The Thirty Sixth Annual Hunger Games


Introduction

Cartagena Sombray falls from the Presidential throne after a convoluted, twisting, and complex ploy executed by Coriolanus Snow and his dozens upon dozens of friends, allies, and disciples. After a dozen of purposefully failed and unnecessarily complex assassination attempts within a single day, Cartagena goes into hiding in an underground bunker. This bunker is located near the edges of the Capitol, and it is guarded by ranks of Peacekeepers as well as by flocks of worried citizens. The final part of the plan comes to fruition four hours after Cartagena's entrance into the hidden bunker. Snow's men us dynamite to obliterate the supports of the bunker, and most sections of the bunker collapse. Cartagena manages to escape the rubble and chaos, where a four dozen or so lives have been claimed by debris and collapsing ceilings. Snow waits for her in a jalopy, and he threatens her until she rides off with a few close followers. She runs off to District 13, where her worried sick mother, now well into middle age, welcomes her with wide open arms. Now the Brutalian party has reclaimed the Presidency, and Coriolanus Snow will hold it in a violent choke hold for the next four and a half decades, becoming Panem's longest reigning President to date at the end of his 45 year term. With politics in stagnation for the coming decades, the Capitol would have the opportunity to indulge even more and become enthralled with power and decadence, leading to a steady decline in intelligence and humanity that would shake Panem to its core and damage the nation so much that we still feel the aftershocks of our ancestors' mistakes in our current time. Burtlas Curvanith returned yet again as the Head Gamemaker. This year he executed the arena of District 1, and it came out splendidly. This would be one of the Top 10 Hunger Games in the first century. Caesar Flickerman was once again the host of the Hunger Games. The Careers were rather strong. From District 1, two dazzling tributes with apt skills were produced, and they were matched the arena this year that was inspired by their District. From District 2, there was the third Shale sister, along with a weaker replacement boy who took the stage after the strong chosen Career, Marco, broke his left arm. From District 4, the Careers were average fare from the District, and weren't anything very special. The Careers scored 2 12s, 1 11, 2 10s, and a 9. There were no other volunteers besides the Careers, and there were no unusual scores; the rest of the tributes scored between 8 and 4. An Anti-Career alliance was formed, consisting of Nyasha and Tariro from 6, Coco from 9, and Fusae and Yaichiro from 10, along with Adonijah from 11, who was the leader of this large outlier pack. Here are the tributes:

District 1: Nouvelle Harriss, 18 (11) 5-1 and Zinfandel Patrix, 18 (12) 3-1

District 2: Januaria Shale, 18 (12) 3-1 and Uron Isubu, 16 (10) 9-1

District 3: Jordin Onyc, 14 (6) 24-1 and Chris Airre, 15 (6) 23-1

District 4: Turquoise Landers, 17 (10) 8-1 and Ehm Nothere, 18 (9) 10-1

District 5: Kea Naegele, 15 (6) 23-1 and Gene Grendig, 15 (5) 34-1

District 6: Nyasha Muchena, 18 (7) 16-1 and Tariro Hunzvi, 18 (6) 21-1

District 7: Tuva Reinertsen, 16 (6) 23-1 and Leonhard Heineken, 14 (5) 33-1

District 8: Rakena Neni, 14 (5) 35-1 and Vladimir Svetina, 13 (4) 43-1

District 9: Coco Scalabrini, 18 (7) 15-1 and Adan Calvo, 14 (5) 32-1

District 10: Fusae Matsuo, 17 (6) 21-1 and Yaichiro Hora, 16 (6) 21-1

District 11: Amala Azam, 18 (5) 33-1 and Adonijah Torris, 18 (8) 12-1

District 12: Vashti Kistu, 16 (5) 34-1 and Benkei Kitamura, 13 (4) 42-1

HGBA Odds: 20% on Januaria and Zinfandel, 16% on Nouvelle, 12% on Turquoise and Uron, 5% on Adonijah, 4% on Ehm, 2% on Coco, 1.5% on Nyasha, Tariro, Fusae, and Yaichiro, 1% or less on Jordin, Chris, Kea, Gene, Tuva, Leonhard, Rakena, Vladimir, Adan, Amala, Vashti, and Benkei


