The Twenty Seventh Annual Hunger Games
Introduction
President Baenlas Curvanith kept a firm grip on the Presidency, dispatching possible replacements or those cunning enough to dethrone him from the Presidential Palace. Assassinations were common now in the Capitol, and they rarely even made the front page of the news anymore unless the assassination was of someone very, very important. Always, Baenlas pinned the crimes on his hired assassins, who only realized they'd been betrayed when the firing squad took them down without even arresting them. Feeling nice and secure, Baenlas took two apprentices of sorts under his wing to continue his legacy after he passed. The first was a middle aged man named Rufio Wassambi, a man who Baenlas had known for most of his life. The other was rising star Coriolanus Snow, a fledgling politician that held great sway over the people. Baenlas disliked Coriolanus, but he was a powerful pawn in his political Games, so it would be good to have such a strong power on his side of the chessboard. Burtlas returned as the Head Gamemaker, and his arena would reveal the true intentions of his designs. He was in fact not designing fashion factories the previous year because he liked fashion; he'd based that arena off of District 8. This year, his arena would be based off of District 7, but more on that later. Caius Flickerman returned as the host of the Hunger Games. The Careers this year were particularly brutal; 2 11s, 3 10s, and a 9, all very high scores for the recently adjusted system of scoring that made it near impossible to get anything higher than a 10. There was a self proclaimed "Career" out of District 3 this year, and he would score an 8. There were no other volunteers, and the rest of the tributes scored between 7 and 3 this year. Here are the tributes:
District 1: Cleo Welsh, 17 (10) 5-1 and Platinum Discc, 17 (10) 4-1
District 2: Florianna Urnston, 18 (11) 3-1 and Balbus Heritage, 18 (10) 5-1
District 3: Prota Carys, 16 (7) 15-1 and Pixel Johnstone, 18 (8) 11-1
District 4: Angel Fysh, 17 (9) 7-1 and Poseidon Bruu, 18 (11) 2-1
District 5: Voltanna Boardwasher, 16 (5) 33-1 and Boldt Case, 18 (7) 14-1
District 6: Liana Axel, 15 (5) 34-1 and Wheelston Meyers, 17 (7) 15-1
District 7: Birchlee Shadeson, 14 (5) 34-1 and Bark Clover, 15 (6) 22-1
District 8: Needla Spish, 14 (4) 42-1 and Thread Gargoyle, 15 (5) 32-1
District 9: Taja Raine, 13 (4) 44-1 and Desmond Plone, 13 (3) 53-1
District 10: Rachael Colossal, 17 (7) 14-1 and Kaleb Olinner, 14 (5) 33-1
District 11: Berrylynn Stockley, 16 (7) 15-1 and Gourd Rymm, 17 (7) 14-1
District 12: Marla Ux, 16 (6) 24-1 and Brian Walls, 13 (4) 45-1
HGBA Odds: 28% on Poseidon, 23% on Florianna, 14% on Platinum, 10% on Cleo, 9% on Balbus, 6% on Angel, 3% on Pixel, 2% on Gourd and Boldt, 1.5% on Rachael, 1% or less on Prota, Voltanna, Liana, Wheelston, Birchlee, Bark, Needla, Thread, Taja, Desmond, Kaleb, Berrylynn, Marla, and Brian
The Games
The tributes arose in a cold arena. It wasn't below zero or anything like a few past arenas (like the 11th Games), but it was cold enough for the temperature to be a problem for the tributes. They were in a snowy clearing, and tall needled tress, like spruces and pines, filled the rest of the arena. All of the trees were coated in a light dusting of snow, and Birchlee and Bark felt weirdly at home. To the north, a stout mountain range was hidden behind a wall of snowy pines. To the east was just plain forest. To the south were several small ponds with drinkable water beneath a thin layer of ice. To the east, a small, partially frozen brook wound through the forest. Deer, rabbits, songbirds, hawks, and wolves roosted in the forested part of the arena. Many of the tributes decided to head for the bloodbath, while Bark from 7, Prota from 3, and Berrylynn from 11 all decided to head away.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
The Bloodbath would be a massacre, simply put. Only 1 Non-Career would escape the clutches of the devious Career. This year's Careers' prowess, along with the sheer number of tributes, would produce a record breaking 14 bloodbath kills, a record that would scarcely be met, not to mention be broken.
The Cornucopia was stocked with weapons of all sorts. Cleo took a bow, Florianna, Balbus, and Platinum took swords, Poseidon took a trident, Angel took a spear, and Pixel took a whip. Angel and Pixel were planning to desert their allies amidst the frenzy of the bloodbath, but their plan might possibly work. Only time would tell.
Balbus made the first kill as his allies fanned out around him, surrounding the Cornucopia. About half of the tributes were trapped inside, the other half inside the line. Those outside would be killed off first. Balbus swung his sword into the side of the tiny, malnourished boy from 12, grinning as he wailed in pain.
Brian Walls, District 12 Male; 24th, Killed by Balbus, Bloodbath
Poseidon had two tridents now, and he threw one at a running tribute as Cleo raised her bow to fire at others.
