A/N: Hey, guys. Sorry this isn't another update, I just retyped the chapter and re-uploaded it because some readers brought an issue to my attention where there was coding mixed in with the chapter that made it hard to read. If the coding is still there, please let me know! Friendly reminder that this chapter was written by the awesome InkblotsOnthePage, and not by me, therefore any praise/concerns/questions about it should go to her! I have been working on the "filler" Capitol train chapter and should have it out soon! Thanks for being patient and hope you enjoyed this little change of scenery after nearly two years (yikes) of Reapings.
~Candy
Ares Gold (Head Gamemaker) POV
Being from a small little town in the middle of nowhere, it wasn't expected when I of all people got the new job of Head Gamemaker. In fact, I wasn't even in the running for being the Head Gamemaker. In all honesty, I was in the Capitol directing all of my assistants by a tiny little accident. A very annoying accident that got me out of District 2 and into the Capitol, defying every single thing I strongly believed in. That accident just so happened to sit across my room in a similar office. Francine Colhert, the Head Muttmaker.
"Gold, room 2312," Terry called out timidly. My apprentice of sorts and personal assistant, Terry Marion, was originally the infamous Seneca Crane's son. After Crane's falling out with the Capitol, Marion moved in with his Aunt, once again Colhert. Marion changed his name from Crane to Marion, fleeing the Capitol to a tiny shelter in Two with Colhert for protection from Everdeen.
Enter me. Being one of the only non-trained residents of Two, I was constantly bullied. Until I discovered technology. For every jab they gave me with a comment, I gave them a shock. Quite literally, I might add. Without any other employment choices, I was working for the hospital. The hospital was bridged to the shelter, where a badly injured Marion and a paralyzed Colhert were.
"Thank you, Marion," I smiled at Terry fondly. Despite my dislike for his aunt, I found Terry actually quite cute in some ways. He was almost like my little brother, Amity Gold, runner up in the Quell two years ago. The short hallway down to President Imperium's office felt like miles every single time, a cold sweat breaking down. Should he ever find out I'm not a Capitolite but rather a "lowly, district rat" I would instantly be executed brutally, much in the same way the previous three Gamemakers, Crane, Heavensbee and Tory were executed for their poor arena plans and execution of ideas.
"Sir, you wished to see me?" I all but choked up, nervously smoothing down the edges of my suit. I could feel the glitter Rudy had added to my hair drip down with my sweat, a rather disgusting and uncomfortable sensation. Imperium swiveled around in his chair dramatically, a grin on his face. His eyes glinted evil.
"Gold. Sit down, have some tea! Here are the character profiles we had S. type up. She's a bit of a storyteller, not too much on the nonfictional element, so I'll have O. type up another version for Colhert," he laughed. I winced at the mention of my co-worker, and luckily, Imperium didn't notice my discomfort around her. I looked over the files, hoping he'd continue talking to avoid the awkwardness of the conversation.
District One
F: Maura Elaine James
Notes: Is a foreigner, recently got imported to Panem from Ireland. Knows nothing about the Games. Not typical, very weak.
Precautions: Knows about the outside world. DANGER
M: Clos Gold
Notes: Seems like the typical Career. Big, burly, all brawn no brain.
Precautions: None seen, he seems like quite the Capitol Boy.
District Two
F: Anyonka Elizabeth Condro
Notes: Typical Career. Not much to be said. Has a family history with the Games.
Precautions: Her sister died in the Games.
M: Ryker Hero
Notes: Seems like a Finnick. Was seen flirting. Disowned. Cringed for one second on stage, after looking into audience, friends with male identified as Mason.
Precautions: Has obvious family issues.
District Three
F: Jadelynn Astoria
Notes: Nerdy, seems optimistic.
Precautions: May know too much for her own good.
M: Rick Sparks
Notes: Seemed suicidal, bored, annoyed, and colorful.
Precautions: Too rebellious, likes taking risks, acts on impulse. DANGER
District Four
F: Coral Beache
Notes: Looked nervous, not a volunteer. Rich girl, her skin isn't quite dark enough.
Precautions: Great actress.
M: Riley Reel
Notes: Volunteered. Typical Career.
Precautions: Dead father.
District Five
F: Savannah Moral
Notes: First looked devastated, then annoyed, determined and finally she smirked. Has a lot going on in her head. Very confident, might even be Career blood.
Precautions: Is an orphan.
M: Connor Stoll
Notes: Stuttered, seemed nervous, twitchy.
Precautions: Father shot by Peacekeepers.
District Six
F: Kara Gage
Notes: Cried, beautiful, seems strong enough, has history with male tribute.
Precautions: Her sister behaved oddly.
M: Hunter Ford
Notes: Very skinny, underfed, only 12.
