The next few days pass me by in a blur. I don't know what is real or not anymore. I feel as if my whole entire body is filled with tracker jacker venom. My dreams are distorted by my fears, my reality is distorted by my fears, my fears are distorted by the Hunger Games. It's Monday morning and today is the Reaping for the Hunger Games. Peeta and I haven't seen each other since the night we knew we were going to die. Gale has come around a couple of times but I simply get Prim to answer, telling him that I am too ill to talk or that I am out in the woods. I don't want to see his face, neither of their faces because I know that in a short time, they'll be dead. And so will I. I get mother to braid my hair like she did last year for the Reaping. I remember how much Cinna loved it. Both mother and I remain quiet. Her hands are trembling whilst doing the final braid; I wonder if she knows my fate just as well I do?
"Where's Prim?" I ask.
"She's gone around Sam's house. Prim would just get upset so I've told her she could see you at the Reaping." I nod my head to show that I understand before falling silently back into my thoughts.
It's 12 o'clock already, I check my reflection in the mirror one final time before kissing my mother on the cheek. Prim still isn't home yet; I assume that she'll be waiting for me in the crowd at the Reaping. I step out of my house to the hush silence of District 12, the whole district is walking, marching almost, to the town square. The children don't look as presentable as normally, perhaps because they're aware that I wouldn't choose them. Especially not the young. I feel somewhat sick, as if the collar of my dress is slowly suffocating me. The thought that I will be sending two individuals to their deaths, it's horrible. How the Capitol could do it for entertainment I'll never know. As I walk towards the town square, I notice more and more people avoiding my eye contact. Perhaps they are afraid that if they acknowledge me I will decide to volunteer them as tribute.
I register once I arrive at the Reaping, allowing the Peace Keeper to abstract some of my blood from my index finger. I am too numb from emotion to even acknowledge the little prick on my finger. It is only until a Peace Guard physically moves me that I am aware. I stand my place in the crowd, scanning for a little duck tail, for a little duck, for a little sister. But I can't see her. The national anthem of Panem suddenly begins to play, vibrating the fragile ground of the town square under our feet. A burst of colour suddenly appears within my visual field and I can't help but smile. Standing on stage, bright neon orange wig, is Effie. She looks out onto the crowd, somehow spotting me and giving a small smile.
"Welcome! Welcome! Happy 75th, Quarter Quell Hunger Games and may the Odds be ever in your favour! Now, before we begin, we have a special message brought to you all the way from the Capitol!" Effie exclaims in delight, one of her eyelashes is slowly falling off her left eye. The flat screen suddenly lights up, showing the traditional propaganda video. Whilst everyone watches the screen my eyes once more glance around the crowd, hoping to see my little sister. I don't.
A small cough given by Effie draws my attention back to the stage where she stands proudly.
"I just love that! Now I would like District 12 to give a loud round of applause to your Hunger Games winners and, once again, tributes Miss Katniss Everdeen and Mr Peeta Mellark!" The applause given is faint, half-hearted, yet I still seem to struggle to hear. Blood is pounding in my head and I am unable to focus properly, yet it seems that my legs have been automatically programmed to walk towards Effie. To walk towards the neon orange. I meet Peeta mid journey and he grabs onto my hand. I'm unsure of whether he is acting; we do still need to act like we're in love or, whether, he needs just as much support as I do. Once we are on stage the applause stops all together and Effie gives both Peeta and I a hug. The smell of Effie fills my nostrils; it is as if she has bathed in cheap, lingering perfume. Effie gives us each a Capitol smile, though her eyes resemble the emotion of sadness. Effie returns to speaking to the crowd,
"For the Quarter Quell this year your District Winners have been given the fantastic opportunity on choosing who of you will also be able to represent District 12 in the Hunger Games!" Effie chirps. Fantastic opportunity? This has been the worst decision of my life. Effie pulls out two small pieces of paper from her pocket, each having a name written on it. I look to Peeta in confusion; we haven't told anybody who we were volunteering. Not even Haymitch. I suddenly feel the presence of three Peace Keepers next to Peeta and I.
"I think we shall have gentlemen first this year," Effie declares unfolding the piece of paper, "The tribute which Miss Everdeen and Mr Mellark have volunteered as tribute is Gale Hawthorn." The doors to the JusticeBuilding open and a Peace Guard walks Gale out. Gale gives a small smile to me before walking towards Effie.
"Your District tribute, Gale Hawthorn!" Effie exclaims, guiding Gale over towards Peeta and I. Again, the applause given by the audience is faint. Effie begins to unforld the next piece of paper,
"The tribute which Miss Everdeen and Mr Mellark have volunteered as tribute is…"
"Madge Undersee", I say out loud within my head, filling in the pause which Effie has created.
"Primrose Everdeen!" Effie announces, her voice no longer as full of enthusiasm as it was for Gale. The whole crowd turns silent. I haven't registered what's been said until I feel someone's hands holding me tightly and Peeta yelling. I have flash backs of the Reaping from last year, the protective, family instinct swelling with inside of me.
"THIS HAS BEEN FIXED! WE NEVER CHOSE PRIM!" Peeta yells. I'm suddenly back in reality, I feel a form of rage fill up inside of me, I'm aware that there is a Peace Guard holding me firmly back.
"PRIM!" I scream out, "NO!" I start pulling away from the Peace Guard, Peeta's shouting words which I didn't even know existed and the ones I did know, I'd be punished for saying. The JusticeBuilding's doors are opened and my little sister walks out, my little duck, my little Prim. The whole crowd begins shouting, noticing the look of disbelief within my eyes and Prim's.
