The Fourth Quarter Quell
Summary: The rebellion failed, Katniss and Peeta have to be mentors, then comes the fourth Quarter Quell. Two young friends are suddenly thrown into the Hunger Games, not knowing who to trust and if they'll get out alive.
Chapter One: The Reapings
Mae's PoV
"Come on, come on," I say, looking back at my best friend. We were going to be late for the reapings if we didn't hurry and if either one of us got called, there would be a lot of questions.
"I'm coming," Primrose -Rose- Mellark almost yells back at me.
I roll my eyes and come to stop outside the roped off section of the town square. I feel Rose's hand on my shoulder and the two of us slip under the rope and push pass people until were standing with all the other sixteen year old girls.
The Mayor is just ending his speech as the two of us look up at the stage. Both of Rose's parents are sitting up there, along with Haymitch Abernathy. Though all of them seem to be ripped of their Victor's status, their all still very respected in District Twelve. The Mayor sits down beside them as a tall lanky man with blue hair walks up to the two sphere's filled with names.
He begins to talk about the Games and how great they'll be, but I tune him out thinking back to the horrors this years Games will bring.
"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.
"On the fiftieth anniversary, as a reminder that two rebels died for each Capitol citizen, every district was required to send twice as many tributes.
"On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, the male and female tributes were to be reaped from their existing pool of victors.
"Now as we honor our fourth Quarter Quell," said the president, and he turns to a young boy holding a small wooden box, he takes out and envelope marked 100. "On the one-hundredth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that everyone makes mistakes, sometimes even twice, every district is to send twice as many tributes, just like they did fifty years ago."
The man reaches into one of the sphere's and pulls out a piece of paper. He turns back and looks at our past victors before he read the name.
"Primrose Mellark."
Someone screams, loudly. Its scary and bloodcurdling, but they don't stop.
Then I realize its me.
Earlier
I sit quietly, staring out around me, just waiting and watching.
"Hey," I jumped as Rose sits down beside me, she rolls her eyes and hands me some bread. I take out some jam and we cover our pieces of bread with it, laughing and too soon licking our fingers clean of the stickiness.
"How was everything?" I ask her, we both didn't want to talk about today, but we both knew that it has to be done.
"Mom's jumpy and dad was having one of his fits when I snuck out," she whispers, I nod, knowing how things can go from already bad to worse at the Mellarks.
"I let dad and Mason sleep," I told her, Rose nods, and the two of us stand up, its time to hunt.
Three hours later our game bags are full and after a quick pit stop at the Hob were on our way home.
I'm walking in just as dad and Mason are stepping out, I make sure to kiss both of them on their cheeks and then dig around in my mother's old clothes for something presentable to wear.
My mother had died when Mason was three, he barely remembers her, but I was seven. I remember my mother well, she was beautiful and kind and respected. She had been the Mayor's daughter when my father was young, and despite the fact that he was from the Seam they fell in love and had me and my brother. But when she died things changed for my family, my father grew depressed and stopped going into the woods. He brought home barely enough money for us to live on and even then we sit went hungry. Then Rose dragged me out into the woods and things changed once again, I began to hunt and set up snares and we survived.
I pull on my mothers old clothes and hear a knock on the door.
Me and Rose then started to race down to the square.
Present
I dig my nails into Rose's arm, but she pulls away.
"No!" I scream, trying to pull her back, but I start to feel arms grab me and pull me away from her.
I'm crying and I don't hear the man pull out the two boy tributes, I only feel the strongest pair of arms release me.
"Shut up," someone hisses, I wipe my eyes and look up at the stage, all they need is one last girl tribute.
"Klara F-"
"I volunteer!" I yell, and begin to shove and push my way up to the stage, "I volunteer!"
"And who are you?" the escort asks.
"Maysilee, Mae Hawthorne."