"Why am I even doing this?" Katniss whispers as she looks down at the giant dark dome feeling more nervous and anxious, the closer her hovercraft gets.
Katniss does know why she agreed to this programme. It was for the money she was offered to take part in this special training programme. The Capital representative who approached her a few days ago promised her money if she agreed to come with him and be trained in District Two before she was placed into Hunger Games. The funnily dressed man offered to give Katniss's family money every year even if she died in the arena. The offer seemed too good to be true, and Katniss questioned it, but she couldn't turn the man down. At the time it seemed like a great idea and secured her families future but now that she has arrived at the Career Training Center Katniss can't stop that small part of her from wishing she turned the man down.
It's too late now. Katniss has already secured her place in the training programme and a spot in the Seventy Fourth Hunger Games. Now all Katniss can do is put on a brave face and try to learn as much as she can over the next three months despite desperately wanting to be back home and holding her sister.
"Miss Everdeen, please fall me to the ramp it's almost time to disembark," Graham Plainfeather the man who recruited her into the programme tells her.
Two Day's Earlier
Katniss lightly steps through the forest getting closer and closer to the unsuspecting rabbit gazing just ahead of her. Silent Katniss comes to a halt and readies her bow once she's in range quietly drawing back her arrow. The rabbit has no idea she is there, and Katniss quickly puts an arrow between its eyes. The little pitty and remorse Katniss feels about the kill quickly fades once she sees how much meat she will bring back to her family.
"Nice shot," Katniss looks over her shoulder to see the rare sight of a smile on her hunting partner and best friend's face.
"Thanks," Katniss nods back feeling proud, but she doesn't smile. She can't knowing how much her family is relying on her to bring them back something to eat. This year has been worse than usual with game harder to find and Capital Hovercraft patrols more appearing more frequently overhead, forcing Katniss to watch the painful sight of her sister staving. "We should keep moving if we want to find more game before the sunsets."
"I know," Katniss doesn't even have to look to know Gale has lost his smile. She can feel it in his voice.
The forest is usually quiet, but recently it has been more silent than normal with the scarcity of game roaming the woods. Katniss can heal her and Gale's footsteps and breathing something which is something rare with how quiet it is right now.
"Is your family doing ok?" Katniss asks as they continue to walk. As bad as she has it Katniss knows its worse for Gale having more mouths to feed.
"Not good…" Gale sighs. "Posy is sick again, and we can't afford the medicine right now. Do you think you can ask your mother to come over and check up on her?"
"I can try," Katniss replies but not knowing when her mother will be in or out of reality makes it hard to make any promises.
"I owe you," Gale tells her.
"No, you don't," Katniss says.
The pair continues to move through the woods, stopping once again when they hear a trig break in the distance. A small deer with barely any meat on its bones but Katniss can't pass on the kill and quickly brings it down. Her family may not have any use for the deer, but she can get a few coins for it from the butcher. Quickly picking up the deer, the duo decides to head back with their meagre kills.
"Scraps again," Gale moans. "Starving again while the Capital stuffs their faces."
"…" Katniss shakes her head, letting him vent and get all this stuff out before he's back in the District where a Peacekeeper will overhear him.
"How can we keep letting them do this to us?" Gale asks. "If we band together then I know we can beat them."
Back in District Twelve Katniss parts ways with Gale letting him keep the deer and whatever money he can get for it from the butcher while she took the rabbit and one of the two pigeons they managed to bring down on their way back. Waving goodbye Katniss heads straight home not looking forward to seeing her Prim's hunger little face. "Hopefully Prim's goat can give us enough milk to sell so we can buy some more," Katniss hopes as she approaches the Steam.
The Seam has always been rundown, and the people who lived there have always looked dirty and so thin that you can see their bones. Katniss looks away, unable to handle the sight as her own sister gets thinner and thinner. Stepping into her home Katniss is still struggling to find a way to cheer her sister up after bringing home a disappointing amount of food when she stops as she sees a stranger in her home.
The stranger is a tall man that Katniss knows is defiantly from the Capital by the way he's dressed and bright blue hair. His outfit nearly makes her laugh, and Katniss can already think of some jokes she can tell Gale tomorrow about his fancy blue suit. When the man sees Katniss, he smiles a smile that's too bright to be natural.
"Katniss!" Prim quickly runs up to her and hugs her sister, but Katniss quickly pushes Prim behind her and stares at the stranger.
"Miss Everdeen it is a pleasure to meet you, at last, your sister has told me so much about you," The man says, and Katniss looks down at her sister to see Prim shyly looking away.
"Who are you and why are you here?" Katniss growls as her eyes rise up from her sister to the knife on the table.
"Easy there I'm not here to harm you, Miss Everdeen," The man says following Katniss's gaze to the knife. " My name is Graham Plainfeather, and I am here to help you and your family."
