3
That night we eat our dinners in silence. Effie makes attempts at starting conversations, but most attempts fail. The rich Capitol food is good. My favorite is a lamb stew with dried plumbs. Being a victor's child I always had enough to eat. The food was never like this before. Living in the arena would be easier if I knew how to be hungry like my mother. It helped her know when to stop and save, and when to eat slowly.
In the few days before the reaping, even though it's illegal, Kaien and I were taught useful skills. Our mother showed us how to hunt, find plants, climb trees, set snares, and see the force field. We learned camouflage from our father and combat. I eat up everything on my dish. Gaining a few pounds now won't hurt me.
After we eat we gather to watch a recap of the reapings across Panem. First the seal of the Capitol appears with the national anthem. They start with the Capitol. This was the first reaping to ever take place there. The first ever Capitol tributes were chosen. The people were unprepared. No volunteers step forward. Both tributes are have weird designs and colors all over them. Haymitch says, "I give those kids sixty seconds after coming up from the launch room."
Kaien asks, "Don't you have to wait sixty seconds before it starts?"
"Exactly." Is all Haymitch replies with. Districts 1, 2, and 4 are considered career tributes because they are from the richer districts with more strength. When the Games were known these districts trained their children from the day they are born. Most victors are from these districts. Even though they didn't have to train these kids are still larger than I've ever seen. In Districts like this kids fall over each other to volunteer. District's 1 Quell called for the ages of ten to twenty. These two kids must be from the older side. From District 1 the girl looks like two of me. The boy has ripped arms and a pretty good looking face. If I didn't have to kill him... But I do. There's no times for thoughts like that. My mother shuttered away. In her first Hunger Games she killed both tributes from here. I believe their names were Glimmer and Marvel. The girl was killed by tracker jackers and the boy for killing Rue, my mother's ally.
In District 2 the girl had to choose the boy. The way it went over was the picked her, dispersed for an hour and returned with her decision. She looks just like the girl from 1. I know him! "Thy Hawthorn," their escort exclaims. He was the closest thing to a best friend I ever had. Our parents used to be best friends, but they came apart after Gale, his father, created the bomb that killed my Aunt Prim. After a few years past they worked things out and they used to visit every year. Until I was thirteen, I don't know what got in the way. He's a year older than me with a good build. He has that Seam look that proves he's truly from District 12. Some of his features have changed, but it is him. I wonder why she chose him. Maybe we could team up. No matter what if I want to bring Kaien home, Thy has to die.
District 3 doesn't have large bodies, but I know from past Games they have incredible minds. I won't rule these two out as allies yet.
District 4 is also a part of the Careers. They both have muscle with more defined bodies. I am familiar with it and know it is a beautiful place. My parents are good friends with Annie Cresta-Odair and her son, Finn, has always been like an older brother to me. Luckily he's too old to be reaped. If he fit the age rain, undoubtedly he will go in as tribute. His mother Annie was a tribute and went crazy from it. His late father is Finnick Odair. He was a victor who was adored by many, but sold as a sex symbol. He died in the revolution before Finn was even born. I can't imagine what that would do to Annie, if she lost the last bit of Finnick she had.
I also can't imagine what that would do to me, having to kill strangers, myself, and two friends. Killing me isn't problem. I just don't want to suffer to do so. What I can't stomach is the thought of killing people that did nothing to me, who have families, and lives I have to take. The worst is killing Thy. He was always there for me. He was the one person who came in when everyone else walked out. We talk know and then over mail or the phone. On the screen is the first time I've seen his face in years. I wish the face I see is still the fourteen year old boy.
District 5's wealthiest children were reaped. You can tell they are well fed. That's as far as it goes. District 6 has two of their smartest children picked. Mind over matter can be useful, but a body tone is important too. The most athletic from District 7 were chosen. Two more I have to watch out for. The school teachers of District 8 picked the children. Both look somewhat athletic, but much underfed. Districts 9 and 10 don't make much of a mark in my head. District 11 is where Rue and Thresh were from. Rue was my mother's ally and Thresh spared her life. If they lived I think I would know both way better. Their two children are dark skinned and very homely. District 11 is agriculture and I can surely use them, if I make a team. Which I doubt. Then again, if I get most of the others on my team they may spare Kaien leaving less people I'll have to watch.
When they get to our district everyone is crying how the star-crossed lovers from District 12 have another challenge to face. Many have high hopes that one of us will make it back. The announcer adds, "Being children of two of the greatest known victors of all time, they may be more prepared than any Career, past or present." I have high hopes that a Mellark, a child of the star-crossed lovers from District 12, a child of two of the greatest victors of all time, and is more prepared than any Career, past or present will make it back. And I'm not talking about the girl.
The discussion ends with how two siblings in the arena together should make a good watch. It ends; we head back to our quarters. I take awhile to fall asleep. Through the wall I hear my mother's cries and my father consoling her. He says, "It's okay Katniss. I promise you they'll get through this. We've raised fighters and taught them everything we know."
In between sobs she cries, "What if that's not enough, Peeta?" This makes me cover my head and release tears too. I use every power I have to keep my pain silent. After three hours she stops. Did she cry herself to sleep? Soon after I hear a deeper cry. It's my dad. No voice comforts him which proves my mother's mind is far away. This breaks every power I have. I think he hears me and falls silent. The door to his compartment opens. I tuck myself under the covers and force myself silent. He walks in and comes up to me. If he knows I'm faking he doesn't point it out. All he does is pull the blanket down so my face is out and he kisses my head lightly. Then he's gone. I wonder if he did the same to Kaien.
That's when it hits me. Even if Kaien comes home there will still be that empty room upstairs with the lavender walls and mint green bedspread that will never be occupied again. Seeing everyday the empty seat at the dinner table and pictures of someone who was. I don't know when or how but I find sleep. In my dream I see the fourteen year old boy again. The only image of him that sits in my head is him waving goodbye as the train to the - Capitol - after life - District 2 pulls away.