Jake's POV
It's reaping day again and all I can think of how unlucky we are to live in a society where kids are sent to slaughter ever year just so the Capitol can have something to watch for entertainment. Every year we line up in front of the Justice Building just so Effie Trinket can walk up onto the stage in some ridiculous outfit and announce the victims this year. Thankfully I only have a few more years of having to worry about my name being reaped then I'm in the clear. For some reason this morning I felt lucky. Like today was going to be different and better. I only hoped this was a good feeling to have on such a terrible day.
I walked out of my house after glancing into the rooms of my brother and sister who were too young to attend the reaping. They were both deeply asleep and I would have woken them up but they didn't need to be bothered with just saying good-bye. I would see them later I was positive of it.
The Justice Building was being scrubbed from top to bottom by Peacekeepers in stiff white uniforms. A few people from the Capitol were setting up a huge screen divided into three parts. A few lights flickered on and then off. They then flared to life and flooded all of the people with white, unnatural light. I had to blink a few times before I could see again. I glanced around and noticed the table of 12-year-old girls. I also noticed unhappily that Katie Fabray was new to this year's reaping. I don't remember the last time District 12 had a 12-year-old tribute but it wasn't that uncommon for someone to be that young. I stepped forward and gave the Peacekeeper my finger to prick. After she rolled it on the paper and told me to get in line I looked around trying to catch some glimpse of Marley Fabray.
"Hey good luck today." Puck came up me and grasped me by my shoulder. I returned the gesture even through he wasn't my best friend. Effie Trinket took to the stage and spared me from any other conversation with anyone. I think of all the names in the reaping ball and think and thankful that only a handful contains my name. Luckily I haven't had to take any tesserae but there are others aren't so lucky. Ryder Lynn's name was in there 42 times this year. His family struggled to get by with the little money they were given after the mine accident so he had to sign up for tesserae every year. That Jakee accident had also claimed Marley's father.
The first name was called for the girls. My heart sunk like a lead balloon. It was Katie Fabray or rather it was one of the Fabray girls because seconds later Marley rushed forward and volunteered as tribute. Katie refused to let go of Marley and I was about to step forward and help her but Ryder stepped in front of me first and pried Katie off of Marley. How could this happen? Why should the only person whom I care about be chosen to die? There is no way I'm letting her go to the arena. I'd volunteer for her but I'm not a girl. Damn these stupid rules! My mind was made up if my name was not called I would step forward and volunteer to be the boy tribute. There was no need for that as my name was called from the boy's names in the reaping. I held my head high as I walked onto the stage and looked at all of the faces of the people of District 12 and willed no one to step forward and take my place instead. Luckily for me no one stepped forward to take my place. "Lucky for me?" Oh the cruel irony. Marley and I shook hands and as we did I looked into her eyes to try and figure out how she felt but I couldn't see anything. Her eyes had clouded over with a cool indifference.
Marley and I were dragged through the Justice Building and put into separate rooms to say our good byes. My first visitor was my father. In his hands was the batches of cookies he always gave to the tributes each year even if he didn't know them very well.
"I never planned on having to give these to you son." My father grasped me by the shoulders and brought me into a bone crushing hug. "Try to win son. The family needs you to come home."
"I will dad, but if it comes down to me and Marley she'll be the victor. There's no way I can just forget my feelings for her and kill her. I couldn't live with that. Not even if we needed the money that winning would give us." My father nods his head slowly as if he's trying to process every word I'm saying. He hands me the batch of cookies and shakes my hand.
"Good luck son, and may the odds be in your favor." He pressed his three middle fingers to his lips and extended them out to me like the audience had done for Marley. I returned the gesture and watched him walk out the door. I knew this would be the last time I saw him but I wasn't really terrified just yet. The shock of what would come later wouldn't settle in right away and my fear of dying wasn't my main concern right now. How on Earth am I going to get Marley to agree to some sort of treaty or truce between us? I knew how much winning would mean to her and I doubted she would want anyone on her team that would slow her down or get her killed. I had to think of some way to make sure the Careers didn't find her right away; even if this ended up killing me. My mother was the next person through the door.
