The sun was just barely rising through the trees. This was Prim's favorite time of day. Katniss had, a few moments ago, climbed out of bed to meet Gale for hunting. This meant Prim had the entire thing to herself, and it was still warm from where Katniss had laid. With sunlight tickling her face Prim rolled over onto her sister's side luxuriating in the warm sun. Spread out in the same pose her cat Buttercup liked to pull. She could see why, it was a comfortable position to stretch like this. Tummy pushed just slightly up.
Prim lay in bed thinking of the day ahead.
Today she might hunt down some more flowers for her pressing book. A walk in the woods did sound good after all.
Or perhaps she would bring Rory back that book he let her borrow, she'd been holding on to it for a solid month now. She felt bad for having not returned it. Books were an indulgence here in the seam. Then again Rory had said he didn't like it that much- a fluffy romance novel about a brutish solider and a young peasant girl- it wasn't Rory's kind of thing. But oh Prim loved it, maybe a day or two more wouldn't hurt. She did want to read it one more time.
Her thoughts bounced from one thing to another as she lay there. Prim's mind was prone to wandering. Sometimes, much to her own chagrin she would stop right in the middle of a sentence to begin another. Here in her bed she was flittering from one topic to another in her mind, liKe she watched the butterflies do with flowers. She had so many thoughts they couldnt help but crash into one another on the way out her mouth.
Her mind wandered to the date. The second Sunday of every month the hob had fresh herbs. Mother had said she needed some sage. Today was the 19th. Prim shot up in bed. Her heart beginning to race.
Today was the 19th.
Today was the reaping.
Her blood stopped running for a moment.
She threw the blankets off her thin form, rushing to the teapot her mother kept by the wood stove.
"Oh thank you." She breathed out.
Katniss had started a fire. There was even still some water in the pot. It seemed luck was with her today. She set the pot atop the stove hoping it would warm quickly, she needed to wash her face.
Then she set to find proper clothing, sometimes an impossible task for the girl.
"Ding. Dong. Ding. Dong" the first bells of the day rattled.
"Oh no." She groaned.
It was already 8:00, she was supposed to be there in thirty minutes . She grabbed a grey skirt fairly certain it was too short now. A white blouse was thrown over her head. Now, where were her shoes? Dropping down to the floor she checked under her bed running her hands under the low frame, all she found was a hissing Buttercup angry for being woke up so early.
"Sorry kitty." She cooed giving his head a quick pet.
She checked under her mother's bed. Finding old papers, dried flowers, one of Rory's bouncing balls. Finally her hand hit what felt like shoes. Sliding them out quick as lightening she sat down to strap them on.
At that same moment the teapot let out a high pitch whistle and the second bells started to ding. It was 8:15. She could not be late!
She rushed over to the pot nearly grabbing it with her bare hands. In just the nick of time she thought better of it and slid a cloth over the handle. She poured the scalding water into a basin. The steam telling her to wait a minute. But impatient as ever she dipped her hands in the bowl.
"OH God!" She squealed.
flinging her hands wildly she bit down on her lip to stop the screams from getting out. It was so hot! Why did she do that? Her palms were tender and red. She rubbed her face quickly, avoiding the water all together. She lifted up the hand held mirror to check her reflection. "It will have to do." She told herself. Letting out a large breath she began to walk out the door.
"What about your hair?" A voice said behind her.
Turning, she smiled at her beautiful mother. She felt tenderness at the sight of the weak form in bed behind her. Her mom was not perfect but Prim loved her more than even Buttercup.
"I'm sorry I woke you." Prim said.
Smiling her mother stood. "It's reaping day, I needed to get up anyways."
Her hands came up for Prim's hair. Brushing through it with her agile fingers.
"I think we should try something different with your hair today darling." She said.
Prim crinkled her nose. She had never been one for change. Especially not with her hair. two braids were her signature. Would people even recognize her without them?
Her mother caressed her cheek moving in front of her. Grasping her chin she spoke "You've become a beautiful woman. A strong, kind, forgiving woman. My darling Primrose, your hair should reflect that."
Tears started to sprinkle Prim's cheeks she embraced her mother in a tight hug. "thank you." She said.
Her mother smiled petting her face one last time."turn around darling."
In just a few moments her mother had finished the style. Prim looked up at the mirror filled with apprehension. That quickly disappeared when she saw her reflection, her mother had made her into something beautiful. Despite her too short skirt.
Prim gave her another hug. "I love you mama. Meet me in front of the Hall of Justice. Okay?"
She skipped down the stairs and out the front yard.
Once you got out of the seam District 12 was quite a cute little place. Along the stone paved roads of 12 were storefronts, the butcher, the baker, the locksmith, the dress shop. On the other side sat the entrance to Victor's Village, so many nice houses and only one was filled. By an angry drunk no less.
And in the center sat the Hall of Justice, today however the entrance was taken up by a large stage and two roped off areas. One for each gender, separating the cattle for slaughter.
Prim hadn't expected the feeling of fear to rise up in her stomach at the sight of the reaping stage. After all last year had been her first year without Katniss eligibile for the reaping, it made sense for her to feel apprehensive then. But she honestly hadn't felt anything but bored last year. without Katniss to talk to she was stuck playing hand games with a group of girls she knew from school.
Perhaps that was why the feeling of fear in her stomach made her stop walking for a moment. She was already very late but that coiling in her gut couldn't be ignored. She had no reason to be afraid. For what? A few measly slips in the bottom of that bowl? She would be fine. But she couldn't shake it.
