A/N: Another emotional chapter.
Recap: Lettie Everwood has been called as a tribute to the hunger games. What will Renesmee do now?
I think we all know what's going to happen next...
Chapter Two
Remembering the day I went hunting and being in the herd elk territory I was stubborn enough that I'd be okay after Nahuel specifically told me not to go because of my safety. I went away with my plan. That day was the day my heart literally stopped when I scared off the herd when I tripped on a pile of leaves and they scurried off but actually attacking me, bruising me inside and out as they stepped over me. The impact was so strong that it had knocked every wisp of air in my lungs causing my heart to almost completely stop.
That couldn't compare to what I was feeling now, my heart halted, unable to make a sound, no heartbeat is in plain hearing distance, extremely shocked by the name repeats almost 200 times into my brain. I feel someone holding me back as I feel myself collapsing onto the ground.
This can't be true, there has to be a mistake. This can't be happening. I need a recount. Lettie was in the ballet of thousand people. Why her?
I kept assuring her that everything would be okay, that she wouldn't be picked. I was too intransigent that some family would lose a child that I forgot to think of her. This was my entire fault! I think to myself. It should've been me. I've always been the one to get the down why wasn't it me this time? The odds were entirely in her favor. But I guess that doesn't matter now.
I guess I wasn't the only stunned one here because I could hear everyone murmuring unpleasantly as they always do when an innocent twelve-year-old gets picked because, well it isn't exactly fair. And then I see the little goose, my little trumpet. Her face pale and white as snow, fingers shivering by her sides, walking slowly, small steps to certain doom onto the stage, her back facing me and now I can see her pale-pink blouse and her bows on either side of her luscious hair, the beautiful light hair reminding me of the golden trumpet I played as a child.
"Lettie!" the walls of terror and cries erupt out of my throat and my body that stiffened was released and I could move again. "Lettie!" I scream out as I try to shove through the crowd but that isn't needed as the other kids make way for me.
I try to reach for her but the guards' hold me back. I watch as my little sister turns around, her eyes glistening with tears threatening to fall.
I move half gracefully out of the guards' hold and reach her just as she is about to climb the steps. I push her behind my back with one swift.
"I volunteer!" I shout out. "I volunteer as an honoree tribute" I conclude. There was some befuddlement on the stage as I say this.
Sector 12 has never in the last years had a volunteer, mainly because there isn't a person ready to give up their lives. I guess here in Canada it's probably the same as America, each gender, male or female, gets picked for the battle and there isn't anybody willing to risk their lives for someone unless you're part of the ballet.
"Well this is unusual" says Effie Trinket. "Yet lovely um…this isn't the first ultimate contribution of volunteering in the reaping but it is Sector 12s very first volunteer, uh…" she pause, unsure of what to say or maybe it's reminiscing in the previous games.
"Bring her forward, it doesn't matter anyway" The mayor says. Of course it doesn't matter, to him anyway. I was his daughters talking buddy after all.
Lettie is screaming hysterically behind my back. She's wrapping her arms around me tightly like I was a pole. "Please Renesmee, don't go, I need you please don't go!"
"Let go Lettie!" I say a little too rudely as I hoped for but I really don't want to get upset and sob right now. When she didn't let go I release a sigh and I turn around facing her now puffed face filled with streaming tears. "I have to Lettie"
"You lied to me Renesmee! You promised me! That everything would be okay" She sobs fiercely. My heart literally wrenched as I heard that. I did promise her, and I broke it.
"I know I did…but you have to listen to me, you should go find mom and stay with her" I say to her realizing I was running out of time. She bawls out even more.
"No! Renesmee, No!" she cries out. I could feel someone pulling Lettie away from my embrace. I look up to see Nahuel lifting Lettie swiftly off the ground while she protests. "Go get em Nespit" He simply says but his voice unsure. I sigh once again and allow the guards to designate me to the steps. I could see everyone with guilt and pain in their eyes.
"Oh, yippee!" the Effie Trinket gushes. "This is an amazing feint, how glorious the Games are" Huh, now I see, she's pleased that this sector has some oomph in action. "What's your name dear?" she asks. I gulp.
"Renesmee Everwood" I say almost lowly.
"I bet my bunions that was your sister wasn't it. How great this moment is right here folks! Let's give a much needed round of applause for the newest honoree tribute Renesmee Everwood!" exclaims Effie clapping her hands making a mockery of herself as silence crept.
