"Open Graves"
The 49th Hunger Games
"Oh, trust me," said Head Gamemaker Penitence Danaid, her voice affected and sing-song, "this year's Games will be quite surprising indeed! You'll see, the twist we have planned will unravel in a storm of thrills and emotions!"
She smiled, exposing her bright red teeth. Her interlocutor, a Capitol television presenter seated at her side, left out a giggle before asking:
"All of this surely sounds quite appealing – are we allowed to get a little hint in regard to the nature of said twist?"
The Gamemaker's lips twisted into a coy little grin and her dark eyes shone with enthusiasm. Her voice rang once again:
"Oh, I'm afraid I can't tell you much, but let's say no tribute will leave the arena until the very end of the Games."
The presenter raised an eyebrow. Hushed interrogations shook the studio audience and one of the cameramen left out a short groan. Penitence's smile faded into a bizarre frown. For a few seconds the whole room seemed to swim in discomfort.
"Er, how mysterious," said the presenter, a hint of perplexity in his voice "Puzzling, I might even say."
Even the Gamemaker saw through his obvious attempt at deflating the ambient tension. She gave him a thankful smile before speaking again:
"Indeed it is," she forced a laugh, "but don't be so worried, my dear – we won't let anyone lay low this year. Our tributes will not only be staying in the arena 'till the end: they'll remain in the fight as well!"
Someone left out a gasp and the audience started to cheer... the crowd's opinion had swung like a weather vane and they'd finally given Penitence the reaction she had been waiting for. Beaming with satisfaction, the Gamemaker graced the crowd with another toothy grin. For an instant, all could guess that her true passion was not the Games, but the glory they'd bring her- and she was already becoming a Capitol's darling.
There was another round of exited cheers, and then the audience calmed down. A short musical cue echoed through the studio and a massive screen lit up behind Penitence and her host's armchairs. The presenter rose in a goofy little jump before announcing:
"It is now time for Penitence to answer some of the questions sent in by our beloved viewers!"
The Gamemaker shrugged, still smiling.
"So, without further ado, where shall we start?"
Elegant black letters appeared on the screen behind them. Penitence raised her eyebrows as her host read the first question:
"What will the arena be like?"
"Ah," sighted the Gamemaker, "that simple, age old query to which I, once again, sadly can't answer much... "
She marked a dramatic pause, gave a small shrug and finally answered:
"This year's arena will be unlike the terrariums (she spat the word as if it was shameful) we have observed in the past. This year's arena will be a reflexion of the life we know- but as it has not been lived in centuries."
Someone in the audience loudly exclaimed their interest, others soon followed. Penitence saluted them with a quick wave of the hand. A new question was asked:
"Will a certain kind of tribute be advantaged this year?"
"Oh," reacted the Gamemaker, "my answer here is yes, and they won't be those you'd normally expect to come out on top."
A murmur went through the crowd of spectators. Surely some bets were to be re-evaluated in light of Penitence's last words. The text on the screen changed, and the presenter's voice resonated once again around the room:
"From which District will the Victor most likely come from?"
The Gamemaker raised her hands, palms to the audience in a gesture of surrender.
"Oh, that, my dear," she said, "even I couldn't guess – and I'm the one who designed this arena. No wonder it'll be a surprise with how innovative and imaginative my team and I have been this year."
Her lips formed a cocky smile and the presenter giggled. The screen behind them went out. Some of the spectators held their breath in anticipation.
"Before we go," said the presenter to Penitence, "I'll dare to ask you one last question."
"Go ahead," said the Gamemaker with a nod.
"I might be trying a long shot here, but... a unique twist, all that novelty... Were this year's Games designed as an appetizer for the upcoming Quarter Quell?"
"Oh, I don't think I could say so," responded Penitence, "even we Gamemakers remain unknowing of said Quell's nature... It is true, nevertheless, that our viewers will not have to wait one more year to witness the grandiosity of truly distinctive Games."
She smiled again, her tinted teeth glistening in the studio's bright lighting. Many faces in the audience were smiling as well; someone even professed their love for the Gamemaker in a wheezing shout. A second musical cue resonated in the room. The presenter rose up.
"Our time together is sadly up," he said, "and so we'll have to bid goodnight to all of Panem!"
The crowd broke into a concert of disappointed "ah"s and "oh"s. The presenter continued:
"It has been your weekly newscast Capitol Cadence, this evening with special guess Head Gamemaker Penitence Danaid!"
The lady in question rose up and took a bow as the elegant logo of the 49th Hunger Games appeared onscreen behind her. The whole studio exploded into applauds.
Author's Notes
- You can find character related infos and credits on my profile page.