Whispering Fire
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games they belong to Suzanne Collins. I only own Siobhan and Uncle Mark.
Chapter three
I volunteered!
The purpose of the tea leaves that remain in the cup was to tell your fortune. However how did I forget that the person's fortune affects not just the drinker but the fortune teller as well? But what I use to consider for fun could've be a warning to my death. Another Underwood name in the ground, six feet under. A lot of my family members were dead along with the dark secrets. I feel like fainting as I could hear my Uncle yell out no! Along with my legs giving away though the girls who held my hand cried and held me up, embrace in their hugs. I couldn't do anything, I was shock again. Engulf in tears and pats on the back. It wasn't long before a Peacekeeper Darius and his coworkers broke off the goodbye fest and escorted me down.
We walked past the sixteen year old section when a hand grabbed mine and stopped me. I turn around to see Katniss teary eye but didn't say a word. Knowing her she was going to say something irrational and will regret it. Not wanting her to embarrass herself, I lean forward and peck her cheek and shook my head no. I appreciated Darius letting me have a second to do this before he led me onto the stage. Shaking the mayor's hand then look straight out on Haymitch he stood up and wobbly gave me a hug.
"We got a lot of work to do, missy." He slurred, already drunk as his breath proved it.
Once he pulled back, I stand at attention facing District 12 and the entire world-wide television. I could already see Uncle Mark devastated wanting to run up and get me down. He would do anything for me, to take my place...except two of his friends held him in place, as he mouthed, 'no, no. no. not her, not my niece.' To the respects of the district, no one clapped or applause, not even my friends or people who were betting. Effie Trinket asked aloud who would volunteer to take my place. Who would volunteer for a suicide catalyst? No, one. My name was on death list.
But I never expected to see all the children from twelve-to-eighteen place their hands over their heart. A pledge we do for our allegiance. But it wasn't directed to the flag of Panem, but to me. We are one in the same. Even if I die I wouldn't be forgotten. My heart clenched to know my friends and classmates care, which it made it difficult not to cry. As a tear fell, sliding down my flush cheek.
After that Effie Trinket continue on deaths raffle. "What a beautiful girl for this exciting day." She said patting my back, "but more excitement is to come! It's time to choose our boy tribute!"
Clearly she has been brain wash of pretty things not to realize what is right from wrong. As she walked to the second bowl full with the boys names and grabbed another slip. She returned back to the podium and read aloud the boy's name.
"Rory Hawthorne!"
Rory Hawthorne!
Shit, not good, not good. I thought to myself. 'He's only a kid.'
As I laid eyes on the poor boy that stood right in front of the stage, shock mouth dropped. He looked exactly like Gale, only with chocolate brown eyes. Just twelve years old and his name are only in the raffle once. That was when I made the decision. I'm going to protect Rory and get him home safe, even with my last dying breath. He looked at me with scared eyes in thought that I would kill him the second the gong struck. I shook my head no, and gave a reassuring smile. 'I'm not going to kill you.'
Rory nodded his head, a sigh of relief about to get out of his group when a "NO!" Bellow out. All eyes, laid at attention to see Gale stride forward in furious rage to standing in front of Rory.
"I volunteer," Gale exclaimed. "I volunteer as tribute."
I gasped if not the others who followed. This would be the first volunteer in history for District 12. What is he thinking? If he comes then it would mean . . . our friendship is over. For Gale Hawthorne was no longer my friend, but my enemy.
"Lovely!" Effie Trinket said. "What an honorable man."
Gale scowled at the Capitol woman compliment while his brother begged him not to do this. How the family needs him and how their father died. It hurt to see such broken hearted scene, until Katniss and one of Gale's classmates Thom grabbed Rory and carried him back to Hazelle.
"Better get on stage, Juvenile." Katniss said before taking Rory away.
Gale nodded and walked on stage. He never gave eye contact to me as Effie held a microphone in front of him. "Well, Bravo!" she cheered, probably happy to see some action going around in this miner's town. "That's the spirit of the Game! What's your name?"
"Gale Hawthorne." He answered in monotone.
"I bet my button that was your brother. Don't want the fellow to steal all the glory, do we? Come on everybody! Let's give an around of applause to our newest tribute!" she trills if not praised excitedly.
But there was no applause like last time. Though a few drunks silently cheered that they got theirs money worth, however most of the people remain silent because they knew Gale at the Hob, or his father. I used to go there the Hob, but once my father died, I couldn't bear to go. But Gale, he hunted and traded with every member of the Seams, for food and money. A dedication to his family and cousins. Unlike me who help kids out on minor injuries and tutoring. Gale was a hero all the way.
