"No," I found myself whispering in horror as Prim's name was called. I turned around and saw her face devoid of color.
My mind instantly flashed back to my brother's reaping and I remembered how I was unable to stop him from going.
Effie had pulled out the slip of paper with the boy tribute's name and walked back to the podium. She opened the slip of white paper and read out the name.
"Lidan Gallin!"
It felt like a bucket of ice had been dumped on top of me as my world came crashing down. I could see that his slightly tanned face had gone pale and his green eyes widen as he began walking forward.
I screamed his name, thrashing wildly against my father's strong arms. His broad, strong arms locked me in place as my brother neared the stage, but it was difficult to see him through the tears obscuring my vision. Eventually, I managed to squirm enough for my father to break his hold on me then I surged forward, shouting, "Lidan!"
The crowd had parted around me, giving me sympathetic looks as I sprinted past them. Lidan turned around and caught me in a strong hug. I could tell he was crying because of the way his body shook around me.
"I love you. Please don't go!" I sobbed into his shirt, fisting it in my hands.
"I love you, Ryna. I'll come back," he whispered into my hair just before the Peacekeepers pulled us apart.
I kicked, I screamed, I sobbed, I broke as I was carried away from my brother. He was ushered up the steps by another Peacekeeper.
He never came back, and my little family was ripped apart.
I was brought back to the present when I felt Prim's hand brush my own as she walked slowly towards the daunting stage. Her face was devoid of color, her little hands were fisted at her sides, and the back of her little blouse had come undone again; back into the little ducktail.
"Prim," Katniss' voice said in a strangled cry. She pushed past me, attempting to get to her little sister. The crowd parted around Katniss, giving her a wide berth.
I regained control over my previously frozen legs and willed them forward. Then, I was running. I ran through the crowd, elbowing my way through, not bothering to apologize as I stomped on feet or elbowed ribs. All that mattered was reaching Katniss and Prim; I couldn't let their family be torn apart like mine was.
I reached them just as Katniss pushed Prim behind her with a desperate, frantic look on her face.
"I volunteer!" I shouted, stepping in front of both of them. "I volunteer as tribute!"
A deathly silence settled over the crowd as confusion erupted on stage.
District 12 hasn't had a volunteer in decades, so protocol has become all but forgotten. The rule is that once a tribute's name has been drawn, another eligible person of the same gender may volunteer to take their place in the Hunger Games. In some of the richer districts like District 1 or 2, having your name drawn is a tremendous honor, and others will practically fight each other to be the first to volunteer.
But here, in District 12, the word volunteer basically means corpse, and volunteers are almost nonexistent.
"Lovely!" trills Effie Trinket. "But I believe there's the small matter of introducing the reaping winner and then asking for volunteers, and if one does come forth then we, um…" she trailed off, unsure of what to say next.
"What does it matter?" asked the Mayor. His expression was tight and pained as it usually was during the annual reaping. He hated seeing children being led off to slaughter as much as the rest of us did. "What does it matter? Let her come forward."
I took a step forward, only to be stopped by Katniss' voice.
"No, I volunteer!" She shouted, running forward till she was in front of me.
"I'm sorry, but we can only accept the first volunteer." Effie Trinket said remorsefully, looking down at Katniss.
"Katniss," I placed my hand on her shoulder. "Prim needs you."
Katniss nodded, biting back tears so she could appear strong for her little sister. Prim, who I just now noticed was wrapped around my legs, was sobbing into my skirt. Gale stepped forward, giving me a quick hug.
"Go on up, Raincloud," He said in a thick, emotional voice just before he pries Prim off of me, taking her back into the crowd.
"Well, bravo!" Effie Trinket gushed. "That's the spirit of the Games!" I could tell that she was just happy to have some excitement to distract the nation's viewers from Haymitch's earlier drunken bear hug. "What's your name?"
"Ryna Gallin," I answered almost stiffly. I was fighting a losing battle against my tears.
"Why would you volunteer for young Primrose Everdeen?" Effie Trinket asked, a genuine look of curiosity adorning her brightly colored face.
"Because, no twelve-year-old should ever have to compete in the Hunger Games, and I love her as if she were my own sister."
