Hi all! I'm back!
This next project will be looking back at the first 25 Victors of the Hunger Games. This is a prequel of sorts to my first SYOT which you can find in my profile, so check it out! Over the next 24 chapters you will encounter familiar characters. Hopefully you all enjoy it and review and interact! I will try to stick to this format, but want to make it a bit different to everything else out there. This will then lead in to another SYOT.
Isteed.
1st: D2 – Jaegar Western(18)
Julius Flickerman
"Just keep it simple Julius okay? If this fails all eyes will be on you okay?" The President threatens.
Julius Flickerman wonders how he got himself in to this mess. Sure, he was instrumental in the victory of many battles for the Capitol in the rebellion, but did he really want this? A 10 year deal they told him. 10 years of creating the greatest spectacle in Panem, watching children kill each other.
"Each year should build remember? I don't want to see anything too familiar 2 times in a row. Keep them on their toes, make them realise that no matter how much they prepare, someone else is always more prepared." That was his instruction. Julius received one instruction for the entire 10 years.
"And if you fail, there is always someone waiting in the wings to replace you. This is a huge privilege, don't let me down." President Markland was a strict dictator, and no one in Panem would ever dare disappoint him.
From this point on the Games were up to him. Every detail, every event. How was he supposed to choose the children? How was this spectacle supposed to be made in to just that….A spectacle. Julius hated that word, he hated the thought if using children as a 'spectacle'. It shouldn't be the children.
President Archibald Markland
He hoped that Julius would do the job. This would be the set up for the new Panem. From now until the end of time, all of Julius's decisions would be followed for every single Hunger Games. Of course, if he failed then there were many in the Capitol ready to replace him, but Archibald couldn't imagine anyone else for this particular job. He was really in debt to Julius, not only had he been instrumental in many battles, but he was also the catalyst for the turning of the tides in the war. District 2 had always been devoted to the Capitol, but after they too decided to rebel, the Capitol looked all but defeated, if it hadn't been for Julius' diplomatic skills, he wasn't sure whether or not he would be sitting here right now.
Yes, he had no doubt that Julius would do a good job. No one had ever been quite as good at reading the Presidents mind until he came along. For Julius' sake he hoped that these Games would be a spectacle for Panem, and he hoped that Julius would know that the Victor should come from District 2. After all, he knows they are the reason he is sitting where he is right now.
Jaegar Western(18) – District 2
I'm not sure how this happened to me. My family was sure I wouldn't be the one picked considering there were hundreds of traitors children in the pool, but I can still distinctly remember every movement of Ullyses mouth as he read my name.
It was all such a blur from then on. 2 from every District were selected and shipped off to the Capitol for mentoring, training and entertainment, most of whom were the children of traitors, those who hadn't seen their parents since the end of rebellion, and as such were starved and deserted on the streets. In their interviews they talked about how this was a new start for them. How it was a chance to clear their family name so that they could declare their loyalty to the Capitol.
I was different.
My parents were commanders of one of the largest of District 2's armies, both of whom were war hardened supporters of the Capitol. So naturally I followed in their footsteps. I knew the Capitol anthem, I knew all of the Presidents names and even their children's names. I was sent to a school with like-minded District 2 children, so why on earth had I been chosen to represent my District?
It became abundantly clear why I was selected on the first day of the Games. Before the Games, we were all trained privately and kept in total seclusion from the other tributes. The only source of news of my competitors were the interviews, which was mandatory viewing for all Tributes, and the ability to view the reapings of 6 Districts of our choice. I had assumed that all these children would have special skills, or knew how to fight, so as to make the Games more interesting, but I was wrong.
There was a bloodbath that first day. Littered in front of me was a hoard of weapons and supplies, piled skyward in a pyramid. My District partner – Florentine – and I were on a completely different level to the other Tributes it almost seemed unfair. Altogether we took down 14 that day, the rest bolted from the area when they saw the streaks of blood litter the grassy plane.