And like with the kids who raised their hands over their heart to pledge of union. Everyone from District 12 in one movement in a wave raised their three middle fingers from their left hand to their lips and held it out towards Gale. The funeral goodbye, a common and rare gesture to our district.
Mayor Undersee finished reading the despicable Treaty of Treason and nodded Gale and me to shake hands. We shook like always, as I felt his calloused rough hand that were stain with animal blood and know how to hold a weapon. Gale looked at me, straight in the eye and gave my hand a gentle squeeze. I could no longer trust Gale anymore as I gave a hard firm hand shake.
He scowl disappointed as we turned to face our friends, family and district while the Anthem for Panem played.
I hate tea, I thought. It can hold a mysterious taste to love or hate. But it can also tell your fortune.
I sighed, 'oh well, there's twenty-four us. One is about to kill one if not both of us.
But deep down, I truly want Gale to win. He has a family to feed while I . . . I just have an uncle.
.o0o.
After the anthem, we were escorted, more like taken in custody without the handcuffs. Back inside the Justice Building surrounded by Peacekeepers. Once inside, I was taken to a room and left alone. Though the room looked sheik if not rich, I sat down on a plush cushion couch and stared down on the marble floor. Unconsciously tracing the swirls with my eyes not knowing what to do. This was goodbye's tributes make to their friends and family before taken to the train station. Thinking what just happen, I started to cry and crying hard than ever before. I was going to die and worst of all, my friend might kill me, stabbing me in the back.
Uncle Mark came in first. He saw my distress as I reached out for him, like a scare toddler. Immediately he ran to my side and held in his embrace as I cried into his shoulder. He did nothing, said nothing only rock me side to side as he hums a lullaby. I remember the lyric for it was the same lullaby my mother use to sing. For a moment we stayed like this, till I was just sniffing out in sorrow. Then we got to our goodbyes.
"You must stay strong," Mark started. "It's only a good show. That's what they want."
"There are twenty-four of us, Uncle." I corrected, "And only one of us comes out."
Uncle Mark sighed and wiped the tears away he knows I was going to die. I wasn't a hunter but a scavenger. "Whatever you do, don't fight. Just run, run until you find a safe place. You know plants and herbs that is your strength. Set traps and hide that will make you last longer. Has your friends taught you anything when you go outside?"
I knew he meant the forest, but kept secretive in case we are being listened to on our conversation. I hugged my uncle and whispered in his ear, "They taught me to use a bow."
The pulled back as he nodded, "Are you good at it?"
"Yes," I whispered.
"Then find one, if not then be a badger and hide."
We sat silent until he pulled something out of his pocket. It was a glass pendent filled with red powder. He tied it on around my neck. I touched in wonder, remembering a moment where these vials were full of glitter powdery called pixie dust and it makes your wishes come true. I look at him in question.
"They let you wear on thing from your District. One thing that reminds you of home. Wear it in the arena at all times. It may come in use." He said and tracing the rounded oval glass. Red herbs, he put something that was red and crushed it into something. The only thing I could think off that was red, was the . . . a smile crept up my face. Small but it made my uncle sighs in relief. It wasn't long till our moment was up and they took him away.
"Remember who you are and that they don't own you- Semper Fi!" Uncle Mark said before the door shut behind him.
Remember who you are.
Sighing I sat down on the couch and waited for the next person. The next person was my cousin Madge Undersee who is the mayor's daughter. Her mother and my mother were cousins and we talk to each other time and again at school or spare time. She wished me luck and be strong like Maysilee. I nodded hoping I can make it far as Maysilee too. Afterwards the Peacekeepers forced Madge out letting the final visitors in. It was Katniss and Prim. Prim ran up to me and gave me a hug never letting go as she sat on my lap. Katniss follow and sat next to me. Our session wasn't long though as I told Katniss if she could continue to trade with my Uncle without any hard feeling after the games. Katniss agrees.
"I can't believe it." She said. "You mean so much to this district helping everyone."
"But not enough to set a memorable example, Catnip." I sighed and twiddle my fingers through Prims braids. "Now Prim…remembers what I taught you on herbs."
She nodded, "yes, and not to grind red peppers to dust."
"Hey, I resent that!" Katniss protested in her defenses, making me chuckled.
"How is he?" I asked.
Katniss sigh, "Gale . . . he's fine…giving Rory how to be a man speech."
"Are you going to hurt Gale?" Prim asked.
I shook my head no. "No, I'm just going to avoid him when the Games start."
"He makes a better ally than anybody else." Katniss suggested.
"And get stab in the back." I snapped.
The room became quiet from my outburst. Wishing I could take it all back. However Katniss held a serious face, before grabbing Prims hand and lead her out. She protested at first until I spoke again.
