- Checkmate - said Jendy moving the horse towards the opposing king. Lyssa was puzzled for a moment then snorted.
- How can you play so well? - she asked.
- Aunt Portia had been a chess champion at school- replied the other one, suddenly getting angry. Lyssa tried to find something encouraging to say but froze.
- Girls!- Effie exclaimed, approaching the table where the girls were playing. She was wearing a shiny crewneck sweater with bare shoulders and tight black jeggins. The war had taken away all her strength to put on the mask of the escort she had been.
- Hello, Aunt Effie- mumbled her niece, starting to arrange the pieces on the chessboard again.
The woman frowned worriedly, then smiled sweetly.
- How about if tomorrow we go and buy something at the new mega-shop nearby?-
Jendy smiled and nodded; she was a fashionista like her uncles. Lyssa instead shrugged her shoulders indifferently.
- Anyway...- Effie started again but she was interrupted by the automatic switching on of the screen on the living room table - Oh, it must be important if it's compulsory viewing-.
Immediately Paylor was seen standing on a podium, elegantly dressed. The two little girls didn't pay much attention, while Effie approached with interest. The new president used to make several announcements, always about ongoing reconstructions or political agreements. But this time there was something wrong: the woman was obviously nervous and glanced from time to time at Plutarch Havensbee, who was next to her.
- Hm, Plutarch- murmured Effie, sitting down on a small armchair.
Paylor cleared her throat and began to speak:
- Good afternoon, citizens of Panem. I have- she interrupted herself to cough vaguely- some interesting news to tell you, so please stop what you are doing and listen to me-.
She took a deep breath and stood for a few moments looking at the camera.
- As you well know, after the fall of Snow and the death of Alma Coin, every person was allowed to return to their jobs and reunite with their families. Scheduled executions for Gamemakers, stylists, escorts and Capitol City officials were cancelled so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past. However, even though the war and the Hunger Games are over, one thing has not been satisfied...- she paused - Justice for the millions of people in the Districts who died because of Snow's tyranny and the frivolity of Capitol City-.
Lyssa's ears pricked up in curiosity.
- President Coin was a manipulative and cunning woman, but she devised a viable method to avoid an unnecessary waste of lives that would offset the thirst for revenge of those left behind. She gathered the winners still alive and made them vote on a choice that may seem cruel but instead is intelligent even if uncomfortable. The majority of the winners voted positively to this choice-.
She inhaled sharply and then looked at Plutarch, who seemed absent. Paylor looked straight into the camera.
- In order to avoid future repercussions on the new Panem due to an absent satisfaction of justice - some seconds passed before he finished the sentence - a symbolic edition of the Hunger Games will be held, whose tributes will be reaped among the daughters and the daughters of all the war criminals spared by the execution.
Effie's cry of surprise and terror echoed throughout the apartment. Jendy's hand stopped in mid-air, paralyzed. Checkmate
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The glass full of water fell shattering at Peeta's feet.
- Katniss...- he exclaimed with a voice cut off by surprise. The girl was motionless in front of the screen, with an indecipherable face. Haymitch was stuck in the action of bringing the bottle to his mouth.
- This is a nice mess- said the ex-mentor putting the wine on the table.
- Mess? MESS?! - exploded the boy - This is a catastrophe! They announced to all Panem that we have sent children to their death!
- The Districts won't blame us - Katniss muttered, sitting down slightly shocked.
- The girl is right. It will be the first Hunger Games they will enjoy- agreed Haymitch.
- What?! - exclaimed Peeta - This is not justice, this is pure madness!
He tangled his hands in his hair, cursing under his breath.
- I have to call Effie- he said suddenly, running out of the room. The wine went down the throat of the ex-mentor. He sprang to his feet and followed the boy. Katniss remained staring at the darkened screen, in total confusion.
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Clarisse's pale hand brushed against the screen. Well, this was her punishment for being Snow's granddaughter. To hear her name pulled out of a clear glass bowl. How ironic; she had seen so many Hunger Games, how funny to find herself in one. Because it was certain that she would be thrown into the Arena. What fun it would be for the rebels to see the hated president in their granddaughter again, as she drowned to death, infected, skewered by another tribute, mauled by who knows what hybrid creature. Clarisse moved with slow steps towards the mirror and looked at her reflection: she had lost weight, she had two deep dark circles under her eyes, she was white as a sheet. She grimaced in disappointment at the sight. She looked older than her twelve years of age; she had had to grow up early during the war. She adjusted her blonde braid and let it slide over her shoulders.
"Thank you Grandpa" she thought bitterly as she assessed her chances of surviving the Games. Zero. She had no special skills with weapons, she couldn't build a fire, she didn't know any traps or medicinal or edible herbs and at school she was the worst even at running. She certainly had no illusions that the rebels (or whoever had organized these Hunger Games) would allow the tributes the usual four days of training.
"Think, Clarisse," he said to himself, "What could you have that the others don't?"She raised her eyebrow, thoughtful. Willpower.
Yes, that was it. She could feel it coursing through her veins, powerful and burning. If it had cost everything, Clarisse Snow would have been the winner of the 76th Hunger Games.
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The man on the crib winced badly when the door was opened.
- You - he growled - What is the meaning of this?
In response, Plutarch freed him from the handcuffs.
- Come- he said -in a little while you can ask your friends for an explanation.