The First Quarter Quell: A 'The Hunger Games' Spin-Off

The Game

    As I get out of bed and my feet hit the floor, I'm stunned by its icy cold feel. It's the middle of July, but the air is still frigid as ever. I close my eyes and exhale as I let my body adjust. It's always cold in the districts, but, strangely, I'm still not used to it. I walk over to my wardrobe and pull out my best dress pants and my white button-up shirt—the fanciest one I own. It's reaping day, which means everyone must look presentable just in case their name is drawn. It's one of the many, many rules President Lavinia inflicts on all of us; all of the district citizens.
    I walk out to the main room, ready for the ceremony, and see my mother sitting at our small dining table, unphased. She thinks there's no chance I'll get picked. Why wouldn't she? No one we know has ever been picked before, and I obviously haven't. The closest relation we've had to one of the tributes was when a boy in my class was reaped. Even that was a long time ago, during my second eligible year when I was thirteen. She finally looks in my direction and begins to analyze my outfit. Before I can ask if something's wrong with it, she smiles and gives me a look of reassurance. "You won't be called. It's your very last reaping, Jay," she says.
    She's right, too, I turned eighteen a few months ago. There are only two more until I turn nineteen and never get my name put in that pathetic little jar again. I can't completely rule out that I won't get my name picked, though. If you don't think highly of things, you're less likely to be surprised by a bad outcome. It's a good motto to follow. I finally reply, "I know." I can't say anything more. I can't worry her.
    Walking to the ceremony is always my least favorite part. My eyes immediately shoot to the young kids who have just turned twelve—most of them, or all of them, are squirming and wailing—walking into their first reaping, scared for their lives. And then their siblings: the older ones comforting them despite knowing they could get picked too, and the younger ones, knowing they could lose their best friend, their role model. I pick out one girl in the crowd. Just like everyone else, she's comforting her sister, except she doesn't look scared. She looks mad. I think I recognize her from school, but I don't remember her name. As I'm thinking, a peacekeeper calls me forward. I guess I was holding up the crowd. I can't help thinking, what is her name?
    Since there's always one girl and one boy picked each year, the reaping ceremony is split into a boy's side and a girl's side. The girls are always picked first, and then the boys. Ladies first, I guess. The escort, or the team member who supervises and assists both their district's tributes during anything press-related, walks out to the podium, clearing her throat before speaking. "Welcome all," she cheers, "to the 25th annual Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor! If you could all turn your attention to the screen on your left, you'll find a very special recording coming all the way from the Capitol!"
    These "special recordings" are pointless. Every year, they play the same one. President Lavinia lets everyone know that the Hunger Games are a punishment for a war that happened between the 13 districts when most of us weren't even born yet. But also how the Capitol is still generous because they bathe their winner, or "victor," in riches. As I zone out to the film, I notice the girl from earlier. She looks just as annoyed as I am. What is her name?
    The escort cuts off my thought, "Yes, you heard right, 'the first Quarter Quell.' With all the success of the games, the Capitol wanted to add a little twist! Every 25 years, the Hunger Games will have a very special and unique game in which they change it up to the viewers' enjoyment."
    What? No, I didn't hear right.
    I hadn't been listening. What does she mean by, "to the viewers' enjoyment?" What sick person would enjoy watching children being killed in an arena?
    "Now, it is time that I pick the young man and woman that will get the honor of representing their beloved District 8 in the 25th annual Hunger Games and the very first Quarter Quell!"