I'm so sorry I haven't updated in like forever! I know this chapter's really short again. I was going to make it longer when my computer decided to get rid of some of my writing, so I had to leave it like this, unfortunately. Anyways, here's my new chapter! I don't own the Hunger Games or the characters. :)
Katniss' POV
The silence rings in my ears. The sound of a mockingjay can be heard in the distance and my heart sinks. My head is spinning and my eyes are fixed hopelessly on the two buckets of doom a few yards in front of me taking their place once again on the podium. It's like a horrible, horrible case of deja vous as I look out to the crowds of petrified villagers, distinctly split into boys and girls. Peeta and I need to be mentors now, since we are past victors and I am not looking forward to preparing young children to go into an arena and fight to the death. Actually, I take that back, because absolutely nothing can prepare you for the horrors of the games.
I see Lily in the front row staring at the ground, probably trying to forget the reality of the whole situation. I suddenly feel very sick. When everyone begins to turn and look to the top of the aisle in between the two crowds, I immediately follow suit. There, I see a middle-aged woman in about her forties or fifties (I can't tell exactly how old she is under all of her makeup) sporting a dainty green dress with a yellow over-sized belt around the waist and a matching wig; a face I found all too familiar. Without thinking and completely forgetting where I am, I call out in surprise.
'Effie!' I shrink back and lower my head as everyone turns to look at me angrily Effie gasps at the sight of me after all these years, gives a small wave then corrects herself and brings her finger to her lips to quieten me.
She saunters confidently through he crowd with her head held high, smiling at the rows of people despite their petrified expressions. When she eventually reaches the stage, she gives another excited glance in mine and Peeta's direction and then proceeds with the reaping.
'Morning all,' she greets us.'Welcome to the District 12 76th Hunger Games reaping! I hope you're all very excited.' Typical Effie. That woman just never knows when to say the right things. Obviously, she doesn't get the reaction she stupidly anticipated from the crowd and moves on. 'As always, ladies first.'
Lily's POV
I hold my breath as her gloved hand dips into the bowl of neatly folded up slips of paper. I can't even bring myself to look at everyone around me and I squeeze my eyes shut as tightly as I can. The sound of rustling paper seems to echo eventhough it's probably not that loud. Eventually, Effie produces a slip of paper in her hand.
'And the female tribute from District 12 is...' I hear her pause before reciting the name written down. 'Lily Undersee.' My heart stops. Slowly, I open my eyes to see Peeta holding his head in his hand with his free arm around Katniss, whose eyes are welling with tears. My whole body is paralysed. I can barely get my head around what I've just heard. Everyone turns to stare at me and a couple of the girls behind me give me a violent push forward, shoving me towards the stairs leading to the stage. As I slowly make my way to the front I hang my head, refusing to look at anyone else. Effie gives me an encouraging pat on the shoulder, although nothing can change the indescribable sinking feeling I have.
Rowan's POV
Poor Lily. I can only imagine what she's feeling right now. I can't believe this; I've only just begun to get to know her and now she's been reaped to go into a deadly arena. However, I hardly have any time to think about it before Effie moves on.
'And now- the boys.' She dips her hand a second time into the other bowl. She doesn't hesitate this time.'Rowan Weatherfield!' In just a few dreadful minutes, my whole world has come crashing down around me. Not only do I need to watch Lily fight to the death and put her life on the line, but now I might just have to kill her myself. I steel myself before making my way to the front and taking my place next to Effie, just across the stage from Lily. I try to catch her eye but they are fixed on the floor and I don't blame her. She's given up already- and maybe I have too.
Katniss' POV
I should have seen this coming. Celestia would take any chance she could to hurt me even more. As if it isn't bad enough that she took Madge away and tried to turn Lily against me but now she riggs the reaping so that she gets chosen as tribute. That's what must of happened, mustn't it? There is no way that this is just a coincidence. All the more reason fo Lily to hate me. There's nothing I can do; my power has been taken away as quickly as it was given to me when I became the mockingjay. It is now that I am thankful that I left Prim and Lucas at home with my mother; Prim would have been scarred for life if she saw Lily being ushered onto the stage to be sent away. I know, she doesn't fully understand, but that's what will make it that much harder.