The Games

The tributes arose in the ovular throne room of a giant crystal palace. The crystal, which made up every single thing in the entire palace arena, was either cloudy pink, white, or lavender in color, and it was semi-translucent. The Cornucopia, fashioned out of cloudy white crystal, almost diamond, sat in the center of the throne room. The only weapons inside were spears, swords, and throwing knives, weapons often favored by District 1 tributes, along with some small crowns that had sharp, spiky edges that one could use to kill another tribute. Fourteen different hallways shot off to all different types of rooms in the palace. There were kitchens, bedrooms, sitting rooms, bathrooms, closets, servant's quarters, and so much more, including a hidden armory filled with armor and different types of swords. If one could navigate out of the giant palace, which was rather impossible, then they would find a stable and a small forest and gardens full of food and water. Burtlas had contemplated repeating the ploy from the 25th, where mindless human mutts were placed in the arena in the form of false Avoxes, but he decided against it. Instead of mindless servants, he had a dangerous king and queen hidden on opposite sides of the castle that would kill almost any tribute that came within their sights. The same could be said about the four black knights that roamed the halls. These six humanoid mutts were the fiercest and hardest to subdue to yet appear in the Hunger Games. This year would surely be an exciting one, with a revolutionary, enthralling, and dangerous arena and a fierce Anti-Career alliance that was itching the thwart the Careers and bring home another Outlying Victory.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

The tributes jumped forwards or backwards. Adan from 9, Amala from 11, and Vashti from 12 avoided the bloodbath. With the Careers and Anti-Careers focused mostly on one another, only 7 deaths would occur in this bloodbath, the lowest in decades, which would leave a large amount of tributes left to be crushed by the threats of the arena and the war between Careers and Anti-Careers.

The Careers were just a bit faster, and Uron was the fastest. He grabbed a sword and fended off the Anti-Careers while Zinfandel took a spear, Turquoise and Nouvelle took throwing knives, and Januaria and Ehm took swords. They burst forward to attack the Anti-Careers, but Adonijah was skilled in hand to hand fighting. He knocked the sword from Ehm's hands and they began fist fighting. Zinfandel and Nouvelle circled the pair from 6, who had managed to grab one sword. Januaria fended off the pair from 10, Yaichiro and Fusae, who had gotten throwing knives, and Uron battled Coco from 9. Turquoise, meanwhile, broke off from the fight and hunted down the other scattering outliers, many of who had made it off with weapons and supplies.

Turquoise made the first kill, flinging a knife into the base of the girl from 8's neck. The girl gurgled and fell to the ground, dead, as Turquoise hunted for more kills and the battle between Careers and Anti-Careers consumed the other killers of these Games.

Rakena Neni, District 8 Female; 24th, Killed by Turquoise, Bloodbath

Turquoise got a second kill as she kicked a boy she'd gotten in a spat with in training in the gut. He groaned and she carved his throat out with a knife, grinning wickedly.

Chris Airre, District 3 Male; 23rd, Killed by Turquoise, Bloodbath

Meanwhile, Adonijah had managed to throttle Ehm into submission. The boy passed out, and Zinfandel quickly dragged him to safety inside the Golden Horn. This left the Anti-Careers outnumbered the fighting Careers 2 to 1. Uron stumbled due to his inexperience with true combat, and Coco dug her spear into the boy from 2's chest with a wicked little grin on her face.

Uron Isubu, District 2 Male; 22nd, Killed by Coco, Bloodbath

Nouvelle had been cornering the pair from 6 along with her partner, Zinfandel, but he was now caring for Ehm inside the Horn. Nouvelle flung a knife into the girl from 6's forehead before dodging a feint from her partner, Tariro.

Nyasha Muchena, District 6 Female; 21st, Killed by Nouvelle, Bloodbath

Turquoise made her third kill of this Bloodbath. The shaky alliance of Jordin from 3, Kea from 5, and Benkei from 12 were running. Benkei tripped and brought Jordin down with him, while Kea sprinted off with a pack and a throwing knife. Jordin managed to dodge the knife thrown at her, but the knife directed at Benkei slammed into his gut and ended his life quickly.

