Today was the day. The day that everybody dreaded. I walked through the District streets silently. Barely anybody was out since today was the day two people we know would get their death sentence. I snuck past the electric fence bordering the town and into the dense woods. We all practically grew up in nature here. But I was different.
I grabbed my bow and quiver from a tree I hollowed out and trudged through the thick. There wasn't much to hunt anyways. Food was scarce here. Not like anybody would want to eat the animals around here. After that mess that happened decades ago things became radioactive. Animals became mutated beast and most plants became poisonous. But they were still good enough to be sold.
Yet today had to be a lucky day for me. A small green eyed deer with sharp white boned rocks sticking out of its back grazed a few trees away. I followed it for a while until I got a perfect trajectory. I strung my arrow and aimed.
"Hey Prue!" A voice called out startling me. The arrow flew unbalanced into a tree nearby. And the deer ran off just as startled as me.
I turned to glare at the twins walking towards me. "I could have made that shot. That was the first deer I've seen in weeks!" I yelled at them.
Armin chuckled. "And what were you planning to do with it. Cook it?"
"I was going to sell it." I yelled. Alexy pulled my arrow out the tree and handed it to me. I've been friends with the two since I could remember. My only friends.
Alexy pulled me towards a fallen log nearby. "You don't sell stuff on days on this day. Here's consolation though." He pulled a loaf of bread out of his blue and orange stained jacket. A few years ago he had dared to put his clothes in a pile of Boro and Meranga berries. A week later all his clothes were tie-dyed.
I stared at the bread in his hand as if it would disappear. "I found it." He said proudly.
"Where?"
"Somewhere?"
"Where?"
"The market..."
I rolled my eyes at him. "And your trying to tell me not to sell?" He gave Armin and I a piece and saved one for himself. I took a small portion and hid the rest in my pocket.
"You must be very hungry." They noted unaware of what I did.
After they finished we just sat there for a while. "How many times did your names get put in?" I asked breaking the silence.
"Mine was 82. Alexy was 64." Armin answered with a sigh. "I guess the odds just weren't in my favor."
I patted his back. "There, there. Mine was put in 88 times. So I beat you both." I smiled trying to make light of it.
Alexy frowned. "That's not funny Prue. That's a lot of votes on our part. If we get chosen-"
"We wont be. I can bet you my District 6 tags on it!" Armin declared.
When I got home I found my brother and sister already dressed formally as they could. Gray, my elder brother, made me get dressed also. I lazily put on a dingy white dress that came to my knees (some dress) and gray jeans that dulled over the years. If only we had the fashions of District 3 or 4...
I stared in the mirror at myself in disgust. My black eyes glared at my black hair that came to my knees, so it had to be braided up to go to my lower back.
My little sister, Juniper came in pale faced. "You look beautiful Prue. I wish I looked as nice as you."
I walked over to her. "No way. You look way better. Oh and I have something for you two." I pulled my bread out my pocket splitting it between them. They needed it more than I did.
"Where did you get this?" Gray asked.
"Alexy now eat."
"Did you have any?" He pressed further.
"Yes now take it." I lied.
I bent down and started to unhook my MockingJay necklace. "Here Juniper. I want you to have this."
Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at it. "But its your favorite necklace. You've had it for years."
"Its for good luck. So that way we know we're going to make it. You know your going to be ok because you have to give it back to me. Ok?"
She nodded. I knew she needed all the luck she could get. it was her first year so her name had only been in their once. But she was so nervous she had been having nightmares for over a week now. And I couldn't blame her.
Everyone stood in their categorized group. Women, men, boy, girl. Slowly everyone from our district trickled in. I noticed the twins standing a couple aisles away. I flashed them a grin which they returned.
Once everyone was here a regally dressed woman in too much makeup came onto stage. She turned on a large screen behind her and started to speak of how the districts came into play after a war and radioactive wave. How one district tried to rise up but was defeated either way. I tuned her out like I did every year and mouthed random things to the boys. I didn't look up until they brought the drawing wheel out.
"Now we will start with the girls like always." She placed her hand in the wheel and fished for a random card. She swiped one out and slowly read the name. "Juniper Primrose Katniss."
My body tensed at her words. I glanced to Armin and Alexy who just game a sympathetic shrug. I saw movement in the front rows but I still couldn't see. I stretched to see the small girl walking towards the stage. Juniper was only 10 years old and was expected to now kill.
Before I even knew it, I was walking forward then running over to my sister calling her name. My brother was in the back rows so its not like he was going to do anything. I grabbed my sisters arm pulling her back towards me. Four men in white suits came up and tried to pry me away from her. I realized I had to be out of my mind for what I said next.
"I volunteer." I yelled. The men released me so I could stand firmly next to my sister. "I volunteer as tribute."
The lady on stage smiled looking down at the crowd. "Well looky here. A volunteer. This is surprising. Come on up darling. Don't be shy."
I looked back just as Alexy picked up my sister taking her back to my brother. She was screaming her head off and crying for me.
I walked up the stairs and to the circle I was supposed to stand in. "Well what is your name dear?" She asked.
"Pruedence Everdeen Katniss" I said loudly.
"I see. And I bet that was your sister just now." I nodded. "Well now onto the boys."
She shuffled through the names just as she did with the girls and plucked out a name. "And our boy tribute is; Armin Scotts!"
I visually facepalmed. It was bad enough that Juniper had almost become a tribute, that I was standing up here, but now my best friend just turned into my enemy.
Armin hopped onto the stage not bothering with stairs as usual. He sauntered over and stood in the circle next to me not making eye contact. The crowd put two fingers towards the sky.
We were allowed to see our family members one last time before leaving the district. Armin and I insisted that we get to see our families together since we were so close. He still hadn't said anything Directly to me yet which was aggravating.
Finally Alexy burst into the room grabbing onto the closest person possible which was me. "How is this fair? Both of my best pals are leaving me!" He yelled sadly.
Armin crossed his arms. "You hug her but not your own brother?" And with that he was tackled into a hug as well. Served him right for asking for it.
Juniper and Gray also came in. Juniper's skin was almost as white as a ghost. She wasn't in perfect health recently so I worried about what this would do to her.
She walked over to me handing my necklace back. It had her favorite charm of a key on it instead of mine. I opened my mouth to ask why but she beat me to it.
"So we have to give our stuff back. Your gonna make it. I know you are." She said using my own words against me.
Gray put a hand on my shoulder. "Stay high. Find the closest bow and arrow or make one. Don't trust anyone. Use your environment to your advantage. And remember traps."
"Don't you think I know that after living with you all this time. I'm the queen of traps." I assured him.
"Well don't die out there." He said. I smiled knowing in his way, that meant be careful.
"Hey Armin." Alexy said in a singsong voice. "I get to keep your district 6 tags!"
"Says who?!" Armin shouted turning red.
"You! Earlier you said and I quote ; I can bet my District 6 tags on it!"
Armin let out a frustrated sigh.