Chapter #1
Haymitch's POV
Three more. That's it. Three more reapings until I'm in the clear. After today it would be two, but today is different, this is the 75th annual Hunger Games, the Quarter Quell. Every 25 years the Hunger Games has some kind of sick twist on the already sick games, 25 years ago the tributes from each district were chosen by vote, an added cruelness to already being sent to what is most likely your demise. But even, then at least it was just you against 23 others, this year was different. This Quarter Quell there would be double the amount of tributes are usual, instead of 24 there would be 48, 47 kids would be dead within the next few weeks.
I heard my mom call me from the other room, I was late. I quickly finished buttoning my shirt, tied my too-small shoes, and ran for the door. Just before I could leave my mother stopped me, "Wait for Waylen please" she called, stopping me in my tracks. I tried my best to forget. Forget that my younger brother was finally 12 years old and susceptible to the horrors and suspense of the reaping. I paused in the doorway and leaned against the frame to wait. "Come on we'll be late!" I called in the direction of the bathroom. My mother gestured me for come to closer.
Her brown hair was loosely back into a bun and her frail figure was apparent in the yellow sundress she was wearing, special for reaping day. She reached up to fix my collar and ran her finger through my hair to reposition it. She looked into my eyes, sadly, for just a moment before Waylen came out of the bathroom. "You better go" she said pulling away to check Waylen. She fixed him up similarly before pulling him into a tight hug, her baby boy's first reaping. She came over to me and pulled me into a hug as well, holding tightly as if to never let go. Reluctantly she pulled away, "I'll see you boys after" she said, putting on a hopeful face for us. This would be the only time in history, that there was a chance both her boys could be taken from her in one games.
Chapter #2
Haymitch's POV
Waylen certainly had the heart of a kid from 1 or 2, the careers. He knew the horrors the games beheld but he had never really experienced it. This was his first reaping, as well as the first for his friends, his only brother had never been chosen, and we watched the games as little as we could, especially attempting to shield him from the horrors. So as we walked to the reaping he acted like a child, running around fake punching and sword fighting his imaginary opponent. But even he had the decency to calm his fanatics as we neared the center of town. The peacekeepers began to multiply as the children appeared, as though they were livestock being herded into a pen.
"They're gonna as for your finger, it's just a prick it doesn't hurt" I explained as we got in line. "I won't be hurt" he replied overconfident. Never have I known a kid to be so un-anxious in a reaping. He wouldn't be stupid enough to volunteer, I thought to myself, that's a death wish. We make it through the line, get checked in and are about to split, I pull him in for one last second.
"Go sit with your friends and the other kids, I'll find you and Mom after, ok?" I say looking right in his striking blue eyes. "Ok" he replies quickly, I pull him in for a quick hug and whisper in his ear "Keep your mouth shut, stay unnoticed" before pushing away and heading to our age groups. I take my place next to the other 16 year old boys and look out in front to make sure Waylen got to his place. I see him standing still so I assume he got my message. I look to my right at the girls standing in the same age-order. I scan the row of our age group next to me until I see her. Standing solemnly in a faded purple dress, her long blonde hair hanging loose around her shoulders, looking beautiful as ever. She looks over and sees me, she smiles an anxious smile and blows a kiss in my direction, I mime a catch of it and shove my hand in my pocket as though to save it for later. She smiles a little more truly this time and both of our attention's are suddenly pulled to the stage with the commencement of the ceremony.
