May the odds be ever in your favour (Book 1)

3

Ryan's PoV

I look over at Katniss and ask if she's okay.  She mouths to me that she is fine, but I could tell she is anything but fine. I give her a wink, i don't know why. The fact that we are segregated by gender instead of just age, annoys me. purely because I want to be right next to Katniss. I want to be there and hold her. My anxiety has risen.  I hum 'Nothing you can take from me'   and it calms me. Boosts my confidence. 

There is an ear piercing shriek, as Effie Trinket, the pink pawn in The Capitol's big game, comes on stage and taps the mic.  This year she seems to have taken the pink to a whole new level. From down where I am in the square, not only is her outfit pink, but she seems to have dyed her skin either pastel pink or lilac.  Which combined with her white-blonde hair, makes her seem almost ghostly. On top of all that her lipstick, was a deep purple with gold flecks. I think someone should tell her that all those pinks, purples and gold was garish and sickly.

Just before she begins to speak, I look around and wonder where on earth is Haymitch the only living Male Victor for District 12.  He's nowhere to be seen. I wonder was he at The Hob when Katniss and Gale were there? Probably, and he was probably by the white liquor. Moonshine, they called it in the old, pre-Panem days. I think.

"Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour!" She said, in her overly positive voice, which grates  on me. I don't think, I'm the only one who finds her voice grating.  I find myself briefly wondering, if Effie Trinket secretly detests being the Capitol spokesperson for District 12.

"Before we find out this years tributes, we have a lovely message for you from the Capitol,"  She continues, and I resist the urge to cover my ears. however,  I am less successful in not rolling my eyes. The Panem symbol comes on and the video begins.

"War..." The voice of President Snow booms out, I tune him out sufficiently.  Katniss, Gale and I all share discreet glances, and struggle to suppress our giggles. It's taking me all of my will not to fall about the place laughing. The Capitol wouldn't like that.  They wouldn't like it at all.  They also wouldn't like me humming the same song as before.  The film ends and Effie says something about loving something, and then moves on to say, that as usual the ladies would go first.

My pulse quickens, and I hum the song more desperately as she puts her hand in the bowl and rummages.

"The female tribute for District 12 is....."

There is a pregnant pause, I find myself wanting to scream at her to just tell us.

"Primerose Everdeen!" 

My heart drops. I am horrified. I glance around the square. Most are horrified. District 12 hasn't had a tribute this young since the 66th  Hunger Games. And both tributes died instantly in the bloodbath.  The Capitol truly is disgusting. Prim won't survive a minute.  I look at Katniss, she's frozen in shock.

I see Prim start to walk towards the stage, she tucks her shirt back in.

"Prim! Prim!" Katniss calls, pushing forward. Peacekeepers go to barricade Katniss. But Katniss thinks fast.

"I VOLUNTEER! I VOLUNTEER!" 

There is some murmurings.

"I volunteer as tribute!" Katniss screeches, desperation in her voice.  She hugs Prim tightly.  Kissing her on the forehead. I can see tears threatening to fall from Katniss eyes, and reality sinks in to me.  But although I worry about Katniss's safety, the overwhelming emotion I feel is admiration.  I quickly glance around the square, and it seems I'm not the only one who is proud as punch.

Effie openly gasps.  just as surprised as most of the square.

"Come here quickly!"  She says, as she comes back to her senses.

"No Katniss!" Prim wails, before I can run to her aid, Gale is there and has picked Prim up. He's walking away.

I look at Katniss again, she is up on the temporary stage.  I am so proud of her taking Prim's place in the hunger games. Our first volunteer.  Effie makes some small talk, getting to know Katniss briefly.

Now the whole of District 12 wait with bated breath. Wondering who the male tribute will be.  My focus shifts to the anxiety rising from my stomach to my throat. Not even humming the song can calm me. I know the only thing that will calm me will be for Effie to hurry up and chose the male tribute.

"And now for the boys," Effie says, walking over to the bowl containing the male names. It is sad to think that quite a large portion of that bowl is Gale.  Effie delicately plunges her hand in the bowl. I can't help but notice that she doesn't rummage around like she did with the girls. I am secretly grateful for that though.  "Peeta Mellark!"

My eyes widen, my worst fear has been acknowledged.  I look at Peeta. He looks at me.  He's bewildered. Peeta is strong but there is no way he could survive the games. Despite his strength the careers would eat him alive. A peacekeeper comes to take him away. I grasp Peeta's hand and shake my head at him. Like hell am I going to let him go.  I wrench my brother from the peacekeeper's clutches.  The peacekeeper reaches for her gun. 

"I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!" I bellow. And I take my brother's place. There is a silence that befalls the square as I calmly walk to the stage, and take my spot next to Katniss and Effie. Everyone in District 12 and Effie, who is rarely speechless, are in a stunned silence.  Never in 74 years of the games, has their been two volunteers outside of the career districts.

"And who might you be sir?" asks Effie once she has regained her common sense.

"Ryan Mellark."

"Another sibling volunteering to take their sibling's place? This is astonishing!" Effie says,  although it isn't her fault, it sounds rather patronising.  Effie tells Katniss and I to shake hands, and we do. But our hands linger slightly longer.

"Give it up for District 12's first two volunteers ever!" Effie encourages, but no applause comes. 

Effie goes to encourage them again, but before she can begin, the mayor's daughter, Madge puts three fingers to her lips and then raises her arm.  It's like a Mexican wave of people, doing the salute.  It's both powerful and poignant to watch. I swear I see Effie cry lilac tears at the scene.  Haymitch,  suddenly appears next to us. I can't see him but I can smell the White liquor on him. However, he's so drunk he forgets to stop. He falls headfirst off of the stage and into a bunch of peacekeepers.

Effie turns to Katniss and I. Her complexion has gone from lilac to bright fuscha pink. It is safe to say she's mortified by Hamish's actions. But in his defence, this day would be very hard for him.

"Come on then, we'll go into the rooms so you can say goodbye to your family and friends." She says hastily, before gently pushing us into the justice building.

Katniss and I are put in separate rooms, I can only assume this is to allow us to say goodbye to our families in private. Because in The Capitol's eyes, this will be the last time we see them ever. Little do they know what's coming. But then again, little do Katniss and I know what's coming.

(A/n: Here is part 3! A lot of the earlier chapters will be in Ryan's POV because I assume if you're reading this, you will already  know what happen's in Katniss's POV. But there will be the occasional Katniss POV.)