Chapter 2
Life in 12
The trip from District 2 to 12 was a three day trip due to the 5 stops we had to make along the way, when we finally arrived my uncles and their children were there to greet us they set us up in an old two roomed house where I slept on a mat and shared a room with my dad.
The first month was the hardest for me it's when I had to get use to the smell and the fact I wouldn't be able to shower every day.
The hunger was the worst in the first month I drop 30 pounds from barely eating and my stomach felt like someone kept dropping a stone brick on my stomach, but by the second month things started getting bearably the smell had become natural after I started smelling to and my stomach adapted to barely eating.
District 12 didn't look or feel anything like 2 there were no mountains except for the one they mined in and a lot more of the terrain was flat which took more getting use to then the starvation.
District 12 life was no walk in the park I went to school for the whole day and then went home, my father worked in the mines from dusk till dawn so I thought we'd barely see each other but for some reason the Peacekeepers here weren't as strict as 2 except if you got caught then you were punished worse then in two.
My father hadn't pushed the peacekeepers much since we arrive till it was three months from the games and he woke me up in the middle of the night. My father lead me into the woods once we were safely inside he looked at me "It's time to teach you stuff that you haven't learned at school." And that's when my new teachings started.
He taught me how to track, how to walk across a surface without barely making a sound, and taught me snares which I excelled at till he brought out an old bow and tried to teach me archery let's just say I couldn't handle shoot my way out of a paper bag, no where as skilled as him or my mom.
I was okay but no way it would be lethal enough if I had to use it in the Hunger Games; though my father never let me quit he kept teaching me no matter how many missed shots or lost arrows he refused to give up.
"You'll get it sweetie I promise it just takes practice." My father tried to reassure me as we snuck back into town "Father I can handle cowards but I'm not you or mom I can't handle a bow it's just fact." I reply hiding our Game bag under the floor.
"Sheylee you only think you can't because you say you can't, remember you're your greatest enemy." My father stated he hadn't told me that since I was 12 and first started training but couldn't lift a simple mace over my head while all the other kids could and he told me just try one more time and if you fail then you could give up but I didn't fail the next time around.
"Okay dad well till tomorrow." I reply not so confident as I went off to bed.
The next day while my father was at work I went to school first which was pretty uneventful except when I did my usual racing which I started here when I first arrived and I saw two boys messing around chasing each other and I claimed I could out run them both.
This sparked so much interest everyday a new person challenged me though this terrain wasn't anything like two I still beat them all and I always had a crowd which I never got why.
I had been here about 2 maybe 3 months and no one ever talked to me except when they challenged me or congratulated me or asked me if I was really Katniss Everdeans daughter.
I truly didn't mind being alone especially since if I didn't know anyone of them then I won't morn them if I get sent to the Hunger Games with them and they die, it was our number 1 rule taught in school If you don't plan on having an alliance with someone then cut all ties with them or don't try to get to know them.
District 12's school is divided by age and kids go to school since they are 5 instead of 12 which I find weird, but most of all there are two type of people here in twelve there are the Merchant kids who have Blonde hair and blue eyes and they look well fed and stronger than us who are classified as Seam kids.
The Seam kids who live in the poorest part of district 12 we all have the same Black hair, grey eye's and olive skin I think I could pass as relatives with all of these people but the worst part of the Seam is when you see a kid no older then 5 crumble over from starvation and get buried the next day.
When school was over I head straight home and grab my Game bag and head to the Hob so I can trade the meat we caught before it goes bad and is useless.
The Hob is oddly like a second home to me; my Father doesn't care if I go here by myself I guess he trust the people of 12 more than the people of 2.
I spent at least three hours trading my meat and hiding it quickly when the Peacekeepers walk by, it was a normal day at The Hob till I heard "KATNISS!" I turn slowly at the sound of my mother's name to find a tall lanky man with graying blonde hair his blue eyes just showing sadness and he smelled of a combination of alcohol and not bathing which was the oddest smell I've ever had the displeasure of smelling and it stood out from all the other stench's I've gotten use to.
