My apologizes for the delayed update. I recently accepted an incredible job offer where I will be moving all the way to New York this weekend. First time living outside my hometown in Georgia. I'm beyond excited!
Thank you to my readers & reviewers! Feel free to leave a comment or two. I love feedback. :)
Chapter 4: Viridi
It is commonly believed that the Seventy-Fourth Hunger Games was the first to have more than one Victor. In the traditional sense, that is correct. Games preservationists, commonly known as "fans", know the truth.
Joining the likes of President Corionalius Snow's rise to power and the aftermath of District Thirteen, The Fourth Annual Hunger Games would become one of the many unsolved mysteries of Panem. What was the mystery you ask? That year, no one "won".
After the Third Games, a poll was conducted. The Capitol audience was asked to rate their satisfaction with the Hunger Games. Most saw it fitting punishment for the Dark Days. However, two issues arose. Those with paternal instincts complained that the mandatory viewing needed more family-friendly options. A child's mind was too delicate for such violence. Others felt that the Games were too predictable. Save last year, two Loyalists were always the last ones standing. What fun was that when you knew how the Games would go? There needed to be more chance. More excitement. More danger.
The first change were interviews. Comedienne extraordinaire Thalia Scortese was signed on as Panem's Master of Ceremonies. Reluctant to support the annual deathmatch, a pay increase and lighthearted threat and the president's court jester was all smiles. These talks, three minutes each, would act as preliminary entertainment to the masses with sideshows from the Capitol's rising stars during commercial breaks. Unbeknownst to the population was its true purpose. The interviews served as a screening process to detect any kinks or quirks deemed unfit in a Victor. Funding for the psychology department was low with all the war clean-up, so this was the next best thing. Amandus Snow would have no more Jordano Salvajes on his hands.
Placed in the center of the newly erected City Circle, the interviews were a hit. Her humor acidic and words unforgiving, the crowds relished in the sight of Miss Scortese shredding what little confidence the children had. None of them were told of the interviews, but only the Loyalists had the good sense to keep face. The others, well...the recaps had plenty to choose from that year. Most notable was Viridi Vox Segreto of District Two. Standing at an diminutive 5'4 in his tattered Reaping suit two sizes too big, Scortese had her guns locked and loaded. Little did she know, so did he. The others gloated, giving away all of their strategies. One and Four took the time to pick on their shorter, younger Loyalist, earning quite a few laughs with their jokes. Viridi did no such thing. Each question given curt responses. Jabs at his height met with cool indifference. He unbothered by the others. The stoic teen would not play along. By the time the buzzer rang, Thalia Scortese was made to look the fool, sweat dripping down her foundation. Her livelihood was on the line too. The only thing the audience knew of Viridi Vox Segreto is that he "would fight well", "is a Loyalist", and "appreciated the opportunity". And they couldn't get enough. 'Such mystery!', 'Captivating!', 'So cryptic!', 'A wild card for sure!'
Journalists bombarded his mentor. With a knowing smirk, Maximus keep up the act. "You'll see."
The Gamemasters' threats to off the enigma were silenced by their young superior. Amandus Snow liked Viridi. The boy had smarts. Besides, this year's change would take care of him if need be.
Piecing their self-esteem back together, the twenty-four children were placed back into chains and marched to the Arena. There, they met the second change to the Fourth Annual Hunger Games.
Instead of being led out one-by-one, all twenty-four Tributes were placed in a semi-circle. The chains kept them in place, though it didn't stop some from shuffling. They're dressed in the usual hand-me-downs, eyes fluttering back and forth from the roaring crowds to each other. In the center lied a metal contraption of sorts. Sparse weapons laid scattered around the mouth of a shoddy replication of a cornucopia.
From the distance, Viridi counted how many there were. Six swords, six spears. Twelve with weapons, twelve without.
He gave a brief glance of concern towards the Victors' Lounge. The briefest hint of confusion ran across Maximus' hard face. The young adult gave his protégé the slightest of shrugs before staring back into space. Enrique was visibly perplexed, scratching his head and throwing hand signals to his Tributes. Jordano was drunk.
Their plan would not work. The favors Maximus had established couldn't happen now. He'd be of no use to him, Viridi decided. He would have to go at this alone. He could do it. He knew he could. He had to.
At once, the chains came off. No one waited for an explanation. They all charged towards the meager pile like their lives depended on it. Well, it did depend on it.
Viridi was first. The boy was short but was he fast. He grabbed the closest sword to him, kicked the remaining weapons deeper into the mound, and turned on his assailants. He couldn't break the metal weapons, but he could make it harder -and more dangerous- for them to get.
Eyes steady, tool in hand, he went to work. He cut through Anaheim first. He wanted to be a train conductor when he grew up. His sword glided across Mercy's neck. She thought prayer could pull her through. Basil from District Eleven tried in vain to tackle Viridi to the ground. It earned him a gift through his abdomen. He wouldn't be going back to his little brothers. Fabiola's shoutsof teaming up died when District One quite literally cut her off. Viridi had just enough time to recover seeing his former classmate die to parry Lush's attack. Both teens were covered in someone else's blood, relentless in their efforts to kill the other.
Pure, utter chaos. There was no rhyme or reason to anyone's movements. Loyalist against Loyalist. District partner versus district partner. Children dropped left to right, two by their own hands. The audience was beside themselves with glee. Little Mandy, a few drinks in, even joined in on the cheering. Why hadn't he thought of this sooner? It was simply sublime! To the Capitol, this was quality entertainment. A Hunger Games to top them all.
Then, it happened.
Some say a Tribute with bad aim threw too far. Others claim Cree Raccroc of District Twelve, a disgruntled foot soldier from the war, did it on purpose. The boy did look ready to kill in his interview. Some even believe President Amandus Snow himself planted the act. What everyone can agree on is that the crowds didn't know what hit them. Literally.
