Quell Twist

President Snow stood before the circle of tributes on chariots, the roaring mass of Capitolites, and, more importantly hundreds of television cameras, broadcasting his speech to the twelve subservient districts that were least likely to eat his words up, that were most likely to rebel. This year being a multiple of five — the 60th Annual Hunger Games — meant there was an additional message to be relayed in his words, and a special twist for the Games themselves. It was nice to keep it interesting, although it wasn't as if ratings were on a decline. No, the mandatory-viewing was still the most-watched and most talked about spectacle in all of Panem, bringing in more money and creating more hype each successive year.

Snow stepped up to his podium, holding his arms out to the crowd for silence. The resulting hush brought a malicious grin to the president's face; he loved commanding that sort of respect — or inspiring that sort of fear.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "welcome to the 60th Annual Hunger Games!" This drew a wild roar from the crowd; the tributes, on the other hand, for the most part seemed much less enthused. He opened his mouth to speak again; the Capitolites fell silent once more. "As you are aware, the 60th Annual Hunger Games are a Quell — meaning there will be an addition to the Rules."

The crowd tittered as he withdrew a golden envelope from his pocket. He paused before extracting the card that was inside of it, basking in the palpable tension. "To remind the rebels that they are entirely divided against the Capitol's might," Snow started, cutting off to build the anticipation. His malignant grin grew broader as he drew another breath to continue: "the tributes of the 60th Annual Hunger Games will not be permitted to form truces or alliances of any kind." A wild murmur made its way across the City Circle before Snow cut it off to speak again. "Any tributes attempting to do so will pay with their lives. If there is any suspicion that certain tributes have made some kind of truce, all parties involved will be severely punished in the most creative way our team of Gamemakers can devise.

"May the odds be ever! Happy Hunger Games! Good luck, tributes. You'll certainly need it."

With that, the president sheathed the index card in its envelope, returned it to his pocket, and walked off the stage, allowing the audience to begin speculating and the tributes to quake in their boots.