I own nothing
I sit on the train bound for the Capital, staring out the windows as the amber fields of 11 whiz past. I feel the eyes of this year's Tributes on me, the weight of their stares as heavy as their deaths will be on my heart. I finally turn my gaze to them and take my first good look.
The girl's name is Calluna Till, from her long blonde hair and blue eyes it's clear she's from the Merchant side of 12. At the Reaping she didn't cry or resist, she had meekly strode onto the stage, excepting her fate.
The boy is Koren Elder, due to his dark hair and grey eyes it's easy to see he's from the Seams. He's tall and muscular and has coal dust on his shoes. I silently wonder if he's started working in the mines yet.
The ominous silence of the car is interrupted by Effie entering, a big smile on her face brighter than her lime green blazer and skirt, both covered in rhinestones of various sizes.
"Well isn't this marvelous." She gushes looking from the Tributes to me. "We're all going to have such great times once we reach the Capital, and perhaps become life long friends."
"Yeah until one or both of them get killed." Haymitch chimes in joining us as well.
Ignoring him Effie diffuses, "As you know I am Effie Trinket, this…unpleasant…man is Haymish Abernathy, and of course you know the Girl on Fire Katniss Everdeen. Why don't you tell us a little about yourselves?"
Koren and Calluna look at each other briefly, their expressions slightly doubtful that Effie actually wants to know anything about them. But then Koren speaks up, his voice surprisingly soft and melodic for his size. "My name is Koren, I'm 17 and I live in The Seam with my Grandmother. My father died in the mines after a gas leak and my mother died giving birth to my sister who died as well. I started working in the mines a few months ago, its hard sometimes, but there's not much else."
"Cheery." Haymitch deadpans as he pours himself a drink. The liquid is clear this time so its probably vodka.
"And you dear?" Effie coaxed Calluna trying to overshadow Haymish's insensitivity.
"I'm Calluna and I'm 16, my father is a butcher. I have 5 younger sisters and a new baby brother born this summer." She shares quietly her fingers fiddling with the hem of her simple blue dress.
The silence that develops after is pressing until Haymitch speaks up, "Well now your Tributes from District 12. Congratulations should be in order but we all know that's all a bunch of bull shit. These Games, as they call them are anything but child's play. They even built a new arena, just for you." He laughed mirthlessly taking a healthy drink. "Even if you survive, if you come out, and I do mean if, you'll never be the same."
"Isn't that your job? To prepare us?" Koren challenges.
The three of us freeze, his words echoing Peeta's from oh so long ago. I somehow manage to find my voice first, "We'll do the best we can. But the majority of it is on you. We have days to turn you into warriors while the Tributes from the upper districts have trained for years. So if there's anything your especially good at, anything at all that could tip the odds in your favor, tell us now so we can know how to play to your strengths."
The pair were silent as they contemplated and once again Koren answered first. "I'm strong. Once there was a cave in and I went into the mine to help. I moved a stone that three men couldn't budge, opening a hole to get the trapped men out."
I wasn't sure about Haymitch but I was impressed. I had heard about the cave in, but I had been in the Capital fulfilling my "duties" as a Victor. That had been two years ago, so Koren had only been 15 at the time. Who knew what he was capable of now.
"I can also… well I guess you can say I see very well in the dark. My grandmother is too frail to do much work, though she'll do some mending and take in laundry from time to time. But we rarely have money for candles and the mines are rarely well lit, so I got used to seeing in little to no light."
"Impressive." Was all Haymitch had to offer.
As our eyes turned to her Calluna started fiddling with her clothes once more. Speaking just above a whisper she revealed, "My father would make me help with killing and cutting up animals for his shop since I was the eldest. I learned about veins and organs from the process, where to cut, how deep. I had wanted to use that knowledge to help animals, make them healthier to provide better meat, but my father said I was destroying profits cutting up meat just to see what it was made up of."
I feel myself frown at the harshness displayed by the butcher for his eldest daughter's interests, but my musings were interrupted by Haymitch contemplating, "So we have super human-strength and night-vision in one, and skill with a knife and knowledge of anatomy in another." He shrugs noncommittaly. "We've been given less."
I'm about to tell him those skills may not transfer into the Games exactly but I'm interrupted by Effie exclaiming, "It's time for the televising of the Tributes!
She turns on the TV and instantly Caesar's face is grinning brightly on the screen. "Good evening Panem! And welcome to the Reaping for the 74th annual Hunger Games. Tonight we will give you your first look at this years Tributes. So without further adieu, let's get to it!"
Clips then start rolling of the taped Reapings. From District 1 there's Teak the male Tribute and Patchouli the female. Drax is the male from 2 and he's HUGE, dwarfing Koren's 6 foot frame with pure bulging muscle. At 18 he may even give Brutus a run for his money. I miss the names of the female and the 3rd District's Tributes due Haymitch clanking ice for his newest drink. When the clips come to 4 they show a sobbing redheaded girl named Annie being escorted to the stage by Peacekeepers. I see Mags reach out and place a comforting hand on her shoulder when she reaches her destination. I feel a weighty sadness in my chest looking at Mags. She's been doing this longer than any of us other Mentors, and yet she somehow finds the strength to stand on that stage every year.
After my own Games Mags became like a second mother, understanding and comforting me in ways few others were able. Her stroke a few years ago had hit all of us Victors pretty hard, but she had recovered and was much the same, except for her lack of intelligible speech. I was about to excuse myself and try to take a nap before reaching the Capital but then as the name of a male Tribute was being announced a voice called out,
" I volunteer! I volunteer as Tribute."
AN: And so things are about to get interesting ; ) Hoping everyone is enjoying this so far, reviews are greatly appreciated!