"Come along girls." A high pitch voice rang out from a small wooden house that doubled as a handyman's shoppe. The voice belonged to a small, middle aged woman named Serena, with freckles splayed across her tan face. She was a mother of three teenaged girls which made her heart ache.
Being a mother of three may sound like a blessing for some people but, for the people in District Twelve it was asking for a death wish. The District was poor and starving, Serena and her husband had to fight where they were at now, which still isn't relatively good but, it's better than the Seam where she used to live.
The Hunger Games were an eerie and dark time for the District. Most families would close up their shops and spend time with everyone, fearing their children would be randomly selected for death, fearing that this time would be the last time to spend with them. Each family had a different approach on how they took in Reaping Day.
Serena's was being frantically scurrying around the house looking for loose objects to collect and shove in her pockets. It seemed as though it was almost tradition for her to do this. Objects for good luck so her own children or nieces or nephews wouldn't have to go into the hunger games.
There was the creaking of wooden steps as the first to reach the living area was the eldest daughter, Artemis. Her thick brows perked up in question as she stared at her mother running around like a chicken with its head cut off. She always hated when she got finicky like this. Artemis huffed out a sigh and crossed her arms. "Why are you shoving all those things in your pockets. That's way more than usual." She noted as she watched her mother pick up a tiny pebble from the floor.
Serena gazed at her in a panicked dazed and then started to collect more things. Worry wort. "It's Reaping Day. You never know what could happen." She walked over fixed a piece of Artemis's bangs and sweeping a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't want any of you to go in it."
Artemis rolled her eyes. She hadn't been reaped in the seven years she was eligible for it, no matter how many times she put her name in the bowl for tesserae. She didn't fear that she'd be picked this year, or ever for that matter. She had been too consumed with watching her fretting mother she hadn't noticed her siblings enter the room.
She fixated her gaze towards her younger sister Katherine who was still fixing up her face for the reaping. She smeared a vibrant red across her thick lips and then puckered them. Artemis couldn't help but roll her eyes.
They had asked her many times why she had felt the need to get glorified for Reaping Day. Her answer was always the same, "If I get picked I have to be tv ready." She wasn't the brightest star in the sky but, she was pretty enough to be one. By far the more popular one out of the three.
Artemis plopped down on the worn out couch and sighed. It didn't take long for Serena to pass by her and quickly ran her skilled and delicate fingers through her hair again, picking out any imperfections and making it look better. Artemis swatted her hand away. "Mom." She warned in an annoyed tone. Serena shuffled backwards and went back to collecting items.
She focused her gaze towards Naga now, who was on the other end of the couch looking off into space in deep thought. Naga was strategizing what she would do if her name was called, just like every year. Her plan would then go to waste when her name wasn't called. She pushed the glasses she wore up further on the bridge of her nose to adjust them as she sat up straight coming back to reality.
She looked over at her older sister with a weird look on her face. "What?" She asked quizzically and defensive. Artemis gave a small shrug and shook her head before looking the opposite way as Naga crossed her arms and legs and scoffed.
Artemis snorted from her point of view. Her gaze went from her worrisome mother scouring the kitchen for something to hold onto besides her fathers hand. Then to Katherine who was now just patting her hair down and plucking at her face. Finally to Naga who was now writing down something on a scrap piece of paper she had found.
A will of some sort, if she ever were to get picked. From what Artemis could remember she did this her first Reaping. She took note that she would get her glasses and some of her clothes.
Artemis went back to looking straight forward and crossed her arms. Her family was famous for worrying for nothing. No one had been picked from her family since her cousin. She had been eight at the time and her cousin was thirteen. She remembered watching her die in the Bloodbath. She shivered at the thought of someone coming up and slitting her throat. Maybe there was a small part of her that did worry but, never showed.
She perked her attention to her father as he walked out of the bedroom in a light blue shirt and tattered khaki's. He gazed around the room watching everyone practice being reaped, or writing their will, or running around for no apparent reason.
His eyes locked on to Artemis's. He gave a concerned look, which she replied with a shrug. He smiled then shook his head. Artemis and her father got along famously. She was always the one that would venture off into the neighborhood with, assisting him with his handyman work from time to time.
Torq clapped his large hands and got the attention of everyone in this room. "We have thirty minutes until the Reaping and you guys aren't done? We have to be there or we'll get punished." He scolded them. Artemis straightened out the loose ends of her lace white dress and listened to him lecture.
