Hello everyone, I'm still accepting applications for the teams. I plan to stop accepting applications on July 20th. I have added the application form to my profile page as well. If you need an extension I will be happy to do that for you. If you have any questions about the story or applying you can pm me and I will try to get back to you soon. I've been traveling the past month so I haven't had much access to the internet if you tried to reach out before. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

President Paylor has been in office for nearly five years, but the weight of her responsibilities has only grown since the Mockingjay Rebellion. District Twelve, still recovering and under reconstruction, has only just begun to reap the benefits of its burgeoning medical industry. Meanwhile, refugees from District Thirteen, now officially Panem citizens, are dispersing across the Districts and the Capitol.

The economic landscape has shifted dramatically due to reparations from the rebellion and the abolition of the Hunger Games, which was once Panem's main revenue source. This transition has been challenging, compounded by the migration of District residents seeking new opportunities and Capitolites opting for a simpler life in the Districts.

Navigating these societal and economic changes has proven tumultuous for President Paylor. The stress has been overwhelming at times but she is hopeful that "The Amazing Race" will serve as a unifying force for Panem, ushering in a new era of stability and prosperity.

President Paylor is sitting at her large mahogany desk covered in files as her secretary, Nesta, knocks on her open door. "Daphne is here for your 3 o'clock meeting."

President Paylor glances at the grandfather clock in the corner, surprised to see it's already the afternoon. Lost in her work, she missed lunch again. With a wave of her hand, Nesta hurries from the office. A few seconds later, the click-clack of Daphne's heels echoes on the granite floor, signaling her arrival.

Paylor gestures towards the chair across from her desk, hastily clearing away some confidential files. Daphne drops into the velvet-lined armchair, her excitement palpable as she places a folder filled with documents on the desk.

"The press is going wild for the show! The promos are a hit," Daphne gushes, her words spilling out in a rush.

Paylor nods absentmindedly, still organizing her desk. Her attention snaps into focus when Daphne mentions casting for a new host. "What? Repeat that last part again."

Daphne flashes a confident smile. "We need someone to guide the contestants and explain things to the audience. We've reached out to some top-tier newscasters, journalists, and socialites from the Capitol."

"You're not considering anyone from the Districts?" Paylor's eyes narrow. "Who do you have in mind?"

Daphne tilts her head thoughtfully. "The team didn't really consider District citizens. Our top candidates are Venus Treponi, Augustus Copperfield, and... Penelope Snow."

Heat flushes Paylor's face. "Penelope Snow?! The daughter of Coriolanus? You can't be serious. I won't let that monster's bloodline taint our progress."

Daphne's eyes widen. "I knew you'd react like this, but having Penelope could attract viewers from the pro-Snow Capitolites still out there. She has publicly denounced her father's policies and is very pro-Mockingjay. Besides, we still have to do screen tests, line rehearsals, and vet them through contracts. Nothing is set in stone yet."

Paylor exhales sharply, her shoulders dropping. "Fine, what else do you have?"

"Based on the show's budget and sponsorships, we've set the grand prize at one million dollars. Second place gets one hundred thousand, and third place gets fifty thousand. Life-changing for anyone," Daphne explains, her enthusiasm unwavering.

Paylor nods. "Agreed. How many applicants do we have so far?"

Daphne pulls out a sheet of paper. "Over five thousand teams have applied. Most are from the Capitol and Districts One, Two, and Four. Our goal is to get a team from each District, but we are focusing on casting the most entertaining teams."

"I'm sure many of the outer Districts are still uneasy about applying, unsure of what to expect. I'm sure many are untrustful of any Capitol-produced competition," Paylor muses.

"Exactly. We're targeting promos towards the outer Districts, and with the reward money set, we hope that will incentivize them to apply," Daphne says. "There are some who still believe this is another Capitol scheme, but we are working hard to win them over."

Paylor reaches for a file showing a map of Panem and the race route. "Have you finalized the route and challenges?"

Daphne flinches as Paylor grabs the paper, disorganizing her folder. "Yes, the route is set. We initially considered including previous Hunger Games arenas but decided against it. We thought you'd appreciate that decision."

Paylor nods approvingly. "Smart choice. We need to remember the Games to prevent their return, but it's crucial to move forward."

"We've included a few Hunger Games historical markers as part of the route, but they will be presented as memorable rather than glorified. We're still fine-tuning some challenges, but everything is mostly planned out." Daphne begins showing Paylor various files for each race leg, detailing each one.

By the time Daphne finishes, it's well past four o'clock. Paylor's eyes feel glazed over, and her head throbs from reading so much. "That's all for now. We aim to finish casting by the end of the month and start filming within eight weeks."

"Understood. Anything else for me right now?" Daphne asks.

Paylor stands up. "I don't have any more questions for now. I do want to see the final cast before they're officially announced. Make sure you conduct the most thorough background checks. I need to know everything about them, I want to be able to request a third-grade report card if I want. We can't afford a secret pro-Snow conspirator ruining this show."

Daphne stands and bows slightly. "Of course, Madame President. We are monitoring any risks to prevent anything from ruining the show. We will also have security teams following along with the contestants. I promise to you, Madame President, that I will do my utmost to ensure the show's success."

Daphne gathers her files and click-clacks out of the room. President Paylor sits back down, placing her head in her hands. The stress of running a country while planning a new event is overwhelming. "Nesta!" she calls.

Nesta appears within seconds. "Yes, Madame?"

"Order my usual from Guillermo's and have it delivered," Paylor says, returning to her files. Nesta promises to get the food quickly and exits. President Paylor exhales deeply before diving back into her work. It's going to be another long evening at the office.