Chapter #3
Haymitch's POV
Our mayor is standing up on the stage, looking as proud and presentable as he can muster. Peacekeepers flanking him on each side, he speaks into the microphone repeating the same similar run-down they have every year "50 years ago we were in the midst of a horrible, miserable, war, a terrible uprising that resulted in the deaths of many and the misery of more. Now we pay tribute to the Capitol that put an end to that time every year by commemorating the horrors that were inflicted, and the courage of those who came out on top. We will now select the District 12 tributes of the 50th annual Hunger Games. This year being the Quarter Quell we will be selecting 4 names instead of just 2, ladies first". He heads over to the rusted bucket on his left, and reaches in. I look down, close my eyes, and hold my breath. Not her, I repeat in my head again and again, Please not her. "Astoria Sullivan and Nella Mintz". Phew, I said to myself. I released the air in my lungs as silently as I could. I knew Astoria from school, she was sweet enough and I wasn't happy to hear her name called, and Nella was only Waylen's age and it's always sad to hear someone being called in only their first year. The girls are dragged on stage, Astoria holding it together but looking shocked, and Nella is on the brink of tears beside her.
"Now for the boys" mayor said as he crossed a few feet over the bucket containing the boys' names. Waylen's name is only there once, they're not gonna pick him, I silently prayed for his silence, if he volunteered there'd be nothing I could do for him. "Atlas Yarrow, and Haymitch Abernathy".
Chapter #4
Haymitch's POV
A shock ran through my body, suddenly everything because numb and unreal around me. So concerned about Waylen's silence, I knew that my odds were higher this year, but I had never thought this could happen to me. I heard muffled screams in protest from various spots around me but in my frozen state I couldn't place them. I walked like a zombie out into the center and up to the stage behind Atlas. I stood up, center next to Astoria with Atlas to my right, looking out at the people of my district. This would be the last time I saw many of them, their faces a blur to me. The first clear words I hear are the mayor's voice in the mic announce "Let's head it for the tributes from District 12, and my the odds be ever in your favor", but he was met with nothing. No one cheered, it was hard enough to muster any kind of meek applause on a normal year but on a Quarter Quell with double the kids as usual, no one dared make a peep. After standing in an awkward and sad silence for a minute or so the peacekeepers herded us back stage into the City Hall building behind us.
We were separated, each with a guard and thrown into our own rooms. Everything started catching up to me, the reality of the situation. I was gonna die. No one from District 12 had won the games in 40 years, and the last tribute to win hasn't been seen since shortly after the games. I was a scrappy, underfed, 16 year old from 12 with no combat experience, no mentor, and the odds were certainly not in my favor. I was leaning against the back of an old leather couch trying to catch my breath when the door opened and I heard the guard say roughly "You've got 3 minutes" as my mom and Waylen quickly entered. Waylen came first wrapping his arms tightly and suddenly around my waist, burying his face in my stomach. "I did what you said, I kept quiet, like I promised" he sobbed into my shirt. His tears threatened to bring some of my own to the surface. But I had to be strong for him. I kneeled down so we'd be on the same level to hug his around his shoulder, "I know you did, I'm glad you did, I'm proud of you".
"I could've gone with you though" he said through tears. "No, no" I said as I pulled out of the hug to look him in the eye "I don't want that. You have to stay here, stay and take care of mom for me. Don't ever volunteer, you can't leave, ok?". He nodded and the tears started again. He put up that tough, I'm gonna fight the games and win act a lot, but I knew on the inside he was just a softie. Running out of time I stood up and wrapped my arms around Mom's shoulders. Now this really threatened to make the tears spill over, but I knew that would start tears in her that would never end. "You have a chance" she whispered in my ear "You're special Haymitch, you can do this". I shook my head, not lifting it from her shoulder "I love you, my son. You make me proud everyday".
"I love you too, Mom" I say, muffled into her shoulder. She hugs me tighter and Waylen wraps his arms around us both and we move into a family hug. This hug only lasts a moment as the guard comes back in. "Times up" he grunts. Waylen breaks down and attempts to grab onto me but I work his arms onto Mom, he starts sobbing just as Mom stops, tears drying on her face she holds it together for her boys as she's backed out of the room.
The door slams shut, I'm left with the lasting image of my brother's crying face, arms around my mom, and the look of my beautiful mom with tears stuck in her eyes. She thinks I can win this, but did she mean that? Before I can think on it too long the door opens again with the same time frame grunted at the next guest. In the room runs the love of my life, my girlfriend, Effie Trinket.
