Chapter 1: The Reaping
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I wake up and the other side of my bed is cold.
I sit up and look around to see that my sister Prim has crawled into my mothers bed. I don't know why I am surprised.
Its reaping day.
I am careful with my movements as I get out of bed trying to not disturb them.
I weigh my options. I could go hunting, maybe meet Gale out in the meadow before reaping time, or I have a few things I can trade at the Hob, Prims goat has been well fed enough to be producing a good amount of milk for us which im sure others would be more than happy to take off our hands.
After getting dressed my decision is made. Go to the Hob, get rid of the milk in exchange for some of the things we do need, I can go hunting later once prim knows we are safe and stops worrying so much at least until next year comes around.
~
I leave Prim with the other twelve year olds at the back and make my way closer to the front with the older kids.
From here I have a good view of the stage. Our district escort Effie Trinket is sat in the first of four chairs. Next to her is Mayor Undersee who seems to be absentmindedly nodding along as Effie rambles on about something he is clearly not interested in. The next two chairs are currently unoccupied but we all know who they are for. Our victors.
Haymich Abernathy, victor of the 50th hunger games. A horrible dunk, though he seems to have made a change in the past year. Still a drunk? Yes. Horrible? Not as much.
Peeta Melark, victor of the 73rd hunger games. Last year's victor. And the boy who saved my life six years ago even though neither of us have spoken since.
I see Effie stand up. Its not time for the reaping just yet so I am confused for just a moment until my eyes are drawn to the side of the stage where Peeta Melark seems to be dragging Haymich Abernathy by the scruff of his collar up onto the stage.
Peeta looks different. So different to how he looked a year ago. His features have hardened, his face much more serious. He doesn't smile so much any more. No one questions it. We all know exactly what he went through to still be here today. Its not something anyone would ever mention to his face.
Peeta, now with the help of Effie, guides Haymich into the seat next to the mayor before sitting himself down in the seat next to that, effectively blocking Haymich in. Its not so much the spectacle we are used to on reaping day. Its almost expected that Haymich Abernathy will cause a scene on reaping day but in comparison to previous years, this is almost nothing. This is probably him on best behaviour.
I see Peeta give Effie a nod and she turns around to face the crowd. Making her way to the microphone between the two reaping bowls. She taps the microphone to make sure it is on.
“Welcome! Welcome! I'm sure you are all as excited as I am for this the seventy fourth annual hunger games!”
I look for Gale in the crowd of boys and meet his gaze right as he is finishing up an exaggerated eye roll clearly meant just for me.
“As always,” she continues, “Ladies first” her hand hovers over the bowl “And may the odds be ever in your favour.”
Her hand reaches into the bowl. She digs deep before pulling out a single slip of paper.
“Primrose Everdeen”
~
The next few moments are a blur. Truly an out of body experience. I do not feel myself move through the crowd to Prim or hear myself yell her name. I see her walking all alone up the path between the girls and the boys and her shirt is untucked at the back. I do not feel myself try to shove past the peacekeepers and I do not hear myself yell “I volunteer.” But I do see it on the face of every single person in the crowd that I have just sealed my fate.
Chapter 2: The Train
Chapter Text
My eyes lock in on Peetas and I don't know why but I can't look away. I'm sure for the cameras it just looks like I am looking straight ahead, at least that's what I hope.
“- you want to start a winning streak going for district twelve I assume” I finally tune in on what Effie is saying as I stand next to her on the stage, turning to look out at the crowd. I don't respond but that doesn't seem to phase her. “And what might your name be?” she continues.
“Katniss Everdeen” I say, finding prim clinging onto my mother at the back of the crowd, a camera not so discreetly placed on them. No doubt they will use it in the reviews of the reaping later today.
“I bet my buttons that was your sister, am I right?”
I nod, desperately trying to keep my composure.
Last year Peeta cried from the moment he was reaped until the first day of the games it seems. His often used strategy of seeming weak so the stronger tributes don't target you so soon clearly worked for him but I know I wouldn't be able to pull it off for myself. So for now I need to seem emotionless, unreadable. I desperately hope it's working.
Clearly seeing that she isn't going to get much else from me Effie moves from me and makes her way over to the other bowl of names.
“And now for the boys.”
As she did before her hand reaches into the bowl. She doesn't dig so deep this time before pulling out a slip of paper and returning to the microphone.
“Pitch Townsend”
I let out a breath of relief. I recognise the surname, probably from around town but I don't think I know the boy personally. At least I'm not going in with someone I know, someone it wont hurt to lose.
A small boy with dark black hair makes his way through the crowd. He must be Prims age. His name might only have been in there once, though with how frail he looks it wouldn't surprise me if he had taken out tesserae and has his name in more times.
