It was Reaping Day. Mother dressed me and kept my katniss braid intact. A year ago today, katniss was there helping me get ready. Now it was just me. The void threaten to throttle me and hold me down. I felt like I couldnt breathe. The deja vu without katniss was brutal. How will I get through today?
Plus it was a Quarter Quell, which just meant that it was something new to the games. Effie Trinket would eanncounce it at the reaping. I felt dead as I walked towards the square. I would see peeta. His conversation echoted through my head. He would mentor this year.
The square was crammed full of people. I felt like I was going to have an anxiety attack. This was just too familiar. When Katniss's name had been called, it felt like the air had left me completely. I knew her name was in a bunch of times but I didn't think she would have been called up. I didn't think the odds wouldn't be in her favour. I thought surely, all those names in there she wouldn't get picked. Not my Katnis. Not her. But she did. And now I was walking into the square alone. My breathing was shortned and I saw Peeta and Haymitch up on the stage. Effie Trinker was wearing an obscene gold outfit, with her skin painted a silver to match it. She looked ridicioulous but they all did from the Capitol. I hated them too.
I saw Gale who waved a little at me. I waved back. He had tried to help me as much as he could since katniss died. I knew how he had looked at her. He had loved her. I understood his pain and accepted his help.
Effie Trinket walked up to the podeium, holding a large piece of paper. Probably the quarter queell announcment.
"Welcome, welcome!" she said in her high pitched voice, "Before we begin, I have the announcement for the ever exciting Quarter Qell!" sure, I thought, I bet it was thrilling. "This is a high honour! From President Snow himself! The 75th Annual Hunger Games will have previous victors enter the arena!"
A hush fell over the crowd. Previous victors? That meant either Haymitch or Peeta would be going into the arena. But we had no female victors...
Effie cleared her throat, "In this special case of District 12, we have no...female victors. So a female victor will still be reaped."
Fresh meat, basically, how is one normal person suppose to stand against twenty-three victors?
"Ladies first." she said and walked over to the female reaping bowl.
There was a pause as she pulled out the slip and opened it. Then a queer look passed through her face as she looked at the piece of paper. She read the name.
"Primrose Everdeen."
I froze. My entire body froze. This has to be a joke, right? This couldn't be serious – I couldn't – I ean just mlast year it was katniss. How could it be me?
"Come on dear." Effie was saying and I felt my feet go ahead robotically.
How could this be was all I was thinking. How could this be? I'd be killed instantly. 23 against me. I couldn't.
I made it to the stage and Effie nodded at me, smiling, though her smile seemed almost strained. I could hear my mom sobbing and sounds of disquiet in the crowd. Had this ever happened before? I couldn't think. Effie turned to a smaller bowl. Two names.
She opened up a slip, "Haymitch-"
"I volunteer." Peeta said suddenly and stepped forward, his eyes locking to mine.
I could only stare at him.
I would be going into the arena with Peeta Mellark.