AUTHOR'S NOTES: What better way to kick off a new month than to kick it off with a new fanfic? Welcome one and all, to the 100th Annual Hunger Games-the sadistic new Quarter Quell that brings familiar twists from earlier games back into one. Those familiar with my "Fire Without a Spark" series will recognize a handful of the characters and victors. A few, such as the ones between the 94th and 99th Hunger Games, also show their faces. We will hear their stories sooner or later, but with the last Mockingjay film on the horizon, what better way to get into the mood than writing about a rebellion-inducing Quarter Quell?
On the other hand, this is also an independent work. You do not need to know the backgrounds of any of the characters to know what is going on here-just know that the Capitol is pulling out all the stops for their centennial celebration of the Hunger Games, and this is the result.
Happy Reading!
CHAPTER 1: The Seeds are Sown
Of the many places in Panem where schemes were born, District 8 was one of the epicenters. The Victor Village in particular was one of them, where 7 of District 8's finest schemed against the Capitol on a semi-regular basis. They were cunning enough to know how their oppressors played, and more importantly, knew how to evade it.
Prominently among this village stood the DeSiete family, which had three generations of victors from the games. It had started over 50 years ago with the victory of Alice DeSiete during the 46th Hunger Games. He had managed to outsmart the Capitol who had worked tirelessly to kill his partner, an openly vocal rebel named Paige Alwin. Ever since then, he had used that name as a subtle reminder to people of his district that this rebellion thing was not going to die out, and that the Capitol could not have control over them forever.
Years later during the 73rd Annual Hunger Games, Alice's eldest daughter, whom he had named Paige after this selfsame hero from his day, was chosen for the games. Just like her father, she managed to crawl out alive and received similar threats and scrutiny.
Thus, when Paige's daughter Lyndis won the 99th Hunger Games the year before, it was a sensation for all of Panem to experience and celebrate. She was the first time a 3rd-generation victor had ever come back and won the games. Rumors had it that children of existing victors were chosen with higher odds, and some survived while others did not. Lyndis was successful just as her mother before her. It had also helped her cope a bit better, knowing that her mother and grandfather were both alive and able to speak to her about her traumas.
It did not put a damper on her bond with her little brother Nesara though, or on the relation Paige DeSiete had with her sister Hanna. If anything, their lives as victors brought the family close together.
District 8 was interesting like that. The textile workers, weavers, and designers may not have had the same level of savagery seen in Districts like '12 or '11 all the time, but they were staunchly rebellious, with the Peacekeepers patrolling the district having their work cut out for them.
Granted, the DeSiete family were not the only ones who brought home a victor's crown in District 8. Other recent victors included Cecelia Sanchez of the 57th Hunger Games and Connor McIrish of the 88th Hunger Games, both of whom sometimes joined the two DeSiete girls at one of their mansions for a game or two of cards.
"Two kings and a 7," Connor smirked, "your ass is mine, DeSiete."
"Come and get it," Lyndis taunted. "although I'm not sure what my mother would say."
"She's right there, isn't she?" Cecelia pointed out, "sometimes I wonder why I come here."
"Because you love the gambling just as much as we do," Connor pointed out, "and because it's not like you've got anything better to spend your time and money on."
"I'm a mother of three, if you recall." Cecelia reminded him.
"and they're all old enough to have kids of their own," Paige reminded her, "you've loosened up a bit in your older age."
"Don't take me lightly just because I've outlived you all," Cecelia smirked, "besides… I'll be taking your money now and putting it towards a new mantelpiece."
She threw her cards onto the table, revealing a straight sequence of spades. "Read 'em and weep."
The words 'shit', 'damn', and 'fuck' were instantly heard from Lyndis, Paige, and Connor respectively as they pushed the pile of money towards Cecelia's awaiting hands.
"Timing was nearly perfect too," Cecelia grunted, "That damn Quarter Quell is today."
"They managed to quell the riots," Connor noted as they stood up and prepared to make their way to the square. "but they aren't going to get away with this. Picking us victors was bad enough, but then also forcing us to choose 24 kids for them to send to their deaths? I hope Francisco and District 12 know what they're doing and make it happen soon. This is do or die."
"We know who our targets are though, right?" Lyndis nodded, "we aren't just going to pick the first kid we see, are we?"
"Your granddad had his eyes on a boy named Jeremy Wilde," Connor noted, "and I think I know why."
"And for the girls," Cecelia chipped in, "Paige and I were discussing the feasibility of a girl named Mara Cerulean. After much discussion, we agreed on her."
"She's a good choice," Lyndis smirked, "again—hopefully the Mockingjay is in on this thing already, because we're setting up our district for them."
"Aye," Connor agreed, "anyways, we should get going before they bust in with Peacekeepers to come drag us out. We're too noticeable to be able to go missing."
Attendance was mandatory for these things, and those who were not eligible for the games were still required to watch it at their homes (or in the factories they worked at). Children over 12 were released from school early to make their way to the square in front of the Justice Building, except that this year the number of names in the glass bowls was very small—only having the names of the seven men and women that District 8 had produced as victors in the last 99 years.
