(AN) Hi! So I originally wrote this when I was like 11 or 12, but I came across it and it's actually not the worst, so I wanted to rewrite it. This is another "Katniss can't volunteer" fic, and was originally inspired by "Fighters and Survivors" by rhymeswithblue, which I highly recommend cause it's great. Anyways, I'll try to update this regularly, it'll give me something to do during this quarantine. Please leave a like and comment! Also, I don't anything affiliated with The Hunger Games, all rights to Suzanne Collins.
Chapter One
The day of Primrose Everdeen's first reaping, the odds should have been in her favor. No tessera taken out in her name like the majority of the children in the crowd, no extra entries for her age. Just one paper slip with her name on it out of thousands. There probably wasn't anyone safer from being reaped that day, save for those too young or too old to be entered.
For the past month she'd been waking up in a cold sweat from nightmares of her name being called. Katniss would hold her, and assure her it was nothing to worry about. "Sh, you're okay," she would tell her younger sister, "I'm not gonna let them take you from me. It's gonna be okay." And, of course, Prim believed her. Had Katniss ever lied to her before? Had her older sister ever been wrong or put either of them into danger? Why would it be different this time?
Still, Prim would still get butterflies in her stomach whenever someone in school would mention the upcoming reaping. The general rule of thumb was to not mention it; everyone knew that having your name drawn had the same connotation as being put on death row. But still, hushed voices in the hallway would speculate who they thought it would be, what they would do if they were picked, how many times their name was in, et cetera. Whenever Prim would hear anything about it, she'd duck her head deeper in her textbook, or talk a little bit louder as to drown the conversation out. She couldn't bear to think of it before the day even arrived. But, Katniss said she was okay. It was going to be okay.
So when Effie Trinket, with her grotesque makeup and chirpy voice dug through all of the entries, Prim tried to stay calm. Deep breaths, deep breaths, she commanded herself repeatedly, like an elderly woman who had trouble breathing. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion, however looking back on it, it all happened so fast.
With a slip of paper in hand, Effie's heels click-clacked back to the microphone. Her bleached skin ripped it open, and with a confident tone enunciated the name so clearly: Primrose Everdeen.
The whole world seemed to go still for a moment. Hushed murmurs made their way through the crowd, and an aura of disbelief struck the hearts of almost everyone, as if to say No, not her, you can't take her away. As if the lives of those in District 12 weren't horrible enough, the one beacon of hope, the one reminder of innocence was going to be taken away from them. There was no mercy.
Despite not believing what was about to happen, Prim's feet started to trudge to the stage. She felt something burning in her chest, and her stomach felt heavy. She was almost certain that she was going to collapse on the ground before making it to the stage. She was halfway there before a shrill scream pierced the heavy atmosphere. Prim turned, only to see Katniss running towards her. If she had any control over her body, she would have ran into her sister's arms and sank to the ground. Maybe she could go to sleep and wake up, and it would be one of her nightmare's again.
But all Prim could do was stand there, and watch as her sister shoved her way through the crowd.
"Please," she wailed, "take me instead! Please! I volunteer as tribute! Please take me instead!" Katniss's voice was starting to go hoarse, but she forced herself to be louder with each plea. Nothing was happening. Why wasn't anything happening? It was if the crowd was deaf. Didn't they understand what was going on? They were going to take Prim away. Prim, who Katniss had raised and loved and protected. Prim, who would start to cry any time Katniss showed her how to hunt, begging to heal the wounded creatures. Prim, whose shirt was untucked in the back, forming a ducktail, because she was too small to fill the clothes out. Prim, who was simply starting at her from across the way. Why was she staring, why wouldn't anyone do anything?
And that's when Prim would make arguably the bravest or stupidest decision of her life. As she looked at Katniss, begging to take her place, begging to die in place of her, Prim counted all of the other times Katniss had saved her life, and quickly lost count. She had taken the place of her mother after their dad died. She had found ways to feed them when they were on the brink of starvation. She had taken out a tessera in her name, multiplying the amount of Katniss Everdeen's were in the raffle, and had forbidden that Prim do the same. So, Prim looked at her sister, conjuring up every ounce of confidence in her body, and turned to face Effie.
"I refuse to take a volunteer," Prim announced, shocking everyone in the crowd, including herself. What was she doing? Just a few minutes ago, she cowered at the idea of her name being drawn, and now she refuses a way out of it? Some called it courageous, while others called it ridiculous. For Prim, it was simple: she couldn't let her sister die for her. No, not after everything Katniss had put herself through already. So she marched up to the stage, climbed the steps and took her spot. She dared not to look at Katniss, who Gale had to drag away. She just couldn't do it.
The crowd was in a daze as Effie moved on the pick the boy tribute. Prim focused on a point in the distance, trying to keep herself standing. She felt like she might black out. She was so focused on staying conscious that she barely registered Effie announced the next name, Peeta Mellark. There's no commotion when his name is called, no one wants to volunteer for him. And so he makes his way to the stage, adopting the same blank stare as Prim.
"Well," squealed Effie, "there you have it! Our tributes for District 12! Shake hands!" Following Effie's orders, Peeta extended his hand. Prim mechanically followed suit, though she wasn't entirely in control of her body movements still. They shook hands, and Prim couldn't determine whether Peeta had given her a consoling squeeze of her hand, or if he just spasmed. They returned to looking forward, like soldiers getting ready for battle, which in many ways, they were.
"How exciting!" squeaked Effie. "Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!" As the tributes turned to leave the Town Square and be whisked away for good, Prim can't help but think that her odds were anything but.
Next chapter will be up ASAP, thanks for reading! Please leave a like and comment!