the same in that same sense. Though, I wondered how they would individually act when they entered the arena, when they start changing for better or worse. When they start to revel their true colours and show the world who they really are.

I looked up from the files, to see my secretary leaving the room as quickly as she had came in.

She talked so quickly and paused so shortly that I didn't even get a chance to say anything, and she was going to leave me without letting me say anything at all? Well, she knew I was busy and I had told her that as well for the past couple months, but there was still something that I wanted to ask her.

"Yori." I called to her, causing her to stop in her tracks and look back to me with hints of fear in her body. She looked like she was worried that she had done something wrong. Very worried.

I couldn't understand why people did that to me. Why they were so scared of me. I mean sure, I could have them sentenced to death in a second, but I wasn't just going to do it to everyone that I saw or disliked. And if they did do something wrong, it would have to be pretty bad if I was going to kill them.

"Yes Mrs. Frost." She said politely to me.

"Do you think the games are too family friendly?" I asked, thinking about how The Hunger Games have changed from when they were first established and how they were today. How so much different they were compared to now.

I looked to Yori for her answer, in which she quickly replied.

"The games are meant for us to enjoy. We have everyone watching them with their family, which might involve kids. But while I do think that some of the games are a little too violent for the little kids, I do think that it should be more of an enjoyable event then anything else."

I felt my frustration level rise from hearing her say that. I didn't like her response, but then again, what was to be expected from a typical Capitol citizen like her.

"So you think rules like disposing cannibals, rapists, torturers, and censorship should be applied?" I asked her, wondering what she thought of that.

"Of course." She told me, making me hate this conversation even more. "Nobody wants to watch someone eating someone's heart. Or watching some guy rape a helpless girl." What made you so quickly think that a guy was the rapist? There have been times where a girl was going to rape a guy. "Torturer is no fun to watch." And watching someone kill someone else is? "So yes, censorship should be put in. I mean, it's not enjoyable if you not having any fun watching it is it?" She said to me.

"No, it's not." I said to her, thinking back to that day sixty four years ago. The day those prisoners were killed and the reactions of the Capitol citizens that witnessed it.

I also thought of how they were missing the entire point of the games. But this was the Capitol, and the games were meant to send a message to the Districts. "Thanks." I told her, not wanting to see her for a while. "You may go now." She happily obeyed.

I gave a deep sigh of frustration before remembering the gamemakers reactions for when I presented them my plans. Their shocked, horrified expressions. They looked at me like I was a monster.

Well, if that's what they were going to think I was, so be it, I was going to remind them and the districts what the Hunger Games were originally meant for. And more.

I began sorting the files over my desk, looking over anything that I might be able to use from them. And the more and more I looked the files, the more I thought, yes, I could use them, and turn my vision into a reality.