Hello again, my wonderful readers, to chapter 2 of my story :)
I know this isn't what some of you wanted, but I felt as though this needed to be put out first. Is that alright? I hope so.
See ya when you're done reading!
ONTO THE STORY!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games. Otherwise, I would be rich. And I'm not. Sadly :/
Last and this chapter Beta-d by my wonderful friend/kinda sister SupernaturalistAvenger. Thank ya, darling.
FLASHBACK TO LAST CHAPTER
That day, before Katniss could even take a breath, I surged forward, shoving everyone out of my way and threw myself at Prim, shouting out the four words that would prove to be my salvation and damnation at the same time.
"I volunteer as tribute!"
My shout of desperation was met with complete silence as the people of District 12 watched, stunned. Pursing my lips, I swallowed hard, struggling not to wither under the weight of all the stares.
"I volunteer as tribute," I repeated, my voice losing its edge.
Peacekeepers descended upon us, being surprisingly gentle in their attempts to pry Prim from my arms. However, she was having none of it.
"Stop it! You can't take her!" Prim cried, refusing to let me go. Prim's eyes welled up with tears as she looked up at me, her nose and cheeks turning into a blotchy pink. My chest tightened. I was doing this for her and Katniss. I had to be strong for them.
"Go, Prim." I smiled, feigning confidence. "Go back to Katniss. I'll be fine."
Her sweet little face crumbled and the tears fell, but she nodded. She squeezed me extra tight in a hug before releasing me, letting the Peacekeepers usher her back to her spot in the crowd. Katniss rushed over and clutched Prim to her body, burying her face in her little sister's hair. Right then, I knew I had made the right decision.
"Well, it appears we have a volunteer! How wonderful!" Effie Trinket cheered. A broad grin stretched across her face, her sparkling white teeth on full display. My stomach rolled. She appeared absolutely ecstatic as she hurriedly motioned for me to come forward.
The Peacekeepers escorted me towards the stage, a few of them being rougher than necessary. Where did the gentle treatment go from moments ago? They poked and prodded me, forcing me ahead of them and over to the stairs. I grit my teeth and bore through it, going up two steps before hearing one of them mutter a slur. I whirled around and shoved the one I thought it was backwards. In an instant, he fell and landed on his rear while the others took aim with their guns.
My heart hammered in my chest, frozen in place as I immediately realized the stupidity of my actions. Effie Trinket cleared her throat from behind me, calling for me to join her on the stage. Carefully, I moved away from the Peacekeepers and closer to the Capitolite, keeping my emotions in check. Smoothing over my features, I reminded myself that I was on camera for all of Panem to see, and another bold move like that might get me killed far earlier than the Games would.
"Hello, my dear!" Trinket exclaimed. Her voice was just as high-pitched and lilting as before, as if she was unfazed with the near threat of gunfire. That same grin was still plastered on her face. "I bet my buttons that was your sister over there, wasn't it?"
"No," I started harshly, but as I took in her startled expression, I softened a bit. "No, she isn't. She might as well be, though."
I glanced over at Prim, unsurprisingly meeting the gaze of Katniss instead. Regret and relief warred in her eyes, and I knew that if I were down there she would be giving me quite an earful. I gave her a half-smile.
"Oh. Well then. Would you like to tell us your name, then?" She asked, leaning towards me with her microphone.
"…Laurel Dainton." Might as well get straight to the point.
"Splendid!" She said. Clasping her hands together, she beamed out at the crowd as if she expected them to be just as pleased with the information. "Now, let us see who our male tribute will be this year!"
My breathing hitched. The boys. How could I forget the boys.
Walking ever so careful on her high, high heels, Trinket made her way over to the boys' bowl. Two names chased circles around my head as I prayed to whatever was listening to not pick them.
"Emery Grimmins!" She called, eagerly searching for the unfortunate tribute.
Stillness made the air heavy with tension. Trinket's smile became a little strained as the seconds ticked on and no one came forward. Clearing her throat, she opened her mouth to call it again when ripples started working their way through the eighteen-year-olds' section. A few heartbeats later, a boy emerged, setting Trinket at ease but not me.
Taller than Gale and a little more broad, he cut a surprisingly intimidating figure for being a Seam kid. Long, unkempt hair messily framed his face, and the closer he got, the closer I could see how blank his stare was. The Peacekeepers went to flank him, but he paid them no mind, heading straight for the stage with no hesitation. He came to a stop about three feet away from me, and a strange feeling wriggled in the back of my brain. My brow furrowed. This boy was familiar, but why?
"Any volunteers?" Effie Trinket asked. Did she seriously think she could persuade some other kid to willingly accept a death sentence?