"He's coming back."
Katniss stopped at the door her hand on the door knob but she didn't move while Prim stared at me wide eyes.
"If it one of us who makes it. It is him who returns."
"Selfless as always," Katniss breathed but didn't turn to face me. "Remember to get a bow."
"And aim at the whites of their eyes."
"No, for their heart. They are just like animals. Remember that." Although Katniss had a hard time saying it.
And the she and Prim were gone and no one came to wish me fare well or in this case, goodbye.
.o0o.
Gale's POV
I slammed my fist to a wall, making a dent if not a hole into it. Good, shows them, but I was a stupid idiot. I volunteered to take Rory's place and forget that Siobhan has been reaped. Now, now she thinks of me as her enemy. A threat, hell, I might have intimidated her from all the hunting I do. Well not like Katniss and her firing skills, but good with a bow and knife. And Siobhan . . . she's fair with a bow and knife. But is she good enough for a kill. She's earth flower power girl…not a killer. Damn it, damn it all to hell. We could become allies and help each other out. I can do the killing and she can find edible plant, food, and healing. Then what, when it come to the final two then one of us would have to die. I'm willing to die for her, when I walked on stage. But when we shook hands, feeling how soft and warm they are to my calloused ones. The look in her eyes said it all. She rather is dead for me. For I have a family and she, she only has an uncle.
"Damn it." I cursed again.
The door open and enter my entire family or at least the Hawthorne family, my mother Hazelle, Vick, Rory and baby three year old sister Posy. Posy squirmed out of mom arms and run if not wobble towards me on the couch. I caught her in time before she fell smacked down on her pretty little face and lifted her in my arms.
"Gale where oo go –in?" Posy innocently asked, "Mama say oo goin ah-ay?"
This was going to be hard to tell her. She's so young and doesn't understand the concept of these barbaric games that the Capitol performs. So I ruffle up her curly black hair and stare into her innocent grey eyes. "I'm just going on a trip is all? A long trip, can you be a good girl and help mommy out?"
"Okay, you see daddy?"
I sighed while the rest of the family rested their head down. Posy doesn't know that dad died in the mines with her uncle. And there's a possibility I might die as well. Careers train for this while others don't.
"Maybe Posy, maybe," I continued on the act that I was just going on a field trip and my family follows along. It wasn't long till she fell asleep in my arms that we got serious Mom started to cry hugging me for dear life wishing how sorry I couldn't have a childhood after dad died. Soon Vick gave me a speech to be strong and don't trust anyone and to have a knife on me. I nodded what else to I keep on my persons. Soon it was Rory, his eyes watery.
"Why," he whispered, "Why did you volunteered?"
The room became silent, that Mom, Vick took Posy and left. It was enough they could bear, as it was Rory and me.
"Rory let me explain. . . "
"You shouldn't have volunteered." Rory cried, "The family needs you. Mom works and so does Vick and Posy …she clings to you. You bring in the meat. You are what keeps this family is together. And your cousin Katniss's hunting buddy."
"Rory, you won't understand," I said taking his hand only to have it pulled away. I sighed, "And you think Siobhan would protect you?"
Rory paused and stare at his feet. I stared at him like he knows something. We know Siobhan has been with communication physically with little gestures. Such as a curt nod or something. I recall her staring at Rory shocked at first, when his name was called. But I miss something, too far away to tell.
"She was planning to . . . and I think . . . she was . . . going to sacrifice herself."
I stared with a scowled. I knew it. I just damn knew it, that Siobhan would do such a thing. If I didn't volunteered then she would do whatever it takes to protect Rory or any kid in that mattered. Hugging Rory making promises that I won't hurt Siobhan and that will team up and kick butt.
"Promise you win?"
"I'll try," I said messing his hair. Then I decided to give him how to be a man speech. One that dad gave to Vick and me. Since dad no longer here and Vick is busy in the mines. It's best to do it now. He was excited to here that he'll be man of the house when Vicks not around and promise that Katniss will teach him how to hunt. But most off all, to never sign up for teressa. He promised and soon they peacekeeper escorted him away. Back home, so he can be safe.
Soon Katniss and Prim came in and we gave our goodbyes. It was fast and short like Katniss. Though I took my time with Prim. She was cute and innocent, telling her I'll miss Lady's milk. Katniss reminded me not to forget anything in what we do, before she surprised a hug on me. When they both left came in to give me a token, something to remind me of home. It was the pin that was on her dress. A golden pin with a mocking jay on it, it meant something, but what?
When she left I sat down again and sigh. That was when the door open again, thought it would be one of my classmates but nope. Standing by the door was Mark Underwood.
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