Here is Aslane's entry for task # 1. Word count is 820. Enjoy :)

Vaelyn Xiavia was the host for this years' interviews. She was exceptionally tall; her five inch stiletto heels served only to make her tower over most other people around her. Her dress was ridiculously beautiful, expensive, and decorated with swirls, gold and silver sequins, and tiny jewels of all colors. I wondered what kind of beadwork went into getting all the jewels to stay on the dress itself.

Glancing down at myself, I felt plain. I was wearing a white outfit, comprised of pants and a shirt in a military-cut style, but it was more relaxed, like a civilian outfit. It was supposed to show that I came from the same area in district eight where they made the Peacekeeper uniforms.

Instead of the typical black on white pattern, though, mine was white with a deep, dark royal blue. The cloth was a heavy silk that felt very comfortable against my skin. Rather than military boots, I was wearing high-heeled shoes, fortunately not as tall as Vaelyn's. Mine had a fancy, elegant design, and were also dark blue in color. Instead of the Peacekeeper helmet, my hair was twisted into an updo, with jewels and decorative chains braided into it. The jewels were all mostly sapphires.

I walked onstage, smiling brightly and warmly. The crowd cheered as Vaelyn announced my district and my name. She gestured to the chair beside her and I sat. I tried to remember what Olive, my trainer had told me about the interview.

"You're bubbly and fun so show them that! Just be yourself," Olive had said.

Vaelyn returned my smile with a blatantly fake one of her own. "What a lovely outfit! You look almost like a Peacekeeper!" she snickered, which received a laugh spreading through the audience.

Keeping my smile in check, I nodded. "I come from the same area in district eight where they make the Peacekeeper outfits, you know. My mother has actually worked at that factory her entire life."

Vaelyn cocked her head, feigning interest. "Well, what do you do for a living?"

I shrugged. "Oh, I've done a few odd jobs here and there. Whenever they need help at the factory, I give them a hand. I also work with my mother on the side."

Yes, I also have to help put food on the table, take care of my three younger siblings, pay the bills, make sure we have enough coal to last until we can buy more... Not to mention doing the household chores, I thought bitterly. And taking care of a mother who works herself to death and somehow managing to find time to spend with my boyfriend...

Vaelyn flipped her perfectly, straight, pink hair behind her back, before blinking her absurdly long eyelashes at me. "That's so nice, dear. I'm glad to see that everyone in your community is pulling their weight to help supply the Peackeepers with the necessary supplies." She smiled, but her eyes looked at me deviously.

I didn't reply. I couldn't. It was as if we weren't stressing to pay the bills on time, struggling to find enough to eat and to survive.

Hoping we wouldn't starve each and every night.

In the silence that followed because of my pause, Vaelyn crossed her legs. "That's all well and good, but what kind of training have you had? Do you think you'll be able to contend with the other tributes in the arena, especially the Careers?"

I couldn't hold back the laugh that escaped my lips. Her question was so typical. As if the petite, lovely girl sitting beside her was nothing more than good-looks and pretty smiles. "I've kept this a secret, even from my mother, but I've actually fought in many of the underground fighting arenas. So I'm not some helpless, little country bumpkin. I've spilled my fair share of blood." Right after I spoke, I flashed the audience a toothy grin.

Let them wonder, I thought.

"Oh!" Vaelyn gasped. "Well, have you ever used any weapons?"

In response, I reached into the pocket of my uniform to pull out my pair of brass knuckles.

She didn't even ask where they'd come from, or how I'd smuggled them in there. As the buzzer went off, she stood up and reached her hand out for me to shake. "Other than those brass knuckles, you seem, well typical. Surprise us, girl, you will need it."

Anger slammed into my chest in a fury. I stood, smiling as brightly as I could and shook her hand.

I'll show her just how surprising I can be, I thought.

I kneed her in the stomach as hard as I could, making sure my knee rammed her belly button, driving her breath out. She collapsed onto the floor as I turned around.

Everything went completely silent.

All you could hear was Vaelyn gasping for breath, and my heels clicking as I slowly strolled off the stage.