The resounding silence was all the answer she needed.
A little put-off, but not entirely upset, Trinket babbled for the mayor to begin reading the Treaty of Treason. Gesturing to the boy and I, Trinket had us stand beside her as Mayor Undersee stepped forward, somehow looking enthralled despite having heard the same speech year after year. Getting fidgety, I forced my hands to stay at my sides and tried to focus on anything else. Movement just off the edge of the stage caught my eye and I turned my head to look, blinking as I took in the disheveled appearance of our district's only living victor.
Haymitch Abernathy, victor of the 50th Hunger Games and the local drunk, staggered on the stage as the mayor was nearing the end of his speech. Murmurs echoed through the people as their attention was diverted, wondering just what the man would do next. Just after Mayor Undersee finished up, Mr. Abernathy let out a powerful belch that could have knocked Trinket's wig off. Wrapping an arm around the Capitolite, he tucked her into his side, looking confused on where he was yet happy to be there regardless. My upper lip curled in disgust at his blatant lack of concern for anything. This was supposed to be our mentor?
Mayor Undersee frowned at the interruption, clearing his throat in an attempt to get Mr. Abernathy's attention. The drunkard paid him no mind, instead abandoning Trinket and sending her teetering on her heels before setting his sights on the boy. Clapping him on the back, Mr. Abernathy barked out a laugh, throwing his head back at the hilarity of it all. The boy grimaced.
"Ya know, kid? I see a lotta myself in you, Emery Grimmins." He smirked, poking the boy in the chest. "All business. Big ol' tough guy, huh? Maybe you outta lighten up a bit!" The kid stared at him, an eyebrow raised in disbelief. I scoffed.
"And you!" He exclaimed, nearly tripping over his own feet on his way to wrap his arm around my shoulders. "You gotta lotta guts. A helluva lot!" He hiccuped, smiling deliriously. But something was off. I tensed, looking deeply into his eyes as he got further into my personal space.
There was something about his eyes. They should have been glazed over, or cloudy, or even bloodshot like anyone's eyes would be as drunk as Mr. Abernathy was acting. But they were not. No, they were clear, bright even, and staring pointedly at my own. Curiously enough, I could smell no alcohol on his breath either. His face morphed into a scowl and he jerked away from me, now turning on the crowd.
"She's got more guts than you!" He shouted, pointing at someone random in the audience.
"More than you!" He pointed at the parents section.
"More than you!" He pointed at a Peacekeeper.
"And especially more tha-"
I had no clue who he was going to point to next, but before he could, he plummeted off the end of the stage, knocking himself out cold.
The mayor pinched the skin between his eyebrows, obviously distressed by this turn of events. This Reaping was shaping up to be a circus and a half, and that was before the drunkard fumbled onstage. We were already the laughing stock of the districts, being the poorest and weakest out of them all. We needed any help we could get, not this.
Mr. Abernathy was whisked away on a stretcher, the cameras sure to follow his every move for extra effect. I was certain that people all across Panem would be laughing at our terrible excuse of a mentor. However, I wondered if the whole thing was an act. Something was not adding up. But there was no time to deliberate on that.
Instead, I took the few moments of camera-freedom to let a tear fall, my legs wanting to buckle from the reality of what was to come. Willing up enough strength to keep calm in front of the world, I brushed away the tear as quickly as it had appeared. I could cry was I was locked away from everyone. Until then, there was no need to make myself easier prey than I already was.
Once it was determined that Mr. Abernathy would be fine and he was taken away, Mayor Undersee continued with the ceremony, ending it with the boy and I shaking hands. His grip was strong and it almost hurt as we shook, but I was not one to back down from a challenge. Squeezing his hand as hard as I could in return, I was rewarded with a curious quirk of his brow. Not quite the reaction I was going for, but I supposed I could take it.
"And now, please give a round of applause to our newest tributes! May the odds be ever in your favor!" She said, smiling at us, waiting for the roar of the crowd that never came. Not a single person even clapped.
No, instead, one by one, the people of District 12 touched the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips, and held them out. The boy tensed. Trinket choked back a gasp. Mayor Undersee cleared his throat.
Immediately, like it was instinctual, I found my hand raising to my lips. Pressing a soft kiss to my three middle fingers, I returned the gesture. I returned the gesture with all of my being.
Something had changed that day. I could feel it in the air. I could see it in the grim look in the eyes of the people. Hopefully, whatever it was had changed for the better.
Maybe the Games would be different this year.
Maybe a Seam kid would make it back home.
Well. May the odds be ever in our favor.
A/N: You like? I like :)
As always, please review!
12/30/18 Update: This chapter has officially been updated! Onto the next~