Games

Author Note: Yes, yes. Many writers have written about it being Prim in the Games instead of Katniss. This is like that, BUT I really will try to do it to the best of my ability! I want to do the entire trilogy with Prim because I love little Primrose :D Enjoy to the best of ability! ^_^

Prim's P. O. V.

I was always known as the optimistic one. The one who would look at a situation and try and make the best of it. When my first reaping day came around, even I couldn't keep my heart from slamming against my ribs. Walking in the crowd of my fellow district mates, all the miners and families huddled close, it was pretty much impossible to not be ready to break down.

Odds were slim, of course. They were for most of the youngest potiental tributes, like myself. I mean, we were twelve and thirteen, and we didn't usually put our names in more than the required time. I would do so, but Katniss wouldn't let me.

Katniss. She was beside me, keeping her eyes trained ahead, towards the stage where two of us would be sentenced to slaughter. My eyes scanned all of the faces of the potiental tributes, searching for a sign that they were as fearful as well. Most of their faces were hard, cheeks seeming all that more hollow and eyes seeming all that more dim.

Thanks to my sister and her hunting, I was probably in the best condition of all them. My blonde hair only lost a little color over the years, and my eyes were still bright and alert. My mom's had long been emptied of any life or cheerfulness….it had disappeared with Father's life.

So I stood there, wringing my hands as the Capital-looking women made her way on the stage. The click-clack of her heels echoed through every inch of the area we were all gathered at, and the air was so still it felt like you could touch it. Nobody made a sound, and all our hearts were either still or beating too fast for it to be healthier.

What was I so afraid of? Katniss had already assured me that I wouldn't be picked….all odds were against it. But there wouldn't be a soul in that small part of town where we all huddled to each other that wasn't scared. Maybe the smaller children, the ones who wouldn't be sent to hell for sure. But then again….I was always so afraid for my older sister.

I kept my eyes on either my mom or my sister as the usual footage played. It was far too painful to watch it….the whole thing was a complete and total bloodbath. The Capital had cruelty I could even begin to describe or imagine….I suddenly had a vivid image of the highest officers of the Capital sitting around a conference table, sipping coffee and eating donuts, enjoying the scene of watching us kill each other.

That was what it was for, right? Their own personal entertainment.

"Alright then," the freakish women with her heels….Effie, I think, made her way delicately to a bowl, "ladies first."

I quickly looked to my feet, playing with my ribbon on the dress I wore. I didn't want to have to look at the poor soul who was going to certain….

"Primrose Everdeen,"

Death.

Dying.

Dead.

I was dead.

All eyes turned to me, faces pale and eyes wide with shock. A little twelve year old had been chosen this year to die. A little twelve year old named Primrose Everdeen.

My legs were heavy and lead like. I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe. A few little nudges in my lower back proded me further. I was fumbling a bit, failing at being confident. I could feel everyone's stares as they parted for me, giving me sympathetic looks and a few whom I didn't know the names of crying.

"Prim!" and then her voice cut in the silence, crying above my own rabid pulse, "PRIM!"

She ran through the crowd, slicing her way through the other sixteen year olds and running to the stage. I knew her intentions even before she screamed it to Effie and the Peacekeepers. My heart stopped beating completely as it dawned on me what was going to happen.

One of the Everdeen sisters would die in the Hunger Games. The big question was whether or not it was the blonde or the brunette.

"No! Katniss, NO!" I knew my efforts were wasted, even before Gale carried me away, "KATNISS!"

The rest of the ceremony was a blur through my violent sobs. My older sister was going to die. She was the strongest person I would ever know and the kindest soul on this planet, probably.

And she was going to die.

And so there I was at home. Memories of my entire lifetime replayed in my mind as mom and I sat silently on the couch, staring at the screen as the tributes from all districts rode in their chariots.

Katniss Everdeen was there at the Capital right then. Katniss Everdeen was holding Peeta's hand tight, waving and begin the star she is. Everybody loved Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire. Everyone loved Katniss Everdeen as much as I always had.

Katniss Everdeen, my sister.

That should be me out there, getting shouted at and holding the hand of the other tribute. It wasn't because I was jealous, though. It was because I knew it was me who had to be in the Hunger Games.

She would always try to protect me. That was her self-appointed job as my older sister. But I wouldn't let her….not this time. Things like bullies or Peacekeepers who would crook their fingers at me I would let her protect me from. But my own life was the one to ride the line for this one time.

Effie called my name, and I was going to have to be a good little dog/slave and answered when my master called me. My master was the Capital.

And my assigned area was the arena.

How would I get there? That was a whole new issue. I was too scared to run into the woods….the only way was by train. And that didn't come around except for to take the two tributes to the Capital. Sometimes if the bodies were still worth anything.

But wait. The Peacekeepers….they had to have some way to get here, right? They rarely would ever die….the most common reason was starvation. I was finally going to take a chance, like my sister always had done for me. Somehow, I was going to save her from these games.

I knew how bad they were, of course. They were merciless, and it was unlikely I'd even make it through the first three minutes. But she was going to save us all somehow….I had to make sure she lived.

Besides, they were horrible, but they were still a game. And I usually liked to try new games. Games can be fun….even if they can't.

Because in games, there isn't life or death.

There's always another chance.