Each year everyone involved in the reaping had to have their fingerprints taken and their blood drawn. Prim remembered the first year she took part, she wailed and wailed before they pricked her, she hated needles. Even now after four years she still got nervous and she always cried a little.
The peace keeper held her finger quite roughly, poking her with a lot of force. "Thank you Primrose Everdeen. May the odds be in your favor." She didn't recognize the man but he smiled at her, he had quite the unsettling grin. Prim still thanked him. She hoped he wouldn't be in District 12 for long.
Being that she was one of the last to show up the areas were quite full already. She still spotted Rory towards the front. Of course he wasn't hard to find at 6' 4. He caught her looking and sent her a wink. Prim waved and mouthed a 'good luck' his way. She rushed to her spot in line with a second to spare.
Mayor Undersee took to the stage signaling for silence amongst the crowd. Prim couldn't help but laugh at his awful fitting suit and what could only be described as a "capital colored" tie. Greens like that didn't appear anywhere else. Especially not in District 12.
"Welcome everyone to the 74th hunger games. I am so pleased to announce our escort for these games Effie Trinket." Undersee spoke in a voice that left something to be desired. His faux cheeriness getting under Prim's skin. Effie trinket sashayed to the front of the stage, thanking Mayor Undersee in a nasally tone.
"Hello to you all, possible tributes of district 12. What an honor you have been given. A chance to fight in the 74th hunger games!" Her skin was the color of Prim's blouse, stark white, Her hair a shade of green unseen in nature, and her voice, shrill and fake. Prim wanted to offer her lemon drop tea to soothe the roughness her throat must be experiencing. Humans were not meant to talk like that. Prim found Rory and shared an eyebrow raise. 'Can you believe this lady?' He seemed to ask back.
"Let us choose now the next tributes for The Hunger Games." She said. Reaching for the first glass bowl, the boys. The crowd tensed as she dropped a delicate white hand into the bowl pulling from it an equally white strip of paper.
"Anthony Paplos." She called.
There were groans and sighs of relief heard all around, it was someone else's son. Someone else's brother. Someone else's problem. Prim as well let out a sigh of relief, it wasn't Rory.
Then the frail boy walked up to the stage. He walked slowly, with a limp. Prim suddenly wasn't relieved at all. He would be destroyed during the games and all of them would have to watch. Her heart broke for him.
"Now for the ladies." Effie smiled. Dropping her hand into the second bowl, she made more of a show of this one swirling her fingers around before grasping the slip. She opened it slowly, letting the tension rise in the crowd. For the second time that day Primrose Everdeen felt fear tighten in her own gut.
"Primrose Everdeen" Effie smiled licking her pink lips.
'That's my name' Prim said to herself
'That's me' she felt tears staining her cheeks.
She walked up to the stage slowly. Very slowly. Prim figured the slower she went the longer she had to compose herself. Right now she was ripped in a million tiny pieces.
She stole a look behind her, Rory was sobbing, his hand covering the lower half of his face. 'There goes my heart' she saw it floating on the wind towards him. She turned away . She couldn't look. Each step brought another person forward in her head. Another person she wouldn't ever see again.
Left foot. Katniss.
Right foot. Momma.
Left foot. Rory.
Right foot. Gale
Left foot. Buttercup.
Right foot. Lady, her pet goat.
Left foot. Prim.
She knew that going forward she would loose herself too. That hurt perhaps most of all. She made it to the stage. Effie smiling down at her wildly.
"Aren't you a cute little thing." Effie said into the microphone. 'Thing' because that's all prim was, a thing, no more important than an old shirt.
"Thank you Ms. Trinket." Prim smiled a fake smile.
Effie would go on to ask questions about Prim and Anthony, who their families were, if they thought they would win, ect. Prim was just happy when it was over. Two peacekeepers led her and Anthony inside the Justice Hall, this was where they would say goodbye to any family or friends. Would Katniss be back in time? The thought of never seeing Katniss again stole Prim's breath.
The hall of Justice was grand in decor. Red velvet carpet poured out on the floor, high crystal chandeliers, hardwood furniture. Everything was beautiful, more expensive than Prim had ever seen before. Kelvin the peacekeeper assigned to her pushed her down the hall. "You have 5 minutes kid." He said lighting a cigar. Prim thanked him quickly rushing in.
Mother was the first to come in.
"Oh my baby! Come here darling. Come here." She called out to Prim.
Prim had already started crying.
"I meant what I said this morning, you are a strong woman. You can win these games. Prim, I need you to come home to me. You are kind and it is your kindness I love most about you. Use that, make the capital love you." Her hands held Prim's in a vice grip.
Prim saw the hollowness returning to her mother's eyes. "Momma, don't fall back. Don't leave the world again." Prim started sobbing. "I'm gonna try. I'll fight hard. But you have to too."
Her mother nodded finally releasing Prim's hands.
"Rory wants to come in next so I won't be selfish." Those were her mother's parting words.
Rory burst through the door a moment later.
He let out a cry. Running to Prim scooping her up completely in his arms. His face was buried in her slender neck.
"I love you Prim. For real." He spoke so quiet she strained to hear him. Both were covered in tears.
"Rory. Look at me." She pulled his face up to meet her own. "I'm gonna fight. I'm gonna come back." She said.