Prologue 2 - Shining Stars

Rebecca Demetrius - 39

Singer, "Fuschanne"

"I like stars.

They burn brightly through their life,

Then they disappear as

quickly as they appeared."

It was like I was frozen in time.

I was layered in sweat. My chest went up and down…slowly. Heavily. The crowd erupted into applause! No matter how many times I hear those cheers, they will always fill me with happiness.

"Thank you!" I called out, grabbing the mic. "It's been my pleasure to perform for you all tonight. This really is a dream come true!"

The crowd was going absolutely wild. I knew I would have to wait for them to calm down to make my announcement. This was not my debut concert; it had been five years since Panem was graced with my talent. And in those five years the fire never went down. I sang and danced my way to the top quickly, and have held the Number 1 Spot on the charts without falling even once.

"Has everybody marked their calendar for this year's Hunger Games?" I asked. It was time to get the wind moving in the right direction. "My mother was in the games when she was a little girl. Much younger than me. She was fourteen. Fourteen! Can you believe it? And you know what she did?"

"What?" The crowd answered. Just a simple call and response to get them warmed up. Everyone who's anyone should know my story already, after all.

"She won! She brought victory to my home in District 3! And then, just a few years later, a legend was born from a legend!"

"A legend is born from a legend!"

"And it's time for things to come full circle!"

"And its time for th….-"

The crowd dulled out before the thought could be finished. Some from worry, some from confusion. What did I mean? They were thinking. I couldn't be participating in the games, I'm too old! Well, I'm not that old. But you know what I mean. I curled my lips into a smile and looked right out to the crowd.

"This year, during the 123rd Hunger Games, I, Fuschanne, have been invited to be a guest commentator!"

Silence. Here it comes. The wave of-

Applause.

Applause.

Where is the applause!?

"Rebecca," the voice of my manager went through my earpiece. "Get off the stage. I'm not sure what's going on."

"Well," I said, trying to get my words out as quickly as possible. "Thank you for coming to the final show of my tour. Stream 'Generous' on your way home!"

I ran off the stage and into the darkness of the back rooms. I was so confused. There wasn't any applause, but they didn't seem angry either. Had I said something wrong? I just said what I was told! How could this have gone so…abnormally?

"Darreth!" I exclaimed. "Darreth, what's going on? They should have been screaming from joy!"

"I think you just startled them," my manager, Darreth, said as he helped me out of my dress. "They all seem to just be conversing among themselves."

"Well that's good," I heaved a sigh of relief. "I have to grab something from my dressing room. I'll meet you in the van, okay?"

"Alright Rebecca, be careful."

They were supposed to applaud though, weren't they? This is a good thing. A great thing! An…eye opening event only I can put on.

I grabbed the book I hid in the vanity drawer. It was my lifeline. Something I don't mention is that the legend that came from a legend…is no more. I lost her. Years ago. My sweet Rebecca.

She was murdered. Murdered by a rogue Peacekeeper who thought she was reaped and trying to escape. The murder never would have happened if the games didn't exist. I wouldn't be physically and mentally scarred if they didn't exist. I'm going to avenge her…and destroy the games from the inside out.

I still remember the day I met my savior, Y.X.X. I don't know who they were, or even what they looked like. But they let me talk. Let me vent. Then they gave me this book. Fantastical Masquerade. It described my life perfectly…and without words! How could any ideas be presented without words? It fascinated me.

This is my own rebellion.

This is for my Rebecca.

Or my name isn't Raina Demetrius…thought to be deceased victor of the 97th Hunger Games

A/N: Hello again, and thank you for reading the second prologue for Fantastical Masquerade! Until further notice, this story will be updated weekly on Saturdays. We have two more prologues to get through before we begin the Reapings. There are still plenty of tribute spots left, so feel free to make a submission! I do have some interlude chapters planned in case districts don't fill up before their reaping date, but I'm hoping not to need to use them. In short, no matter what happens you'll still get a weekly update!

- Rascal Ratface