The start of Haymitch's journey. It starts off with a short clip of the arena, but that's not actually the real start. When writing this I originally wanted to end the chapter with ", but I'm not surprised.", but I realised then that it would make the chapter pretty short, so I added to it. Hope you enjoy Haymitch's story.
Updates will be once/twice a week, but I'm not sure yet. It will probably change, so please bear with me.
"Is that what happened to you?"
"No. My mother and younger brother. My girl. They were all dead two weeks after I was crowned victor. Because of that stunt I pulled with the force field. Snow had no one to use against me."
- Katniss and Haymitch, Mockingjay. Page 201.
As I rise up on my metal plate, I get a big surprise. The Arena; bright, colourful, almost friendly-looking. But I am not fooled.
I get poised to run, my eyes homing in on a knife, bag and other survival equipment I will need that are scattered close to the Cornucopia. And unlike anyone else, as the gong rings out, I am ready.
Today is the day of the Reaping. It is also a Quarter Quell, which means there will be a glorified, sadistic twist to the already terrifying Hunger Games. As I get ready, I think of Lucia, and how I am hoping against hope she doesn't get picked. I am also hoping against hope that I do not get picked, although the odds are not in either of our favour.
My family and I are ready, so we cross to District 12's already crowded square. There I meet Lucia, as I promised, and we talk before we have to get in line. We kiss before I let go of her hand and walk over to my area. The Mayor calls for everyone's attention and gives his speech. Then there is the reading of the card. The card is for every Quarter Quell, and on it reads the new promised horror the tributes will have to suffer through. The mayor takes the card out of the box, crosses to the microphone, and reads aloud:
"As a reminder that two rebels died in the rebellion for each Capitol citizen, each district is required to send twice as many tributes"
At first, I don't really understand. Then I do. Twice as many tributes. Instead of 24, there will be 48 innocent people in the arena. Well, the Capitol audience will be entertained, at least. But I don't care about the Capitol. I'm thinking of Lucia, with her 33 slips, and me, with 42, and how the odds are definitely not in our favour. Our escort, Shauna Mildeen, crosses to the glass ball. "Ladies first!" she chirps, as she does every year. Her fingers close around the first slip. "Maysilee Donner! I know her from school, but not well enough to know her properly. I know no one properly, apart from my family and, of course, Lucia.
Shauna keeps calling the names of the tributes, and when she finishes the girls, I am hugely relieved that Lucia was spared. But only for a moment. Even though she is safe, that doesn't mean I am.
Shauna draws the boy's names out one by one, and her lips are forming the last name as I find myself frozen with shock.
"Haymitch Abernathy!"
I walk stiffly up to the stage, wiping my face of emotions as Lucia is screaming; my family are all looking forlorn. The rest of the Reaping goes quickly by and I find myself alone in an exquisite room in the Justice building filled with the fanciest of items, although I'm sure the Capitol has better. My family walks in and we sit together for a while on the lounge, silent. Then the Peacekeepers are at the door and I hug them all, telling them I love them, that I won't ever forget them.
Lucia comes in next, and I tell her I will be alright, that I won't forget her and she tells me she loves me and she won't forget me either. She gives me a leather bracelet and tells me it can be my token. Then a Peacekeeper orders her out and I kiss her, and then she's gone. No one else comes, but I'm not surprised.
The train ride is extraordinary. I have never been on a train before, or any type of transport for that matter, except foot. The rooms are luxurious, much better than in the Justice Building. Our escort, Shauna, tells us to eat, wear or do anything; everything is at our disposal. I go into my room and lay face-down on the bed. My mind tries to process everything that has happened today, but it's simply impossible. Too much has happened and my mind is in a muddle. I'm thinking of home, of Lucia, and that I am going to die. My odds have taken a deep dive and there will be twice as many tributes as before, so chances are there will be many people stronger than myself. Sure, I'm strong enough, I'm definitely not short and I have a talent for throwing knives, but that won't compete with 70 pound male Careers who can throw a spear as far as I can throw a knife with dead accuracy. I'm going to have my hands full, but more so I'm going to die. It's obvious. There has only been one other Victor for District 12, and they won the first games and are dead. So no, the odds are definitely not in my favour.
Shauna calls me to dinner, and my eyes widen at the sight of so much rich, Capitol food. There's so much food it would feed my family for almost a year, and even then we would be full to the boot because, of course, we would be stuffing ourselves and never for that period of time, would we go hungry.
I can see my fellow tributes are thinking the same thing, because they all sit down immediately and start stuffing themselves. I do exactly the same, because it's so good and it wouldn't be a bad idea to put on some weight between now and the games. I might need it.
After we can't eat another thing, we all squeeze onto the small lounge to watch the recap of the Reapings. I'm thinking of the sheer amount of kids going to certain death. It looks like so many more people, but of course that's obvious, there is double the amount, after all.
I am exhausted from the events of the day, so I go out like a light as soon as I get back to my room. Then Shauna is calling us, telling to get ready for another big day. I drag myself out of bed, get changed and going out to the dining room for breakfast. I stuff myself again, and then the windows black out. We are all momentarily confused when I realise, as the windows become bright again, we are in the Capitol.
I realise I hate these people. The Capitol pedigrees that have always had enough and I scowl again after my initial surprise. They are all pointing, even waving at us as our tribute train slows and eventually stops at the station. They are excited, excited about our death for their entertainment. Oh, how I hate these people.
We go to the Training Centre, where the tributes will all stay until the Games. I press the number 12, and we shoot up into the sky. Then we are released until supper, which is in one hour. I find my room, and I am again surprised again at the fanciness of the place. The shower is amazing; with so many buttons I can't even imagine what they would do. There are many gadgets in my quarters, but I don't take much notice of them as I strip and have a shower. Then I get dressed in a plain shirt and trousers and head to the dining room to eat.
Dinner is even better than on the train, and I enjoy it thoroughly. But my scowl stays in place as I think of those clueless absurd-looking people who are betting on our longevity.