Precautions: Most definitely won't make it.
District Seven
F: Julianna Marris
Notes: Icy, cold, aloof, skipped a beat once and froze over again. Possible victor besides Careers.
Precautions: Seems tough, may be rebellious.
M: Tobby Weatly
Notes: Poor as dirt. Poorer than dirt, actually. Ran in opposite direction.
Precautions: Impulsive, rebellious, unknown.
District Eight
F: Makenna Flax
Notes: Fancy, Capitolite like.
Precautions: Seems vain, believes she is perfect
M: Tech Bassyn
Notes: Cried a lot.
Precautions: Most likely a bloodbath.
District Nine
F: Colleen Ryder
Notes: Has a child.
Precautions: Had her lover killed in previous Games
M: Jason Grimm
Notes: Orphaned, skinny, dark, mysterious
Precautions: Very mysterious.
District Ten
F: Aria Herd
Notes: Handled situation well enough, not memorable.
Precautions: Not much.
M: Chase Keldheart
Notes: Downright rebellious. Has been whipped many times. Mischievous.
Precautions: DANGER
District Eleven
F: Eve Summers
Notes: Working. Rather oddly, went from screaming to calm. Maybe bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia. Ask O. later.
Precautions: Disorders.
M: Poseidon Cleric
Notes: Volunteer, peculiar for an Eleven.
Precautions: Seems strong enough.
District Twelve
F: Enda Lester
Notes: Rather cute, won't last long.
Precautions: None.
M: Eliban Morus
Notes: Shaky, crying, weak.
Precautions: None.
Noticing I had finished, the president takes his notes back, tucking them in the safety of his bureau. He points to the folder I had brought him. I meekly hand over the folder. Half of it is my blueprints, the other half Colhert's bloodthirsty mutts. He scans over them, nodding his approval. He motions for me to go, but not before warning me once more.
"Do not fail, Gold. You know very well what happened to Tory."
Francine Colhert (Head Muttmaker) POV
Terry places O's file on my desk, lounging in one of the plush couches I had bought for my office in an attempt to make it more lavish. A sad mistake on my part, truly. Whilst anyone who entered Gold's premises immediately thought business, even my own nephew lounged about not a care in the world in my office. Quite contrasted to my personality, I might add.
Maura E. James
Age 18
District 1
Reaped
Clos Gold
Age 18
District 1
Volunteer
Anyonka E. Condro
Age 18
District 2
Volunteer
Ryker Hero
Age 18
District 2
Volunteer
Jadelynn Astoria
Age 16
District 3
Reaped
Rick Sparks
Age 15
District 3
Volunteer
Coral Beache
Age 16
District 4
Reaped
Riley Reel
Age 16
District 4
Volunteer
Savannah Moral
Age 18
District 5
Reaped
Connor Stoll
Age 15
District 5
Reaped
Kara Gage
Age 14
District 6
Reaped
Hunter Ford
Age 12
District 6
Reaped
Juliana Marris
Age 17
District 7
Reaped
Tobby Weatly
Age 13
District 7
Reaped
Makenna Flax
Age 16
District 8
Reaped
Tech Bassyn
Age 13
District 8
Reaped
Colleen Ryder
Age 18
District 9
Reaped
Jason Grimm
Age 17
District 9
Reaped
Aria Herd
Age 15
District 10
Reaped
Chase Keldheart
Age 18
District 10
Volunteer
Eve Summers
Age 16
District 11
Reaped
Poseidon Cleric
Age 17
District 11
Volunteer
Enda Lester
Age 12
District 12
Reaped
Eliban Morus
Age 13
District 12
Reaped
The same lackluster tributes as every other year. As always, many reaped and in tears, a few strong, very few volunteers. Yawning, I got out of my seat, bitterly snatching the empty plate on my desk and slamming the door for an extra effect. Terry didn't even notice. Honestly, for half the time I had been alive, I faded into the background.
I faded into the background when Seneca got into the prestigious academy in the Capitol. I disappeared into the background when Seneca became the Head Gamemaker. Soon enough, I was just as noticeable as Seneca's shadow, his tiny, fidgety sister who never had anything useful to say and stuttered anytime she did say something.
I only briefly reappeared when I announced my engagement to Claudius Colhert, but then disappeared again once Diana announced her pregnancy with Terry. I stayed in the background this time, applying to the Gamemaker ring under the name Colhert, changing my name from Oneida Crane to Francine Colhert. Anything to differentiate myself from Seneca's always overbearing shadow.
