Chapter 1:
I stand in a crowd watching Effie Trinket wave her hand over the
ball and then pluck off the top paper. I hold my breath, and she
calls out the name.
"Primrose Everdeen!"
I'm standing in a field—one of twenty-four people making a
perfect circle. Panicked, I run backwards, only to late
remembering I should have stayed still. Fire surrounds me
burning every inch of me. I scream and-
I open my eyes. Buttercup is standing on my chest, licking my
face. I smile and pet him. My hands are trembling. Today is
reaping day. The thought echoes through my head over and over
again. My name will only be in the reaping bowl once, but I can't
help but think it will be me, or worse, Katniss. Her name is in 20
times. I've kept count myself since she always refuses to tell me.
There is also Gale who Rory said has 42. Not to mention all my
friends who will have their names in at least once.
I try to go back to sleep but only manage to give myself a
headache. Too many thoughts are flooding my head. I try and
think of happy memories. Dad singing while Katniss and I tie
necklaces. Us eating dinner as a family. Yes. Dad always calms
me. I close my eyes and replay all my favorite memories, but my
brain must not want me to relax because my thoughts are soon
filled with collapsing mines and blank stares and hungry nights. I
sit up and look at Katniss, thinking to wake her, maybe she can
sing me a song, but she needs her rest. Instead, I crawl into bed
next to mom.
When I wake, I smell something sweet cooking. My stomach
growls, and I climb out of bed. I see that Katniss took the cheese I
left her and smile; I'm glad I can help in some small way. I make
my way to the kitchen to see what Mom is making. We rarely
have enough food to make breakfast; usually just eat leftovers
from dinner.
"Good morning Prim," Mom says, looking up from her cooking.
She's made two large pancakes. My mouth falls open. How did
she get the stuff to make that! And there-on the counter-a small
jar of what only could be syrup!
My mother laughs and hands me a plate with one of the
pancakes.
"Rory stopped by this morning. He brought the batter and syrup
and asked me to make them for you. He said there was enough
for all three of us, but I figured Katniss would be out most the day
with Gale. We can share these two. I'm sure Gale brought her
something."
I don't really know what to say to that, so I sit down at the table
and wait for mom to join me. When she does, we say a quick
prayer and then I flood my pancakes in syrup. I wonder how Rory
managed to afford them. His family is just as poor as ours, maybe
more so. I make a mental note to thank him next time I see him.
Maybe give him some cheese from Lady.
"So, will I be wearing Katniss' old dress?" I ask already knowing
the answer.
"Yes, I washed it for you yesterday. You will look beautiful."
I nod. I've never really had a reason to wear a dress, not since
Dad died. After breakfast, we spend the next few hours cleaning
and preparing for the reaping. I'm glad to stay busy; it keeps me
from panicking.
My skirt and blouse are too big for me, but Mom pins them up.
Annoyingly, the blouse keeps falling out in the back. I try to flatten
it out, but to no avail. I hear the door open.
"Katniss!" I call, going to hug her. "Mom and I warmed you some
water so you can wash up."
"Thanks Prim." She kisses me on the forehead and nods at mom
as she heads to the bucket. I don't think Katniss ever really
forgave mom. After she disappeared, Katniss became my main
caretaker for a few years. Mom's back now though, and she's
trying really hard. I think Katniss is trying to forgive her but it's
taking a while.
After Katniss gets in one of Mom's old dresses, Mom braids her
hair. She looks stunning. The dress reflects in her eyes, making
them look blue instead of gray. Her hair is tied back into an
elegant braid that frames her face in the prettiest way.
"You look beautiful," I whisper wishing I could look like her.
"And nothing like myself." She gives me a big hug and I sink into
it. All my worries flood up in me and I feel as though I might cry.
"Tuck your tail in, little duck." She says, smoothing my blouse
down.
"Quack." I giggle knowing it will make her smile.
She does smile, even gives a light laugh. "Quack yourself. Come
on, let's eat." She plants a kiss on top of my forehead and
somehow I feel better. Like maybe everything will be okay after
all.
