Blaine Abernathy: A Canary Caged

Disclaimer: I do not own Hunger Games

Chapter 2: The Reaping.

Blain'e POV

After breakfast, Haymitch and I headed toward the town square. It was noon, but we promised to arrive early to prepare for the event. When we got to the Justice Building, Haymitch sneaked away. I groan when he does that. I knew he was already hiding in some broom closet, drinking spirits from his flask. So here I was, muttering colorful words searching for my damn father.

"Blaine Abernathy, is that you?" Exclaimed a high pitch voice.

I flinched at the pitch. I know that voice from anywhere. The Escort for District 12 and partial manager…Effie Trinket. I mentally prayed to the heavens above to give me strength. Don't get me wrong, I love Effie, for she has taken care of me. However, when it's around the Hunger Games…I just can't stand her. She doesn't understand the pain the Hunger Games does to the districts. She doesn't see the grief the tribute's parents deal with. She just doesn't get it.

So, taking a deep breath, I turned around to see a very purple and pink woman, "Effie, oh my, I didn't recognize you."

We hugged, and I definitely didn't recognize her. Her hair this year is pink, bubblegum pink, and she put on a lot of makeup and wore a purple suit with a skirt. Around her neck was a collar of tulle flowers with a purple rose in her hair. Effie and I are not much of friends. Not in a way I am with Finnick and Johanna. She was more like a family friend. When I was young, I found her amusing. Now…when not being professional as my manager…. It's hard. Especially when she opens her mouth. You wish to have an awl to stab her with or some fabric to gag her. I practically had to hold last year's male Tribute from strangling her. We pulled back as she giggled.

"My, what a lovely dress you're wearing." She complimented, wiping a fake tear. "I'm so proud, you're finally getting to your girly side. But this isn't Chanel's work." As she grabbed the material from the sleeve. "Is this from your new stylist? What's her name...Portia?"

"Yes, she and her partner Cinna. They're new to the fashion industry and have actually started working for the Hunger Games. I kinda like the dress." I said.

"Well, you should. A young lady should start showing her figure and not hide it in rags." Effie said.

I winced, holding back my instincts to smack her. Chanel brought elegance and made sure I was comfortable. Yes, Portia did something different, maybe befitting to my age, but I will not have my choice in clothing be a lecture or…my body. Does Effie know she's talking to a trained killer? By the way, she is acting, I guess not. Maybe the dyes from her hair color probably made her lose some brain cells again. Last year she dyed her hair blue. Now that I'm looking at her hair, it seems false. A wig. Yep, Effie is now wearing a wig.

Has the world come to an end? I thought.

.o0o.

Luckily, I found my poor excuse of a father drunk by the stairs. Rolling my eyes, I lead him toward the front of the Justice Building. It was two O'clock, and I didn't want to waste time. The temporary stage had several chairs, a podium, and two glass bowls filled with paper slips. One for the boys and the other for the girls. We sat down next to Mayor Undersee and waited till the ceremony was about to begin.

The crowd was coming in. As the children arrive, sign in to get their fingers prick. I looked around to make sure none of the Smynriums weren't here. After winning the Hunger Games, I tried my best to take care of them. Sending them money that way, none of Michael's siblings have to sign up as tesserae. Each year, a child can volunteer as tesserae. A single tessera is worth one year's supply of grain and oil. But it comes as a price that the volunteer's name is added four times. Those who are desperate to double resources would do it eight times to save their family. Unfortunately, I saw the youngest in the fifteen section.

District 12 is not like most districts. We were the poorest district on the East side of Panem. Despite our district being rich in coal, it is not rich in other resources. It was one of the outer districts. Known for harvesting the brave and hardy workers who descend deep into the earth each day to mine the coal.

Twelve were divided into two sections. The Seams and the Merchant Section. The Seams were the poorest part of Twelve. Poverty resigns there, as the majority of the miners live. Having the features of tan skin, dark hair, and gray or brown eyes. Then there was the Merchant Section. The people who lived there have a slight step up in socioeconomic status. It was the center of trading, buying food, and getting cargo from the other districts. The people there have a larger population of blonde hair and blue eyes, with the occasional green. There have been mashes of people marrying in and marrying out. As Haymitch came from the Seams yet had blond hair but gray eyes. While my mother had brown hair and brown eyes from the merchant section..

