Apollo Incendium, Victor of the 60th Hunger Games

Apollo Incendium at the Age of 24

## Background

Apollo Incendium was born into a poor quarry village on the outskirts of District Two, seemingly contradictory to who he would eventually become. His parents knew their boy was destined to shine. From a young age, Apollo was forced to work in the quarries, and he and his parents rarely saw each other due to their tight work schedules. This proved detrimental to the early development of the boy. Eventually, the authorities of District Two were impressed by Apollo and his sister Artemisia's natural beauty and physical strength. When Apollo was twelve years old, the pair were selected for a military training program, brought down to the main city, and raised by the peacekeepers. The pair were immediately successful in endurance and with a wide variety of heavy weapons, but they were constantly teased at the Magnus Military Training Center because of their rough manners and poor background.

However, Apollo's childhood trauma turned into a desperate talent for diplomacy: a skill that too few of his peers valued. In leading military exercises, Apollo was able to easily soothe tensions, earn trust, and form strong alliances. Unfortunately, those skills didn't always prove impressive to his overseers. While trustworthiness and allegiances can prove useful, the peacekeepers put the Capitol first over their own lives. He was trained to be a merciless killing machine. However, Apollo continued to embrace his unique skills to his personal advantage whilst Artemisia proved much more violent and brutal. Despite these contradicting ideologies, the siblings were always very close working together in school and in training.

Apollo watched the Games with secret sympathy at the deaths of every tribute, but he especially worried about the victors plagued with trauma, injuries, and the burdens of stardom. Despite this, he and Artemisia both aspired to become victors for the glory of District Two. It was every young person's dream! The pair endured a tough upbringing, sporting more permanent scars than even the average quarry working teenager. A childhood of suffering was best survived with victory at the end of the tunnel. Apollo reached his late teens with a solid physique, consistent work ethic, and with dreams of glory in his heart. However, the young Apollo too often questioned his appearance, how he acted, how he performed, and what people thought of him. The trauma of being bullied for his lower class status imbedded a permanent self-consciousness that was becoming detrimental to his mental health. He too often let it guide his decision making.

Artemisia and Apollo both performed well in the Training Center, but Artemisia’s enthusiastic, blood thirsty attitude got her scouted as a tribute for the 59th Hunger Games. Apollo just didn't have the right "persona" the mentors were looking for. Before departure, Artemisia and Apollo had a very heartfelt exchange, and Artemisia vowed to bring Apollo on her Victory Tour of Panem. Apollo had high hopes, and Artemisia proved a deadly opponent. Apollo watched as she performed exceedingly well, killing three tributes with her flanged mace during the blood bath. However, tragedy struck. To Apollo's horror, he watched his beloved sister get brutally torn apart by Sonico Donner (District Five) on live television. Although Sonico was eventually killed, Apollo came to despise District Five and that year’s victor, Gabe Windsor (District Eight). With a sudden urge for vengeance, Apollo trained more rigorously, improved upon his charismatic persona, and tirelessly practiced his knack for manipulation. He would finish what Artemisia started.

Despite his constant visits to the medical wing, Apollo gained the admiration of his peers at the training center, and by the time of the Reaping for the 60th Annual Hunger Games, the mentors were impressed. Honor was prized in District Two, and Apollo proved the perfect example of Two's values. The Mentors of the Training Center, namely the recent victors Ryker and Lexa Vulso (Victors of the 51st and 55th Annual Hunger Games), saw his grief fueled fire. He was chosen as the Male Tribute for District Two accompanied by the eighteen-year-old Valeria Magnus. Despite growing up together in the same class at the training center, the two district partners came from very different financial backgrounds. This lifelong disdain proved more powerful than their need to work as a team. Their respective mentors, Ryker and Lexa Vulso, entered the train car to break the hostile silence. They urged their tributes into separate corridors to start the individual trainings that would set the stage for the rest of their relationship.

## The Games

The 60th Annual Hunger Games was one of the best-received Games of its time for its breathtaking arena, unparalleled showmanship by the gamemakers, a spectacular performance by the tributes, and two separate Career alliances. This year was also a rare year for the Careers as they proved immediately hostile towards each other, unable to intimidate the many powerful Outlier tributes.

