Prologue 2:

Four Months Before

Seraphim Lukianas, Co-Head Gamemaker

Seraphim sets his phone and all other electronics to the side before continuing down the empty hallway, heading towards the doorway with guards stationed on either side. They do a quick sweep with a device to check for electronics before they let him into the room that only three other people in the country are allowed in.

Not even Zephyr knows where or who he is meeting with today, and if all goes to plan, he never will. It hurts him to keep this secret from him, but what can he do when this information getting leaked could ruin everything they have been working on the last eight months?

No one can know that President Mendalius Xavier lived through the rebel assassination attempt, not after they were told he died. Not after he has become a martyr for the Capitol, encouraging the Districts to support the changes being implemented.

Mendalius looks up and smiles at Seraphim as the doors shut behind him, standing up to greet the Head Gamemaker. "Seraphim, right on schedule."

"Of course, sir," Seraphim answers as he takes a seat on the couch next to the armchair Mendalius sits in, hesitating a little.

"No one tells me what is happening with the Games, just the rebel stuff, so I have been looking forward to our conversation. Everything going well in the Games Headquarters?" Mendalius asks as he pours himself tea before sitting back down. "Zephyr doing well?"

Seraphim nods his head as pride turns up the corners of his lips. "Zephyr is doing great in the role. He's gotten the escorts whipped into shape and ready to go. I…I wouldn't be able to do all of this without him."

"Good, good," Mendalius says as he takes a sip of tea, the small action bringing comfort to Seraphim from the familiarity of it all. "And the training centers?"

"There's hesitation, but I think they're going to pick up," Seraphim answers as he leans back, a little weirded out by the casualty of the conversation, used to the formal meetings in the President's office.

"I always knew there would be," Mendalius gives a wave of his hand. "And I'm sure One and Two are throwing hissy fits in secret while Four is just happy they didn't lose their funding."

"Yeah," Seraphim agrees with a laugh before quickly growing serious. "We're still not sure what to do in the case of no one volunteering. Or what to do about District Seven…"

"Seven needs to be regulated because I have no doubt they will try to send in a rebel to infiltrate the Games from the inside," Mendalius says before sipping tea as he mulls over his response. "Make all potential volunteers submit an application two weeks early and the Capitol will decide and announce the chosen volunteers that day. As for the case of no volunteers… It's a possibility, but I hope the monetary compensation will be a good enough incentive to get the most desperate to volunteer. But…hmm. I think the backup is that if no one volunteers, well…you have a Reaping."

"I'm sure the rebels would just love to see that happen," Seraphim answers under his breath, shaking his head at the anxious thoughts filling him over the rebels. "But I don't see what other option there is aside from bribery after a certain amount of time."

"I agree," Mendalius nods his head at him. "Try to coax a volunteer first and if that doesn't work… Well, show them that we need to have 24 tributes." Mendalius pauses at that, tilting his head a little as amusement passes over his face. "24 tributes…how odd it seems to have the original number of tributes once more."

"At least the Capitol has been supportive. I honestly wasn't sure how they would react to the news that they would participate in the Games."

"That's not a good thing," Mendalius points out to him and Seraphim gives him a confused look. "They don't understand the reality of the Games. To them, it's still exactly that – a game. But they will learn soon. The Capitol will finally learn what atrocities the Districts have gone through and become more sympathetic to them wanting to end the Hunger Games once and for all."

Seraphim gives a sigh at this and a small shrug, "I just hope it all works out in the end."

"It will, Seraphim, have faith in the country. I just wish I was able to see it all myself and not be hidden away," Mendalius tells him softly, sadness filling his eyes at the sacrifice he has had to make for Panem. He could have told the country that he lived and continued to lead them…but he knew that his death would have a bigger impact on ensuring the country was safe. Seraphim can admire the dedication of the man in front of him…and it's why he's been willing to work so hard on the changes to the Games.

"Sir…can I ask you a question?" Seraphim asks hesitantly, but he has to know. "And please be honest with me."

"Of course, Seraphim," Mendalius gestures to him to ask his question. "You should know by now you can ask me anything."

"What are the odds of these Games failing?" Seraphim asks him, his eyes wide in pleading to know the truth. "What are the odds that we fail and the Third Rebellion starts? I…I'm terrified for the people I love, the ones I care about, and I know we're the biggest targets. I just…when all of this is done, will I be able to live my life normally?"

Mendalius lets out a sigh as he leans back in his chair, studying Seraphim who stares back with wide fear filled eyes. It takes a while for the former President of Panem to finally answer him and when he does, Seraphim does not like the answer. "That, Seraphim, is the big question. I wish I knew what to tell you, but the odds are not in our favor of avoiding a rebellion."