When the clock struck Two, it was time to begin. I thought about the history of Panem. From the natural disasters to the rise of the Capitol and thirteen districts. Then it was the Dark Days, the rebellion the districts set forth, as twelve were defeated and the thirteenth district obliterated. Followed by the Treaty of Treason and the birth of the Hunger Games.

In other words, sacrifice your children and watch them die; there's nothing you can do about it. The worst part is that it makes this barbaric game a festivity of a sporting event. I had clients who were fond of history, telling me about an ancient civilization and the recreation of this sporting event called the Olympics. This was far different from the Olympics, which occur once every four years around the world. Where the Olympians live if they lose. No, this was a gladiator war. For twenty-four tributes go in, and one comes out as the victor, though there's a prize if you are Victor; Food and oil, if not ample constant supplies. We were given a lot of sugar when I won, for I said I loved their cakes during the interview. As a result, sugar was given to make some cakes. Though nobody made cakes constantly other than the bakery. Everyone saves sweets for special occasions.

Since the beginning of the Hunger Games, District Twelve has had only three Victors. Lucy Gray Baird, Haymitch Abernathy, and myself. Mayor Undersee made a brief speech as he introduced the living victors. Haymitch Abernathy, the town's drunkard, as he staggers up from his seat to give a wave before falling back down. Oh God, he's as drunk as dead again. The crowd applauded this performance as he tried to provide Effie with a hug. I mentally groaned from this, keeping my composure. And then my name was called. Blaine Abernathy, in which the crowd gave me the same response but not as loud as my father. During the game, I did something that got everyone riled up. Something I wasn't proud of either. With that done, I hugged Effie as we kissed both cheeks.

Mayor Undersees was at least relaxed to have good manners. Since we were being televised live television. He stepped aside, taking his seat and allowing Effie to take the stand.

Effie reached the podium to tap the microphone to gather everyone's attention. "Welcome! Welcome, welcome. Happy Hunger Games. And may the odds be ever in your favor."

Silence.

"Now, before we begin, we have a very special film," Effie announced. "Brought to you all the way from The Capitol."

Inspirational music played as a montage was shown on the screen for everyone to see. The film was narrated by President Snow; "War. Terrible war. Widows, orphans, a motherless child. This was the uprising that rocked our land. Thirteen districts rebelled against the country that fed them, loved them, protected them. Brother turned on brother until nothing remained. And then came the peace, hard fought, sorely won. As people rose up from the ashes, and a new era was born. But freedom has a cost. And traitors were defeated. We swore as a nation we should never know treason again. And so, it was decreed that each year the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage, and sacrifice. The lone victor, bathed in riches, would serve as a reminder of our generosity and our forgiveness. This is how we remember our past. This is how we safeguard our future."

The film comes to an end.

"I just love that!" Effie praised, then got serious. "Now, the time has come for us to select one courageous young man and woman for the honor of representing District 12 in the 74th Annual Hunger Games. As usual, ladies first.

I rolled my eyes.

You can polish crap, but it's still crap. I thought.

I clenched my fists, watching chose the fate of two innocent kids to their death.

Effie crossed the stage towards the girl's glass ball. She reaches in and pulls out a little slip of paper. She returns to the podium, and the crowd has gone silent. Effie opens the slip and reads aloud the female Tribute's voice. "Primrose Everdeen!"

You gotta be kidding me! I thought.

From all the names in District 12, a lone slip of a twelve-year-old got picked. A twelve-year-old! Great, now I'm going to have nightmares if this girl dies. The peacekeepers escorted the girl up. She was small, with blond hair in two braids wearing a worn frilly blouse and skirt. She was nervous, trying to stay calm.

Then all of a sudden, another girl in a blue dress and dark hair from the sixteen-year-olds run up, calling out "Prim!".

What is she doing? I thought.

The peacekeepers try to stop her as she forces Primrose behind her.

"I volunteer! I volunteer!" she screamed. "I volunteer as tribute!"

My jaw dropped. Did I hear this girl correctly, or have I imagined it? Did she just volunteer as a Tribute? That is the most suicidal choice anyone has ever made in District 12. Although looking at the circumstances, it's probably the most honorable thing I ever saw. I stood up, along with the Mayor.

"Lovely!" Effie said. "But I believe there's a small matter of introducing the reaping winner and then asking for volunteers, and if one does come forth, then we, um.. . ."

