The Divergent Games - A Crossover

Peeta - Alone - 4

When Katniss' sister is called, the crowd in the square goes completely silent. Nobody likes it when a twelve year old is picked. After a moment, Primrose emerges into the aisle, her face shining with tears. She looks so incredibly small that it makes my heart burn with anger. Several Peacekeepers appear behind her to escort her up to the stage.

I look for Katniss within the groups of girls. This isn't easy because there are so many of them, and the people of the Seam look pretty similar to each other. But then there is shouting, and the girls move away, revealing her for me. Her hair is in her usual braid, but she wears a pretty blue dress that she looks great in. Color moves into her olive cheeks as she screams.

"I volunteer!" She's pushing her way through her section to bolt in front of Primrose, putting herself between her sister and the stage. Suddenly I'm terrified she's going to get shot, and I want to look away but I can't. "I volunteer as tribute!"

On the stage, Effie looks perplexed, her face frozen in a smile, her eyes wide and nervous. Behind her, the mayor stands up, rubbing his hands together. I think he wants to be able to do something, but he has no power over the situation, so he drops back into the seat.

"A-alright," chimes Effie. "Come up here, darling!"

Primrose screams, causing some of the people closer to her to cover their ears. Katniss whips around, dropping to a knee and taking her sister's hands in hers. Her mouth moves, and Prim nods, then Katniss stands up again, and the Peacekeepers step between them, taking Prim away.

Katniss turns, and for a split second, I can see her face. It is stone cold.

She actually has a chance in the Games. She's strong, fast, smart, and crazy skilled with a bow. My father buys squirrels from her, and they are always shot clean in the eye. I don't know how anyone could be that talented, but she is.

As she steps on the stage, someone in the crowd raises their arm, pressing their three middle fingers together. I immediately mimic the gesture, kissing the tips of my fingers and lifting them into the air. It goes like a wave, until everyone in the square has their fingers held high. Katniss smiles sadly. This is the only flicker of emotion she shows, and it gives me butterflies.

"What's your name?" Effie asks, putting a hand on Katniss' back as she leans her head into the microphone.

"Katniss Everdeen."

"So that must have been your sister! How sweet of you," gushes Effie. Katniss just nods, the smile already gone. "Well, now for the male tribute!"

My name is in that bowl five times. My family never had severe problems with food, and as a result, we never needed tesserae. However this doesn't matter, as proven by Primrose's name being pulled. That name could be anyone of us.

Effie jabs her hand into the glass bowl excitedly. This time, she is more quick to select the name, withdrawing her hand with a slip of paper faster than I'm expecting. My stomach drops when I see it, and she hasn't even opened it yet. All remaining murmurs draw silent as she unfolds it and holds it up to the light like she always does.

"The male tribute is," she calls, drawing the 's' out painfully. "Peeta Mellark!"

My stomach instantly contracts. Twisting itself into terrified knots, and blood running cold through my limbs as my breathing stops. The boys around me move several feet back, clearing my way to the aisle. I can't move until someone taps my shoulder, and I force myself to take the first step.

My feet don't want to walk, my lungs don't want to work, my heart is way too loud in my ears. But then I'm in the center of the square, walking towards Effie and Katniss while being flanked by three Peacekeepers. I wish I could keep my face bare of emotion, like Katniss had, but I can't get the terror to leave it.