The projected Career Pack of the 60th games consisted of:

* Peridot Stane (District One)
* Emeraldia Fontaine (District One)
* Apollo Incendium (District Two)
* Valeria Magnus (District Two)
* Arledge Moitessier (District Four)
* Pearlina Parthus (District Four).

Even before entering the arena, Arledge and Valeria split off from the main Career Pack to ally with Computo Joule (District Three) and Berrito Whittle (District Eleven). Meanwhile, Pearlina, Emeraldia, Peridot, and Apollo allied with Denim Cottone (District Eight), Rosania Hawthorne (District Twelve), and Sycamo Yucca (District Seven). Apollo managed to build a strong rapport with Capitol viewers during the Pre-Games as his sheer strength, confident and clear manner of speaking, and his natural seductiveness made him desirable to sponsor.

When the podiums rose, the tributes were shocked to see an Infernal Abyss. Bubbling, crackling lava surrounding the tributes for miles. The hellish and sultry atmosphere instantly became a Capitol favorite, but it proved unlivable to the tributes. Heelum Eugene (District Five) was quickly overwhelmed by the fumes falling off the raised podium into the lava before the gong sounded. When the gong sounded, Apollo hesitated on his platform as Valeria, first to the cornucopia, butchered Angela Trenglaworth (District Six). Shipper Stillwater (District Six), Ravinia Reltings (District Ten), and Solara Lee (District Five) were killed by Computo. Thredia Snippets (District Eight) was slashed in the back by Butch Dalton (District Ten) who swiftly ran over the rocks to get away. Strangely, he appeared to fall off a ledge. All fighting stopped as the tributes were terrified to discover that the Cornucopia was suspended on an unnaturally floating island. They watched as Butch was clearly going to fall to his death, but were stunned to see that he landed on two feet and hopped over stones to the obsidian shoreline. Seemingly, their physiology had been temporarily tampered with so as to not die from the impact. Rosania immediately jumped off the ridge herself, but landed in the lava below; her shrieks churning into nasty, mangled moans.

Eventually, the rest of the tributes managed to leap from the platform without issue. However, in the madness, Apollo was separated from his alliance. He spent the rest of his day alone, treating burns from the jumping fires, and trying to make sense of the Hellscape. However, peace is not the natural state of Hell. On the second day, immense, thousand foot shadows appeared on the horizon; their voices booming across the arena. The so-called "Four Horsemen" demanded certain actions be performed by the tributes, lest they all be punished. The tributes performed as the monkeys of the Horsemen, chased by fire mutts and the personification of Death. Horrifically, the 60th proved to be one of the longest Hunger Games yet lasting over 2 weeks. A sheer lack of food and water in the sultry environment caused Apollo to lose his physique, slowly whittled away by starvation, dehydration, and the constant minor burns he would endure. Somehow, he remained alive. Valeria, Arledge, Berrito, and Computo, all enduring the same fate, continued to hunt other tributes. The deadly mutts and Horsemen killed Demetra Appilonicus (District Eleven), while Arledge drove his kukri into Butch’s chest and out his left shoulder. Pearlina, Emeraldia, Peridot, Denim and Sycamo were chased by the fire mutts the whole fifth day as Trilla Mayleaf (District Seven) was shoved into a fire by Computo. Denim fell behind from his alliance, crouching under a hardened wave of lava to go undetected by Valeria, Arledge, Computo, or Berrito. Peridot and Emeraldia, having the confidence of Careers, believed they had the best shot at killing the other career pack, but needed to save Denim to do so.