Seraphim can feel his throat tightening in fear as he nods his head. He never knew going into being a Gamemaker that his life would be on the line or that what he is doing could prevent a war. He was a naïve kid, wrapped up in the glitz and excitement of the Games. But now he knows…now he knows the true ugly side of the Games and people, and he just wants to make it through all of this alive and get to live out his life in peace with Zephyr. But that won't happen as long as there's this threat. "Then how do we stop these renegades?"

Mendalius gives him a slow smile, clearly pleased with his response and dedication to helping them, even if he is deeply concerned. "By showing them exactly what a war looks like."

"Do you really think the arena is going to work?" Seraphim asks him, knowing the arena was all Mendalius's idea. "Will it stop them or will it not matter because we're continuing the Games?"

"Luciano told me a lot about the rebel leaders," Mendalius says slowly, pain flashing on his face at the thought of the former Council Member, but he quickly clears his face. "I have faith in them knowing that a full scale rebellion would cause them a great loss and to reconsider that after everything that happened following the Quell. But if they're actually following Elin…"

"Then they're completely unpredictable," Seraphim finishes for him and Mendalius slowly nods his head.

"If the rebel leaders want to attack, I don't think there is any way of stopping them or changing their minds," Mendalius tells Seraphim, doing nothing to reassure the growing pit in his stomach. "But we are targeting the people that the rebels want to get on their side or those that are unsure they want to die for their cause. We show them what war looks like…and they might just defect. Get enough people to do that and we'll succeed. Tell me, Seraphim, do you know why Korrina Ovidius chose to use the ruins of District Twelve for the 76th Hunger Games?"

Seraphim gives a shrug, never really one to have studied history, especially not that far back… "Time? Money? I don't really know…"

"Fear," Mendalius answers for him. "Fear and a reminder of what happened to the country when people rebelled. So now…now we can only hope that seeing their homes in ruins will stop those that are on the fence and take away the power the rebels have."

"And then what?" Seraphim asks, feeling uneasy at the idea that his arena is being used as a tool to drive fear into the country… Gone are the days of making the arenas for fun…

"You don't worry about that," Mendalius tells him, making Seraphim feel like a child getting told to let the adults handle things. "You focus on the arena and the message we are sending to the rebels. Theodosius and Kostas will handle destroying the rebels once and for all."

A knock on the door surprises Seraphim, but Mendalius doesn't look surprised at all as he stands up and walks over to the door. "Ah, yes, there is someone I want you to meet. Well, actually, you have met him before," Mendalius tells him before opening the door, revealing a man in his 20s standing there, hands in his pockets and avoiding looking up at them. Mendalius gestures him into the room and he looks at Seraphim briefly as the Head Gamemaker stands up to greet him, biting the piercing in his lip nervously and rubbing his tattooed neck. "Seraphim, please meet Calisto Flowers."

"Nice to meet you," Seraphim says as he offers his hand to him, but Calisto keeps both hands in his pocket. "Mendalius said we've met before, but I apologize as I don't remember."

"I'd be surprised if you remembered me after all these years," Calisto mumbles under his breath, but he finally looks directly at Seraphim, raising his eyebrows at him expectantly. "Well?"

"Calisto, be nice," Mendalius says with a chuckle, putting a hand on his shoulder as Seraphim is just confused by all of this. He thought he knew everyone that was aware of Mendalius being alive…but he has no idea who this man is. "Seraphim hasn't seen you in many years and you've changed quite a bit."

"Many years…?" Seraphim repeats, his face scrunching in confusion as he keeps staring at Calisto, trying to figure out where he would know him from.

"We're going to be here all day," Calisto says sarcastically and Mendalius subtly rolls his eyes at him. "Can I tell him already?"

"In a moment," Mendalius tells him before turning to address Seraphim. "First, I would like to tell you that Calisto is going to be working with you as your intern. He is going to assist you in fortifying the arena and anticipating how the rebels will try to interfere."

"Wait, my intern? I am so confused," Seraphim blinks a few times, glancing between the two of them, studying the way they are so familiar with each other, yet Seraphim has no recollection of ever seeing him before. Yet here he is, special enough to be one of the select few that knows the former President is still alive. "Who are you?"

Calisto grins at him as he plays with his septum piercing, taking his time answering him. "We'll just say an old friend."


Elin Martinez-Snow, Rebel Leader

Elin stares at the glow of the screen in the dark room, continuously stabbing their knife into the arm of their chair, imagining they were driving it into the woman looking so cheerful. Rosabella Venezia is cheery as she shows off the latest propaganda for the Hunger Games, this time visiting the Capitol training center and discussing those sick, twisted kids that think it's all fun and games.

