I woke up, and as most twelve to eighteen year olds, I wish I hadn't. Today was the Hunger Games. They reopened them about twenty years ago, and ofcourse, there was a war. Guess who was leading that war? You guessed it. My mother,
Katniss Mellark.
Mother told me everything about her and my dad, Peeta's life in the Hunger Games. I was horrified. My little brother doesn't know about it yet. He's twelve, which makes you think, shouldn't he have figured out? Well today, he probably will.. But I've learned, considering I'm fifteen. I have a gigantic chance entering, considering how many tessera's I have.
They rebuilt most of District twelve. I was born before that happened. I always had a curious mind back then, wondering why only twelve houses were in District 12. Whenever I went out to play, all I would see was burnt wood, and ashes. Ashes of the people who died.
And my aunt is one of them.
My name is Prim Mellark, and you probably know who that's named after. But anyway, yes, today is the ninety-third Hunger Games reaping. I wanted to sleep again, but I couldn't, I couldn't sleep knowing that I just might die today.
I slowly got up out of bed. I put on a dark green tee with a snow white hoodie, some deep washed jeans and snow boots. I comb my messy blonde hair and put it in two braids. I click my moms Mockingjay pin that she gave to me over my heart. I grab my paints and go to work at the family bakery.
As I walk in, I glance at the clock and see that it's almost opening time. I rush to the kitchen to find mother, father, and Peter.
"I am so sorry I'm late. Never a kid's dream to wake up on reaping day." I joke as I put on my apron. Father laughed softly.
"No worries. If you have to enter, we will personally start a war." He said. I laughed, I knew it was a joke. They couldn't start a war just because of some silly old thing like that. Oh wait, they can.
Their Peeta and Katniss Mellark for heavens sake!
"Yeah, it's gonna be okay." Mother said. I could hear the worry in her voice. "Now just frost this last cake and we'll be ready." I smiled. What should I paint? A rose, a daisy, a dandelion? I know, a Katniss.
I delicately draw the flower with a mixture of violet, orphan blue and tirquoise. I dotted the erimeter of the cream colored cake with a faded bright pink. On the outside I draw diferent ideas of swirls, in a delicate pattern.
"Finished!" I announced and showed them the cake. They both smiled.
"That's beautiful, Prim. Peter! Look at Prim's cake!" Father said. Peter scrambled over and smiled hugely at the cake.
"I love it!" He said and we all cheered. For some reason, we always had to have Peter's opinion on wether the cake is beautiful enough. The clock dinged, and it was time for opening. As we walked out, we saw a huge line of people, willing to buy our pastries. They all greeted us.
Considering Katniss and Peeta are heroes.
And we're their children.
The first one in line was Jerry Dellingson, one of our regulars.
"Hi Jerry." I greeted him. He smiled his usual yellow crooked smile.
"Hello Prim. Looking extra lovely today." he said. I laughed. I knew he was just trying to be nice, considering what kind of day today was.
"I'm wearing an apron." I said pointedley. He frowned.
"Can you atleast cooperate?" he asked. I laughed.
"Sure, Jerry."
The day went by fast, and a bell ringed. Twenty minutes 'til the reaping! I hurried home. I put on an elegant bright yellow dress that mother wore when she was sixteen, on her first Hunger Games. I smiled sadly at the memory. I put my hair down, so it draped over my shoulder.
"Prim, hurry down!" mother called.
"Yes ma'am!" I yelled. I took a deep breath and headed downstairs. My curls bounced around. I tried to breath, and failed miserably. I just might faint.
"Let's go." I said confidently.
When we got there, everyone greeted us and some clapped. I saw Olivia and ran to give her a hug. She returned the hug.
"Can you breath?" I asked her. She laughed.
"No. You?" she asked. I tried, but couldn't.
"Nope." I simply said. We both laughed and let go of eachother.
"C'mon. Let's get in line." I said. She sighed and followed me. Every girl greeted me. I just smiled, waved and said hi.
"I can't believe your parents are actually letting you enter." she said. I laughed with no humor.
