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Chapter one: Kindle
"Primrose Everdeen!"
The name split through the still air in one crisp motion. Prim. The sister of my dear friend, reaped. My eyes flickered to the crowd of people finally settling upon the Everdeens. There was Katniss, her arms holding Prim like a snare does a captured animal. I knew what was about to occur before Katniss's eyes met mine.
"I volunteer as tribute!"
It felt as if my stomach had dropped. For some, being in the Games was an honor but to me, I saw it more of being a Martyr to an event without a cause. My eyes focused on Katniss as Prim clung to her for dear life as inaudible words which I was sure were pleas escaping from her lips. I found myself taking a few strides forward, my mind a blank slate as my arms wrapped around Prim pulling her back.
"Up you go, Catnip."
I pulled the still struggling Prim back as my eyes followed Katniss as she stepped up to the stage taking her place beside Effie Trinket. Her face was void of emotion as she informed Effie of who she was.
Getting stung by a needle bug, this type of insect Katniss and I have encountered many times in our hunting journeys is an interesting experience. First, the area which has been inflicted goes numb, completely void of any pain. Then, after a few moments, it begins to burn as an angry welt begins to take form. That's how I felt at this time. I felt numb as I watched Katniss go up at take Prim's place as the female tribute and afterwards, when it had all sunken in, I was livid with her. For a moment, a single second, I wished she had gone and let Prim go. I hadn't much faith that Prim, this small girl with the pallor complexion who had finally stopped struggling in my arms and just leaned against me sobbing would have survived much longer even though Katniss had taken her place. Prim was weak enough as it was, the arena would have ended her life maybe a month or two earlier than it was going to here in District 12.
"Peeta Mellark!"
I must have completely zoned out when Effie announced that it was time to draw for a male tribute. A rather tall boy with cropped blond hair and blue eyes emerged from the crowd and began to make his way up the stage. I recognized him at once, the baker's son. On my journeys to the bakery, I would always catch a glimpse of him in front of the large brick ovens removing varies breads and pastries. I found it almost humorous really that a boy such as himself was being reaped. I tried to think of what possible skills he could possess that might be the slightest bit useful out in the arena. None came to mind. My eyes fell upon him once more as he approached the stage. Over the years I watched as tribute after tribute from our district was slaughtered in the arena. The ones who actually made it the longest would not have done so without an ally. Quite frankly, I did not see Peeta as the greatest choice for Katniss if she, like most tributes do, were to choose him as an ally since he was from her own district.
Katniss was a strong girl that much I knew. It was a question how useful her skills would be. Unlike the other tributes who were able to start jobs that involved their district's label such as lumber and fishing early on, we in District 12 were not allowed into the mines until the age of eighteen. That was a disadvantage on our part. Perhaps, if it had been given, skills that had been picked up from the mines would have given her a greater advantage in the arena. Unfortunately she, and all of the tributes from our district before her, had not had the chance.
Peeta was so close to Effie that I figured if he were to just stretch his hand out in such a way it would brush against the top of her podium. If I was going to do anything, I had to act quickly. My life flashed before my eyes. I saw my life in District 12, my mother, my siblings, Mrs. Everdeen, Prim…Katniss… My mouth opened but I myself could hear no sound but by the looks on everyone's faces including the mixture of horror and lividness on Katniss's I had uttered those fateful words.
"I volunteer as tribute!"
Who knew those four simple words could have such an impact?
I promise the chapters will become lengthier and have more conversation. I'm basically trying to set the scene and mood at the moment. I'm working on the next update at the moment. Hopefully I will finish soon.