President Octavia Basilicus, Capitol
Quarter Quells are always intense. The Capitol loves them, the Districts fear them. They serve as a reminder of the rebellion and how the horrors are ever changing. Since the last Quell the criteria has changed. Long gone has the need to tailor the Quell to consolidate power and now it is down to what will generate the most viewing pleasure.
The first quell was the Districts choosing their tributes, reminding them that the rebels chose to sacrifice their children in the rebellion. The second quell was double the tributes, to remind the Districts that two rebels died for every Capitol citizen. The most recent quell, the third quell, was that victors re-entered the arena, to remind the Districts that even the most powerful amongst them are subjected to the Capitol's will. Each served the purpose of keeping power, now the Districts know rebellion is futile. We destroyed District Thirteen a second time and it's made clear we won't hesitate to destroy another.
The crowd on a normal Hunger Games surprises me, but as I step onto my podium the amount of people I am faced with is, quite honestly, breathtaking. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said that half of the Capitol's population were before me, craning to get a glimpse of me - to see what the Quell is. There's an almost unbearable amount of cheering to which I raise my hands, silencing them. It gets so quiet, if one was to drop a coin, it would echo.
I begin by recalling our past quells and I can see a few of them nod. We barely have any who were alive during the first quell, we have a larger amount who remember the second and most before me remember the third - even if they didn't, reruns of the quells happen every so often.
I present the letter on my podium to the crowd, the cheering starting again. This is the moment they've been waiting for - the moment I've been waiting for. My first quell as President of Panem.
"On the one hundredth anniversary," I say, speaking as I read to ensure that I don't stumble on my words, "As a reminder to the rebels that even victories withhold horrors and difficulties, the male and female tributes will be reaped from the offspring of the district's victors within the eligible reaping ages."
The crowd is quiet before a roar of approval explodes. I smile, wave, and take my leave.
This year's Hunger Games will be extremely interesting indeed.