Just that morning I had told Prim that they wouldn't pick her. That she was safe. Her name was only in no way she would be chosen out of hundreds of other girls. I was very wrong.
Not long after telling prim she was safe and singing her back to sleep I slipped off to the woods to meet was like a brother to me, the closest thing I had to a brother.
It was quiet and peaceful in the woods that morning. Little did I know everything was about to change. It's strange when you think back to how normal your life is and that you never even knew how in a second it would all change.
"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" My own voice shocks me. I spoke without thinking, but I know I have to save Prim. Sweet,innocent Prim.
The look on her face as I volunteered will forever be imprinted in my mind. She was screaming my name as Gale carried her away from me.
The peacekeepers pulled me towards the stage where Effie Trinket waited with her hand held out to me. I numbly took her hand and stepped up to the microphone beside her.
"Your name dear," Effie's voice had a high-pitched capitol accent.
"Katniss Everdeen," My fate was sealed. I would participate in the Hunger Games. I would have to kill.
I don't feel emotions have left me in shock, unable to process what is happening.
"Peeta Mallark," The name stands out to me and I look up as the blonde haired, brown-eyed boy walks up to stand beside me.
His mouth is open slightly in shock and he stares into empty space.
The next thing I know I'm pulled into the hall of justice and locked in a room. I look around at the red wooden walls and still I do not feel anything. Prim and my mother walk in with tears making tracks down their pale faces.
I kneel in front of Prim and pulls her to my chest. I choke on a sob as she holds me tightly like she won't ever let go.
"Just try to win if you can," She cries onto my shoulder.
"I will Prim," I squeeze her tighter and she steps back as she wipes the tears from her face.
"Take care of her," I hug my mother," You can't zone out again like when dad died. You can't." She nods stiffly. Peacekeepers barge into the room and pulls prim from one last hug that I pulled her into.
"Win Katniss! Please come home!" She screams as they pull her out the door.
"I will," I whisper as I lean my hand against the door.
Gale burst into the room and pulls me to him in a tight hug. I tuck my head into his shoulder, taking the comfort gratefully.
"Take care of them Gale," A peacekeeper angrily pulls gale away from me and towards the door,"whatever you do don't let them starve!"
"I won't Katnip!" I smile sadly at the nickname.
The door closes with a final thud.
That day was the day a flame had flickered to life in my heart. A flame that I would never let go out.
As we step towards the train I glance at Peeta, He's trying hard not to cry. His soft brown eyes swim with tears. He catches me looking and jerks his head away from my view.
The shiny silver doors of the train slide open and Effie ushers us in. The walls are all silver too and I almost gasp at all the decorated food on an elaborate table in the middle of the room we walked into. This food would feed everyone for weeks in my district. Angry tears threaten in my eyes.
We all sit in plush blue chairs by the window as the train leaves district 12 behind. The silence is heavy in the air.
Effie coughs daintily,"Well, I'm going to find Haymitch," Effie stands and dusts off her tight purple skirt," He's probably in the bar car."
Her heels click loudly on the floor as she walks off behind us. I stare out the window, watching as the scenery blurs by too fast for me to really see anything.
"Congratulations," Haymitch slurs as he walks into the room. He grabs a bottle of dark amber liquid and sits down across from me and Peeta.
"Do you really need that?" I look distasteful at the bottle of alcohol.
"Good question," He takes a swig from the bottle.
"Why don't you give us some pointers, mentor," I say the last word with disgust. This idiot is going to be useless.
"Right, umm..." He looks up at the ceiling as he rolls his eyes," embrace the probability of your eminent death." I grind my teeth together and glare at him," and know that there is nothing I can do to save you." He laughs without humour and tips the bottleback to gulp it down.
"Why in the hell are you here then?" I try to control the anger in my voice.
"For the refreshments sweetheart," he holds his bottle up with a drunken smile.
" I think you've had quite enough," Peeta grabs for the bottle but Haymitch moves impossibly fast and Peeta is pinned back inhis chair with Haymitch's foot holding him there. A laugh escapes my mouth and they both look at me strangely. I glare and they drop their eyes.
"You made me spill my drink," Haymitch mumbles as he stands on shaky legs. He gives Peeta a scowl," I think I'll finish thiselsewhere." He walks out the automatic sliding door and it closes behind him quietly.
Peeta and I kind of look at each other and I stand. He immediately stands too.
"I'm gonna go talk some sense into him," Peeta turns to follow Haymitch.
"He's going to be no help," I say and Peeta looks at me over his shoulder.