"Well, let's give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!" Effie Trinket chirped.
Not one resident of District 12 clapped; not even the ones holding the betting pools. Instead, of me acknowledging applause –the usual custom of tributes- I stood stiff and unmoving as my district took part in the boldest and most dangerous form of dissent they could: total silence.
The silence said more than their furious, rebellious shouts ever could. We do not agree, we do not condone, this is all wrong.
Then, one by one, the members of District 12 touched the three middle fingers of their left hands to their lips before holding it out to me. It was a very old salute of our district that was normally used in funerals. It means thank you, it means admiration, most of all, it means good-bye to someone that was loved dearly. Tears threaten to spill as I stared at the crowd.
Haymitch, the lovely drunkard he is, chose this time to wobble across the stage. Going dangerously close to the edge, but righting himself at the last second. He threw his heavy arm across my shoulders, nearly sending me to the ground.
"I like her!" Haymitch shouted, his alcoholic breath fanning in my face. "Lots of…" He paused, clearly searching his drunken mind for the correct word."Spunk!" he laughed triumphantly. "More than you!" He lifted his arm from my shoulders and staggered forward, closer to the edge of the stage. If he gets any closer, he's going to fall off of the stage. "More than you!" He shouted, pointing a finger directly into the camera, or at least he tried to. His aim was off and he was pointing a bit too far to the left.
Was it just me, or was he purposely taunting the Capitol? No, he must just be too drunk to realize what he's doing. Not even Haymitch drunk off his feet would be stupid enough to taunt the Capitol. He opened his mouth to continue, but just as the first syllable leaves his mouth, he tumbles off of the stage, landing on his head. He's out cold.
Told ya he was going to fall.
Haymitch was carried away on a stretcher as Effie Trinket tried to get the ball rolling again. "What an exciting day!" she warbled, attempting to straighten her wig that had all but fallen off. "But more excitement to come! It's time to choose our boy tribute!" She clamped a hand onto her askew hair as she trotted over to the ball that contained the boy names. She grabbed the first slip on the top of the pile and zipped back over to the podium. I had just enough time to wish for Gale's name to be passed over when Effie spoke.
"Zane Demine!"
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding as a stocky, boy with light brown hair walked towards the podium. His pale green eyes were hard and determined, shielded from view by a layer of bangs. He took his place beside me, staring directly into the camera lens.
Effie Trinket asked the crowd for volunteers, but no one steps forward to take his place. Not even his own family did anything to stop him. Devotion only runs so deep when it comes to the reaping, and what I did was unorthodox.
Mayor Undersee began the long, boring Treaty of Treason as he does every year after the tributes are drawn. It's mandatory that he read it ever year as a reminder of why we are at the mercy of the Capitol.
I sneaked glances at Zane as we stood silent "listening" to the important speech.
I haven't really said much to him, but I remember when I first met him. It was the day Katniss was receiving the medal for her father's service and honorable death in the mines. I went along for moral support and to be a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. A few other children were there accepting medals with tears running down their cheeks, wishing they could trade everything for their loved one. Zane was there, getting one for his mother along with his two younger sisters and older brother. I remember how he refused to cry, staying strong for his family at such a young age. After that, I saw him around school, living out his life in the same rut we all did, just carrying on.
The mayor finished the ridiculously long and dull Treaty of Treason, and then motioned for Zane and me to shake hands. His are firm and warm as opposed to my cold, clammy hands that were practically shaking from fear.
As soon as the anthem ends, Zane and I are taken into custody. No, we weren't arrested and put in handcuffs, but a group of intimidating Peacekeepers usher us through the front doors of the Justice Building. I have no idea why we need six guards. Maybe they're afraid that at the first sign of an opening, we'll bolt and try to escape into the woods. Actually, that doesn't sound too bad right now…
Once inside, I was shoved into a room and left completely alone. It was the most lavish room I had ever been in, with thick, fluffy carpets that you just wanted to scrunch your toes in, and velvet chairs and couch. I dropped ungracefully onto the couch and ran my fingers lightly over the smooth fabric.
'I wonder how long I'll survive.' I pondered just before the door opened revealing Katniss, Prim and Mrs. Everdeen.
