Prologue 3:

Two Months Before

Seraphim Lukianas, Co-Head Gamemaker

"You know, this really isn't what I pictured when you said we were going on a Gamemaker trip. I was thinking maybe we would go to the beach in Four or somewhere nice. Not the warzone arena."

Seraphim holds back a roll of his eyes at Calisto as their hovercraft slows as it flies into the underground part of the arena. Seraphim and Zephyr brought most of the Gamemaker team with them: Calisto, Laelia, Magnus, Althea, and Ophelia who has an even harder time keeping Seraphim, Zephyr, and Calisto in line. Of course, they also have a large squad of guards with them, led by Kostas and…unfortunately Khaya insisted on coming along with Niek and Josefine if it meant seeing the arena first hand. He couldn't argue with her logic of wanting to see for herself just what she has been trying to stop all these years…but he really just still doesn't like her around. Kind of hard to put in the past the fact that someone tried to shoot him, even if she's since had a change of heart. But if it keeps the former rebels still on their side, well, Kostas is willing to do anything. And the last of their group is Kora, hoping it would show the host why the Games should end and help her get more Capitolites on their side.

But he made sure to have at least twelve of them in their group today so they can verify each District's launch stations work. It was just one of the many things they will be checking today with the arena completion nearly done to make sure it is secure after last year's mess with the rebels.

"Calisto, can you stay quiet for at least five minutes?" Zephyr asks, leaning around Seraphim to look at the intern. Calisto rolls his eyes and crosses his arms, but stays quiet as he leans back in his chair. "Good, now on to the plan before we leave the hovercraft so we don't waste time. We need everyone to launch from a different District sector. You'll all have a security guard with you who will be looking at everything to ensure it is working properly and with no rebel influence."

"Do we get to pick where we launch from?" Laelia asks with curiosity, her eyes alight in excitement at seeing the arena she's had such a huge part in designing in person today.

Seraphim takes over for Zephyr, "I'll be launching in District Twelve to represent the Capitol tributes. Zephyr is going in Two because he decided he wanted to be a bit sentimental. Magnus is going in Ten to take a look at his mutts-"

"Yes!" Magnus quietly interrupts before smiling apologetically at Seraphim. He can't blame the mutts designer, it's been years since he let Magnus go truly wild with mutt design.

"Althea will be in Eleven to verify the plants are up to par," Seraphim continues before sighing as he looks around at the rest, knowing there's about to be chaos. The hovercraft gently lands and he holds up a hand to stop all of them from trying to get up immediately. "As for the rest…you need to decide that amongst yourselves."

It takes a few seconds as the group looks at each other before they all start talking loudly. The first one to insist to Seraphim on their launch spot is Khaya, "Look, I'm going in Seven. I want to see what it's like for tributes from my home and…" Khaya sighs and continues quietly, "And I want to know what it was like for him."

Calisto clears his throat from beside Seraphim at this and quickly speaks up, "Just put me wherever is left, I don't care."

After five more minutes of bickering that makes Seraphim think they really should have just assigned Districts to everyone, they finally have a set list. "Okay to verify, we have Kora in One, Zephyr in Two, Josefine in Three, Niek in Four, Laelia in Five, Kostas in Six, Khaya in Seven, Ophelia in Eight, Calisto in Nine, Magnus in Ten, Althea in Eleven, and myself in Twelve." Seraphim pauses, taking a deep breath before nodding at Kostas.

The Head of Security gets up and starts distributing tech to everyone. "Wear these at all times. They are communication devices so Seraphim can know your thoughts on your part of the arena as well as having a tracker in it. We anticipate nothing happening, but I have learned it is best to always be on the side of caution."

Seraphim gets up then and passes out a basic map to everyone, marking where they have landed and where their sections are since they're not in numerical order. "There's labels on the doors and a trolley system to get you to your spot. Keep in constant communication with me and Zephyr. We need to know what is happening in every spot. It would take way too long if we did this on our own, which is why we brought you today. This isn't just a field trip, it's a matter of national security so please take this seriously or we'll send you back to the hovercraft. Understand?"

Seraphim waits until everyone gives him some form of confirmation before gesturing all of them to leave the hovercraft, staying back to make sure everyone does what they are told. Kostas passes him a device that shows all of the trackers before heading out herself. "You know," Zephyr says quietly to Seraphim as they head out of the hovercraft. "I like this kinda bossy, don't give two shits attitude you have lately. It's hot seeing you take command."

"It's called stress," Seraphim shakes his head at his boyfriend and gives him a gentle push to keep walking. "You've seen how this group can get. I don't want to be here all day."

