The Quarter Quell

Part I: The Voting

Chapter 1

I felt the sun radiate my face, disturbing my uncomfortable slumber. I slowly squint my eyes open, trying to get use to the light. For the past couple of weeks I have been dreading this day, the day of the reaping, a dreadful and unforgettable moment where our district will find out who would represent us in the annual Hunger Games. Unable to sleep for the past few days, I knew that today wouldn't be any different. And well knowing that you were likely chosen to become a tribute and represent your district, well it takes a hard toll on you.

I look over at the other bed where my cousins Posy and Cullen Abernathy would reside. They lost their family from a horrible disease that had broke out in the Seam due to poor health, so now they live in my family's home. I see that Posy has gone out again, probably with that minor Gale Hawthorn, whom I don't really approve for her to be with, but I know she is very much in love with him. All I see, laying on the bed is the slim body of a 12-year-old Cullen, sleeping silently. Cullen knew that it was his first year to have his name placed for the reaping, but this year was different, and little Cullen would be safe for this year's Hunger Games.

I sit up on my rusty, old mattress, feeling the cold springs touch my bare leg. Today was reaping day, but it was no ordinary reaping for it was a special one. This year's games was the 25th Hunger Games and President Flame announced it as the first Quarter Quell. I remember when he announced about the Quarter Quell, how could I forget, watching him on our small television set, listening hard on what President Flame had to say.

"So it was decreed that each year, the twelve districts of Panem shall offer up and tribute one young man and woman between the ages of 12 and 18 to be trained in the art of survival and to be prepared to fight to the death. The Quarter Quell will occur every twenty-five years, to remind the citizens of Panem of the mistakes made during the Dark Days."

I remember fidgeting, not fully understanding what the Quarter Quell was, but I was prepared to know what it was. This year is my final year to become a tribute for District 12, and I had a good feeling I might actually get through this last reaping without getting my name called. I continued watching President Flame, watching his fiery red hair, and his golden skin, which was covered by an extraordinary suit, which was blood red. I wouldn't be surprised if it were painted by the blood of dead tributes. I continued watching as he took the envelope marked with a 25 from the podium and slowly opened it.

"We honor our first Quarter Quell," says the President, "on our twenty-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every district will hold an election and vote on the tribute who will represent them."

Great, I thought, I will probably be voted in since it's my last year, the honor of being an 18 year old.

I walked over to the small living room, which was next to the kitchen. I looked under one of our drawers next to the small TV set, and I took out the album that a few photos of my youth reside. I focused on the green letters that spelled Klaborn Everdeen, the name of my father, and his father before him. If you asked me, I'm not really a big fan of the name, that's why I'm known as Klay amongst the citizens of 12.

After trying to scratch out the born on the surface I began to look through the photos inside, trying not to get emotional. They bring so many memories and it keeps breaking my heart looking at them. I stop at one page, where I see myself as a 12-year-old boy, standing next to my best friends Flint and Ariella, smiling back at me. They both were tributes in the 20th and 23rd Hunger Games, respectively. Flint was only 13 when he was reaped and Ariella was 16. They both died and if I were to be voted to be in this year's Hunger Games, well soon I would see them, because I know in my heart that I would not make it past the first day.

The sun was at it's highest on the sky, and it doesn't take a career to know that it was noon. In about an hour, we would cast our votes on who would become the next tributes for District Twelve. The talk around school was that the ones that were 18 would be nominated and we would vote on one of them. Well there are 5 boys that are my age. I hope that the odds would be in my favor this year; I don't want to go in.

But part of me does want to go in; maybe it was because I was ready to face death, to reunite with my best friends. I'm not the strongest, or fastest, all I have is my accuracy for throwing daggers, my instinct to get food, and well the ability to understand medicine. I've inherited the Healer in me from my mother, she was a wonderful doctor, but it was all over after the Rebellion. I know what it takes to survive in this world, but in the Hunger Games I know what it takes to get through it all, strength and wits, and trying to have a clear conscience after you kill the rest of the teenagers who fight against you to survive.

I shut the album when I see Posy walk inside, smiling like I've seen my mother smile once before. When I get up to rant at her again, Cullen wakes up and beats me.

"Where have you been? I woke up and you weren't there?" Cullen yells. "I was worried, I didn't know where you were!"

I look at Posy and smirk. This kid is just like me. Posy just gives me a glare and then looks back at Cullen. Posy kneels down to get to Cullen's level. "Cully, I'm sorry, I just went out early. You were sleeping when I woke up and I didn't want to wake you," Posy says.

"Then where were you?" Cullen says in his frail young voice.

I know for a fact that he is making his sister feel a bit guilty, but then again Posy should have known the rules. She shouldn't have wondered off by herself.

"Well, I was out with Gale, and I have some good news!" I see Posy smile again, and I know what these "good news" were. She got, "engaged, I got engaged!"

Crap, I think to myself. I know for a fact this is Gale Hawthorn chance to get out of the Quarter Quell this year. I wouldn't make him go in though, I couldn't do that to Posy, she is like a sister to me. And I know Gale and Posy are in love. And plus, I know I am a shoe in to be a tribute, but I try to convince myself otherwise.

"Great," is all I could get out. I give Posy a weak smile and walk away to change clothes.

