out of time { the hunger games }

chapter 1- the reaping

Haymich's pov:

Its the morning of the reaping of the 50th hunger games, otherwise known as the 2nd quarter quell. There is double the tributes in these games. I'm not worried about being reaped, I do have mu name in 27 times but even my bets freind has his in like 40!  I won't be picked. I can't be picked. I have to take care of my little brother and my mother. I live in 12 so even if I was picked no one would valenteer for me. Its not me I'm worried about though, its my little brother, he's just turned 12! He wouldn't last 10 minutes in the arena, especially when there are double the tributes.

"Haymich are you almost ready?" My mother calls "yes mum 2 minutes" I call back and tue my tie. I'm wearing a white shirt and some nice black trousers with a navy blue tie. I walk out of me and my brothers room and see him in my first reaping outfit standing in the living room. "Oh you look great" I say and walk over to him and mess up his hair. I can see the fear in his eyes "you're going to be fine champ, its your first year they aren't going to pick you, your only in their once I'm in 27 times don't worry" I say and give him a hug. "OK yoyo" he says, he comes up with weird nicknames for me I love it.

I give him one last hug and we leave to head to the square when tge siren sounds. I go into the 16 year old line and get my finger pricked like every year. After awhile the escort named ebony celeste, the only ever victor from 12 named rummage lorman and the mayor step on stage. They put on the film they do every year and tge mayor gives a speech. "We are here to celebrate the 50th annual hunger games, welcome to the reaping of the 2nd quarter quell! Happy hunger games and may the odds be ever in your favour"

"Now for The first group of tributes, as always ladies first" the woman says and walks over to the huge bowl with female names. She pulls out a name, thank god its no one i know, then the boys and again no one in know. "Now for the second group of tributes" she walks back to the girls bowl "maysilee donner" she called, I recognise tge name but I don't know her that well. I have talked to her before but I don't know her. "Come on up maysilee" she says and maysilee walks up onto the stage. "Now the boys" she walks over and pulls out a white slip, my heart races. Please don't be my brother I think.

"Haymich Abernethy" ebony calls. What? My heart drops as I walk up onto the stage "ladies and gentlemen may I present to you the tributes of the 50th hunger games! May the odds be ever in your favour" ebony says. We are lead into rooms in the justice building to wait for our families to day goodbye. I sit on the leather couch with soft velvet cushions. After a fre minutes my mother and brother walk in and I fall to my knees infront of him.

He starts to cry and hug me, I hug him back but don't dare shed a single tear. "Its gonna be ok bud I'm gonna be fine, I'm smart, I'm fast, ill get my hands on a knife and ill be fine" I say. "You have to win Haymich, you need to try so hard" he says "I will I promise, and mum don't let him starve, it doesn't matter how hard the work is you can't let him go hungry. I'm not gonna be there to feed you guys you have to step up and put food on his plate" I say "i promise son i will" she says and begins to cry "don't cry mum" I give her a hug before the peice keeps come in and take them away.

I didn't have anyone else to talk to so I just sat their in the room thinking about my brother and mum. After while I got brought out and into a car to go the train to the capital.

We sit in silence on our way to the train and once we get to the train we sit in silent again until rummage lorman comes in and maysilee speaks up "OK so how do we survive" she says. "Find water, tou can't survive without it. Also find shelter you have no idea what conditions their will be in the arena. And do nor get to involved in the bloodbath." He says and I mutter under my breath: no bloodbath get water and shelter got it.

"So whats your strengths?" He asks us "I can climb really fast and I can use a spear decently well" the first female tribute says. "I'm strong, and I'm fast" the other male tribute says. "Good, maysilee what about you" rummage says "darts, I can make my own but I'm not great at it, if I get my hands on a blow dart gun I'm unstoppable" she says and I smile. "Haymich?" He asks me. "Knives, up close combat, I hunt for my family and I'm sure deer and humans are basically same thing" I say and rummage gives me a smile.

"Tomorrow is a big big day to eat what you like then get some rest" ebony says and I take a large slice of bread and go to my room. I look in the  closet and put on a a loose black tank top and a pair of grey sweat pants. My ring slips off and I'm quick to catch it, its silver with me and my brothers  initials carved into the inside. Its my token for the games, I guess I need it more than most tokens, my dad made it from scratch. I lay in my bed, if I'm going to cry I have to do it now. But instead of crying I turn around and scream into my pillow.

I fall asleep cluching tge ring in my hands, I need to survive, I need to survive for him.