Chapter one: The Reaping
"Primrose Everdeen!" calls Effie. A strangled cry comes to my throat.
"NO!" I shout, "She's too young! You can't make her! Prim!" I scream as loud as I can.
She turns around and looks at me, tears running down her face. Slowly she turns from me and makes her way to the stage. I can't do anything but stand there, too shocked to make my feet move, to make me cry out and volunteer. And then it's too late, they have moved on to the boys.
"Here we go," says Effie as she pulls some poor unlucky kids name from the ball, "Peeta Mellark, our district 12, male tribute!" No one cheers, no one claps. Everyone just stays frozen, pitying the poor souls who got picked, pitying my sister. My kid sister. Who I will probably never see again once the games are over. And pitying him. The boy, the boy that saved my life all those years ago. The boy that I've never been able to thank for the bread. And now I probably never will, he'll be dead after the games. I'm sure of it.
A peacekeeper leads me up the stone steps of the justice building, down a long hallway and into a little room. And I see her. Prim. Sitting alone in a chair that is much too big for her small body. I can see tear tracks etched into her face, even though she is trying not to look upset. I walk close to her and we just stare at each other, for how long I don't know and I don't care, I just want to be able to get a really good look at her one last time, to see her long blonde hair that falls in perfect waves around her face, her beautiful seam eyes and her flawless skin. Soon she is pulling me into a hug and we both start to cry. I pick her up and set her on my lap and hold her. I softly stroke her hair as silent tears run down my cheek.
"I'm sorry," I say pathetically.
"Why?" she asks.
"For not volunteering, I should have, I wasn't thinking clearly," I explain.
"I'm glad you didn't. I never would've forgiven you if you did," she says softly.
"Be careful, always be alert, don't accept any alliances unless you think you can truly trust the person," I say, she nods, "and take this, as your token," I press a small pin into her hand. It's a mockingjay, carrying an arrow in its beak. The mayor's daughter, Madge gave it to me the first time we met. She was the closest thing to a friend I had, besides Gale.
"Are you sure Katniss?" asks Prim.
"Positive," I say, smiling. She smiles back.
"Take care of Buttercup for me."
"Sure thing, my little duck. I love you," I say sadly.
"Love you too Katniss"
The peacekeeper comes over and leads me out of the room. I say I want to go see Peeta and he leads me to another small room. I enter and see Peeta sitting on the same purple armchair that Prim was sitting on.
"Hi," I say awkwardly.
"Um hi," he says, a look of confusion on his face.
"Look, I know we don't really know each other, but I had to thank you"
"Uh... for what?"
"Well you probably don't remember this, but a few years ago you burnt some bread at your family's bakery. Your mom told you to give it to the cow out back but..." I say
"I gave it to you," he finishes for me.
"Yeah," I say, "why?"
"Because I don't like seeing people go hungry. It's just not fair."
"Hmm..." I say, I think I like this guy. He seems nice, he's gorgeous and he saved my life. By my calculations that makes a good friend. Too bad I don't have more time to get to know him.
"I'm really sorry about your sister being picked. It's not right," he says sadly, "nothing the capitol does is right." I decide I do like him, anyone who doesn't like the capitol can't be that bad.
"Yeah um thanks," I say. We stand in silence for a minute. Then it gets to me and I'm about to burst into tears when I shout "you have to protect her! Please, you have to!" I begin to sob.
"Don't worry Katniss; I'll do anything I can to keep her safe"