He makes his way up the stage and stands on the other side of Efiie.
“And do we have any volunteers?” Effie asks the crowd and is met with complete and utter silence. Either there is no one old enough who cares about him who will volunteer in his place or there is simply no one willing to die in place of him. I really hope its the former after what I have just done.
~
The train is far more extravagant than the justice building to the point that I don't know where to begin taking it all in. A peacekeeper leads me to one of the bedrooms and I am left alone.
I decide to cherish this time alone since I won't have much of it over the coming days and then hopefully it will be in abundance.
On the wall is a screen playing a recap of the reapings so far. For a brief moment I see my own face before Caesar flickerman and Claudius Templesmith appear on the screen.
“Yes, it's so heartwarming to see a volunteer from an outlying district, it really shows the love for the game” Caesar says. “Especially district twelve! I can't remember the last time they had a volunteer.”
“Well you know that's what happens” Claudius adds, “They have one victory and it helps the other children see just how wonderful a victor's life is. It gives them something to strive for.”
I can't help but roll my eyes at that. Making me out to be nothing more than a girl who wants to be just like the town drunk. Even if they are actually suggesting I want to be like Peeta, for most of my life my only true reference to ‘the life of a victor’ is Haymitch Abernathy who I don't think I have ever seen sober.
“Now that you mention it” Caesar begins, “Lets look back on last year's victor. I do love to see that moment. You know the one” he's addressing the audience now “The moment a tribute becomes a victor!”
My mouth goes dry as I realise what they are about to show.
~
He's running in the dark. Though I'm not really sure I would call it running. He keeps having to duck or pivot around the vines. There's a distant screech as he makes it to the cornucopia. Birds surround the clearing but don't move any further.
He sees her and stops.
As the sky swiftly brightens its clear she is covered in blood. So. Much. Blood.
“Please” she whispers. I'm not even sure if it's loud enough for him to hear, the cameras have such strong microphones.
He's frozen.
“I can't do it” she says, much louder this time.
“And you think I can?” he asks, tears pouring down his muddy face. He takes a few steps towards her. The birds screech some more as if to tell them ‘end it now or we will’
“You know it can't be me” she says, squeezing her eyes shut, waiting for him to do it.
The camera moves to a close up of the girl. It seems that most of the blood is coming from her arm. She must have caught it on a branch while running. The close up is long enough that we don't see him pull out the small dagger.
“Do you promise?” He asks, moving to cradle her in his arms.
She nods before gasping as the dagger is plunged into her heart and the cannon goes off.
Chapter 3: A mentor
Chapter Text
Do you promise?
The words ring in my head as I fumble with the buttons to turn off the screen. I don't really know what he means by this. I honestly can't even remember the girl that well. She wasn't from 12, I remember our girl not making it out of the blood bath.
I decide I don't have time to dwell on it. I need to get changed and speak to my mentors because the games will start sooner than I think and even if my chances of survival are low I need to at least try like I promised Prim.
~
I find Peeta and Haymich in the bar cart. Both drinking. Haymich with a bottle, Peeta with a small glass. The two are slumped on one of the sofas, Haymich using Peeta almost as a headrest.
“What are you doing?” I ask with more venom in my tone than I intended.
Peeta's posture straightens quickly enough to push Haymich off of him and he groans, clearly annoyed he has been moved out of what must have been a comfortable position for him.
“This is a difficult time for us sweetheart.” Haymich sighs and I roll my eyes.
“Oh sorry I forgot you were being carted off to your death.”
“Okay that's enough” Peeta interjects, moving to stand between us. “What do you want Katniss?”
I pause for a moment. What do I want? Why did I come looking for them?
“We can start talking strategy if you want.” Peeta continues before pausing for a moment “I would have thought you would want to wait until tomorrow like Pitch. You've been through a lot today.”
Haymich sits up finally, only to start chugging the brown liquid from his bottle.
“I doubt he would be any good with strategy” I say, folding my arms.
Peeta raises an eyebrow. “And what about me? I did win last year.”
“And it looks like you're on your way to taking over as designated drunk victor when he dies of liver rot in the next few years.” I gesture to the drink in his hand. “Do you think I'm going to trust the advice of anyone remotely like him?”
He sighs, placing the drink on the table. “Its just something to take the edge off of a very hard day which is probably going to be a very hard few weeks.” he argues, voice scarily calm as if every word has been perfectly planned. I open my mouth to respond but he continues. “Yes I know today has been hard on you too. We were all there. But you don't even know what you're in for in the arena and if you get out. We do, and one little drink helps me cope with that okay?” he stops for a moment. “And I've been working on getting his drinking down but I'm not going to stop a man from numbing the pain on his birthday.”
I am too stunned to speak. So instead I turn around and start making my way back to my room.
