𓏲 . SURVIVAL GAME . .៹♡
                                                      CHAPTER ONE
                               ─── THE THIRD QUARTER QUELL

Velren was beside his twin sister walking through a forest laden of District 13 in shrubs and dead leaves after he himself had killed a few animals for the dinner. He wore sneakers, black pants, a dark blue sweater and a black hooded jacket that had a zipper while his sister wore sneakers and tight elastic pants that hugged every curve of her thighs and waist, with a fleece top covering her upper half so the bitter air wouldn't nip at her skin.

 They were outside because if they were to be reaped for the Quell, then they needed to train. The announcement was tonight,casting an unsettling shadow over Celestia. Nightmares already plagued her, fueled by the anticipation of what the cunning game makers might unveil this year.

Unlike his sister, Velren has always been a fighter, ever since his father brought him hunting with him when he was five years old, and he believed that if you fight for the person you love, nothing can hurt you.

While Velren and Celestia were walking to their training ground in the forest, Velren suddenly started singing a song that their father had taught them years ago.

"Are you, are you coming to the tree?
Where they strung up a man, they say,
who murdered three."

His soft melody was carried on the breeze that blew around the trees. Celestia smiled to herself as she heard familiar birds chirping to the song in the distance.

"Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be. If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree."

When they reached the training ground, Velren stopped singing. He decided that he would teach Celestia archery. He handed her a bow and demonstrated the correct stance and technique. "Remember, Cel." Velren said and pointed to the wide ranged area where a bunch of dummies stood.  "Focus on your breathing and aim for the center. You can do this." 

Celestia took a moment to steady herself, recalling Velren's advice. She notched an arrow and drew the bowstring back. As she released the arrow, it flew through the air, landing near perfectly in the chest of the target. Velren whistled lowly and clasped a hand on her upper back. "Not bad."

Time flew by, and hours later Celestia was implanting arrowheads into the hearts of dummies by the second, a small smile playing on her lips all the while. She felt a rush of adrenaline in her system as she let the last arrow in her quiver sink into the section between where two eyes should have been. All dummies had an arrow or two stuck into them.

She put down her bow, only to be pulled to the ground by her brother. She shrieked in surprise and felt his hard and heavy body pressing down on her from above. His legs were around her waist and his hands held her arms above her head. He had a grin on his face.

Her hair sprawled out around her and the back of her head throbbed from the impact it got when she smacked into the floor. "You're good with a bow, but let's see if you can fight." he said. "Whoever loses has to cook dinner."

Celestia let a growl escape, taking Velren by surprise, and with all her strength lifted up her right leg between his spread ones and pushed against his stomach, flipping them over and bringing her fist down.

Velren reacted quickly and grabbed her fist, twisting it behind her back. She sucked in a sharp breath at the slight pain and barely had time to notice how Velren sat up and was holding her other hand, their chests squished together like a sandwich.

Celestia leaned forward to his shoulder and bit him, hard enough so that he loosened his hold on her arms. He swore under his breath at the teeth marks on his black hooded jacket and could feel a hand wrap around his neck, pressing against his windpipe, sufficiently blocking all air from leaving and entering.

He choked and hit the floor with his hand, surrendering. Celestia panted heavily and rolled off him, tucking her hand under her other arm and balling it into a tight fist. 

 Velren rubbed his neck, still catching his breath after Celestia's unexpected move. He chuckled, a mix of amusement and resignation in his voice. "Well played, Celestia. I guess I'll be the one making dinner tonight."

She grinned, triumphant. "You better start practicing your cooking skills, Velren. I don't want a burnt meal. And I'm sure Elias doesn't either." Velren groaned playfully as he got up, adjusting his hooded jacket with the bite marks. "I never claimed to be a chef." he said and followed her back towards their home.

"The announcement starts soon." Their younger brother told them from the living room as Velren closed the door behind him and Celestia.  "Okay, just give me a second."  Velren said to him.. "I just need to put this in the freezer for now. After the announcement, I'll make us some dinner."

After putting the food in the almost empty fridge, he sat down next to his two siblings. He folded his hands in his lap as the hymn played and his throat tightened in disgust as the Snow brothers took the stage. They were followed by a  young boy dressed in a white suit, holding a simple wooden box.

The hymn ended, and one of the Presidents began to speak, reminding them all of the dark days from which the Hunger Games were born.  When the laws for the Games were laid out, they dictated that every twenty-five years the anniversary would be marked by a Quarter Quell.  It would call for a glorified version of the Games to make fresh the memory of those killed by
the districts' rebellion.

The other president told them what had happened in the previous quarters. "On the twenty-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence,   every district was made to hold an election and vote on the tributes who would represent it."

"On the fiftieth anniversary." the first president said again."as a reminder that two rebels died for each Capitol citizen, every district was required to send twice as many tributes."  "And now we honor our third Quarter Quell."  said the second president.

The little boy in white stepped  forward, holding out the box as he opened the lid. They three saw he tidy, upright rows of yellowed envelopes. Whoever devised the Quarter Quell system had prepared for centuries of Hunger Games.

One of the presidents took out an envelope with the clear inscription 75. He ran his finger under the flap and pulled out a small square of paper. Without hesitation, he read it," On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors."

Their eyes widened as the Black twins stood up abruptly, shock and disbelief written all over their faces. "No! No, this can't be happening," they vaguely heard their brother say, his voice sounding farther and farther away as they remained locked onto Snow brothers' curling smiles.

Velren realized what that meant. At least, for his sister.  District 13 only has four existing victors to choose from.  Three male,of which he himself is one. One female, his sister ...She will definitely be returning to Arena. And with determination, he vowed that if another male name were to be drawn, he would volunteer once again.  It was the only way he could ensure that his sister would not be killed immediately.

━━ AUTHORS NOTE

Hope you enjoyed the first chapter! I hope you liked it!... 👀

Please feel free to like, comment, vote, and share! Also, I love the other songs from Hunger Games, so it's possible the others are in there too. I hope that's okay!

Until next time < 3