Haymitch's Hunger Games.

Chapter 3.

      I still remember the day my father had died. I was 11 and admittedly, quite a smart aleck. I thought I knew everything, something my father joked about a lot. We would tease each other like father and son normally do, but we also had this bond, this unbreakable bond that was amazing and something I cherished. I remember the day I came down for breakfast and my mother and father were talking in low, hurried whispers. Something about how it wasn't safe today and then my father would say how my mother was just getting paranoid. I remember saying goodbye to him that day, porridge dribbling down my chin. I remember being in school, and the mining explosion being such a large one that the ground shook. I remember everyone in the class catching their breath, even the teachers, because everyone knew someone who worked in the mines. I asked the person next to me what the time was and he said 12:00 and I suddenly remembered that my dad was working the mid-day shift. I remember feeling panicked and distraught at the same time. As per usual, we all gathered at the mining entrances, everyone from the villages, peering into the tunnel, but everyone making sure that the people who knew they had a loved one in the mines was able to stand right at the front. I remember standing there and my mother rushing up to me and grabbing me and asking if I was ok. I told her I was fine, and that we were waiting for the elevator that went down into the earth to come out. I wasn't just worried for myself. A lot of my friends had Dad's working in the mines. I looked over at my friend Benny, who only had his Dad. His mum had died earlier in the year from some kind of illness that I never asked about. Benny looked more anxious then I've ever seen anyone look. After a while, the sirens blared, and the elevator started to move up. It creaked and creaked, slowly inching upwards. It took ten minutes for the old elevator to reach the top, and when it did it wasn't a pretty sight. Blood covered the walls and bodies lay on the floor. Around 40 men came bustling out, their faces sweaty dragging the bodies out. I remember seeing Benny's Dad come out and scoop him up and hug him. I remember seeing this happen with a lot of families. But then I noticed all of the families who didn't have anyone rushing over to them. I felt immensely sad and sorry for them, and then I realised that we were on of those families. My breathing began to quicken and I frantically searched the faces of every man that came out of the lift. But no one came out who looked like my dad. He wasn't there. I lost track of time then, but I remember a council official coming up to my mother and giving her his condolences. I heard him tell her the date of the funeral, but I wasn't really listening. The bond had been broken. The bond I thought was unbreakable. I was at a loss for words and that is how I feel now, speechless, and alone.
        Of course it is me. No, the odds aren't in my favour. I stride out from the crowd, and walk down the middle of the crowd. Worried eyes stare at me from every direction, but I see something else in them, surprise maybe? I must look more confident than I feel, but then a whole new feeling replaces the fear. Anger. At the Capitol. And then I remember my promise to Bertha. I will fight. I give my best 'I don't care' smirk, and everyone looks at me dumbfounded. I give my best dangerous eyes and everyone stares at me, shocked. Last of all I glare at Pillie, with an evil glint in my eyes, and I see how unnerved she looks. I smirk again, even though I can hear my mother crying and I can hear Bertha whimpering my name, and worst of all, I can hear Dylan crying, and I can hear boys snickering and making fun of him. I don't stop at the podium and I don't shake Pillie's hand. I want to show the Capitol that I'm not just something for them to taunt and tease. I smile at the look on Pillie's face being showed on every screen in Panem. She looks like she has just sucked an extremely sour lemon. After a few seconds she manages to collect herself and straightens up.
"Do we have any volunteers?" Pillie asks, even though she knows no one will answer. The silence is as widespread as when there is a mining accident. When the men die in the mines, everything turns silent in the whole village. This is like then. It is like everyone is treating us like we are already dead.
"Very well!" She says, clapping her hands together in delight. I have to hold myself back from hitting her.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the tributes of District 12! Daisy Harper, Maysilee Donner, Michael Barker and Haymitch Abernathy!" Her voice catches at the end of my name and I know she is angry that I made her look like a fool. I scan the crowd for her face. Right in the middle, I spot her. She is looking at me with wide eyes, tears pouring down her face. She is mouthing something to me, one word over and over. After a minute I work out what she is saying,
"Win."
        After shaking hands with the mayor, who is trembling violently, we walk into the justice building. As I walk, I bury my face in my hands and push my hair out of the way.I picture my mothers distraught face, I can even picture the concern and anxiety in her eyes, and then i picture her face. She is so beautiful, and I hadn't even realised it fully until now. I'm directed into a waiting room and the door is slammed shut behind me. I sit down on the moth eaten couch and look around. It looks like this place was beautiful, but a long time ago. It hasn't been cleaned in a while, judging from the cob webs on the ceiling, and the fading wallpaper. The whole building creaks and shudders, as if it knows what horrible things have gone on it over the years. Executions, memorials, and reapings, are all held here. Occasionally they show a picture of the crippled justice building from District 13 on the television, as a friendly reminder of what will happen to us if we step out of line. I snap out of my trance because  of the crying noises coming from the hallway. I say noises, the plural, because I can hear about five people crying at the same time. I stand up swiftly and tiptoe towards the door. I open it slightly and peer outside. Daisy Harpers mum is in hysterics, as well as four other women and I'm about to go out there, when Bertha's tear stained face comes into view. She bounds in, but this time it isn't in a happy way, but in a desperate way. She hugs me and cries. Just cries. Then my mother comes into view and I hug her too. Lastly, Dylan come running in and I give him a warm hug, that says a thousand words. I look out of the door and see Pillie looking in on us,with an almost delighted look on her face. I hold back my tears so as not to give her any more pleasure, and slam the door shut.
"It's okay, I'll be fine," i reassure them but they aren't convinced.
" I'm strong," I continue, "and not too bad looking..." I trail off and Bertha and Dylan laugh slightly.
"Modest much," Dyaln mutters and we laugh. My mother looks at us confused and then begins to laugh herself. I don't stop seeing as this might be the last time I ever- No I can't think like that.
" You're strong, and I wouldn't be surprised if you're twice as smart as all of those tributes put together," my mother inputs. I smile and give her another hug.
" Promise you will try to win," Bertha says loudly. "Promise you won't try to make a statement by dying in there!" Dylan continues, louder.
" I promise!" I say calmly and she half smiles.
" I almost forgot I want you to have this," she shoves something in my hands and I turn it over in my hands. It's a small doll, not much bigger than my palm, with an elegant face and hair made of yarn.
"It's beautiful," I tell her. "But you love this thing, you should keep -"
"I love you more," she interrupts. I place the doll in my coat pocket and thank her again. I recognise the doll. Bertha had been holding it at her fathers funeral. I hope that she never has to hold it at mine.
"Mum, use the savings I have to buy food,"
"But-"
"No I insist, nothing is more important to me than you," she half smiles and hugs me again.
"Dylan, ignore those boys, and look after your mother," "but what if they-"
"They won't, please just remember that I'm not dead yet, all of you," I hug my family as tight as I can, wishing that I could freeze this moment in time. Then Bertha has joined in and we are all just standing there, hugging, hoping that nothing ever interrupts the moment. Unfortunately, after ten seconds a peacekeeper walks in and announces that our time is over. Bertha grabs me and kisses me and I kiss her back. I run my hands through her hair and over her body, but she is soon pulled back by the peacekeeper and forced outside.
"I'll see you soon!" I exclaim.
"Good luck Haymitch!" Shouts Dylan.
" Goodbye Haymitch, and remember I l-" Bertha shouts over the weeping noises coming from outside. But I never hear the end of her sentence, as the door is slammed shut, and locked.