Race Against Time: the 75th Hunger Games

The Third Quarter Quell

"On the 75th anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that without the Capitol the Districts would have nothing, the tributes this year are required to survive the arena without a single sponsor gift."
~ President Coriolanus Snow

The Capitol was divided.

When the announcement was made, copies of the first nine Hunger Games were sold out. From Divine to Wonder. Capitolians all wanted to see what the Hunger Games were like before sponsoring.

The people who had been alive during those ancient Games were either deceased or too buried in dementia to remember.

The first nine victors skyrocketed in popularity, video articles being shown on TV to honour them.

As was with the last Quarter Quell, past Quells were revisited along with the Victors of them. Whimzi Kubo was unfortunately deceased, but Haymitch Abernathy was thrusted into the spotlight.

This, coupled with the fact that District 12 earned its third victor last year in Katniss Everdeen made District 12 a "quaint tourist destination".

This year's Games were to be a complete game of survival. No miracle medicine or food could be distributed to the tributes in the arena.

The casual betters were unaffected, but the sponsors were enraged. They would not be able to do anything but sit and watch as their favourite tribute starved to death or succumbed to blood poisoning. This year would surely entail moments of agony and anxiety, as Capitolians ripped the hair from their heads in their living room, unable to do anything as the strong girl from District 2 tried to ignore the pain in her chest, or the boy from District 7 wrapped leaves around his wound instead of bandages.

All they could do was sit and watch. Nothing they could do in the end.

District 1 was enraged.

Shouts of protest came from homes across the District as the Quarter Quell was announced. The families of the Great Houses sat in exasperated silence, glaring at the President.

The Victors swore every District 1 curse they could think of. The strategy for most District 1 tributes was simple. Survive and perform.

But without the promise of sponsors, there was no point in performing. All they'd be able to do was survive.

The population of District 1 couldn't help but feel betrayed. Surely the Capitol would think of them? They'd been loyal since before the first war. Could they not have changed the twist of the Quell so that the district of luxury was treated justly?

It was the first time in a long time that District 1 had worried about the Hunger Games. Worried what would happen to their children in the arena. The District as a whole started to feel the fear of the unknown that so many outer Districts experiences every single year.

No one spoke ill of the Capitol in public, they wouldn't dare. But in hushed whispers, hidden behind drawn curtains, they certainly did. Strangers would pass on the street, feel the anger roll off the other in waves.

How dare the Capitol treat them like one of the outlying Districts, they supplied its most treasured items!

Though the rage was felt across the cobbled roads and sparkling fountains, not one word said. Through it all, they were loyal.

So the District fumed silently.

District 2 was underwhelmed.

That's all? No sponsors?

Brutus laughed at the television. Venus held back a snort. Nolan just rolled his eyes.

Their kids were always strong enough to be able to survive without the sponsors. When it came down to it, District 2 would be ok this year. The children weren't put through the trials of Strength, Honour, and Justice for no reason.