2. The Reaping
The Path from the Victors Village to the market was always pleasant, luscious green grass, perfectly gardened plants all the colours of the rainbow and trees cut into the shape of animals. I thought of the time when Finnick was a baby and we sat underneath a large drooping willow tree, Finnick had taken his first steps there. Peeta took my hand and gave it a slight squeeze; we were nearing the bakery once owned by Peeta's family until the Capitol bombed District 12. The apothecary shop my Mother owned stood empty, she was behind the counter passing a ball to Finnick to play with. Rue was flicking through the family plant book. The bell above the door rang when I pushed the oak door open; my Mother hadn't changed much since Prim died they only change was her once blonde flowing locks were now silver and her wrinkles more prominent. "Hello, Katniss, how are you?" very formal. "I'm fine thanks"
"Good." This just shows how much Prim kept us from falling apart.
"Thanks for having them." Peeta says before the silence became too long to stand.
"You're welcome; I don't see them often enough they can come round whenever."
"I'll keep that in mind" I say a little too hot- headily. My children give her a hug and set out back to our house in Victors Village. However on the way we needed to buy food, we stopped off at the Hob. My children loved it here everyone knew who they were and children their age would group together. Rue was hollered by some girls I knew by sight, most were merchant with long blonde hair. Finnick sauntered off to a group of three boys who seemed to be tossing coins at a wall. Me and Peeta hoisted ourselves to her barstools and ordered some soup. "Announcement came as a shock didn't it?" says Greasy Sae
"No I knew something like this would happen again, I'd heard rumours for months now." Says Leevey, a girl from the Seam who married the butcher.
"What rumours?" asks Peeta
"That Snows men had help in the districts mostly 2, and that this assassination had been planned for months" Peeta raises his eyebrows as do most of the people at the bar.
"Don't go roun' tellin' people that Leev you'll getcha you n' your family killed" says a man at the bar, his hair is a tousled mess and his grey eyes show he's been troubled. Assassination', Snows family in charge, The Hunger Games it's happening again.
"How do you feel mentoring four kids, Katniss?" asks Leevey
"I don't know Leevey, I just don't know" I hadn't thought of it, if I was honest.
"Please give me some of your finest liquor Ripper!" shouts a familiar voice, Peeta sighs and jumps of his stool. And goes over to sort out a wasted Haymitch. I call for Rue and Finnick, but they argue and want to stay with their friends. I give in. I mean they might not have a lot of time left, right? Peeta has Haymitch under the armpits, he seemed to be sleeping and drooling, It would look quite comical but I don't feel like laughing. We take Haymitch to oir home and lay him on the red sofa with a glass of water. The doorbell rings, "I'll get it Peeta gives a curt nod and heads to the garden. "Catnip!" Gale is stood outside the door with a burlap sack in his hand, he drops the bag and we embrace. Just like we used to. It felt familiar and safe. However at the back of my nagging me is a voice telling me It's his invention that killed Prim, he's the reason I will never see my beautiful sister again. I quickly release him. "How are you?" he asks
"Well I've been a lot better, you?"
"I'm fine, Sally is a wreck though because Rhiannon and Simon will be entered five times" Sally is Gale's wife from district 3 they met in 13 and she moved here with him, she has brunette hair and the lightest blue eyes they almost look white. Simon and Rhiannon are the twins who both have grey eyes, black hair and olive skin, like me and Gale. "And how's Peeta?" His voice sounds pained.
"Holding up, better than I am anyway"
"Yes well he would do wouldn't he? Why did you marry him Katniss?"
"What's that supposed to mean? You know why I married him Gale, I love him, he loves me!" I can feel my face flush and anger rises in me.
"Look I made a mistake with the bombs I understand, can't you let it go!"
"What the hell Gale you married Sally! You moved on! This isn't about Prim, why do we have to argue about this every time I see you!"
"Just forget it okay? I'll see you at the reaping." And he walks away leaving me in tears, why can't he ever get over me?
Reaping day was finally here. I looked outside the window, the sun was blinding. I was thinking about the children I would have to mentor, to watch die. A small knock distracted me from my thoughts, "Come in." Rue tip toed into the room, her hair was tied back into a French plait with a pink stripy ribbon and a pink headband.
"Where's my dress?" she whispered. I walked into her room and opened her white wood wardrobe, there was the red and white spotty dress with a red ribbon around the middle I had bought yesterday at the seamstress in town. "There you go honey, and your red ballet shoes are downstairs next to the door."
"Okay Mummy, it will be okay you know. Your strong don't let it get you down." I looked into her blue eyes and saw not Peeta but Prim, I remembered how she reassured me before my first games. "I know Rue, your one of the safest there can be. Now get dressed beautiful I want you downstairs in a few minutes okay? I'll make you some toast." She nodded at took the dress out the wardrobe. I walked past Finnick's room but Peeta was already in there I didn't want to disturb them.
Everyone was dressed and ready to go at 1.00 o'clock. Finnick was dressed in some black shorts and a checked t- shirt his untidy blonde hair smoothed down by water. Peeta was in a white shirt and some light blue jeans. I gave them both a kiss and a hug "don't worry about a thing, you'll be safe." They both nod and we head out to the square.
The mood in the square was grim and the children were all shaking, most I recognised, which scared me even more. Finnick kissed me on my cheek and Rue the other. They did the same to Peeta, and moved into the roped off areas. District 12's new escort Noelle ushered us on stage Haymitch was already there and completely wasted. Finnick was stood next to his best friend Andrew, they were both whispering to each other. Rue was stood next to some girls I recognised from the Hob they all held each other's hands and had their heads bowed. "What an honour it is to be here on this exciting day" Noelle says with a thick Capitol accent. "Now I think it should be ladies first" her hand goes into the reaping ball, Peeta squeezes his hand and I shut my eyes. Not Rue, please not Rue! And it isn't its "Rhiannon Hawthorne" NONONONONO this can't be happening. Rhiannon walks to the stage arms hanging by her side, a silver necklace gleamed in the sun and her feet shuffled to the stage. "Isn't this exciting? Next up another Lady" Noelle's hand goes into the reaping ball and it's "Rue Mellark!" What is life? Why my Rue? My beautiful daughter being prepared for slaughter. I hear a faint sob release from Peeta and see a tear trickle down his face. I'm to paralysed with sadness to move or show emotion. "Up next our gentlemen!" I look over for the first time and see Finnick's head is shaking and his hands balled up in fists. "Riley Tristan!" a large boy with brown hair strides to the stage with a look so triumphant as if he wanted this to happen all along. "And Finnick Mellark!" I might as well die, die like my children who I've protected for so long. Finnick walks as calmly as possible to the stage. His little fists balled up and the colour from his face drained away. "How exciting children of two victors, this will be the best year yet!"