She walks in frantically, hair flowing behind her. I held it together for Waylon and my mom, but the sight of her and I fall apart. She runs up and I wrap my arms around her shoulders, sobbing into her shoulder. "Effie, I'm so scared, I don't know what to do" I sob into her shoulder. "I know, I'm so sorry" she soothes as she rub my shoulder and runs her fingers through my hair "I wish I could make this better for you, what can I do? Please let me make this better". I pull out of the hug and wrap my arms around her waist, still holding her close. I want so badly for help, but there's nothing she can do. She leans forward and plants a gentle kiss on my lips, "That just made things a bit better" I say quietly, trying to smile. But she's barely holding it together and I don't expect her to smile back.
She reaches into the pocket of her dress and pulls out a necklace. "I was going to give this to you later, I just finished making it, I never thought it'd be a going away gift, but it's yours and you should have it". She hands it to me and I see on a simple black string necklace with a little wooden heart, carved on the heart is H+E and the back has two butterflies engraved on it, "It's mahogany" she says sadly. "It's beautiful" I respond, she ties it around my neck. I press my forehead to hers and close my eyes, not wanting this moment to end. "I love you, Effie Trinket" I whisper. I love all her eccentricities and occasional materialistic tendencies, her ability to see beauty in even the most apparently undeserving things. "I love you too, Haymitch Abernathy, so much" she responds. I'll never understand how can she see anything in me worth loving.
She leans in to kiss me again just as the door booms open, "Times up" the guard grunts again. She leans forward and kisses me quickly, before she can even pull away the guard grabs her arm and pulls her away. "Hey get your hands off her" I snap at the guard, "Haymitch, it's-" Effie tries to soothe but the guard pushes me roughly on my chest and sends me falling back over into the couch. Before I can get up to steal one last look I hear the door slam shut.
Chapter #5
Author's POV
*as this isn't a legit novel I'm skipping over the games and Capitol business, you know how it goes :) *
Chapter #6
Haymitch's POV
Try to forget. That's all I can do now anyway. The games are over, I'm going home, what more can they do? I look out the window of the train as we get farther and farther from the capitol and closer to home. Closer to my family, to Waylen and my mom, and closer to Effie. There's supposed to be tons of perks that come with winning, I'll never have to worry about money or starving again. I'll never be in the reaping again, Effie only has two more and as long as Waylen makes it through we'll be cleared.
The train comes to a stop and I can hear the cheers of my neighbors outside. Of course they'd be happy. No one has won from District 12 in 40 years, and with double the tributes and no mentor, and having won by using the capitol forcefield against them, it had to have made for a wonderful show. I straighten my shirt and take a deep breath, nothing will ever be the same again.
The doors open and the sound is overwhelming. Cheers and hoots and applause, I never heard so much happy noise from my district in my life. I put a smile on and step out onto the platform waving. As I stand there waving, looking out at my classmates and neighbors the smile shifts from a performance to a real expression. I made it. I won. The odds were never in my favor and yet I'm standing here, home again and free from the capitol and the dangers of the games forever. Maybe now District 12 can really stand a chance. Maybe this can be the start of something. I'll be a mentor now, maybe more victors will come from these faces I see before me.
Chapter #7
Haymitch's POV
The peacekeepers usher me down and off the platform, the second my feet hit the ground Waylen comes barreling out of the crowd. I bend down and he wraps his arms around my neck, I stand and his feet barely touch the ground. Mom is right behind him, tears streaming down her cheeks. She holds my face for a moment before wrapping me and Waylen in a big family hug. We stand there engulfed in relief and joy as the crowd begins to dissipate around us. After several minutes of hugs and crying we collect ourselves enough to begin walking home. As we head back to our house the peacekeepers stop us, "This way" he grunts, pointing us in another direction. We follow him to a new part of the neighborhood, gated and nicer than any other I have seen outside of the capitol. Mansions and mansions next to each other, big and beautiful. "What are we doing here?" My mother asked the peace keeper, all he did was point to a sign above the gate, the sign read "Victor's Village".
