Chapter One: The Announcement
All of Panem was silent as, across the country, silver screens flickered on, their President slowly coming into focus. The bloodless figure smirked at them, his body emanating power and enigmatical charisma. Satisfaction at the fear he assumed was appearing on their faces was clearly visible on his pale features.
He ran a hand through his thick, dark hair and his blue eyes shone like chips of ice. His smirk widened into a smile which made the women of the Capitol swoon, but all the Districts could notice was how he bared his teeth slightly, like a feral animal.
Parents all over Panem wrapped their children in a tight embrace, as if to protect them with their emaciated limbs. As if they could save them from the evils of the world. Children stared up at the screens with large eyes, a mixture of fear and wonder flitting across their thin faces and their eyes darting between the President and the emotionless Peacekeepers. As if they could be safe from Maldor and his lackeys so long as they kept their eyes trained on them at all times.
President Maldor stood, his ornamental cane tapping the marble floor as he walked closer to the camera. He raised one eyebrow and one corner of his mouth quirked up into his infamous smirk.
"People of Panem," he breathed quietly, his authoritative voice loud in the silence, "Thank you for joining me today-"
"As if we have any choice," whispered a young woman in District Twelve.
"-as we celebrate 100 years of Hunger Games!" he hissed, drawing out the words and narrowing his eyes. He paused for a moment and his tongue darted out, wetting his lips and appearing, for a brief moment, like the snake he was, treacherous and slippery. But, a half second later, he had placed his hollow grin back onto his face and three quarters of the women in the Capitol melted at the sight of him, fanning themselves heatedly.
"I...would do anything for that man," one woman said to her friend, both of whom had ceased to look human, their wild clothes and hair paling in comparison to their angular and unnatural faces. The woman's friend giggled, the two leaning towards each other in a feeling of mutual desire.
"This, is the first Quarter Quell under my reign; I can assure you that it will top any other Quell we have ever seen," Maldor stated firmly, "Today, both you and I, will learn of our ancestors' plans, we will discover what is in store for our tributes this year."
Maldor paused, letting the moment sink in. Throughout the Districts, parents pulled their children tighter to their sides, if that was possible. The people mourned the return of the Hunger Games. A mere eight years ago, they had still been free. Eight years ago the reign of the Mockingjay was alive and thriving, the people were happy...even many of the Capitol citizens had enjoyed their newfound freedom.
But, as history often shows, not everyone was satisfied with their lot. They desired to obtain what they could not achieve through honest work, but with devilish trickery and underhanded plots.
"Bring forth the box!" Maldor proclaimed and a cowering servant stepped out of the shadows bearing a large wooden box, his arms straining from the effort. Another servant stepped forward, offering Maldor an ornate key; Maldor picked it up with his thin, spidery fingers and with agonizing slowness, put the key into the box and turned. The lock clicked open and Maldor lifted the lid, drawing out a piece of yellowed paper from its depths.
The crowds watched as Maldor eyes flicked across the paper and they shuddered as he smiled slightly. Lifting his cold eyes back up to the cameras, he began to read, "To remind all of Panem that their Rebellion not only hurt themselves, but others as well, during the 4th Quarter Quell, each tribute's fate will be tied to another's at home."
The people exchanged horrified glances and even the Career Districts were worried, for although the parents were willing to risk their children's lives, their own were a different matter entirely.
"This year, during the 100th Hunger Games, the 4th Quarter Quell," Maldor paused to let the length of their servitude and imprisonment sink in, "the tributes will not only be fighting for their lives, but another's as well. It could be their sister, their brother, their father, their mother, their best friend...only the strong will survive."
The screens faded to black, leaving only Maldor's image emblazoned in the peoples' minds. Silence reigned as the citizens walked silently backed to their jobs, their homes, their lives; but, everyone knew that soon any one of their lives could change forever.
And they hated it.
Tributes and next chapter coming soon!