"What does it matter?" I said.

"What does it matter?" the mayor repeated gruffly. "Let her come forward."

The young girl, Primrose, was hysterical in protest, not wanting this girl, whom I assumed was her sister, to go. But a boy from the eighteen sections took Prim away as the older brunette joined the stage. Mayor Undersee and I sat back down.

"Well, Bravo! A dramatic turn of events here in District 12. Yes, well. District 12's very first volunteer. Bring her up." Effie gushed, pleased that something new was happening in our coal mining town. Effie ushered the girl up with praise. "Come on, dear."

The teen was hesitant as she made her way up the steps. Once she was close, Effie placed her hands on the girl's shoulders, bringing her center stage. She grabbed hold of the microphone. As she said, "That is the spirit of the Games! What is your name?"

The girl swallowed hard. "Katniss Everdeen."

"Well, I bet my hat that was your sister, wasn't it?" Effie asked playfully, bringing the microphone to Katniss.

"Yes," Katniss managed to say.

"Don't want her to steal all the glory, do we?" Effie teased. "Come on, everybody! Let's have a big hand for our very first volunteer, Katniss Everdeen."

However, no one applauded to Effie's trills of excitement. I heard of Katniss Everdeen at the Hob when buying spirits and supplies. She was a hunter, illegally poaching in the woods to sustain her family's hunger. Since her dad died in a mining accident. Instead of applauding from the crowd, they put their three fingers to their lips and towards Katniss. This was unexpected for everyone to give her the funeral goodbye. That I mentally smile. I have a huntress who is well known. I may have a chance to bring her back home if she's that good.

Though the good mood was ruined as usual by Haymitch, as he gave Katniss a hug to congratulate her. "Look at her. Look at this one!" he hollers. That I smack myself embarrassed by this behavior. "Look at her! . . . Lots of . . . Spunk!" He said with triumph. "More than you!" he said, staggering on stage. I held three fingers to Katniss. Three, two, one. "More than you!" he shouted, my drunkard father said in an attempt to taunt the Capitol as he fell off the stage and knocked himself out.

I groaned, shaking my head. Katniss looked at Haymitch and agreed. He's disgusting at the moment. But it got the cameras focused on him while I offered a hand to her. "That's very honorable of you. I give my support."

She nodded, shaking my hand before staring off into the distance. Afterward, two men took Haymitch on a stretcher, and Effie tried to get everyone's attention.

"What an exciting day!" she cheered, trying to straighten her wig. "And now for the boys!"

With that said, she got a slip from the boys' bowl. Walking back to the podium, I sat back in my chair and watched. Hoping it was a strong lad this time who could listen. When she read the paper, I groaned yet again.

"Peeta Mellark."

Baker boy! I mentally cried.

Oh well, I can see what I can do with him. I had seen his strength on market day when he picked up a few hundred-pound bags of flour and won second place in the wrestling tournament last year. Peeta climbed up on stage and looked at Katniss with concern. Though I caught something in his eyes, this may be interesting. A Huntress and the Baker; now that's something to think about.

Effie asked for Volunteers for Peeta, but no one dared risk their necks. Afterward, Mayor Undersees started reading the Treaty of Treason, like he does every year, on mandatory action by the Capitol. Once finished with the dreary speech of the Treaty. The mayor motioned for the tributes to shake hands. They did so. The way Peeta stared into her eyes reminded me of Michael when he looked at me.

If Katniss is smart, she will ally with her District Partner.

"Happy Hunger Games!" Effie praised. "And may the odds be ever in your favor."

Once they finished shaking hands. Everyone stood and faced the crowd as the anthem of Panem played.

Well, what an interesting Game we'll have this year. I thought

I watched the peacekeepers escort the tributes into the Justice Building to have goodbyes to their loved ones. Effie joined me by my side.

"Well, that was interesting." She squealed. "Think they'll win?"

"I don't gamble, Effie. I'm not like my father." I said as we walked inside.

"No, but you have his eyes." She spoke.

I stopped. That was the only thing I had from Haymitch. His eyes, for the rest of me, was my mother. Shaking my head, I stare at the Capitol flag with a glare.

Effie stopped noticing this, "What's wrong?"

"Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun. . ." I quoted.

With nothing else to say, I went inside to prepare for the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games. Something tells me I have my chance of saving one of them. Is it either the Huntress or the Bakers?

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