He walked with a distinguished limp and he had a bottle of alcohol in his right hand that was still trembling he called out again getting closer "KATNISS!" but as he got closer he stop realizing I wasn't hurt but I realized who he was Peeta Mallark from my mother's Games but he looked nothing like my mother described him, he looked more like how my father described him.
It was obvious they didn't like each other and I'm sure if he knew who I was he wouldn't like me either.
"Oh I'm sorry miss I mistook you for someone else." Peeta slurred his breath worse than his actual smell, I hoped he would just leave but not my luck "Miss I haven't seen you around here before, where are you from."
I look down nervously biting my lower lip "I was relocated a few months ago from District 2…" I was going to finish but Peeta cut me off "Your Gale's daughter aren't you?" I nod "Yes my name's Shaylee Hawthorne." He smiles at me "I'm glad old Gale finally found love." He isn't making this easier on me so I finally blurt it out "My mother is Katniss Everdean the girl you mistook me for earlier."
Peeta froze as if I said the magic words he throws his bottle on the floor causing me to jump to avoid the glass as two boys I recognize from school come up calming him "Come on Uncle let's not scare the poor girl anymore." The tallest one said who resembled his uncle so much and i recognized him from my races he attended everyone of them.
the smaller one stayed behind as his older counterpart lead Peeta off. "I'm sorry Miss he hasn't had a fit like that in years not since he lost his family." The boy states trying to reassure me, "No blood, no problems." Is all I can muster to say okay after all what could mentioning who my parents are throw him in such a fit, that's what throws me back to an old story my mom would only tell me when my father wasn't around.
My mother would pick me up and sit me on her lap and pull out an old book filled with pictures, she'd show me a photo of her and Peeta on a chariot on fire, "When I was 16 I was thrown into the Hunger Games, in place of my sister Prim." The mention of my aunt always drove a wedge between my parents so I rarely ever bring it up and she told me the story of how she had to pretend to be in love with Peeta to keep them alive and how it turned out Peeta truly loved my mother and it hurt him when he found out it was all a rouse. "But it wasn't was it mama?" I would ask every time and she would kiss my head and turn to a photo of two little kids "No I had started a life with him much like my life here now but I lost everything and I couldn't stay there anymore and if I had then I wouldn't have you." She would reply but I could sense some sort of longing when she spoke of twelve something that always worried me that maybe i'd lose her.
The boy chuckled "Well I'm just glad he didn't hurt you see you at school." The boy took off after his uncle and cousin I think.
That was my first meeting with Peeta and it certainly wasn't going to leave my mind anytime soon.
That next day at school the two boys from the Hob tried to talk to me but I avoided them glad since we were different ages we didn't have to face each other in class and I literally ran from school so I didn't have to talk to them especially with the Hunger Games so close this wasn't a time to make friends maybe after the Reaping's if we don't get picked.
The next few months pass like a blur, I hunt with my dad extremely lucky we haven't been caught yet, I trade the next day and my time at school is spent avoiding the two boys from the Hob which isn't easy since how small the District 12 population is.
Then it was the dreaded day of the Reaping came work and school were canceled so that every family with kids of reaping age could spend one last day together and tonight those who don't get reaped will party celebrating being spared while two family's lock their doors and morn.
I wake to find an old worn blue dress on my bed with a note "Had to go into town to get something, this was your mothers I'm sure she'd want you to wear it." I change sliding into the warn old blue dress that I have to tie twice around my waist so it can at least fit me without falling off.
"Shaylee you awake." My father called walking in carrying a stained and worn out box.
"Yeah I am." I walk out as he opened the box and pulled out a small gold pin of a mocking jay "Your mom buried all this stuff in the meadow, this pin kept your mom safe in the arena and if you get reaped at least she'll be there with you." He pinned it to my dress, "Thanks dad." Was all I could say my mom's dress, my mom's pin he's trying to make me feel stronger like when I was younger I'd steal my parents clothes and dress up like them to have their strength and courage whenever I felt weak.
