I don´t own the Hunger Games or The Book of Life. I am just playing with the characters.
CHAPTER 2 – THE MOCKINGJAY PIN
Gale was fuming. He really didn't see that happening. Katniss was now friends with the baker's youngest son, and he was pissed-off. He had seen the warning signs, but didn't pay to them two seconds of this time, so farfetched they were. After the encounter at the cemetery last year, he was convinced Katniss has put an end to the charity bread; she even went after the boy to confront him. However, he should have gone with her, as something from that meeting changed their dynamic from that day on and not in a way of his liking.
He just found out about the before mentioned friendship, and he and Katniss had had their worst fight to date. He did not believe for one second that Mellark's intentions were good. He certainly had a secret agenda; he just changed tactics now with this dubious friendship, as the bread on the tomb didn't gave him what he wanted. But probably it did at the end, as he was surprised with the news that it was his Catnip that approach the boy and demanded him a declaration of intentions of sorts. What the boy asked then was Katniss friendship, nothing else, well, he also said he would not mind the occasional rabbit instead of squirrel from time to time and hopefully a wild turkey during the end of autumn; but that was business and he would have paid in coin for those. Catnip had just disclosed him with the terms of the arrangement of her friendship with the Mellark boy and was very adamant on the 'he is just a friend' part of it. For his benefit or hers, he did not know.
That bastard Mellark really make a number on Katniss. He was patient; he conceded him that, as what boy would wait five years to make his move. In that case, he was patient too. He had waited at least three years since realizing he cared for her in a non-platonic way, not like a sister, a hunting partner or a simple friend, but a companion, someone who could he share his life, a house, a bed and, eventually, form a family with. He was waiting for her last reaping to pass so he could pop the question.
It was now the year of the 76th Hunger Games, the normal games. The year before was the third Quarter Quell and the cruelest so far. The twist on the games was announced a month before the reaping when President Snow publicly read the card that the founders of Panem had written for the Quarter Quells to come when establishing the Hunger Games at the end of the Dark Days. What came out of that man's lips was enough to break the country. He remembered hearing when the President announced that, for the Quell Games, to remember the families that the rebels wrong during the Dark Days, the direct family of the tributes reaped will be going to the games along their sides. Whole families, parents, siblings, sons and daughters went to the arena last year. But the Capitol, in their all mighty benevolence decreed one member of each family could come out as a Victor. A year with 24 victors, the capitolites were having the time of their lives. The strategy was sickening in the least. No volunteers of were allowed as a second "twist" to notch-up the fun of the Games; so, when the tributes from Two were reaped from the community home, it was just an unfortunate coincidence; and to have happened to the most promising district of them all. According to the presenters "it was a pity" as they had not next to kin to go with them to the Games and were automatically Victors, but first they had to endure the length of the games. President Snow thought of it a little unfair, having won without fighting, so the Game-makers put a quota to their leave, they had to kill at least 10 people in the arena in order to be worthy of their crowns. To make their exit from the arena, the tributes from Two ambushed the families of the other tributes and gave them the choice to decide who was to live before massacring the rest. They then asked for the remaining tribute to join them and the cycle repeated itself until only 24 survivors were left. The younger Victor ever crown, a little girl of six months, and sister of the reaped boy tribute of Seven was returned to her district to be delivered to the crying pair that were her grandparents. When Gale watched the scene on mandatory viewing, he saw red.
Gale shook his head to get rid of the unwanted topic of the Games, there were now more pressing matters in hand. He could not believe what he saw just mere hours before at the bakery. He and Katniss were doing their usual Sunday trading route when the Mellark boy approached them as they were longtime friends and started to talk to Katniss about decorating cookies with her and Prim after the reaping next week. She seemed hesitant at first but it took her less than the walk to the bakery to agree with the boy's plan. Gale could not have it, he had planned to propose to Katniss at their traditional celebratory dinner with all their family members present and Mellark was spoiling his plans, he did not belong there on such a private and joyous occasion for them. He tried to dissuade Katniss but the girl could not take a hint, although he was sure the baker's boy did notice something was amiss. But he did not give Katniss an out either, the little rascal! He probably knew he was interfering with my plans and didn't care to mess with them. When they got to the bakery the talk didn't turn to a better note for him, even Katniss suggested that if he was so eager to leave he could go on with the rounds as she was going to stay and finish setting the details of her date with Peeta. Yes! She even used the word date, and probably was not the wiser about it; but that little detail did not go unnoticed by either him or the boy, whose grin almost threatened to rip his face in two. Of course, he stayed after that, and the moment they left the bakery, he confronted her and that went as well as it was expected. They yelled at each other at the end, she was furious with him arguing that he was not her father or any parental figure that got to decide whom her friends were. He just could not believe her words, from all things that could be said she compared him to family, did she really did not see him as a potential life partner? Therefore, he did the only thing he could without doing or saying something he would regret later, he stormed off to the woods; and here he was, trying to figure what he could do next and keep the girl to himself.