Benkei Kitamura, District 12 Male; 20th, Killed by Turquoise, Bloodbath

Januaria showed her prowess as she sliced off the left hand of Fusae, who screamed her head off. As she staggered, Yaichiro pushed Januaria just back enough for the two of them to run away with nothing. Adonijah called the retreat and ran after them, Coco and Tariro not far behind him. The Careers raced after them, but a thrown knife from Yaichiro nearly impaled Zinfandel, who had returned from his foray into the Horn with still unconscious Ehm. The Careers hesitated and the Anti-Careers made it away minus a single member, an impressive feat.

Januaria, blood boiling, quickly hacked into a nearby tribute who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The girl moaned for a moment before she bled out.

Tuva Reinertsen, District 7 Female; 19th, Killed by Januaria, Bloodbath

Turquoise and Jordin grappled on the ground, both weaponless now after Jordin had dodged Turquoise's last two knives. Suddenly a boy, who was escaping the oncoming Careers, smashed into them. Jordin scrambled to her feet and sprinted away, and Turquoise tossed the small boy to the floor. Zinfandel quickly arrived and finished the job, jutting his spear into the throat of the fallen boy.

Gene Grendig, District 5 Male; 18th, Killed by Zinfandel, Bloodbath

The bloodbath was now over, and while little blood had been spilled, the high intensity, multi faceted battle between the Careers and Anti-Careers had satisfied the Capitol immensely. The Careers collected inside the Cornucopia, and Ehm came around about an hour after the bloodbath had concluded. Meanwhile, the Outliers spread out unevenly throughout the palace, a majority of them heading west out of pure coincidence. The Anti-Careers covered lots of ground, but Fusae collapsed halfway through their march. Adonijah carried her. They had little to no supplies: Tariro had a sword, Coco had snagged a pack (her spear had been dropped as she escaped), and Adonijah had gotten a canteen full of water. Sponsor gifts rained down on them as they settled in one of the kitchens, which offered small bits of musty, moldy food and polluted water and not much else.

Early on Day 2, a boy went exploring, emerging from his hiding spot within a cramped, dusty pantry. There wasn't any point in hiding anyway; it was easy to see the blurry shape of someone through the crystal. One of the four roving Black Knights found him in the wee hours of the morning, and the boy was mercilessly diced to pieces. The Dark Knights and other humanoid mutts like them were always a crowd pleaser, so they were reserved for special occasions after this Games.

Vladimir Svetina, District 8 Male; 17th, Killed by Black Knight mutt, Day 2

The Careers also found a girl that Turquoise had neglected to kill during the Bloodbath. Jordin squirmed when Turquoise found her. Turquoise wanted the kill, but she let her District partner, training buddy, and good friend Ehm take the kill so everyone left in the pack would have a kill. Ehm smashed his sword into her head, splitting open her skull and ending her.

Jordin Onyc, District 3 Female; 16th, Killed by Ehm, Day 2

Day 3, the Black Knights found a second victim in the way of Amala Azam from District 11. She fought gallantly, using a wooden broom handle to fend off the humanoid mutt for about ten seconds before it pushed past her meager defenses and tore her heart right out of her chest while it was still beating.

Amala Azam, District 11 Female; 15th, Killed by Black Knight mutt, Day 3

On Day 3 as well, the Anti-Careers hit the jackpot, discovering the hidden armory by accident while exploring a large private study. They fully armed themselves with swords and leather armor. Rejuvenated, they even managed to make a kill. Adonijah, leading the group, saw the blurry shape of a boy through the glass. They chased him, and Adonijah ended the boy's life, beheading him with a thick and insanely sharp sword.

Leonhard Heineken, District 7 Male; 14th, Killed by Adonijah, Day 3

Day 4, the Black Knights withdrew, as Burtlas didn't want these Games to end very quickly. This resulted in a lack of deaths, although the Careers almost tracked down Vashti from 12, but she managed to escape by losing them in one of the kitchens.

On Day 5, Fusae started to feel the backlash of her missing hand. While it was wrapped in cloth and the bleeding had ceased, she was woozy and fatigued from blood loss, and it had become infected. She passed out from her wound, and the Anti-Careers begrudgingly abandoned her.