What I didn't expect was the crowd not applauding. Not even the ones who had their fingers crossed in hopes of not being chosen. I was sure that they might have recognized me from the Harbor. I didn't get a chance to acknowledge applause. I just stand there in plain stillness, no movement what so ever.
Doesn't silence usually mean they don't agree? Does it mean that we don't come to an understanding? Well I guess people aren't so agreeing out there
Then something unthinkable happens. I wasn't usually a person to be cared about because I was always the one who gave than receive. But it seemed like Sector 12 was feeling sentimental today. Something shifted when I caught almost every member of the crowd move their right hand to their lips as they plant a kiss on it and move towards their forehead in a salute position with their left hand clutching their heart. This gesture or oath has hardly been used for many years in our sector, mostly used on days of mourn or grief. It means memory, it means thanks, it means good-bye to the person you love.
This causes me to have tears threatening to fall of my pale face. One of the weird things about me was I change skin tone a lot even though it doesn't matter at this point.
Haymitch breaks me off my train of thought as he chugs down his whiskey bottle and erupt a loud burp. "Now that is an all time record" He commented to himself yet voicing it aloud. "Let's continue this show back on the road shall we?!" he exclaims. Effie Trinket sighs as she glares at him.
"And now for the boys!" she exclaims almost a little too excitedly and walks up to the male section ballet and plants her hand into the ballet that contained the boys' names and grabs the first paper slip she encounters instead of roaming around. I didn't have time to focus on what she was doing because I was too busy focusing on the 12 year old girl clutched in her moms embrace as she sobs viciously into her chest.
"Jacob Mako"
Jacob Mako!
That name was so familiar, although I never spoken to him face to face. Jacob Mako.
Life can be such a disappointment; the odds aren't my favor today that's for sure. Curse whoever came up with that phrase. I watch as he makes his way toward the stage with a puzzled and afraid look on his face but he did look intimidating. Tall at height, largely built, jet black hair that moves up in spikes. The astonished of the moment still plastered on his face, he's trying his darn best to regain his composure, but his chocolate brown eyes shows fear. He climbs steadily onto the pedestal stage and takes his stand.
Effie Trinket asks for volunteers and no one pitched. I knew the two older sisters he had wouldn't. I saw them all time afterschool when I walked past the butchery. They're both twins and I knew they couldn't live without each other, heck they couldn't even stand 3 meter radius away from each other.
I guess families do not always stick together on reaping day…
The mayor read out the rules and regulations - but mostly known as the 'Treaty of Treason' as he does every year - that I didn't care less to listen to
Why does it have to be him? Jacob Mako. But I realized why do I care? We weren't even friends.
Not even acquaintances. We don't dare speak to each other. But I remember quite vividly on the almost interaction which happened years ago. He probably forgot about it now but I haven't…
My father had died in the mine accident when he was treating a person in need as they searched for platinum three months earlier in the sourest January anyone remembers. I try my best to forget but my heart can't be brought to that state.
The sector paid a small ransom amount of money as honoree of his passing, enough to cover one mouth of grieving when my mom was expected to get a job. She was still in grief that she didn't have the energy to get one leaving a then tiny seven year old Lettie starving and demanding attention.
I was scared. I needed to act fast and be the bread winner of this family as head of house at only eleven years old!
Anyway one day when I went looking for food at the Harbor only realizing I had no money to cover up and I only really went there with my father as a child, I had to stay days without a single substance of food in my system and slowly starving to death, not Lettie and definitely not my mother. I was sat under a tree and what was worse was it was pouring gallons of water up from the heavens. I was wearing my father's leather coat and it was completely soaked of water. Great three days with nothing and now this!
I couldn't go home only knowing what was left in store. Pain and dead eyes of my mother, and puffed up cheeks and pleading eyes of my little sister all things I dreaded to see.
When I passed by the butchery, the smell of roasted meat was so overwhelming I even felt hazy. The grill stoves were in the back, and a fiery glow spilled out the open kitchen door. I sat up mesmerized by the sudden fire and the lustful scent until the rainstorms interfered, running its cold drops down my long hair and back. I checked the trashcan the butchers left outside for any lucky leftovers but found absolutely nothing.
