If We Burn (The Hunger Games x Reader)

Chapter 4

You sat in the living room of Haymitch's house in Victor's Square with Katniss and her family, Peeta and Gale waiting for President Snow to announce the stipulation for this year's quarter quell. Haymitch handed you a glass with a clear liquid in it, "care for a refreshment?"

You took the glass and gave a sniff only for your nose to be met with the overwhelming stench of pure alcohol. "Damn Haymitch," you said with a laugh.

He chuckled and clinked his glass to yours, "it takes the edge off, I promise." You smiled and took a large gulp flinching as it burned down your throat. Haymitch nodded in approval and took a seat on his plush armchair.

You walked quietly over to stand behind Katniss and Prim sitting on the couch. "How many times will your name be in the reaping this year?" Peeta asked, coming to stand next to you.

"Just six," you replied, "thanks to the generosity of capitol, to Katniss of course, I don't have to worry about food anymore," you explained with a humorless smile. It was terrible to force children into gambling their life for food, but you also counted your blessings that Katniss had enough money to support you now, and was willing to.

"I guess something good had to come from us winning the games," Peeta replied, matching your small smile.

"That and the fact that you both survived, don't forget that," you joked, lifting your glass. Peeta nodded and smiled, a real smile this time.

He opened his mouth to say more, but was interrupted by Gale, "president's on," he said, tossing Haymitch the remote to turn up the volume.

President Snow's perfectly aging face came on the TV, the cadence in his voice as he gave his typical introductory remarks was completely indifferent, like this was just like any other day for him.

He continued to drone on about the reasons for the Hunger Games and the typical patriotic jumble of words that you learned to drown out, it was the same every year. Finally, he grabbed a yellow envelope from a box and carefully broke the seal. You could feel the tension in the room as everyone leaned a little closer to the screen, not wanting to miss a single word.

"In addition to a single male and female tribute from each district," he slowed his speech adding to the suspense of the moment. You watched him closely and you swore you saw a smile pull at his lips, "an additional male and female tribute from each district will also be reaped," he paused again, only shorter this time, "from the existing pool of victors."

Time stood still as everyone processed this information. Not only was everyone in the district still eligible, so were the victors. You did the math as quickly as everyone else, there were only three victors from District 12, and only one female - Katniss was going back into the arena.