A/N: Hello my faithful readers! Sorry I haven't been able to update in a while, I'm in the middle of a 2 week exam period. But good news, it is over Tuesday, so I will be able to post new chapters much, much more often!
Thank you to all the people who have read this story so far, and especially to my reviewers! Finally, thank you to my beta xKatharosx for the great grammar checking!
Reviews mean everything, so if you could take 1 minute, that's literally how long it takes, to tell me what you like, don't like, or your ideas, that would be amazing.
On with the story….
My mind struggles to rap around what made the Reaping go so terribly wrong. It was supposed to just be a terrifying afternoon, in which after I would scarf down some paraffin stew and reflect on how the day wasn't so bad. A girl from the Seam with 12 younger siblings would be on the way to the Capitol, and me safe at home, not heading to my death.
The large metal doors quietly creak when the Peacekeepers open them, allowing us entrance into the building where our last goodbyes will be said. A cool breeze of air envelopes me, and although it momentarily chills me to the bone, it is a nice contrast to the sticky humidity outside, and helps clear my mind so I can formulate a plan.
I won't even worry about what I will do in the Arena; I'll wait for the Reapings to be shown and take it from there. We turn another corner and continue to walk down a hallway adorned with a worn red velvet carpet. No doubt Katniss and mom will be the first ones to visit me. Katniss will be emotionally destroyed, but will try to keep it together for me. Then maybe Gale and his family will come, although Posy and maybe Vick won't know what's happening.
"Prim!" A deep voice breaks through my thoughts.
I stop dead in my tracks, although I don't remember anything, we are now standing in an elevator that smells like rotten milk and is moving like a snail. It's my first time in an elevator, but I don't think this hardly counts.
"You must pay attention little lady," Effie shrieks.
"Oh, sorry," I point to the open elevator door that leads into a hallway, "is this my goodbye room?"
She lets out an exasperated sigh, "Yes, I just went over this!"
Not wanting to anger her any more than I already have, I walk into the room, and take a seat on an uncomfortable and extremely dusty chair. After waiting for a few minutes, I become impatient, and walk over to the window. We are in level with the raised train station, and I can see servants loading things into compartments. I catch a glimpse at one of them looking at me, and quickly pull the faded red curtains closed, almost breaking them in the process. Just then, I hear the door open and foot steps coming towards me.
"Prim I'm so sorry", warm arms wrap around me.
I clear all my emotions and turn around, "don't worry about it Katniss", I manage a small smile.
"No it's not! It's my entire fault." Although her face in emotionless, the pain in her voice is overwhelming.
"Look Katniss, we only have like 3 minutes," my eyes flash to the door. "I want you to promise me some things."
"Of course," she says, not skipping a beat. She sits down, but her eyes remain trained on me.
"Ok, you have to promise me you will take care of my goat, I know you can't make cheese, but make sure she is milked, clean, and fed."
She nods her head and I continue, "Gale's going into the mine. Make sure Rory and the kids have game, and a little bit of milk." I know she was already going to do this, but it doesn't hurt to ask. "One last thing, take care of mom."
A look of annoyance and regret comes across her face. "Prim…"
"Please Katniss," I plead.
"Fine, but one more thing, why wouldn't you let me volunteer?" She asks, just as a Peacekeeper comes to take her and mom out of the room. I quickly give mom a hug and she wordlessly leaves the room, her eyes troubled. However, Katniss lingers, waiting for my answer, "because," I say, giving her a tight hug, knowing at any moment she will be taken from my grip.
Sure enough, a Peacekeeper comes, grabs her by the shoulder and starts to drag her towards the door. "Because you can learn to milk a goat," I whisper, trying to control my tears. "But I can't learn how to hunt,"
Agonizing pain floods her face and the door slams.
I don't even have time to sit back down before Gale comes running into the room. "Oh Prim," he says, petting my hair. "Now look at me," despite the fact that I am terrified right now, I let out a laugh, he has always been straight to the point. "You can hunt."