Immediately a voice was screaming at me and I looked up to see the butcher man telling me to move on along and did I want to call the Peacemakers and how sick he was of having those brats from the Motes digging in his trash. I have to say, the man looked fierce, very huge, wearing a apron on with meat stains all over it, extremely tall, tanned skinned almost prominent to native Americans and a scar on the left side of his face. He said some really mean words so I thought that it was best to put the lid back on and leave. Whilst doing so I saw a boy, with jet black hair and the same skin tone as the butcher, he looked almost like the exact replica of him. That moment our eyes met I think I lost my breath for a while. I regained my composure and just went along. I remember him from school but I knew he always hung around with the other kids so I never really talked to him.
While walking along, I heard the butcher shout and scold the boy for burning the meat. "You're a disgrace to mankind! Why did you burn the meat? You stupid little boy, I'll be provoking all your privileges from now on you understand me?! Bastard feed the meat to the warthogs!" He scowled his son. Wow that was mean. I think.
When I continued my walk and sat under a tree, I felt this feeling that I was being followed. Oh no, it's the butcher, he's coming to scold me with his knife. But I was wrong; the boy who had burned the meat stood at least meters away from me as he tear off the tough chunks of meat gracefully and fed the warthogs. He must've saw how hungry I was when he saw me sitting all alone and thirsty. He's face was red and slightly bleeding. What did the butcher hit him with?
The boy took one glance at the butchery to check if the coast was clear and he then throws the burnt meat at me in the rain…
I couldn't believe it! The meat wasn't raw at all it was fine and roasted perfectly, except the burnt areas. I didn't know if he meant that they were for me but I took it as a go ahead and shoved it inside my coat jacket and walked swiftly away. I could never forget that day, the day he saved my life…
When I got home I scrap of the rusted part gave a piece of meat to Lettie and offered my mom who kindly shook it off. The meat was kind of big so we could have it for three straight days.
When I got to bed I gasp. I couldn't believe it. Jacob Mako saved my life. The next day I passed the boy at school and he's face was totally messed up, red spots on both sides and a prominent blue eye. When I got home I caught him staring at me at the 'little park'. Our eyes met for a split second then he turned away. All I wanted to do was thank him but I didn't have the courage to.
I dropped my head in humiliation and that's when I saw it. The first crystal flower as we call it of the year. I called the crystal light…
Till to this day I still couldn't forget it, Jacob Mako, the boy who saved my life with meat. And now we're going to be in the same arena fighting for our lives! How can someone show gratitude there?
The mayor finishes his reading and Effie instructs us to shake our hands. His are warm and smooth and hard as those slices of meat. Jacob stares at me right in the guy and smiles weakly which means good luck and a reassuring squeeze of the hand.
We turn back to the crowd and Effie declares us as "Meet this year' tributes of the 77th annual hunger games tour. Happy hunger games and May the odds be ever in your favor"
Oh well, this is it. Odds are somebody will get to kill him before I do or that I'll probably be dead before he kills me.
I guess its true what they say, everything happens for a reason…'
The moment the oath ends, we are taken to 'court'. Not like going to court with guards around and us standing with an attorney or something, but a group of peacemakers marches us through the door of the Justice doom Building. Maybe honorees have tried to escape in the past. Highly doubtful I guess.
I'm left alone inside, thinking about the outcome of this. What am I going to do now? I didn't even acknowledge my surroundings; this place was the wealthiest place I've been in my life. Beautiful painted pure leather chairs, rich carpets no speck of dust in sight, the fabric soft under my feet and chandeliers crystals shining brightly.
My mother and sister were the first to come through the door. I reach out and pulled Lettie into a tight hug, her arms around my neck, and head on my shoulders. I kept assuring her that everything will be okay and kept reminding them what to do.
"Please try to win Renesmee, I know you can" She cries out.
"I'll try Lettie, just please be careful out here, don't accept any bribery from them, it won't help" I didn't know the emotion that went through me when I saw that but I knew that I was more determine to protect her for as long as I lived.
"You can do it, you fast and strong and you can hunt" She says.
"Of course, I love you little trumpet" I say hugging her tightly. I look up to see my mom staring at us with eyes beginning to literally burst into tears. I then get up and move to her and grip her arm tightly "You listen to me, and you listen carefully…you can't turn out again"
"I won't it was just me being-" she begins her voice breaking.
