One-Shots (The Hunger Games)

One Shot 7

Effie

I watch the large screen as Beetee, Finnick, Katniss, Johanna, and Haymitch discuss how to get the Careers. 

Distress takes me over when I look closely. Haymitch looks exhausted and worn out. His stubble has been growing by the day and so have the bags under his eyes. Katniss looks just as drained, emotionally more than psychically.

Peeta quit watching for the day. The poor boy couldn't take seeing his loved one hurt so much longer, and I don't think I can either.

My family was never very close. My parents were workaholics. They worked day and night for money. It's not like we didn't have enough, but it was never enough for them. Being an only child was very lonely. Avoxes weren't any help, really.

Haymitch is an old drunkard, but he is okay when he is somewhere close to sober. Peeta is a sweet, genial boy. He deserves better than to see Katniss like she is now. Katniss may be cold and indifferent to most people, but she merits a much more comfortable life than this. Together we are the strange family I never had.

Reaping Peeta's name was a relief for Katniss, but not for me. I knew Katniss would've made some sort of agreement with Haymitch to save Peeta. And surely enough Haymitch volunteered, much to Peeta's dismay.

As the nights go by, I start to realize how much I miss Haymitch and I's nights together on the train. He always held me and whispered pleasant things in my ear. He told me how I looked better without all my makeup on, and how he prefered my real hair over my wigs, and how he loved me. It would've been more darling if he didn't have a strong smell of whiskey, but I took what I could get.

Child-like screams boom from the hidden speakers in my room. Only seconds later Katniss is running in the jungle, howling, "Prim! Prim!" After searching for the source, she loads her bow and shoots down the jabberjay screeching the yells of agony.

She is accompanied by Finnick and Haymitch who ask her if she's okay. She doesn't get to nod, because a young woman's shrieks distract Finnick from her. Katniss tells him it's not real, but he flat out ignores her.

"It's not her! It's just a jabberjay, it's not her." Katniss says.

"Well, how do you think they got that sound?! Jabberjays copy," Finnick explains.

A man screaming, "Katniss!" diverts them.

"Gale..." Katniss whispers.

Then I hear a loud, high-pitched cry. I almost think I'm going crazy when I realize that it sounds exactly like me.

"Haymitch! Haymitch, help me! Please, please, please!" The jabberjay carrying my voice wails.

"Effie!" Haymitch bellows. His shouts sends a pang of anguish through my veins. A look of pure shock covers Katniss' face, but she doesn't pay much attention to the news when the amount of jabberjays grow, shouting ghastly bawls increase and the birds throng them.

All three of them run to where Beetee and Johanna stand behind a forcefield. Katniss hits and kicks the forcefield, but Haymitch doesn't try. He sits down against a tree and lowers his head between his knees. He needs a drink.

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Short, little something. I was inspired by this drawing about this. Sadly, I can't find it, but creds to the person who made it.

Please check out a one shot I wrote a few months ago called "Fantasy". It's a separate story (I worked really hard on it and didn't just want to publish it here). Let me know what you thought of it by commenting and voting.

Of course don't forget to vote and comment on this too!