That was the only downside of her father, he liked to hear himself talk. He sat across from her, while she awkwardly adjusted her dress. "Dad," She inquired earring an exhausted look from him. "May I go see Beau and Peeta. I'd like to wish them luck." She nervously bit down on her lip.
She knew this time was meant for family farewells and good lucks but, she could not stay in the house for another moment. Torq perked up a brow while he tied his brown dress shoes. Her stomach clenched at the thought of rejection that she anticipated. She was almost certain he'd let out a disgruntled sigh and say no. "You have fifteen minutes." He granted, stomping his foot down on the ground trying to adjust his foot. This surprised Artemis, her eyebrows flew up in shock. She blinked a couple times while gazing at her father who returned the surprises gazed and motioned for her to head towards the door.
Without hesitation, Artemis grabbed on to the blue sweater she wore on top of the dress and quickly exited the house. She never answered her mothers questions about where she was headed. Something she was used to doing. Perhaps she should stop.
She shrugged off the thought as she took a step outside of the house and sucked in a deep breath of air. It reeked of coal. Not the best smell in the world, but not the worst. She made her way towards next door, Davet's Butcher Shop. The dirt crunching around her feet gave her a false sense of security, like it was just another day and not Reaping Day. She continued to listen to the pebbles giving way beneath her step instead of the hysteric sobs some parents were sharing with their children.
Artemis looked across the way at the blue shop of the Mellark's Bakery. She saw very small movement from inside and debated whether it was just a stray customer or if it were one of the members of the Mellark family. Peeta and Beau were her only two friends. Figures they've all been neighbors since they were young.
No one else at school dared to talk to Artemis, ever since she got into a fight with Alixandra Elliston. She rolled her eyes just thinking about the name. Alix would strut around the schoolyard thinking she owned it since her father is Mayor Undersee's advisor.
She had enough of Alix's cruel treatment towards her and the other girls in class and how they couldn't afford the luxury of electricity twenty four hours a day. So Artemis punched her. In the face. It was riveting. She would give anything to see Miss Elliston get put in the games. Watch her world crumble down. She had expressed this multiple times to Peeta and Beau who had both ruled her as a sadist after saying that.
She paced up the wooden steps to the butchers shop before rapping on the door with a balled up fist. Her stomach growled as she sniffed the air around the shop. Nothing was better than the savory smells of Davet's spiced chicken.
A few moments passed before a boy with curly brown hair and hazel eyes opened the door with a small smile. Beau's dimples when he smiled were his most prominent feature. "Don't you look dapper." Artemis commented as she took one of the brown suspender straps and snapped his chest with it.
Beau yelped in shock at the stingy sensation, rubbing his chest where it had snapped. "You're wearing a dress. If I didn't know any better I would've mistaken you for a lady." Beau recoiled with a teasing wink. Artemis hummed.
"Touché." She replied with an edge in her voice. Beau made a quick "Oh," before unwrapping a small piece of chicken from a cloth he had behind his back. "My father gave this to me to share with you and Bakers Dozen." Beau exclaimed as Artemis tore a piece off and plopped it in her mouth. She relished in its juicy flavors as they exploded over her tastebuds. If there was a heaven she was sure it was filled with Davet's spiced chicken.
"Speaking of Peeta, where is he? I only have a certain amount of time before I have to go back to "family bonding"." Artemis stated with a sarcastic edge and her mouth full, looking across the street at the bakery. Beau quietly shrugged his shoulders. "You know how his mom can get." He recalled in a hushed tone.
Mrs. Mellark was not the nicest person, in fact she was far from it. Artemis ranked her slightly above Alix on the cruelty scale. She would often fight with whoever was in the bakery with her at the time. Their screaming matches could be heard throughout the neighborhood. It ached Artemis's heart when Peeta would greet Beau and herself with a fresh new bruise or cut somewhere on him. She had once pleaded with her father to talk to Mrs. Mellark about hitting her sons but, Torq had ruled it out. It wasn't his place.
"Do you have any doubts?" Beau questioned her, breaking her thought and drawing her attention back to him. She hadn't realized she was staring at the Mellark Bakery. "Doubts of?" She clarified as she took another string of chicken and chewed it. Beau raised his brows before looking off into the distance at the blue sky which had appeared to become clustered with a grey overcast. Perfect for Reaping Day. He made a small sigh.
