The 100th Hunger Games (SYOT)

by zeldahappy24

The 74th Hunger Games had no victor. 26 years later, it's the fourth Quarter Quell, and it's announced that there will be no volunteering. But the berries of the 74th are still remembered, and with the last Quell still hanging heavy over their minds, will everyone play by the rules? Is the spark of rebellion diminished, but still burning? (Send your own tribute)(T for Hunger Games)

1. Prologue

SYOT Format is on my profile page, please PM me your response! Thanks~

I sit, comfortable, perched on the edge of my sofa. My hand searches for a piece of popcorn, and I pop it in my mouth just as the TV switches on.

"Tula? Manno?" I call loudly. "Hurry up, it's starting!"

"It is?" Manno rushes into the room, blue eyes wide with excitement, blonde curls bouncing, tickling his face. He shifts a little, and I catch a glimpse of Tula behind him, her spindly arm gripping a toy sword I bought her just for the occasion.

I pat the space next to me, and they both crawl onto the sofa, Tula next to me and Manno's head resting on my lap. The popcorn's immediately sought after, and he grips a fistful his pudgy hand as the seal of Panem lights up the room in a cosy hue. Then it vanishes, and we're live outside the training centre, where Caesar Flickerman proudly sits, addressing his audience.

"Are you ready for the 100th Annual Hunger Games?" The crowd meets this with rapturous applause. I see this year, his hair is dyed a striking lime green, and he has a new matching suit to compliment it. I wonder if this will be the next new fashion? I better head to the shops tomorrow just in case.

"I'll hand you over to our very own, President Snow!" Slightly less applause this time. Ever since the incident of her, there's always been an absence of love towards 'our very own President'. Manno gives me a very stern 'shh' as I stick my hand in the popcorn bowl again, his face lit up in anticipation, glued to the screen. He doesn't want to miss a second. Why would he? We've all been brought up on the Games, brought up watching tributes bludgeon and stab each other to death. It's a form of entertainment. Fun. A time to celebrate, to get together with family and huddle around the television.

"Good evening, Panem." He pauses. "I am here today to announce the the fourth Quarter Quell since the beginning of the Hunger Games." A boy behind him holds out an old, wooden box and he grips it in his pale hands. That's funny. Usually he spends a little more time speaking, but with the reaction to the previous Quell I guess he wants to get this over with as fast as possible. Not everyone was satisfied with all the previous victors entering the arena again. Though our childhood was filled with the Games, it was also filled with the victors. The children who had the odds in their favour that fateful day. Of course, they were also very popular among the betters. Snow extracts a slip of yellowed paper and begins to read.

"To remind the rebels that they were powerless to stop their own destruction, for the fourth Quell the tributes reaped cannot accept any volunteers."

So the children picked will be the children in the games. No volunteering. Manno squeals excitedly.

Things are about to get interesting.