Prim ran forward, wrapping her tiny arms around my torso. "Why?" She whispered, sobbing into my dress.
"Because I couldn't let you go, Rosie," I said equally as quiet, hugging her tightly as if I were about to break.
"Ryna, you shouldn't have done that," Katniss said. I could see the tears she was desperately trying to hold back. "I was going to volunteer first and take her place."
"I couldn't let you. Prim and your mother need you. And what about Gale? What would happen to him if you were put in the Games? What if you died?!" I was hysterical at this moment, but no tears fell. "I couldn't let your family be torn apart like…" I couldn't finish, but I didn't need to.
"Like yours was," Katniss finished. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and around Prim, enveloping us all in a tight hug.
"Promise me you'll come back, Ryna." Prim's soft voice pleaded.
"Rosie, I won't lie to you. The chances of me winning are very slim, but I need you to promise me something." I waited for her nod before continuing. "I might not come back, but don't stay hung up on my death like I was hung up on Lidan's." I pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'll try to come back to you." Prim has to know that my chances of coming back are slim to none. There are other tributes that are easily triple my weight and can probably lift that much if not more. Boys that are bulked up and tall, willing to do anything to win. Girls that are deadly who know over a dozen creative ways to slice my head from my shoulders.
"But, if I did come back, we'd be rich like Haymitch, but no drinking allowed." I attempted a joke.
"I don't care about money, just return in once piece and breathing," Katniss could hear the resolve in my voice. "Don't you dare roll over and give them an easy kill. Fight! Fight for yourself, fight for us. Swear to me that'll you will."
"I swear on my life that I will fight with everything within me to get back to you." No sooner had the words left my lips; the Peacekeeper was at the door, signaling for my guests to leave. They walked to the door, but Katniss stopped, turning back to me.
"Wear this into the Capitol and the arena." She pushed a small golden pin into my palm before turning back to her family. The door closed behind them with a quiet click.
I looked down at the pin in my hand before fastening it to my dress. It was two birds joined at the wing, surrounded by a thin ring. One was larger, holding an arrow while the smaller one held a daisy.
I was still admiring the pin when the door opened a second time. It was Gale. He said absolutely nothing as he crossed the room in three long strides. His strong arms wrapped me in a warm, comforting hug as I felt his body shudder with silent sobs. I inhaled the familiar musk that was entirely his own: wood smoke and fresh grass mixed with his natural body scent.
"I'm scared," I admitted quietly, my hands fisting in his grey shirt, a few tears escaped the corner of my eyes.
"I know, Ryna." It was one of the few times he actually called me by my given name instead of Raincloud. "Listen, your best chance is to get a weapon and run away from the Cornucopia. It's going to be a bloodbath and I don't want to see you die on the first day. Grab any weapon you can, but a knife is your best bet."
"Then what? I don't know how to survive when I've got 23 people hell-bent on killing me in my sleep."
"Just find shelter, fresh water, and then hide." Gale's voice is thick as he tried to give me advice.
"I don't know if I can kill anyone."
"Ryna, it's just hunting. You're one of the best hunters I know," said Gale.
"It's not just hunting. They're armed, thinking, dangerous humans. They'll be thinking battle strategies."
"Then you do that, too! Damn it, Ryna I can't lose you!" Gale kissed my forehead, then my cheeks. "You're my little Raindrop." His deep grey eyes are swimming with tears.
All too soon, the Peacekeepers are back. Gale begged for more time, but they began taking him from me. His warm hand begins slipping from mine. "I'll come back!" I cried.
"Ryna, always remember I —"whatever he was about to say was cut off as we were ripped apart; the door slammed between us. I've never hated the Peacekeepers before, but I loathed them for cutting off that last sentence. Now I'll never know what Gale wanted me to remember.
For the remainder of my time in the room, I laid across the couch, sobbing my eyes and heart out.
It was a very short ride form the Justice Building to the train station. During that time, I cleared my face. I wiped the tear streaks from my cheeks, dried my eyes and put on an emotionless mask.
The station is swarming with reporters and their hornet like cameras hovering over the scene from every possible angle. I caught a glimpse of myself in the television screen on the wall and I appeared cool and collected, which I was anything but.