Artemis picked up on what he wanted to say about the Reaping and placed a small hand upon his shoulder in reassurance. "It's not going to happen. To any of us." She stated in a confident tone, slightly puffing up her chest as to make herself feel more self assured. Beau gazed down at her with timid eyes before shaking his head. "But we'll know someone who will-"
"And thank goodness they were never close to us." Artemis interrupted, her brows starting to furrow in frustration. All these "what ifs". "Seriously, you're going to make yourself sick if you have a pessimistic outlook on life all the time, Beau." She concluded, earning a snort from him.
He placed one hand in his pocket before sticking out the piece of chicken out more towards Artemis. "You're one to talk." Beau smirked. The comment made her roll her eyes. "I'm not a pessimist. I'm just realistic."
"You're not a pessimist, you're a sadist." Beau corrected. Artemis hummed to herself. Wasn't the first time this happened. "Not a sadist." She mumbled out while stuffing another piece of chicken in her mouth. Beau smirked once again at her quip. "Do you really wish that Alix would go in the games?" He questioned as he crumpled up the napkin that held the chicken in his hand.
Artemis chewed the last piece, placing her hands on her hips as she thought about the question. She slowly nodded, only causing Beau to chuckle. "Only because she's evil personified." She quickly tried to justify herself in between chews, accidentally spitting a little chicken out. Beau laughed maliciously at her mess up. She hurriedly wiped her mouth before groaning. She really needed to stop talking with her mouth full.
Her father's voice calling her over to their house caught both of the teenagers attention. Torq was leaning out of the door frame, motioning for his daughter to come inside. Beau gave a friendly wave over to Torq who returned it. Artemis held up one finger towards her father before turning back around to her friend.
"I guess Peeta's a no show." Beau noted solemnly, gazing over towards the bakery. Artemis quickly glanced over to there as well before returning her attention towards Beau. "I guess so." She whispered out. She was hoping that his mother was going easy on the boys.
It was Reaping Day. Even should be at least a tiny bit, anxious. "We'll catch him on our way there. Tell your sisters I said good luck." He bid as Artemis slowly started walking backwards towards her home. "Yours too." She added as she waved goodbye to him. She turned on her heel and headed towards her home. It was going to be utter chaos.
As she neared the front door she could hear Katherine's short whines of protest and her father's deep voice dripping with displeasure. Artemis sucked in a deep breath before she entered, bracing herself for the dispute between her father and her siblings. "Why not? You let Artemis." Katherine stated as she pointed her finger towards her older sister who had just finished shutting the door behind her.
Katherine made an aggravated grunt. "I'm sick of you guys giving her special treatment!" She shouted at her father who had crossed his arms at the accusation. "Special treatment? Katherine, Vera lives further away from here. I'm not letting you wander around town before the Reaping before we leave. Beau lives next door, that's why I allowed it." Torq defended himself. Katherine let out another frustrated huff before trying to explain her case even further.
Serena had come up to Artemis, taking her nimble fingers and running them through her daughters hair once again. "I really wish you'd wear your hair up, honey." Serena pleaded, swiping the hair away from Artemis's face to see what she'd look like with it up. Artemis pursed her lips into a tight smile. "I can do that." She obliged. She took her chocolate colored hair in her hands, flipping her head downwards and tightly knotting her hair together in a tight bun before standing up straight again.
She jutted her arms out from her side a bit to present herself. "Better?" She asked, earning a smile from her mother. "Much." Serena answered, even though she stepped forward and played with Artemis's front bangs. "You've grown so much. I'm glad this is your last Reaping." Serena confided taking a step back and admiring what she had done to her daughters bangs. Even the worry wort could calm down a bit before anything truly happened. Artemis smiled and thanked her mother.
A whistle blew in the distance indicating that all the valid possible players must gather in the town circle in front of the justice building. It made her jump a bit before returning her eyes to her mother sorrowful face. Serena rushed towards Torq and gripped his hand tight. "We love you all." She said before kissing each one of her daughters on the head before they exited the house. Torq was sure to them all one last hug outside before he dismissed them to go on ahead and enter towards the justice building.
The walk to town was bound to be not that long. Naga and Katherine went off and found their friends. Leaving Artemis to lag behind and wait for Beau and Peeta. She made slow and awkward steps towards the justice building, waiting for her two friends to exit their homes.
She picked at her nails, which seemed to be a bad nervous habit she picked up on. The thoughts of being reaped growing ever present in her mind. Even though she was almost confident that she wouldn't be picked, and had no reason to worry there was still that ever looming presence of the "what if" everyone had been talking about today.
