p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The unfairness of it stings because she did everything right. This is Prim's first year. Katniss never let her take Tessera. Her name is in there once. One slip. One single slip out of thousands. I would have expected to see Madge Undersea in her pretty white dress before I saw Prim on that stage. It's proof of what we all know deep down though. It's the same dark reality every parent in the districts has to contend with. No matter how hard we try, we cannot protect our children from The Capitol. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Except there is one thing Katniss could do to grasp Prim back from their clutches. One awful, terrible thing that she can do that most parents cannot. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I don't move. I can't look back at Katniss. I don't want to see her face. Because I know what she's about to do. It's the same thing I would do if it were Rory or Vick or Posy. She's going to volunteer. She wouldn't be the girl that I love if she didn't. But there's a selfish, utterly despicable part of me that does not want her to go. I don't want to lose her. I don't want /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"them/span /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"to take her. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"It seems to take Katniss a few extra seconds to realise what I know. I can already hear Prim's small, terrified steps echoing off the stone floor as she approaches the stage when Katniss calls for her. "span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Prim!/span" The crack in her voice makes me wince. "Prim!" /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"She makes it to Prim just before she reaches the stage steps. Finally, I force myself to look at them. My heart clenches. Prim is tiny but Katniss isn't much bigger. /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"We should have run away/span/spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;", I think. We should have packed up the kids and taken our chances in the woods. Because now I can do nothing but watch. I haven't felt so helpless since the mine collapse. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""I volunteer!" She gasps with Prim tucked safely behind her arm. "I volunteer as tribute!" /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"A murmur swells in the crowd. This has never happened before in my lifetime. Maybe ever. District 12 does not have volunteers. I'm not even sure what the protocol for a volunteer is. By the looks of it, neither is Effie. "Lovely!" She chirps. "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 . . ." She attempts to recall the correct procedure. That kind of thing is very important to the Capitolites. It's what separates them from us unorganised and unwashed beasts in the districts. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"It doesn't matter in what order it happens though. The result is the same. They are going to take Katniss from me. Madly, I consider for a moment the prospect of going with her. I cannot volunteer in Prim's place, but I could replace whatever boy is chosen this year to follow Katniss into the jaws of The Capitol. Then I could…what? Kill for her? Keep her alive? Die by her side so that I never have to miss her? That's the most likely outcome. And she'd never forgive me for it. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"If we both go, our families will starve. No, the best thing I can do for Katniss now is to keep Prim and Mrs Everdeen and that scraggly old cat that Katniss pretends to despise alive. Whatever it takes. There is no other option. No plan I can string together. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""What does it matter?" Mayor Undersea echoes my sentiments. Though he doesn't look happy about it. He knows Katniss and Prim and is no more immune to the Everdeen's charms than the rest of us. Though bitterly I can't help but wonder if he will miss the girl or the strawberries more. He repeats. "What does it matter? Let her come forward." /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I've been locked in place up until now, but when Prim screams, I launch into action. This is my job from here out, to take care of Prim. There's no time to waste grieving what I cannot reverse. Katniss needs me to be strong if she has any hope of keeping herself alive. I have to let her know, in whatever small way I can, that her family will be taken care of. She is not leaving them to starve. I break through the bewildered pen of 18-year-olds easily enough. Most of the town is aware of my connection to Katniss. A path is made for me to get to her. When I reach the sisters, Katniss is telling Prim with steel in her voice to "Let go!" /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I scoop the waiflike child into my arms. She thrashes, still screaming her sister's name, begging her not to go. But she's so tiny it's not hard for me to keep my grip. Katniss turns to look at me and her expression is thankful. I drink her in with my eyes. Smooth olive skin, grey eyes, her brow set with fierce determination. There is now a number to the times I will get to see this face again. Not on a screen that is. Up close like this, I can see that she's trying hard not to cry. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"It's hard to keep my voice from breaking when I say, "Up you go, Catnip." In what I hope is a reassuring manner. Then I carry Prim, kicking and screaming up the path to find Mrs. Everdeen. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I hear Katniss's voice lifted by the microphone as she introduces herself on stage. Then Effie takes the reins once again. She's still using that jolly, inhuman Capitol affect. "I bet my buttons that was your sister. Don't want her to steal all the glory, do we? Come on, everybody! Let's give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!"br /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I hate Effie Trinket. