Orphan of District 12

Chapter 1 – The Reaping

"Gabriella Mayfield, please report to the Principal's office immediately," The secretary of the school filled the classrooms, and after the intercom was off every child in the room with her were oh-ing and saying that I was in trouble. The teacher quiets them down, as I walk out of the room to the principal's office. When I opened the door after I knocked I found peacekeepers were standing next to the principal, they were talking in a whisper until they heard me close the door.

"Gabriella, please have a seat," I look at the principal's face and it looked grim, and she seemed to be fighting back tears. I didn't know what was going on, until she handed me a charred pin that I made my dad.

"What's going on?" I finally ask, I felt a lump in my throat already getting ready for the bad news.

"Your parents, they were killed in an explosion," The principal said in a shaky voice. It took a while for the words to sink in. I was only ten at the time. I did scream saying that they were wrong, and that they need to save my parents, but I had to go to school the next day until they find someone who can take me in.

They found the wrong person because my Aunt Agave. She did not like my mother being her sister-in-law, and me looking just like her just makes her hate me even more, but apparently I have her brother's eyes. I thought because I had her brother's eyes she would treat me better, but boy was I wrong. For the past six years that I have been living with her and my life has not been easy. I tell Peeta, my best friend since kindergarten about my situation and no one else. Yes I do have some girlfriends that I can talk to, but they're the gossip queens of the school. I don't even know why they want me to hang out with them really.

"So how was your morning?" Peeta asked as I took a bite from one his deliciously decorated bread. He always knows how to make me feel better with his bread. My favorite ones are his strawberry bread; they were sweet but not too sweet.

Today is the day of the reaping; my morning was consisted of me feeling nervous for my youngest cousin, Katrina, she's about ten years old and has feared this day. Her older brothers are jerks; they treat me and Katrina like were the dirt beneath their feet. They're actually excited to be selected as one of the tributes. I do sometimes wish they were out of my lives, but not dead.

"How was my morning?" I retort as I put down the cup of water. "Peeta, today's the day of the reaping, what do you think?" I asked him. The boy sat down across from me, he laced his fingers and sighed. I know he's been dreading the reaping day as well. We talked about it as the day drew close, and now its here. We're both terrified that one of us will be picked. Why does the Capitol have to do this to us? The way they are exerting their power over the districts is a bit much, isn't it?

"I know, it's been a hard morning for everyone," Peeta says gently. I let out a small sigh and got up from my seat. I knew it was almost time for everyone to be at the square and I needed to get out of my current outfit.

"I should go get ready," I said in a whisper.

"I'll see you later," Peeta opened the door for me, he was always the gentlemen, I gave him a small smile as a thank you and left to go to the house that dreaded my return, except for one member for the family. As I opened the door to the house I was greeted with Katrina running to me giving me a hug. I hugged her back and kissed her on the top of her head. The girl looked up at me terrified.

"I need to get ready, and so do you," I whispered to her. Katrina and I walked into the room we shared and I helped her with her blue dress, and braided two little pigtails for her. After that she watched me do my own hair. "You're not going to be picked your name hasn't been put into that bowl yet," I told her, as I buttoned the top of my light blue dress. She didn't seem reassured about this fact. I turned to look at the small girl sitting on her bed.

"What if you get picked?" She said looking down at her shoes. She's right; I have a higher possibility to be picked as a tribute, now that I'm sixteen.

"If I get picked, I'll try my best to win," I said to the little girl, I gave her a hug before her mother started calling us down to go to the reaping. The two older boys who were a year older were excited about this day. All they could do was talk about it nonstop, which makes me dread it even more. Aunt Agave took Katrina's hand and dragged her away from me. I didn't want to fight my aunt, which will just cause her to hate me even more.

"So cousin, are you ready to be picked?" Mavis said putting his arm around my shoulders. He had that evil grin of his; I just wanted to smack it off his face right then and there.

"I'm sure you two are ready," I said to the both of them. The two are the most annoying twins I have ever met. Both of them let out a bellowing laugh. I know they're actually terrified of going into the arena and fighting to the death, this is only an act to show that they aren't weaklings.

"Of course we're ready," They said in unison. I tried to get out from under his arm, but he tightened his grip and I couldn't get out of it without breaking my own neck, but when we reached the square, we were instructed to line up by age. The oldest in the front and the youngest in the back, the twins moved to the front while I stayed where I was because the sixteen year olds were gathering behind them. Peeta stood next to me; he took my hand in his and gave it a friendly squeeze. I squeezed back hoping that neither of us will be picked.

"Welcome, welcome today one lucky young female and one lucky male will be tribute for this district," The woman with pink hair said into the microphone. No one feels that today is a happy day, well with the exception of the Capitol and the twins. What I noticed was one chair was empty. I furrowed my eyebrows wondering who is supposed to be there. Maybe it's the mentor, and all mentors are the past victors. Then it hit me, the mentor for this year's victor is Haymitch. Haymitch is like our town drunk. Everyone has never seen him sober, not once.

I close my eyes as Effie dips her hand into the bowl full of girls' names. Peeta's hand tightens his grip on my mine. I relaxed a little when the letter "p" was sounded from Effie's lips, but I froze up again when I heard the full name, "Primrose Everdeen." I was about to run out to volunteer until Peeta held me back. I don't mind dying in Prim's place, she's too young. Someone has to volunteer for her, and then it hits me. I look at Katniss Everdeen, her older sister. She has to volunteer for her sister. I keep anticipating for Katniss to do something but I couldn't wait any longer. I let go of Peeta's hand and I hear my voice and Katniss's saying, "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!"