Needla Spish, District 8 Female; 23rd, Killed by Poseidon, Bloodbath
Cleo released two arrows at a pair of running tributes, who had recognized the slaughter that was just about to begin. They both fell, dead, moments later.
Kaleb Olinner, District 10 Male; 22nd, Killed by Cleo, Bloodbath
Boldt Case, District 5 Male; 21st, Killed by Cleo, Bloodbath
Boldt's District partner was one of the ones stuck behind the Careers. She lashed out at Florianna with a dagger, only to get her head chopped off with one clean swing of Florianna's rapier.
Voltanna Boardwasher, District 5 Female; 20th, Killed by Florianna, Bloodbath
Meanwhile, Angel decided it was time to break away. She lashed out at Platinum and then ran, looking for Pixel. He was still standing with the Careers. She shouted his name in fury, but then Platinum was on top of her, shoving his sword in her chest.
Angel Fysh, District 4 Female; 19th, Killed by Platinum, Bloodbath
A pair of tributes, the males from 8 and 9, had been fighting over a pack. The boy from 8 managed to stab the boy from 9 to death with an awl.
Desmond Pione, District 9 Male; 18th, Killed by Thread, Bloodbath
Only seconds after stepping away from Desmond's corpse, Pixel's spiked whip was wrapped around the boy from 8's neck and he promptly died.
Thread Gargoyle, District 8 Male; 17th, Killed by Pixel, Bloodbath
Meanwhile, Balbus had been facing off with the strong boy from 6. Balbus managed to cut off the boy's sword hand, and it was only a matter of shoving his blade into the boy's chest. Wheelston fell, dead and bloody, at a cackling Balbus' feet.
Wheelston Meyers, District 6 Male; 16th, Killed by Balbus, Bloodbath
Platinum picked up a throwing knife and hurled it at a girl on the outside who was sprinting away. It buried itself in the base of her neck, and she died in moments.
Marla Ux, District 12 Female; 15th, Killed by Platinum, Bloodbath
Moments later, Cleo emptied an arrow into the head of a girl from the Lumber District, who had broken away and was trying to climb a tree.
Birchlee Shadeson, District 7 Female; 14th, Killed by Cleo, Bloodbath
At this time, Rachael from 10 managed to slip out of the bloodbath with a butcher's knife and a pack. A willowy girl from 9 stood in her way, begging to come with. Rachael buried her knife in the girl's abdomen before sprinting away, unnoticed.
Taja Raine, District 9 Female; 13th, Killed by Rachael, Bloodbath
Poseidon had now tackled the screaming girl from 6, who was mortified by the bloodshed, and he speared her in the chest. The remaining tribute was stuck behind the line of Careers now, and he cowered, hiding inside the Cornucopia, as the Careers advanced on him, wanting to kill off as many as possible.
Liana Axel, District 6 Female; 12th, Killed by Poseidon, Bloodbath
Gourd from 11 charged forward, roaring and swinging a mace. Florianna easily knocked the clunky weapon from his hands and sliced across his neck, killing him, making the last kill of the bloodbath.
Gourd Rymm, District 11 Male; 11th, Killed by Florianna, Bloodbath
A record breaking 14 kills, only 10 tributes left on the first day. The Careers did not go hunting Day 1 or Day 2, reveling in their record breaking performance. Day 3, though, they managed to form into a hunting party. The trekked into the woods, looking for tributes.
They found nothing on Day 3, but upon searching in the north on Day 4, they discovered a tired boy strung up in a tree. Pixel, the only one of them light enough the climb into the branches to kill him, climbed up and threw the boy from the branches. He hit the ground several dozen feet below and broke his neck.
Bark Clover, District 7 Male; 10th, Killed by Pixel, Day 4
Days 5 and 6 were deathless. Day 7, cunning Rachael crept through the woods and discovered a starving, emaciated girl hidden behind a pile of snow. Rachael put the girl out of her misery, burying her butcher's knife in the girl's abdomen.
Prota Carys, District 3 Female; 9th, Killed by Rachael, Day 7
The Top 8 had been determined; Cleo Welsh from District 1, Platinum Discc from District 1, Florianna Urnston from District 2, Balbus Heritage from District 2, Pixel Johnstone from District 3, Poseidon Bruu from District 4, Rachael Colossal from District 10, and Berrylynn Stockley from District 11.
On Day 8, nothing of note happened. The next Day, however, the Careers discovered Berrylynn, who'd been living off of plants down by the southern ponds. Poseidon did the honors, spearing her in the back while she screamed with his trident.
Berrylynn Stockley, District 11 Female; 8th, Killed by Poseidon, Day 9
Day 10 passed without a glimpse of Rachael. The Careers split into 2 groups on Day 11 to find her; Florianna, Poseidon, and Cleo in one, Pixel, Balbus, and Platinum in the other. The much stronger group would not find her, but the weaker group, comprised of Pixel, Balbus, and Platinum, were discovered by Rachael later in the day. She ambushed them by the mountains and managed to kill two of them, as they were surprised, before dashing away and climbing to the top of the mountain.