I hear the doors shut and reopen behind me after every single carriage but I ignore the fact that this probably means someone is following me until I get back to my room.
When I get to the door of my room I turn to see Peeta about ten paces behind me.
“What else do you possibly have to say?” I ask, uninterested in another scolding from someone barely two months older than me.
“That I'm sorry about the situation you're in. And I want to help you.”
“That is your job.”
He sighs and turns around, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I know you Katniss. You might not think that I do but you are so important to so many people in twelve. And I think you have a very good shot of-” he stops, considering his words, “at getting out of these games alive.”
“I don't know how to fight.” I argue back. It's not a lie. Put me in a one on one fight against anyone, and I stand very little chance of making it out alive.
“Youre very good with a bow” I stare at him blankly. “Dont give me that look. You've sold enough squirrels to my father, all of them shot perfectly through the eye. And Madge has told me about all the things you've sold to the mayor too.”
“I dont think thats going to be enough to win”
“I didn't say you could win. No one wins the games.”
With that he must decide this conversation is over because he turns around and walks out of the carriage, mumbling something about needing some harder liquor to get him through the next few weeks.
Chapter 4: The Charriots
Chapter Text
The train pulls into the station and there are crowds of people pushing past each other trying to get as close to the window to see us.
As per Peeta's instructions, Pitch and I are sitting in the seats facing these windows on the far side of the carriage. I feel Pitch grab my arm and hide behind it. I don't move.
~
After being hosed down several times and being stripped of every single stray hair on my body I am left lying on a cold metal table, a thin piece of fabric covering me. I am left alone for what feels like an eternity but could only be a few minutes, maybe not even that. Can't have a tribute unsupervised for too long. Give it a few days then they can die.
Eventually the door opens and in steps a man who while clearly capitol, he is much less flamboyant than everyone else I have seen here. He is wearing an all black suit and the only thing that stands out about him is his blue eyeliner.
“That was very brave” he begins as I sit up, swinging my legs so they hang off the table. “What you did for your sister that is.”
“Thankyou” I manage to croak out.
“And I think any girl that brave deserves to stand out.”
“But were coal miners every year, I hardly think-”
“Were not doing that this year”
~
I step off the carriage, quickly followed by Pitch who does not seem to firm on his feet after the spectacle we just were. I turn to Peeta clapping a slow sarcastic clap, Haymitch sleepily leaning on his shoulder, unsurprisingly a bottle in his hand.
“Amazing out there sweetheart” Haymitch mumbles.
“Does he have to be here?” I ask
“I did consider asking if it was safe for him to be near open flames but then I thought better to not give anyone any ideas.” Peeta replies, gently pushing the other man off of him.
I open my mouth to continue the conversation but I notice a peacekeeper approaching us. He acts as though the rest of us aren't even there as he turns to peeta, and nods before walking away with Peeta silently following without even a goodbye.
~
“Well we're not here to talk about them right now are we Ceasar?” Peeta jokes on the screen.
As it turns out the peacekeeper was taking Peeta to his victor interview.
“And I wouldn't want to give away any strategies we may or may not have already come up with.”
Caesar Flickerman animatedly laughs at this. “But really, what do you think of your district's first ever volunteer? I'm sure she's excited to get into that arena and mix things up!”
“Well.” he pauses, thinking of an answer. “I think pride for district twelve is growing. I think if we are lucky enough to have another victor then… who knows… maybe we could become the new careers.” A few cheers come from the audience. “Im joking. I'm joking” he adds.
“Now I have to note just how similar yours and Katniss Everdeen's situations are.” Peeta's face hardens. Only slightly. Most wouldn't even notice and the few that will must think he is just focusing on what Caesar is saying. But I feel like it is something different. Panic maybe? I'm not sure.
“Both of you sixteen years old” Caesar begins as Peeta nods. “Both with a twelve year old district partner. And most importantly, both of you seem to have snuck your way into the capitols heart. Please tell me she is going to give us the same addictive energy you gave us in your very first interview!”
Peeta laughs. “Well she's definitely interesting but that's all I'm giving you.”
“And one final question Peeta. I think we have time for one more. Speaking of your first interview. I have to ask. You mentioned that there was a girl back home in district 12. Please tell us you have confessed your feelings for her finally!”
He looks down at the floor “Well Caesar… I-”
I don't realise how hooked I am, as the screen goes blank and I feel the remote tap on my head.
“Go to sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow” Its Peeta.
“I- what? You're doing an interview right now. How are you here?”
“There's a ten minute delay. Now go to your room.”
I stand up dumbfounded and start moving towards my room.
“I haven't told her.” I hear him say but I don't turn back. I just keep walking.
M (Guest) on Chapter 4 Mon 15 Dec 2025 01:29AM UTC
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