Chapter 1: 75th Reaping
I tug at my blue dress as I wait off to the side with my mother and sister. I really don't know why I have to wear it, since neither Prim nor I are in danger of being Reaped, even though I am only 17 and she is only 13.
For this is a Quarter Quell year for the death match known as the Hunger Games. Ever quarter of a century, there is some twist to the fight to the death amongst the 12 districts of Panem that adds some spice. This time, the tributes will be Reaped from each district's existing pool of Victors, past winners of the Hunger Games.
District 12 has not done too bad a job for itself over the years. Even if we are seen as one of the loser districts. In 75 years, we have had five wins. One of them was the previous Quell. I've never been alive to see a tribute of ours win. District 12 outranks two others for number of victories, and ties three more. But it would be nice to actually witness a District 12 tribute come back alive. Even as Peacekeepers escort three men and two women into gendered pens just before the stage. After the Dark Days speech, Mayor Undersee reads their names:
"The Victor of the 2nd Hunger Games: Anya Hart!" An 89-year-old woman shakily stands with the help of her colleagues. One of the very first Victors. It's a miracle that she's still alive. Most Victors don't live past their sixties, and those that do are treated with great respect.
"The Victor of the 13th Hunger Games: Duke Vedaldi!" Duke is in his late 70s, but still ruggedly handsome.
"The Victor of the 14th Hunger Games: Raab Ravenott!" Raab is only a year behind Duke, I think, which requires bringing up an interesting commonality between all five of our Victors: they all won at 16 years old. And Raab is probably the only one who has married, and broken what is known as the Victors' Code, forbidding attachments. He wed an old shoemaker's widow, after she lost both her children to the Games.
"The Victor of the 16th Hunger Games: Cassiope Fletch!" It is rumored that Cassiope - who has been alive as long as the Games have been in existence - married a kindly Peacekeeper many years back, but entirely in secret. Only a Toasting of bread - District 12's marriage tradition, and no official registry with the Justice Building. But these rumors have never been confirmed. The Teens - so, really, 60 years ago - were the heyday for District 12 wins. We almost got a Hat Trick, three in a row, but were denied by a loss in the 15th Games.
"The Victor of the 50th Hunger Games, or Second Quarter Quell: Haymitch Abernathy!" Haymitch is only 41 and a drunkard. Good for a laugh, as he sways whilst trying to stand.
Our district escort, Effie Trinket, now bounds to the microphone to begin the Reaping. Three men to choose from and two women. At least our Reaping won't be painful with only one option for any gender. She draws the woman first:
"The female tribute from District 12: Anya Hart!" Anya needs a cane and help from Peacekeepers to get to her place.
"The male tribute from District 12: Raab Ravenott!" Raab strides to his spot. At least it isn't Haymitch, poor guy. He's already won a Quell, and to have him go back in now would be embarrassing.
The tributes shake hands and are escorted into the Justice Building.