Chapter 6: Chapter-6
A/N: I'll explain my decision for who goes into the arena with Katniss at the end of this chapter.
Chapter 6
"Our first volunteer in District 12 since the start of the Hunger Games, how exciting and brave!" Effie exclaims. "Alright, now it's time for the boys!"
I look at Gale. He can't go into the arena with me. I could never kill Gale, even if it meant saving my life. I'm praying it isn't Gale going in with me. Anyone but him.
Effie walks over to the large glass bowl, and reaches into the bowl. She takes her time picking a paper. She finally grabs one, pulls it out of the bowl, and opens it to read out the name.
I'm holding my breath. The person she picks will be my partner until the Games start. I wouldn't trust anyone in there, but we will still go through training together and live on the same floor for the week or so before the Games.
"The male tribute of District 12 is… Peeta Mellark!"
Peeta Mellark. I never thought it'd be him. He's never had to get tesserae, so his name was only in there 4 times. I see Nan in the crowd of people, looking shocked. He's too old to volunteer, but I don't think he'd volunteer for Peeta anyway. I scan the crowd for Rye, and see him not giving it a second thought. Rye is 18, he's strong like Peeta, he really could have a shot at winning if he were to volunteer. But he won't. He's really going to let their youngest brother die.
I look at Gale. He meets my gaze, and I can tell he wants to volunteer, to keep me safe in there. But I need him to keep Prim safe. If he volunteered, I'd never forgive him for abandoning Prim to help me. I shake my head at him, letting him know not to volunteer. He looks confused, but nods his head at me, and stays quiet.
Peeta makes his way to the stage, slowly, but he looks unusually calm. Is he trying to stay strong for his brothers? For the cameras, like I was? Or has he already accepted he'll die?
"Give it up for Peeta!" Effie all but screams.
Again, no cheers. We all put up our three fingered signals, as a goodbye. I'll see Peeta for the next week and a half, but after that, he's my enemy. How can I kill him? I don't think I could, even if I wanted to. He saved me and Prim when we were starving, and now I'm supposed to kill him? Maybe this is how I'll repay him. For keeping Prim alive, I'll keep him alive. Try to get him out of the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your tributes from District 12, Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen!" Effie says loudly.
I look over at Peeta, and shake hands with him. At least I'll have someone I trust in there. I just hope I can get him out alive. I know he'll take care of Prim for me, and with the money he'll receive if he wins, he won't have any trouble at all. Gale would be fine too if Peeta won. Peeta wouldn't let my best friend starve, he's too kind. He's too kind for this world, to be honest.
We're ushered into the Justice Building. Our friends and family come in to say their goodbyes. I think everyone knows we're not coming home, but they still tell us to try.
First, my mother comes in with Prim. She hugs me, and I hug her back, but I don't cry. There will be cameras the second we exit the Justice Building, and if they see me with tears in my eyes, everyone watching will know I believe I won't be coming back. That's not good for sponsors, so I suppress my emotions.
"Don't cry Mom, don't cry. Look at me. You need to be there for Prim, you can't abandon her like you did when Dad died! I won't be here this time. Gale will bring you food, you can use Prim's goat to trade the cheese. Please mom, don't leave her." I plead, close to tears but wipe them away quickly.
"I won't Katniss, I won't. I promise I'll be here for her," she cries.
Prim comes up to me now. I don't know how I can say goodbye to her without crying. How can I lie to her, tell her I think I really can come back to her?
"Katniss, you have to win. You have to try, please?" She says sadly.
"I promise I'll try Prim, I promise. Come here," I say while wrapping her into a tight embrace. We don't let go for the rest of the five minutes we have together. When the time is up, they are rushed out of the room yelling their goodbyes and crying.
I sit alone for a few minutes, thinking. Eventually, the door opens and Gale walks in. I run over and hug him. When I let go, he immediately starts telling me what to do in there.
"I'll keep her alive Catnip. She'll be fed until you come back."
"Gale, I don't know if I will come back! I don't know if I can!"
