This is the second of the oneshots I'm doing for Geth's 24 word challenge. Hope everyone likes it!
2. Claudius Templesmith's POV
BOOM! The boy from District 2 dies the instant the arrow enters his skull. It's a shame to watch him go. Even though he was a mindless killer, he brought great publicity to the games. The capitol audience loves mindless killers, but they obviously seem to like mindless lovers more.
The tributes from 12 have completely won the capitol over with their 'star crossed lovers' act. I'm not sure whether I believe it or not but the audience seems to, so I go with their judgement, I have to. Being the announcer of the Hunger Games comes with lots of responsibilities which include making the audience love you. If I told the audience that the tributes from twelve were just pretending to be in love I'd be dead within a week. President Snow does not take very kindly to rebellious comments.
District 12 has the only living tributes left. They probably expect to be taken out of the arena now. They probably think that the games are all over that they have won as a pair, but that is not the case.
Somewhere around the final eight President Snow had this fantastic idea that we could change the rules for two people to win as a pair from a District since the pairs from 2,11, and 12 were all still alive. It took awhile for the Gamemakers to agree and by that time the girl from 11 had been killed applying the rule to only Districts 2 and 12.
It seemed like a good idea at the time but once the girl from District 2 was killed President Snow decided that he wanted to change the rule back because District 12 was the only one who benefited from it now. The Gamemakers decided as a group that if the tributes from 12 did make it to the final two alone they would abruptly change the rule forcing them to fight to the death.
I think it's all terrible. There is no way that this can end nicely. The girl from District 12 is much too clever.
One of the minor Gamemakers suddenly pops through the door holding my script. It's time for me to drop the bomb. I revise over the script for several seconds before I cross over to the the arena loudspeaker's microphone. I take one last sigh before I begin my speech.
"Greetings to the final contestants of the Seventy-Fourth Hunger Games. The earlier revision has been revoked. Closer examination of the rule book has disclosed that only one winner may be allowed. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor." I drop the microphone and return to the screen where the games are being played. I feel so guilty. These kids seemed so happy that they were going to win together and now everything is going to fall apart for them.
The expressions that were relief on their faces have transformed into a nasty looking panic. Their mouths hang wide open and their eyes scream with anger as the truth hits them. I hear cheers from the room above me, the Gamemakers are excited which probably means most of the Capitol is too. I pick up the microphone that I use to announce for the Capitol.
"Oooh, so the truth is revealed folks! Let's see how these tributes handle this curveball." I say in a falsely excited voice. I am not excited about this. This is inhumane, this is wrong. I look back at the screen. The girl on fire as we so cleverly have nicknamed her in the capitol is pulling some berries out of her pouch. She whispers a few words to Peeta which I do not hear before handing him a few of the berries. Something's not right, those berries look way too familiar. Aren't those the ones that killed......Oh my gosh!
I don't have time to say anything else to the audience. This is situation is way too urgent. Suicide would not be tolerated by the capitol. My mind rushes over all my options frantically. What should I do? Suddenly Seneca Crane, the head Gamemaker barges through the door with an extremely anxious look on his face.
"Stop them!" he shouts.
"What about President Snow, wouldn't he...."
"I said stop them!!" Senneca screams at me. I quickly glance at the screen. The tributes are lifting the berries to their lips. I literally sprint over to the loudspeaker and yell. I yell the words that will probably change Panem forever. I yell out our future.
"Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentleman, I am pleased to present the victors of the Seventy-Fourth Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark! I give you the tributes of District 12!" I regret the words as soon as they escape my lips. I know what I have done, so does Seneca and Snow and everyone else involved in the games. I just yelled the beginning of a rebellion.