Update: 1/11/16
The announcement is tomorrow.
My heart nearly stops every time I think about it. I can't imagine what fresh horrors the Capitol will have in store for its new victims. I pray that the Quell isn't as bad the second Quarter Quell, but I know that the Capitol won't be able to resist any extreme extravagances for this special celebration.
I walk through Victor's Village trying not to think about the inevitable terror that Peeta, Haymitch, and I will have to face together. Eventually, I decide to walk to Peeta's house, thinking that being with him will calm me down.
After the Victory Tour, the frigid wind that had kept Peeta and I estranged had finally warmed. We're back to normal. Well, as normal as we can be. Peeta is back to being his old incredibly affectionate and kind self, and I'm finally able to speak to him. I've missed that.
As soon as I open the door, the heavenly scent of Peeta's bread caresses my nostrils, inviting me into the warm folds of his home.
"Peeta?" I call out. "Are you here?"
I hear him yell from the somewhere in his house, "Yes! I'm in the kitchen."
I walk to the kitchen where I am greeted by a smile from Peeta. He has one of those smiles that can make you smile back, even if you're not happy.
I smile at him and sit down at his table, looking around the kitchen that I've become so familiar with ever since coming home from the Tour. The walls are a beautiful, light green—almost mint, complementing all the white cabinetry.
Peeta sits down across from me and places a fresh loaf of bread in the center of the table.
"Want some?"
The bread smells irresistible, so I nod and take the slice he offers me. After a minute of chewing in silence, I look up at Peeta and wonder what could possibly be going through his head right now. How does he stay sane when the Quarter Quell announcement is tomorrow?
"Katniss?" He he whispers my name as soon as I open my mouth to say his.
"Yes?"
He asks the question that has been on my mind for months, but just out of reach to actually discuss:, "What do you think the Quell will be?"
"I have no idea, but I'm terrified."
He nods slowly in agreement. I can feel his fear. He's scared that we won't be able to save our tributes. I fear the same thing.
Peeta reaches over the table and places his hand over mine, sending chills up my spine. My cheeks redden at his touch.
I look up and see a tortured expression in Peeta's eyes. These tributes won't have the same privileges that Peeta and I had; both won't be able to survive. All I can think is watching child after child being speared like Rue or poisoned like Foxface or torn apart limb by limb like Cato.
I can't relive the Games, but I have to. We have to. My chest aches at the thought.
Peeta, seeing the terrified expression on my face, squeezes my hand and says, with utmost compassion, "But at least we'll get through it together."
I stay at Peeta's house all night, knowing that I won't be able to sleep. The nightmares would be too bad. Every time I close my eyes, I see Rue and Glimmer and Marvel and Clove and Cato die in front of me.
We lay on the couch together, my head in his lap, talking about everything but the games the entire night. My unease finally leaves, replaced with content. Peeta and I have never spoken for this long, but I love it. It's nice to be able to talk with someone who completely understands everything without having to explicitly say it. He knows everything I'm feeling because he feels it too. The nightmares don't just affect me.
When the next morning finds us with sunlight shining through the windows, our fluttering eyes dream of a restful night's sleep that will probably never happen again. The Games have poisoned our restful nights. My unease returns.
Suddenly, I hear a knock at the door, and sit up quickly as if something might knock it down and kill us. Peeta seems to have no such thoughts because he gets up and calmly strides to the door.
He opens the door, and, to our surprise, there stands a sober Haymitch. With the announcement so close, I thought he'd be drowning his thoughts in alcohol, especially since it's a Quell.
"Do you guys know what time it is?" His voice is gruff, as if he just woke up.
Peeta glances at me and then back at Haymitch, "No, we kind of lost track of time."
Haymitch smirks and rolls his eyes, "Of course you did. Turn on the TV. The announcement will be on soon."
As Peeta goes to turn on the television, Haymitch plops down next to me on the couch and takes a flask out of his pocket. He gives me a knowing look as if I had done something I shouldn't have done last night.
"Have fun last night, sweetheart?"
Even though I didn't do anything that he's insinuating, I blush and grab the flask out of his hand and take a swig. The alcohol scorches my throat, making me gag. It's possibly the worst thing that I've ever tasted, but the burning wakes me up, if only briefly.
I hand Haymitch the flask as the Capitol emblem glows on the screen. Peeta comes to sit on the other side of me. I lean into him for support, and he wraps his arm around me.
Ceasar Flickerman's face graces Peeta's TV screen, and I feel Peeta tense beside me. I grab his hand and squeeze. We're going to need each other to get through this announcement.
Haymitch glances at me, but I ignore his piercing eyes.
"Welcome, welcome, one and all! The time has come for the seventy-fifth Hunger Games!" He chuckles heartily, and it grates on my nerves.
"While I truly cannot wait to start my coverage of thise stupendous event, we have a very exciting announcement from our very own President Snow. As you all know, this year is a special Hunger Games known as the Quarter Quell. This event only comes once every 25 years, so we know the Gamemakers have many special surprises in store for us viewers, and, especially, our tributes. So now, without further ado, President Snow!"
The screen changes to an image of President Snow in his office, surrounded by Peacekeepers. Snow manages to keep a straight face, but his eyes shine with malicious glee.
"Seventy-five years ago, the fiery destruction of rebellion overtook this country. However, when the rebellion was smothered, our marvelous Panem rose out of the ashes to become the powerful nation it is today. Every year, we celebrate the quelling of this rebellion with a nationwide event called the Hunger Games, and every 25 years, Panem enjoys a special celebration. When the Hunger Games was founded, our forefathers composed hundreds of ideas for these games that were to be used every 25 years, an event called the Quarter Quell. In the twenty-fifth Hunger Games, the citizens of all the districts voted for their tributes to remind Panem that the responsibility of the rebellion resided on the Districts alone. In the fiftieth Hunger Games, double the amount of tributes were chosen to remind the Districts that for each Capitol citizen killed, two rebels died. Now, for the seventy-fifth Hunger Games…"
Snow pauses, and Peeta, Haymitch, and I hold our breaths. My hold on Peeta tightens, and I close my eyes, waiting for the inevitable.
President Snow opens a small, blood colored box, and plucks a yellow card from it. He holds the card in front of his face, and the corner of his lips raise slightly in a smile.
"Now, for the 75th Hunger Games, each living victor from the District will be responsible for reaping their own tributes to remind Panem that the strongest of us is still weaker than the might of the Capitol."
Snow looks into the camera one last time, grinning, before the Capitol seal illuminates the screen.
The room is silent for several minutes. I try to think of something, anything, to say, but my mind is spinning. Haymitch finally breaks the silence with a handful of curse words as he abruptly stands up and storms toward the door. He looks back at us, briefly, before slamming it.
I glance at Peeta, and his eyes are wide. He's terrified.
My mind is spinning, and I can barely process what has been spoken.
When Peeta opens his mouth to speak, his deep voice trembles. "We have to choose the tributes."
Hey y'all! Thanks for reading this chapter! I'm very excited about this story, and I plan on continuing it. If you have any suggestions or comments, please leave a review.
I want to give a HUGE thanks to my Beta reader, Defying Expectations, for being an excellent editor and amazing person.