REVIEW SHOUT-OUTS: Peeta's and Finnick's Mistress, Aliyaahhhh, Kiera-House M.D., Everlarkglee4ever, InLoveWithHG, ABigFan
ALERTED & FAVED SHOUT-OUTS: Peeta's and Finnick's Mistress, Everlarkglee4ever, InLoveWithHG, Brenna13, DaddysGirl4, XxxImNotOkayxxx, LeafpoolandCrowfeather4ever, U53RN4M3, AlexisFlanagan.33, & LuckyDuckyPomLuv
BEST REVIEWER AWARD SHOUT-OUT: Peeta's and Finnick's Mistress
YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING! This chap sorta sticks to canon HG lol.
Chapter Six
The 74th Hunger Games: Let the Games Begin
Haymitch stared at Katniss, "You sure you can handle the interview without help, Sweetheart?"
Katniss quirked an eyebrow at him smirking, "When have I ever needed your help, Sugar?"
Haymitch rolled his eyes before grabbing a bottle of liquor and taking a drink.
"Suit yourself, Sweetheart." Haymitch grunted at her.
Katniss studied him, "What's Peeta's angle?"
Haymitch gets an odd glint in his eye that unsettles her.
"No, need to worry about Bread Boy, he's a natural." Haymitch snarked at her.
After answering Haymitch left the room, leaving Katniss with a sinking feeling in her stomach.
For the interviews this year the girls go first then the boy tributes, they went as expected; District 1 Glimmer was sexy, Marvel from 1 was cocky, Clove from 2 was a frightening psycho in Katniss' opinion, Cato was from 2 an eager killing machine, the foxfaced girl was sly, Rue from 11 reminded Katniss so much of Prim yet she could see herself at that age in Rue too, & Thresh was intimidating. Then it was Katniss turn:
Caesar: "It's always a pleasure seeing you, Katniss. Or should I call you 'the girl on fire'? I'm surprised it took you this long to earn that name, it suits you perfectly. When you came out in the opening ceremonies, my heart actually stopped. What did you think of that costume?"
Katniss: "You mean after I got over my fear of being burned alive?"
Big laugh. A real one from the audience.
Katniss: "Well, after the initial fear was over-I was just grateful towards Cinna for being a genius, a slightly insane genius but a genius nonetheless."
The Capitol Audience laughs again.
Caesar: "So, how about that training score. E-le-ven. Give us a hint what happened in there. It seems not only do you get more beautiful, but you get more talented with each passing day."
Katniss bites her lip.
Katniss: "As always I can't say but it was definitely a first. You'll be seeing another side to me that's never been seen before."
Caesar: "I think you love torturing us, Girl on Fire"
Katniss laughed freely, once again causing everyone hearing the enchanting sound smiled on reflex. She smirked
Katniss: "Maybe"
Caesar: "So, I have to ask about your sister, Prim. How'd did she take you volunteering for her?"
Katniss chuckled lightly.
Katniss: "Better than Sia, at least my little duck didn't try to scold me like my little butterfly did."
The audience chuckles and 'awes'.
Caesar: "What was the last thing Prim said to you?"
Katniss: "She made me promise to come home to her, and I swore to her that I would."
Caesar: "Of course you did. Third time is the charm right? You mostly likely have this in the bag."
Katniss: "I don't know about that Caesar. But I do know without a doubt I will never stop protecting my family even in my death I'll never stop watching over them." *buzzer goes off*
The applause continues long after Katniss was seated. She missed the beginning of Peeta's interview. He has the audience from the get-go, though; she could hear them laughing, shouting out. Peeta plays up the baker's son thing, comparing the tributes to the breads from their districts. Then Peeta has a funny anecdote about the perils of the Capitol showers.
Peeta: "Tell me, do I still smell like roses?"
There's a whole run where they take turns sniffing each other that brings down the house. Katniss focuses again when Caesar asks him if he has a girlfriend back home. Peeta hesitates, and then gives an unconvincing shake of his head.
Caesar: "Handsome lad like you. There must be some special girl. Come on, what's her name?"
Peeta sighs.
Peeta: "Well, there is this one girl. I've had a crush on her ever since I can remember. But I'm pretty sure she didn't know I was alive until the reaping."
Sounds of sympathy from the crowd. Unrequited love they can relate to.
Caesar: "She have another fellow?"
Peeta: "I don't know for sure, a lot of boys like her. She's treasured in our district has been for as long as I can remember. She is certainly special; she's beautiful but doesn't realize it, she's fierce yet compassionate, she's had a hard life but she inspires people with her spirit. Her most frustrating yet enduring quality is she has no idea the effect she can have."
The crowd was speechless as Peeta passionately described the girl he was in love with.
Caesar: "Sounds like some girl. So, here's what you do. You win, you go home. She can't turn you down then, eh?"
Peeta: "I don't think it's going to work out. Winning . . . won't help in my case for many reasons."
Caesar: "Why ever not? Most girls would love to date a Victor."
Peeta blushes beet red and stammers out.
Peeta: "Because . . . because . . . she's won the games herself…and she came here with me."
