Chapter 1: Small Defiances
It had been a dry week as Haymitch had been saving his small supply of scotch for the day of the reaping. He sighed in pleasure as he let the sip of scotch roll across his tongue and slide down throat. His gut warmed as it hit him. The first sip was slow and steady, but his control slipped as he downed the rest of bottle, and then the second and third. He wobbled to his wardrobe and pulled out a ratty suit and haphazardly dressed himself. Almost time. Almost time for the reaping. He wondered if that Effie Trinket woman would still be the escort, or if she would have moved on to a better district, as she had seemed to want in previous years. He didn't like her, but couldn't help but be amused at how much she seemed to hate him.
The victor's village was a lonely place in district twelve, and as Haymitch exited his house he couldn't help but wonder if he was destined to live in this godforsaken silent place forever. He made his way to the heavily lit stage just in time. All of the district children were grouped in little huddles, like lambs for the slaughter. His vision blurred as he lurched onto the stage and threw himself into Effie's unwilling arms. She gasped as Haymitch managed to pull her pink wig askew. He suppressed a giggle and tried to make his way towards his place near the mayor, but his sense of direction was off and he fell off the stage. He heard himself screaming at one of the cameras to stop filming him, but the cameras didn't listen and stayed trained on him. He picked himself off of the ground and found his place by Mayor Undersee.
"Ladies first," Effie said into the microphone and drew a small folded square from the glass bowl. "And our contestant is - Primrose Everdeen."
The crowd was silent, and Haymitch watched a small blond girl awkwardly approach the stage. She was so little. Haymitch wondered if she would die first. Poor little thing. No chance at all.
There seemed to be some commotion in the crowd and a taller girl pulled the little girl behind her and screamed out, "I volunteer."
Haymitch watched Effie's features distort in confusion. He snorted. District twelve had never had a volunteer. He wondered if Effie even new the proper protocol for such a situation. After some debate, Mayor Undersee insisted that they just let the new girl on the stage. Volunteers were allowed afterall.
"And what is your name?" Effie asked, her eyes never leaving the cameras.
"Katniss. Katniss Everdeen."
"Well, I would bet anything that you volunteered for your little sister. Don't want to let her have all of the glory, huh."
The girl stayed silent, her eyes wide. Haymitch imagined the girl hadn't quite registered what had happened. At least she looked like she would last a little longer than the little girl, but the longer they lasted the more Haymitch had to work at keeping them alive, and he hated futile gestures. The little girl would have been better; at least her death would have been quicker.
The boy who joined her on stage was named Peeta Malarch. Haymitch recognized him - he was the baker's son. No one volunteered to take his place.