Peeta's POV
I try my best to comfort Katniss after the shock she's just had- that all of us have had, really. I know that she'll blame this all on herself; she is the one Celestia is taking all of her hatred out on. But she can't control these things. It's not her fault and I just wish \i could make her see that. She won't listen anyway- she'll just carry on feeling guilty about it. And it doesn't help when Effie announces that Celestia has yet another 'message' for us
'Greetings, Panem. Good to see you again!' My blood boils at her sarcastic tone. 'Congratulations, tributes! I will look forward to working with you. But,first- just a quick announcement. You see, I wouldn't want to bore you. So I have decided to make a few changes to the games this year. You know- mix it up a bit. I have given the matter a lot of thought and I have come to the conclusion that it would be a lot more...interesting if the was not to be just one arena, but two- a girls' and a boys'. All tributes will train together but will be split once the games begin.' A collection of confused whispers fill the square.'But it doesn't stop there, my friends. Oh no, not yet. There will be no cornucopia. Tributes will be sent into the arena in completely randomised locations along with a small backpack filled with supplies accumulated solely through sponsers before the games. The last remaining tribute from both arenas will eventually fight against each other to become victor. Really, Katniss, you didn't think I'd let you get away with the whole 'two victors' stunt you managed to pull on my grandfather, did you? So, what do you think, Panem? Tributes, I wish you a safe journey! I do hope you enjoy the new and improved Hunger Games!'
The crowd is silent in pure awe and shock. A new Hunger Games? Two arenas? No cornucopia? This just doesn't make sense. However, our moment of bewilderment is cut short when Effie begins herding us off the stage, keeping hold of Lily and Rowan's shoulders as if they were about to escape her beloved reaping. I doubt they would they would make an effort to get away anyway; Lily seems as though she's not even going to bother trying to fight against the fact that she's being sent away and Rowan can't take his eyes off of her. I clasp Katniss' hand tight and lead her away, followinf Effie and the two terrified teenagers.
'You shall have exactly one hour to gather up your belongings and say goodbye to your families, as always.' Effie informed Lily and Rowan.
'Oh, really? 'As always'? Because I can recall that Katniss and I weren't allocated that time in our last games. We were just taken away without mercy.' Effie shoots me an unsatisfied look and continues to send us on or way.
Katniss' POV:
I pause in the doorway of the sitting room, seeing Lily curled up in a ball on the sofa, hugging her legs up to her chest. I feel so bad about this whole thing. That young girl has lost everything because of me. Without warning, the train jerks, sending me stumbling forward so that Lily turns to look in my direction. She takes one look at me and glances away again, turning her attention back to the dainty silver necklace she is cradling in her hands. I blink back the tears as I realise that it is the necklace Madge bought her when she was Primrose's age for her fourth birthday.
She'd been wanting it for what seemed like forever and she's never let it out of her sight since the minute she received it. Madge gave up every penny she had at the time to buy her that necklace and it's been the most precious thing she's owned ever since. I'd forgotton all about it until now.
'Hey...'
'Hey,' she replies, not even lifting her head.
'I brought hot chocolate,' I say, lifting up the half-empty cup in my hand. 'Although, most of it's staining the carpet now. Effie's going to kill me.' She examines the floor briefly as I go to sit down beside her. Her mother figure is gone because of me, so I am more than happy to step up and take on the role. 'Lily, I'm so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen. I never meant for-'
'I'm not blaming you, Katniss. Not anymore. I know you couldn't have done anyhting about it. Not much, anyway.' She sets the necklace down on a cushion and takes the mug out of my hand. 'Thanks for the hot chocolate.' I put my arm around her, comfortingly.
'You know, you're mother would be so proud of you, Lily.'
'Why? I haven't done anything. I'm just a helpless, terrified young girl being sent off to be tortured and killed in the games. There's nothing to be proud of when it comes to me. Not like you- you were a leader, an icon, a Mockingjay...' Her voice trails off.
'But I never asked to be any of those things, you know. I was just a normal teenage girl from District 12, just like you.'
'Yeah, but you had courage, didn't you? You were brave.'
'No I wasn't. Trust me, the only thing that was going through my mind when I volunteered was the thought of Prim all alone in that dreaded arena. I only did it to help my sister; I never imagined that it would spark all of that controversy.' Truthfully, I felt way out of my depth.'
'So, how did you get through it? What kept you going?' She asks, looking me in the eye for the first time since the beginning of this conversation.
'Well, I promised Prim. I promised her that I would try and win for her, that I would do whatever I could to get out of there alive. I couldn't let her down. And you, Lily- don't you want to win for your mother?' She sighs.
'Of course I do. What kind of a question is that?'
'Then do it. We'll do everything we can to get you out of that arena. Believe in me.' She looks down, unsurely, before I pull her into a hug.
'Thanks, Katniss.' She squeaks. She gets up without another word, being careful not to forget the necklace, and makes her way out into the hallway, leaving me alone.