For a moment, the cameras hold on Peeta's downcast eyes as what he says sinks in. Katniss mouth dropped open in shock.
Caesar: "Oh that is a piece of bad luck"
The crowd is murmuring in agreement, a few have even given agonized cries.
Peeta: "It's not good"
Caesar: "Well, I don't think any of us can blame you. It'd be hard not to fall for that young lady; you were definitely right when you said she was something special."
Caesar: "She didn't know?"
Peeta shakes his head.
Peeta: "Not until now."
There's a very rare blush on Katniss' face.
Caesar: "Wouldn't you love to pull her back out here and get a response?"
The crowd screams assent.
Caesar: "Sadly, rules are rules, and Katniss Everdeen's time has been spent. Well, best of luck to you, Peeta Mellark, and I think I speak for all of Panem when I say our hearts go with yours." *buzzer goes off*
The roar of the crowd is deafening. Peeta has absolutely wiped the rest of the tributes off the map with his declaration of love for Katniss.
Haymitch and Peeta were both getting a little nervous. Katniss had beaten everyone back to their floor and when they got there she was in the shower according to Effie. Dean looked at Haymitch and Peeta's slightly scared faces in amusement.
"I have a feeling you two are in for it" Dean snickered.
Peeta too nervous about Katniss reaction ignored the younger boy. Haymitch however glared at him. So, unfortunately for them they didn't notice the knives flying their way until both Haymitch and Peeta were pinned to the wall by their shirts on both sides being impaled perfectly by Katniss' knives. Everyone else took a step back from the dark haired fiery grey eyed girl whose expression was deadly and fierce.
Haymitch Abernathy realizes quickly that this was the first time he has been afraid for his life since the Arena. But he hid his fear better than Peeta who gulped and was sweating nervously.
"Would you two like to help explain to me what that the hell that was tonight?" Her voice deceptively sweet.
"That, Sweetheart. Was him making you desirable to the Capitol." Haymitch said without thinking, he instantly regretted his words. Katniss hissed at him like an angry cat, before throwing another knife at his head.
"Try again, Sugar. Seeing as how you were the one to tell me how I made myself desirable to Capitol you're gonna have to lie hellva lot better than that." Katniss snarled at him, her grey eyes blazing with a wild fire. Haymitch didn't answer but his eyes showed his remorse for his poor choice of words.
Peeta gulped before speaking, "It really has nothing to do with him, Katniss. What I said wasn't an angle like you're assuming it is. Haymitch realized how I felt about you and he has that mentor mind-set like you do. So, Haymitch like you could see that would be a successful angle for sponsors, and it would help keep you alive. My feelings for you are real; I know I have no chance in these Games. But you're a survivor, Katniss and if I'm going to die soon I want to spend my last moments doing everything in my power protecting you. You know the last thing my mother said to me, 'Looks like District 12 is winning again, she's a survivor that one. It'll be interesting to have the same Victor for the third time.' Even my mother, who dislikes you because of your Seam heritage, is rooting for you, Katniss."
Katniss Everdeen gaped at Peeta Mellark, the boy with bread, in utter shock. Katniss spluttered searching for words that never came. She fled from the room, only looking over her shoulder to see Dean helping de-knife Haymitch and Peeta. She was too busy being in shock to even consider that she may have overreacted.
For a moment, her eyes are dazzled by the bright sunlight and Katniss is conscious only of a strong wind with the hopeful smell of pine trees. Then she hears the legendary announcer, Claudius Templesmith, as his voice booms all around her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games begin!"
Katniss had 60 seconds before she could start her plan of action.
Now! She thought, to herself. Katniss let out the most shrill ear-piercing bird call her father taught her to lure birds, as she ran towards the bow and arrow. All 23 tributes fell to their knees in agony trying to hopelessly cover their ears to stop the ringing. She continued the bird call to grab an orange back-pack, the Careers and Thresh were the first to start to recover from the noise.
Katniss thanked her hunting ears as she blocked Clove's knife with her backpack. As, she turned around to smirk at Clove; Katniss saw Rue and Peeta both being targeted by Ray Wilder from District 4, she launched her bow quickly at hit him square in the throat. Both, Rue and Peeta looked at her in surprise and gratitude. In the corner of her eye she saw Opah Niles getting ready to throw a spear at Foxface or Vixen Ripley and Katniss suddenly pictured Sia in her place as she was the same age as Vixen is. With that thought, Katniss' arrow pierced the throat of Opah from District 4. Foxface looks at her with wide eyes, nods her head and scampers off. Seeing, Peeta and Rue had already fled to safety so does Katniss as she takes off into the woods.
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
Before settling down, Katniss takes the wire from her pack and sets two twitch-up snares in the brush. It might be risky to be setting traps, but food will go so fast out here. And Katniss knows she can't set snares on the run. Katniss walks another five minutes before making camp, she picks her tree carefully. A willow, not terribly tall but set in a clump of other willows, offering concealment in those long, flowing tresses.