"I promise nothing bad will happen to you, I won't let them." He hugged me tight and I hugged him back possibly for the last time ever in my life.
The projector on our wall sprung to life, its used to watch the Hunger Games they were recently reinstalled in all the house.
The Capital seal appeared on our wall which faded to a shot of a man dressed in red which matched his fiery red hair he smiled brightly "Citizens of Panem today is the day we've all been waiting for The Hunger Games are finally back but I bring even more exciting news we have traced it back and even though this is classified as the 76th Hunger Games it's also a Quarter Quell and as you know it means a very special condition is added to the Games but since our absence were brought on by the 74th and 75th Hunger Games to teach the Rebels a lesson, only the relatives of the Tributes from both games will be Reaped this year in the respected ages of 12-18." I freeze.
Mace, Clove neither safe this year in fact they were in more trouble with only 4 families being reaped in each district this year "Dad, I'm the only girl mom was in both." I shiver realizing I was going into the fire no choice in the matter, "Shaylee no you're not, Peeta has some nieces and to the Capital my brothers and sister and nieces and nephews are your cousins." He said trying to reassure me but I just felt worse.
"Dad I'm going into the Games aren't I?" I state staring at the wall blankly, he kissed my forehead "Shaylee we don't know that." He took my hand and lead me out of the house I do my best fight back tears as he lead me into town square were I got separated into a small line of about 5 girls counting me and 3 of the girls have platinum blonde hair while only one of them has the Seam look like me but she was very small only 12 I guess.
I wait in line till I get to the front were they prick my finger and take my blood pressing my finger to a pad then I'm waved on to a pit were the 5 of us stand, surrounded by a group of citizens from District 12 all of them staring at us each one happy they weren't going to get pick but sad that this was basically a slaughter.
The boys pin is twice as crowded probably about 16 or so half the boys had the same Blonde hair and Blues eyes but most of them were 12-13 the oldest was two of the Blonde boys who happen to be the boys who tried to become friends with me and the Seam boys who all were older than me and were my cousins.
The little girl who was only twelve walked up to me and grabbed my hand and said "We'll be okay." I smile down at her but it wasn't a real smile since that bowl on the stage held all of our death certificates.
The other girls in our pen join hands with us and the little girl nudges me and motions to the boys, I walk to the edge and hold out grabbing my cousin's hand who looked at me in shock before realizing what I was doing so he followed along and before I knew it we were all holding hands.
"Happy Hunger Games everyone and may the odds be forever in your favor." A pink skinned girl with feathered blue hair and a purple dress spoke into the mike, what is wrong with the capital people are they all insane? i think to myself
"Today is such a marvelous day but at first The Capital has brought you an important message."
The wall of the justice building behind her lit up with the Capital Seal "Districts of Panem, The Rebellions you fought had cost many lives." The voice I recognized as the President's spoke cutting to scenes of the rubbles of all the districts that got bombed, "You thought we were gone." The President continued as scenes of the Presidents mansions bombing
"But the President who claimed to have saved you." Another scene of the President we've all come to know President Coin who thanks to several life extensive surgeries was still around kneeling down her face completely unrecognizable as a sword beheaded her, "Is gone, The Girl on Fire." Then it cut to a scene I had no idea had been shot It was of my mother's death when I found her after a Quarry incident, I stood watching my mother's death and me screaming on the top of my lungs for her not to leave me and her putting a single hand to my face and said "i'll be with you always." and as a little me clung to that hand trying to keep my mom from leaving but as her eyes went blank the last words that escaped her mouth was "Rue."
I caught my father who hadn't experienced that moment he was crying into his hands and I spot Peeta weeping as well or at least i think.