The crowds. The wild, euphoric, exposed, foolish crowds. Too busy hanging off the barely-there railing, enjoying life, taunting the dead to realize in a few seconds some would join them. The spear pirouetted into the air, somersaulted down, and landed beautifully into two Capitol bodies. Aspiring actress, loving wife Vita Tori. Straight-A student, beloved son Nico Occhio. No one knew what had happened until the screams began. Long, hysterical screams ruptured through the stadium walls. The fighting stopped. The cheering stopped. All heads turned to Section D, Row 4.
Madness began.
The once rabid crowd was now a terrified horde. A stampede soon followed, Capitolites crushing one another in their panic. The president's cries for order fell on deaf ears. Peacekeepers tried to manage the situation, but there were simply too many of them. So instead, they focused their attention on the Tributes. The last thing Panem saw of the Fourth Annual Hunger Games was Virid Vox Segreto killing the still dazed Lush before the cameras went black.
Immediately, the Tributes were disarmed and lined up for a headcount. Fifteen laid sprawled out on the dirt. Eight stood side by side, shoulder to shoulder to former opponents. The girl from One, Viridi from Two, both from Four, one from Seven, one from Ten, and the girl from Eleven. That made twenty-three.
One was missing.
Cree Raccroc was nowhere to be found. Somehow someway, he had escaped during the pandemonium, never to be seen again. It would haunt Amandus Snow's career until the day he died.
Needless to say, he was pissed. He was known for his temper tantrums and that day was no exception. By the time he descended from upon his throne, the man was practically foaming at the mouth. It took some yelling, stomping, and an all-out brawl with his advisor and two Peacekeepers to soothe him. Once straightening himself up (and getting over the fact that he lost), Amandus Snow declared with the twitch of his hand that the remaining Tributes be put to death for the insolence. The Victors were quick to action. Zooming past the firing squad already in formation, Maximus and Enrique gave whatever ideas they could think of to the cranky youth. Arms folded, pout steady, he fell to reason and struck a deal with the two men. Viridi gave a small nod to this mentor. A silent thank you. Maximus didn't spare him a glance.
If the accident was one thing, the aftermath was an entirely different story.
Rebels, the few who were left, misinterpreted the act as a call to arms. Sadly, the fight was over before it started. Numbers were scarce. No one would risk their lives for what was now a pipedream. The attacks backfired miserably. Instead of being sniffed out, the pests came to the exterminator. The Capitol swiftly washed away the last of The Dark Days and there went the hopes and dreams of "The Enlightenment".
Eight Capitolites in total died that day. Initial reports claimed Jordano as one of the dead, but he was later revealed to have passed out seconds before the act occurred (Amandus was overjoyed to hear the news). Damage control was a mess. A memorial piece was commanded from each district to honor the eight innocent lives lost in the Arena. Statues were erected in the two who died by the spear. Capitolites wanted justice. Public executions, stricter taxes. Something to make the districts pay for the deliberate act of rebellion. Amandus Snow put his people's worries to ease. He knew what would satisfy their vengeance. It would take some time, but they would surely enjoy it.
But first, the deal with the Victors. Someone out of the seven had to be the next Victor. It was decided that whoever with the highest kills would be granted such title. After reviewing the tapes, Viridi Vox Segreto was crowned Victor of the Fourth Hunger Games with a kill list of four Tributes. The boy, waiting on pins and needles at the Victors' Grounds in the Capitol, was summoned to the City Circle to conduct his Victory Interview with the still-shaken Scortese and proceeded on with the normal chain of events. As gratitude for the service to the Capitol, Eloquence, Arroyo, and Estela were returned, alive, to their districts and sworn into secrecy.
The remaining three were executed on live television following a speech on honor and penance by Panem's esteemed president.
Mixed reception awaited Viridi when he returned home. District Two was a prideful place. Receiving a Victor by vote reduced their image. Victory was won, not given. It made the Games seem easy, and District Two was never one for easy. Viridi disgusted his mentor. Finally Maximus gets his Victor and it's under such unsavory circumstances. He had to beg Amandus Snow, the Little Mandy, to save his protégé. Beneath him. Eventually (an entire year), the proud champion let bygones be bygones and accepted the boy as an equal. He was a Victor, through and through. Even if his title was a plea bargain. Plus, little Nicolina had softened the man up. It was hard being Maximus Zorata, Victor of The First Hunger Games, when a colicky baby kept you up all night.
The Capitol was not so forgiving. Several of the Peacekeeper staff was terminated, permanently. A complete cull and rehire of the Gamemasters went in place. Nicknamed "The Forbidden Games", the Fourth Annual Hunger Games was declared a national tragedy. It was not shown in the daily reruns. Retail copies were banned; anyone found with a home production were subject to fines. Merchandise and memorabilia were confiscated. Viridi was given the cold shoulder. It took several years- and countless dead children- for anyone, Capitol or Two, to treat the boy with any sort of dignity. People wouldn't be caught dead fraternizing with anyone from "those Games".
Over and over, the tapes were reviewed. Days of discussion and debate dragged on. In the end, no true culprit could be found. The fight was just too chaotic. Though erased from history, the effects of the Fourth Hunger Games would shape Panem in ways no one could ever imagine.
None of this mattered to Viridi. Well, the district part did a bit. District honor did that to you. But the rest was irrelevant. He won the Games. His job was complete. He had a nice house and a nice life. No longer would his family break their backs in those horrid quarries, toiling over rocks to make ends meet. Besides, he could use the winnings for whatever he desired. And needed.
The baby wasn't going to feed himself.