"Then we'll just have to help ourselves then," He gives me half smile and walks out the room.
I sigh into the quiet, open space. I walk to where little decorated cakes and candies and various fruits are displayed on the huge table in the middle of theroom. I feel disgusted at how much food is here for four people.
I don't eat anything, my stomach is too knotted up for me to even try to eat. I walk to the window again, trying to see if I can get even a glance at district twelve in the distance. No such luck.
Ha. Luck. something I wouldn't know anything about.
I look around, unsure of what to do with myself.
"Your room is the one on the left at the end of that hallway there dear," Effie walks in on her impossibly high heels.
"Thanks," I say quietly and I walk quickly to my room.
As I walk I look around at the silver walls and pictures door across from mine must be Peeta's.
I turn the silver handle slowly and steps into my room. It's as big as my house, with a king size bed adorned with the softestlooking pillows. I note that there are way too many pillows for one bed.
Folded neatly on the bed is a soft black shirt and pants to sleep in. The other door in the room is the bathroom. It isn't very large but better than anything I've ever walls on the right is covered in various colored buttons. I couldn't possibly imagine what they're all for.
The pristine white tiled walls hurt my eyes wit it's brightness as I pull my dress off and steps into the shower.
The hotwater feels wonderful running over my tense muscles. I let down my braid and stands under the steaming hot water, letting it try to wash away the emotions swirling in myhead.
After what seems like hours I step out of the shower and wrap a white fluffy towel around myself. After dressing I walk to the bed and knock off most of the pillows to the floor.
No one could possibly sleep with these crowding the bed.
I curiously pick up a remote looking thing on the bedside table and after clicking the screen, the wall in front of the bed turns intoa tv screen.
Caesar Flickerman, the host of the hunger games, smiles at the me with his blue hair slicked back into a ponytail at the backof his head. The crowd cheers and yells out to him as he turns to who he's interviewing.
Seneca Crane, the head Gamemaker smiles and waves.
I frown in anger and clicks the remote again, turning the wall back to solid black.
I curl into a ball and finally, finally I let myself cry. I welcome the salty tears that roll down my cheek. I clutch my waste, hugging myself and clenching my eyes shut tightly. In that moment I make a promise to myself. I will notlet them see me cry for any reason. I will not show weakness. I will win the Hunger Games.
A timid knock at the door has me wiping my face hastily and jumping to my feet.
I open the door to Peeta's soft features giving me a concerned look," Are you alright? I thought I heard crying."
"I wasn't crying," I snap out and I quickly regret it when he frowns," Sorry. I'm fine."
"No, you're not," He kind of laughs and I shoot him a look.
I nod my head down slightly and he touches my shoulder," You're so brave you know. Volunteering for your sister."
"Being Brave isn't going to keep me alive," my voice breaks as I say the last words. I'm trying very hard to not start bawlingmy eyes out again in front of him.
" I had no one to volunteer for me," He whispers sadly.
I wrap my arms around my shoulders and steps back to let him in. He walks past me and sits on the edge of my bed. I sit next to him, giving him enough space to where we don't touch.
"You know Katniss, I'm starting to think you have no idea who I am," A cute little smile lights up his face as he turns to face me.
" You're the boy with the bread, I know exactly who your are," I give him a small smile. My mind flashes back to a particularly cold, rainy day in district twelve when I had been nearly starving to death.
He looks at me with his soft eyes, searching my face for something. My smile slips away and I look at the floor.
"I think you're gonna win, you know," He touches my arm and I turn to him.
"I hope I do," I whisper. He catches a tear I accidentally let roll down my cheek and looks at me with his brown eyes gazing into mine. He hugs me to his chest, and I inwardly sigh. He smells like cinnamon and cake frosting.
I catch myself smiling as he pulls back," I'm sorry, I just figured you needed it."
"Thank you," I hug him again and then he stands, giving me a small smile. He nods and pulls his arms back to his side. I surprise myself by missing his warmth as he pulls away.
"Anytime," he smiles and lowers his eyes from mine.
"You know you could win Peeta," He frowns.
"Yeah, well you wouldn't let that happen, would you?" He look up at me with a playful smile but I still see the sadness in his eyes.
"I have to try to win for my sister," I smile sadly at him with my head tilted to the side.
"I know," With one last sad smile he stands and looks adown at me.
"Goodnight Katniss," He leaves, closing my door quietly behind him.
I curl up in the middle of the bed and slowly drifts to sleep.
I dream of the woods in District twelve. Of primrose flowers everywhere, surrounding me.