Hey y'all! Here is the first chapter, which is a little short, but then again, it's only the Quell reading, so, yeah. Here ya go:
Chapter 1
The Quell
President Gumei Snow, Age 27, Capitol
"Hello, citizens of the ever-glorious Panem." I announced proudly into the microphone. Looking down from my balcony in the President's Mansion, I saw all the Capitolites, some of them cheering and others broadcasting with their cameras to the Districts. That was a special day, as that was the day that I was going to announce the Quarter Quell rules. "Today, I am going to announce the twist of the Quarter Quell for the 150th annual Hunger Games!" Cheers erupted even further in the crowd below me.
The Quarter Quell was thought up 150 years ago, and it meant that every 25 years, there would be a twist to the Games. Sometimes, as in the case of the 75th Games, the President and his Head Gamemaker would change the original Quell rule. However, that had only happened once.
As I waited for the cheers to die down a little bit, I thought of the past Quarter Quells. There had only been 5 previously, each one unique and cruel. The 1st Quarter Quell, for instance. The girl from District 12, Susan James, won at the age of 18, making her the District's 2nd Victor. That year, the Quell was for the tributes to be voted in. It was quite spectacular.
The 2nd Quarter Quell was also won by District 12. The Victor was Haymitch Abernathy, who won at the age of 16. That year, he competed in an arena with twice the tributes, as two boys and girls came from each District.
The 3rd Quarter Quell, who's rule was changed by my great-times-a-few-grandfather, President Coriolanus Snow, was won by Gloss Xerces of District 1, originally the Victor of the 63rd Games, at the age of 29. That year, the tributes were Reaped from each District's existing pool of Victors, because a girl from District 12, Katniss Everdeen, who had won the 74th Games, was "accidentally" causing a rebellion. Coriolanus caught wind of a plot to break her free, and had the Head Gamemaker for that year, Plutarch Heavensbee, kill her. When he failed to succeed, (multiple times) he had him arrested for treason and executed. Another Gamemaker took over, and got her killed by mermaid muttations. Later, Coriolanus had District 13 bombed repeatedly, as that was the rebellion's base of operations. He was a good man.
The 4th Quarter Quell had the third President Panem had ever had. That man was my grandfather, President Coriolanus Snow III. The girl from 7, Amber Zaman, won that year at the age of 13, making her the youngest Quell Victor ever. The rule for that year, was simply forcing District 13 into the Games. My grandfather would have changed it to that, but it was already what was written on the card, or so I've been told.
Speaking of cards, I was way past due on reading mine. I looked at the little boy standing next to me. My son. He was only 4, but he knew all about the Games and where I stood in politics. He loved the Games with a passion and was sad knowing he probably wouldn't become President.
I looked away from him and opened the little wooden box he was holding. Inside, above the velvet lining, stood hundreds of cards, each with a multiple of 25 on it. The very last one, which a select few people knew existed, was the card labeled 50000. I grabbed the card above all the others, however, which read 150. I slowly pulled it out, and took my time revealing the crisp, white paper. Finally opened, I looked down at the people of the Capitol. They all seemed to be holding their breaths, as I was. Reading the card, I released my breath and smiled.
"For the 150th Hunger Games and the 6th Quarter Quell, to prove to the rebels that the most loyal live longer, the tributes from poorer districts will be younger, and richer shall be older. The Reaping ages for this year shall be tweaked. Districts 1 and 2 shall be Reaped from 17 to 18 year old tributes. Districts 3 and 4 shall be Reaped from 16 to 18 year olds. 5 and 6 will be 15 to 17. 7, 14 to 16. 8 and 9, 13 to 15. 10, 12 to 14. And finally, for Districts 11, 12, and 13, ages 12 and 13. Happy Hunger Games, and to the people of the Districts, I tell you this: May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor." As I turned away from my podium I smiled to myself. It was kind of clear what Districts weren't going to win this year.
Okay, so that was chapter one, to let you know what all the Reaping Ages are. I'm hoping you like the idea for the Quell, and I hope you give me some comments on where I could do better, and where I did an okay job. Criticism is loved and encouraged. Oh, and don't worry, I will explain the 5th Quell later, and how 13's only Victor came from it. So, yeah. No 13 mentors, but this one kid.
Basically, the Reaping ages are as follows:
District 1: 18 and 17.
District 2: 18 and 17.
District 3: 18, 17 & 16.
District 4: 18, 17 & 16.
District 5: 17, 16 & 15.
District 6: 17, 16 & 15.
District 7: 16, 15 & 14.
District 8: 15, 14 & 13.
District 9: 15, 14 & 13.
District 10: 14, 13 & 12.
District 11: 13 & 12.
District 12: 13 & 12.
District 13: 13 & 12
I STILL NEED TRIBUTES! Most of the tributes I've been sent are strong and only one or two are pretty much destined to be bloodbaths. The more Bloodbath tributes that get submitted, the less "others" will actually de in that first 45 seconds. I'm thinking about writing another chapter, from a Capitolist's point of view on some past Games or something. Some highlights.
Remember: You can submit up to 4 tributes! Only one person has taken advantage of this, and has submitted 2.
Thanks a bunch for reading!