The whole arena was a grassy plain. The grass at the centre was cut so short it was unbelievable, and every 100 metres it would rise 30 centimetres. We had the advantage, Florentine and I. We camped in the centre and guarded the supplies from the beginning, 3 more went down in the next 2 days because they made the mistake of showing themselves in the shorter grass. That left 5 more to take down, which became more difficult.
It was clear that the 5 that survived were the clever ones, the ones who knew their limits and used stealth to their advantage. Another 4 days passed and still no more casualties. It wasn't until the night of 8th day when another cannon sounded. It signalled that the other tributes were fighting, which is good, but also showed us they were ready to kill.
On the 10th day it became interesting. The outskirts of the arena erupted in a blazing fire, the long grass made perfect kindling and quickly the outskirts were destroyed, exposing the remaining tributes. They were done. Emaciated and sickened, a single girl from District 9 and the pair from 11 were all that remained. I quickly dispatched the girl from District 9 who made feeble attempt to flee the scene, but there was nowhere to run to. Florentine, who did not wait for my return, tried to eliminate both the District 11's, but 10 days of complacency and confidence finally caught up with her. The pair from 11 overcame her strength with a sheer will to live, the female was killed in the battle and the male, who realised that there were only 2 remaining and was enraged by the death of his District partner became my final adversary, but as strong as his will to live was, his body was dismally weak. He fell to the point of my sword within seconds.
I was the first Victor.
I'm no fool, and I am fully aware that the Games were rigged for Florentine and myself. None of the other Districts Tributes were above the age of 16. Florentine and I were both 18. But who am I to complain? Here I sit, with all the money I could ever ask for, fame and glory beyond all comprehension and barely a scratch to show for it.
My Victory caused outbursts in the outer Districts, particularly 11. Headlines from around Panem read 'The 'Rigged' Games', calling for the dismissal of Julius Flickerman and his team of 'Gamemakers' as they were widely known.
My voice became a particularly powerful one at that point. Although the public knew of the rigged competition, they harboured no ill feelings towards me. In fact they rather revered me. My opinions and thoughts became the opinions and thoughts of most of the inner Districts, and the rest of the Districts eventually fell in to line after about a month.
It was at this point, a month after the end of the Games that I was summoned by the President.
And here I am now, sitting in the office of the most powerful man in Panem, President Archibald Markland. Invited as a guest to discuss 'topics pertaining to the success of Panem.'
As I hear the click of the door opening I turn and watch the President walk in swiftly towards me, hand outstretched. I grab it in greeting before taking a seat.
"Mr. Western. It came as a surprise to me when you exited the arena that you seemed overnight to become the voice of the Districts. As much as I anticipated the lone survivor to be a celebrity, I never envisaged them to wield so much power over such a large portion of our population."
"It came as a surprise to me too Sir." I reply.
"Therefore Mr. Western I will need you to swear your loyalty to me. I can't have someone with as much influence as you spreading ill will about the President or our regime can I?" President Markland stressed the 'can I?'. I gulp, feeling threatened.
"Certainly not Sir."
"Excellent. As our first Victor, you will always wield much influence. Dine with me please Mr. Western, I feel like we should get to know each other."
"Of course Sir."
My mind races as we are escorted to the dining room.
It has become clear that my loyalties are now intertwined with my very life.
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Powerful People Panem
(taken from Panem Weekly)
1. President Archibald Markland
2. Jaegar Western – Victor 1st Annual Hunger Games
3. Julius Flickerman – Head Gamemaker
4. Olivia Markland – 1st Lady
5. Darius Western – District 2 Commander in Chief
6. Julia Western – District 2 Mayor
7. Phillippe Edwards – District Trade Coordinator
8. Gregory Quinn – Panem Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
9. Wilma Vines – District 11 Mayor
10. Boris Newhaven – President of Bank of Panem
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Jaegar Western Game Statistics:
Arena: Varied Grassland
Length of Games: 10 days.
Weight Loss: 2 kg
Kills: 10
