Didn't Defeat, But Won

by Shravani1

"Let me do what I am doing," I insisted. "You can see your daughter dying just the way you saw my father, but I can't." I said this and chose to be alone.

Background

Hunger Games are near and this is the 74th year of Hunger Games. Hunger Games is a game in which people kill each other to survive. Every year two tributes (a girl and a boy) are chosen from each district to participate in Hunger Games. The age limit for Hunger Games is 12 to 18. If people are applying for tesserae (grain and oil) in exchange people have to put their name with the name that is already considered if they are between the age limit. This year Primrose Everdeen has turned 12 and this year her name will go into the bowl of chits. Katniss Everdeen loves her little sister and will never risk her life. Katniss is 16 and she is the one who takes care of her mother and little sister.

"Are you ready to go hunting?" I ran towards Gale with excitement.

"Yes Catnip," said Gale and picked up his bow and arrow. We both ran down in the forest expecting to get something for dinner tonight. I saw a figure running towards the left.

"Hush!" I made him quiet and asked him to come with me. I reached my hand for an arrow and stretched my bow to leave the arrow. But "wait" I heard a voice. But it wasn't Gale. Then, who was it ? I went towards the bush where I heard the voice from. I kept my feet on the ground quietly and looked left and right. The figure I had seen was not of a bird or an animal; it was a girl. She slid down her hand in her pocket and took out a pin. A golden ring with a Mocking Jay bird in it.

She handed me the pin. "Take this and remind the Capitol that they can fail too," she said with hatred towards the Capitol visible in her eyes.

"Why me?" I uttered, "And who are you?"

"Look at you, you are already going against the Capitol by illegally hunting, " she sounded very confident, "You have the rebellious streak, girl. "

"Ah! I don…" She hastily went away and didn't care to listen to me. The way she ran I thought she was trying to hide from someone, maybe she was an avox running to save her life. But she could talk so then who was she?

Gale put his hand over my shoulder which felt like he didn't want me to think about that pin and the girl. "Don't you also think we need to do something about Hunger Games?"

"No, because just you and I can't fight against the powerful Capitol," he countered. But somewhere in my mind, I agreed to what the girl was saying. This year it was my sister who was going to be part of the Hunger Games so I had to do something about the Hunger Games. I had to do something even if it was going against the Capitol for my sister's life.

Next day, I walked towards the coal mine. Coal miners wore helmets and had tools with them.

I heard some people talk about their children and the Hunger Games. Then, I remembered that I had to do something about the Hunger Games. And an idea struck my mind. I went into the centre of the coal mine and called out people's names. People didn't turn their heads instead they started whispering to each other. Then, again I called out but nothing happened.

Good Morning, everyone. I want your attention for a moment please. I have something to talk about.It's ok if you don't turn your heads towards me, but I know you all can hear me. So I was trying to say that it is not just me but we all have tolerated suppression from the Capitol for 73 years be it poverty or be it the participation in Hunger Games. 73 years, district 12 people are working in coal mines and still don't get a fresh slice of bread to eat for once in a day. It is high time that we realize we have to stop this oppression. A voice from the crowd was heard which cautioned saying, "Are you a new born baby? Don't you know that you will be brutally killed? And you want us to die with you?"

I didn't bother and continued, oh sorry so you want your children to die in the Hunger Games and that's the only option you see. But we have an option, we can unite and rebel against the Capitol. If we just think back in these 73 years from 156 people either somebody has died or they were deadly injured. Leaving that in a week a person dies out of hunger or because of the gases and dust from coal mines. I can never see Prim suffering in the cruel game and I believe that every mother here also can't see her child. "John's mother, can you see your John suffering?"

"No," she replied.

Believe me if we come together we can change a lot of things. The Capitol thinks we are weak and that's why they oppress us but if we unite we can show that we are strong.

"How can we believe you?'' someone questioned. You don't need to believe me but you need to believe in yourself that you have the capacity to change things. So we need to stop working in coal mines to make the base of the Capitol weak.