"PRIM," I scream, my voice breaking slightly. She's crying. I'm meant to protect her! I push even harder, trying to break free from the Peace Keeper. Peeta gets pulled off stage as he becomes more and more aggressive. Gale, he remains silent, shocked by the whole outcome. I feel disgusted by the sight of him. I bite down on the hand of the Peace Keeper, breaking free from his clasp and running towards my sister.
"I didn't volunteer her!" I shouted at Effie, "Madge Undersee, Madge Undersee, you're this year's tribute. You've been volunteered! Well done! Come up! Claim your prize!" I scream at the crowd. My eyes lock with Madge and she mouths sorry to me. Peace Keepers pull both me and Prim off stage, leaving Effie to try calm the distressed crowd.
"GET OFF ME!" I scream as I get carried into the JusticeBuilding. The Peace Keepers simply ignore my screams as I am separated from my sister once more. I am thrown into a room where Peeta is waiting for me.
"Peeta! Peeta we have to do something, we have to save her!" I cry, my words breaking up. Peeta simply engulfs me into a hugging, allowing me to cry silently into his chest.
"I know Katniss, I know. What they have done is… is exactly what someone like President Snow would do," Peeta replies, kissing the top of my head. I can sense the anger in his voice, the anger which I wish I could show instead of crying. "They wont hurt her," Peeta adds.
"You can't promise that, Peeta."
"Yes I can," Peeta replies with forcefulness. I look up at Peeta, his eyes are just as watery as mine, though he won't allow any tears to escape.
"Thank you," I whisper.
At that exact moment the doors open to where Effie enters, her mascara running, false eye lash from the left eye missing.
"How dare they?!" Effie shouts, "How dare they speak to me in such way, as if I was to know that-"
"-Where's Prim?" I interrupt.
"Primrose? She's in the room next door, with that 'Gale' is it?"
"I need to see her," I reply.
"You will. They're just explaining to her and Gale what shall happen from here forward. This will be a wonderful opportunity for Primrose, Katniss. She'll get to see the Capitol! Be given such beautiful dresses. And, best of all she'll-"
"-Get to die in the Hunger Games, in front of the eyes of thousands of people, all for their entertainment," Peeta interrupts bitterly. Both I and Effie are taken back by Peeta's outburst, Effie gives a small cough,
"Not necessarily, you two both survived, didn't you? We'll be leaving in five minutes."
"Don't I get to say goodbye to my Mother?" I question in confusion.
"Oh no, there isn't anytime for that," Effie replies before leaving the room.
My mouth goes dry. I won't be given chance to explain to Mother that I never volunteered Prim as tribute. Worst of all, Prim won't be able to say her goodbyes to Mother.
"We're going to be okay," Peeta comments, placing his hands on my shoulders, turning my attention to him, "We're going to live."
"We can't all live Peeta!" I reply in disgust.
"You and Prim will live," Peeta corrects.
"I'm not letting you risk your life for me, not again," I state, "Peeta. I don't want you dying for me… just, please; promise me that you'll keep Prim alive."
"I promise," Peeta whispers, placing his forehead against mine.
The doors open once more, where two Peace Keepers enter, guiding both Peeta and I out of the room, out of the building. Into the back of a vehicle where Effie and Haymitch are waiting for us. But no Prim or Gale.
"They're arriving within another vehicle," Effie states, noticing both Peeta and mine's questioning eyes. The door to the vehicle is shut and we begin to move.
"Listen sweetheart, I know what has happened is terrible but you can't be entirely surprised this has happened?" Haymitch says to me. He's right. When I heard Prim's name being called out I felt shocked. But not surprised.
"Can't something be done? It's been fixed," Peeta questions, anger rising within his voice.
"Because the Hunger Games have always been fair, haven't they?" Haymitch states.
"They are fair," Effie interrupts, "The reason for why the Hunger Games is set out the way which it is, is because-"
"-Cram it, pumpkin." Haymitch snarls. Both Peeta and I smile slightly by Haymitch's comment, he turns his attention back to me. "Now here's what you do. You've got to act like that you aren't bothered by this. That this…hatred you are feeling will only fuel you to perform even better within the arena."
"I don't want to act, I'm going to die anyway," I reply.
"Just do as I say. We'll discuss tactics later… when we're in a more private place," Haymitch says, raising his eyebrows at both Peeta and I.
I don't understand what Haymitch means, but I don't understand a lot of stuff at this current moment of time. I'm surprised by how calm I must seem to the world, I think I am still in a state of shock. I convinced myself that Prim would be safe, that she would be kept alive. To know that I was wrong is devastating. I am also disgusted at the reaction which Gale presented at the Reaping. Gale has always cared for Prim, often in the same way which a brother would for a sister. He knows how much I love her. Yet, when her name was announced, Gale remained silent. He must have thought that I did volunteer Prim as tribute, that I obviously wanted her in the arena, that I wanted her to die.
But Peeta, Peeta was different. Peeta was speaking the words which I wish I could have shouted. Peeta showed the anger which I wish I could have presented. Peeta revealed the love he had for Prim which I wish Gale would have.
A/N- I'm really liking the direction of where this story is going, I didn't originally plan for this to happen when I first started writing. That's what's so great about FanFics, anything can happen! Thank you for all the reviews so far, please could you leave me another one, letting me know what you think of this story and what you would like to see happen? :) Thanks for reading! Don't forget to 'follow' this story if you haven't already x