Disclaimer – I don't own the Hunger Games. Duh.
This kind of takes place before Katniss and Peeta have kids, but District Twelve is fully operational again. In a way, this doesn't really relate to the other books that much, but more of a totally different story of its own. I kind of changed a few things from the series too, but some things stayed the same. I think you'll catch on.
. . .
The Hunger Games may be over, but that didn't stop the Capitol from coming up with new ways to make us suffer.
Sure, we had won. But we had also—by some means of insanity—agreed to let them organize a new type of Hunger Games. One where the children don't kill each other, but rather, they fight for their own lives against superior forces. They aren't meant to die, but more so get to the center of an elaborate labyrinth of obstacles.
Peeta nudged my shoe with his. We were standing at the train station with Haymitch, waiting. District Twelve was identical in looks to the way it had been before I left for my Hunger Games, but there was a difference. Most of the original residents were dead. In fact, as far as I knew, Haymitch, Peeta, and I were the only ones.
The train would be taking us to the Capitol. They were much better now, less . . . evil, I suppose. Effie was doing her best to keep things in order, but she couldn't stop all the crazy ideas. Like this one for example.
All former Hunger Games victors that were still living were to be taken to the capital, where they would each be assigned a child to look after and train for the New Hunger Games. I had no idea who mine would be, or from which district. There would be twenty of us in all—the only ones still living.
It wasn't like it used to be, where one boy and one girl from each district was chosen to compete. This time, they picked twenty names at random from every child in all of Panem. Ten boys and ten girls. It didn't matter which district they were from. For all we knew, they could all be from the same district. It didn't matter anymore. And there were no more volunteers, if you got picked, you stayed.
"I really don't like this," I said.
"Nor do I," Haymitch agreed. "But it's not like we can do anything about it."
"It's not like they'll all die," Peeta promised. I knew he was silently adding, only most of them.
We had gotten a little sneak peak of what the kids would be dealing with. Giant animals, poisonous plants, forest fires. Effie drew the line when they suggested throwing in a few psychopaths from the Capitol prison.
"I just hope all the kids are like . . . orphans or something," I said. "Think about how their parents must feel."
Haymitch shrugged. "Sweetheart, don't bother worrying about things that can't be changed. I'm more concerned that they'll stick me with some snotty kid who needs and attitude adjustment."
Peeta and I exchanged a look, but didn't say anything.
I thought about Prim as the train pulled into the station, and how much she'd have grown up by now if she had only been given the chance. She'd be twenty-five next month; maybe she'd have a boyfriend. Maybe she'd be in love. Maybe she'd even have plans to get married. Maybe she'd want kids. Maybe she'd have kids. I would never know.
"Let's go, Katniss," Peeta said, taking my hand and helping me onto the train.
. . .
When we first arrived at the Capitol, I was overcome with sadness. I couldn't shake the bad memories.
"Ah!" I recognized the familiar shriek instantaneously. Effie.
A few moments later, she was giving Peeta and me a mega-bear hug. She even gave Haymitch a little squeeze.
"Oh you'll absolutely love the children you've been assigned!" she promised. "I made sure they all matched your personalities."
"So Haymitch will have a drunken kid with and anger problem?" Peeta asked. Haymitch glared at him.
"Oh come and see," she said. "We've got video footage of all the children being called out."
We followed her into a big building, up an elevator, and into a conference room.
"We pulled all the names last week," Effie explained. "Then called all the families to the ceremony here in the Capitol yesterday, where we televised all the contestants."
She pressed a button on a universal remote, and a TV dropped from the ceiling.
"Sit!" she commanded perkily.
Peeta, Haymitch, and I sat down opposite side the TV. Effie sat next to us and pressed "play".
On the screen, it showed a big stage. There was a man standing there, wearing a sparkling blue tuxedo.
"The volume on this television's quiet, so don't be surprised if you can't hear," Effie added.