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"District 12 doesn't let me down by applauding. We are all horrified by what we have witnessed this Reaping. For once, Seam and Merchants alike are united in 12. Bound by our disgust at what has just happened. Silence is our only form of defiance here and so we use it now. Prim blubbers, her hot wet face pressed into my neck. I squeeze her tighter in an attempt to keep my own eyes dry. Katniss stares cooly out at us. She's pressed her full lips into a flat, grim line. Her shoulders are back, her spine straight. Her cheeks are dry. She's the strongest person I know. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Maybe she could do it. /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Once again, just looking at my friend has inspired a crazy kind of delusional hope within me. And it is crazy because I watch the games every year along with everyone else. 12 doesn't win, not in 24 years. Being a tribute here is basically synonymous with being a corpse. But Katniss is unlike anyone else I know. She's the best hunter in the district, after all. If anyone could come back alive, it would be her. If she could just get to a bow. A vision of Katniss perched high in a tree, or waiting behind the shattered glass of a ruined tower window, picking off tributes with her bow flashes before my eyes. Maybe, /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"maybe. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I'm so busy staring at Katniss on stage, that I don't notice what is spreading through the crowd until it reaches me. The touch of three middle fingers on the left hand to lips followed by a salute. It's an old, seldom-seen gesture. The District is thanking her. We are sending her on her way with admiration and respect. Just like we do at funerals. I choke on my own exhale. I can't bring myself to join in. I'm using both hands to hold Prim to my chest for one. For myself as much as the girl at this point. But I also can't bring myself to say goodbye to Katniss in this very final manner. As impossible as her odds may be. I have not written her off just yet. I am unable to stop the tears from welling in my eyes at this point, however. Hopefully, I am too far away from the stage for her to notice. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The cynical part of me can't help but wonder how The Capitol is receiving this. Our strange, uncivilised, folk rituals. Our quiet, love-fueled dissent. Do they realise that that's what this is? Are they even airing the crowds in the square right now? Now I'm starting to worry. How does all this play out for Katniss? Will she be punished as the benefactor of our small rebellion? Is there a worse punishment than being sent to an arena to fight other children to the death? They could explode her pedestal before the games begin. Blame it on faulty wiring. They could stick muttations on her to tear her to shreds. They could crush her under snow or rocks. They did that one year, if I recall correctly after a tribute began eating his kills. The point is, Katniss is at their mercy now. So it may not be wise to tempt the Gamemakers into taking action against her. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I'm relieved when a distraction comes in the form of Haymitch clambering up from his chair to ambush Katniss with a hug. Her nostrils flare and her eyes go wide in surprise. On any other day, this would be hilarious. Katniss is not one for physical displays of affection. "Look at her! Look at this one!" He croaks. "I like her! Lots of…" he loses his next word somewhere in the drunken haze. "Spunk!" He recovers. "More than you!" He shouts, and since he's stumbling towards the front of the stage now, I think he means us, the audience. Then he repeats himself, directly into one of the cameras. "More than /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"you!/span /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"" And something clicks. Haymitch knows exactly what he's doing right now. I almost smile. Maybe he will be of some help, after all. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Then he plummets from the stage and knocks himself unconscious and I'm left wondering if my interpretation of his little speech was accurate. Katniss, at least, looks relieved to have her personal space back. We all watch as our sole victor is taken away on a stretcher. This must seem so typical of the joke district to those watching far away. This could be the most entertaining Reaping we have ever put on. All that's lacking is a musical performance. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Almost pitifully, Effie Trinket attempts to regain control of the situation. We are only halfway through with today's proceedings after all. There is still one soul left to condemn. "More excitement to come! It's time to pick our boy tribute!" /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The funny thing is, I've actually forgotten to keep worrying about myself. That emotion belongs to Katniss now, since she needs it more than I do. I may have been too hasty though. Effie plucks a slip from The Reaping Bowl. She reads it aloud. My name to my own ears is such a surprise, that I don't even react until I hear Prim whimper, "No." /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The odds are not in our favour today. It's one last reminder of The Capitol's cruelty having no end. In The Dark Days, they say, brother turned on brother, friend on friend. How poetic for them to be able to replicate just that for their games. I press a kiss into Prim's fine blonde hair and whisper, "Sorry, honey." Before putting her down. Mrs. Everdeen, awake for once, gathers her in her own arms. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I can't even look at Katniss as I approach the stage. We will both lose it, if I do. If the audience was upset before, they simmer with rage now as I pass through them. Even on the ridiculous face of ridiculous Effie Trinket, there's a quiver of emotion on her over-inflated lip as she recognises me as the boy who carried Prim away. With my jaw grinding my molars to dust and my hand clenched in a tight fist, I rise up the wooden stage stairs to the podium. Just like I told Katniss to do moments earlier. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"There are no volunteers. This is not a shock. I am glad neither Rory nor Vick are old enough to do anything stupid like take my place. When I find their faces in the crowd, they are huddled right next to Hazel, all four of them ghoulishly pale. They know this will mean an agonising death for us all, not just me. I might actually have the luck to be struck down quickly. An axe to the head or knife to the chest surely still has to be better than slowly starving. I should have taught Rory to hunt. I told myself I was protecting his childhood, not sharing the burden of keeping our family fed. I realise that was selfish of me now. Had I taught him so much as a simple snare, I would at least be leaving them with a slither of hope right now. As it is, I've never even shown either boy the location of our fishing poles. Katniss at least left Prim a little better prepared with her goat. I, on the other hand, have failed them, these lives that I hold even more dearly than my own. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Mine and Katniss's eyes don't meet until the attention is taken from us by Mayor Undersea reading The Treaty of Treason. It's a long and boring affair that I don't care to listen to. With grey gaze fixed on grey gaze, we have a silent conversation of our own instead. It can be summarised like this. One of us has to live. One of us has to make it home. For the sake of everyone we have spent a lifetime trying to protect, we will play their games. This year, District 12 will have a victor. What can't be said with just a look, is that I fully intend for that person to be Katniss and not myself. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The mayor encourages us to step forward and shake hands. A gruesome tradition of fake sportsmanship before the slaughter. The Capitol has taken to thinking of winning the Hunger Games as some great athletic achievement and they make us play along with them so that they can properly indulge in the fantasy. So when I take Katniss's familiar, calloused hand in my own, I don't shake it. I raise it high above us, marking her as my champion to the whole of Panem. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Katniss narrows her eyes, suspicious but uncomprehending. She will put this together one day when I am gone. She will realise that this was my plan all along. For me to die so that she can live on. But for now, I will keep it a secret from her. I will let her believe it could be either one of us. She will fight harder that way. I raise one corner of my mouth at her along with my brow. In return, she scrunches her lips up into a grimace-like smile. Then we both stare out united over our district and beyond to the hills where we shared breakfast just this morning. Where we could have both been free. There's still a large part of me that longs for it, wishes we had left whilst we still had the chance. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"But if we have to be here, if we have to play in these games. I want to make The Capitol regret ever sending us in together. I don't know how yet, but it starts with a show of our united front. I will figure the rest out later. For now, it is enough to show Snow and the Gamemakers and their precious audience that they are not all-powerful, they cannot and will not turn us against one another. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"For the second time this day, District 12 raises their hands in the funeral salute. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Except there is one thing Katniss could do to grasp Prim back from their clutches. One awful, terrible thing that she can do that most parents cannot. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I don't move. I can't look back at Katniss. I don't want to see her face. Because I know what she's about to do. It's the same thing I would do if it were Rory or Vick or Posy. She's going to volunteer. She wouldn't be the girl that I love if she didn't. But there's a selfish, utterly despicable part of me that does not want her to go. I don't want to lose her. I don't want /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"them/span /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"to take her. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"It seems to take Katniss a few extra seconds to realise what I know. I can already hear Prim's small, terrified steps echoing off the stone floor as she approaches the stage when Katniss calls for her. "span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Prim!/span" The crack in her voice makes me wince. "Prim!" /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"She makes it to Prim just before she reaches the stage steps. Finally, I force myself to look at them. My heart clenches. Prim is tiny but Katniss isn't much bigger. /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"We should have run away/span/spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;", I think. We should have packed up the kids and taken our chances in the woods. Because now I can do nothing but watch. I haven't felt so helpless since the mine collapse. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""I volunteer!" She gasps with Prim tucked safely behind her arm. "I volunteer as tribute!" /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"A murmur swells in the crowd. This has never happened before in my lifetime. Maybe ever. District 12 does not have volunteers. I'm not even sure what the protocol for a volunteer is. By the looks of it, neither is Effie. "Lovely!" She chirps. "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 . . ." She attempts to recall the correct procedure. That kind of thing is very important to the Capitolites. It's what separates them from us unorganised and unwashed beasts in the districts. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"It doesn't matter in what order it happens though. The result is the same. They are going to take Katniss from me. Madly, I consider for a moment the prospect of going with her. I cannot volunteer in Prim's place, but I could replace whatever boy is chosen this year to follow Katniss into the jaws of The Capitol. Then I could…what? Kill for her? Keep her alive? Die by her side so that I never have to miss her? That's the most likely outcome. And she'd never forgive me for it. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"If we both go, our families will starve. No, the best thing I can do for Katniss now is to keep Prim and Mrs Everdeen and that scraggly old cat that Katniss pretends to despise alive. Whatever it takes. There is no other option. No plan I can string together. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""What does it matter?" Mayor Undersea echoes my sentiments. Though he doesn't look happy about it. He knows Katniss and Prim and is no more immune to the Everdeen's charms than the rest of us. Though bitterly I can't help but wonder if he will miss the girl or the strawberries more. He repeats. "What does it matter? Let her come forward." /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I've been locked in place up until now, but when Prim screams, I launch into action. This is my job from here out, to take care of Prim. There's no time to waste grieving what I cannot reverse. Katniss needs me to be strong if she has any hope of keeping herself alive. I have to let her know, in whatever small way I can, that her family will be taken care of. She is not leaving them to starve. I break through the bewildered pen of 18-year-olds easily enough. Most of the town is aware of my connection to Katniss. A path is made for me to get to her. When I reach the sisters, Katniss is telling Prim with steel in her voice to "Let go!" /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I scoop the waiflike child into my arms. She thrashes, still screaming her sister's name, begging her not to go. But she's so tiny it's not hard for me to keep my grip. Katniss turns to look at me and her expression is thankful. I drink her in with my eyes. Smooth olive skin, grey eyes, her brow set with fierce determination. There is now a number to the times I will get to see this face again. Not on a screen that is. Up close like this, I can see that she's trying hard not to cry. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"It's hard to keep my voice from breaking when I say, "Up you go, Catnip." In what I hope is a reassuring manner. Then I carry Prim, kicking and screaming up the path to find Mrs. Everdeen. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I hear Katniss's voice lifted by the microphone as she introduces herself on stage. Then Effie takes the reins once again. She's still using that jolly, inhuman Capitol affect. "I bet my buttons that was your sister. Don't want her to steal all the glory, do we? Come on, everybody! Let's give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!"br /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I hate Effie Trinket. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"District 12 doesn't let me down by applauding. We are all horrified by what we have witnessed this Reaping. For once, Seam and Merchants alike are united in 12. Bound by our disgust at what has just happened. Silence is our only form of defiance here and so we use it now. Prim blubbers, her hot wet face pressed into my neck. I squeeze her tighter in an attempt to keep my own eyes dry. Katniss stares cooly out at us. She's pressed her full lips into a flat, grim line. Her shoulders are back, her spine straight. Her cheeks are dry. She's the strongest person I know. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Maybe she could do it. /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Once again, just looking at my friend has inspired a crazy kind of delusional hope within me. And it is crazy because I watch the games every year along with everyone else. 12 doesn't win, not in 24 years. Being a tribute here is basically synonymous with being a corpse. But Katniss is unlike anyone else I know. She's the best hunter in the district, after all. If anyone could come back alive, it would be her. If she could just get to a bow. A vision of Katniss perched high in a tree, or waiting behind the shattered glass of a ruined tower window, picking off tributes with her bow flashes before my eyes. Maybe, /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"maybe. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I'm so busy staring at Katniss on stage, that I don't notice what is spreading through the crowd until it reaches me. The touch of three middle fingers on the left hand to lips followed by a salute. It's an old, seldom-seen gesture. The District is thanking her. We are sending her on her way with admiration and respect. Just like we do at funerals. I choke on my own exhale. I can't bring myself to join in. I'm using both hands to hold Prim to my chest for one. For myself as much as the girl at this point. But I also can't bring myself to say goodbye to Katniss in this very final manner. As impossible as her odds may be. I have not written her off just yet. I am unable to stop the tears from welling in my eyes at this point, however. Hopefully, I am too far away from the stage for her to notice. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The cynical part of me can't help but wonder how The Capitol is receiving this. Our strange, uncivilised, folk rituals. Our quiet, love-fueled dissent. Do they realise that that's what this is? Are they even airing the crowds in the square right now? Now I'm starting to worry. How does all this play out for Katniss? Will she be punished as the benefactor of our small rebellion? Is there a worse punishment than being sent to an arena to fight other children to the death? They could explode her pedestal before the games begin. Blame it on faulty wiring. They could stick muttations on her to tear her to shreds. They could crush her under snow or rocks. They did that one year, if I recall correctly after a tribute began eating his kills. The point is, Katniss is at their mercy now. So it may not be wise to tempt the Gamemakers into taking action against her. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I'm relieved when a distraction comes in the form of Haymitch clambering up from his chair to ambush Katniss with a hug. Her nostrils flare and her eyes go wide in surprise. On any other day, this would be hilarious. Katniss is not one for physical displays of affection. "Look at her! Look at this one!" He croaks. "I like her! Lots of…" he loses his next word somewhere in the drunken haze. "Spunk!" He recovers. "More than you!" He shouts, and since he's stumbling towards the front of the stage now, I think he means us, the audience. Then he repeats himself, directly into one of the cameras. "More than /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"you!