User blog:TheAmericanDream/The Hunger Games: Extinguished Hope

Preface
The stories that will be penned on this page are telling a story. A history, rather. However, it's much different than the history you and I know quite well.

Our beloved Katniss Everdeen with her star crossed lover, Peeta Mellark, survived the Games - twice. With help from Katniss, District 13 re-emerged from the shadows, and toppled the dictatorship of President Snow, along with his Capitol.

Many lives were lost in the terrible war that brought about this coup. Primrose Everdeen, the very start of this entire installment. Dear Finnick Odair, along with many of his fellow Victors. Both Presidents Coin and Snow. Countless civilians and Peacekeepers. And so the list grew.

All in all, the dust settled, and Panem moved on, departing from their dark history of war, and especially the Hunger Games.

We know that Katniss and Peeta moved away, back to their home. They rebuilt, they began to recover.

All because of those two fateful days in the arenas. First, as Katniss and Peeta took those scarlet berries. Suppose Cato had survived? Just another win in District 1's book. Or imagine Peeta falling to his death with Cato, leaving Katniss as the lone Victor. Perhaps Peeta would've been able to fight off Cato, and Katniss would've sacrificed herself so Peeta returned home. But no, they threatened suicide and emerged as dual Victors.

And then, that ever so memorable day in the 3rd Quarter Quell. A conspiracy had began, all because of our Mockingjay. An alliance had been formed, one much stronger than an other alliance. Victors, all colluding with Haymitch Abernathy and Plutarch Heavensbee to ensure the survival of the leader of the Rebellion, Katniss Everdeen. These Victors-turned-tributes had concocted a plan to escape the gruesome arena. The intelligent Beetee Latier would blow a hole in the force field. The aggressive Johanna Mason would free Katniss from her tracker. Finnick Odair would ensure not only the survival of Katniss and Peeta, but of the alliance itself. Now, take a moment to envision a different outcome.

Perhaps Peeta was not revived by Finnick. Or maybe the fog claimed Finnick's life as well, or even Katniss'. Maybe Johanna would've betrayed the alliance and killed Katniss in a moment of desperation. Imagine a victory by one of the Careers. Gloss Ritchson, or his beloved sister Cashmere. Brutus Gunn, and his partner Enobria Golding, were both capable killers.

Suppose an issue took place outside of the Arena. Plutarch being discovered as a mole. Haymitch being unable to convince the Victors to rebel. District 13 revealing their hand too soon.

Any of these alternatives could've crushed the rebellion. And it is this idea that we will explore.

A timeline, a universe, where the 100th Hunger Games are about to take place.

But before we get there, we need to know our new history. So have a seat, and prepare to delve into the fateful day that the 3rd Quarter Quell was announced.