"Patience, Seraphim," Zephyr tells him as they start walking over to their segments, having landed right in front of Twelve and Two being one over. "Can't rush security."

Seraphim sighs loudly at this, knowing he's right. "I know," he answers quietly, grabbing Zephyr's hand before he can head to his spot. "Are you going to be okay with all of this? You know, with launching into an arena again?"

"Yeah, I'm good," Zephyr reassures him, but there's still a small part of Seraphim that isn't too sure about that. "I promise, the Games weren't that bad for me, unlike some victors from Two."

"Okay, go to your spot," Seraphim quickly says, shoving Zephyr in the direction of Two, but his reaction only makes Zephyr start laughing. "Go," Seraphim says once more, pointing away from him.

"Yes Mr. Bossy," Zephyr jokes as he walks backwards. "Again, I really like this bossy attitude."

Seraphim just rolls his eyes as he heads into the launch room for one of the Capitol tributes with his security guard. He checks the tracking device and waits for everyone to be in their rooms before pulling out his tablet from his bag. "Okay can everyone hear me?" Seraphim tests, getting confirmation from everyone. "Testing the locks on the doors…now."

The click of the lock is audible behind Seraphim, yet he still tries the handle to verify. "Okay…testing announcement system."

"Tributes, please enter the launch tubes."

Seraphim switches his tablet view to cameras in the launch rooms as he steps into the launch tube, watching as the others do the same. Some of the Capitolites step in no problem, but the former rebels, Calisto, and even Zephyr, despite what he said, hesitate as they step inside the launch tubes. "Everyone good?" Seraphim asks, looking around himself at the small space he's in and feeling a small moment of claustrophobia, making him wonder what this is like for the actual tributes…

He waits until everyone answers before focusing back on the task at hand. "Alright…closing the tubes and preparing for launch."

The tube slides shut, leaving him in deafening silence, which is broken only by hearing someone starting to breath heavy over the ear piece as the platform beneath him starts to rise up. The security guard with him gives a salute as Seraphim is pushed into the darkness below the arena and he glances up, seeing the growing circle of light above him. A weird sense of panic starts to form in him as the light gets closer and he can feel his heartrate quicken.

Seraphim is soon pushed out into the arena and he blinks a few times as he puts his hand up to block the sudden daylight so he can see. Facing him is his home in ruins, freezing him in place as he realizes that this very well could be a possibility in the future if they don't stop the rebel threat…

Seraphim sits down on his platform, just taking in the sight of the center Capitol section of the arena. It was one thing to see the designs from the Games Headquarters, but to see it in person…? And he hasn't even looked at the rest of the arena yet.

"You okay over there?" Zephyr asks and Seraphim glances over to see him approaching from where he launched in front of the Two section next to Seraphim.

Seraphim nods as Zephyr gets closer, noticing the silence on the earpiece from the others. He looks around, being able to see only two segments over from where he sits. Magnus is already starting to head into his segment, looking excited and not as bothered by all of this. On the other side of Magnus, Calisto is crouched down on his platform, his head in his hands, and Seraphim quietly asks Kostas to head over to the Nine section to check on him. To his left, past where Zephyr launched, Khaya is hesitantly stepping towards Seven's section, too far away for Seraphim to read her face.

Seraphim braces himself for a moment before glancing over his shoulder, finding the destroyed remains of District Twelve. He's seen the 76th Games before but in person…God, he can't imagine being in that District when the Capitol started to bomb them…

Seraphim shuts off his earpiece for a moment before turning to Zephyr. "Is it that scary launching as a tribute?" Seraphim asks quietly.

Zephyr nods his head silently, holding out his hand for Seraphim to help him up to his feet. "Even for careers. In that moment you realize it is really happening and that you could die in here. And you hope that the Head Gamemaker is going to be nice and not give you a miserable arena."

Seraphim nods along, unable to laugh at Zephyr's attempt to joke around and cheer him up. "Come on, we have a job to do," Seraphim says, trying to avoid the uneasy pit in his stomach. He turns his earpiece back on to talk to the others. "Explore your segments, let me know if there's anything out of line. Zephyr and I will check out the Capitol."

The pair walks in silence as they pass destroyed buildings, places that Seraphim recognizes from his home. He just doesn't know what to say about any of it, filled with a deep rooted fear that this is their future. When they reach the center where the pile of supplies sits, right in front of the bombed Presidential Mansion, a place Seraphim would barely recognize if he hadn't been part of the design.

"What are you thinking?" Zephyr asks after a few minutes of letting Seraphim stand in silence, staring at the destroyed buildings around them and taking it all in.