The creaking of the bakery door caught her attention and she whipped her head to her right to see all three of the Mellark brothers headed towards the justice building. "Peeta." Artemis called out, catching the blonde haired boy's attention.
He gave a small smile along with a wave before he stepped off the porch towards her. The way that his lips were pursed told Artemis that something was wrong. However, she looked over his shoulder to see his parents, specifically his mother, boring her eyes into hers. She knew Artemis wasn't a fan of her. She had expressed that many times. "My, my don't you look handsome today." Artemis teased as Peeta approached her, an embarrassed smile perching itself on his lips.
"You look nice today too. Like a lady for once." Peeta retorted with a snort. Artemis rolled her eyes at the blue eyed boy. "That's what I said," Beau's voice agreed from behind her. "But don't let the womanish looks deceive you, she's still Artemis." Peeta couldn't help but laugh at the true statement while Artemis glowered up at Beau. "You're killing me." Artemis stated before grabbing on to his suspenders again and snapping it against his chest. Once again Beau rubbed the sore spot where it had struck him while frowning.
Artemis started her shuffle towards the center of town like everyone else along with her two friends. She looked around to see older members of the community lining the sides of the streets, watching as the youth walked towards the Reaping center. Artemis gulped at the fact that two of them were walking towards what could be their deaths. "So, Mellark, where were you earlier? We were having a little chitchat before the Reaping." She started, hoping that she would get an explanation as to why he seemed more solemn than usual.
She stared as his eyes danced from the sky to the ground, trying to avoid her gaze. "Oh, I just had to do a couple of things in the bakery before we left." He looked at her with a blank look in his eyes. She furrowed her brows. He was lying. "I'm sorry." He whispered out to his pair of friends.
Artemis sucked in a breath before attempting to open her mouth to call him out, but a firm hand on her wrist caught her attention. It was Beau's. He gazed down at her with a concerned look. She sighed and frustratedly looked away from him. She knew that he was telling her it was best to leave it alone for now. "Well, we missed you buddy." Beau chimed up, glancing over at the cold expression Peeta was wearing.
He grasped his shoulder in reassurance, squeezing it firmly with a small smile and holding it until Peeta returned it. It was only for a moment though before Peeta returned his gaze towards the ground. This has to be the worst treatment his mother had given him.
Although there were no visible marks, Artemis knew that she could hurt with words. Peeta had some times broken down to her and Beau about it. She had called him worthless, useless, a waste of space. Even though Beau and Artemis had tried to reassure him that it wasn't true and that he had meant a lot to them the words had already sunk in to him. It was really hard to get him out of a depressed mood when he was in one.
Artemis latched on to his hand, catching Peeta off guard, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You got this." She whispered to him before letting his hand go. Peeta smiled for a half second, nodding his head and acknowledging her words. The crowd had dissipated into a fork. Girls on the left, boys on the right.
Artemis sighed. "Well, boys, this is my stop." She stated while looking at her two friends. "Good luck." She sighed out, looking towards the ground. Reaping day was starting to hit her hard. "Good luck to you too, Artie." Peeta responded, latching both arms around her. After the hug Beau did the same. Before he leaned up Artemis whispered, "Keep an eye on him." Beau pursed his lips, gazing into her green eyes with a slight sense of confidence and nodding his head.
With that Artemis turned and walked towards the cluster of girls from their early teens to their late teens. The line seemed to go on for ages. She had to work her confidence up as she neared the front. The sight of Peacekeepers with guns put her on edge.
The thing that put her over the edge was the sound of a beep and a click. She peered in front of her to see what the sound was, all though she knew too well what it was. It was the pricker. The needle would prick a finger and the Peacekeeper behind the table would smudge the bloodied finger on to a sheet of paper.
She hated this part.
It was enough to make her stomach churn even worse than it already was. She had built up a false confidence until it was her turn. The Peacekeeper gave her no time to prep herself for the prick. He yanked her hand towards him, pulled the trigger on the needle and let it cut her finger. She jumped a bit at the sudden pinch in her finger tip.
She quickly wiped off what blood was left on her finger after the encounter with her blue sweater. Artemis came to an abrupt halt as she has absentmindedly followed the girl in front of her to the spot she had to stand in.
