Chapter 25: Nerva
"It is a terrible lost to The Honorable Nation of Panem to lose our President Amandus Snow and his family. In our nation's time of need, I will act as interim president until we are able to find a suitable candidate for the position. I am honored and humbled to serve as your leader, Panem, for the time I am here.
"In the spirit of tradition and order, The Hunger Games will continue. As the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Games are upon us, I thought it would appropriate to commemorate our success with a special celebration called The Quarter Quell.
"As a reminder to the Rebels that their children died because of their choice to initiate violence, every district will be made to hold an election and vote on the Tributes that who will represent it."
Nerva Corce
Nerva did not want to go to Beta House. Nerva did not want to go into the Hunger Games, especially not this so-called "Quarter Quell". Nerva did not want to campaign to be Tribute. Nerva did not want to win the campaign. Nerva did not want to lose Roman as a mentor and be smothered by Maximus' "expertise". Nerva did not want to wear the stupid costume, talk to the stupid new interview host Caesar Flickerman, or kill the stupid Tributes.
But he wasn't smart enough to work in the Nut or likable enough to become a trainer or Peacekeeper. His (literal) winning trait: he was big. 6'6, 240 lbs of pure muscle. Biggest thing to ever enter The Hunger Games. District Two voted in the stoic beast based on pure intimidation.
Nerva hated it all, but he hated the quarries more.
Seeder Hill
When President Ladro said the words 'Quarter Quell' two months ago, Seeder knew it would be a terrible year to be a first-year mentor. Her fears were confirmed as her Tributes look her in the eye, calling her name over and over until they can call no more. Their screams would carry her all the way into her own Quarter Quell.
Ivory Bex
Cambiare promised Ivory that Tarpeia would be different. That she would abolish The Hunger Games. She glared at the man, now Head Advisor to the President, sitting happily by Tarpeia's side watching the carnage unfold. Did he know any of this?
She feels very, very stupid for trusting a Capitolite.
Nicolina Zorata
'The Games are too much for you Lina.'
'I will mentor your Tributes.'
'Don't worry. Daddy's got it.'
This was all Nicolina heard the entire Quarter Quell. She ignore Crys' looks of disgust as her father tries to block her view of the violence.
After a few deaths, Nicolina lets him. It's comforting. She never tells him.
Dornick Worthington III
'Can I wear one of your suits?' the eighteen-year-old whispers the night of the Interviews.
Dornick gives him a three-piece suit fresh out the wrapping. It is embellished, glittery, gaudy, and extravagant. His most expensive set. The suit hangs off the malnourished child, but it doesn't look too bad. Caesar gives the boy a genuine compliment and his face was brighter than all of the lights in the Capitol. He carries the smile all the way to his death. Dornick buries him in the suit, a paper smiley face attached to the handkerchief pocket.
Epiphany Elohim
Luke and Guide were overjoyed when they won the nomination. They were in such intense prayer each day they forget to eat, passing out twice during Training. The day of the Games, Epiphany comments how maybe God wants them to fight, that there is still work for them to complete before they reach Heaven. Luke and Guide laugh in his face. They enter the Coliseum, get down on their knees, and are sent to rest. Epiphany reads his pocket Bible the entire time.
Crys Nardovino
The entire time, Crys wonders if her Tributes will be whored out too. She gets her answer two days after he recovers.
Woof Tailor
Woof makes a drinking game with Faraday (and almost gets into a fight with Jordano because he wants in on it too but they're not interested): a shot for Faraday when an outlier gets the first blow, a shot for Woof when a Career gets the first blow.
Woof leaves the Coliseum very, very drunk.
Burgundy Blanchet
'I'm gonna do it Ivory.'
'Oh my goodness. You can't!'
'Watch me. They fucking deserve it for making us do all the work.'
'You're crazy. I love it.'
During the breakfast before the Games, Burgundy put laxatives in Essence's and Brilliance's drinks. Unfortunately, Splendor grabbed the wrong cup. Seeing his Tribute shit himself versus a the tiny orphan from Six was a small price to pay to see Essence practically locked in the restroom the entire day.
Maple Kramer
District Seven was the only outlier district to send in Tributes who they thought had a fighting chance. Call it confidence, or wishful thinking. Everyone thought they were out of their minds. Except Maple. Clover lived on the outskirts of Seven. The rugged, hard lifestyle folks in those areas showed in her muscles and no-nonsense presence. Bush was on one of the school's wrestling team. He won a log-tossing contest two years in a row. Maple had faith in the two eighteen-year olds.
'You can't possibly think either of them will win against the Careers,' Redwood cornered her the first night of training. Maple shrugged, taking a long drag of her cigar.
'I like to be hopeful, okay? You never know. We won the Games.'
Redwood rolled his eyes. Her optimism was both aggravating and endearing. 'We didn't fight against Careers who campaigned to get in the Games. You see that beast from Two? That boy could bench press a sequoia.'
'The Careers are always hand-selected. This year's no different. In fact, most of the Tributes are orphans two pounds away from death. Hate to say it, but the odds are in our favor.'
Bush was tortured first round in for an agonizingly long time by the Four girl. Clover got in one kill, then had her head smashed in courtesy of the Two boy.
Wiping back tears, Maple downed her whiskey with one gulp and turned to Redwood. 'Better luck next year?'
'Sure.'