"Oh Jakey! I always knew you would amount to something! Even when other people told me it was hopeless for you after Marley left you, and you would never find another girl to love you; I said different!" She embraced me in a really awkward hug that I could not move. Finally I just rested my hand on her shoulder. She took my face into her hands and squeezed my cheeks together. "Yup. You've got your father's bone structure and his eyes but you've got my hair. Not a very charming mixture but I'm sure the Capitol people will be able to do something with you; although most of the people will be looking at Marley. She's a stunning girl you know that?" I nodded trying to not let her abrasive personality rub me raw. Each day living with my mother had been a constant battle to keep myself from just packing up and leaving. She made it very clear when I was younger that she had wanted a baby girl but was "stuck with me". Yeah well you won't be stuck with me for long. I thought bitterly to myself. To my relief the Peacekeepers came and walked my mother out of the room.
I was only visited by a couple more people and then they stopped coming all together. As I sat in the quiet I caught voices next door. I found an air vent and went to it. The air coming out of it wasn't cool and was stale and smelled a little like smoke. As I listened to the conversation I realized it was the village people giving advice to Marley. She asked questions from time to time about what a certain herb looked like and what the best knot was for securing items out of reach was. The people eagerly answered and I realized they were all rooting for her. Not that I would blame them even I was rooting for her. The Peacekeepers ushered everyone out of Marley's room and I hurriedly rushed to a sofa and tried to make myself look calm. A moment later a Peacekeeper walked in to escort me into a car so Marley and I can board the train that will take us to the Capitol.
At the train station there were lots of cameras eager to snap our pictures and then rush off to get them developed and sold to the highest bidder. Already there was betting at the Capitols on who would start crying and who would come out on top. I planned on trying to help Marley as much as possible so I wasn't really focused on what my physical appearance was at this time.
Inside the train there were plates of food piled so high I won't have even known if I could eat all that food. Effie Trinket stepped in front of us and gestured to the whole train.
"All of this is yours feel free to take a look around and explore your rooms but be ready for supper in one hour." Effie Trinket walked past us into another part of the train. I glanced at Marley to see how she was handling all of the attention but again her eyes were vacant and empty.
"So… should we see if there's anything fun to do on this train?" I offered as a conversation starter. She just coolly glanced at me and then followed Effie out of the cabin leaving me to myself. I sunk down into one of the lush sofas and was instantly surrounded by people asking me if there was anything that I needed. I just simply shook my head and they retreated just as quickly as they had come. Something puzzled me about the speed of their movements but I wasn't allowed time to contemplate what they could be before a drunk Haymitch wandered into the compartment. He smelled of whisky and wine and he walked with a slight limp. No doubt from the fall he took off the front of the stage.
"Hello sir. I'm Jake Puckerman from District 12. You're going to be our mentor in the Games. Right?" He glanced up at me and shook his hair out of his eyes. He drunkenly walked over to one of the crystal glass decanters of some amber colored liquid and poured more into his glass.
"What does it matter to you?" He slurred.
"What are some of your training tips? I mean what can you tell us that might get us more sponsors?"
"You want to know how to get more sponsors? I'll tell you how to get more sponsors. Killing people's the only way to get them to give a rat's ass about you. I am in no way capable to keep you alive in that damn arena. You're all alone." He spit that last word out and drained the last of the liquid out of his glass before picking up the entire bottle and walking out of the room. I had no response to his drunken ramblings.
"Why don't you go and get yourself ready for supper?" Effie Trinket poked her head into the room. She had changed all of her makeup and wardrobe and as now dressed in various shades of green. Even her hair and eye color was different. How on Panem did she manage to change all of that in a few minutes? It must have been some new Capitol technology that people in District 12 wouldn't dream of having.
I leave through the door Haymitch did and found my room on a separate compartment. I walk into the room and am greeted by a computer voice welcoming me home and telling me not to be afraid to ask for assistance. I try not to take offense that the voice is telling me this is my new home. Glancing around the room I notice the room is not as extravagant as the dining car was but it also has a bit of a humble feel to it. The bathroom was off to the side of the main room and upon further examination I found the closet door handles. I pulled it aside and inside there were a large arrangement of shirts and pants in any color imaginable. I picked up one of the shirts and looked at the color. What is this some kind of burnt orange/ pink carnation combination? What would you even call this? "Burnt carnation?" I found a more practical shirt and pulled it on. It was dark green in color and had some small buttons down the front. I chose a pair of darker pants and they fit perfectly.
