𝓛𝔂𝓭𝓲𝓪 𝓡𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝓑𝓪𝓲𝓻𝓭 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓒𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓚𝓮𝓷𝓽𝔀𝓮𝓵𝓵

Reaping day

5 YEARS LATER

I was out hunting with my best friend, Gale, it was the day of the reaping and so we needed to be back sooner than usual to be ready in time for the choosing ceremony. Where two children are chosen from each district, one of each gender. I had a deer in my sights and I was pulling back the string of my bow to shoot when a loud noise behind me startled the deer. I turned around and Gale was there walking extremely loudly "What are you going to do with that when you kill it?" Gale yelled this time making the deer run off.

"Damn, you Gale" I exclaim as he chuckles "It's not funny"

"What were you gonna do with a 100 pound deer, Lyds? It's Reaping Day, the place is crawling with Peacekeepers." he asked "I was gonna sell it, to some Peacekeepers." I responded. 

"Of course you were, look I sell to peacekeepers too but not today, come on lets go back." He said.

We both went our separate ways back to our houses and when I got back I helped Prim to get ready for her first reaping, It was my third reaping so I wasn't that nervous.

5 minutes later and we were ready to go and we walked to the centre of the district where they signed us in and as we walked in I lost sight of Prim and I had no choice but to walk to the 15 year old girls section. We waited for about 10 minutes for everyone else to come through before we finally started.

"Welcome! Welcome, welcome. Happy Hunger Games. And, may the odds be ever in your favor." Effie said as she started the reaping. "Now, the time has come for us to select one courageous young man and woman for the honor of representing District 12 in the 74th Annual Hunger Games. As usual, ladies first." Effie moves over to the pool of names, and draws a piece of paper. She goes back to the microphone and opens it.

"Primrose Everdeen"

My heart stopped as I saw Prim slowly and reluctantly starts moving towards the stage. "Where are you dear? Come on up. Well, come on up!"

"PRIM! NO, I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE" I yelled.

"A dramatic turn of events here on District 12. Yes, well. District 12's very first volunteer! Bring her up." Effie said. "Come on dear. What's your name?"

"Lydia Everdeen" I said.

"Let's have a big hand for our very first volunteer, Lydia Everdeen." Effie exclaimed, instead everyone raise three fingers on their left hand in some kind of salute.

"And now, for the boys." Effie said, walking over to the boy's reaping ball, and pulls a name.

"Peeta Mellark"

Peeta walks up to the stage and takes his place.

"Here we are, our tributes from District 12. Well come on you two, shake hands." Effie said clearly trying to quickly get the reaping over.

Me and Peeta shook hands.

"Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!" Effie said into the microphone for all of district 12 to hear.

Effie brings us into the Justice Building. I looks out the window, and a Peacekeeper comes in with Mrs. Everdeen and Prim.

"You have 3 minutes." the peacekeeper that brought them in said.

As soon as he leaves Prim runs to hug me sobbing quietly "shh Prim, it's ok, we're both going to be ok" I said not knowing if I was comforting Prim or myself.

"Please just try to win, Lyds, please" Prim pleaded.

"Okay, I'll try" I say to her before turning to her mother "You can't tune out again, if I hadn't been here, Prim probably  would have starved and I won't be here this time."

"I won't" she responded. I pull her in for a hug.

Just then a peacekeeper enters "It's time" he says.

"No, No" Prim cries. "It will be ok Prim" I yell to her before the door slams shut. Just after it shut it was thrown open and Gale came in and hugged me "I'm fine" I whisper to him. "I know" he whispered back.

"Listen to me. You're stronger than they are. You are. Get to a bow or knives, you're good with them." he said before a peacekeeper starts walking in ad tells us it's time.

"look after them" I yell to him "don't let them starve"

"I won't" he says before the door closes and I'm alone again.

Now it's time to head to the Capitol.