Seafoam and Stars

▬▬ 𝟎𝟒 ∙ 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝝾𝗿

･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽

˚✩ ⋆｡ ✩┊ 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐨𝐚𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ┊✦ ˚ · .

▬▬ 04 ∙ 𝚂𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚛

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I WAS six the first time I saw a tribute volunteer that I remember aside from the Career districts. Even at a young age, I already heard of what they were doing in secret, even if I didn't quite understand why.

She was from an outer district, 8, and I remember admiring the way she stepped up to save her friend. I watched out for her during interviews and parades, I cheered for her in secret while everyone was sleeping, I rooted for her when my class talked about who they thought would win.

They said I was stupid, and they were right. She didn't win, but her sacrifice wasn't for nothing.

I've seen plenty of tributes volunteer—almost always from 1 and 2, maybe a couple from 4, even a few from the lower Districts if someone feels like they want to be the hero or is that desperate. Those Districts have volunteers.

District 12 does not. Volunteering isn't even heard of over there, regardless of family relationships. Effie Trinket clearly doesn't know what to make of this sudden switch either, and stammers that this isn't how the process goes, to which the mayor butts in and overrides the process. I doubt anyone remembers it anyway, not like the Career districts.

And so, it is the older girl who stands in the younger's place on stage next to Effie. "Katniss Everdeen," she says when asked her name. Everdeen. So they are sisters.

Effie asks for applause, and instead of falling in line, the entire square is silent. No one brings their hands together for the savior who sacrificed for her sister, who is walking into certain death, based on 12's history. Instead, they bring three fingers to their lips and raise them to the sky, the entire District as one mass.

I get the feeling that this is more than just a shallow gesture; no, this is a message. Goodbye. Thank you, even.

It lasts for a few seconds, but the district is united in that moment of silence. And as we sit on the train that shoots to the Capitol, we don't say a word as well.

Beside me, Finnick picks up the pencil and scratches out 'Primrose Everdeen,' replacing it with 'Katniss Everdeen.' Then, as if debating against it, he hesitates... and pencils in 'threat' next to her name. Not a threat to the lives of our tributes in the arena, not confirmed, that is; but because she did what I wanted to for Annie, what I promised my friends not to, what Hanna did for her sister nine years ago. Maybe it was stupid. It might be foolish even, to save a member of the family just for another to die. But somewhere else Katniss is on a train going to the Capitol as well in her sister's place.

She volunteered, and the sponsors love it.

It's Haymitch who breaks the suffocating silence, approaching Katniss before taking a dive off the front of the stage.

I would have laughed if it weren't such a miserable moment.

Nobody's attention is really on Effie as she reaps the boy tribute, a blond sixteen-year-old whose name reminds me of bread. They shake hands and disappear inside the building, and the recording stops, switching back to Caesar's commentary.

I tune it out, finally noticing how I'm gripping onto the side of the couch so hard that my fingers are white, and breathing heavily. I wish I could call Johanna; she'd known what to say to calm my unease.