Thin Flesh (Haymitch Abernathy X OC)

The Reaping

🎶 Thin Flesh by Traitrs🎶

"Thin flesh bleeds outside in snow."

I stare at myself blankly in the mirror... my light blue dress eloquently adorning my pale as ever skin. The sun has become a faint memory to me since my father, Valentine, had passed some months ago. Killed by peacekeepers. For what exactly, I wasn't entirely sure. I had no doubt in my mind however, that it was an unjust reason. As is how it goes with the capitol.

He was all I had left. My mother had passed during child birth with yours truly. I never knew her. From what father had told me, though, she sounded like a dream come true. Brave, kind, and the best sense of humor in Panem.

I sigh, putting my curled hair partially up, leaving the rest to hang ever so slightly below my shoulders. Today was the very last time I could ever possibly be chosen for the reaping. I felt confident. I had this in the bag. My name should only be in the drawing 7 times. Only 7. My lucky number.

With a deep breath I finally step out into the sunlight for the first time in a couple of weeks. Thin, frail, the sun straining my eyesight to a semi-painful degree.

I followed a group of girls my age as usual, entering in my bloody thumb print before waiting in rows among rows of other young women like me. Separated as usual from the boys.

I furrow my brows and squint my eyes to try and see the stage ahead of me. I always loved seeing Effie's beautiful outfits. The bright colors, the egregious wigs. She in herself was a spectacle, a sight to behold, truly.

I then look for one of the two district 12 victors, the one who is still alive and mentoring. It looks as if he's late. As usual. Maybe today will be the day the infamous Haymitch Abernathy doesn't show. Either due to alcohol poisoning, a disastrous hangover or, simply put, too drunk to walk.

He was the town drunk after all. Part of me understood. President Snow had allegedly murdered his entire family after he won the games with the ricochet of a force field. Silly, really. To me, it was a bunch of folklore. He drank himself nearly to death due to the guilt of winning his games. Me, personally, I wouldn't waste my life away if I had been given a second chance at life. After this breezes by today, maybe, just maybe, I'll stop loathing around the house.

I'd been paying so much attention on trying to find the drunk that I had blanked through 85% of Effie's annual speech. I'm brought back to reality by her then announcing;

"Now. The time has come for us to select one brave and courageous young man and young woman to compete in the honor of district 12 for the 61st annual hunger games! As usual... ladies first." She says, her bright blue lips turning upward in a smile.

She walks over to the glass bowl rummaging her hand around all of the small, intricately folded envelopes.

Effie finally has an envelope in hand before walking back to the microphone, clearing her throat as she delicately peeled apart the opening flap to reveal this years female tributes name.