Later that day, the Careers hunted down Kea from 5, cornering her in an expansive bedroom. Januaria did the honors, slashing open the girl's throat.

Kea Naegele, District 5 Female; 13th, Killed by Januaria, Day 5

On Day 6, the Black Knights re entered the Palace. One chased Vashti, but she was very fast and managed to out maneuver it. She ended up crashing into an expansive, empty hall. She had her only weapon, one of the small sharpened crowns, in her left hand. The queen mutt appeared, wielding two large blades. Vashti fought bravely and even managed to wound the mutt (it was obvious she had held back a little on her skills in the Private Sessions like Parse from the previous year), but it got the better of her and sliced her clean in half with its large blades.

Vashti Kistu, District 12 Female; 12th, Killed by Queen mutt, Day 6

On Day 7, Fusae's body gave out. Dehydration, hunger, and the quickly spreading infection all took its tole. Around noon she died from her infection, alone and in silence, hidden beneath the covers of a large bed.

Fusae Matsuo, District 10 Female; 11th, Killed by infection and Januaria, Day 7

Also later that day, the Black Knights made their third kill, hunting down the slight boy from 9, Adan, with ease. After Adan was disposed of by the Black Knights, it was only the Careers and Anti-Careers left in the crystalline palace.

Adan Calvo, District 9 Male; 10th, Killed by Black Knight mutt, Day 7

After Day 8 passed without death, Burtlas got antsy. He sent a Black Knight at each alliance. While the Careers, trained and coordinated, managed to subdue theirs without any major injury, Yaichiro was killed and Tariro injured in the Black Knight's ambush of the Anti-Careers.

Yaichiro Hora, District 10 Male; 9th, Killed by Black Knight mutt, Day 9

The Top 8 had now been determined: Nouvelle Harriss from District 1, Zinfandel Patrix from District 1, Januaria Shale from District 2, Turquoise Landers from District 4, Ehm Nothere from District 4, Tariro Hunzvi from District 6, Coco Scalabrini from District 9, and Adonijah Torris from District 11.

Burtlas let Days 10, 11, and 12 pass without incident, although both alliances were tormented by rat mutts and collapsing corridors. One collapsing corridor almost claimed the life of Tariro. On Day 13, a feast was announced, and it would happen that evening at around six. Both alliances knew that this was the final showdown, and they prepared their hardest before heading back to the Cornucopia.

Bags labeled 1, 1, 2, 4, 4, 6, 9, and 11 sat on a table inside the Horn. Little did the tributes know it, but moldy slivers of cheddar cheese were the only things inside the packs. That didn't matter though. The Anti-Careers returned first and hid, planning an ambush. They burst out as the Careers entered the throne/Cornucopia room, weapons raised, war cries screamed. The Careers from 4 were a little surprised, but the pair from 1 and Januaria was ready. Ehm easily fell underneath the throwing knives of Tariro, and Turquoise's calf was torn to shreds by Coco's spear.

Ehm Nothere, District 4 Male; 8th, Killed by Tariro, Day 13 (Feast)

As Turquoise stumbled, Januaria quickly lashed out, displaying her full skills. She was the strongest Shale sister yet, and armed with two swords, she seemed unstoppable. Tariro quickly fell underneath her blades, and Coco and Adonijah ducked out of the way, knowing that they were now at a disadvantage with a fair fight. Januaria's allies were also frightened, and Nouvelle and Zinfandel silently plotted to take her out like the other Careers had taken out Junia, her sister, in the 34th Games. Coco and Adonijah steeled themselves for a final fight that would most likely claim their lives as Tariro's cannon fired.

Tariro Hunzvi, District 6 Male; 7th, Killed by Januaria, Day 13 (Feast)

The Careers swept forward, and Coco was on the ground in moments, Zinfandel's spear through her stomach. She gasped and flopped and bled out as Adonijah fought bravely against the other Careers.

Coco Scalabrini, District 9 Female; 6th, Killed by Zinfandel, Day 13 (Feast)

Adonijah managed to slam his sword into Turquoise's stomach after her wounded leg gave out and she stumbled. She bled out as the other three Careers closed in around the boy from 11, preparing to slaughter him.

