At last! The story begins! Sorry for such a delay, I was on vacation for a while.
I received all twenty-four tributes. Thank you for your amazing submissions! I already have the extent of the games planned out: alliances, deaths, friendships, surprise twists, and even the winner.
In this chapter, I don't introduce the tributes just yet. That will certainly be next chapter! I hope to upload the next chapter either later today or tomorrow, so keep checking back, add this to alerts, favorites, etc.
Read and Review!
Disclaimer: I don't own The Hunger Games.
The Sixth Quarter Quell
It is obvious that the Capitol enjoys tormenting the Districts' weakness. Ever since the Dark Days, the evil government of Panem has taken great caution in preventing another rebellion from the twelve remaining Districts.
This resulted in the rise of the Hunger Games, a brutal fight-to-the-finish among the District children.
And as if the Games alone were not enough, the Capitol also introduced their idea for the Quarter Quell - unique Games that occur every twenty-fifth year since the beginning of the Games.
Throughout history, five Quarter Quells have occurred, all of which had their own special twist accompanied by a theme to remind the Districts never to rebel against the Capitol again.
In the first Quarter Quell, citizens of the Districts voted on the children they wanted sent into the arena.
In the second, instead of the usual two tributes from each District sent in, four tributes were chosen from each of the Districts.
In the third, the tributes chosen were past winners of the Hunger Games.
In the fourth, one tribute was chosen, and that tribute was forced to select the next tribute for the District.
In the fifth and most recent one, the Capitol removed from the arena the infamous Cornucopia, the center of the arena and the source of all essential supplies, leaving the tributes to fend for themselves in the wild.
Every Quarter Quell thus far has made for a particularly interesting, bloody, and heart-breaking Hunger Games. As the 150th Hunger Games and the sixth Quarter Quell draws near, the citizens of Panem expect nothing less than rash brutality from the Gamemakers behind the Hunger Games.
The time finally comes for the sixth Quarter Quell's twist to be announced. All around the country, denizens of Panem are situated in front of their televisions, anticipating President Whitely to appear and give her speech concerning the Games' anniversary.
The program finally begins. Whitely is shown in front of a booth on the all-too-familiar stage where countless tributes – winners and losers – have tried their best to seem strong in front of the millions of eyes of their fellow citizens. On the booth is a small box. Many old, yellowed envelopes are peeking out the top of it.
The president undergoes the typical protocol. The greetings. The speech about the Dark Days. The explanation of the Quarter Quells.
"Soon, Panem will be celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Hunger Games! It will be the Sixth Quarter Quell." she says. Her trademark voice, powerful and beautiful, is far too enthusiastic for the occasion. She smiles, flashing her dazzling white teeth, while flipping her long, chestnut brown hair over her shoulders. Her icy blue eyes stare into the camera, bright, but with a suspicious snake-like gaze.
In the Capitol, the round of applause for the announcement is deafening. In the Districts, people are glaring at their screens, shaking their heads in disgust, and holding back tears in memory of lost loved ones.
Whitely shuffles through the envelopes in the box before pulling out one of them, assumingly the one specified at the beginning of the Hunger Games for the Sixth Quarter Quell.
As she opens the envelope, she begins the characteristic speech to reveal the twist in the Games. "As a reminder to the districts that they will always fail, regardless of how many times they try to come back and revolt, the tributes in the upcoming Hunger Games will have two chances."
Obviously in question, the crowd seen behind the president is murmuring in speculation.
"This means that, after the first death, the tribute will be brought back to resume playing in the Games."
Surprised gasps emitted from practically everyone watching the program. The same question surfaced at the top of almost everyone's minds. How is this even possible?
Whitely soon continued with the explanation. "Technology in medicine has been improving for more than one hundred years. At last, the greatest scientists of Panem concocted a medicine that, when injected into a deceased human, can bring the patient back to life. The tributes will be injected with the potion immediately after their first death to resume playing in the games. Everyone playing will have exactly two chances at a victory!"
The viewers are all still surprised at the announcement.
"Of course, under normal circumstances, having two chances at survival will simplify the victory. Therefore, to spice up these Hunger Games and to complicate survival, certain changes have been made. There will be no sponsors allowed in the Games. Furthermore, the arena is planned to be the largest and most dangerous one yet." Whitely smiles one last time, this time being openly mischievous. "I'm sure we're all anticipating the upcoming Quarter Quell Hunger Games! Thanking you for tuning in to this announcement, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"
The program ends, leaving the country with its thoughts.
It's a short chapter to start off, but don't expect them to be this short.
As far as the potion goes: it will be further explained. Things such as why it isn't being released to the public and how it works will be answered in the future.
My idea for the future of this story is for it to be intense, mysterious, and emotional. I really want to try to make it my best writing, so I'm begging for any constructive criticism you might have.
Next chapter will be the reapings, so Review with your thoughts and check back later!