The Third Quarter Quell: An All-Ages Show

by The Copy Editor's Copy Editor

A/U - Peeta died in the 74th Hunger Games; there was no Mockingjay and no rebellion. For the 75th Hunger Games, any district citizen of any age may be reaped! Rated for strong language, disturbing material, blood/gore, etc.

2. D1 REAPINGS: VICTORS VOLUNTEER

CHAPTER TWO – DISTRICT ONE REAPINGS: VICTORS VOLUNTEER

Gloss Tiberius

I'm sharpening my sword when my sister comes into the room. "You ready?" she asks, leaning against the wall and cleaning her fingernails with a knife. Her long blonde hair is braided and flung over her shoulder. She looks like a goddess. One of the dangerous ones who will take your head off if you don't worship her right.

"Sure," I say. "I'm ready." I try to sound confident, but I'm not sure it works. Cashmere raises an eyebrow but says nothing. But I am ready, really. It's been eight years since I was in the arena, and sometimes it feels like I've never left. My life here is boring. It's nothing. I train the tributes, although none have won since me. They're all spoiled, fame-hungry brats. It takes a special kind of person to win the Hunger Games and none of them are that person. I'm that person. So is Cashmere. Which is why we're going back.

I nod at her, and she throws her knife into the table where it sticks up to the hilt. I toss my sword beside it and we walk out the door and out of Victor's Village. Maybe I'll be back, or maybe she will, but not together. We're returning to excitement, to exhilaration, to that special combination of guilt and adrenaline that rushes through your brain when you kill someone. And at least one of us is going to face down death for real this time.

We're the last people to get to the square. The District 1 escort, Twinkle Rose—stupid name, if you ask me—gives us a glare as she finishes her speech about the special rules for the Quell. We don't care. We walk up the stairs to the stage and stand beside her. I turn to the crowd. "We are your District 1 tributes!" I yell. Cashmere grips my hand and raises it over our heads. The crowd roars. This is what District 1 is about! This is how you face a Quarter Quell! Twinkle is beside me, muttering something about how she didn't even get near the reaping ball, but I can tell she's secretly pleased. Getting District 1 is a coup for any escort, and this is an especially exciting year for her.

I grin over the heads of the crowd. My blood is pumping again, my heart is racing. For the first time in 8 years, I can feel. These are going to be some great Hunger Games. The other districts better watch out.