Katniss turned to look at me, like I was mad. Sure she isn't my sister but she's still young, only two years older than Katrina.

"Oh how wonderful, two willing volunteers," Effie says with a cheerful voice. "Well, as you two young ladies know, there can only be one girl tribute," she said. Effie walked down the platform, and told us to play rock paper scissors; best two out of three will be the girl tribute for district twelve. I looked over at Peeta, he looked nervous. Katniss and I agree, we turn to face each other.

The first two tries were tied, and I had won one, then Katniss won the second time, the third time was the tie breaker, but we tied again, and again. Alright, this time don't think like her. I told myself as I pulled a scissors, and Katniss pulled a rock. I tried not to show my relief over this. "Good luck Katniss," I whispered to her when we were told to embrace.

"Thanks," I heard her whisper back, the two of us broke the hug, and I hear Prim screaming, because she didn't want her sister to go. Tears started to brim my eyes but I quickly looked down at the ground and walked back in line, next to Peeta. I blink back the tears and watch as Gale carries Prim away from the stage.

Gale, the only other person whom I don't want to be picked as a tribute, well it's because I have a crush on him since my parents died. The first person would be Peeta. Peeta's been my friend for eleven years, I can't even imagine watching him in the games, but I don't have to now, because he has been picked. I look up at Peeta tears threatening to fall again. He pulls me into a hug, "I'll do my best to come back," he whispers, but I know he will try to protect Katniss. He's had a crush on her for as long as I can remember. When he breaks it, I grab his hand as he slowly walks to the stage. I don't want him to go. I watch as his hand slowly falls out of my own.

The girls who are my "friends" run up to me to comfort me, and we all watch as Peeta and Katniss stand next to each other. Instead of applauding like everyone else, I lift my three middle fingers of my left hand press it to my lips, and face it towards Peeta.

"Oh, Gabi, you poor thing," One of my friends says hugging me tight in her arms. I hug her back, but not as tight. "Be strong for Peeta," She said her hands still on my shoulders. I nod and wipe the tears away from my eyes. The other girls do the same. I was glad that they were there to comfort me. Sure they're probably my friend for an ulterior motive, and I don't know what it is, yet. Maybe my Aunt paid them to be my friends so I would avoid bonding with her youngest daughter. That is one possibility. After the hugging fest I received from my "friends" Mr. Mellark walked towards me and told me that they are allowing family and friends to say good bye to the tribute. I nodded and followed him to the Justice Building.

"Peeta!" I shout as if I haven't seen for years. I ran to him and put my arms around my waist. I heard a small chuckle come from both his father and Peeta himself. I felt Peeta's strong arms wrap around my shoulders and one hand on my head. I'm at least half a head shorter than Peeta, so I rested my head on one of his shoulders. "You have to try your best to stay alive," I whispered still not letting him go, when I know his father would love to hug his only son, and it could be his last time.

"I promise," He whispered back, and he kissed me on the side of my head. I lift up my head from his shoulder to look at him before letting him go. I am really going to miss telling him everything that goes on at home, and seeing him live, instead of on the screen at the square. I smiled and let him go, so he and his father can converse. I watched as the two of them hugged, I couldn't help but cry. The two men looked over at me as I tried to hide my tears, but they beckoned me to a group hug. I couldn't help but smile through my tears.

"We're definitely going to miss you, Peeta," His father spoke for me. I knew I was going to miss him. The two of us walk out when the Peacekeepers came through the door. I glanced over my shoulder to get one last glance at Peeta, and it was of him smiling and waving me goodbye.

"Mr. Mellark, I'm going to go for a walk," I said to him the Peacekeepers walked me out to the front doors of the justice building. They stopped at the door and I continued to walk in the square. After I thought it would be safe I stop by the house, grab my sword, and run into the woods. I stop at the fence to make sure that the electricity wasn't on. So I ducked under the fence, and ran out far into the woods. I started to duel invisible opponents, letting out my anger out in the woods. I continue until I felt something sharp at my right foot stop me. I fall to the grassy floor and my sword clattered on the floor a few inches from my left hand. I tried to get up, but my right ankle wouldn't hold my weight. But I tried to get up again, and picked up my sword, and continued with my stances until the pain intensified again.

I fell and let out a yelp in pain. I sat in the woods and looked at my swollen ankle. I sighed knowing I shouldn't try to use it. Then I heard something rustling in the leaves. I turned my head to look over my shoulder. I crawled to a tree nearby and stand leaning on to it for support. I looked at my sword; it was out of reach, great, only fists to defend myself with. Then I saw a figure that looked familiar. As the figure got closer I could see that it was Gale. "What are you doing here?" I asked him feeling myself relax.

"I hunt out here, remember?" He said leaning on a tree across from me.

"Of course I remember," I said a bit breathless because of my workout and my attempt to get back up from my ankle. I hide it from him, hopefully he won't see it.

"So what are you doing out here?" He asked me crossing his arms. I nodded my head towards my sword. Then I felt a sting on my side, and I clutched it. I heard Gale move towards me. "There's a bit of blood on your sword," He said looking at my sword. I slowly lift my hand from my side and saw red crimson blood on my hand. I leaned my head against the trunk of the tree. "We need to get you out of here," Gale said, I heard him clean my sword with the moss on the trees, and put it in my scabbard. Before I know it, I was lifted from the floor of the woods, and Gale was running with my weight and his own towards the fence. He stepped on the coils, and ducked under the upper coils. I put my head on Gale's shoulders.

"What happened?" Was the last thing I heard before I blacked out.