Zane Demine obviously had been crying because his eyes are rimmed with red, but the strange thing was, he wasn't trying to hide this fact at all. He stood strong and proud, but still kept an appearance of humility. I idly wondered if this was going to be his strategy in the Hunger Games. To appear like a weak and easy target, reassuring the stronger tributes that he is no real threat, and then come out fighting. It was a similar strategy used by a girl from District 7. Johanna Mason seemed like such a sniveling, cowardly little girl that had no chance of winning. No one bothered with her until there were only a handful of tributes left. She turned out to be a vicious killer when she had to be and ended up winning the Hunger Games for her district that year. It seemed like an odd strategy for Zane who is fairly muscular and tall. But, maybe if he can pull of the strong, but "can't harm a fly" routine, he may have a shot at winning.
We stood for a few minutes in the doorway of the train, letting the cameras get shots of us from every angle, then we were allowed inside and the doors slid shut behind us, obscuring us from view. The train began zipping along almost immediately.
The speed throws me for a loop once we actually get going. I've never been in any type of vehicle before today, as travel between districts is forbidden unless it is officially authorized by the Capitol, such as the victor's parade or transporting coal. But this isn't your ordinary coal train. It's one of the newest Capitol models that can average out at about 250 miles per hour. At this speed, we'll be at the Capitol in less than a day.
The tribute train is fancier than the rooms in the Justice Building, which was truly saying something. We were each given our own suites that have a bedroom, a private dressing area, and a luxurious private bathroom with hot and cold taps. In District 12, you don't have hot water unless you boil it yourself.
There are large drawers filled to the brim with fancy clothes of all sorts, and Effie Trinket said that I could do anything I pleased. I could wear whatever I wanted; eat whatever I wanted because everything was at my disposal. The only thing that was a rule was that I had to be at dinner in an hour. I stripped myself of my white dress and took my first shower. It felt absolutely wonderful! The hot water beating down into my scalp and ridding my body of oils and dirt left me with an extremely pleasant clean feeling.
I dressed in a form fitting red shirt and a pair of black pants. Just before I left my room, I remembered the little golden pin that Katniss had given me. I unclasped it from my dress and got a good look at it. The birds, which I had previously thought to be blue jays, were actually mockingjays.
Mockingjays are an accidental product of the Capitol thanks to their creation of the jabberjays. During the rebellion, the Capitol created the jabberjays to spy on their enemies. The funny thing about these little birds was that they could memorize and repeat whole human conversations. Jabberjays, that were exclusively male, were honing birds. After they had gathered the conversations, they'd fly back to the Capitol and spill every dirty secret they overheard. It took the rebellion awhile to realize what was happening, but when they did, it came back to bite the Capitol in the butt. The rebel fed these birds nothing but lies to send back to the Capitol, then the joke was on them. The centers were quickly shut down and the remaining birds were released into the wild.
The Capitol planned on them just dying off, but they didn't. Instead, the jabberjays mated with female mockingbirds and created a new species: the mockingjay. They can't imitate human speech, but they can repeat both bird calls and simple melodies. Mockingjays created some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard. They actually created songs, not just a few notes. If they liked your voice and if you were patient with them, they would sing your song back to you.
I remember Katniss' father and my father signing to the mockingjays. Katniss' father could sing like no one else I've heard. The whole forest would go silent when he sang, then it would repeat it back in the most harmonic natural melody you have ever heard. My father on the other hand, sounded absolutely horrible and would usually end up frightening off most living things, but I enjoyed hearing his off-key voice, because he could always put a smile on my face when he sang.
I fastened the pin onto the left side of my shirt just above my heart. Somehow, it just feels right to place it there, like I'm keeping my family close at hand.
Effie came a little while later to collect me for supper. I followed her down a narrow corridor into an elegant dining room while polished, paneled walls and a table full of fragile, expensive china. I could see that Zane was already waiting at the table patiently, but Haymitch was nowhere in sight.
I sat down in the available seat across from Zane as Effie Trinket takes her seat to my left at the other end of the table.
"Where's Haymitch?" She asked pleasantly, putting on a bright, still fake looking smile.
