Disclaimer: I do not own the settings or the characters in this story. Everything and everyone in the Hunger Games universe are the property of Suzanne Collins. This is a Fan-fiction story, so it is not cannon. This fanfic is for entertainment purposes only.
Chapter 1: The Reaping
"Everything will be ok Prim. Your name's only in the reaping once. They'll never pick you." These words cycle through my mind all morning and are the only things that kept me going seven years ago. Today will be my sixth Reaping. Katniss told me this before my first reaping seven years ago. That day, I was picked and the unthinkable happened. I was the tribute chosen, but then Katniss volunteered.
The 74th Hunger Games proceeded with her and Peeta winning. It was truly exciting, but then the 75th Hunger Games took place. Katniss made it through but barely. Haymitch went in with her, and actually managed to protect her for the majority of the game. The Capitol tried to kill her in those games, but she had a large alliance thanks to Haymitch. Together with Finnick and Johanna, they killed off the other Careers and the remaining tributes died from other causes. The lightning tree plan failed epically, with Beetee getting shocked before the plan could go through. Extra mutts were sent out and natural disasters occurred, but every single one failed. In the end, Haymitch sacrificed himself by jumping in the path of a mutt heading for Katniss. As the lone victor, the Capitol had to declare her the winner and she reunited with Peeta to the delight of many of the Capitol's citizens, though not to President Snow. The next four games went smoothly without me getting reaped.
This brings us to the present: The reaping for the 80th Hunger Games. A victor's family is not immune, and I might be even more at risk of being drawn because I'm Katniss' sister. I'd be surprised if I make it through this reaping without being selected. President Snow still hasn't forgotten how close Katniss came to starting a massive rebellion. If I get chosen, Katniss is still no longer young enough to volunteer, but even if she could no one would let her. A lesser known rule is that a victor cannot volunteer for anyone even if they are still within the age limit, with the exception being the 3rd Quarter Quell. We looked that up right a couple months before the 76th Hunger Games in case fate caught up to us.
"Step here please," the official beckons to me. She grabs my finger, jabs a needle into it to get a blood sample. In the brief few seconds this takes, I read the entry in the book she has lying open where my finger is being pressed onto the page:
Primrose Everdeen. Age 18. Blond hair. Blue Eyes. Weight: 93 lbs. Height: 5'1". Siblings: Katniss Everdeen. Father deceased.
After that description, I stop reading. Not only is the line moving again, but the memories cause tears to start forming. Katniss was closer to him than I was, but times were happier back then. Katniss hadn't fought in two Hunger Games, and we were able to laugh and sing without worrying about our survival. Everything changed the day of the explosion, and everything changed again after the two Hunger Games.
Standing with my classmates, knowing someone from our district will be entering the Hunger Games, is nerve-racking. None of us are breathing easily, and many are trying hard not to look as scared as we all feel. Finally, once everyone is in place, the clock strikes two and the Reaping begins. The mayor begins with a long speech outlining the Rebellion and extolling the mercy and justice of the Capitol. Reading off the District 12 victors brings us all pride. A few years ago, our happiness was bittersweet. We had three victors, but two were slated for execution in the games. This time, however, they might all live, and our tributes have a better shot at gaining sponsors with the fame of Katniss and Peeta still not having worn off. Last year's tributes made it to the final five until the Careers killed them. If anything, rumor of my sister's new baby due a couple months after the end of these Hunger Games has the Capitol enthralled by them even more. It took a long time for Peeta to convince her, but I think the Capitol may have had something to do with it. President Snow probably figures that if Katniss had a child of her own to lose, it would would ensure her complete compliance with him and prevent her from ever becoming a threat again. He's most likely right about that. Katniss will risk anything to protect the ones she loves, and that includes not doing anything to provoke the President's wrath. We all saw what that did in the 3rd Quarter Quell.
Effie Trinket primly walks up to the reaping bowl. "Ladies first." Fishing around for thirty seconds or so, she finally pulls out a slip of paper, walks slowly to the microphone and opens the paper. She gasps and we can see tears start to form in her eyes. We all know what's coming when she announces, "Primrose Everdeen."
The crowd parts ways and lets me through just like they did six years ago, only, this time, there will be no volunteers. No one will take my place. I'm on my own... well, almost. There's still Katniss and Peeta. I'm one of the oldest at 18 instead of 12 and might have a chance. I may not have a hunter's instinct, but I'm smart, and I have my sister as my mentor. And Katniss, Peeta, and Gail have been teaching me a little about survival ever since the 3rd Quarter Quell.
The male tribute is called. "Rory Hawthorne." I gasp and fervently hope that someone else will volunteer, but he is also 18. No one volunteers for an 18 year old. This must be the Capitol's plan for punishing Katniss. Forcing her to watch her sister and best friend's brother go into the Arena. Rory and I look at each other and shake hands. Then we are rushed into the town hall for our goodbyes. I know, I probably will never see my family again. The Capitol must have plans for Rory and me that don't involve us returning home alive.