"They said District 1 is perfect, no isn't" As I write in my old journal full of dust and a cover made with leather, sitting in the empty room with one window, with dusty rough bed, a wooden chair with broken leg, a broken oval mirror, and colorless wall with cracks.

"Everything in District 1 is opposite of what they said" as I continue writing it with my father's only pen that he got from Capitol when he was still working there as a reporter.

"My life could have been different if my dad didn't get killed" If only I could change the past, if he's still alive we're probably living in the Capitol right now.

"My life is empty like my plate" Is my only purpose in this world to starve to death? My mother works in a perfume store but her salary isn't enough to feed us both, sometimes the one single bread is not even enough for our 1-week food.

I look up in our lifeless window and it's already afternoon, I wonder what day is it as I lost counting it but I know for sure it's the month of January. I get up to hide my journal below my dusty rough bed, fixing my ginger hair manually with my hand while looking in the broken mirror as I prepare to meet Mrs. White the mayor for this afternoon. Looking at my wardrobe one available dress, the dress that came from my mother, a dress with gray white dusty color I don't know what color it is exactly, a flowery pattern of purple and yellow colors, this is the dress I dress up every reaping as I don't have any option.

I wonder what the mayor will say as she specifically called me into her home for a talk, I'm not even known in our district so it's strange that she wants to meet me, they said the mayor is one of the loyal people back then during the dark age, and still loyal as of now, no wonder she's looking elegant as the Capitol probably provided her with money and power.

As I was done preparing, a gentle knock was heard on my door, I could see it was my mother as there was a hole, "come in" I said. My mother approaches me with a curious face, she's as small as my door, her hair is the same color as mine, and her face still looks young, she looks like just is my age as we have the same body type but she's smaller. "Chanel, dear, are you done preparing it's 2 pm already and the mayor is already looking for you," my mother said with a gentle tone." obviously, Mother, I'm coming" I responded.

"Chanel, I'm worried about you, make sure to tell me anything the mayor will say, okay?" My mother said with a worried yet gentle tone, "I will" I smiled at my mother and then hugged her softly. She then kissed me softly on the cheek.

I left our house to meet the mayor, walking in this grayish stone pathway, seeing the sleeping dried flowers around, the old lifeless trees with no hair, and houses with injuries, the fountain needs some water at the center of our town, most people with golden hair and crystal eyes, that's what District 1 looks like.

I am finally at the door of the mayor's house, unlike the houses in our district her house is big with a bright yellow color, lively flowers around, a working small fountain nearby, and a gate with two guards.

"Chanel?" A woman's voice was heard from the inside, I assumed it was the mayor so I responded with yes. Mrs. White let me in with a hug and lively smile, her hair was brown as the tree log, she was small like my mother, she was a bit chubby, and her aroma was like flying in the clouds.

She asked me to sit down on her couch which is made in our district, so soft but couldn't afford to have one in our house. "Chanel, as you may know, the reaping is coming in the next five months, and us District 1 have the most victors so far as of 11th Hunger Games," she said with a serious tone. I was nervous when she said that to me, "And?" I asked with curiosity.

"You know, your father is originally from the Capitol, right? In short, you're a Capitol child but your father decided to live here with your mother because your mother isn't allowed in the Capitol" she said with a cold and serious voice.

I was sitting on the couch while she was standing facing the window with her hand on her back, she's wearing an old-fashionable black dress, while in her yellowish living room with one television and a table in the center.

"I have a proposal, Ms. Shafion, a proposal that could encourage our district to win every time in the Hunger Games, a proposal that can make our district richer, a proposal that can change the game, and a proposal collaborative with District 2 and 4". We stared at each other for a moment, I was speechless and couldn't respond as I was confused, she then continued speaking.

"Ms. Shafion, we're opening a training academy here in our district, and I want you to be the first student of it, just imagine volunteering for the game well prepared and having knowledge about weapons, instantly winning the game with ease and money, not only that but I want our district to represent someone that connects both our District and the Capitol, and that is you". I feel amazed yet I don't know how I am gonna react to the proposal.

"As of now, this project is secret but with the knowledge of the Capitol and the collaborative districts, we decided to pick two representatives to train secretly for the next year's Hunger Games".

"And who is my partner?" I asked with a curious tone, I get what the proposal is about, they want to train us to represent our district's next game as our districts 2 and 4 have most of the victors so far followed by 11 and 7.

"So far, we don't have a male representative, but what would you say, Ms. Shafion, would you do it for your mother, your father, and your district, specifically for you?".

Six months have passed since I was trained under Mrs. White for the upcoming 12th Hunger Games, while walking in the reaping wearing the same dress I dressed up in before, joining the crowd in the town square, meeting similar faces each year, a stage with two bowl full of random children's name on it, a big speaker, men in white uniforms guarding our steps, and finally the Capitol escort, I like her fashion taste, she's wearing a white fluffy dress with high boots with butterfly pattern, her hair is either a cloud or a smoke with a small white top hat attached in her hair.