"Last I saw, he was headed to his room for a nap," Zane answered.
"Well, it's been an exhausting day," Effie sighed. I think she's just happy that Haymitch isn't here to grace us with his presence. Who can blame her? Every year, she has to go through with this and get saddled with the lazy drunk for days at a time.
Supper came to us in courses. Thick carrot stew, a fresh green salad, lamb chops and mashed potatoes with butter, exotic cheeses and fine fruits, and a rich, chocolate cake. At every course when Zane and I were gorging ourselves, Effie Trinket would order us to stop eating so much because more was on the way. But, I couldn't bring myself to slow down. IO had never had food as rich and delicious as this. Besides, putting on some weight before the Games would probably be a good idea.
"At least you two have manners," Effie Trinket sniffed as we were finishing up the main course. "Last year's pair ate everything with their hands like a couple of savages. It completely upset my digestion!"
The pair of District 12 tributes last year were from the Seam and had never had enough food to fill their constantly growling stomachs. Of course manners would go out the window if you had never had a full stomach.
"It's not like it was their fault!" I defended. "If you had never eaten enough to satisfy you, wouldn't you forget the knife and fork and just eat?" I threw down my silverware and at the rest of my diner with my bare hands, completely ignoring the stunned and appalled Capitol woman beside me.
Once dinner is finished, I began having a hard time keeping it down. I looked over at Zane and saw that he was in the same predicament as I was. Neither one of us were used to such rich food. I can hang on to squirrel meat that's been roasted or smoked quail, so I am determined to keep down the rich Capitol food.
We headed over to the next compartment over to watch the recap of the reapings from around Panem. They try to stagger them across the day so that everyone could watch each of the reapings "live", but we all know that only the citizens of the Capitol can do that since they do not have to attend the reapings themselves.
One by one, we see the other reapings, the names called, the volunteers stepping forward, or most commonly, not. A few of the faces stand out in my mind as they flicker across the screen. A tall, menacing boy from District 2 that volunteered immediately, a fox-faced girl with flaming red hair from District 5, A crippled boy from 10, and the little twelve year old girl from District 11. She has dark brown skin and eyes, but other than that, she reminds me too much of Prim. I waited on the edge of my seat for her volunteer, but none step forward. I ended up having to look away from the screen because the realization hits me then.
That could've been Prim. What if Katniss and I had taken Gale up on his offer and fled into the woods. What would've happened to our little Rosie? Most likely no one would've taken her place and she would've been forced to compete for her life.
Last of all, they show District 12. Prim's name was called, Katniss running forward, me running ahead of them and volunteering, Katniss attempting to take my place. You can't miss the sorrow in her voice or on her face when Effie tells her that she can't volunteer for me. I watched as Gale pulled her and Katniss away from me and I watch myself mount the stage with watery eyes, but a stern face. The commentators were unsure of what to say about District 12's refusal to applaud. One said that District 12 has always been a bit backwards, but the local customs were charming. Then, as if on cue, Haymitch tumbled off the stage, knocking himself out. The commentators groaned comically. Zane's name was drawn, he quietly took his place on the stage beside me, and we shook hands. The anthem played and the program ended, leaving a tense silence behind it.
Effie Trinket let out a disgruntled comment about how her wig was out of place. "Your mentor has a lot to learn about presentation. A lot about televised behavior."
I let out an unladylike snort. "He's drunk. He's always drunk."
"Every day," Zane chimed in. We both smirked a bit at Effie Trinket. She keeps trying to make it out like Haymitch just has a few bad behavior issues that could use smoothing out.
"Yes," Effie hissed. "How odd you two find it amusing. You know your mentor is your lifeline to the world in these Games. The one who advices you, lines up your sponsors, and dictates the presentation of any gifts. Haymitch can well be the difference between your life and your death!"
Haymitch chose that exact moment to come staggering into the compartment, completely drunk as usual. "I miss supper?" He asked in a very slurred voice. Then he vomited all over the expensive, thick carpet and fell into the mess.
"So laugh away!" Effie Trinket said, giving us a withering stare. She hopped around the pool pf vomit and fled from the room, leaving Zane and I completely alone.