"Katniss, you're smart. Get to a bow. You'll easily win if you find one."
"There's no guarantee there will be a bow Gale."
"Then make one! You know how to, it'll be just like hunting in the woods."
"Those are animals Gale! I can't kill people!"
"It's no different Katniss. You can win, you're the strongest one going in there."
We don't say another word. We embrace each other, and don't let go until the peacekeepers come in and take him away from me. As he is being dragged out, he mouths the words "You will win."
I sit down, still having 45 minutes until it is time to get on the train. Madge walks in with Delly.
She says no words. She walks over to me, and hands me a small gold pin. I examine it, it's a bird with an arrow inside its mouth.
"Are you sure Madge?"
"Yes. It was my aunt's pin, and I want you to wear it in the Games, if you will."
"Okay. Yes, I'll wear it. Thank you."
Delly and Madge hug me, and we sit like this for minutes. The peacekeepers eventually drag them away too, and I'm left alone.
But I get one last visitor. The baker, Peeta's father. He walks over to me, and hands me a bag of cookies. I hug him and thank him, and he leaves after wishing me good luck.
Peeta and I meet outside of the Justice Building, and board the train. There are cameras everywhere. I'm blinded by the flashes of cameras, and the worst part about these people is they look happy. Happy to see children fight to the death. Yes, how exciting. It angers me, and Peeta sees this, because he grabs my wrist and walks a little faster to the train. We board the train, and see our mentor sitting in the bar car, grabbing drinks. He already looks drunk, staggering around everywhere he steps. I can't help but feel hopeless. This is who will be trying to keep us alive in the arena?
"Haymitch," Peeta calls out to him. He doesn't answer. "Haymitch," he says a little louder. Haymitch continues rummaging through the bottles, not paying attention to Peeta at all. "Haymitch!"
"What do you want, kid?" Haymitch answers angrily.
"What do I want? Well, let's see, we only have two to three weeks to live, so I guess what I want is for you to stop looking for a bottle to drink and help us prepare!" Peeta says matching Haymitch's tone.
"You want some advice kid? Stay alive." Stay alive? Is this a sick joke? He's supposed to be training us, helping us prepare for what's to come in the next few days. But his only piece of advice is stay alive?
Peeta smacks Haymitch's glass out of his hand, spilling the red liquid on the white carpet.
"Now why did you have to do that kid? You made me spill my drink," Haymitch says. When he says drink, he punches Peeta in the cheek. Peeta stands up, ready to fight.
"Stay. Sit down kid."
One of the attendants runs over with some ice for Peeta's cheek.
"No, he doesn't need ice. The bruise will make him look tougher, like he got into a fight with another tribute. He didn't get caught by the Capitol either, which looks even better. So leave it alone," Haymitch says dismissing the attendant.
"Are you going to help us or not?" I say seriously to Haymitch. He's angering me, telling jokes instead of giving us advice, and hitting Peeta.
"After a drink or two," he says with a grin. "Pass the ice, sweetheart?" I stare at him, not willing to give him anything until he helps us. "Pass the ice," he says louder.
When I still don't move, he reaches over the table to grab the ice cup. As his hand reaches for it, I stab the table, centimeters away from his fingers. The look on his face is weird. He looks calm and impressed. I could have stabbed his hand.
"Well well, looks like I got a pair of fighters this year," he says with a smirk. "I'll tell you what, I'll stay sober enough to mentor you if you don't get in the way of my drinking."
"Alright, let's start now then," I say.
"Dinner should be ready soon, we'll start after that," He replies. At least he's agreed to help us.
A/N: So I chose Peeta because, a) He had the most votes. b) I'd have to kill Gale off if he entered the arena with Katniss for Peeta and her to be together, and I didn't want to do that. c) We get to see Peeta some more! Lol
So I have another question. Would you like me to go down the "Star Crossed Lovers" path, or try to change it up? I don't know how exactly I could go down a different path, but I could try, if it's what you guys want! :)
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