Katniss climbs up, sticking to the stronger branches close to the trunk, and find a sturdy fork for her bed. It takes some doing, but she arranges the sleeping bag in a relatively comfortable manner. Katniss places her backpack in the foot of the bag, then slides in after it. As a precaution, she removes her belt, loops it all the way around the branch and the sleeping bag, and refastens it at her waist. Now if she rolls over in her sleep, Katniss won't have to worry about crashing to the ground.
Night has just come when Katniss hears the anthem that proceeds the death recap.
Ganesa Freeman
District Three
Ray Wilder
District Four
Opah Niles
District Four
Eryk Kassanavoid
District Five
Isa Ford
District Six
Rams Oswalt
District Six
Ash Boyer
District Seven
Euptella Atwood
District Seven
Frieze Ladd
District Eight
Grana Dines
District Nine
Amaranth Molson
District Nine
Arapawa Cox
District Ten
"Peeta. Rue. Foxface. Thresh. Boys from 3 & 10. Girl from 8. Four Careers. Twelve down and twelve to go." Katniss whispered softly to herself. Katniss has not truly slept in two days, and then there's been the long day's journey into the arena. Slowly, she allows her muscles to relax and closes her eyes. The last thing Katniss thinks is that it's lucky she doesn't snore and her nightmares aren't really vocal they just cause her to thrash widely in her sleep if she's by herself that is.
Snap! The sound of a breaking branch wakes Katniss. Slowly, noiselessly, Katniss turns herself in that direction. For a few minutes, there's nothing but blackness and some scuffling. Then she sees a spark and a small fire begins to bloom. A pair of hands warms over flames, but Katniss can't make out more than that.
What an idiot, Katniss thinks furiously to herself.
By the pleading that soon follows, Katniss can tell that it was a girl. Then there's laughter and congratulations from several voices.
Clove cries out, "Thirteen down and ten to go!" which gets a round of appreciative hoots.
"Better clear out so they can get the body before it starts stinking." Cato says. The Careers stop in the clearing about ten yards from her tree. They have flashlights, torches. Katniss could see an arm here, a boot there, through the breaks in the branches. Katniss turns to stone, not even daring to breathe loudly.
Have they spotted me? No, not yet. Katniss could tell from their words their minds are elsewhere.
"Shouldn't we have heard the cannon by now?" Marvel asks.
"I'd say yes. Nothing to prevent them from going in immediately." Clove answered.
"Unless she isn't dead." Glimmer suggests.
"She's dead. I stuck her myself." Cato said furiously.
"Then where's the cannon?" Marvel points out.
"Someone should go back. Make sure the job's done." Said Glimmer.
"Yeah, we don't want to have to track her down twice." Clove pipes in.
"I said she's dead!" Cato bellowed.
An argument breaks out until Clove silences the others. "We're wasting time! I'll go finish her and let's move on!"
Katniss can hear the shrug from here.
"Fine, Clove. See for yourself." Cato said carelessly.
"Where do you think the lovely Katniss Everdeen is hiding?" Marvel asked the other Careers, the leer in his voice gave Katniss the creeps.
"Trees, most likely don't you remember her first Games?" Cato sneered at the idiotic question.
"Not everyone is as obsessed with her as you are, Cato. Clove, told me how you use to brag back in District 2 that you would say how you were going to win the 74th Games and then 'wow' Katniss Everdeen and marry her. Which, I don't understand she's not even that pretty." Glimmer said childishly.
Katniss rolled her eyes.
Marvel scoffed, "Get your eyes checked, Glimmer. Firegirl Everdeen is fucking smokin' hot. It's a shame she has to die, but maybe I can have some fun with her first."
Glimmer huffs in disgust.
"Firegirl Everdeen is my kill and I'll be the one who enjoys her before her death." Cato said forcefully. The sound of Clove returning stopped further discussion.
"Was she dead?" asks Cato.
"No. But she is now." Clove said sadistically. Just then, the cannon fires.
BOOM.
"Ready to move on?" Glimmer asks. The Career pack sets off at a run just as dawn begins to break, and birdsong fills the air. Katniss remains in her awkward position, muscles trembling with exertion for a while longer, then hoist herself back onto the branch. Katniss knows she needs to get down, to get going, but for a moment she lies there, digesting what she has heard.
"In their fucking dreams, they'll be dead before they can even reach me." Katniss growls under her breath. With that she moved and gave the cameras an evil smirk. She empties her snares to find a rabbit she cooks it on the warm stones from the fire that got Pashmina Hughes from District 8 killed.
Then, Katniss sets out on camouflaging the orange backpack and trying to find a water source. After what seemed like forever, Katniss found mud which eventually led her to a water source. Katniss found another tree to fall asleep in.
A few hours later, the stampede of feet shakes Katniss from her slumber. She looks around in bewilderment. It's not yet dawn, but her stinging eyes can see it. It would be hard for Katniss to miss the wall of fire quickly descending on her.
AN: Hehe what do you guys think of the Careers? I luv this Cato and Glimmer is cray cray green with envy lol. This story needs more reviews! Lol just sayin' ;)
Come on show Hell Kat some love please and thank you lol
Rd, Enjoy, & Review!