47 To Go
Part One: Welcome to the Capitol
Prologue
"In 2070 CE," the announcement from the Capitol on my television began with, "thirteen districts rebelled against the nation that fed them, loved them, protected them. These were called the Dark Days. Brother turned on brother until nothing remained. Motherless children filled the streets. After two years time, in which many died, there came a hard-won peace. Twelve districts were defeated, the thirteenth obliterated. When the traitors were at last suppressed, we swore as a nation we would never see such treason again. Our fourth honorable leader at the time, President Ariann Fuler, created a treaty, the Treaty of Treason, which was written and signed by the Capitol. The Treaty of Treason provided us with new laws to live by in order to guarantee peace in our land, especially when the rest of the world was torn over their own matters. As a yearly reminder that the Dark Days must never come again, it was decreed on the same day each year, the various districts of our nation of Panem would offer up in tribute one courageous young man and one brave young woman to fight in a pageant of honor, courage, and sacrifice. It was declared that forevermore, this pageant would be called the Hunger Games. These twenty-four tributes are sent to an outdoor arena to fight to the death, where they struggle to overcome both man and nature, and triumph over the odds. Each year, the lone standing victor serves as a reminder of the Capitol's generosity and forgiveness. This season is both a time for repentance and a time for thanks. This is how we remember our past; this is how we safeguard our future." Tell me something I don't know. This is public knowledge in Panem. The Capitol is all powerful and forces us to fight in the Hunger Games each year to "compete" against the other districts for their entertainment. They continue, "As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hunger Games, as set in 2072 CE, this is the Second Quarter Quell. Here is our honorable fifth leader, President Coriolanus Snow, to explain the rules of this year's Hunger Games."
The young President Snow walks up to the stage with a young boy in a white suit holding a box. He begins speaking in an onerous voice, "Hello people of Panem! This year is our Second Quarter Quell. Are you excited?" The crowd of Capitol citizens are cheering loudly. After a minute, President Snow continues. "When the laws for the Games were laid out in the Treaty of Treason, each 25 years were marked by a Quarter Quell. These would bring new, spectacular rules to the Games of that year that only applied the one time. We have had only one other Quell in our history so far." He looks at the paper he's holding.
"Here we go," my girlfriend Samie says.
He begins speaking about the first Quell. "On the twenty-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every district was made to hold an election and vote on the tributes who would represent it."
That would suck, being voted by your friends to go to the Hunger Games.
"And now we honor our second Quarter Quell," says Snow. The little boy, holding a box, steps forward. The president opens a yellow envelope with the number 50 on it. After opening the envelope and pulling out the card, he reads, "On the fifteith anniversary, as a reminder that two rebels died for each Capitol citizen, every district is required tp send twice as many tributes to the Hunger Games." Twice as many? "This means, two males and two females will be reaped from each district, bringing the tribute count up to forty-eight. Thank you." As he leaves, the crowd in the Capitol are cheering for their new Hunger Games rules.
The reaping is going to be hell. I might want to prepare in the chance that I could be reaped. My name is Haymitch Abernathy.
New story, and it's a Hunger Games. Other than Haymitch and Maysilee, this is a SYOT. Please PM or review for your tribute's name to be featured. Please give a name and District, I need 4 from all except 12, where I only need two.