Then he died, in the midst of the 74th Games once Katniss rebelled. I was stuck, at the age of 20, apprenticing to a muttmaker on whether to flee or continue on, forgetting all relations. Almost immediately, my mother and father sought me out of my own shadows, luring me back. They fled immediately, leaving me with a note from Seneca and Terry. I took Claudius and Terry with me and fled, but we had only reached the border of 1 before being attacked.
Claudius was shot dead, and both Terry and I injured. We managed to make it to District 2, finally resting in the local shelter. Where I first met Ares and his two adorable siblings, Amity and Athena. I was paralyzed upon entering the shelter, them thinking me some odd Capitol freak with my blue hair covered in layers upon layers of gel. Terry, looking quite normal, explained the situation to them before passing out. It took them two weeks to heal the two of us before they sent us to live with the Gold's, our refugee family.
"What are you doing, Colhert? Don't you have work to do?" he snapped, standing up from his desk to personally escort me out of the room. He was still bitter from my disloyalty to Thirteen. After being captured by the Capitol, I framed my brother and told the Capitol Gold was looking for a job as Gamemaker. We were accepted, albeit a bit suspiciously, as the rebellion began dying down. After Tory's death following his failure to produce a Quell, Imperium immediately transferred the responsibility to Gold. Hence, his hatred towards me.
"The Reapings are starting soon. I'm heading home, you should do the same," I muttered meekly, once again reverting back to Oneida. The little girl overshadowed by her big brother who never spoke up.
"Ok," Gold sighed, exiting his office as well. I watched him go down the hall before running the opposite direction to get back to my apartment.
Odin Hall's POV
"Hello, Panem! Welcome to the 102nd Annual Hunger Games! Before the Reapings begin, a word from our beloved President Imperium!" Flickerman announced, the camera turning to the President. Being the head of the research department gave me certain…advantages. One being watching the unedited film of the interviews and reapings.
As the head of the Capitoler Magazine, written by my sister Selene and I. Of course, the final drafts were still overseen by the President and his circle, but we still had some advantages. As long as we didn't push it too far. Our parents did, resulting in their execution. The ways Snow had executed his disloyal citizens was through often very ironic ways, as if it were a joke. Seneca was executed using nightlock, a message to him of what he should've done. Heavensbee, a supporter of Thirteen was executed even more brutally, mutated and used as a mutt in the Games before the victor of the 76th Games, Kari, lopped off his head. The mutt was later "released" in the Capitol's Mutt Zoo, named Hell's Bee.
Tory, criticized for using the same arena ideas over and over again, was killed by putting him in a death trap. A few seconds before death, Snow sent down a parachute containing a message. "If only your life had been as exciting as your death".
Snow passed away one day after hiring Gold, where the presidency was passed down to his most loyal citizen, Fergus Imperium. Imperium's executions were much more plain, a simple beheading or hanging. Honestly, Snow's era always made for much more interesting stories.
However, after the introduction of Mr. Gold, the Hunger Games became much more than a yearly festival. He introduced a theme for each arena, and honestly, was much more thrilling than Tory. And, being the reporter and interviewer after Caesar's death, I announced the themes.
"Five minutes, Hall," Carmelita called, tucking her hair behind her ears. Carmelita Flickerman, the only surviving family of Caesar Flickerman, worked as backstage crew for my show. Capitol News 1, centered around more gossip than actual news, really. Five minutes passed quickly.
"Welcome to Capitol News 1, the best news central in all of Panem! Today, I have a special guest with me, please welcome our Head Gamemaker, Ares Gold!" I yelled, the audience screaming with excitement. Gold was pulled out from behind the curtain, a smile plastered on his face.
"Good evening, Odin," he smiled, sitting down across from me. I smiled back, throwing my head back so the camera could see the diamond dust I had mixed into my usually blue hair. As a tribute to Flickerman, of course.
"Good evening to you, too, Ares. Now, we're all dying to know, what theme is planned for this year's Hunger Games?" I yelled out enthusiastically, watching the crowd go mad with excitement. Ares was one of the most popular Gamemakers I ever saw the history of the Hunger Games have.
"This year's theme is Heaven and Hell. The tributes will be divided into categories, angels and demons. The demons will be dropped into the Hell sector, and the angels into the Heaven sector. Of course, Heaven with a twist. They will be dropped into the two sections based off of personality alone."
"How interesting!" I laughed, the idea making me more and more excited for this year's Games.
"That's all the time we have with Mr. Ares Gold. He's very busy, I'm sure. Goodnight, Panem from Odin Hall and Capitol News 1!"
Aria Herd's POV
The news station clicked shut. Oh shit.
IOTP: Just so you know, not favoring Aria or anything, just seemed like she'd be the person who'd react that way. What do you all think of the themes? Cool, not cool, I suck…or…I AM THE MOST AWESOME PERSON EVER! JK. Unless…