The sun had started to shine out a bit, lighting up the justice building as if it were some place holy and not some place where someone would be selected for death. However, the sun did have its own way of creating a false sense of security. Alluring Artemis into a slightly cheerful thought that she wouldn't get picked.
Not a nice day like this.
Artemis peered around looking for familiar faces. She had to stand on her tip toes, she cursed being short unlike her sisters who seemed to inherit their father's long legs. The first face she spotted was her sister Katherine making small talk with the girl next to her. Of course she'd make a friend on Reaping Day.
She caught sight of Naga, who was also idly standing, waiting for Reaping Day to start. She always looked like she was strategizing something. Artemis leaned back down on her toes, relaxing. This whole time she had been selfish and thought about it she were to go into the games and not her siblings or her friends.
She mentally slapped herself for not thinking about them. However, it did make things worse. Instead of only hoping for herself to not go in she had to think about four more people that were dear to her going into the games. She didn't want any of that.
Then she heard a shrill laugh come from up front. Standing on her tip toes once again she looked for the source of the laughter, although she already knew who it was begrudgingly. Artemis rolled her eyes when she caught sight of a small blonde haired girl in a pink dress in the front. Surly she was laughing at the girls who couldn't dress properly for the event. It was hard when you were dirt poor.
Alixandra Elliston. The root base of all evil besides Mrs. Mellark and President Snow. Although her father was Mayor Undersee's advisor it did not grant her the option to stay out of the games, like Mayor Undersee's daughter. Alix was the only person Artemis hoped to go in the games.
As she came back down off her tip toes the Capitol anthem started to play. It sent chills down Artemis's back as it had meant that the Reaping was going to start. A woman from the Capitol wearing nothing but pink appeared on the stage. Her lips painted in the shape of a heart, she had waved a welcoming gesture to all the children who were gathered in the town center.
Of course someone from the Capitol would think today would be a fun day. Effie Trinket, the District escort for many years now, took her place in the center of the stage with a large grin on her face. She almost didn't look human. "Welcome, welcome!" Her perky voice echoed through the microphone. "To the Reaping of the 74th annual Hunger Games." She clapped her hands together, trying to spread cheer throughout the crowd.
Nothing but, unamused faces of all ages looked at the prim and exotic looking woman from the Capitol. Her face seemed to go sour for a moment before turning back to her mic. She introduced Mayor Undersee who merely waved, his daughter and wife looking sorrow from behind him. Then to the only Victor District Twelve had to offer; Haymitch Abernathy. The drunk hooted and hollered until he stumbled off the stage causing an upset reaction from Effie.
Artemis could tell from a mile away that Effie didn't want to be here but, was forced to stay cheery and happy in order to please her Capitol. The District escort smiled as perky as she could as she watched a couple of Peacekeepers drag Haymitch away from the stage. Of course he'd make a fool of himself on live TV. "Now, before we begin, we have a very special film brought to you all the way from the Capitol." She blissed with a smile while turning her chin up to the large screen on the Justice building. The Capitol's anthem played once again as President Snow's snarly voice began to ring out.
"War. Terrible war." Artemis tried her best not to roll her eyes, but he gave the same speech every year about the uprising. How it left a large death toll, and how he subtly destroyed District Thirteen with only one command. It was scary. He had enough power to convince millions to fight with him, to comply with his needs of blood sacrifice. But it had become old, rather boring, to Artemis. She didn't want the speech to end. After the speech she knew what time it was.
As soon as the Capitol's symbol crossed the screen again her guts seemed to tense up. It was time. She could hear Effie's breath become excited as she approached the center of the stage once again. "So exciting," She whispered. "Now the time has come to select one brace man and woman for the honor of representing the lovely District Twelve in the seventy fourth annual Hunger Games." Did she say that District Twelve was lovely? Maybe the stench of the coal was starting to get to her. "As per usual, ladies first." Her voice was almost slow and coy as she made her was over towards the large glass bowl.
Artemis had put her name in there so many times. Too many. Her stomach swirled and churned around. She felt light headed as she watched Effie bury her hand in the bowl and pluck out a name. Artemis had been so confident she wouldn't be picked, yet here she was anticipating it. She closed her eyes, balled her fists, and clenched her jaw waiting for Effie to call her name. Effie's Capitol accent called out, it was almost fuzzy to Artemis, yet she relaxed for she knew it wasn't her name.