_D_
Xibalba was quite pleased with himself; he had managed to device the perfect scenario in which his beloved will agree to the bet. He was sure to win this time; he had too as he was unable to endure the rest of eternity in that hideous place, he needed a vacation. While he watched the gray eyed boy grudgingly walking aimlessly thru the forest he carefully approached him without looking too suspicious, it was no secret few people manned the woods, and this boy was the most suspicious of them all. Although the girl comes a close second, he thought. He had to play this right, as it was the angular stone to his plan. Transforming himself on a decrepit old man, Xibalba set his trajectory so he will collide with the boy without him being the wiser. He certainly is distracted today; I wonder what made him so careless? Ahh, well it is not use now, I must concentrate on the plan.
"Hey look where you are going!" he shouted the second the boy hit him with such force he was send to the ground. "I could tell the same thing about you, old man. This is not place for weaklings as you, you know?" Such a charming boy, he thought. "Well, you could help me get up, being the strong one here". Gale scowled and he sense the moment he decided to leave him there and continue with his saunter. "I will pay you if you help me; I am lost as it is". Xibalba then hold a bag of coins in front of the boy so he could tell he was being serious. "What's the catch?" Always so suspicious. "No catch, I wanted to come to the woods to gather some things for a personal project, but I got lost in the process. Truth be told, if I had not run into you I will be spending the night here; you are really doing me a big favor". "Nobody here has that kind of money", the boy retorted. You are not going to make this easy on me, are you? "Well, I am not from around here. And it is in your best interest to leave it like that." He must have said that just right as the boy backed a little and started pondering the offer he was presented. Here goes to upgrade the offer then. "Tell you what, you help me back to town, you get the bags of coins and I will also give you this first as a token of good faith".
Gale saw how, as by magic, something appeared in the other man's hand. It was golden pin in the shape of a ring, with some sort of bird at the center that was holding an arrow by its peak. It was beautifully crafted and he thought it will be the perfect engagement present for his Catnip. If I manage to make her ditch her date with Mellark first, he somberly thought. Gale then appraised the old man, who had not left his position in the ground where he felt just moments before. He had not seen him in town before, but he really did not pay much attention to others than his family and friends. He seemed harmless enough, and if it came to it, he could certainly overpower him. Both the pin and the bag of coins will do him good. In addition, it was not charity, as he was helping this man out of a very precarious situation. He pictured Katniss' face when he presents both the pin and the money to her and could not resist smiling at the picture his imagination painted; there could even be a kiss or two involved. That made up his mind.
"Ok, I will help you. Give me the pin now and the bag when we arrived to town". Yes! Xibalba screamed on his head while trying to keep a straight face on the outside. I knew you would not be able to resist the offer. "Help me stand then, boy. My legs are just not as strong as they used to be". Gale helped him to his feet and he unceremoniously traded the pin.
The trek was taking a lot of time as the old man was walking slower than a snail. Gale thought more than once to run for it, he already had the pin; but something stopped him. It was not above him to ditch the old man in the forest, he was even pointing out the surrounding and the general direction of the village; the old man will not be totally helpless to return home by himself. However, it was as if something kept him from doing his heart's desire, he never said they were honorable thoughts, but still it was uncomfortable for him. Finally, when they were a hundred yards or so from the district's fence, and he was thinking how to help the old man go thru it, how did he cross it in the first place? He was about to ask his thought aloud when he noticed his companion was no longer following him.
"I think we better part here, it will be less suspicious." The old man had stopped a little less than five feet from his current position. He has now digging thru his clothes as if looking for something. He come with the moneybag from earlier and presented it to Gale.
"Nice doing business with you boy. Thanks for helping me out of there." "Don't thank me, you were lucky I was out there and this was just fair business." Gale said while looking into the bag, pondering if the money will be enough to make an order for a toasting cake. Baker boy will be on for the surprise of his life, he does not stand a chance with Katniss now, he told himself; he was already picturing himself the winner of her heart.
When Gale look up again the old man was no longer there, he was not interested on looking for him, this deal was better for him. He had the pin and the money, and he was now a little bit closer from having his girl by his side for good.
Xibalba saw the gray-eyed boy getting back to town. He did not explain the hidden power of the Mockingjay Pin, but he was a smart boy, he will figure it out. Now it is time to look for my lovely wife and present the terms of this bet.
_D_
Death had been closely following the emerging friendship between Katniss and Peeta since that last time she saw them at the cemetery. She was proud of herself, as for once she was creating something in the realm of the living, instead of destroying by taking beloved ones to her kingdom; or worse, to her husband's. It did not happen often, but there were times when a soul did not have anyone in this world or the next. Those souls were as black as the Nothing, so it was no wonder their dead embraced her and forgot about them as soon as they crossed to the other side, and their living were eager to forget their memory as soon as they died and go on with their lives. She shuddered at the thought of the last soul she reaped under these circumstances, and she always thought it was weird how only then, when faced with the inevitability of the rest of their existence in the afterlife alone and forgotten, when being accounted for their actions and deeds, did they understood; which made their crossing much more devastating.