Chapter 2
At one o'clock we head for the square. I hold Katniss's hand.
There are bright banners and decorations hung up, but no one is
celebrating. People with cameras stand at the rooftops, watching
us like hungry birds.
We sign in and suddenly I can't let go of Katniss's hand. I
feel as if I do I will lose her forever. She squeezes my hand and
points at the group in the back.
"Go over there with the other twelve-year-olds."
I hesitate but then I see my friend Hazel waving to me. She
is from the seam, just like me and Katniss. Her hair is long and
black. Today she wears a pink and purple dress with her hair in a
pretty half-up-half-down style. She is the middle child of seven
kids and has already signed up for three tesserae. Back when she
was five her oldest brother got reaped in the games. She hadn't
known him that well, but it still affected her family. I look at Katniss
walking to stand with the sixteen-year-olds. I can't imagine having
to watch her in fight to the death, I can't even stand watching a
rabbit be killed.
I make it over to Hazel. "Hey." I mutter stiffly.
"Hi, your dress looks nice," she manages a somewhat
genuine smile.
"Yeah, its Katniss's old one." I pat my hand on my back
trying to tuck in my blouse. "You got anything good to eat after the
reaping?" I immediately retreat asking her. Her family rarely ever
has anything to eat. I sometimes bring them our food, but we
don't have enough as it is. She doesn't seem bothered though.
"Alice got a squirrel from The Hobb. I think she bought it
from Katniss, actually. It was shot right through the eye."
I smile but inwardly shutter at the thought of being stabbed in
the eye. Katniss is the best shot in district twelve, maybe in all the
districts. She learned from Dad. Mom said she inherited good aim
and a good voice, and I inherited good healing hands. I guess
that's true, though Katniss rarely ever sings anymore and only by
my request. I think that-
"Hello, earth to Prim!" Hazel dramatically waves her arms in
front of me.
"What!"
"I asked if you were having anything good?
"Oh yeah," I blush, "Katniss caught some fish, and my mom
is making a stew, and me and mom had pancakes this morning."
"Where'd you get pancakes?" she raised her eyebrows.
I look away. "Rory brought them over." I try and sound
casual, but it doesn't work.
"Rory Hathorn! I knew it!" Hazel shouts out, way to excitedly.
"Know what? There is nothing to know."
"He totally likes you!"
"What! No, he doesn't!" I fold my arms.
"Yes he-"
"The great country of Panem was once nothing but rubble
and ash but we,"
The mayor drowns on about how Panem rose up from a place
once called North America. And how the districts came about.
And the rebellion almost destroyed everyone. He finishes by
telling us the games are the Capitols way of punishing us for the
uprising. It all sound like ridiculous propaganda to me. The games
are just mindless entertainment for the Capitol.
"It is both a time for repentance and a time for thanks!"
Right, I think.
The mayor reads a list of the past victors in twelve. There are only
two. A girl I've never met, and Haymitch Abernathy. He wobbles
onto stage drunk and confused. The crowd applauds and he gives
Effie Trinket a big hug. I roll my eyes. I don't understand why
anyone would drink for fun. The stuff is disgusting, and it makes a
person act stupid, though, I think to myself, a person who lets
themselves get that drunk is already stupid.
The mayor introduces Effie Trinket to the crowd, and she walks
the podium giving her signature, "Happy Hunger Games! And
may the odds be ever in your favor!"
Her Pink wig has fallen slightly to the side which makes me smile
a bit but then I remember why I'm here and clutch my stomach. I
might throw up. Katniss has 20 slips. 20 slips. The odds are not in
her favor. 20 slips. And Gale 42. I hold my breath.
"Ladies first!" Effie trots the glass ball where the girls' names are.
There are thousands of names, I remind myself. There is no way
it will be Katniss or Gale or Rory or Hazel or any of my other
friends. I watch Effie grab a paper from deep in the pile and pull it
out. I hold my breath, and Effie reads out the name, loud and
clear. It's Not Katniss but the odds are definitely not in her favor,
because the name Effie Trinket says makes all the breath come
out of me.