"No I can't!" I interrupt.
"Yes you can, granted not well, but you can aim an arrow and hit the target most of the time." Her counters.
What he says holds some truth. Although I never told anyone, Gale has been taking me to the woods whenever he can, and teaching me how to shoot as a birthday present to Katniss. I can hit the bulls eye, but never on a moving target, and only from 10 feet away.
"But I'm not any good. How will that help me?" My voice is close to hysterical, and I try to calm down a bit.
"A little talent it better than none," he assures me. "But as soon as you get into training, don't bother with the swords; learn how to use a knife."
"You time is up, please exit the Justice building." A deep masculine voice says from the door way.
With one last kiss on my head, Gale wordlessly leaves the room.
I don't know if I can handle this anymore. In away it would be better if we were taken to the Capitol right after the Reaping. Saying goodbye to our family, knowing we are going to die and never see them again is cruel. Not to mention; its breaking my heart.
"Prim," Rory's voice sounds from the doorway. For once in this whole day, I am presented with some sort of relief. He opens his arms, and I gladly accept his hug. I have hugged him before, but this feels different, he is shaking, and his heart is beating fast. Not knowing what to think about it, I try to pinpoint the feeling rising from inside me turning my cheeks pink.
"Listen Prim," he says with his voice shaking. "You can heal, and figure out the edible plants."
"How will that help?" I ask. "They can use javelins as tall as me".
"Easy, you just take care of yourself, and wait for them to all kill each other." We both know it won't work, but I guess false hope is better than none. "Remember Prim, even bronze has to bow to brains sometimes. You know the poisonous plants, now just figure out how to use them."
How to use them? What does that mean?
Abruptly, he lets go of my waist and looks me in the eye. "Prim, will you take this?" In his hand is a gold pin, with some kind of bird in it, an arrow clenched in its talons.
"Oh no," I breath, "I can't take this, it must of cost you a fortune!"
"Please Prim; they let you take one token from your District into the arena. Will you take this?"
"Ok." He carefully pins it onto my blouse as Peacekeepers drag him out of the room.
"Wait!" He yells in a fearful voice, thrashing against their grip, "Wait Prim! Prim I…."
The door slams, and I will never know what he wanted to say.
Just then, Effie's face peaks into the door way. "Wow! Aren't you popular? You have one more group of visitors, then we have to go to the train or we will never make it to the Capitol on time."
She disappears and is replaced by Vick, Posy, and their mom.
"Oh dear," she says sympathetically. "You'll be fine dear." It is evident by her constant glances toward the two little kids that they have no clue what's going on.
Posy quickly climbs into my lap and places her small hands on my shoulders. "Where are you going Prim?" Her wide questioning eyes look so innocent, and I realize why everyone has been keeping them in the dark.
"I'm going camping." I lie, trying to keep my voice even.
"Oh," Vick's voice chimes in. "For how long?"
"I don't know," I answer smoothly, "I might like camping so much, I will just camp forever!"
Posy giggles, "Okay, Prim."
"Come on kids, let's go," their mom says. When they skip out the door, she gives me a gentle hug, and whispers in my ear, "I have faith in you."
"Hurry up! We have to go," Effie interrupts. She grabs my arms and whisks me away to the train.
"Whoa," I say in awe. The first cart we enter seems to be the strategy room, although the hundreds of platters of food littering the place make it easy to confuse it with the dinning cart. I feel a jolt soon after followed by weird sensation of moving.
"Neat, isn't it?" This train is the fastest moving means of transportation in all of Panem, and you can hardly feel a thing!" Mrs. Trinkets voice rings in glee.
"Yeah," I say, still mesmerized by all the food. Peeta, whom I am now aware is standing beside me, goes to grab a Danish but, his hand is quickly slapped down.
"Not until you are cleaned up!" She waves over some servants, "They will escort you to your carts. Rinse up, change into whatever clothing you like, and be ready for dinner in an hour." She crinkles her nose in disgust, "go on now, you smell like District."
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