Balbus Heritage, District 2 Male; 7th, Killed by Rachael, Day 11
Platinum Discc, District 1 Male; 6th, Killed by Rachael, Day 11
Pixel stumbled back to the camp and relayed what had happened. The others didn't believe that a girl from 10 could kill two Careers who'd scored 10s, so they blamed Pixel instead. Florianna beheaded him.
Pixel Johnstone, District 3 Male; 5th, Killed by Florianna, Day 11
Day 12, all four were forced together. Rachael had received a nonlethal firework as a sponsor gift, and she fired it at the Careers. It disoriented them, and she managed to stab Cleo in the stomach with her butcher's knife.
Cleo Welsh, District 1 Female; 4th, Killed by Rachael, Day 12
"You dimwitted oaf!" Poseidon roared as he tackled her and broke her neck with his bare hands. She screamed but fell still moments later.
Rachael Colossal, District 10 Female; 3rd, Killed by Poseidon, Day 12
Poseidon and Florianna circled each other, and the fight was long and brutal, lasting well over an hour as the two exemplary fighters fought for domination. After almost an hour and a half, Florianna managed to doll out the killing blow to Poseidon's neck, and he fell, dead, at her feet.
Poseidon Bruu, District 4 Male; 2nd, Killed by Florianna, Day 12
"Florianna Urnston of District 2, you are the Victor of the 27th Hunger Games!" Caius chorused.
Florianna just smiled deviously, wiping the blood off of her rapier.
Aftermath
Florianna was rejoiced in District 2 for helping make a recording breaking 14 bloodbath kills, as well as bringing home their 4th Victor Title. They had now caught up to Districts 1 and 4, and were not slowing down. While the District 1 and 4 Academies seemed to be operating to the best of their abilities, District 2's Academy would flourish in the years to come. Florianna would take the role of Headmistress of the Academy, and under her harsh yet constructive rule, the Academy would churn out killers to a level rarely seen since Clermont Lackrey of the 15th Games or Romulus Armidale of the 19th. She would increase the pedigree of District 2, and soon enough they would be the trendsetters, those leading the Victor totals, and Districts 1 and 4 would be playing catch up.
Florianna would live to age 79, dying four months before the 88th Hunger Games. She would die from an accident within the Academy of District 2. She would not marry and would have no children; she always said that the Academy was enough for her.
The payouts on her Victory weren't the best, as 23% bet on her.
Her Victory Tour was an average affair. Florianna was a little to prideful for most of the Outer Districts, and Districts 1 and 4 disliked her for catching up to them in Victor totals, but its was still a nice Tour.
Fun Fact: All 3 Careers Districts have 4 Victors at this point, and all 3 have 2 male Victors and 2 female Victors.
Victor's News
Florianna moves into the Victor's Village of District 2, and becomes Headmistress of the Academy of District 2.
Calculata gets engaged to a man from District 3 named Horace Calquey.
List of Victors
1st: Kelan Thather, District 4 (1, 1 Male)
2nd: Dillon Tripp, District 9 (1, 1 Male)
3rd: Tugra Ertra, District 5 (1, 1 Female)
4th: Noor Tuskararus, District 2 (1, 1 Female)
5th: Ishania Patel, District 7 (1, 1 Female)
6th: Guild Tonneroy, District 1 (1, 1 Male)
7th: Chaplin Nastaro, District 3 (1, 1 Male)
8th: Irmentrude Marley, District 5 (2, 2 Female)
9th: Vissarion Chamantel, District 11 (1, 1 Male)
10th: Greason Trails, District 6 (1, 1 Male)
11th: Mags Flanagan, District 4 (2, 1 Female)
12th: Salandra Valour, District 1 (2, 1 Female)
13th: Barcelona Sepias, District 10 (1, 1 Female)
14th: Freeha Indepp, District 11 (2, 1 Female)
15th: Clermont Lackrey, District 1 (3, 2 Male)
16th: Bex Martin, District 4 (3, 2 Female)
17th: Jaguar Crusoe, District 10 (2, 1 Male)
18th: Deana Mitchellson, District 9 (2, 1 Female)
19th: Romulus Armidale, District 2 (2, 1 Male)
20th: Grover Elms, District 7 (2, 1 Male)
21st: Fitore Renoro, District 2 (3, 2 Male)
22nd: Mascara Curler, District 1 (4, 2 Female)
23rd: Woof Parsons, District 8 (1, 1 Male)
24th: Dorsal Rance, District 4 (4, 2 Male)
25th: Venice Grammar, District 12 (1, 1 Female)
26th: Calculata Fenceley, District 3 (2, 1 Female)
27th: Florianna Urnston, District 2 (4, 2 Female)
A/N: I hope you like Florianna! Just so everyone knows, as time goes on, most of the Victors, instead of about half of them, will be Careers. Just letting you know. :) Thanks for reading!
Until next time,
Tracee
