The Hunger Games: The Other Side of the Screen- Gale's POV During the 74th Hunger Games
A/N: This is what I think Gale was doing through the events of the Hunger Games. All dialogue is from the book until Katniss' view can't provide any insight. So it's a book-based FF but I want to use some movie info too for non-Katniss events so I don't own any of that good stuff. I think I'm going to go by the chapters in the book so this first one isn't really too much new stuff since Katniss is still around. I tried to write in the Hunger Games style too. Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!
"Primrose Everdeen!"
At first I'm sure I hear wrong because of all the citizens of District 12, Prim is the one name who couldn't be called. Thousands of names and hers is only on one piece of paper. So I am almost able to convince myself I hear wrong.
But I don't hear wrong.
"Prim!" I hear over the murmuring crowd. I know that voice too well. Katniss reacts by pushing other boys and girls out of her way, despite the fact that they have already cleared a path for her. "Prim!" She calls again as she rushes toward her sister.
I move to the end of the row I am standing in. Katniss fiercely shoved Prim behind her own body protectively and my heart sinks as I realize what is about to happen next.
"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!"
Confusion breaks out on the stage. I focus on Katniss. I can see it sink in as we both realize what this sacrifice means. Then, it hits Prim.
"No!" She screams at the top of her lungs as she wraps her arms around her sister, her lifeline, her best friend. I know she will never let go, desperate screams are the only thing she can do to stop her sister. "No, Katniss! No! You can't go!" I can see Katniss' face on the screen. She is trying to put on a brave face, but Prim's pleas are cracking her. I rush forward.
"Prim, let go! Let go!" I hear her say before I surprise Prim from behind just enough that she loosens her grip on her sister. She flails in mu arms but I keep hold of her, I understand her entirely. If only holding Katniss and never letting go could save her, could stop her from going on that stage and ultimately, to the arena.
Katniss turns to us. I see every emotion play across her face in that moment, but she controls it. Her hands shake beside her and I want to tell her it will be alright, that she will come home the victor. Despite my desire to wake up screaming from this bad dream, I know I need to keep calm for her. I can barely control my own face as I meet her eyes. This can't be real. This can't be. But it is, and no amount of protesting will be able to save her from the Games now.
All I end up saying is, "Up you go, Catnip."
I swallow hard and carry Prim to her mother. Mrs. Everdeen holds Prim as she sobs in her arms and I gather I am shaking too.
When I turn back around, I see Katniss' eyes looking at Prim.
Effie Trinket is saying, "I bet my buttons that was your sister. Don't want her to steal all the glory, do we?" I realize I am fuming. Glory? Sacrificing her life for her sisters is seen as a selfish grab for glory to the Capitol? Do they truly believe that garbage, or are they just so disgusting that lies are the only way they justify sending kids off to die?
Effie smiles as she continues. "Come on, everybody! Let's give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!"
There isn't a sound. No one moves. We stand looking at Katniss, we see the sacrifice for what is truly is and understand how few make it for their loved ones at all, and we show how wrong this whole thing is with our rebellious silence. Then a man raises three fingers of his left hand to his lips and then holds it out to Katniss. I follow him, using the same gesture that sends our love and support to her. Soon, the whole crowd does it. They are thanking her, standing with her, and saying goodbye.
Effie looks confused, almost unsure of what to do next. Katniss is ready to cry as she looks across the crowd. This is more meaningful to her than anything the district has ever done. More than the extra soup Greasy Sae puts in her bowl, more than the medals we got when our fathers died. But Haymitch… drunken former tribute Haymitch stands and knocks his chair over as he thumps his way across the stage. He stands between Effie and Katniss, throwing his arm around her, very obviously drunk. Who can blame him?
"Look at her. Look at this one! I like her! Lots of…" he stops and thinks. He turns to Effie and scans his eyes over her bizarre outfit. Then he looks back to Katniss, and it's visible when he thinks of the right word for her. "Spunk!" His arm slides off her. "More than you!" He looks again to Effie and then at the crowd. Finally, he looks at the camera that is aimed right at him. He strides forward, pointing, "More than you!" Had it been any other time, any other day, I would have appreciated his challenge of the Capitol. As he is about to say more, he loses his footing and falls right off the stage.
I see Katniss choke back something. The crowd is almost able to chuckle again, but not her. It's a cry, a sob, I don't know. But as she puts her hands behind her back and stares off into the hills behind me, I know what she is thinking. We should have run. We should have taken our families and gone this morning when we still had the chance to avoid all of this. I should have convinced her that Prim and the other kids would have adjusted to the woods and been fine. But I didn't, and now we're here.
They roll a stretcher out of the crowd and place Haymitch on it as Effie moves her wig into place. "What an exciting day! But more excitement to come! It's time to choose our boy tribute!" I almost find myself hoping it's my name she pulls out. Then Katniss would be sure to come home safely. But who would take care of Prim? Or my siblings? Or our mothers? No… I can't volunteer and I can't wish my name to be reaped. Rory and Prim are not old enough to take care of the families on their own. So I watch Katniss and steel myself for the name Effie quickly pulls from the glass.
"Peeta Mellark."
I know that name from somewhere but I can't place where. A blonde stocky boy fearfully makes his way up the steps. He can tell that he is the weaker of the two contestants from our district, at least emotionally. Katniss stares blankly ahead, keeping all emotion off her face where Peeta is desperately trying to hide it and failing.
Our two tributes are given a moment of freedom as the cameras turn to the mayor as he reads the long Treaty of Treason. Katniss turns to the boy and closes her eyes. She is remembering something, something about him. I realize that I know his name through Katniss. She's mentioned him once or twice. Never anything substantial, but I can see a memory of him has clearly made her unhappy about killing him.
The mayor finishes his speech. Katniss and Peeta shake hands and the Panem anthem plays. I see Katniss steal herself, avoiding Prim, her mother and me as she looks over our heads until the anthem ends and she is ushered inside the Justice Building. I hear one of the betters behind me scoff.
"I've bought that girls game. The boy doesn't stand a chance."
Another voice laughs. "Two loaves of the baker's own bread says his son will crush her to death first!"
"You're on!"
I hate them. I hate the Capitol. And for just the shortest second, I hate Katniss for volunteering.