The first girl called up was from District Five. She looked about fifteen, and had long red hair and dark brown eyes. Next was a girl from District Ten, who was probably no more than twelve.
"Katniss, this next girl is yours," Effie told me.
This girl was from District Two. I didn't catch her name when the blue-tux man called it. She too looked around twelve-ish, with the look of someone from the Seam in District Twelve, which was odd. She had the same dark hair, olive skin, and gray eyes as me. Maybe one of her parents was originally from home . . . Unlike most of the children you see from District Two, she wasn't very muscular and didn't look as though she had been trained for the Hunger Games. As far as I knew, people still trained their kids over there. She did look athletic however, but it a totally different way. There was something familiar about her expression, and even the way she moved about the stage to reach her spot. I just couldn't put my finger on it . . .
Effie hit the fast-forward button and hit play as Peeta's contestant was called. He was a tall and lanky kid from District Seven. His name was Raven Black. Then came Haymitch's contestant. A somewhat bulky kid, probably about eighteen from District One. His name was Apollo Cinemark.
"When do we get to meet these kids in person?" I asked.
"Tomorrow," Effie said. "For now, go back to your hotel rooms, freshen up, and get a good night's rest for tomorrow."
It's going to be a big, big, big day! I added in my head.
. . .
Peeta plopped down on the bed next to me. "Are you asleep?"
"If I was, did you really expect me to answer?" I asked him smartly.
"I supposed not," he admitted. Katniss—100,000,000,000,001. Peeta – 0.
"Nervous about tomorrow?" I asked him.
He shook his head. "Whatever. I'll try my hardest with the kid I guess, but once he's in there . . . Let's just say I won't be getting too attached."
Kind of like Haymitch. He still acted like he hated Peeta and me.
"I guess that's a good strategy," I said. "But imagine how much better the winner's life will be. All they have to do is find the middle of this maze thing before everyone else and they're set for life."
"I'll bet you're contestant wins," he said.
"Maybe," I agreed jokingly. "I'm just so great."
"You really are," he told me. The kissed me goodnight and shut off the lights.
I fell asleep almost instantly.
. . .
"Wake up!" Effie called. "It's going to be a big, big, big day!"
Called it, didn't I?
I rolled out of bed, grabbed some clothes and pulled them on. Effie met us at breakfast, where she practically shoved the food down our throats before taking us into the car that drove us to the contestants' hotel.
When we got there, I spotted mine right away. She was dressed in all black, with twin braids that rested on either shoulder. She looked a little gothic, but in a different way. Like she was friendly, but also intimidating.
I offered her my hand. "Hello, I'm Katniss."
"I'm Sagittaria," she said. "I guess we kind of match, then."
I gave her a small smile. Sagittaria was another name for the plant I was named for.
"We're supposed to sit down and get to know each other," she told me. I nodded and we walked over to a vacant booth. We sat down as a waiter brought us some ice water.
"You don't look much trained," I remarked without thinking.
She nodded. "I couldn't train for the Hunger Games even if I wanted."
"Why not?" I asked.
"My father hates the Hunger Games," she replied. "They ruined his life. Something about a girl he used to love or something . . . He always says I'm the one good thing the Hunger Games resulted in."
In response to my questioning look, she added. "He was kind of drunk one night after the Capitol fell, and he started thinking about this girl he had loved. Then he got really drunk and knocked up a total stranger. She gave me to him after I was born, then skipped town."
I had no idea what to say, so I just gave her kind of a half grin.
"I'm making you feel awkward . . . aren't I?" she asked. "Dad says I do that."
"He named you?" I asked.
She nodded. "He never really liked the name that much. I'm not sure why he named me it . . . but he always calls me Sage for short. You can too."
"Alright. Sage," I said. "That's pretty."
"Thanks. I like the name Katniss."
There was silence.
"You know," I told her. "My dad died when I was young, I only had my mom."
"I'd say I'm sorry, but that doesn't help. I mean . . . I hate when people tell me they're sorry about something that's not their fault. I feel bad that you lost your father and all. I don't know what I'd do without my dad."
