Chapter One
On the day of Primrose Everdeen's first reaping, the odds should have been in her favor. No tessera taken out in her name like the majority of the children in the crowd, no extra entries for her age. Just one paper slip with her name on it out of thousands. There probably wasn't anyone safer from being reaped that day.
For the past month, she'd been waking up in a cold sweat from nightmares of her name being called. Katniss would hold her, and assure her it was nothing to worry about. "I'm not gonna let them take you from me. It's gonna be okay," Katniss would comfort her little sister. And, of course, Prim believed her. Had Katniss ever lied to her before? Had her older sister ever been wrong or put either of them in danger? Why would it be different this time? Still, Prim would still get butterflies in her stomach whenever someone in school would mention the upcoming reaping. The general rule of thumb was to not mention it; everyone knew that having your name drawn was synonymous with being put on death row. But still, hushed voices in the hallway would speculate who they thought it would be, what they would do if they were picked, how many times their name was in, et cetera. Whenever Prim would hear anything about it, she'd duck her head deeper into her textbook, or talk a little bit louder to drown the conversation out. She couldn't bear to think of it before the day even arrived. But, Katniss said she was okay. It was going to be okay.
All too soon it was the morning of the reaping. Prim had crawled into her mother's bed the night before, hoping her mother's arms would protect her from the nightmares. They hadn't. But it was all Prim could do to put on a brave face for her mother, who was always still emotionally fragile after the death of her husband, Prim and Katniss's father. Prim never admitted it to her mother or Katniss, but she didn't remember her father as much as she wanted, as much as she was expected to. She was only seven years old when a mining accident killed him, leaving nothing to bury. But Prim always had a feeling that saying this to her family would upset them, so she would always smile and nod when her mother would talk about her father, how the birds would stop to listen to him sing, claiming to recall memories that were blurry at best to her.
Prim and her mother got ready in silence. What is there to say on such a day? Katniss was out, hunting for dinner that would follow the reaping. Both Prim and her mother sipped on some tea, but neither of them could handle anything else. Afterward, Mrs. Everdeen drew up a bath for Prim and she washed the thin layer of coal dust off of her body which always seemed to accumulate no matter how hard she tried to prevent this. She tried to distract herself, with thoughts of school and Katniss and Buttercup, who sat next to the bath, but far enough so he didn't risk getting wet. Prim climbed out from the tub and dried herself with a towel, putting on the outfit her mother laid out for her. It was Katniss's outfit from her first reaping: a khaki-colored skirt and ruffled white blouse. Prim didn't quite fill the outfit out, her growth being stunted from going hungry during the months after her father's death. But it was Katniss's, and the thought comforted her. She let her mother put two braids in her hair, and now there was nothing left to do but wait for Katniss to return.
When her older sister did finally make it back, Prim felt herself relax a bit. Her sister always protected her, and having her around for the reaping made her feel that much safer. Katniss tucked in Prim's shirt, which had formed a ducktail in the back, gave her a kiss on the cheek and started to get ready. Time seemed to both drag on and go too fast, but finally, it was ready for them to go. Their mother gave both the girls a hug before making her way to the roped-off area for parents. Before they were also separated, Katniss held Prim by her shoulders. "Find me afterward. I love you." The two sisters hugged, then parted ways. Katniss said it was going to be safe. They would see each other for dinner. Katniss always kept Prim safe.
So when Effie Trinket, with her grotesque makeup and chirpy voice dug through all of the entries, Prim tried to stay calm. Deep breaths, deep breaths, she commanded herself repeatedly, like an elderly woman who had trouble breathing. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion, however looking back on it, it all happened so fast.
With a slip of paper in hand, Effie's heels click-clacked back to the microphone. Her bleached skin ripped it open, and Prim barely had any time to worry about Katniss before Effie enunciated the name so clearly: Primrose Everdeen.
Nothing keeps anyone safe from the Games. Not even older sisters.