Her musings were interrupted by the sudden appearance of her husband; he was excited, she could tell, what is with him now? She wondered. His husband showed little to no emotion, so whatever had him in this state should be something extraordinarily good or bad.
"Hello dear wife of mine" he greeted while coming closer to take her hand and press the softest kiss at the side of her palm. "How is the light of my eyes on this lovely evening?" Now she was surprised, he usually started ranting about how boring his time apart of her was, never talking about how she was; she knew he resented their living arrangements and he did not wanted to know how entertaining her day was.
When she did not answer right away, he knew he had given himself away, I am acting too eager and now she knows something is going on, he chastised himself for being so obvious. He wanted to sweeten her before going for the kill, but now was too late. He had no other option but to address the motive of his presence.
"Balbito, is there something is your mind that you want to share with me?" She asked while looking to him thru her ethereal eyelashes with those pitch-black eyes. Xibalba grimaced a little before answering her; being caught and all, there was no point on delaying any more. "Well yes, as a matter of fact I do. Thought you may be interested on taking a bet with me." Uh? A bet? What would he possibly want this time? She mused while closely inspecting her husband.
There has been a while since their last bet and she won that time. God heavens she did, as the alternative could have been completely disastrous. Humanity could only survive so many World Wars, the second was bad enough, but the third did manage to put a dent in any progress the humans had been heading to, leaving the world separated and with rulers that certainly didn't look for the greater good of them all but just of a few; so that time she managed to stop in time the chain of events that could detonate WW-IV and that would definitely have extinguished humanity from the face of the Earth. Whatever her husband was plotting this time would certainly be not good. The last time he won, the blackest moment in the history of humanity took place, a conflict between Christians and Muslims that lasted 400 years as it feed itself on human nature's biggest faults: first, the refusal to tolerate differences; and second, the active enjoyment derived from hurting things, especially other humans. Xibalba found that time particularly entertaining and Death could only sit back and watch countless of souls marching to the Land of the Forgotten. She cringed a little (Death was an Eternal, but she certainly still could feel something for those ephemeral beings) before returning to the subject in hand.
"A bet you say? I don't think the world can withstand another of our bets for some time…" If it could ever. "Oh, but this one will be somehow different from the others. I might even add it is a little trivial." Xibalba answered.
"How can anything about us could be trivial?" "Well, for starters it does not involve leaders or nations or any natural disaster on the verge of happening; it only involves three humans, neither of which has any position of power in the realm of the leaving." That just intrigued Death more, her husband never took notice on anything lest it be something relevant on a grand scale.
"Ok, let's say I`m interested, which are the terms of the bet?" "Well, I have known for a while that you have taken a personal interest on certain hunter girl, think her name is Katniss. Such a surly thing, so I really don't know how she have attracted the attention of so many bachelors on the district; her close friend, some merchants and even a peacekeeper. My bet is that before a year's time she will be with her hunter partner Gale. She says she does not want a relationship or to get married, but I think he might have a chance in changing her mind." "But I know her more than you do, and I think that if there is someone that could change the girls mind is the baker`s youngest son Peeta. So, are you suggesting we bet on which one of them captures the girls heart?" "Oh no, that will be implying that being with either is a matter of love, that will not be trivial. I am just suggesting we bet on which one of them she ends up with, whatever the circumstance. So, do we have a deal?"
Death was really taken aback by her husband's suggestion. She did not know where this have come from and was a little – really a lot – suspicious about this whole arrangement. It was something so trivial that she was having a hard time believing her husband was interested. Even invested. But then she remembered, they have yet to agree on the terms of the bet. What could you possibly be gaining by this? She thought and asked her husband.
"Well, in the spirit of the bet, being about couples and all. I was thinking that if I lose, you could have me doing the dirty work for the next millennia." God knows how she hates doing laundry and dishes. "Hmmm, but if I lose?". "Oh, I have not thought of that…" Yeah, right, they both thought in unison. "Well, if I win… we will change living spaces for the next millennia". He hopped he had acted cool enough for him to not give away his excitement.
Death saw her husband, and could have been fooled by his attitude if not by the twinkle on his eyes that gave himself away. She went again on the terms of their bet and felt quite sure with herself that the only person that could change Katniss' mind about a relationship that could lead to marriage and to love was Peeta, so she had the upper hand, and could not have her husband take that from her.
"I will agree on the bet and the terms, but only on one condition. We cannot interfere. Their story has to take a natural course on its own." Xibalba took a solemn posture as he recited: "I swear that from this moment on, I will not interfere on the lives of Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne." Death should have taken note of the time frame of the oath, but everyone knows that the oath of an Eternal is unbreakable, so she did not think too much on it and recited the words herself.
As to close the deal, they both crossed their hearts with their right index and sealed the pact with an earth-shattering kiss.
Little did they know that Nature has a way on her own to fulfill destinies that are beyond a trivial game between Eternals.