"Well, start being attentive, whatever you do, no matter what circumstance occurs, you've got to be there for her, you have to promise to risk your life for her, that girl is special and whatever you do keep her that way, love her…and promise me you'll get through whatever you see on the screen." My voice has risen to a scream. In it are all the bottled up anger and all the fear.
"I wasn't myself but I promise Renesmee, my whole life will depend on her" She assures me as a tear falls off her pale cheek. I nod
"Don't cry mom, don't cry, just take care of her" I say, I understand how she was feeling to an extent. She was afraid of now depending on one child and losing the other. She was angry at herself for not caring. But I knew Bella Everwood was stronger than that even though I wouldn't admit it.
"Just please win Renesmee" My sister says.
"Of course, we'll be rich like Haymitch" I reply releasing a non-humorous chuckle.
"I don't care about being rich, just please try, pinky swear me that you'll try" says Lettie. Motioning her last finger, I lock with it.
"Pinky swears I'll try" I say and I know I'd do anything Lettie wanted me to do. I know I have to.
The Peacemakers then came into the room and just had to ruin the moment and it was incredibly hard to know that I might never see them again. "I promise. I love you both" and everything just went quiet as they left.
Someone new enters the room and when I look up I see the most beautiful woman. I am astounded to see the butcher's wife standing before me, Jacob Mako's mother. I mean, wasn't I the one who was going to kill her son? But we kind of know each other as we all see each other in the Harbor. Lettie always sells her lamb cheese to her so I guess that's where we know each other. She was a complete saint, whenever my family was in need, she'd always send forth the meat from the butchery. Unlike her devil of a husband, she's one of the sweetest ladies I know.
She sits on a chair and crosses her legs almost comfortably and gives me a packet. I check inside to see chicken strips in it. I smile at her thankfully.
"Thank you" I say. She nodded with a weak smile. The butcher's wife wasn't a very talkative person. I remembered that today, when Nahuel and I had bread, that he had a little treat as well. "My friend and I had your chicken spread today, thank you" I say. She shrugs with a smile.
My next was even more unpredictable. Madge walks into the room and pulls me into a tightening hug as her face is filled with urgency.
"Where's that pin you found?" She asks as we pull away. I realize that I still had it with me in my hand and I show her. She takes it swiftly out of my hand and places the circular silvery pin on my dress. "They allow each sector to wear a thing that reminds them of home, almost a sentimental value, which is why I need you to wear this at all costs, do you understand?" She says as she fixed the majestic bird on my dress.
"Yes" I say.
"You promise me?" She asks and I nod in return. Chicken strips and now this. I guess people are feeling sentimental lately with the gifts they usher.
Lastly hopefully, Nahuel enters the room and maybe there's nothing going on between us but whenever I see his face and he opens his arms, I just feel a sense of secure and serenity and never hesitate. He's always been my third safe haven. I felt safe whenever I was in his strong hard-muscled arms against me.
"I'm fine" I say and I feel him shake his head. "No I am"
"Listen to me Renesmee" He begins. "You need to win this, you're strong, and brave…get to a crossbow, that's the best choice."
"I can't exactly do that Nahuel, and they might not even-" I say remembering last year's events where they only had to make spiked arrows with sticks and rope.
"Then you make one okay" says Nahuel. "Even a normal arrow is better than a titanium one"
I didn't understand at all, how could you crossbow without titanium arrows, I've tried that and it didn't end well.
"Renesmee, it's just adapting to life, think of it as you hunting" He says.
"I can only hunt predators Nahuel. Animals" I say
"Aren't we animals ourselves, there's no difference" He replies.
"This is a matter of life and death, there are only 24 of us and one remains standing" I say as a matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, and it'll be you, I know it" He concludes and just then the Peacemakers enter the room and taking him away. I scream in fear.
"Whatever you do Nahuel, please don't let them starve!" I cry out squeezing his hand.
"That's impossible Renesmee! I'll never do that! And remember I l…" And then they immediately break us apart from our embrace and not allowing him to finish.
I then came to realization that this was it. I guess it was the unvanquished truth…
A/N: How did you like it? Again sorry but I promise stranger things will happen. Please tell me what you thought, I need it. I know I suck at writing but I am really just a beginner.
I'd like to thank Cathy (PeetasAndHerondales) for inspiration.
Should I leave Jacob's last name or change it to Black?