Firstly, May the Odds be Ever in Your Favour! Secondly, I can't wait for the movie. Anyways, back to the point. My friends convinced me to write a Hunger Games story. I didn't really know where to start, other than I'd want it to have an actual Hunger Games and for it to be during a Quarter Quell. So then I decided (since I love what if stories) what if they never won the rebellion? I hope I can make this unique to all the other 'they lost the rebellion' HG stories. If not, I hope you still enjoy it!

Chapter 1: Something Wicked This Way Comes

Alyssa

I wake up to see my dad nudging me gently, a sad smile on his face. At first I'm slightly confused, mainly due to me not being awake fully, but it soon dawns on me.

The reaping. I sigh, sit up slowly and shield my face from the sun shining through my window. "Ugh," I moan tiredly. "Can't I just sleep the day away?"

He laughs a little, but there's no joy in it. "Come on, sleepy head, or the peacekeepers will have to drag you out."

I look up at him, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. There's a small grin forming on my face. "Like last reaping?" I ask innocently. He laughs again and he seems to have lightened up.

"Let's not have a repeat of last year. Snow hates me as it is, and with it being a Quarter Quell this year-"

"Stop worrying. I'm one in a thousand, dad; I doubt I'll get picked, even if Snow hates you." He stares down at me, concern clear in his eyes. He leans his forehead against mine and squeezes his eyes shut.

"I just want to keep you safe," he whispers.

I close my eyes too and for a moment the room is silent. "I know…" I mumble back.

He told me what happened during the second rebellion. How he's lucky to be alive. My brother and sister are too young to understand, they're only 9. He only told me 4 years ago when I was old enough to be placed in the reaping. I can't imagine what he had to go through.

I'm brought out of my thoughts when he kisses me on the forehead. After that he ruffles my black hair gently. I swat his hand away before he has the chance mess it up.

I can see his reluctance to leave me, like I'll be dragged away by peacekeepers at any minute. "I'll be fine," I say with a reassuring smile. He stands in the doorway for a few more minutes, before finally walking out my room.

I'm just about to collapse in my bed again when banging is heard from the front door. Oh no, I think as I leap out of my bed. I can't be that late!

I rush down the stairs, jumping the last few steps and land just in front of the door. "I'll get it!" I call to no one in particular and I fling the door open.

"I see you're rushing it this morning?" the visitor asks. She places a hand on my head and ruffles my hair. My annoyance must show, because she only laughs at me as I try to pat down my hair.

"Katniss! I've only just sorted this out!" I lie, though I know I'm not fooling her.

"Of course you have," she states before walking past me and meeting my dad in the hallway. "Hey Gale," She says.

He smiles and replies with "Hey Katniss." I take that as my cue to leave.

"So, I'll just be, err, going… This way!" I point towards the kitchen and rush off, embarrassed by my stuttering, only to run into my mum. "Shi- Hi mum!" I smile sweetly at her.

She just shakes her head and tells me to 'be more careful'.

"I will, mum. Promise," I say.

"By the way, who was at the door?" She calls to me. I stop in the kitchen doorway.

"Just Katniss," I reply. She nods and quickly walks into the other room. Weird, I think. That's the first time mums ever blanked me…

I shrug it off as I pour myself a drink. I know they have every right to be freaked out about today, but is there really any need to worry? I take a big sip from my drink, tapping my fingers on the counter.

I mean, wouldn't I have been picked by now? Why wait when you could just punish him straight away? That's a pretty lame idea. I sigh before downing the rest of the drink. Every reaping I end up thinking this through in my head and in the end I never come up with an answer.

This bites, I continue as I rest my head on the counter. Stupid reapings!

XOXOXOX

Gale

"You're worried too?" I ask as Katniss sits down in the seat opposite me. She runs a hand through her hair and sighs.

"Of course I am Gale. I know Snow, and this quarter quell is the perfect opportunity to remind us of our failed attempt at rebelling." We look down at the floor. Neither of us wants to relive those memories.

"You're worried she'll get picked, aren't you?" A voice calls from the doorway. I lift my head up to see my beautiful wife stood at the door. She moves to sit next to me, placing her hand on top of mine to try and comfort me.

"Cynthia…" I say softly. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her closer.

"There's a chance," Katniss says slowly to make sure we're paying attention. "Snow might rig the reaping so that she's picked. It's highly doubtful, but we're more concerned about what will happen if she is picked."

"Not to mention we have no idea what this Quarter Quell will be," I add.

"Why haven't they announced it yet?" Cynthia asks. "Normally, they announce it before the reaping, right?" The room is silent as her question hangs in the air. Why didn't I think about that before? What is Snow planning?"

