Author's Note
I do not own the Hunger Games.
This is not a SYOT. It's more of an experimental piece than anything, focused around an alternative Third Quarter Quell and written in drabble form focused around the tributes.
The Seventy Fifth Hunger Games.
The Third Quarter Quell.
Panem held its breath.
Mothers held their daughters; fathers held their sons; siblings held their hands.
Across Panem, citizens were sat at home, watching the mandatory broadcast, or stood in the streets and town squares, staring up at the big screen.
The President stood at the podium. Her hair had been dyed lilac recently, curled gently around her fragile looking face, but Exsequia Crimson was anything but delicate. Her green eyes were hard, and her smile fake as she overlooked her audience, both in the Capitol and in the Districts.
"People of Panem!"
Those in the Capitol applaud. Those in the richer Districts smile a little; those in the poorer ones flinch.
"Seventy Five years ago this year the Dark Days were brought to an end and the Capitol stood triumphant! As penance for their sins, it was ruled that every year, each District was to provide two tributes to battle in a great arena!"
The Hunger Games.
The bane of Panem.
"It was written in the charter of the Games that every twenty five years there shall be held a Quarter Quell to remind Panem of the pain and suffering the rebels caused. For the First Quarter Quell, as a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every District held an election to select their tributes.
For the Second Quarter Quell, to remind the rebels that for every Capitol citizen to die, two rebels were killed, each District sent twice the normal amount of tributes.
And now, for the year of the Seventy Fifth Hunger Games."
A small girl in a pale blue dress appeared at the edge of the stage, carrying a yellowed envelope on a red cushion. She presented it to the President, who slowly slit it open.
Panem held its breath.
"For the Third Quarter Quell, as a reminder to the rebels of how the Capitol has absolute power over their lives and fate, tributes are to be reaped in private and taken direct from their homes to the arena, which they will enter with no guidance or preparation."