"It wasn't easy, remember? They started a war." I said. She smiled and rolled her eyes.
"I know, trust me, my parents tell me the stories so much, they are stuck in my head." I just smiled. Guess who her parents are? Yes, Finnick and Annie Odair. They are an absolutely gorgeous family.
"I love your parents." I said, trying to cheer her up.
"I know. Now get in line." she ordered. I laughed.
"Yes, mother."
"I am nothing like your mother. She's too awesome."
"Hey, you're pretty awesome too."
"Thanks, I know." we laughed and got in line. I made idle chit chat with the girl behind me. When I said hi, she was very surprised. She said, 'I can't believe tha you are talking to me.' I laughed. I said, 'Why wouldn't I? You're the mayors daughter!'
"Happy Hunger Games!" announced Effie, one of my mom's old mentors said. "And may the odds be ever in your favor." She said sadly. I can't belive she's still doing this, I can't even believe she's still alive.
"First off, I would like to announce a warm welcome to our own, Katniss and Peeta Mellark!" she announced, and there was a big round of applause. The camera's turned torward my parents. I smiled as they waved confedently.
"Now, let's get to the girls drawing!" Effie announced and walked over to the bucket. She pulled out a paper that read,
"Olivia Odair." She said sadly. She looked about to cry. I was about to cry too. Olivia was my best friend, and it pains me to see her walking up on the stage, her face pale, clearly about to cry. I looked at my mother, and she hesitated, but slowly and sadly nodded.
I rushed forward.
"Wait! I volunteer!" I screeched, and evryones head wipped torward me. Some looked horrified, some actually looked excited. I ran up to the stage and Olivia grabbed my arm.
"You can't do this. If one of us is going to do it, it should be me." She said. I sighed.
"No, you're completely wrong. I know this. My mother and father trained me. They told me the stories, the battle stradegies. I have to do this." I insisted. I didn't wait for her to respond. I just shook off her hand and walked to the stage. I could feel the camera, and all of Panem's eyes on me. I was following in my mother's footsteps.
"No!" I heard a scream. It was my father. People made curious faces, considering only a hand full of people in District 12 know that their my parents. He tried to run forward, and mom attempted to hold him back. But, as you all should know, Peeta can not be held back. Wow, I sound like I'm in school.
He rushed up to me and tried to pull me off the stage, but I learned his restling skills, and now I'm strong. He finally gave up.
"Don't get killed. Remember what I taught you. Remember what your mom taught you. Win. No matter who it is against." He whispered and left.
"And now the boy tribute!" Effie announced. She pulled a name out of the bowl.
"Peter M!" Why didn't they put his last name? I paled. I can't believe it. I had to go against my own brother. I remembered my fathers recent words. Win. No matter who it is against. I froze. Then I heard a voice.
"I volunteer!" Said a boy. I wipped my head torward him, as everyone else did. I remebered the name. Xavier. The boy who saved my brother's life from a pack of wild dogs. I looked him straight in his electric blue eyes, as he stared into my stormy gray ones. His brunnete hair glowed in the sunlight. I could tell the resemblence of both of our bright, almost pale skin.
I couldn't let him do this.
But it would save my brother.
But he might die.
I might have to kill him.
What do I do?
He walked up next to me and faced the crowd. Effie walked torward us. When she was two feet away, she smiled.
"You two are quite a show. Now would you like to finf out who your mentor is?" I tried to swallow. What if one of my parents have to do it? Whatch me get killed, not by a television, but right there from a helicopter or something? I certainly was not ready for that.
"Yeah." we both choked out. She opened a card and read it allowed.
"Katniss and Peeta Mellark." She choked.
"Please, no!" I pleaded. She wiped back a tear.
"Why not? Wouldn't you be thrilled to have such wonderful mentors?" She questioned. I stood up straight and tried to look confident. Mom and dad walked up and stood beside us. They both hugged Effie and glanced at us.
"Please, introduce yourselves." Effie said. Xavier stood forward.
"My name is Xavier Hawthorne."