Prologue
Various Districts


Nationwide
Across the country of Panem, families in every district as well as in the Capitol sat on their couches at home or stood in front of television in town square, all waiting for the same thing. Everyone was waiting for the very first Quarter Quell to be announced by President Snow. The Quarter Quell was a new concept, all the people of Panem knew was what they had been told a few months earlier; every 25 years, an extra stipulation type rule would be added to that year’s Hunger Games. It was the Capitol’s way of showing the districts that they really did have total control over them because there was nothing anyone could do to fight the extra rule, and most people knew that it was guaranteed to make things harder for that year's tributes.
Nobody knew for sure what kind of twists were added to the Games, nobody had any idea of what might be coming.. So all anybody could do was sit and watch and wait for the announcement to be made and pray that it wouldn’t increase theirs or their children’s chances of being reaped and forced to fight in the Hunger Games
…
District Four
Thirteen year old Oceanelle sat on the couch next to her older brother, eighteen year old Flynn, and her little sister, nine year old Celeste, the two of them sitting across from their parents. They were all sitting in the living room waiting anxiously for the TV broadcast to switch to the announcement of the Quarter Quell rule. She was unsure who was more nervous, Oceanelle and Flynn were worried because obviously the rule affected them since they were eligible for reaping, but Celeste was worried because she knew if either of her siblings were reaped, there would be nothing she could do.
Oeacnelle had always wondered what would happen if she or Flynn would be reaped for the Hunger Games.. How would their parents react.. How would Celeste react? She sincerely hoped that this would not be the year she would have to find out.. Not when the Gamemakers were definitely going to make this arena even harder than the previous ones had been.
Their parents sat without saying anything and try as she might, Oceanelle couldn’t read their expressions. She was sure they were worried too though… They had to be? Right? Oceanelle looked over at Flynn worriedly and Flynn gave her a reassuring look.
“Ready?” Flynn asked
“Ready as I will be.” She answered as she looked towards the TV. The Broadcast had begun.
…
District Eleven
Seventeen year old Autumn was standing in the town square of District Eleven, her friends standing around her as they all stared up at the screen that was projecting the Capitol broadcast. The rest of the District was standing there as well, parents holding their children close and children without parents clustered together with friends or their “almost families”… No matter who they were standing with though, everyone was waiting for the same thing. Everyone young, old, of reaping age and not all were waiting for the announcement of the first Quarter Quell. She saw siblings holding each other close and she became a bit saddened.
Autumn had no siblings, her entire family had been killed in an accident in the fields… It was horrible and to this day Autumn refused to talk about it with anyone, so some of her new friends didn’t even know what had happened to her family. Only a few select ones who had known her before the incident knew. That included Autumn’s best friend Olive. Olive was fifteen and much younger than Autumn, but the two were still friends.
“What do you think it’s gonna be?” Olive asked, looking from Autumn to the screen
“I have no idea….” Autumn admitted. Before either of them could say anything else, the broadcast began and the two along with the rest of their friends became silent as they, and the rest of the district, watched with nervous anticipation of the Quarter Quell.
…
District Eight
Fifteen year old Zaina sat in her friend Umar’s house in front of his family’s TV, she had lived on her own since her parents had passed away and the place she was living didn’t have a TV so Umar had invited her to his home to watch the announcement of the Quarter Quell. She sat next to his younger sister, Alishba, and across from Umar.
She tried to think of better times, like a few weeks ago when Alishba had come to her and asked for advice as it had become time for her to wear a hijab. Umar and Alishba’s mother had died when Alishba was young, so Zaina had been the one to help the younger girl through the process. She had been glad to, but now felt a sadness as she realized that was the first step to the girl becoming older.. With more responsibilities and worry.
Zaina adjusted her own hijab out of nervousness as Alishba looked at her worriedly and asked
“Zaina? Are you worried about the Quarter Quell?”
“A little bit..” Zaina admitted “But hopefully it won’t end up being too bad.” Alishba was twelve and this was her first year being eligible for the reaping in general, Zaina was sorry that her first year also had to be the year of a Quarter Quell, the poor girl would likely have some extra anxiety added to her plate depending on what this Quarter Quell was going to be.
“What kind of rule are they going to add, you think?” Umar asked, looking towards Zaina and his sister
“Not sure.” Zaina admitted “But I think you’re about to find out.” She pointed towards the TV as the broadcast began.
…
Nationwide
Across the nation, families and single children watched their screens whether it be at home or in the town square of the district as President Coriolanus Snow stood on the same stage that usually hosted tribute interviews for the Hunger Games. All were anxiously awaiting for President Snow to announce what the twist would be this year for the Quarter Quell.
Before he announced anything though, the President began to explain exactly what the Quarter Quell meant and when it would be happening again in the future.
“The Quarter Quell,” He began “Was designed by the creators of the Hunger Games to make sure that the Districts never forgot the horror which they have brought upon themselves. The Quarter Quell is meant to make sure that nobody begins to get comfortable with the regular Games. They will occur once every twenty five years.” Everyone in the districts thought this was honestly ridiculous, how could any of them ever get used to sending two of their children to fight to the death? Always with the thought that they may not come home. “Now, without further ado, the special event for this year's Games. The first Quarter Quell.” The Capitol crowd went wild and a young girl dressed in all white with her hair neatly braided came in front of President Snow holding a clear box with dozens of envelopes.
President Snow reached his hand into the box and pulled out the envelope which the camera zoomed in on to show it read “The 25th Games” the young girl closed the box and stepped back off to the side as President Snow opened the envelope and slowly read what was on the index card inside.
“As a reminder to the rebels that their children are dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every district shall hold an election and vote on the tributes that will represent it.”
That was it. There was five second and cheering from the Capitol crowd and then suddenly the broadcast cut out, leaving every district family to digest what they’d heard.
They would have to vote on whose children were sent to die.