Revised.
The day had so far been unassuming. Birds continued to sing, the grass waved softly against the breeze, and the squares were alight with warm, pleasant fires. The mines were punctuated occasionally with arcs of sound, and sparks flew into the cool night sky. There was nothing out of place. In fact, the day would be wonderful, as far as others were concerned.
If one approached the shining doors of the Capitol and explored through its walls, however, they would find that there would be an odd fragrance. It was a scent usually associated with President Snow, and so no one would normally investigate, but if anyone knew what had recently been happening they would know that the only person currently present inside the capital was President Snow's daughter.
Then if one bothered searching for Aria Snow, they would find her located in the basement, a place strangely dark for a bright girl such as her. The area would be overcast with shadows and the scent would become so strong that it attacked the nostrils. She would smile at them and tell them to "please stay away, I am on an important errand that does not need your input" before kicking something inside the room and closing a padlocked door with a click.
Whoever had decided to investigate would be confused. Why would she do this, they would wonder. Why close the door on me?
These answers would never be gained. They would be dismissed away into their rightful place and they would forget that this had ever happened, because the Capitol had such powerful memory-altering drugs.
But if anyone had bothered invading Aria Snow's privacy and entered the room with her, they would find her crooning over a large steel pole with a round object shaped vaguely like a watermelon. There would be a bag over the steel pole, streaked with crimson lines and red rust. She would be stroking the long brown threads that would extend out from the bottom of the bag, a glossy brunet curtain that hadn't been stuffed in the bag correctly. That, too, would have the crimson lines and red rust found on the steel pole.
The scent would be stronger than ever, and only the descendants of Snow would be able to bear it.
"What do you say now, Katniss Everdeen," she would say, caressing the stake and whispering into the ear of the dead girl in her arms. "What do you say now?"
And there would be no response.
—
Weeks later, the president's daughter was prepared. As the cheers slowly intensified, the girl rose up to her microphone at the Capitol. She cleared her throat once, twice, then three times before speaking, her voice echoing loudly through the speakers.
"Good afternoon, Panem. I trust that you have all had a fine day." She looked down at the colorful crowd before her, watching the assenting nods ripple through the masses. "I have several announcements to make. I hope you will listen carefully, because these will change your lives." Her lips quirked up into a smile. "The first is that I have killed Katniss Everdeen. You could say that I have fired her down." Laughter and screams of appreciation followed her statement. "The second is that I, as you can see..." A gesture to her unbroken body. "...have obviously survived. The rebellion is at an end. Challenge me if you wish, but I shall shoot you down. I am not an inactive ruler." The girl glared at the crowd, daring anyone to speak against her. When she found none, she continued.
"The last, and the greatest, is that I shall be reinstating what you have all been waiting for. What you have all been starving for — what you have been hungering after. The object of your dreams." Behind her, a board flashed to life as large letters flew across the screen, fiery and golden against a pitch-black background.
"The Hunger Games."
At that, the Capitol exploded in a frenzy of excitement. Pink-skinned people stood up and danced, a legion of jeweled fingernails rose up to demonstrate their exuberance, and a multitude of rainbow visionaries gleamed with predatory anticipation. Aria Snow allowed a smile to stretch across her face. The country was completely under her control. Her people would make sure of it.
And... She leaned against her golden chair and exhaled slowly. I suppose my sole Gamemaker will do it as well.
—
The aforementioned Gamemaker was hunched over a chair, gazing intently at her computer screen. Only a second passed before she stood violently and Katana Icesaber slammed her hand angrily on the computer keyboard, breaking a few buttons as she gave a terrifying scream. Her game had fucking crashed.
Meekly, the door opened. "Are you all right, mistress?" A worried assistant walked into the room, only to freeze when the woman sitting at the computer yelled out in outrage.
"It's mistress bunny, you blundering idiot! GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT!" Fearful for her life, the assistant backed up slowly before she sprinted full-speed out of the area.
"I'm sorry, mistress bunny!" Katana gave a derisive huff and turned back to her game, which was displaying an error message.
"Now, how shall I fix this?" she muttered, initiating a staring contest with the blue screen of death.
Unfortunately, the blue screen of death beat her. With another terrifying scream she had smashed the game to pieces. Pitifully small rabbit noises emitted from the now-broken game.
As if nothing had happened, she took off a phone from its position on the wall, calling the president.
"Hello?"
"Yes, Katana?"
"Could you announce that I'm ready to start the 76th Games? We can kill Peeta Mellark then." Her voice was oddly casual.
"Of course." There was a brief pause. "But you do not order me around."
"Yessir~" She giggled madly, showing off perfect sharp teeth, and stood up to put the phone back before a voice emitted from it for a last word.
"However, I will take your previous suggestion. I offer thanks."
"No worries. It's my favor you're doing anyway."
A few weeks after that phone call, bodies were littered all over the forest, the hovercraft being too slow to get them all. The female Gamemaker watched from the transparent window, a deranged smile gracing her pretty features.
"Go, my bunnies," Katana urged. "Eat them before the hovercraft can pick up the pieces."