The lights shined and cameras were trained on the podium where President Shepard would be giving the Quarter Quell announcement. Everyone was excited to see how the newest president would deal with the pressure of rising up to the standards President Rector set when he passed away after the 199th Hunger Games. He was on medication to keep him alive, but he stopped taking them after the final three of those Games. So, President Shepard was quickly elected to crown the victor and take over what Rector has left for her. President Quinn Shepard was the newest president and has set two records already; the youngest president and the first female president Panem has ever had. Taking the reins of a nation at twenty-two was certainly a feat. No one expected her to take over for Rector. But, she was his long-lost niece after all.
The Capitol citizens were waiting to hear the twist on their favorite game and sport of all time. The Hunger Games have never failed to please since the Games were re-instated all those years ago. Now, the citizens were facing the 200th Hunger Games, and these Games will be able to please. The citizens always eat up the Quarter Quells, allowing a little room for error. President Shepard looked at herself in the mirror backstage, mentally thanking her stylist for her outfit and her hair style. Her long, brown hair has been placed into a complex braided style, twisting and turning over other strands of hair and her stylist has placed mini emeralds from District One in her hair. Her dress was a green color, matching the emeralds in her hair. It was fitted on her top, but flared at the bottom and it covered her silver heels. All the citizens in District Eight made her dress just for her, and she hated the thought of sending their children to die.
"Quinn, you're up!" A voice told her over the commotion of the trumpets and citizens. Everyone was so excited to hear what would be in store for them during these Hunger Games. Shepard was excited for another reason; it was her very first Quarter Quell announcement as president. The whole country has talked about a female president since she was sworn into office, and everyone wanted to see how she would compare to the other presidents, especially her favorite, President Dixon, who started the Hunger Games two hundred years ago.
President Shepard walked up to the podium, looking strong for her nation. Every Capitol citizen cheered for her and was excited to hear the announcement that would change the Games. She waved her hand, a sign to calm down and everyone took her hint. She smiled at her city and began her Announcement Speech. "Citizens of the Capitol and all of Panem. In a few moments, I will read the Quarter Quell announcement, one that will change the rules of this Game. However, like Dixon, Snow, Hickham, and Rector did before me, I will read through all the Quells and their victors."
She knew that the Capitol citizens would love to hear the names of past victors, but the districts may not want to hear the horrors again. She spoke about the first Quell, one where Amber Fulner was chosen to compete as a tribute from District Seven and came home a victor. The second Quell was quite a game, as the second victor of District Twelve was crowned, Mr. Haymitch Abernathy. The third Quell, which was a very controversial Quell, had no victor due to rebellious actions. The fourth Quell was fun to watch, as tributes had to rely on sponsors to give them their weapons. Sure, a lot of bloodless deaths occurred, but that didn't stop Abraham Sander from becoming a District Two victor. The fourth became the fifth Quell, and everyone was eligible for that Reaping. The victor was a nineteen-year-old woman from District Three, and her name was Folami Beck. The sixth Quell was quite an interesting one, considering that no one can volunteer. That meant that Districts One, Two, and Four had to have put up with a loss from Dane Gurley, a tribute and victor from District Ten. The best Quell so far was the seventh, the year where true 'star-crossed lovers' came out as victors together, both from completely different districts. Quaid Ethers from District One and Jada Caldwell from District Ten. Due to the Quell rules, they were paired together and that is why they came together as lovers.
"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for." President Shepard says as she finishes up the talk about the previous Quell. A young girl with a pure white dress walked up to her president with a red velvet pillow with a yellowed-with-age envelope. A reddish brown '200' was on the seal, meaning it was written two hundred years ago. She gingerly picked up the Quell twist and very carefully opened it up. Her fingers touched the paper, and she made sure that her 'French' manicured fingers didn't hurt the twist. She read it once, just to make sure she didn't stumble over her words at her first announcement.
"For the eighth Quarter Quell, to remind the rebels the horror they brought upon Panem in both rebellions, the districts must send forth ten tributes, five from each gender." Shepard left her words hanging in the air, just to make sure everyone understood her words. People in Panem could do the math; fourteen districts times ten tributes equals one hundred and forty tributes. The Capitol citizens cheered as they did the quick math and President Shepard stepped down from her podium.
