Hey all. Just letting you know that this is my first Fanfic that I've posted so any feedback at all would be helpful! :D Also, I know that this is short but it's all I have time for right now. Thanks and enjoy the story! ;)


It's the fifth Quarter Quell. I'm doomed. The 125th anniversary of the "Horrible, Horrendous Hunger Games" has begun.

I'm Ella. I'm twelve. Now that you know who I am, I will tell you my story.

I woke up early, at about 7:30. I felt like throwing up. I knew it was the Quarter Quell, and I didn't want to get up. Today they were going to announce the gruesome modifications on this year's Hunger Games. May's family came over to our house for the night. They were scared just like us. May and I stayed in the same room. As our first year as potential tributes, we were pale with terror. May stirred beside me, and we hugged each other tight when she fully regained consciousness.

We finally gained courage enough to walk down the stairs-holding each others' hand as we went. Parking ourselves at the small round table in the kitchen, our mothers entered. I noticed the pain, fear, and worry in their eyes: they thought they were going to lose us today. The reaping wasn't today, but the announcement of the Quarter Quell could doom us all. We silently ate our feeble breakfast of stale waffles, still cold. They were dry and tough, but edible enough. As we finished, the TV came on and the anthem blared at us, mocking our powerless faces as we gritted our teeth in anger and hatred. I felt my gut burn with acid. If those people took anyone from me, I would never let them see another day. But what can a mere twelve year old girl do to the Capitol? Nothing. Nothing at all.

The Capitol seal appeared next, and I felt tears wet up hotly in my eyes. "Order shall reign." That's the Capitol's motto. Yes, if you call a LIVE primetime children's death match order. The lady in the TV said, "Next up is the Quarter Quell announcement. President Cloudson ensures us that these Games will be the most unusual to ever." The picture changed once more, and as the President/Crazy, Manic Dictator walked on screen, my blood boiled again. "May," I began, "If we ever get the chance to...you know, let's show no mercy." Bloodlust pooped into May's eyes. Not because she wanted to enter the Hunger Games, no, but because she wanted the "President" to burn in a very bad place forever and ever and ever. I would be lying if I said I disagree. "Yeah, Ella. His Dictatorship doesn't deserve his cushy and SAFE life," she said, totally and completely sure of her words.

May and I noticed a small wooden box in a boy's hand on the TV. The Deathbox, we like to call it. Inside, there were hundreds of Quarter Quell cards. The Dictator walked over, plucked a card from the box, and then he recited all of the past Quarter Quell changes. The 1st was awful, the second worse, the third unbearable. That poor Katniss girl, what President Snow did to her will remind plastered into my mind forever. And the fourth Quarter Quell was gut-wrenching. But now, the fifth Quarter Quell was being read aloud :

"In honor of all the Capitol children that were killed during the rebellion, only tributes at the age of twelve will be permitted to enter the Quarter Quell this year."

The words hung in the air like ice. My mother cried, May's mother buried her face in her jacket. May and I stared at each other, blank shock penetrating our young faces. How? Why? I don't understand this pure evil. Had that Demon actually just read that? Just after that thought, I felt my heart stop beating, and I fainted.