Madge observed herself in the mirror as she pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Tying her back, she heard the noise of three loud knocks hail her attention. Gale. Confused, Madge hurried down the stairs wondering what the boy from Seam wanted at this time of day. Prim's lesson wasn't until five, and it was just one o'clock in the afternoon. She swung on to the Newell post and came to a halt. Opening the door, Madge faced the back of Gale Hawthorne leaning against the pillar of her porch. "Hey," she frowned as Gale turned around, a smile playing on his lips. "What are you doing here? Prim doesn't come around until five."
"Is Prim the only reason I have, to be here?" Gale asked, a smirk finding its way across his face as he walked towards her. Madge rolled her eyes and sighed. She titled her head and raised her brows, as if to say I'm not buying your crap. "Fine," Gale sighed, resting his head back with defeat. "Prim's not coming today."
Madge stood a little taller now, her lips twitched and worry etched onto her face. "Why not?" she squeaked, her gaze plastered onto Gale's as he leaned his arm against the door frame. She needed answers. Plus, she hated it when he did that. It left no room for personal space and always made her breath hitch and her stomach clench. Dread settled in, seeping into every part of her being, as the worst entered her mind. "Did something happen to-"
"No," Gale interrupted, seeing her face drain of its colour. "Katniss is fine." He could see the relief settle back into Madge, as she rested her head against the door, sighing outwardly. "Prim's just got the flu," he reassured her, placing his hand on her shoulder, giving it a little squeeze.
Madge groaned, leaning her face into her palm. She had had a cold last week, and must've passed it onto Prim when she stayed the night. "I must have given it to her," she sighed, her arms dropping limply by her side as she pouted, exhausted by the day's tasks. "I might have some antibiotics in the cupboard," she remembered, leaving Gale at the door, as she followed her trail of thought, already making her way towards the kitchen.
"Aren't you forgetting the obvious?" Gale said in a matter of fact tone, as he followed Madge's footsteps. "Mrs Everdeen has medicine herself?" He stopped short in the living room, spotting the velvet couch which was far comfier than his family's. His wavered towards the object, yearning for the luxury of sleep after a rigorous hunting session in the morning. And the Undersees couch seemed more than comfortable. A loud cacophony of cabinet doors being slammed snapped Gale out of his trance.
Madge rummaged through the cabinets, her hands hungrily clawing at its contents. She could've sworn they were here. Moving the bottles of painkillers and morphine away, she spotted the two green vials. Grabbing them, she rushed back to Gale.
"Here," she said, pushing them into his hands and folding them tightly over the vials. "You and I both know that she wouldn't use the town's medicine for her personal needs." Madge instructed, staring Gale directly in the eye. She needed him to do this. She had to look after Prim after Katniss was gone. They both had to. "This way she won't be using the town's medicine." It wasn't charity either. She truly did care for Prim.
"If that glare is anything to go by, then I wouldn't want to disappoint." Gale smirked, holding the vials tightly in his hands. His eyes wavered at the place her hands had just been on his own. Her delicate fingers gracing the likes of pianos frail against his calloused hands, used to kill to feed his family. Not that any of this mattered thought. Madge and Gale were just friends. Only friends. Barely even that. "Have you played the piano today?" Gale asked, motioning to the untouched piano, the fallboard being down.
"I was just about to but then you came along."
"How about you play now?" Gale asked, his brows raised suggestively.
"Not today, Gale." Madge warned, shoving him towards the door. "Prim needs her medicine now. Stay focused."
"Yes ma'am." Gale smiled playfully, as he walked out door. "By the way, Ma wanted me to tell you that you're invited to dinner."
"Really? Are you sure?" Madge frowned, fully aware of their lack of resources.
"Yes." Gale emphasised. "You don't want to anger my mom, Madge. You just got into her good books."
"I'm in her good books?" Madge piped up, raising her brow playfully, as Gale descended the steps of her porch.
"Don't push it Undersee," he called, a smile cracking his face. "Besides, you can stay for the Games."
"Thanks," Madge smiled, her gratitude being genuine. She was thankful the company. She truly was. It was far better than watching it at home by herself. The voices of the dead haunting her house. Every child her father had allowed to be sent to their deaths. Her best friends being two of them.
"She'll be okay, Madge." Gale reassured her, noticing the change in her demeanour. Madge smiled, nodding her head, trying to convince both of them that she would be okay. But she couldn't help but fear for her. And Peeta. They both had to come home.
"There's only four of them left," she whispered, trying to conceal the lump forming its way within her throat. Cato. Thresh. Katniss. Peeta. The last she had seen the girl from District 5 ate the poisonous berries. Nightlock. "Let's hope they'll both be okay," Madge responded, it coming out harsher than she had intended. She knew Gale didn't like Peeta. Especially after Peeta professed his love for Katniss, who strangely responded to his feelings. She never struck me as the romantic type.