"She has gone insane." '' She wants to risk her life and ours too." " If something happens to my child will she pay for it?" People blurted and walked away and started working again.

"Katniss," my mother shouted, "come here and please stop these things."

"Let me do what I am doing," I insisted. "You can see your daughter dying just the way you saw my father, but I can't." I said this and chose to be alone. I thought it would be easy to convince people. But they have so much fear of the Capitol which has blindfolded their eyes that they can't see that we need to stop all this. I wish the Capitol would stop this game and let the people live a peaceful life.

After the morning incident I was very disappointed so I went on the outskirts of district 12. Sun had started to descend and my hopes were also descending. Gale came and sat near me, he knew I was disappointed with the people. Gale whispered, "Catnip, it's ok from 73 years we are tolerating so let's tolerate this year too."

I bursted out and said,"I never expected you to be the way other district 12 people are. I am losing my hope too but at least I am thinking about the other ways. You are such a pessimistic guy."

"I was just trying to comfort you but at the end I will just say that many people rebelled the way you are trying to but no one succeeded," Gale said and walked away.

"Gale, Gale…," I tried to stop him. Was I doing something wrong? Why aren't people trying to understand? Maybe I am the one who is doing wrong because Gale walked away too. It is the Capitol who wins everytime and now too. I shouldn't have started this. Oh god why did I speak to Gale like this? All these questions and thoughts haunted my mind. He was just trying to comfort me.Then,I heard a wolf howling and realized it was time to go as it was very dark now.

I walked with a heavy heart and eyes lowered. I heard my name and raised my eyes to see who was talking about me. Then,I saw it was Rosie saying to Kylie that I and Gale were in a relationship. "Oh! stop this, we were and are not in a relationship," I yelled at them after I heard Rosie and Kylie saying false things about our relation.

"Don't lie, we know that you do,"Rosie replied.

"You guys talk everyday sitting alone on the outskirts,I think you had a fight today we saw Gale coming angrily from there," Kylie tried to defend Rosie and pointed towards the direction we sat. I chose to leave the place as I knew if I argued with them it would be just like me breaking my head on a stone. And continued to walk.

I laid down on the floor covering myself with a blanket. I closed my eyes and I could just see people's death and another day when my family was sleeping without food. I think I am thinking about the Hunger Games too much maybe because this year Prim has turned 12 that's why. I had to do something but me alone could not do a single thing. Why is everyone so weird? No one is ready to believe me like I told Rosie and Kylie that I was not in a relationship but they didn't believe me. But when Rosie shared her thoughts on me and Gale to Kylie, she believed her in an instant. I think it is not the truth that people believe it's the lie or what they see they tend to assume. District 12 citizens didn't believe me because they had always seen the Capitol winning. Because of which it was hard for them to believe that we can win and demolish the Hunger Games tradition. After sometime ,when Prim and my mother were in a deep sleep, I woke up removing the blanket gradually. I tiptoed towards Prim's bag and reached out for a few blank papers. I took them out and took out some writing material. On every paper I wrote something which ended with,"Your Honorable Capitol."

I opened the door quietly, making no noise of the door. I looked around being cautious so that I wouldn't get caught by someone. I saw nothing and ventured down the street without making a pin drop noise. I took out a paper and put that on everyone's door.I ran to everyone's house and felt my heart beating faster and faster. I went to the Mayor's house and could hear someone talking. I thought someone would catch me if they come to the door.So I placed the paper very gently on the floor.Then, I hurried towards my home. As I was opening the door I realized that I should put a paper on my door too or else people will question me.

Next day, I heard someone banging our door and I woke up realizing that it was morning.My mother was trying to wake me up to see why people were yelling.I thought people understood it was me who wrote all those things.People were screaming my name on our door so loudly."Katniss, Katniss," the banging became louder and louder.

