I started to move very numbly though the parted crowd. It wasn't till I had made it through my age group of people, and was making my way to the stage when I heard my name being called.
"Prim," I hear Katniss voice cry. I turn around just in time to see her struggling against the two peacekeepers holding her back.
"Prim, I volunteer-" She starts to say with struggling breaths.
No. She wouldn't even think about doing that…Would she?
"I volunteer as tribute…" Her words hung in the silence of the tension filled air. What. Was. She. Doing?
No, I thought determinedly as she pushed past the two peacekeepers and starts forward, I'm not going to let her do this for me. I'm not going to let her die.
In the Hunger Games, if in fact another person volunteered to take the place of an already chosen tribute. The said tribute could refuse and still take their place in the Games, and that is what I exactly plan to do. Most people in district twelve wouldn't do that if someone actually volunteered, they'd just be happy it wasn't them that were going to die. If it was any other person I would let them take my place, but not my sister.
"Prim, go find mom," She tells me, as she kneels down grabbing my shoulders.
"No," I say slowly, watching her face turn from emotionless to confused, "I refuse your offer to take my place in the Hunger Games." Her face turns from confused to sadden. The peacekeepers are back and they are pulling her away from me.
"No, not my Little Duck," Her cry is desperate as Gale Hawthorne; (Her best friend) comes to escort her to my Mom's side. I thank him silently as, I turn on my heel and make the rest of the way to the stage without looking back.
"Come on Dear, don't be shy." Effie said in what I think, was supposed to a gentle and caring voice. She ushered me up the steps in front of everyone.
"I bet my buttons that was your sister you just refused am I right?" She asked in a bubbly voice, her free hand resting on my back. I nod numbly, knowing my voice won't work.
"Is this your first year in the Games?" She asked. I knew what she was trying to do. Even though I've never actually had my name put into the bowl, I watched with my Mom on the side silently hoping that Katniss wouldn't be call from the many slips of paper with her name on them. Effie was trying to get information out of me, so when people watch this they'll like me…
I nod again hoping that she will get on with it and choose the male tribute. After a few more questions she finally got on with whole ceremony.
She walked over to the big glass bowl that contained all of the eligible boys' of District Twelve name. With a pale white hand, she placed her hand into the bowl and pulled out a white piece of paper. She walked back over to the microphone, and opened the paper.
"Peeta Mellark,"
No, please not him. Anyone else, but him, I thought. Katniss has told me about him. She said he's the reason why her, my mom and I didn't starve to death.
Katniss had gone out to search for food, because this was our fourth day straight without food. People often didn't spare food. Stealing was punishable by death, but the trashcans were fair game. I forget some of it, but the story ends with Peeta throwing the bread to her.
I'm pulled back from my swarming thoughts, as the crowd parts and a medium tall well-built blonde comes very shakily to the stage. No one volunteers for him I notice as he walks the final steps of the stage.
"Well," Effie says in again her abnormal bubbly voice, "Let's have a hand for our tributes of District Twelve!"
She starts clapping, but no else does. Instead they put three middle fingers of their left hand then hold them up in the air. It's an odd and rarely used gesture of our district, only occasionally seen at funerals. It means thanks, admiration. It means goodbye to someone you love. (1) After that the Capitol's anthem plays then we're taken in to custody and escorted the rustic, old, and worn down Justice Building. That's where we would say our final goodbyes.
My first two visitors are Katniss and my Mother.
"My Duck," Katniss bursts crying snaking her arms around me, "Why didn't you let me take your place?"
This is a side of Katniss I had never seen before. I'm usually the scared vulnerable and she's the strong one, but now it's time for me to be the strong one.
"Because," I say in a quiet stern tone, "You're always protecting me, now it's my turn to protect you." She tries to protest, but she and I know it's futile. What's done is done. I hug and tell my mother I love her and then it's time for them to go.
"Here," Katniss says thrusting something small in my hand, "This'll protect you!"
This is the last time I will ever see my family again…
"Prim," Katniss' voice breaks though my train of thought, she's struggling against two peacekeepers again, "Promise me you'll try to win!"
I nod not trusting my voice, because if I say a word I know I'll burst and start crying. Then she's gone and I'm once again alone… My next visitor is much unexpected… It's Gale.
What's he doing here? I wonder.
"Gale?" I ask with a confused tone.
"Prim," He asks opening his arms, "Come here."
I rush into his arms and hug him as tight as I can. I've never hugged Gale before. His arms make me feel safe and his scent is calming.
"Promise me you take care of them. Promise me you won't let them starve." My voice is muffled against his chest.
I know Katniss is perfectly capable of fending for herself and my mother. But with the state my sister is in now, she won't be much of anything for a while.
"You know I won't, but now you have to promise me something." He says, pulling back slightly from our embrace.
I nod, but I have a feeling I know what that promise is.
"Promise me you'll win and come back to us." He says.
"I can't-" I start to tell him.
"Yes you can Prim. All they want is a good show." He interrupts, before the peacekeepers come in and take him away.
I sit down on dusty leather couch waiting for the peacekeepers. Suddenly I remember the thing Katniss gave me is still clasped in my hand. I open it to see a pin with a bird and an arrow on it. I recognize the bird as a Mockingjay.
A Mockingjay is a cross between a muttation from the Capitol's genetically and a mockingbird. During the rebellion, the Capitol invented a bird called jaberjays. Jaberjays could record and play back any conversation. They were homing birds. Most of them were male; they were released into the regions when the Capitol got wind that their enemies were known to be hiding. Their time was short lived though as the rebels found out and started to feed them endless lies. Since their point of existing was now moot, the Capitol released them in the wild to die off. Instead they mated with the mockingbirds. Creating a whole new species that could replicate both bird whistles and human melodies. (2)
The peacekeepers came to get me only minutes after I examined the pin. They escort me to my room where I'm told to stay until Effie comes to get me. I look down at my outfit. It's so worn the fabric of it is starting to unravel. I go over to dresser in the far right corner and open them. They're all filled with clothes just my size. I take off my reaping clothes and exchange them for a pale blue dress just like the one Katniss had one. It's silk I notice, as the texture feels soft against my skin.
"Primrose, Dinnertime!" Effie's voice says in her bubbly annoying way. I wait until her footsteps fade then I make my way to the automated door…
(1) And (2) are actual lines from the book so I don't own them Suzanne Collins does.
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