The announcement was given about an hour ago and President Shepard is resting in her mansion, watching a rebroadcast of the Quell announcement. Despite what her stylist told her, she didn't feel like she looked pretty. As the first female president, they needed to do something amazing to outshine everything Panem has ever done. Her dress was very wonderful, but she didn't feel like she wore it well. Even in the Capitol, where plastic surgeons and everything can make you look beautiful, there were some people who didn't feel pretty. Being a president meant she needed to stay away from plastic surgeons and keep a natural look so she can relate with everyone in the districts than the Capitol, who follow her every move anyway.
Shepard switched the television to a rebroadcast of a mash-up of all the Quarter Quells thus far. A title screen with the words 'Seven Quells' appeared in front of the Panem seal, and they faded out to headshots of the victors of those Quells. The Panem seal appeared once more, with the title 'First Quell', and then it faded to an interview with Amber from District Seven. As her words are said, they turn into text. "Well, my biggest advantage is forestry and axes. I may be small, but don't count me out." The shot switched to the final battle between Amber and a District Nine tribute. A creepy song was played in the background as Amber cut him with her axe and his yell of agony was amplified for the mash-up. Suddenly, the final cannon boomed and the words 'Second Quell' appeared and faded out into Haymitch's Reaping.
A little girl was called, then a girl named Maysilee Donner followed. Haymitch was the first male chosen, and the other male was long forgotten. As the camera panned the District Twelve tributes, the camera stopped on Haymitch and then cut to another shot of him at the Tribute Parade, dressed as a coal miner. The camera payed no attention to his tribute partners, and the shot switched to him comforting his district partner as she died. He held onto her bloody hand tightly, watching her die. The shot changed once again, to him with his final interview with Ceaser Flickerman. His words changed into text as he spoke them, "What if I didn't want to win?" The shot fades to black, only showing the words 'Third Quell, no victory'.
Much to the mash-up they did show some of the third Quell. The Reaping where Mags volunteered, the Tribute Parade where Katniss and Peeta dressed as glowing embers, the interviews where Finnick recited a poem about his true love, the bloodbath where past victors died and never returned to their district. The final shot was of Katniss aiming her arrow at the force field, and the screen goes black. Blood red words that spell out 'Fourth Quell' fade in, then fade out to a headshot of Abraham Sander at his Reaping.
From the Reaping to the arena, Abraham was a favorite of the sponsors and he was given weapon after weapon and food. He allied with the typical alliance of One, Two and Four. Half of the alliance was attacked by mutts, and Abraham and his district partner took them out. They walked the snowy arena for more victims, but his female counterpart died due the cold weather. He just left her there as he continued to mark the white snow with blood of his victims. Finally, it was down to him and a tribute from District Eight, which he easily took out by pinning her down and slicing her throat with a sponsored knife. With the final cannon, the words 'Fifth Quell' came on screen and the shot changed to Folami Beck, a girl who was just out of reach of the Reaping but was pulled back in because of the Quell.
Folami wasn't a fan favorite. Many citizens called the Head Gamemaker and asked them to kill her purposely to get her out of the race. However, one sponsor gave her a small knife and she dominated the arena. President Shepard continued to watch the Quells, until her door burst open and her secretary was running to her. A paper was in his hand and he stopped in front of her. "What is it?" President Shepard asked. He shoved the paper in her hand and she read it over.
President Shepard, you cannot kill all those children. We have silently put up with all of the Hunger Games, deaths, and broken families. You don't know how much one hundred and forty really is. Your arenas will be cluttered and you simply can't deal with that many broken families. Take away the children and you just killed the districts. One hundred and forty is just too much. One hundred and thirty-nine deaths is way too many! Katniss and Peeta were right to start a rebellion all those years ago; they could have saved so many lives just by ending your sick Games. The districts will united and we won't be afraid to start another rebellion. Who cares if we don't have a leader? We'll find another Mockingjay, one stronger than Katniss and one who isn't afraid to stand up to you. Be warned, Shepard. Your nation will crumble.
"Who sent this?!" She yelled to her secretary. He staggered back as she yelled.
"I don't know!" He answered. "Someone dropped it off! But I..." He takes a glance at the back of the paper and silently points to it. President Shepard turns it around and looks at the scrawled writing.
The Mockingjay Army
"Find out who sent this. This rebellion cannot happen!" Her secretary nodded and left the room. Shepard reread the letter over and over again. This can not be happening again.
A/N: This is my second SYOT. I am still in need of tributes, and I have a list on my profile for all of you wishing to enter my SYOT. The list shows the tributes that are taken and the open spots. If you need the form, PM me for the form. :)
MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR! :D