Essence Bernardshaw
Essence didn't pay much attention to the Games. She let Burgundy and Ivory handle all the work; she was busy finalizing her new house in the Capitol and her exclusive contract as a daytime talk show host for fashion, frills, and other frivolous things that had nothing to do with The Hunger Games. And running back and forth to the restroom. Must be that seafood quiche she ate for breakfast.
Mags Pirata
Sirena made it to the final round. The emotionless hulkling from Two and the beautiful murderess from Four. The crowd couldn't get enough. The girl lost when one false move left her open to Nerva's sword. The crowd cheered as Sirena choked on her own blood.
Sponsors came out of the woodwork to make up for Mags' loss.
'Such a close call! You don't seem too fazed by Sirena's death,' an interviewer probed after the Games. 'Thoughts?'
'I need time to process.' She needed time to erase the images of the carnage from her mind.
Kelso Parkesine
'Here.'
Kelso hands the Tributes two small capsules with dark blue ink inside.
'What are these?'
'Nightlock pills used during The Enlightenment. Take one and you're dead in seconds.'
The boy, a stubborn thirteen-year-old, hands it back. 'I don't need this.'
Kelso puts it right back in his hand. 'Yes, yes you do.'
Both Tributes used the capsules.
Faraday Leopold
Woof thought Faraday played the drinking game with him to drown out his sorrows. That's the half-truth.
The full reason is the girl he selected at random during the voting time ended up being picked as Tribute. He truly was responsible for this child's death.
The odds are a tricky beast.
Diana Fabbri
For the first time ever, seeing so many teenagers claw their way to be Tributes left Diana with a small, barely noticeable, but unmistakable feeling of unease. Not enough to express anything to her colleagues. But enough to make her feel off her game.
She supported Nerva through his campaign because he seemed the least likely to care about dying.
Juan Miguel Yberra
Juan Miguel had planned to mentor Seeder through her first Games. Until his youngest sister was Reaped.
He had to be sedated from the time she walked on stage to the time she came back to District Ten in a wooden box.
Redwood Martin
The night before the Games, District Seven sat for dinner. Conversation was sparse: Maple spoke mostly, neither Tribute in the mood to talk the night before they die. Redwood completely ignored them, eyes to his food and wine glass.
As the Avoxes cleaned up, Clover spoke to Redwood. 'You haven't done a damn thing for us. You're a coward.'
'I'll make sure to tell that to your family' Redwood responds, wheeling away to his quarters.
Roman Veronesi
Roman was the only Victor to actually enjoy the Quarter Quell.
Westley Seabrooks
Mr. and Mrs. Seabrooks started the 'Justice for Westley' campaign immediately after their son's untimely death. Posters, two rallies, talks, a televised interview. The wealthy, influential family used their prestige to their advantage; both District Four and quite a few Capitolites got behind the cause. Their request to speak to President Ladro was rejected three times. They caused quite a stir in Panem. The couple felt empowered; they would eventually receive the answers they deserve.
After the Quarter Quell was announced, an unmarked envelope was sent directly to the Seabrooks family. A letter with neat handwriting laid inside:
Mr. and Mrs. Seabrooks,
Your campaign efforts this past several months have been ambitious and quite admirable. However, in order to move forward as a nation and as a family, we must leave the past in the past and leave old wounds alone.
If I recall correctly, your only living child is still of Reaping age. The Quarter Quell would be an excellent opportunity to showcase his skills and reclaim the honor of having a Victor in your family again.
TL
The campaign was cancelled immediately.
Brilliance Fortier
Brilliance finally got to be in the Coliseum. Before the Quarter Quell, he felt robbed of the experience. The other guys got to be in a fancy stadium and he was thrown out in the wild with a bunch of mutts and scared teenagers.
After the Quarter Quell, he is thankful he didn't have to go through that.
Viridi Vox Segreto
Media outlets kept joking, wondering if a Tribute would 'pull a Viridi' and attack the crowd. The gigantic holographic barrier took care of that.
'Wanna hop in the ring and finished where you left off?' said Roman.
'Only if you're in there too.'
Jordano Salvaje
Enrique yanked Jordano by his ponytail, told him to sit down and shut up.
'Why are you so upset? You don't even like the outliers.'
'Yeah, but who could resist a good drinking game?'
Enrique Segundo
Enrique was the only Victor who thought the Quarter Quell was not so bad of an idea. The outlier districts could choose the unloved and unwanted children to go into the game, even ease the strain of supporting the orphans in districts that were already impoverished. The Games couldn't be abolished, but they could make the best of out the situation right?
All the outlier Victors, even Epiphany, threw profanities his way. Faraday spit in his face. Juan Miguel got one punch to the face before Jordano bodyslammed him. The Careers stifled a laugh.
Guess not.
Maximus Zorata
The morning of the Games, Viridi had to hold his mentor in his arms as the first Victor of The Hunger Games went through a panic attack. It was his first time going back to the Coliseum since he won. It hit him harder than both expected.
After catching his breath from all the hyperventilation, Maximus silently got up, straightened his suit, and walked out the door. Viridi was both touched Maximus chose to be vulnerable with him and weirded out to see him show emotion.
President Tarpeia Ladro
Watching the presidential palace be cleaned up and rebuilt from the rubble and ashes, Tarpeia breathed a deep sigh of relief, and triumph.
After years of serving the Snows, she would finally get the respect, recognition, and power she deserved.