The whole world seemed to go still for a moment. Hushed murmurs made their way through the crowd, and an aura of disbelief struck the hearts of almost everyone as if to say No, not her, you can't take her away. As if the lives of those in District 12 weren't horrible enough, the one beacon of hope, the one reminder of innocence was going to be taken away from them. There was no mercy.
Despite not believing what was about to happen, Prim's feet started to trudge to the stage. She felt something burning in her chest, and her stomach felt heavy. She was almost certain that she was going to collapse on the ground before making it to the stage. She was halfway there before a shrill scream pierced the heavy atmosphere. Prim turned, only to see Katniss running towards her. If she had any control over her body, she would have run into her sister's arms and sank to the ground. Maybe she could go to sleep and wake up, and it would be one of her nightmares again. But all Prim could do was stand there, and watch as her sister shoved her way through the crowd.
"Please," she wailed, "take me instead! Please! I volunteer as tribute! Please take me instead!" Katniss's voice was starting to go hoarse, but she forced herself to be louder with each plea. Nothing was happening. Why wasn't anything happening? It was as if the crowd was deaf. Didn't they understand what was going on? They were going to take Prim away. Prim, who Katniss had raised and loved and protected. Prim, who would start to cry any time Katniss showed her how to hunt, begging to heal the wounded creatures. Prim, whose shirt was untucked in the back, forming a ducktail, because she was too small to fill the clothes out. Prim, who was simply staring at her from across the way. Why was she staring, why wouldn't anyone do anything?
And that's when Prim would make arguably the bravest or stupidest decision of her life. As she looked at Katniss, begging to take her place, begging to die in place of her, Prim counted all of the other times Katniss had saved her life and quickly lost count. She had taken the place of her mother after their dad died. She had found ways to feed them when they were on the brink of starvation. She had taken out a tessera in her name, multiplying the amount of Katniss Everdeen's were in the raffle, and had forbidden Prim to do the same. Katniss, who said it was going to be okay, who always kept Prim safe. So, Prim looked at her sister, conjuring up every ounce of confidence in her body, and turned to face Effie.
"I refuse to take a volunteer," Prim announced, shocking everyone in the crowd, including herself. What was she doing? Was this even allowed? Just a few minutes ago, she cowered at the idea of her name being drawn, and now she refuses a way out of it? Some might call it courageous, while others call it ridiculous. For Prim, it was simple: she couldn't let her sister die for her. No, not after everything Katniss had put herself through already. Katniss deserved a happy life, where fathers are alive and mothers don't abandon them and sisters can take care of themselves. So she marched up to the stage, climbed the steps, and took her spot. She dared not to look at Katniss, who Gale had to drag away. She just couldn't do it.
She wasn't sure who started it, but suddenly, the entire crowd was pressing three fingers to their lips, and holding them up in a salute. It was an old tradition in 12. It meant saying goodbye to someone you loved. Prim felt another pang in her chest. Truly, no one thought she was coming back. They were saying goodbye, for good.
The crowd held their salute as Effie moved on the pick the boy tribute. Prim focused on a point in the distance, trying to keep herself standing. She felt like she might black out. She was so focused on staying conscious that she barely registered Effie announcing the next name, Peeta Mellark. There's no commotion when his name is called, no one willing to volunteer for him. And so he makes his way to the stage, adopting the same blank stare as Prim.
"Well," squealed Effie, "there you have it! Our tributes for District 12! Shake hands!" Following Effie's orders, Peeta extended his hand. Prim mechanically followed suit, though she wasn't entirely in control of her body movements still. They shook hands, and Prim couldn't determine whether Peeta had given her a consoling squeeze of her hand, or if he just spasmed. They returned to looking forward like soldiers getting ready for battle, which in many ways, they were.
"How exciting!" squeaked Effie. "Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!" As the tributes turned to leave the Town Square and be whisked away for good, Prim couldn't help but think that her odds were anything but.
AN: I am updating this fic from a few years ago, so the following chapters will also be updated before new chapters are added. Thanks!