We walked into the first mansion where peacekeepers finished pulling white sheets off the furniture. They worked their way out and it was left just the 3 of us, standing in the largest house I've ever seen. "Are you tired" My mom asked "I can go find a room for you, or are you hungry? I can make you something. Assuming there's any food in here". "I'm good right now, Mom, I think I'm going to head over to the Trinket's" I say, heading for the door.
"Um, Haymitch" my mom says just before I step out "sit down". I look to Waylen, he looks down at his shoes. Mom sits down on the couch the peacekeepers were just setting up and pats the space next to her gently. I sit down, warily. "Effie isn't there" she says simply. "Ok, well I'll head over later then" I reply, but there's more, I can tell. "No, honey. She isn't here anymore".
"I don't understand" I feel heat spreading to my cheeks and my breathing starts to quicken. "Waylen and I had the Trinket's over to watch the games. Just after they ended these peacekeepers showed up, and they took her". Rage starts building in me "What do you mean, they took her?"
"Honey, we tried. Her father fought, Waylen fought, her mother and I tried, she put up a fight herself but they were too powerful. We followed them out, they threw her into a truck and drove off". I feel sick, my stomach is clenched in knots. "They sent word to her family this morning that she's in the Capitol, but um, she's not what you remember".
"Not what I remember? This happened less than a week ago what could've changed?" I feel tears welling up in my eyes. She's gone. She was there, in the Capitol, and I came back here. "Her parents gave me a copy of the message to give to you, I just wanted to warn you of what you might see", she hands me a hard drive and I walk slowly into the next room.
Chapter #8
Haymitch's POV
I find a place to plug in the drive in a desk in what I assume is the study, take a deep breath, whip away the tears that have not yet fallen, and plug it in. A video pops up in the air before me. I hit play and am met with the face of some capitol woman. Young, very young, but extravagant. Her hair is up in all kinds of swirls and braids with crazy colored fathers braided throughout it. She's wearing fake eyelashes with similar crazy feathers, and a tight dress with a million different vibrant colors, shimmering in the light of the capitol. But there's something familiar about her, I guess I've spent too much time in the Capitol, all crazy outfits look the same.
"Hello, Mommy, Daddy, and whoever else this message may reach!" Oh my, it can't be. "I just wanted to let you know that I'm alright. I know that was awfully…dramatic exit and there wasn't a chance for many answers or information. All you need to know is it's wonderful here. They have welcomed me with open arms. The fashion here is marvelous, the food is divine, and the people are so kind. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I'm not coming back. The people here have given me many career or school opportunities, whatever I want, and I truly love it here. Thank you for everything you've done for me, I love you!" She blows a kiss to the camera with both hands and just when I think she's about to log off she adds "Oh and if you see Haymitch, tell him congratulations for me. He did a fantastic job, winning and all. He put on a wonderful show. Bye, darling" With a wave she was gone.
I couldn't hold it back anymore, I just sat there and cried over the desk, clutching her mahogany heart. Waylen came in slowly "Do you want to be alone?" he asked. "What happened?" I chocked out through tears, ignoring his question. He looked around uncomfortably before coming back to me "Her parents bribed a peacekeeper to tell us, apparently the Capitol has this method of, sort of…reprogramming someone's mind. They don't do it often but they can sort of just, capitalize them I guess". I drop my head to the desk and start sobbing again. This was my punishment. I was stupid to think I could show them up, use them, and they wouldn't strike back. I was stupid to risk her life. Waylen rubs his hand on my back for a moment before heading out. What more could they do, I was so naive. They've taken her from me. Not like the games, she was never coming back. There was no one to come back. They have taken her from me in a way I never thought possible. I look down through tears at the mahogany heart. H+E, the love of my life was gone.