"They don't want us to be prepared for what they have in store…" Katniss states, breaking the silence. "I mean, they want to make sure they're still in control of the situation. If any of the districts knew, then they could easily prepare ahead of time."

"It makes sense, but it still seems pointless." I look at Cynthia, hugging her tighter.

"Well, maybe not," I say. "The longer they postpone revealing the new Quarter Quell, the more anxious the districts get. We can't forget that it's only been 25 years after the rebellion, so we all know it'll be something big."

There's another disturbing silence that lasts for a few seconds before a distant crash signals the end of our conversation.

"What the hell was that for?" Alyssa shouts from a different room in the house. Seconds later the twins run past the door, giggling and pulling faces at the person who is probably hot on their heels. Luckily, Katniss is one step ahead of me and heads to the door.

"Easy there," She says as she grabs Alyssa around the waist. But that does little to stop her from putting up a fight.

"Let me go!" She cries, flailing her arms and legs about trying to escape. Katniss only drags her into the room and closes the door.

"Perhaps it's best if you sit down for a little?" she says and Alyssa calms down slightly. Katniss eventually lets go, but only when she's sure Alyssa won't make a run for it. Cynthia and I just sit and watch.

"Do you want to tell her?" Katniss asks as Alyssa makes herself comfy on one of the chairs.

"Tell me what?" Alyssa asks, suddenly interested in our conversation.

"Nothing's definite," I say, but that's all I can get out before the television bursts into life and the Capitol insignia flashes onto the screen. We all wait in silence, knowing that this event is to announce the Quarter Quell.

XOXOXOX

Alyssa

"Greetings citizens and happy Hunger Games! As you all know, today is the day of the reaping. Firstly, I want to wish you all good luck and may the odds be ever in your favour!" He smiles at the camera, and I start to feel sick. I want to turn it off, or throw something at the screen, but at the same time I can't tear my eyes away.

"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. The 4th Quarter Quell!" The room is silent and everyone is tense. I can practically feel the hatred radiating from my parents and Katniss. For once, I'm glad that my brother and sister aren't here.

We watch as they bring out the small box that contains the rules for each Quarter Quell. It seems like an eternity before they actually reach President Snow, and the wait is agonising.

Snow opens up the small box and carefully picks out one of the cards. Suddenly it's as if the entire world is silent and waiting. This is what he wants, I think. He wants us to be restless. Slowly, he unfolds the card, smiling at the words written on the paper.

"Each tribute will be paired with a tribute from another district and will fight alongside each other during the entirety of the Games. Happy Hunger Games" He smiles and then his faces flashes off the screen. The Capitol insignia returns and all that can be heard in the room is the static of the television.

"What was that about?" I ask, wondering about the significance of this Quarter Quell. All the tributes will be too young to understand, but I know that those from the rebellion will have gotten the message.

"He wants us to know that even though the districts can team up, they can never win against the Capitol," my dad says. I notice his clenched fists and realize just how badly this will affect everyone who rebelled.

But as I see my dad staring at Katniss with concern, I can't help but think of a deeper meaning. Katniss turns to Gale and nods slightly, but even I can tell she's not okay.

"What else does it mean?" I ask. They all look at me, and then my parents turn their attention to Katniss. An unspoken conversation is had between them before Katniss sighs and turns to face me.

"It's a message to all the rebels. 'This is how your precious rebellion started, with two people making it out of the arena alive. Now, this is how your rebellion will end'. No doubt that the last pair standing will be forced to kill their partner, if they still have a partner left."

I stand speechless for a second. My dad puts a hand on my shoulder and I lift my head up to look him in the eye. "Everything will be alright, I promise," he says.

I'm about to reply when the clock behind us chimes and I know that its time for the reaping. My mum hugs me tightly, and my dad ends up wrapping his arms around the both of us. After the embrace I whisper goodbye.

Katniss leads me out of the house, her arm around my shoulder all the way to the square. Everything will be alright, I repeat over and over again in my head. I'm just one in a thousand.

Katniss squeezes my arm before she starts to walk away. I grab her by the sleeve and pull her into a hug before she can protest. She pulls away, her Seam grey eyes starting to water.

"You know, don't you?" I whisper to her as the other children start to gather in the square. She stays silent and I can feel my heart racing.

She looks away, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Alyssa. I tried…" She turns and walks away, leaving me in the middle of the square. I look around me, seeing the scared faces and the crying girls and suddenly I feel like crying too. But I know I can't.

I soldier on and stand with the other girls who are sixteen years old. I search for familiar faces in the crowd, but even though I have plenty of friends I can't seem to pick a single one of them out.

And so for the first time in my life, I truly feel alone.

Hope you like it guys :) If you have any questions, feel free to PM me! I will (hopefully) be putting up a prequel to the story, explaining what happened after the rebellion. In the mean time, Happy Hunger Games!