Their bubbly, purple-haired escort Augusta stepped up onto the stage and gave her usual fanfare. The DeSietes, as well as Connor and Cecelia, had mixed feelings about this woman, for under that ditzy exterior, she actually had quite the mouth on her, and was notorious for her witty retorts. The two eldest victors, Challis and Woof, both sat quietly, hardly aware of what was going on, it seemed.
"…And now it is time to choose our victor-tributes for the 4th Quarter Quell," Augusta announced. "They will have the honor of representing District 8 in the 100th Annual Hunger Games! As usual, ladies first!"
The amount of suspense here was actually fairly minimal. It would be when the victors were forced to choose their tributes that breaths would be held, even if the victors of District 8 had already conspired to choose Mara and Jeremy.
A small slip of paper emerged from the bowl as Augusta opened it and read the name.
"Lyndis DeSiete!"
The young victor stepped up onto the stage without a drop of concern in her face. She had been on this very stage not but a year ago when her name was picked for the 99th Annual Hunger Games. She was fairly certain it had been rigged, but it didn't matter—she was the victor, and she was determined not to die this time. For a moment though, she wondered if she would have to pick her tribute first or if the male victor would be chosen first. She learned a moment later.
"And now… for the boys…" Augusta's hand swirled around the three slips of paper in the bowl for a bit of dramatic effect before reading out:
"Connor McIrish!"
Connor smirked as he joined Lyndis on the stage. He leaned over to Lyndis to whisper something into her ear. "Play it slowly," he warned, "don't announce her name right away or they might suspect something. Remember—Snow is watching this too."
"Not a problem," Lyndis nodded.
"And now…" Augusta announced, "Lyndis DeSiete will choose another fine young lady to join her as a tribute for the Quarter Quell!"
Lyndis was given a list of children's names, with a small photo of each one next to their name. She thumbed through the leaflet, pretending to read it before she announced her "victim".
"Mara Cerulean!" she called out.
Mara was in on the scheme just as well as the victors were, and so while others around her gasped, a smirk appeared on Mara's face as she joined the others. As soon as she was facing the cameras again her face became stoic.
"And now…" Augusta repeated, "Connor McIrish will choose another fine young man to join him as a tribute for the Quarter Quell!"
Connor was fairly certain that this woman read this crap right off the card, but he decided not to think much about it, and instead scanned his list for a few moments before announcing his choice.
"Jeremy Wilde!"
Like Mara before him, Jeremy knew what he was in for, and so he strode up with a smirk and then a stoic expression as he joined Mara, Lyndis, and Connor up on the stage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen…" Augusta's tone became almost irritably sweet, "Our heroes for the 4th Quarter Quell: Victors Lyndis DeSiete and Connor McIrish… and tributes Mara Cerulean and Jeremy Wilde! Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"
It was here that Cecelia waved off Alice and Paige as they joined the four tributes inside the Justice Building. Alice seemed to want a word with her as the tributes said goodbye.
"It's up to you and the rest of my family to keep things in order back here," he warned, "watch for signs given during the various ceremonies. My kids should know what to do, and we'll keep in touch"
"But of course," Cecelia reminded him, "I'm just as much a victor as you, Alice. I know what it's like, and I know how to fight. Most people in District 8 do—that's why we usually escape the bloodbath. I promise you this—there will be rioting and warfare before any of you enter the arena—but you didn't hear it from me." She winked, and with that, bade Alice and the others goodbye. They boarded the train with Augusta before settling in and getting comfortable. Only after Augusta left to do whatever business she was attending to did any of them speak.
"So run us through the plan again," Jeremy requested. "I feel like we didn't quite get every piece of the puzzle the first time we talked."
"The plan," Alice began, "starts with Korra Francisco from District 2, and the District 12 Escort, Junichi Thatch. Junichi's brother Delun runs the reaping for District 2, and since they couldn't volunteer, he had to rig the reaping to ensure that Korra did not get picked…" he paused, flipping on the television and switching to reruns of the recent District 2 reapings, where Katsuo Raiden and Kaede Raiden, sibling victors of back-to-back Hunger Games, were chosen. Amy Zavala and Korra Francisco elected to be the 'mentors', while Katsuo chose Zoram Michelli for his tribute, and Kaede chose a girl named Zerlinda Franz. Despite being from Panem's most loyal district, all of the District 2 team, including the escort, seemed a bit different than the usual rabble of careers to spawn from that district.
"If I didn't know better," Mara commented, "I'd say that they're just as aware of the scheme as we are."
"That's why we showed you District 2's reapings," Paige assured them, "we've got the most loyal-to-the-Capitol District on our side already. With them confirmed to be in on this rebellion, we've got a valuable ally. Couple that with districts like 12, 11, and 3 almost for sure being on our sides, and we've got a substantial thing going here. I'm sure the other districts will follow suit soon enough."
"In the meantime though," Alice stretched, "get comfortable. We've got a long ride ahead of us…"