Seraphim shakes his head, not really even knowing what he's feeling right now. "I think…we can't let this future happen."

"Then the arena is doing its job," Zephyr responds to him as he puts an arm around him, pulling him close and providing him with a moment of comfort. "We aren't ever going to reach this point."

"I sure hope so…"

"Hey, if you're feeling this way about the Capitol, I bet everyone watching will feel the same about their respective Districts," Zephyr tries to reassure him and Seraphim absentmindedly nods his head.

"I think I need to just focus on working and avoid dealing with these feelings right now," Seraphim answers him and steps away from him, taking a few deep breaths to try and settle the feelings inside him. Seraphim directs his focus towards the others, taking a glance at the tracker to see where everyone is.

"Hey Magnus, are you ready to test the night stuff?" Seraphim asks the mutt designer, watching as Zephyr raises an eyebrow at him in surprise, but letting him do it.

"Oh hell yeah, I've been ready for this since you asked me to design these mutts," Magnus responds with a chuckle and he cracks his knuckles in preparation. "Just give me the cue."

"Okay everyone, switching to night mode," Seraphim says as he dims the sky and they are lit by a blood moon, casting a reddish light on everything and making the destroyed arena even more unsettling. "You won't be harmed in any way. They are set to attack based on the tribute trackers. Alright Magnus…go ahead. Just bring them up and check movements, but don't try to do any dumb pranks."

"If you insist," Magnus answers, giving a chuckle that makes Seraphim pretty sure Magnus had been planning something like that. Seraphim watches on his own tablet as Magnus puts in the commands for the mutts and soon looks up when he hears dirt and stone moving nearby. He steps closer to Zephyr, grabbing his arm as he watches the mutt crawl out of the ground, unsettling him immediately by how similar it looks to its muse, but just…off.

"Seraphim," Zephyr says cautiously as a few more mutts appear nearby, all a bit different from each other. "You need to warn them about these mutts before they see them. If not, you're going to cause a whole lot of trauma to a group of people that already has enough of that. If you don't, I will."

Seraphim can just nod his head as he stares at the mutt in front of him, resembling the man standing next to him, but from years ago. "Yeah, I agree. Magnus, you're too good at your job."


Calisto Flowers, Gamemaker Intern

Calisto really would have preferred the trip to the beach over this. The first time he gets to go somewhere outside of the President's Mansion and the Games Headquarters in years and it's back into the fucking arena. He doesn't know why Mendalius thought it would be a good idea for him to have this job. The wounds are still too fresh for him, no matter how many years have passed.

Yet he can't tell anyone what is happening to him right now. He can't tell them that he's feeling panic that tightens his throat or feeling like he might throw up as the memories of the first time he launched into an arena play over and over in his head. Memories of the fear he felt being chased, thinking for sure he was going to die, not knowing that the Capitol had decided to spare him…

Ishani Kostas wasn't really any help to him, despite being one of six people alive that knows who he is. She doesn't know exactly what he went through. The only one here who has any idea is Zephyr, but he doesn't know who he is and can't. Six people is already too many. Not even his former mentor knows who he is.

"I know it's tough, whatever you're feeling, but you have to set it aside for now," Ishani tells him, gently rubbing his back as he stays crouched down on his pedestal, trying to stop himself from either throwing up or bursting into tears – or maybe both, who knows. "The others will start to notice soon, Kora's already looking over curiously."

"Okay, I get it," Calisto answers, brushing away Ishani's hand before running a hand over his face, trying to pull himself together. He takes a deep breath before standing up, his legs shaking as he stares around the arena in front of him. The destruction…at first glance, it reminded him of his arena and set him into a panic – along with the experience of the tube launch – but as he takes a closer look around him, he realizes it's quite different than the hell he was placed in. "I just…I need to walk around. Remind myself that no one in here is actively trying to kill me. I'll be fine."

Calisto call tell Ishani doesn't believe this one bit, but she knows the front they both need to be putting up to the others and so she nods her head at him, "Okay. We'll talk more later."

Calisto rolls his eyes and sighs at this, knowing nothing he says is going to stop her. "Yeah, whatever," Calisto answers before starting to head out into the arena, walking along the edge of the District sections in the direction opposite of Kora. He really doesn't want to deal with any curious questions from her. "Go do your security thing."

He glances back to see Ishani shaking her head at him before she turns her focus to the arena around them, thankfully leaving him alone. Calisto focuses on where he's heading instead, flinching and nervously glancing at the District Ten section when he hears a roar coming from it. "Nope, not going in there, I don't want anything to do with mutts."

