In Power We Trust - Haymitch Abernathy

Chapter Five - Numbs It

Amelie

The breakfast platter was somehow more elaborate than last night's dinner. Pastries of many different unnatural colors lined the silver dishes in the center. Exotic fruits that I couldn't identify and brightly colored juices sat among them.
"So," The man who wore a purple suit yesterday who I now knew to be named Bernard spoke up, "Big day today everyone."
"What's today?" Marcus asked, mouth full of food, he continued to shovel more into his mouth.
"What's today!" Bernard laughed, "Why, only the day of your presentation to President Snow and the rest of Panem dear boy! The Tribute Parade of course!"
Bernard spoke with such enthusiasm you wouldn't know he was talking about the murderous monster that was President Snow.

I looked down at my plate, I had grabbed some eggs and potatoes, on a count of those being the only food I recognized. Maysilee sat to my right and the boys across from me. They all spared no expense with the helpings of food they took, but I couldn't bring myself to eat so much. It was like living in 12 had actually shrunk the amount of food my body could take.

The door closest to me hissed open and our 'mentor' Rummage walked in. His dark black hair unbrushed, and beard grown out. He looked at us but didn't acknowledge anyone but the drink cart.
He grabbed a bottle of scotch, popped the lid off onto the floor. Then, cleared his throat as he walked back out the door. The entire wall behind the boys was glass, so I watched as my mentor plopped onto the couch in the other room and took a deep sip of his whiskey.

"What a useless old twat." Marcus scoffed.
"Shut up Marcus." Haymitch mumbled, as he took a mouthful of food.
Marcus shot him a look and I thought he was about to reply before Maysilee spoke up, "I feel for the guy, I mean imagine year after year watching so many kids die and feeling like you could've done more to prevent it. I'd drink myself to death too."

"Well if you win and do that, well that'd be just an awful waste of a pretty face." Marcus chuckled at himself.
"What did you just say to me?" Maysilee barked, eyebrows burrowing.
"Ooo you're hot when you're mad."
My face grew warm with anger, I wanted to say something but Haymitch beat me to it, "Marcus why are you such a-"
Maysilee threw up her hand to silence him. The blanket of quiet that fell over the room was almost deafening.
After a moment she stood and broke it,

"Marcus Oliver, you'll be the first cannon to fire."

Then she walked out.

We all sat quiet for a few minutes before Bernard laughed nervously,
"She scares me a tad."
"Whatever," Marcus scoffed, "that bitch doesn't know what's coming for her."
I stood up abruptly and banged my hands on the table. I looked at Marcus, daring him with my eyes to say something, he remained quiet.

I walked out of the dinning room to the couch where Rummage still sat.
"I can't believe I ever had a crush on that dirtbag," I said to myself as I plopped down on the opposite end of the couch as Rummage.
"The games have a way of bringing out the worst in people." My mentor said in between drinks.
I looked up at him, "Like you? I mean, the drinking."
He set the almost empty bottle on his lap then looked at me. "I," he swallowed hard, "had to kill my girlfriend during my games. So, yeah it brought out the worst in me."
A sharp feeling of sadness fell over me like now I understood why he was the way he was.
"So you drink to forget?"
"No," he sighed, "drinking doesn't make you forget, you don't forget. It just sorta..." His voice trailed off like he couldn't find the words.
"Numbs it?"
He looked at me then nodded, "Yeah something like that."