Turquoise Landers, District 4 Female; 5th, Killed by Adonijah, Day 13 (Feast)

Moments later, a throwing knife from Nouvelle smacked into Adonijah's chest. Januaria swept her blade upwards, slicing deep into his chest, and he fell swiftly, dying in moments as he lay at the feet of the three Careers.

Adonijah Torris, District 11 Male; 4th, Killed by Nouvelle and Januaria, Day 13 (Feast)

Januaria whirled around before the pair from 1 could even react. Nouvelle scratched wordlessly at the sword imbedded in her throat, and Zinfandel let out a little mewl of pain as Januaria's other sword went into his chest and out of his back. Both stunning tributes from District 1 fell onto the rosy crystal ground, their blood mixing together on the crystal of the arena that had been fashioned in their favor.

Nouvelle Harriss, District 1 Female; 3rd, Killed by Januaria, Day 13 (Feast)

Zinfandel Patrix, District 1 Male; 2nd, Killed by Januaria, Day 13 (Feast)

"Januaria Shale of District 2, you are the Victor of the 36th Hunger Games!" Caesar bellowed. Januaria cheered happily. Augusta and Junia had fallen in these Games, and her younger sisters Aprila and Octoberia waited back home, eyes wide, hearts inspired. Januaria had finally brought a Victory to the incredibly talented Shale family. Her roars fo Victory reverberated throughout the crystalline palace as the hovercraft shattered the ceiling to retrieve the newest Victor.


Aftermath

Januaria was celebrated in District 2. They had pulled into the lead with Career Victor totals, and everyone also loved the Shale family. They were incredibly talented athletically, and they were also very affluent and had many connections in the District and in the Capitol, even. They were 2's premier family, and the District was happy to have Januaria come back home after the loss of Augusta and Junia. She was one of 2's most revered Victors, and she was also one of the most successful at Mentoring. She would take over as the Headmistress of District 2's Academy after Florianna would resign soon after the 44th Hunger Games. She would keep the strict regime and prepare 2's volunteers even more, a training that would springboard them through training with high scores. The Outer Districts even liked her a bit for reasons that differed, but mostly for her honesty and realness. Januaria was staunchly loyal to the Capitol, and appreciated the Games and Panem's rigidity. She was everything a stereotypical Career was, and yet she was so much more in a way that one cannot truly explain. She was one of the most memorable Victors, and her Games was one of the best in the first century. She was truly a Victor among Victors.

Januaria would live to the incredible age of 102, still healthy and fit even in her early 100s. She died from unspecified causes soon after the 120th Hunger Games. She would not marry and would have no children.

The payouts on her Victory were okay, as 20% bet on her.

Her Victory Tour was a thing of beauty, one of the best ever. She was an amazing public speaker, and she even got the Outer Districts to like her despite her Career background and enjoyment of killing in the Games through her words.

Fun Fact: This Anti-Career pack was the first one since Mercedes' pack in the 28th Games.


Victor's News

Januaria moves into the Victor's Village of District 2, in the house next door to Tarquinius'.

Tarquinius marries his fiancee of three years, Marta Grannite.


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)

28th: Mercedes Benson, District 6 (2, 1 Female)

29th: Fox Rennolls, District 5 (3, 1 Male)

30th: Tarquinius Isselhardt, District 2 (5, 3 Male)

31st: Ivelisse Horner, District 1 (5, 3 Female)

32nd: Pomona McCrea, District 7 (3, 2 Female)

33rd: Beetee Latier, District 3 (3, 2 Male)

34th: Flotsam Bresten, District 4 (5, 3 Male)

35th: Organza White, District 8 (2, 1 Female)

36th: Januaria Shale, District 2 (6, 3 Female)


A/N: Here is Januaria! I hope you liked her, as I certainly did. Sorry for the wait on the update! School is starting on the 24th and my brain has been scrambled and I haven't had much time for writing with seeing friends and things like that. Weekly might become the norm during the school year for updates, although I'm not sure yet.

Thanks for reading, and please drop a review if you can!

Who did you guys think was going to win? This was a pretty stacked chapter and I could've seen most of the Careers or Anti-Careers pulling a win.

P.S. Longest chapter yet, clocking in at just over 4,000 words! :D

Until Next Time,

Tracee