Aloe Mellark: The Hunger Games Epilogue

Chapter 3:

Before we get to the center, a man with grey seam eyes and dark hair runs towards us. He is wearing a pair of jeans that look like they could use a wash, and his shirt is grease and sweat stained. I look at mom and she looks like she's excited to see him, but another memory overpowered the joy she would have felt.
"Gale!" She says, giving in to whatever she felt, she runs up to Gale and jumps into his arms.
"Hey Catnip." He catches her and gives her a bear hug. Gale has been friends with my mother for years. When my grandfather died, he helped my mom and aunt collect food from the woods, even though the penalty for being caught was death. When they separate, he looks at my dad and smiles.
"Peeta! How are you doing?" He grasps my dad's hand, pulling my dad into a hug and pats him on the back. Dad smiles and returns the pat.
"Just fine. Hows District 2?" Dad looks at Gale and then takes mom's hand.
"Fine, lots of work. Same old stuff, was forced to come and make sure 12 behaved after President Paylor made her anouncment." he looks over at me and Rye and smiles "Aloe and Rye? Wow. You guys have gotten big!" I smile awkwardly and say hi. I dont know why, but he intimadates me. I listen as he goes on about how big we've gotten and dad must sense how awkward this is for me and changes the subject to Madge and how married life is.
"Oh. Its good. Madge has been having some pretty bad back pains lately, and the baby's getting big." He says. When he talks about Madge, he has a cute twinkle in his eye.

"Oh, Right! How far along is she?" Mom asks. Whenever Gale is around, she seems so much more happy.
"8 and a half months" He smiles at mom's reaction. She gives him another hug and tells him congratulations.

As they pull apart, a bell rings from the justice building up ahead. We have a total of five minutes before the meeting starts. They say good-bye we continue on. I admire the buildings as we walk. Most were destroyed in the bombing but since then the town has slowly rebuilt and repaired what was left. Most of the old District 12 families returned after mom and dad came back. They have been trying to repair the damage since, but lots have just gotten worse over the years.

We walk into the square and see the whole town there. Kids running around playing tag and others holding their mothers hand. I reach for Ryes hand and he looks up at me and smiles. There are officers in white uniforms all around to stage that has been temporarily set up.

A woman in a lime green blouse and plum purple skirt is standing on the stage. Her face is so altered that she could almost be beautiful, if she'd lay off the eyeliner and blush. Her hair is a bright neon pink and is shaved on one side and hip length on the other. Ugh. Capitol fashion is something I will never understand! I think.
"That's not Effie." I hear my mom say to dad. Dad nods and turns around, only to see the path they just walked has been blocked off by more than 15 of the white uniformed officers. We stand in a row. My mom and dad then me and then Rye wait for the crazy pink haired woman to speak. When she does, it's high pitched and when she says the letter S, she sounds like a snake and her tone sounds like she's asking a question.

"Good afternoon, District 12!" She says. Her accent is thick and takes me a minute to understand what she just said. She continues to talk, but more slowly so we can understand every word she says.
"17 years ago, 13 Districts rose up against the capitols men and fought hard for what they believed. But I am pleased to present your new leader. President Paylor." We all clap slowly and wait for her to speak. Her skin is dark and her hair is in beautiful ringlets down her back. She talks about the last president, Snow, and tells the District about my mom and dad.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, help me welcome Katniss and Peeta Mellark!" My parents walk toward the stage, leaving Rye and I by ourselves and stand beside Paylor.  Dad is on the left and mom is on the right. Mom's eyes are focused on something far out in the distance as Paylor speaks. She asks how they are doing and how us kids are. Dad does most of the talking and mom just smiles and nods, and returns her focus to the point in the distance. The president then tells them about a note and contract that was found in an old filing cabinet in an old abandoned room.
"Let me explain: we were moving our information room to a lower level and found a contact. It was from President Alma Coin." Mom's mouth drops open and stares at Paylor wide eyed. Dad stands there and looks like he's going to fall over.
"It was a contract signed by all the Victors saying whether or not they wanted to hold another Hunger Games," she pauses to let the info sink in. "At the time of the signing, only 7 Victors remained: Annie O'dair,  Beetee Latire, Johanna Mason, Enoboria Quintos, Heymitch Abernathy , Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. For the safety of the victors, I won't tell you who votes yes and who voted no, but it was signed by every Victor saying if they wanted the games or not." I'm numb. My tongue has gone dry and my knees feel weak. I hope she's not saying what I think she's saying.
"But the vote had 4 votes for yes and 3 for no. After much consideration, I talked with my advisors and we came up with a proposition. We hold our 77th Hunger Games next month!" She finishes her sentence and backs away from the microphone for a second to talk to my mom. I try to read her lips, but from where I stand, it's nearly imposible. My stomach is aching, and my head is pounding. I look up at the stage to watch my parents dazed expression and Paylors joyful face. Even though she has nothing to be proud of.
"To celebrate the 77th Hunger Games, we will be opening the envelope now to show you who will represent District 12." A boy wearing a white uniform steps up on stage with a black box with the number 77 on it. It's covered in stains and looks like it's been left in water for a couple of years. But the envelope inside is still like new. She takes the envelope, and reads it out loud.
"For the 77th year of the Hunger Games, we will offer one female and one male Tribute. But not just any boy or girl. One of which must be a victors child. This could be either Aloe or Rye Mellark and one you." She plgestures towards the crowd.
"If your name is called, you are representing your District. Tomorrow we will be back in town to reap the names. So, I repeat, any child who's name has been called must go in and represent this fine District, unless of course there is a volenteer.  Thank you. " She finishes and I notice I am on my knees. I don't know when I fell, but my stomach aches and when I look up I see my mom is collapsed in my father's arms. I stand up, ignoring my wobbly knees and grab Ryes hand and we race to the stage. I hold my father and mother.
When I look at Rye, something dawns on me. One child of every Victor must go into the arena, and there's no way in hell I'd let my little brother go to his death. I then realize something.

I'm going to my death.