The Hunger Games | Rilaya

The Goodbyes

Those two words that came out of Effie's mouth made me try to remember how to breathe, unable to speak. "Primrose Hart."

I felt myself beginning to hyperventilate, that is, until someone grips my arm, snapping me back to reality. There must've been a mistake. There was no way this could be happening. Prim had one slip in there out of thousands! The odds were entirely in her favor, but yet she still got reaped.

The crowd breaks out in quiet whispers, murmuring unhappily (as usual) whenever a twelve year-old gets chosen. I see her, her pale face and clenched hands, walking stiffly up to the stage. When I see her untucked blouse in the shape of a ducktail, I finally manage to find my voice.

"Prim!" I cry out. "Prim!"

I didn't even need to shove my way through the crowd, they automatically parted for me, giving me a clear path to the stage. I run to her right as she's about to step up.

And without even thinking about what I was doing, I shout "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!"

The crowd breaks out in gasps. After all, in District 12, the word tribute was synonymous with corpse.

"Lovely!" Effie smiles. "But I believe that there is a small matter of introducing the reaping winner and then asking for volunteers..." She trails off, not sure what else to say.

"What does it matter?" The mayor says gruffly, looking at me with a pained expression. "Let her come forward."

At this point, Prim is screaming hysterically behind me. She wraps her arms around me, holding me tight. "No! Maya, no! You can't go!"

"Prim, let go." I say, trying not to cry. When they televise the replay of the reapings, I did not want to be marked as an easy target. "Let go." My voice cracks at the end and I quickly turn away from her, not wanting to see her tears.

I feel someone pull her away. I turn and see that Lucas has lifted Prim off the ground and slung her over his shoulders. "Up you go, Shortstack." He says in a wavering voice, his tone somber. Lucas proceeds to carry Prim off to my mom.

I take a deep breath and climb the steps.

"Well, bravo!" Effie cheers. "That's the spirit of the Games! What's your name?"

"Maya Hart." I say, managing to keep my voice indifferent.

"I bet my buttons that was your sister. Don't want her to steal all the glory, do we?" Effie chuckles, making me want to set that fake wig of hers on fire. "Let's give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!"

Instead of the applause, I watch in awe as slowly, one by one, members of the crowd touch the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and holds it out to me. It means thanks, it means admiration, it means good-bye to someone you love.

Before I could even react to this gesture, Shawn decided to choose now to come staggering across the stage. "Look at her. Look at this one!" He exclaims, throwing an arm around my shoulders. "I like her!" I cringe at his breath, which reeks of liquor.

"Lots of..." He pauses for a moment. "Spunk!"

He finally lets go of me and stumbles to the front of the stage. "More than you!" He shouts, pointing at a camera. Next thing I know, Shawn falls off the stage and knocks himself unconscious. He's whisked away on a stretcher, allowing Effie to draw the next slip.

"What an exciting day!" She exclaims happily, making me scowl. "But more excitement to come! It's time to choose our next tribute!"

Effie quickly grabs the first slip she touches. I barely have any time to hope that it wasn't Lucas when she reads the name. "Riley Matthews."