The two groups ran into each other as Computo and Berrito sprinted in alternating paths to chase Sycamo and Pearlina and dodge the knives of the more experienced pair from One. The four Careers began to fight, Emeraldia throwing a knife at Arledge who swiftly ducked. As Peridot carved at Valeria’s shoulder, Valeria managed to thrust her trident into his chest. Prying Peridot off the prongs like a marshmallow, Valeria then thrust the trident at Emeraldia who instinctively moved back. However, Arledge creeped up behind her and slit her throat with a kukri. The pair from One were done. Sycamo and Pearlina found Apollo, and although they both wanted to kill him, he used his diplomatic talent to get back into the alliance. A few days of constant torture by the mutts passed, and the exhausted group was found by Computo and Berrito. Sycamo threw his axe, logging itself into Computo's brain. Pearlina grabbed her knife, but Berrito already fled in the direction of Valeria and Arledge. Rory Hawthorne Sr. (District Twelve) was later shot in the back by Valeria and falling into the lava. Denim was separated from his allies for nearly a week as he roamed the hellish plains alone. Eventually, he was found by Valeria’s alliance. They giddily ran towards him: their next kill. However, they were just in time to watch him get torn apart by a Damned Soul mutt. Valeria angrily killed the Damned Soul as Denim’s charred body was lifted out of the Arena.

Diesia Demorgan (District Three) was found near where Denim had died and was killed by Arledge. Meanwhile, Apollo trekked near with his newfound alliance. He was slowly regaining his strength and confidence as Pearlina had been graciously sponsored. Becoming a favorite to sponsors, the trio was slowly learning how to thrive in the Hellscape. After a few more days, Barlium McJohsnon (District Nine) and Sorghia Greene (District Nine) were discovered hiding on the floating cornucopia island, disobeying the orders of the Four Horsemen to jump down to the mainland arena. Both were horrifically tortured by Death and a Demon Spawn mutt respectively as punishment. Their bodies were miraculously kept alive until the last day of the Games to endure their punishment.

With strong teams forming, the tributes from Two and Four dreaded the inevitable outcome: a showdown of district partners. Oblivious to this Career tension, Sycamo and Berrito were chased by fire mutts into a clearing with the symbol of Panem engraved into a lava lake by hellish red bricks. Piles of wood scrap and loose bricks were scattered across the clearing. It was clear this was the final showdown. The horses of the Four Horsemen roared an earthshattering cry as their hooves smashed the outer edges of the arena into an ocean of lava. Sycamo and Berrito, being the first to the clearing, managed to build wooden barricades and brick towers at the center. They were determined to have the higher ground. Regardless of the lavish sponsorships, the remaining 7 tributes were weak. Sporting elaborate burns all over their bodies, the fighting was going to truly be soul crushing. Spirits broken, the victor would have to claw for life like never before. The two career packs stood on opposite sides of the makeshift fortress, their weapons drawn and ready. But, out of sheer exhaustion, they seemed to rest in an awkward stalemate. Apollo managed to use this time to manipulate the other careers that they couldn't destroy the fortress without each other. The opposing team distracted for a split second, Apollo's alliance started the inevitable clash. It was bloody, insidious, and traumatizing.

Pearlina threw her spear into Berrito’s chest, his cannon sounding as he was pinned against a wall of bricks. Valeria and Apollo charged at each other. While Apollo initially overpowered her, Valeria drove her knife deeply into his gut; blood splattering on the hellish bricks. Valeria dragged Apollo to the ground and stomped his right hand, shattering it before he managed to roll free. The burning heat rose, engulfing the tributes in an seemingly unbreathable inferno. Hair singed and smoked as tips of clothing began to burn away. Amongst the screams, only adrenaline was keeping them alive now. With the fire mutts joining the cacophony of hellish shrieks, Valeria charged back towards the bleeding Apollo. Sycamo slammed his axe at Arledge who ducked and weaved around the axe swipes before slitting Sycamo's throat. Valeria, slamming Apollo's head repeatedly into the rocky ground, was impaled in the heart by Pearlina's spear. But the moment her spear made impact with Valeria's back, Pearlina's throat was slit by Arledge's kukri. Apollo, dizzy and bleeding from his ears, used his split-second of freedom to swipe Arledge's legs. Arledge slammed face first into the burning gravel. Clawing his way over to Arledge, the two ferociously tore into each other. Apollo continuously punched Arledge with his one working hand, struggling to keep his consciousness. Realizing his moment of victory, he grabbed his flanged mace and slammed it into Arledge's chest, killing him the same way his beloved sister was. Arledge's cannon sounded. The crackling fires seemed to subside and glow with beauty as Apollo gasped for breath, his shattered right hand dangling at his side. From nowhere, two pairs of arms grasped his coughing body dragging him into a lowered hovercraft. He was plucked from his two weeks in Hell, not fully believing he was safe. However, as he was lifted above the flaming inferno, he mustered--yelled a powerful roar into the abyss where he avenged his sister.