I actually laughed. "I get that. I guess Effie was right, we are kind of well matched."
It was nice to finally meet someone who was so much like me. Almost . . . hostile with her conversation.
"You're married to that blonde boy, right?" she asked. I nodded. "My dad told me about him once. Said he was a decent guy."
"Your father's met Peeta?"
She shrugged. "He always made it sound so."
I thought on that for a moment. She was around twelve, so her father must be in his late thirties, early forties, right? Just to make sure . . . "How old is your father?"
Her lips scrunched up in the corner—something that looked vaguely familiar—as if she were thinking. "Nearly thirty-one."
I felt my eyebrows shoot up my head. "That's young to have a daughter of your age."
"He was nineteen when the . . . incident happened," she explained. What a strange child. She could openly call herself a mistake, and admit that her father was very drunk when she was conceived, and she didn't even seem the slightest bit unnerved over it.
Her father was only two years older than me. I didn't even have children yet, and I couldn't imagine having a ten-year-old at this point in my life. Never mind a baby before I'd even turned twenty.
Peeta and Raven approached us.
"May we join you lovely ladies?" Peeta asked.
I pretended to be annoyed. "I suppose so. If you must."
Peeta grinned and sat next to me. Raven joined Sage on the other side of the table.
"I'm Raven," he said.
"Sage," she replied. They shook hands. "I'm happy I'm not going to have to kill you."
He gave her a kind of half-smile-but-really-feeling-awkward looks. Her head shot up towards the ceiling and she looked upset with herself.
"Why am I so socially awkward?" she asked the roof.
Peeta laughed. "Wow, Effie sure knows you, huh, Katniss?"
I rolled my eyes, and decided I should help poor Sage out. "So, Sage. Did your father ever tell you more about this girl who died in the Hunger Games?"
Her nose wrinkled. "Not very much. In fact, he didn't even mention if she died. Might have been a victor . . . All I know is that she wasn't from District Two. Nor is my dad. He came there afterwards . . . He's mentioned that she was beautiful though. And that she had made his life worth living in times of hardship. Then the Hunger Games tore them apart. She was smart with hunting. Says I'm like her in a lot of ways."
"You hunt?" I asked her, interested.
She nodded vigorously. "My father's been teaching me since before I could remember. We don't need to hunt or anything; we really do it more for fun. My dad makes more than enough money for two people at his weapon designing job."
"Your father builds weapons?" Peeta asked.
Sage looked uncomfortable with all the attention. She nodded. "So Raven, what do your parents do?"
"My mother runs a drug store, and my father works with the lumbar," Raven replied, like Peeta, he talked with confidence.
Haymitch and his contestant walked over to us. There was no more room in our booth, so Haymitch pulled up two chairs. He looked at Peeta and me. "Hello, Sweetheart, Mr. Sweetheart."
Peeta glared at him.
Apollo addressed Sage and Raven. "Nervous?"
They both nodded honestly.
"You should be," he replied. "Probably won't make it out alive."
So much like Haymitch . . .
We sat around making small talk after that, until Effie's spoon clanged against her wine glass, and everyone's eyes looked to where she was standing on stage.
"And now," she said. "I will call up all of our contestants by District. From District One, Apollo Cinemark."
There was clapping as Apollo took the stage.
"Also from District One, Mary Lin Baker." More clapping as a small teenage girl climbed the stage. She was probably seventeen-ish, but extremely short and skinny."
"From District Two we have Geo Lanbar," Effie called. Geo took the stage. A tall, thin boy about fourteen-ish.
"Also from District Two, Matthew Freeson." He took the stage as well. A short older kid, with light hair that fell in his eyes.
"And last but not least from District Two," Effie said. "Sagittaria Hawthorne!"
Sage got up and took the stage.
My emotions kind of when like this – excitement, realization, confusion, more realization, nausea.
"Hawthorne?" Peeta asked weakly.