"What makes you think I want your help?" Katniss asks him, shooting him a glare. "How can a man who spent his life in luxury even know where to start in helping my family and me?"
"Well, by offering a guaranteed monthly payment to your family that will continue even if you were to die," Katniss pushes Prim further behind her the moment she hears the word death. "If you agree to take part in the next Hunger Games and leave with me tomorrow morning then your family will never have to worry about money ever again."
"Katniss," Prim's grip on her sister tightens.
"Why me?" Katniss asks. "Why pick me and not someone else?"
"I asked around, and everyone I spoke to told me that out of everyone in the District you were the most likely to win in the Hunger Games Miss Everdeen," Graham tells her with a smile on her face. "From what people told me you are smart, resourceful and a survivor. The only person I spoke to who didn't have anything good to say to you is the Bakers wife who really seems to have it out for you."
"I know," Katniss frowns feel her heartache.
Katniss and Peeta had been happy together. Happy until the day she took him into the woods with her only for him to drown in the lake. Katniss tried to save him, but she was too weak to pull his body from the water and had to leave him while she went back to tell his family what had happened. Peeta's mother blamed her, and she was right as it was Katniss who suggested they go swimming that day. Katniss has to fight to hold in her tears.
"I think you are the best candidate for this programme, Miss Everdeen," Graham continues. "If you agree to come with me you will spend the next three months training in District Two before the Games begin. I'm sorry to put you on the spot like this Miss Everdeen, but I will need your answer right now."
"I…" Katniss looks down at her sister feeling Prim hugging her tighter, Prim looking so hungry and weak has Katniss asking herself. "How can I let her starve?" Hunting isn't working anymore, and it's getting more dangerous out there, so Katniss knows she doesn't have a choice in this, for the good of her family Katniss comes to her answer. "I'll do it but…" Katniss takes a deep breath. "I will need some money for my family before I leave."
"I'll we make arrangments for your first monthly payment to be issued tomorrow morning before you leave," Graham tells her with a smile. "It was a pleasure meeting you Prim," He gently says looking at Prim before looking up at Katniss. "I will come to pick you up at nine o'clock tomorrow morning Miss Everdeen."
Katniss moves out of the man's way, making sure to keep herself between Graham and Prim as she watches him leave. Even before he left Katniss could feel her sister crying against her but now that Graham is gone Prim really does break down. Katniss quickly spins around kneels down and hugs her sister pulling Prim in close and letting her own tears flow. Katniss cries at the memory of Peeta that was brought up, out of fear about going into the Hunger Games and because she knows that tonight may be the last night she spends at home with her family.
"It's ok, Prim," Katniss consoles her sister. "Everything is going to be ok."
"But you could…"
"I know," Katniss cuts her off not wanting Prim to say it. "It will be ok, Prim. You and mum will get money even if I don't make it back."
"I want you, Katniss," Prim cries. "I don't care about the money I just want you to make it back home safely Katniss. Promise me you will come home."
"Prim I…" Katniss doesn't want to lie to Prim but seeing the pleading puppy dog eyes of her sister Katniss can't do anything but make that promise. "I'll try, Prim, I promise I will try to make it back home."
Standing in front of Gale's house, Katniss can't help but feel nervous even more so than when she told her mother about where she is going tomorrow. Gale needs her more then her family does, and even with Prim and her mother agreeing to split the money with Gale's family Katniss knows he will still struggle to look after his family when she's gone. For five minutes Katniss nervously stands at his door string to work up the courage to knock and tell her friend that she is not only leaving the District out also going to be in the next Hunger Games. Finally, she manages to knock on the old wooden door that barely stays standing.
"Hello, Katniss," Gale's mother smiles when she sees her and Katniss notices little Posy in her mother's arms looking pale and coughing. "Are you here for Gale?"
"Yeah," Katniss nods. "I need to talk to him."
"I'll go get him," Katniss watches her disappear and hears her call out to her son.
"Katniss," Gale says, stepping outside. "What can I do for you?"
"Gale I… I am leaving for District Two tomorrow," Katniss tells him deciding to just get it over with and tell him right away instead of beating around the bush.
"What?" Gale asks, stunned by the news.
"That's not all," Katniss takes a breath before telling him the rest. "I won't be coming back because I am also in the next Hunger Games."
"Katniss why?" Gale asks looking both angry and shocked at the same time. "How could they do this?"
"Gale I wasn't forced to do this I agreed to go," Katniss tells him. "They offered me a lot of money Gale. Enough to feed both our families and they said they would continue to pay my family monthly even if I die in the Games."
"You can't trust them Katniss," Gale replies sounding like he wants to scream with the amount of anger Katniss hears in his voice. "The Capital can't be trusted. There is no guarantee the money won't stop when you die Katniss. This is just another one of their lies."