"She's in a better place." My little cousin assures me by squeezing my hand, "Thanks, Butterfly." I call her which only makes her smile "I like that." She didn't even try to tell me her real name as the clip faded and the voice continued "She is gone, You have tried to beat us but what you don't realize is that we our your salvation, your freedom and your strength So Happy Hunger Games and may the odd be forever in your favor." The voice and the footage end.
"Now that's what I call a Vid, but back to the Matter at hand." She taps the mike one last time as almost everyone is staring at me trying to see if I was okay but she got their attention back "Okay, so in honor of this special Games if there is a living Victor in your district they will do the Reaping." She backed away as Peeta stumbled toward the Mike, "I bet you a squirrel pelt he falls." My boy cousin whispers to me probably trying to get me to laugh, "Deal." I reply with a tiny smile realizing how much I missed interacting with actual people my age.
Peeta looked around "Let's get this crap over with." He took a slush from his flask "Ladies first." He walks over to the bowl almost falling over twice, he dug into the bowl and pulled out a slip and froze at the name written on the slip and spoke out "Shaylee Hawthorne."
My heart sunk as I saw basically my whole life flash before my eyes as I broke away from the chain of possible tributes I try not to turn and growl at the sighs of relief from the blonde girls as they hold little Butterfly in place who even though she just met me looked like she was about to burst into tears.
I climb the stage and It wasn't till I looked out at the crowd did I realize how much I had been crying and I couldn't find it more ironic the girl no one knew sent to die, Peeta looked at me with pain in his eyes and something else that worried me.
He stumbled over to the boys bowl and dug inside of it not wanting to draw this out much longer "now for the sticking boys." He almost dove face first in the bowl as he pulled out a slip and called out "Jans Mallark."
I look to the boys group to see the tall boy from the Hob that dragged Peeta off after he threw the bottle at my feet, he was the tallest one out of the group as he separated all the blonde boys in the group seemed to want to shout out in protest but he just silenced them as he climbed the stage and took his place next to me.
The pink bird smiled and put a jeweled hand on both our shoulders "Now we have it our District 12 Tributes for this year's Hunger Games." she turned us to face each other "Now shake hands." Neither of us made a move till Jans put three fingers to his lips and extended out to me a method I only saw once before when I went to the Grave yard to see were my mom was supposedly buried and I ended up spotting a burial of a little girl who had died of hunger and her family did the same gesture.
The Gesture was a saying of good-bye forever, I mimic his movements and we turn to face the crowd where were met with them all saying good-bye District 12 style even to me a girl they didn't even know.
The anthem played and we were pulled back into the Justice building were we get thrown into two separate rooms across from each other.
I sat on the soft plushy bed that reminded me a little of two and time ticks by like hours till finally my father rushes in hugging me but all I could think of Is I'll protect you he said I won't let them hurt you he said, yeah right but I couldn't yell at him instead I collapse in his arms crying.
"Shh… Shaylee look at me." I lift my head at him and he whips my face "Shaylee you've been trained for this your strong enough, don't let them see you cry, if they push you shove back, just give them a show that's what saved your mother." He stated seriously I nod whipping my face
"Shaylee remember no matter what happens in their I love you and nothing you do will change that and if you have to kill them all." I've never heard my father speak so seriously before and he never had threatened violence on anyone before "Do you hear me Shaylee do whatever it takes." I nod "Yes father I promise." He kisses my forehead "I love you shay." "I Love you too dad and I promise I'll come home." I reply he hugs me one last time before the peacekeepers return and he walks out.
I run toward the door only to hear my Father and Peeta arguing.
"Peeta! Just listen." I hear my father just yell "I'm not listening to you." Peeta yelled back before my father pinned him against the wall I think "I don't like you and you don't like me but Shaylee is the last connection either of us have to Katniss so keep her safe." My father said through his teeth, there was more sounds of fighting and then I heard Peeta say "I'll do this for Katniss not you." And then it was just silence till Peacekeepers walk back in and drag me out to the train, my short life in 12 is now over but this time I'm also leaving my Father behind.