Hello! I know it has been like age since I have updated the story, but life has been hard for the last few months. I wrote this chapter every now and then but I never finished it. Until now. To be honest, I am not quite satisfied with this chaper since I feel it all seems a bit rushed and forced, but I don't think it would turn out any better if I wrote it again. So I just leave it as it is, and the next chapters will be better, I swear!
Anyway, feedback would be really nice!
One year ago, Haymitch had been luckily enough to avoid the Games. Maybe it had been Effie's necklace after all. During the next year, they saw each other quite often, Haymitch had returned the necklace to her, though at their last meeting - it had been his birthday - she had given it to him once more. Because of the reaping.
With the necklace in his hands, he had awaited the announcement. It would be four tributes this year. Four! This meant he needed even more luck. But the odds weren't in his favor.
When Effie had watched the reaping in the Capitol, she waited until the very end, whereas her parents had lost interest somewhat a couple Districts ago. But she was sitting in front of the big television, worryingly shifting until it was time. The tributes were announced.
When only one more name had to be drawn - the last name for the boys - she felt as if her heart had stopped. Haymitch had to be in the Games. Everything fell quiet, though tears started to stream down her face.
With quick movements, she left the living area and shut herself in her room.
Haymitch had to be in the Games.
Why couldn't life have been fair only this once? Living in the poorest District, having nothing; no, it wasn't enough. Now the young boy had to be in the Games fighting for his life though he knew he had no chance. What could he even do? He, of all the people in Panem. But the worst part was that he had to fight. He had people to be there for. Haymitch couldn't just have a quick death and hear the end of it, no, there were people he had to live for. He never admitted it, but there was a girl. A beautiful one with fiery temper.
She was his strength now.
Soon enough he would be seeing her again, but at what cost? This wasn't what he had expected. But he couldn't change it either.
There was no more time to think about it when his escort, no, their escort, led them into the justice building where he would have the chance to say goodbye to his family.
They were each put into a room, separated from the others to give them at least a bit of privacy. Though it didn't really help. It made him feel like some animal in a cage. Just when he saw his brother and mother enter the room, Haymitch showed any sort of reaction. His mother went to him, pulling him into an embrace as she cried silent tears. "You shouldn't have to go in there. My poor boy." She told him, sobbing softly.
Moments later it was his brother's turn. Haymitch grabbed him to pull him into his arms. He was younger than him, he was still in danger. And life would be hard for him now, he had to take care of their mother. This was not right. "Clay, take care of mum, y'here me?" His brother nodded, tears starting to fill his eyes though he really tried not to show them.
Too soon their time was over and the peacekeepers came to take his family away from him. Haymitch knew there was nothing he could do to prevent this and silently watched them leave. Though it was almost unbearable.
So close, he had been so close to avoid the Games. He had imagined to be able to care for his family, protect his brother and help his mother. It would have been better if he hadn't.
When his escort came into the room. Haymitch pushed his thoughts back. "Come come, we shall not waste any more time." Waste more time, as if seeing his family one last time had been a waste of time. Of course these ignorant people wouldn't understand. Capitol citizens couldn't understand what it meant to the people in the Districts. The never had to live with that fear. And Haymitch couldn't envy these people.
On the train, he met the other tributes properly, but he only knew one of them for sure. Maysilee Donner. He could tell no one of District 12 seemed to be good enough to survive, they would probably die within the first 24 hours. Someone of District 1 or 2 would probably win, like it had been every other year. He couldn't really say it surprised him. Haymitch knew how things were working.
There was no victor of District 12 that would function as their mentor so instead they just had their escort and a mentor sent from the Capitol to do the basics with them. Nothing special, after all it was just District 12.
The tributes didn't talk much as they spent their time on the train, they saw no point in getting to know each other better when they were supposed to kill each other in a short time. It would be cruel. So everyone stayed away, only ever talking to each other when they had a meeting with their mentor or when they had lunch or breakfast.
When the train pulled into the Capitol station a few days later, all the Capitol citizens were joyous to see the tributes, excited and impatient. And Haymitch hated every second of it. There was only one person he wanted to see and he knew he would have the chance to later. Well, he hoped he would.
"Now, come come, it's time to show you to the sponsors. Make a good impression, be nice, smile and we will be in your apartments in no time. They are going to love you!" Their escort - what was her name again? Morticia? - had always been so bubbly and vivid, it made the young man want to puke, but he knew better than to do so. Just a little longer and he would never see her again.
In fact, he would see no one ever again.
With a heavy sigh, he and the other tributes lined up, ready to leave the train and feed the monsters with their attention.
"There will be a few people you are going to meet first before you can see your apartment. Just a few formalities, this year's are special Games."
Oh, so some really bothered to even give their attention to the lower Districts? What a change...
Haymitch had been none too eager to see any of the persons he was supposed to see, considering they lived in the Capitol and only wanted to make the Games see as a wonderful thing and they were gifted to be part of it. All that crap they would tell anyone just to get their sympathy. Though not with District 12.
Morticia guided the four tributes to a room, a meeting room, where their host would be waiting. What Haymitch didn't knew was that there was someone he had been all to eager to see again.
When the doors opened, he threw a look inside the room and his eyes fell upon three man, all dressed in fancy suits and colorful hair. Disgusting. But then his eyes caught sight of a girl, standing next to the man on the right.
"Effie."
He didn't think about it, the name just slipped past his lips. The redheaded girl looked up, eyes sparkling as she saw her friend again. Only with difficulties, both restrained the urge to run to each other in order to share a comforting embrace.
"Welcome in the Capitol, my brave Tribute of District 12. Every District will be greeted by members of the Games in order to show our welcoming thought and joy to have you in our dearest heart, the Capitol."
He didn't listen as the man on the left introduced each of them, his eyes and mind only focused on Effie. He couldn't await the end of this meeting, only wanting to take to Effie.
Twenty minutes later, they said their goodbyes. Ryker Trinket talked to Twelve's escort, wanting to give Effie time to talk to Haymitch as it has been what she had bothered him about since the reaping had been on tv.
Now alone in the room, given ten minute of time as the other tributes where already brought to their apartment, Effie didn't hold back and rushed towards him to pull him in an embrace. Her fiery hair falling in soft waves down her shoulders as she inhaled his scent.
"I cannot believe it. You cannot be in there. I- you cannot."
"No chance to change it, Princess. But I wish there would be a way. This may be the last time we see each other and that isn't how it should have been."
Effie nodded sadly as she pulled back, looking at the young man. For a moment, neither of them said a word, though the moment seemed to have lasted longer than they had thought.
Five minutes left.
"Haymitch, I want to give you something."
Reaching behind her neck, she unfastened the necklace as she had done it the very first time, giving it to him.
"Keep it, and remember me. We will not have much time in the Capitol to see each other, but remember me. Keep it for your games. Survive."
Survive. He would survive. For her. She didn't deserve to lose someone, not when she had been so innocent. He couldn't do it to her. He would win for her.
"I will. How am I ever supposed to forget that fiery tempered Capitol woman?" He joked, putting the necklace around his neck before pulling her into another embrace.
And the last thing he knew was Effie Trinket leaving him for supposing my the last time. How wrong he had been to assume it was the last time.