A/N: And here's the second installemnt, where we find out what the Quarter Quell idea is. Please enjoy!
President Welch was high on a podium, stoically glancing over the crowd gathered, while occasionally waving. The Capitol citizens below stood impatiently, crying out and cheering. They hoped that the Quarter Quell idea would be picked soon, so they could go home and gossip about how well the Games would play out that year.
Terkast wrung his hands out, glancing at the screen in front of him. The images of working Avoxes were replaced with the President, the nine screens in front of him each sowing different angles.
With a nod to one of the cameramen, President Welch plunged his hand into the carved box, and ruffled the papers around. He saw the President grasp one, and pull it out with confidence.
"For this year's Quarter Quell, the twist shall be… oh," The leader of Panem muttered, looking at the top words that Terkast knew was at the top of the slip. Do not read this aloud.
The door to the control room opened slowly, and the Avox walked in with a tray of cookies in her hand. Terkast waved her over with a warm smile on his face, trying to urge her faster so he could continue watching the President.
She looked surprised at the offer, and sat down next to the pure white man she had learned to serve for. "Have some if you wish," Terkast muttered, waving his hand at the plate. His eyes were already glued again to the large center screen, and he wasn't paying attention to the girl.
Maylin took a small, yellow, flower-shaped cookie, holding it in front of her eyes. She vaguely heard the President say, "To remind the Districts that the Capitol is in control, and that we can take away what we give to you, there will be no Cornucopia this year. There will also be a second part to this twist, but it won't be revealed until the start of the Games," but she was too interested in being offered the food than anything else.
Terkast smiled at the Avox's wonder at the small, common food. She was fun to watch. He flicked a tiny switch under his metal desk, and the monitors all flickered back onto the arena. Good. It was almost done.
The arena was a circle, quite similar to the 75th Hunger Games. It was also divided into twelve sections, although those sections differed in their entirety. Terkast was looking at the best arena ever created, or so he considered. It far outstripped anything he could've created his past years, especially that year it was a rainforest!
"So," Terkast said, turning his attention to the Avox. The weight of his secret was overburdening, and he felt that he had to tell someone. "What's your name?"
The girl looked appalled at being asked such a question, but her expression softened once she saw the piece of paper and pen that was thrust forward into her hands. The Avox wrote in big, childish letters 'Maylin.'
She knew how to write, Terkast thought, starting to doubt telling her. "Can you read or write, Maylin?" he asked sweetly. A sly smile crept up his face when she shook her head and mouthed 'no.'
"Good, because I am trusting you with something I wouldn't even trust the other Gamemakers with, do you understand?" She nodded wearily, her eyes growing cautious of the white man. "I've cheated. There was only one Quarter Quell idea in that box. Other things weren't so good, and I loved that idea."
Maylin's eyes grew wide, and her mouth dropped open. Terkast grimaced slightly at the sight of her scarred and tounge-less mouth, which made Maylin close it quickly. The Head Gamemaker apologized quickly, noticing Maylin's growing nervousness.
"I can trust you, dear," he said, the last word nearly getting stuck in his mouth, "because you've served me diligently all of these years, and you're responsible."
The Avox nodded quickly, and fidgeted her feet anxiously. All she wanted to do was get out of here, away from the man who had just put so many burdens on her. She couldn't tell his secret at all, which is why he told her. Not because he trusted her, but because he needed someone to tell, and she is the best candidate!
The telephone rang shrilly, making Maylin jump. "Goodbye for now. And remember, trust is a funny thing," Terkast announced as he ushered her to the door.
"Yes, Mr. President?" he answered, his tone of voice drastically changing.
"That's a good Quell idea," Welch concluded. "I almost read it all." He then let out one of his rare laughs, a scratchy noise that sounded harsh to Terkast's surgically refined ears.
"I'm glad you like it, sir," Terkast acknowledged, feeling so much better after telling his secret to Maylin. "Although I do have to say it wasn't my best. The rest of the ideas are gone?"
"Mhm," the President grunted. "I'd like t' see some of your better ideas if tha' one wasn't your best. Will the arena be done soon?"
"Yes, sir. The Avoxes are the only ones left now. They're just putting the sand and digging the trench for the sea in the last piece of the circle. We'll be done for the Reapings to happen in two weeks, sir."
The President grunted his approval once more, and then said goodbye, and hung up the phone. Terkast looked at the slices of the circle, comparing them to his diagrams on the right. Everything was perfect. There was the sea, there was the timber, and there was the field. It was truly perfect, with only a few days left to go.
The phone rang once more, making the Head Gamemaker sigh. That was one thing he never liked about his job, all the people calling him just because. To find out new information about mutts or the arena, just so they can gossip. Sometimes, the Capitol really bothered him.
"Why, hello Adelphi!" Terkast answered cheerfully, wishing the conversation with his sister would soon be over. He vaguely contemplated retiring and living in the Districts, before throwing the idea out of his mind. His skin and hair would be too conspicuous, and people would hate him for sending their children to their deaths. The Head Gamemaker sighed. He'd just have to deal with the phone calls and annoyances that'd come with being a Head Gamemaker. Until his retirement, of course.