## Life as a Victor

The 60th Annual Hunger Games were positively received. Not even the most rebellious of Panem could tear their eyes away from the sheer spectacle. With the Games hailed as "true perfection," even Apollo proved a perfect victor showing valiant, awe-inspiring strength in his triumph. Apollo endured a month of surgeries and rehabilitation to look brand new, yet the edges where skin grafts were joined never felt truly comfortable. After his recovery, charismatic as always, he inevitably joined Aurum Albright (Victor of the 53rd Annual Hunger Games from District One) as a commentator for Hunger Games coverage. Apollo is assumed to have developed acute pyrophobia and thermophobia, fears of fire and heat itself, as he is noted to only ever take cold showers or baths. Although publicly insisting that colder showers were healthier for the immune system and body, most have put two-and-two together about his trauma. He struggles to mask the symptoms of PTSD triggered by open flames, hot temperatures, and takes regular medication to ease these symptoms. Despite all this, he persists in his belief in the importance of the Hunger Games and the Capitol’s uncontested command.

Apollo was dubbed by fans as, “The ‘Sun’ of District Two”, “The King of Hell”, “The Incendious”, and “The Flame.” He was the first District Two victor not from the Vulso, Magnus, or Valentis dynasties since Deanna Winchester (Victor of the 25th Annual Hunger Games). He would go on to lead the Diplomacy curriculum at the Magnus Military Training Center, and he brought his parents from the filthy quarries to live in the Victor’s Village. Just a year later, his victory would be overshadowed by that of Shea Magnus's, the next in the Magnus legacy of her brother Luster Magnus (Victor of the 46th Annual Hunger Games) and her mother Thelona Magnus (Victor of the 23rd Annual Hunger Games). Shea and Apollo's victories would also be the first consecutive district win since Gaia, Ophelia, and Cassia Valentis (The Victors of the 47th, 48th, and 49th Annual Hunger Games). A direct relation to Valeria Magnus, Shea sustained an awkwardly tense yet professional relationship with Apollo.

Apollo's life as a victor would be far from a peaceful rehabilitation. He remained constantly self-conscious over his worth having had the lowest kill count of any District Two Victor: one. He quickly turned to practically prostituting himself and drug abuse. No matter the person, he would try to seek some semblance of value and love from their company. Over the years, he could barely stand to face himself in the mirror. He would try to mask his energy draining depression with drugs to wake him up, drugs to put on a happy face, and then with drugs to fall asleep. This charismatic, widely beloved "fire" of the Capitol is not the glistening "god Apollo" the cameras see. His mental and physical health continue to deteriorate despite friends noting that he sometimes tries to dig himself out of addiction, only to quickly fail. Ultimately, this good, caring man was broken by the powers-that-be.

He never married nor sustained a lengthy serious relationship, and he can only be presumed childless. He quickly became much more absent in Two’s Military Academy with his poor mentoring a possible reason as to why Two hasn’t been able to get a Victory in years. Focusing primarily on his public coverage, he malevolently believes that, as long as there are no new victors from Two, his time in the sunny spotlight will last. His inner guilt eats away at his psyche and he is constantly balancing his true desire to feel wanted with a malicious desire for attention. Apollo Incendium, the poor boy who rose to Victory, his namesake the incendiaries of flames and the Sun God of the Ancient Greeks, has suffered in the sunlight of glory. Boosting the ratings of the well-received 60th Hunger Games; breaking his back for his iconic charisma, strength, and physique; all to desperately remain relevant have proven unfulfilling to the human person crying out for help. Among it all, what has he lost in order to achieve his stardom? What drastic measures will Apollo take once his wave of fame fades with age?

- Capital Archives - File 60 - D2-15 - L-1 - Apollo Incendium -