The Third Tribute

Chapter two: Farewell district twelve.

Twenty five tributes. One survivor. That's a 4% chance each, for now. Peeta's family doesn't need him. My family does, and so does Gale's. But one of us could support both families. After all, haven't we been keeping each other alive this whole time? If it weren't for us meeting when I was twelve and he was fourteen, we would have both starved and suffered. But only one is getting home. And only one will be able to support both families; Gale.

Gale is the only one who would be able to do it. I can barely sustain my own family, let alone two.
"It's going to be you." I mouth to Gale. He looks confused and I watch as the color rushes from his face.
"I can't lose you" he whispers back. "And I, you." I reply.

What are we going to do? I mouth to him. He cocks his head toward the train. Right, we can discuss out of government surveillance on the train. After the few minutes I have to say good-bye to my loved ones. I expect to see Prim, my mother, Gale's family, and Madge. Although I may have more visitors I can't think of mattering to me. But then again, there aren't many people who've made a lasting impact on my life. I inch back to reality as Effie makes an announcement through the microphone. "Congratulations to this year's District Twelve hunger games tributes!" And the peacekeepers take us all into separate rooms in the justice building for our goodbyes.

The first visitors I meet are my mother and Prim. They are shoved into the room by peacekeepers that quickly state that we have three minutes. I am on the couch when they arrive, so Prim suddenly scrambles into my lap and wraps her arms around my neck.
"You have to win," she gasps in a breathy voice.
"I'll try. I'll try to win for you."
I hug her for a few seconds and then she lets go and looks at our mother. She is just staring into space. I get up and march over to her until we are face to face.
"You can't shut out again, not like when dad died!" I scream in her face. Now she's paying attention. Prim looks terrified at how I am spending my last minutes for weeks, or eternity, with my mom.
"But-" my mother mumbles as a lone tear streaks down her cheek.
"Don't cry. Don't cry. Listen to me, even if you don't think you have anything to live for, look at her. That should be your motive here."
My eyes shift to my sister. "And Prim, see if you can get Mr. Mellark to provide some food for you two, and you can sell your goat cheese for money to get food, okay? But whatever you do, don't take any tesserae from them. It's not worth it." She nods.
The doors instantly burst open and Prim and my mother are carried out of the room.
"Katniss! No!" Prim struggles just enough for me to say I love you, and they disappear without a trace.

Next I see Madge. She was my only friend in school. She is also Mayor Undersee's daughter, and very fortunate and wealthy compared to my standard of living. She walks over to me, arms held out and awaiting my presence, and I hug her for probably the last time.
"Be careful," She whispers. The tears streaming down her face signal that she really was my friend, and I hers. She slowly sits on the couch next to me. I stare out the window at the swarm of privileged children who didn't have to suffer my tragic fate.
"Here, Katniss," I hear from Madge's direction. I turn towards her. She is holding out a golden pin that I find particularly remarkable. It resembles a bird that holds an arrow in it's talons. This bird is no ordinary bird, but a Mockingjay. The bird that lives despite the Capitol's plans.
"Would you use this as your token, for me?" Madge asks in between tears.
"I'd be honored," I reply. And as soon as the peacekeepers come in, I know this could very well be my last time seeing her.

My next visitor is truly unexpected. A man comes in with a small tray. The man smells of flour and looks quite familiar, and when he shows his face I recognize him instantly. He's Peeta's father.
"Why are you here?" I question.
"I wanted to make sure you understand that Peeta probably won't be the one coming home, and if you can't protect him it's okay." He tries to explain.
"I- I don't know what to say. Thanks?" "No, Katniss. No need to thank me. Thank Peeta. This was his idea. Although, you can thank him for these, as they were my idea." He says as he unwraps the tray, revealing sweet smelling freshly baked cookies.
"Thank you." I say as I grab the tray from his hand and set it on the coffee table.
"Why did he send you here to tell me, why couldn't he speak to me in person?" I wonder out loud. "
I don't know, but I can only assume it's because he loves you, Katniss." And he leaves without saying another word.

Now that I have to worry about the games more than ever, I understand they aren't just for the Capitol people. It's for all of Panem but the Capitol to suffer. And I am someone they are mourning. I, Katniss Everdeen, am a crucial part of the 74th Hunger Games. And because I'm not part of the Capitol, I'm mourning too.

-------Authors note-------

Okie so that was interesting! Please comment if you have anything you need to say or any concerns. You can also PM me if you want to talk to the writer herself. I will do my best to post every chapter within less than a month's time after the previous one, but I make no promises. School may hold me back a bit later on. My apologies for the short chapter and remember....
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