/span /spanspan style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"" And something clicks. Haymitch knows exactly what he's doing right now. I almost smile. Maybe he will be of some help, after all. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Then he plummets from the stage and knocks himself unconscious and I'm left wondering if my interpretation of his little speech was accurate. Katniss, at least, looks relieved to have her personal space back. We all watch as our sole victor is taken away on a stretcher. This must seem so typical of the joke district to those watching far away. This could be the most entertaining Reaping we have ever put on. All that's lacking is a musical performance. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Almost pitifully, Effie Trinket attempts to regain control of the situation. We are only halfway through with today's proceedings after all. There is still one soul left to condemn. "More excitement to come! It's time to pick our boy tribute!" /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The funny thing is, I've actually forgotten to keep worrying about myself. That emotion belongs to Katniss now, since she needs it more than I do. I may have been too hasty though. Effie plucks a slip from The Reaping Bowl. She reads it aloud. My name to my own ears is such a surprise, that I don't even react until I hear Prim whimper, "No." /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The odds are not in our favour today. It's one last reminder of The Capitol's cruelty having no end. In The Dark Days, they say, brother turned on brother, friend on friend. How poetic for them to be able to replicate just that for their games. I press a kiss into Prim's fine blonde hair and whisper, "Sorry, honey." Before putting her down. Mrs. Everdeen, awake for once, gathers her in her own arms. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"I can't even look at Katniss as I approach the stage. We will both lose it, if I do. If the audience was upset before, they simmer with rage now as I pass through them. Even on the ridiculous face of ridiculous Effie Trinket, there's a quiver of emotion on her over-inflated lip as she recognises me as the boy who carried Prim away. With my jaw grinding my molars to dust and my hand clenched in a tight fist, I rise up the wooden stage stairs to the podium. Just like I told Katniss to do moments earlier. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"There are no volunteers. This is not a shock. I am glad neither Rory nor Vick are old enough to do anything stupid like take my place. When I find their faces in the crowd, they are huddled right next to Hazel, all four of them ghoulishly pale. They know this will mean an agonising death for us all, not just me. I might actually have the luck to be struck down quickly. An axe to the head or knife to the chest surely still has to be better than slowly starving. I should have taught Rory to hunt. I told myself I was protecting his childhood, not sharing the burden of keeping our family fed. I realise that was selfish of me now. Had I taught him so much as a simple snare, I would at least be leaving them with a slither of hope right now. As it is, I've never even shown either boy the location of our fishing poles. Katniss at least left Prim a little better prepared with her goat. I, on the other hand, have failed them, these lives that I hold even more dearly than my own. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Mine and Katniss's eyes don't meet until the attention is taken from us by Mayor Undersea reading The Treaty of Treason. It's a long and boring affair that I don't care to listen to. With grey gaze fixed on grey gaze, we have a silent conversation of our own instead. It can be summarised like this. One of us has to live. One of us has to make it home. For the sake of everyone we have spent a lifetime trying to protect, we will play their games. This year, District 12 will have a victor. What can't be said with just a look, is that I fully intend for that person to be Katniss and not myself. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The mayor encourages us to step forward and shake hands. A gruesome tradition of fake sportsmanship before the slaughter. The Capitol has taken to thinking of winning the Hunger Games as some great athletic achievement and they make us play along with them so that they can properly indulge in the fantasy. So when I take Katniss's familiar, calloused hand in my own, I don't shake it. I raise it high above us, marking her as my champion to the whole of Panem. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Katniss narrows her eyes, suspicious but uncomprehending. She will put this together one day when I am gone. She will realise that this was my plan all along. For me to die so that she can live on. But for now, I will keep it a secret from her. I will let her believe it could be either one of us. She will fight harder that way. I raise one corner of my mouth at her along with my brow. In return, she scrunches her lips up into a grimace-like smile. Then we both stare out united over our district and beyond to the hills where we shared breakfast just this morning. Where we could have both been free. There's still a large part of me that longs for it, wishes we had left whilst we still had the chance. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"But if we have to be here, if we have to play in these games. I want to make The Capitol regret ever sending us in together. I don't know how yet, but it starts with a show of our united front. I will figure the rest out later. For now, it is enough to show Snow and the Gamemakers and their precious audience that they are not all-powerful, they cannot and will not turn us against one another. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"For the second time this day, District 12 raises their hands in the funeral salute. /span/p