The X-Games

Everything's Alright

The siblings barged their way through the District 12 citizens to reach their home.

“Excuse me, pardon,” Charles said as he dragged Katniss through, “Have to get ready!”

Finally, with all their strength, the Everdeens pushed themselves through their shabby door, collapsing onto the floor.

The siblings try to catch their breath until they heard the door slam.

It was Gale.  

“What is going on?” Gale asked, dumbfounded.

Katniss answered, “Long story short, Peacekeepers.”

           

Charles sighed, “What a great way to start the Reaping?”

Gale stifled a laugh, “It’s alright Charles. We got to get ready.”

Charles nodded and helped Katniss off the floor, “Any news?”

Gale stopped in his tracks and turned around, “Oh yeah! A little birdie told me the Summers boy wants to talk to you before the Reaping.”

“Scott,” Charles corrected.

Gale nodded then turned around, “The Reaping is in two hours, suggest you go now.”

 Charles bit his lip and thought, Why would Scott want to talk to me now? Hmm, I don’t know but I better get dressed first.

“Right,” Charles jogged upstairs to his room.

To his surprise, Gale was nice enough to lay out his Reaping clothes on the bed.

It belonged to their father

Before the accident.

             

Charles shook the memory out of his head.

Charles washed his hands and face deeply with the available clean water before undressing his mud-stained clothes to the wrinkled clean pale blue button down, gray worn pants, and matching leathery shoes.

Charles was brushing his hair back when Katniss knocked.

“You can come in.”

Katniss gingerly opened the door, “Can you promise me something?”

Charles, surprised by the sudden question, turned around and answered “Sure. Is everything alright?”

Katniss sighed, “Yes it’s just Gale. He keeps on having nightmares about this day.”

Charles nodded, “I know but he’s alright, there are thousand of slips in that bin, he’s safe.”

Katniss stood quiet.

Charles frowned, “Katniss? Please don’t do this or I’ll have to read your mind.” 

“You promised me you’ll never do that!” Katniss barked suddenly.

Now Charles was the one who was quiet.

Katniss spoke up quickly, “I’m sorry its just this day…feels different.”

Charles sighed and embraced his sister tightly, “Don’t worry Kat, everything’s alright.”

Katniss nodded and held her brother’s hand placing something in it, “Give this to Gale for me.”

Then she left closing the door behind her.

Charles opened his palm and gasped.

He couldn’t believe it.

In his hand was the rarest item in all of District 12, the symbol of the mutants: X.

Carefully this pin was crafted, the silver colored X stood inside a circle representing ‘mutant and human equality and hope’.

The pins were given to the mutants by blacksmiths in their District, for identification at first but then it changed.

The mutants, and some humans, believed this pin symbolized equality and hope.

Soon the symbol was considered blasphemy when the Games happened and soon the pins became extinct.

How Katniss was able to possess this pin was unknown but having hope was one thing Gale needed.

Charles put the pin his pocket and went outside, he has to see Scott before the Reaping.

But where was he?

Quietly, Charles placed two fingers to his temple and searched for Scott in the District.

With a quick run of all the mutants, Charles found him.

Scott was in an abandoned school, waiting obviously for his friend.

Charles smiled and jogged to the school.

Unknown to him, Gale was staring at him, regret on his chest.