I unlatched the door and saw paper in the hands of individuals in the crowd. I thought that they definitely got to know that I wrote all those things on the paper. "Katniss, because of your speech, look what has happened," someone chided. A aunty handed me the paper and asked me to read it. I sighed with relief that they didn't understand it was me."Why are you sighing? Did you want this only to happen?" She lashed out on me.

"No,"I replied.

I started to read the letter:

Dear District 12,

This is the 74th year of Hunger Games. So "Happy Hunger Games. " This year the rules of the Hunger Games are altered. The rules are as follows:

Leaving the name that has been already considered because of your age you have to put 4 more chits even if you don't want tesserae.

The age limit for Hunger Games is now 10 to 20 as we believe that you have the capacity to survive.

For grains and oil you have to put separate chits.

We believe that everyone here has the capacity to win and that's why we have changed the rules. "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"

Your Honorable,

Capitol

I made my face look shocked while reading this so that people don't look at me with suspicious eyes. "I told you that we have to stop this before it gets worse, now see what has happened."

"But this has happened all because of you and your wish to change things," someone from the crowd blamed.

"When I also thought you had the power to stop this game just the way Capitol thought you had the power to win, you didn't believe me,"I tried to make them understand."You all have the power." I saw that people had at least started thinking about the Hunger Games and rebellion. No one said anything.They returned to their work which made me think that they agreed to what I was saying.

I took my bow and arrow to go hunting. On the way, I heard two uncles talking to each other. "I think now it is time to actually protest against the Capitol because the new rules are too harsh and my son has turned just 10," one of them said.

"Yes, he is so small to be in the Hunger Games," the other man replied. I could sense that the spark I had put was turning into a fire. Only 2 days were left for the game and I was seeing some people were convinced and some were not.

Finally, it was the day,the most awaited day. It was a sunny day everyone stood there waiting for Effie Trinket.Sweat was rolling down everyone's cheeks.Everyone was standing so close to each other the stench of sweat filled the reaping area.People stared at the glass bowls wishing they are not the chosen ones.Some people looked at me and then the front area and gave obnoxious looks. I felt my heart beating faster and faster. I was not sure if others would help and support me. I looked at Gale and he smiled encouraging me. I knew whatever happens he will stand by me. I knelt down acting like I had dropped something and I was searching for it.I saw a rock but I could see people who were keeping an eye on us. "Happy Hunger Games," Effie trinket had arrived.So without thinking too much I gripped a rock and felt my hand burning. I stood up covering the rock with my dress. "Oh no!" Effie trinket screamed. I was blank for an instant and was just thinking about what I did a second ago. I had thrown that stone at Effie Trinket and her forehead was bleeding. Mayor hurried towards her and prevented her from falling down. Everyone ran here and there without knowing what they were doing. They just knew that they had to save their and their family's lives. I felt someone pulling me back. I was trying to push the people away. I realized that I had a pin so I started to prickle them with the pin. I ran away and started to find rocks and stones. I had tears in my eyes when I saw people had brought coals to hit with. The dresses had turned red and black.Small coals didn't affect the guards at all. Capitol people had started to kill us with swords and other weapons.Mayor was slowly trying to take Effie Trinket away and I was trying to run but I couldn't.I could just see a flood of blood flowing in the reaping area. I felt something in my back and it was a sword. I was trying to pull the sword out of my back. I saw my fingers stained with blood. I was running out of my breath, everything in front of me was dizzy. I saw Prim running towards me crying.I felt my head getting lifted up and then placed on a lap. I tried to open my eyes but I could feel that it was Prim. Her tears dropped on my cheek and begged me to get up. "Please get up!," she cried out.Her voice echoed in my ears. People sat near me and cried,"We are sorry for being too rude to you even though you were thinking good for us."

"Thank you," they said and Prim was taken away. That's when my head touched the ground and closed my eyes. The Mocking Jay pin in my hand.

In the end it's the Capitol who won and the Hunger Games remained the same.