"I'm gonna kill you," Elin whispers to the President on the screen before throwing the knife at it, only scratching the surface where Rosabella still stands. How dare she still stand there and promote her murderous event?! How dare she encourage children across the country to willingly go into a death match, bribing them with greater sums of money for their families? It's sick and twisted what the Capitol is doing and the Districts are all just going along with it. The careers are happy to still have their murder event. The others are happy to not have their children ripped away from them without their choice. But how can they expect children to make the proper decision about going into the Hunger Games?

And what about those that have already lost people they love?

Elin slowly stands up from their chair, glaring down the woman on the screen as they approach, before letting out a scream and shoving it over, sending it crashing to the floor and the screen flickers off. Elin breaths heavy as they stand over it, anger coursing through them at having to sit by while the Capitol gets to keep getting away with this.

They have tried to wait patiently as the older leaders discuss their next plan of action. They took the time to grieve for their mother, and now they're ready to make a move against the Capitol. Yet none of them want to. The damn cowards are too scared to lose their own lives to risk freeing the lives of the entire country from the Capitol's tyranny.

Well, Elin isn't afraid to risk their life. What do they even have to lose at this point? They lost their mother. They lost their childhood best friend years ago. And now…now the one person they loved and trusted has betrayed them, taking away the only collateral Elin had against the Capitol and now working with the bastards who put her in prison in the first place. Who does she think she is to betray Elin? Elin was the one that convinced their parents to do the rescue mission for Khaya in the first place!

Elin shuts their eyes, breathing heavy as red hot rage fills them. They don't know who they will enjoy seeing die more: Rosabella or Khaya.

Someone knocks on the open door and Elin opens their eyes to find Larisa standing there, looking at the knocked over screen curiously. "Everything alright?"

"No, everything is not alright," Elin answers with a scowl as they pick up their thrown knife and flop back into their chair, resuming their stabbing of the arm rest and instead imagining it's Khaya. "I hate those fucking bastards for everything they did. And I especially hate your sister for betraying me…"

Larisa shakes her head as she stays in the doorway, watching them carefully. "Khaya will get what's coming for her. You're not the only one that wants revenge against them. Soon, Elin."

"Not soon enough," Elin mutters under their breath, staring vacantly at the wall as they drive their knife fully into the arm of the chair. They stand up to face Larisa, needing to know if she will be an ally. "What are you willing to do to get revenge?"

"Anything, really," Larisa answers them right away and Elin nods their head in approval as they turn away to face the wall opposite the screen they knocked over. "You know I'll follow you to get back at them."

Hanging there are pictures of all the people who have wronged them, all the bastards that need to die. Most have holes in the pictures from Elin stabbing them, some more than others. Rosabella Venezia. Theodosius Cordessi. Ishani Kostas. Seraphim Lukianas. Lisia Arune.

Khaya Christian. Josefine and Niek Ottlinger.

Elin never thought those three would be on that list…yet there they are. Three people they grew up with and thought they could trust. But it doesn't matter, not anymore. They will pay for what they did.

Elin knows who the rebels will listen to when the time comes. They're not going to listen to some no name person from Seven or Four. No, they are going to listen to the voice of Snow, the voice of the child of their former leader. They will follow Elin into fire if it means they will end the Games. Elin doesn't care what it takes…they will do it.

The Capitol will pay for what they did to Elin… They took away their mother right in front of their eyes. They took away their best friend years ago. Elin will not let the Capitol get away with murdering people year after year. When the whole country is focused on their twisted, new and improved Hunger Games, their focus turned away from the rebels…that is when Elin will strike.

Vengeance is coming for them.


A little bit of subplot for our second prologue! Those that read Senseless know that Mendalius is still alive and also know who Elin is, but just who is Calisto? *thinking emoji* If you have guesses, let me know lol. The hints are there in this prologue. And yeah, I'm totally going to say what the arena is before we even enter the Games! Next prologue we're going to see it in detail, so I am hyped for that. Also get to see a bit more of Calisto and the Gamemaker team!

I realized something I forgot to mention last chapter: SPONSOR POINTS! So anyone with points can sponsor items in my SYOTs and these can have a huge impact on the outcome of tributes. There's a few ways you can earn points (which are listed on my profile as well as a spreadsheet link), the main way being reviewing! So not only would I greatly appreciate hearing feedback on each chapter, you also get to help out your favorite tributes later on in the Games! :)

Subs are still open for a few more weeks so keep them coming! But don't delay too much because as I may start closing spots soon that I know the tribute for sure. And there are still plenty of escort subs open too right now! Alrighty, I'll see you on June 12th for the third prologue, which is also the day that escort subs close so get them in!