Once I walked into the dining car I knew my shirt color choice was wrong. Marley sat at the table wearing the same color green I was wearing. I thought of turning around and changing but Effie had spotted me and eagerly waved me into the room. I walked in a tried to share a smile with Marley but she stared at me coolly and didn't seem to appreciate the wardrobe goof.
"Oh look at the both of you! I bet you planned this didn't you?" Effie clasped her hands together trying to get the conversation started.
"No." Marley stated looking at me as if daring me to say differently. Her gaze then dropped back to the plate in front of her.
"Uh, no it was a coincidence." I say lightly when Effie's once perky demeanor turns a little bit darker.
"Oh well, no matter. Where's Haymitch?" She glances around the room like she may have temporarily misplaced him but he is no where to be found.
"The last time I saw him, he said he was going to take a nap." I lied thinking Effie might not like to hear that he was probably passed out in his room from all of the alcohol he had consumed.
"Well it has been an exhausting day," Effie says and then raises her hand above her head and waiters bring food into the room. The plates are steaming hot, and the salads are nice and fresh, and the cheese is the color it's supposed to be. Nothing can seem to make this meal any more complete. Marley and I eagerly dive into the food. I try and maintain my table manners but the food is so rich that I have trouble keeping it all down. There's a thick carrot soup, green salad, lamb chops, and mashed potatoes, cheese, fruit, and just when I think I'm about to explode a chocolate cake.
"At least you two have manners. The pair last year ate everything with their hands like a couple of savages." Marley's head snaps up and she glares so hard at Effie that I think her heard might explode. If looks could kill, Effie would be dead on the spot. "It completely upset my digestion." Marley continued to glare at Effie but Marley realized the glare wasn't effective enough so she put down her fork and knife and downed an entire piece of cake with her fingers before wiping them on the table cloth. I had to admit I was slightly impressed by how Marley wasn't afraid to say or do what was on her mind. It was clear to me that Marley had known the people from last year's reaping and that they had come from homes how had it worse off then the majority of us did. Effie wiped her mouth on a napkin and stood.
"Why don't we go and see the reaping recaps?" She guides us into a larger car and sits us down on a large sofa. We watch as district by district the people are called forward. A few people volunteer but more often than not people remain silent. I watch as District 12's reaping is shown. There can be no mistaking the desperation in Marley's voice as she volunteers for Katie. I watch myself quietly mount the stage and am greeted by silence as well; however, the people of district 12 do not extend their fingers out to me in a sign of farewell. The anthem of the Capitol plays and then the seal flashes and the broadcast is ended.
"Your mentor has a lot to learn about presentation. A lot bout televised behavior." Effie groans as she catches sight of her wig in a mirror mounted on the wall.
"He was drunk," I explain, "He's drunk every year."
"Every day," Marley adds and for once a little bit of spark reaches her eyes before dying out again.
"Yes. How odd that you two find it amusing. You know your mentor is your lifeline to the world in these Games. The one who advises you, lines up your sponsors, and dictates the presentation of any gifts. Haymitch can well be the difference between your life and your death!" At that moment Haymitch walks in and slurs that he missed supper and then heaves all of the contents of his stomach onto the carpet. He steps forward and slips onto the mess and lays there. Effie shrieks at the smell and then runs away hoping over the mess and fleeing the room.
With Marley's help, we are able to pull Haymitch to his feet and get him situated in the bathroom shower. She offers to help me clean him up but I can tell by the look on her face that this was the last thing she wanted to do so I shook my head no. She also offered to get one of the servants to help me but I refused this also. She thanks me and then walks out of the room. I watch her leave and I can't help letting my eyes wander over her body. Her arms were toned from hard work in the Seam, and her body had a slight tan from being out doors a lot. Her body was small in stature and her legs traveled on for miles. She was easy on the eyes but no doubt would be a fierce competitor in the Games. I refocused my attention on Haymitch and began to remove his socks and shoes.