Author's Note
I do not own The Hunger Games
The Capitol
Phoenix Sterling, 13
The car pulled up at the presidential building, parking before the great metal doors. The man, who had introduced himself as Bliss Finory, showed them out and ushered them inside. Phoenix reached for her sister's hand, something she'd not done in years. "I don't like this."
"I know. But if we've been summoned by the President, or an adviser…"
Then they couldn't refuse.
Marcellina and Emeria were already waiting in the shining entrance hall, accompanied by a woman and a pair of Peacekeepers. Emeria smiled to see them, but Marcellina had her arms wrapped around herself and looked as though she might be walking to her death.
"Nice of you to finally arrive!" Emeria called.
"Have you been waiting long?" asked Iridescence.
"Only about three minutes," Emeria replied.
Iridescence shook her head. "It's good to see you."
They'd only seen each other yesterday, when they went to visit Thorin, but they couldn't say that in front of so many officials.
Behind them, the door opened again, and Vivaldi was shown inside. He was wearing soft pastel colours, his pair newly dyed a pale orange, but his entire person was splattered with paint and what looked like woodchips.
"Vivaldi!" Phoenix called, running to greet him.
Iridescence was her sister, but Vivaldi must be one of her closest friends.
He pulled her into a tight hug. She could feel him shaking. "It's alright. We're all here together."
"I don't think that makes me feel any better."
Ares Gilmore, 15
It didn't take long after their arrival for Luminita, Andreas, and Zephyr to arrive. The young boy was, as always, wearing his blindfold, and today carrying the dark haired doll that once belonged to his sister. Luminita held his arm to guide him as they walked.
"Do any of you know what this is all about?" she asked.
"They won't tell us anything," said Emeria.
Andreas scoffed. "You lot don't ask the right questions. It's about making the Districts pay for what happened to us."
Of course Mr Political would know that.
"But we never asked for that," said Phoenix.
"You might not have done, but the Capitol has," said the woman with Andreas, hurrying them onto the grand white staircase. "This way please."
Iridescence folded her arms across her chest. She'd never fully recovered from whatever the Simulator system did to her: her hands still shook and she wobbled on her feet, but there was an old fire in her eyes now, one Ares hadn't seen since before her brothers died. "Whatever it is you're planning, I won't have anything to do with it."
"I'm sorry, Miss Sterling?"
"That Game put me through he'll. If you plan on forcing District children through it now, I won't endorse it or be involved. I want to go home."
"No one else will be forced through the simulation system. Now, come with me please."
"I said no."
One of the peacekeepers shoved her in the back. She stumbled, but held firm. Ares caught her arm. "If Iridescence says no, I say no too."
"Same by me," said Phoenix.
The woman sighed and gestured for two of the peacekeepers. They seized Iridescence by the arms and wrenched her onto the staircase. She yelped.
"Hey, be careful with her! She's delicate!" Ares snapped, shoving one away.
He grunted and caught Ares by the collar.
"Put him down," said a man from above.
The Peacekeeper let go and stepped back to attention. The one holding Iridescence released her.
Sethius Magnificence, the President's second in command.
"I am so sorry for that little misunderstanding. Please, do come this way."
Luminita Summerfield, 17
They were led up the gleaming staircase and through the presidential manor to a large, sparkling white office. In the centre stood the only thing of colour, a black desk, and behind it sat President Eldrich. Beside the desk was another man, who Luminita recognised as the Head Gamemaker, Augustin Treble.
"Here they are. Our simulator survivors."
Iridescence scowled and ducked further behind Ares. Luminita pulled Zephyr closer. All of them hated being called that, but the press had branded them with the description.
"What do you need from us?" asked Andreas very officially.
"Well, it's not so much what we need from you. Not currently. It was simply decided that you should be the first to know."
"The first to know what?" asked Ares.
"She intends to lash out at the Districts and spill more blood. It will fuel the storm and all will die," said Zephyr.
The President laughed. "Quite the little oracle, aren't you?"
"The Games were hell," said Luminita, her voice trembling. "I don't want any District kids punished that way because of me or my sister."
"I'm afraid that is not your decision. The people require retribution, and so we have arranged a special, one-off event." The President pressed a button on her desk, and a hologram formed above it. Not an arena, but more like some strange looking gauntlet, with breaks along the way.
Zephyr tugged at Luminita's arm. "All this will do is move us closer to the end."
Emeria Delilah Echavoque, 15
"I don't understand what I'm looking at."
Usually Emeria was pretty good at following systems and blueprints. But this was a plan she'd never seen before, with lists of Districts and names down the side.
"This is to be their punishment." The President tapped her holodesk, and the image spun round. "A game, different from anything Panem has ever seen. A grand competition where we can have more than one Victor if they all work together."
Silverie died.
But not because of rebels.
Not even because of The Games.
Silverie died because Ares's brother dragged them off a cliff and both fell to their death.
"We cannot stop you," Emeria heard herself say. Her eyes burned with tears. "But I don't agree with this."
One by one, her fellow survivors murmured their agreements.
President Elrich looked somewhat confused, but only shook her head and pinched her fingers on one area of the arena. "The challenges will be dangerous. But if they can all work together, I assure you, no one need die."
"But they will," said Ares.
The President laughed. "Not necessarily."
"We all know that's a lie!" Phoenix snapped.
"Well." The President swept a hand over the image, which disappeared. "We believed it right that you were the first to know, given all that's happened to you, We didn't want you to be blindsided by this event. But I assure you, it will be going ahead." She stood and strode over to the window, staring out over the Capitol. "Just think of it. Forty-eight tributes, regardless of District or gender, forced to decide whether to save them all or benefit themselves." She turned back to face them. "It should serve as a warning."