"Primrose Everdeen!"
Chapter 3
I hear I murmur through the crowd. For a second I don't
understand why. Then the word registers in my head. Primrose
Everdeen. That's me. My name. Hazel is gripping my hand. I look
at her and she has tears in her eyes, but I know with sudden
certainty that I can't cry. I can't let the capital win. And I can't let
Katniss see how scared I am. Oh, Katniss. I know this will crush
her. I just need to make sure I seem as composed as the other
tributes. Who will be twice my size. Who will be worlds stronger
than me. who will stop at nothing to kill me.
I can't think off that now. I need to get to the stage. But I can't
move. Someone has glued me to ground, given me some
numbing serum, maybe I've fallen and been paralyzed, something
to explain why so suddenly I have lost all sensation in my body.
I look around and catch Rory's eyes. He stands straight and nods
in the way he always does when I'm nervous for a school
presentation. He must have worked some magic because I can
move now though only stiffly. I give a squeeze to Hazels hand and
walk down the aisle. I count my steps to stop myself from thinking.
One
Two
Three
I have almost made it to the stage when a screech breaks the
silence. Its Katniss, calling my name. I turn and see her running
through the crowd. I have just enough time to think, don't cry
Prim. Don't let them see how weak you are, When Katniss pulls
me behind her and volunteers herself as tribute.
No. She can't do that. It's against the rules. My name was called
Not hers. Its only carriers who can volunteer. And It's a prosses
that has to be done at specific times.
"Lovely!" says Effie Trinket.
She goes on and the mayor chimes in with something I couldn't
be bothered to hear, because I understand the most important
thing. Katniss volunteered and they are taking her to the games.
Away from me. I will never here her sing. She will never braid my
hair. Never walk me to school or show me the cakes in the
bakery. She will forever be a ghost only to be seen on a screen or
while I dream.
I am crying now. Big sloppy tear. The ugly kind that makes your
whole-body shake. I must be screaming but I can't be sure. I've
wrapped my arms around her. The Peacekeepers will have to
drag me away because I'm not letting go. I've lost all dignity, but
like a child throwing a tantrum I don't care.
"No, Katniss! No! You Can't go!"
"Prim, let go."
She's angry but I don't care. I'm not letting her leave
"Let go!"
I'm about to tell her no, that they can take me too, when a
Peacekeeper pulls me off of her. I bit him. Hard but he doesn't let
go. I'm being dragged away, kicking and screaming. I'm not sure
how far I've gone until I am being put down next to my mother. I
hug her and see Gale right next to me. I'm confused until I realize
he must have been the one to grab me. I hate him. I hate him for
taking me away from her. He looks at me, full of pain and
sympathy. I glare with all the distain I can muster,
"I hate you." I try to sound angry or at least defiant, but all the
screaming has weakened my voice. It comes out instead as a
whispered sob.
Gale nods and walks back to his spot.
"Well, Bravo" Effie gushes. It sickens me "That's the spirit of the
games! What's your Name?"
"Katniss Everdeen."
"I bet my buttons that was your sister!" It was. And now she's all
but dead because of me. "don't want her to steal all the glory do
we?" please let me have it Katniss. "Give a big round of applause
to our newest tribute."
Silence. I touch my three middle fingers to my mouth then hold it
out to Katniss. It means goodbye to a loved one, I think. Almost in
unison, everyone follows.
I hear Haymitch speak and look up. He is staggering toward
Katniss.
"Look at her! Look at this one!" he grabs her shoulders. "I like her!
Lots of… Spunk!" he points to the front of the stage. "More than
you! More than you." Then he falls off the stage.
I barely pay attention to the rest of the reaping, focusing only on
Katniss. The other tribute is Peeta Malark. I think he works at the
bakery. He's always following Katniss around. Hazel thinks he has
a crush. If he does its one sided. It doesn't matter, just one more
person that needs to die if I want to see my sister again.