It wasn't called. Her clammy hands loosened as she out a lengthy breath of relief. Then who did they call? "Primrose Everdeen?" Effie called out again. The name sounded familiar but, Artemis couldn't put a face to the name. Then she appeared in the middle of the aisle. She had to have been no older than twelve, inched her way out to the center of the pathway. Pale as the winter snow, her feet slowly stepped forward. Artemis shut her eyes and tried to avoid the fire roaring inside her. She ruled this as unfair and unjust but, what could she do? Volunteer and propel herself into instant death? She'd rather die in her District than in an arena.
Then there was another voice. "I volunteer!" A small group of gasps echoed in the line. Up ahead two rows she saw a dark haired girl pushing her way towards the aisle. "I volunteer as tribute!" She called again. Artemis instantly recognized her to be a girl a grade below me named Katniss. Her father occasionally buys some rabbit meat from her, but it was rare.
Artemis had little to no connections to this brave girl, who had volunteered for someone. It never happened in twelve. This was truly a rare occurrence. Possibly the only. The little girl, Primrose, fought against her as Katniss walked up. Artemis could see the red in her face as betrayal and hurt. This act of kindness made Artemis's heart swell with sadness. She watched as a boy from her grade hoisted Primrose up and carried her into the crowd. The screams of protest from her caused agony in everyone's face from what Artemis could see. She directed her attention back towards Katniss who had now taken center stage. "What's your name my dear?" Effie questioned with a grin on her face. Katniss had appeared to have gone pale, all the hope drained from her eyes. She already looked like she was dead. "Katniss Everdeen." She spoke with a shaky breath. "I bet my bottom dollar that was your sister." Effie beamed. Artemis scoffed at the Capitol native, this was nothing to be proud of.
This was a death sentence. She felt pity as she could still heard Katniss's sisters screams of sadness, it made her stomach churn a certain way. Yet it made her wonder if her siblings do the same? Probably not. One was conceded, and the other was too intelligent to do anything stupid. She did a quick look around as soon as she saw movement. Everyone was doing it. The three finger salute. The last farewell. Artemis quickly placed her three fingers to her lips and shot them up into the air like the rest of the crowd.
Katniss seemed to soak it in heavily, her mouth becoming a little ajar. What she did was stupid, yet brave, it needed to be acknowledged. "Let's get to the boys now, shall we?" Effie urged a certain tone of uneasiness in her voice. Artemis relaxed, none of my siblings were boys. It was the only thing she was thankful for on reaping day.
She watched as Effie uncurled the piece of paper and cleared her throat. "Peeta Mellark." She sang out. This made Artemis's brows involuntarily scrunch up in disbelief. Peeta? Artemis involuntarily gasped. No. He was one of her only friends. "Peeta..." She whispered out sadly.
Thinking of watching him in the arena was enough to make her stomach flip as she watched him walk hesitantly up to the stage. Artemis frantically looked around the boy's side trying to find Beau. She knew he'd be devastated. When she couldn't find him from she was standing.
Then Peeta appeared. Mouth agape like Katniss's, wide eyed, in the middle of the stretch to the Justice building. Artemis feverishly waited for his brothers to volunteer for him, just like Katniss had. It never came. She half expected Beau to volunteer for him but, sadly that never came as well.
Artemis could understand why Beau couldn't risk anything, he was his father's only help at the butcher's shoppe. His sister Carina could only help so much, she was only twelve as well. But as for Peeta's older brothers, Isaiah and Bern, they had no reason not to volunteer.
Artemis would consider it for her siblings, Katniss did it for her sister, why wouldn't they help their brother? However, this mindset wasn't uncommon if a sibling had been Reaped. She was sure other former Tributes had siblings who didn't volunteer. Katniss's current display was a rare occurrence in an outlaying District. Sure District One, Two, and Four had plenty of people clamoring to give their District pride and volunteering but, they also had special schools built to train kids to enter the Games. Nothing like that was here in Twelve.
The closest thing Artemis could do in order to defend herself in a predicament like going into an arena would be with an axe. That was only because her father needed help cutting wood, she didn't do it for fun. She did believe she could do some fair damage with it though. She knew Katniss was good at hunting since her father bought her game every so often. But Peeta? What was he to do in a situation like this? He didn't have a single bad bone in his body.
"Go on, shake hands." Effie instructed the two. Artemis watched as Peeta's hand gripped Katniss's tightly, his knuckles almost turning white from his grip. He was scared. In shock. "Happy Hunger Games!" Effie boasted out towards the crowd. "And may the odds be ever in your favor."