Gale nodded, blinking slowly and letting the message sink in. Sure he didn't like the guy, but he didn't want him dead either. He swung back on his feet and made his way back to the Seam. Sometimes Madge wondered how on earth they could ever have become friends. Him being from the Seam, reluctant to look past stereotypes when it comes to people from Town. And then there she was, a person from Town.
"Primrose Everdeen." A weight dropped in Madge's stomach. The voice of Effie Trinket dragging at her heartstrings. The name of this year's female tribute blaring in her ears. It couldn't be. It couldn't be Prim. Not Katniss's Prim. Not twelve year old Prim. It had to be a mistake. Her eyes frantically searched through the crowds, searching for the young blonde. Oh god. She was going to throw up. She was going to-
Madge is caught off guard as she spots Prim moving towards the stage, taking one step at a time. Her face is flushed. She doesn't even cry. She's so strong. How can a twelve year old be so strong? Her eyes fall on the untucked back of Prim's shirt. It sticking out of her shirt like a tail. She sees Prim it into the back of her skirt, just as Madge had seen Katniss do so many times at school. Her little duck.
Shrieks of resistance made their way forward, pushing against the array of peacekeepers who have rushed forward. Madge sees blurs as they hold someone back. She knows who it is before she's even heard the words.
"I volunteer!"
Katniss's words shriek, heavy in the air. Of course. Who else would care more for Prim, than her own sister?
Prim's shrieks are harsher and higher than Katniss's. They claw at Madge's heart and make her toes curl. "I volunteer as tribute." Madge can feel herself waver. She can feel herself topple forward at any second. Oh god. Katniss has volunteered. Katniss is going to be a tribute. Katniss is going to be in the Games.
Madge can feel her eyes burn as they follow Katniss's footsteps. She's escorted up the stage and right into the hands of Effie Trinket. With Madge's own father standing idly by, behind them. She has to clamp her hands over her mouth to restrain herself; the shrill echoes of Prim's screams crumbling all the nerve she has left. Her eyes remain transfixed on Katniss, whose hands are trembling uncontrollably, as someone from the crowd takes Prim away. Everything else seems muffled.
Madge makes her decision then. She has to win. Katniss has to win. She has to survive. She's her friend. She doesn't even bother listening to Effie Trinket anymore, as she swirls her hand in the bowl of boy's name. Like this is some sort of lottery to be won. A mere game. Of course that's what it is to them. A mere game where the children of the less privileged shed every last piece of their morality to survive.
Madge clenches her jaw as her cold stare fixates on Effie. She knows this isn't her fault. That would be like saying it's her father's fault too. But she can't help it. Effie's the only one from the Capitol she can see right now. She's the only one she can blame at the moment. Madge watches as Effie teeters towards the mic once more.
"Peeta Mellark."
No.
This time Madge's knees gives way and she collapses onto the ground. Someone partially grabs hold off her as all her weight slams to the ground. No. No. No. No. This can't be happening. Not Peeta. Anyone but Peeta. She wants to scream. She wants to cry. Shriek at him, not to go. She wants to drag him off the stage. But she can't. All she can do is clutch onto the arm holding her. The people around her, heave her up now. And all Madge can do is stare. Stare at the only two friends she had in the world. Torn from her grasp and into the hands of the Capitol.
They both shake the other's hand. A reluctant mannerism of respect. A vow to survive. And only one of them will come back. Or neither of them will.
The crowd start to clear as the new tributes disappear behind the doors of the Justice Building. Cold droplets of rain hail from the sky. Pouring down on the district with two less children. Madge can feel the droplets trickle down her back as she's left shivering in the cold, alone. And then it hits her. Harder than before. And she drops to her knees. Mud spreads over her white dress, the rain pounding its way against the ground, heavier. And she sobs, her hands dragging over her face as she falls onto her elbows. Sobs rake her lungs, robbing her off air.
Her heavy pants turn into short gasps, as anger replaces the fear in her eyes. A fierce ferocity burning behind her blue eyes. They were going to take them away. They were going to take them away to the Capitol. To their deaths. And she was way passed furious.
Pulling herself back together, Madge got onto her feet. Her hands clenched into fists. Her jaw clenched. Her darkening into a deathly glare. And a new kind of anger in her stride. Madge drover herself forward, passed the doors of the Justice Building.
They were gone. Her best friends were gone. The Capitol pushed them towards an earlier death. The Capitol have made them dig their own graves and the graves of others. The Capitol have taken them from her. And they will pay.
Author's note: As I said before, I ended up re-editing this chapter because the previous one I uploaded was too short and a bit rushed for my liking. Hope it doesn't bother the readers following this story, though I would advise you reread this chapter before continuing. More Gadge interactions next chapter. I'm open for criticism and reviews. Have a lovely day :)
