Revive

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

"Welcome, welcome, to the 76th annual Hunger Games. As usual, ladies first." Effie Trinket says into the microphone. She approaches a small glass bowl and digs around for a slip with a Capitol child's name. She picks one out and returns to the podium. "Trace Dawson." Effie Trinket announces into the microphone.

A tall girl who looked to be the age between thirteen and sixteen dressed head to toe in a colorful splash of sea green and seashell pink approaches the stage, shaking in the process.

"Come along dear." Effie beckons the child onto the stage. Once Trace is on the stage, Effie returns to the podium. "And now, for the boys." Effie approaches another small glass bowl and digs around for another slip of paper. She returns to the podium and opens the paper. "Lawson Hecilla." Effie announces.

A scrawny boy who looked to be the age between twelve and fourteen dressed in gold and silver approaches the stage, trying to look confident while holding back his tears.

Effie repeats this process twenty-two more times. At the end, there are twelve sobbing girls and twelve terrified boys. Just enough for the last games.

I feel Peeta nudge my shoulder. "How can you stand by and watch this. What did these poor innocent children ever do? We killed Snow, shouldn't we be done?" Peeta asks.

"Peeta it's hard for you to understand, I know that. But I'm doing this for Prim," I tell him.

"Can't you revive Prim with some other act that doesn't acknowledge death in the process?" Peeta asks.

"No." I say. "You don't have to be here you know," I say.

Peeta looks away, obviously annoyed.

"Sorry," I say.

"It's fine. You were only saying what you meant," Peeta says.

"No, I didn't mean it. I-"

"I'm just kidding," Peeta smiles.

I blush slightly and look down hiding my smile that has appeared on my face. "Your jokes," I say.

"I know. It's a gift." Peeta says.

"Happy Hunger Games! And, may the odds be ever in your favor." Effie continues the Reaping. She leads the children into the Presidential Palace then reappears to speak to Peeta and I.

"I absolutely despise doing that. Thank the lord that's the last time." Effie says.

"I thought you loved all the attention," Peeta jokes.

"My dear, good publicity is my calling. Bad publicity, such as this..." she shakes her head. "Oh!" Effie snaps her fingers and looks at us with beaming eyes. "Paylor has requested your presence. Mentor prepping." Effie says.

"Wait, what? We need to mentor all these kids?" I ask.

"No, you both will be assigned two children at random. Along with several other remaining victors," Effie says.

"Will Katniss and I mentor together?" Peeta asks.

"I'm afraid not." Effie frowns.

"Are you alright with this Katniss?" Peeta asks me.

"I'm not sure," I say.

I want Peeta to be with me the whole time. I don't think I can mentor two children without getting attached and reliving the frightening expierience.

"I don't think you have a choice. We have a small supply of victors left," Effie says.

"What? We have many from one and two," I say.

"Yes, however many are severely ill, very old, and are not stable to mentor," Effie says.

"And I am?" I ask. I'm anything but stable. I tremble everytime I hear a bird singing.

"Katniss, your nineteen years old. Your perfectly healthy and young. You may not be emotionally stable but your physically stable and that's all we acquire." Effie says. "Now, you need to go see Paylor immediately." Effie says then leaves.

"Hey," Peeta says. He takes me hand in his. "we will be okay. It's one game," he tells me.

"I know. I just don't want them to look at me and hold me responsible." I say. Even though I am responsible, I just don't want them to know it or even punish me with the hatred in their eyes.

"Maybe we can convince Paylor to let us be together." Peeta says.

We enter the Presidential Palace and walk down the empty hallway, on our way towards Paylor's office.

We reach Paylor's office and knock on the door. "Come in," Paylor calls from inside.

We enter her office and sit in the chairs before her desk. Paylor appears from under her desk. "Hello." she smiles. She rises and sits at her desk. "Now, about being Mentors,"

"Paylor, if we may say something first," Peeta says.

"Alright make it quick." Paylor says.

"Katniss and I would like to mentor together. We don't feel comfortable mentoring children without each others company," Peeta says.

"Done." Paylor says. "Alright now, these are your children,"

She slides two envelopes across the desk. I open one of them to find the first girl and boy, Trace and Lawson.

"You are too meet them in their quarters, in the pent house." Paylor informs us.

The pent house. That's where Peeta and I stayed. Now I'll have to relive the memories.