I saw my mother in the back staring at me, I remember back then when we fought because I agreed with Mrs. White's proposal but I made up with her weeks later after that and she fully supported me but this time I saw her with teary eyes, I don't know if she's scared or not but one thing for sure is we're gonna miss each other, I'm determined to volunteer anyway it's now or never because I am turning 18 next month.

"Happy Hunger Games District 1!" Said the escort with an excited tone as the reaping officially started, "It's time for another Hunger Games everyone, may the odds be ever in our favor" as she continued her speech. "Let's not waste some time and let's get started!" As she slowly walked toward the bowl to pick a name.

"I volunteer as tribute" I raised my hand confidently and the crowd's attention went to me, the escort was left speechless as she stared at me in the crowd. "Well, you're the very first volunteer and I love it," said the escort.

I was escorted to the stage with the escort, she smiled at me, and her eyes told me that she was excited. "Your name is?" She asked, "Chanel Shafion" I responded with confidence, I looked into the cameras as what Mrs. White said I should do, and I smiled with confidence. "This is exciting everyone, District 1 is becoming more and more confident each year and someone volunteered".

While the attention was still on mine, another one shouted to volunteer as well but this time it was Louis, my planned partner. We trained for 5 months under the assistance of Mrs. White, we grew to bond as a best friend, he was good at bowing while I picked knives as weapons to train. The training academy isn't that big as it was newly established just behind Mrs. White's house, it's also limited to some training weapons as well so we don't have a choice but to use what's in there. Mrs. White also teaches us what to do when in the Capitol, smile there smile everywhere as there's always a camera watching us, and being confident in the camera is what can get us sponsors.

"I volunteer as well," said Louis, the escort was left speechless again and the crowd's attention went to him, he walked toward the stage and grabbed the mic, "Name is Louis Valer, volunteering, 18" while he's looking at the camera, he has golden hair and white skin, a pair of greenish eyes and tall as a tree, he's every female's dream for sure.

The escort became more speechless as this was the first time it happened that there were two volunteers from District 1. "Well, here they are ladies and gentlemen, Chanel and Louis" said the escort awkwardly yet excited tone, the crowd went clapping and cheering while the peacekeeper lead us to the backstage.

"Are you guys well trained already?" Asked by the escort to us. "Well, why would we volunteer if not," said Louis, "ok, good because we're gonna discuss something when we go to the Capitol, my lovely darlings, Diancy is my name by the way if you will ask," said Diancy.

The escort left us for a while, leaving just the two of us there with a peacekeeper around us. "So Chanel, about the alliance with 2 and 4, do you agree with it?" Asked Louis, "I don't know if they know about the training thing and were also told about that then why not, I mean it's not the first time that our district allied with 2 right," I said with a casual tone.

"But this time it's different unlike them we're trained under academy before reaping, so basically it's a six tribute pack with knowledge about weapons, don't you see what the Capitol is doing? They gave us an advantage in the arena plus an alliance so it's a win-win for both" he said with a serious tone, "are you saying-" I said before he interrupted me, "Yes, it will continue next year then so on, basically were the first batch of well-trained tributes and this is exciting because it's probably still a secret as of now".

"It is but not for the Capitol, darling," said Diancy, she then asked us to follow her. "Before we proceed on the train, darlings, here is your family, I will be at the train please don't take too long," said Diancy then left us with our family.

Louis hugged his parents and his siblings were also there while I smiled with my mother approaching her with open arms. "I'm gonna miss you, Chan," said my mother, "me too Mother but hey think positively I have an advantage over other participants," I said while hugging my mother. " I promise to Mother, if- no when I win we're gonna be rich and we're gonna bring justice to Father".

I wiped my mother's tears and hugged her again, I walked toward the train's door and I had my final look with my mother before the door closed. The train then finally started. I was in the window looking at my mother at the station still standing there where we last hugged.

"She's beautiful, Chanel, just like you," said Louis while tapping his hand on my shoulder. "I know, no wonder why my father fell in love with her," I said while swiping my tears and then laughing gently. "Sorry to ask but what do you mean by "justice" I just heard it while the two of you were talking, if it okay for you to say it," said Louis with a sad tone. " I-" before I got interrupted by Diancy.

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A/N:

Hey readers, how is the story? Please be gentle with me this is my first time writing fanfiction. Reviews and constructive criticisms are appreciated but please don't use an ad hominem at me. I can't wait to update this fanfic with or without readers, stay tuned! Sorry for my grammar, English isn't my specialty.

Also, this fanfic will only have not more than 10 chapters just like I said this is my first time.

How's Chanel? How do you like her? What about the other characters? This is just the beginning but most of them will be developed later on (giggles).

Lastly, do you have any suggestions? If so don't hesitate to say it, and I will consider it See y'all soon!!