"I know it sounds too good to be true Gale," Katniss sighs knowing her friend might very well be right. "But even if they just make one payment it can feed both our families for a year maybe two if they are careful."
Gale doesn't say anything, and Katniss can see the rage simmering behind his eyes. Katniss knows her friend's hatred towards the Capital and has seen him vent it in the woods countless times to know that if she doesn't calm him down, then Gale will do something that could get him whipped or worse. The Peacekeepers in District Twelve may be the worse in the country being more concerned with drinking and sleeping with the starving people of the District than doing their jobs. Still, even they won't hesitate to punish someone who speaks out about the Capital.
"Gale," Katniss calmly says. "I made my choice, and I am going please don't do anything stupid. I don't want to leave Prim alone, and if my mother goes away again, you are the only person I trust to look out for her."
"But Katniss," Gale sounds calmer now, but still there is anger in his voice. "You know what it means to be in the Games. How can you be ok with throwing your life away like that? Peeta would be trying to stop you and be just as mad as I am about what is happening."
"I know," Katniss can feel her eyes watering at the mention of Peeta's name. "He would be doing everything in his power to keep me here."
"Then why are you doing this?" Gal asks.
"We need the money Gale," Katniss tells him. "We aren't making it anymore by hunting."
"Things will get better," Gale says. "It has to."
"We can't take that chance, Gale," Katniss shakes her head. She wants to believe him, but Katniss can't let Prim suffer in hunger will they wait for a better day. "We both have to think about our families and this money will change their lives."
"When do you leave?" Katniss can tell Gale has given up on trying to talk her out of it even though he still is clearly unhappy with what's happening.
"Someone's coming to my house at Nine O'clock tomorrow morning," Katniss answers. "Please don't do anything stupid."
"I promise," Gale says. "I'll come by at eight and say my goodbyes so I can leave before they get there."
Katniss is ready to leave the moment she hears the knock on the door and quickly stands only for Prim to hug her again.
"Please come home," Prim pleas as she starts to cry again.
"I'll try," Katniss tells her as her mother hugs her as well.
"Stay safe," Her mother says. "I love you."
"I love you both," Katniss replies, freeing herself from their arms and going for the door.
"Good morning Miss Everdeen," Graham, the blue-haired Capital man smiles brightly at her.
Behind him Katniss notices a pair of Peacekeepers holding up their Districts Victor and Mentor Haymitch Abernathy who barely looks conscious. That's not surprising as Haymitch is also the town drunk and is probably still sleeping off another long night of drinking. Graham doesn't pay him any attention as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a bag which he hands it to Katniss, who is pleasantly surprised when she opens the bag. The money she will be earning won't just last two year but should stretch to three years even if it's spent between her's and Gale's family.
"As promised your first month's payment has been delivered, and I don't mean to rush you, but we have a Hovercraft to catch so would you please say your goodbyes and come with me," Graham tells her.
Katniss turns back to her family and weakly smiles as she hands the money to her mother. "I love you," She tells them doing her best to stay strong but seeing her sister crying almost makes her break down. "At least they will be taken care of," Katniss finds strength in that thought. "I will come home."
"I love you," Katniss's mother sadly says.
"Please come home," Prim asks.
"I will," Katniss promises before she turns around and picks up her backpack. Someone came by last night and told her to pack for three months, but Katniss doesn't own that much.
"Please follow me, Miss Everdeen," Graham says as he starts to lead quickly followed by the two Peacekeepers carrying Haymitch.
"At least they will be taken care of," Katniss tells herself as she follows after the blue-haired man.
The streets of the Steam is filled with people watching her and Katniss feels like she might cry as they give her a silent salute with three of their finger pressed to their lips then out in front of them. Katniss never knew she had this much respect from the Districts Citizens or how much they cared about her. The salute they gave her was special, and one only gave to people they care for. Katniss has to fight back her tears as she continues to walk, feeling glad that she has long since mastered the art of wiping her face clean of emotions.
It isn't long before Katniss finds herself on the ramp of the Hovercraft where Peacekeepers have to hold back several reports from the Capital who struggle to take pictures and ask questions. It is the first time in Katniss's life that she is glad to see a Peacekeeper as they hold back the reporters. Katniss has never been good at dealing with people. None of the reports gets a chance to talk to her, and soon Katniss can feel the Hovercraft raise into the sky, taking her away to District Two.
"We will be making a stop in District Eleven on our way to pick up another two Tributes," Graham tells her. "I'm sorry you will be alone in District Twelve as none of the boys I approached wanted to be part of the programme."
"That's ok," Katniss assures him. She has never been good with people, so it makes little difference whether someone else from her District comes with her or not.