Bad enough that Magnus had been inspired by his arena… Yeah, Calisto is going to stay far away from Magnus. His footsteps slow when he reaches Twelve, staring at the ash covered bones and destroyed District. A shiver goes down his spine as he imagines the feeling of fire on his skin and he starts jogging until he is in front of Two. There his pace goes back to normal, no reason for him to have fear.

At least until Seraphim has to speak up and give Magnus instructions to release the nighttime mutts.

Calisto watches as the sky shifts to darkness and the mutts start to crawl out of the ground, until he hears a scream of fear that sets him off running in her direction. "Khaya!" Calisto calls out as he runs into Seven, coming to a stop when he looks around at the forest, finding Khaya frozen in fear as the two mutts walk near her. Calisto runs in front of her, putting his arm out protectively in front of her and she clings to it. "They can't hurt you."

"I just-" Khaya stutters and Calisto glances back to see her shaking her head in fear. She glances down at his arm that she's holding and quickly lets go, taking a step back from him. "Sorry, it just…caught me off guard. I wasn't scared though."

"Sure you weren't scared," Calisto teases her, making her start pouting at him and catching him off guard at the familiarity of it.

"I wasn't, shut it!" Khaya retorts, crossing her arms stubbornly at him. "They just caught me off guard, didn't scare me at all."

"Of course they scared you," Calisto shakes his head at her, holding back a laugh. "You al-"

Calisto quickly cuts himself off, realizing what he was doing. Khaya tilts her head as she looks at him, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You're weird. Who did you say you are?"

"I didn't say," Calisto answers, giving her as much sass back as she's giving him. "I'm Calisto, I'm working with Seraphim."

"Ah, I'm sure he's told you all about how he doesn't like me," Khaya tells him, nodding her head at her statement.

"Yeah getting shot by someone generally does that," Calisto answers with a shrug, but really he's just worried as always for her when it gets brought up that she did that. "Kind of a dumb thing to do."

"Hey I was just following my father's orders," Khaya says defensively, making Calisto shake his head. Of course she was following him. "I realize now that he's an ass, along with the rest. Otherwise I wouldn't be here."

Calisto stares at her for a few seconds, trying to figure out what to even say to her. She studies him in return and Calisto clears his throat as he takes a step back from her, worried that all the surgeries – and puberty – won't change his appearance enough. "I'm glad you're here."

"Um…me too. Well, um, I'm gonna go check on Niek and Josefine," Khaya says awkwardly, taking a couple steps back from him. "Uh…nice meeting you, Calisto."

"You too," Calisto says, giving a halfhearted wave at her as she turns around to watch where she's going, heading off in the direction of her friends. Calisto's hand drops down to his side as she leaves him, and he lets out a sigh as he sinks down to the ground. He stares around at the remnants of Seven, feeling an ache in his heart at everything that is happening lately. "Of course she didn't know," Calisto says quietly to himself as he sits in the empty silence of the forest. If he shuts his eyes, he can almost picture himself in a different time, but that is long in the past… All of them have grown up and changed so much since those days.

One of them is dead – but the others think he is too. Three of them have defected to the Capitol to fight their parents. And the last one…the last one they're trying to bring down. Even he is trying to bring them down, his own half-sibling…

But Elin will never get to know who he of them will ever get to know.

Calisto has to stay alone, just like he has for the past years. He has to stay a ghost.


There we have our third prologue! That's right, I just told you exactly what the arena is this year - of course, not in great detail lol. Gotta leave some things up to surprise XD I felt it was necessary to show the arena to a lot of the Capitol cast and start to see their reactions to the arena. And as a bonus, we got to see some more of Calisto and more hints on who he is. If you don't get the hints, don't worry, I'll reveal it all eventually XD

Also I've realized that if you want more details on precisely why they made the changes they did to the Games, I suggest reading Senseless Chapter 51: Winds of Change. That chapter goes into full detail on the changes that are being made in this story. I've tried to balance giving the information here while also not just repeating what I said in Senseless, so yeah, if you have any questions, I suggest reading that chapter and you can always send me a message!

At the time of posting this, escort subs are closing THIS DAY (June 12th) at 11:59 pm EST! I'll then fill in any open spots at that time - we'll get to meet all of them in the last prologue. Tribute subs are still open and there's a few spots without any subs still (really surprisingly, Capitol female) and those close on June 24th at 11:59 pm EST! You might have noticed that on my profile I have started to close some spots - I'm using this time to get ahead and make some progress on the intros so I can get through them at a faster pace!

Alrighty, the fourth and last prologue will be going up in two weeks on June 26th! It will also have the list! Most spots aren't solidified (aside from the ones I've written) until subs are closed, so keep those subs coming!