"You don't sound happy about it," Posy looked at me with concern. "I know what you are thinking, that Gale might get out of the Hunger Games this year. He's not going to do that."

I take off my t-shirt and find the light blue button up shirt and put it on. Of course Hawthorn wouldn't do that, but I'm not going to allow this. "That's not fair, not for you."

Posy's green eyes start watering. I walk to her and grab her by the arms. We know what both are thinking, I was going to take his place, his votes. I smile at Posy, kiss her on the forehead and she hugs me.

I wouldn't be so cruel to take away another person in Posy's life, all she has is Cullen, and us, and well now Gale Hawthorn.

"Does that mean you are going in?" Cullen asks. I completely forgot he was there. I chuckle and ruffle his hair to change the emotion in the atmosphere.

"No kid, I may still have a chance to stay here." I lie.

I look at Posy, tears flowing down. "You don't have to do this Clay!"

"But I am, because I know how it feels to lose someone you dearly love, and I'm not going to do that to you." I wipe the tears off Posy. "Now get ready, the voting is about to start."

I walk out of the house and look over at the kids wearing their clean clothes. They all heads towards the square where we all meet every year for the reaping and some to watch the Hunger Games live, since it's mandatory. I take a deep breath and start heading over to the square with the pack of other District 12 kids.

When I arrive at the square, everyone starts to sign in and form a single file line. The ones that have been nominated get to stand up on stage with the Major of District 12; Coriolanus Snow, the District 12 escort; and our mentor Brunner Undersee. All of them look spectacular in their suits. The rest of the citizens look pathetically poor, as they would say.

I head my way up on stage, I see the rest of the nominees and I see the nervous expressions on their faces. I see Gale in the middle of the male nominees line and he is trying so hard not to show his fear, but I can see the few droplets of sweat on his forehead. I stand right next to him, and l look out as I spot little Cullen in the front row and watch as the rest of the citizens come in to watch who'll get voted in.

Once everyone has arrived to the event I look over at our Mayor who begins discussing about the Hunger Games and how it began. This is to punish the parents to remind them of when they rebelled and how they lost. A great punishment indeed, they get to live and watch us all slaughter each other in battle, and all we have to do is survive. Of course one boy and one girl gets reaped from each district, making it 24 tributes total. After the Mayor finished speaking Coriolanus walks up and begins talking.

"Welcome everyone, to the reaping of the 25th Annual Hunger Games. As you all know, every twenty-five years we have the Quarter Quell, where the Games become more brutal and intense."

I look over at the other guys standing next to me, and then look at the girls on the other side, specifically. To think I would have to kill one of those girls to win. I can't just murder one of them; they are my friends, known them since I was young. Soon one of them will become my enemy. I look over at Snow who continues to speak.

"As you all know, this year as a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every district will hold an election and vote on the tribute who will represent them. This year you have nominated the oldest of your group and now here is their chance to speak for themselves."

One by one everyone goes up to defend himself or herself to why they shouldn't go in, or why they should. One girl in particular, did not hesitate at all and told the citizens of 12 to vote her in. She preferred herself than her own friends. When she finished, all the girls went up to hug the blonde girl.

The boys were next and two boys went before me, talked about how they needed to stay. When the boy before me finished I slowly walked up and looked out to try and spot my parents. I see my dad, looks just like me; tall, dark-brown hair, same face and everything, but when I look at my mom I see her grey eyes, just like mine. I think of them and how heartbroken they are going to be when they hear what I have to say.

"I …I," I stutter and can't get the words out, but I clear my throat to shake it off. "I, Clay Everdeen, will be proud to represent District 12 for the first Quarter Quell." I hear many people gasp, whispers going around at the square. I look over at Gale, he is shocked to what I say and I see my cousin Posy and my mother, crying. "These guys, they will be good tributes for you, but I know I can be great!"

I walk off the podium and get back in line where Gale goes up and is speechless. After a few moments of people getting over the shock, Gale says how he would be glad to be tribute as well. Although he was leaving his fiancée behind, he would fight hard to come back to her.

When the rest of the males finished with their short speeches, Snow goes up and starts applauding slowly. "Well, well, it seems that this year we will have an interesting reaping." Snow gives a smile that could be mistaken as a murderer's smile and continues, "Now it's time to do your part for the reaping, you shall vote for the one young man and woman to be your tributes for the 25th Annual Hunger Games, the Quarter Quell."

I look over at the Peacekeepers, the police force, all in white, handing out sheets of paper and pencils so that the citizens of 12 could vote for their tributes. After everyone finished the Peacekeepers took awhile to count for their votes and then the final score was given to Snow.

"Well ladies first!" I watch Snow as he opens the piece of paper and clears his throat to announce the female tribute. "Our female tribute this year, Annabeth Hallow."

The blonde haired girl that basically volunteered herself, walks towards the center of the stage, standing next to Snow on his left side. I watch a Peacekeeper walking up with the male vote. I close my eyes, and take another deep breath, ready to hear who would become the male tribute for this year's games.

"Our male tribute for the Quarter Quell."

I close my eyes again waiting to hear my name, waiting for Snow to announce that I would be the male tribute, but he doesn't say my name, all I hear him say is, "It's a TIE!"