The Hunger Games - Second Quarter

12

I woke up early that morning, I usually dont unless something is happening that day. As far as I knew, nothing was supposed to happen today. My eyes scan the room, slowly adjusting to the brightness that gleams from my window into my once dark bedroom. I swing my legs off my bed and leave the room, Gale was still asleep, I could hear his heavy breathing even after I left the room.

"Elsa." I hear my mother say, her voice sounded frail, like it could shatter at any moment.

"Yeah?" I reply.

"The reaping," She says walking into the living room, her eyes loomed tear stained, her voice was strained, "It's today. "

That's why I woke up early, the reaping was today Prim's 3rd year. I'm safe, atleast that I know of plus its unlikely for the same person to be picked twice, however im still worried. I mean, who wouldnt be its the reaping. The whole thing could make you, or break you. With the twist aswell there's a possibility I could go back, or Katniss could, maybe even Prim would be going into the games. What about all of us? That would be a real people pleaser, so many people love the Everdeen sisters and would love to see us go into the games together. I win because of luck, people gave up their lives for mine. If I didnt have Gale with me, if I didnt have Rue with me, if I didnt have Geena with me, I wouldnt be here today. If it was just me alone in the games, if they never allied with me where do you think i'd be? Dead, thats where I'd be, in a small wooden crate that barely is big enough for my body, being shipped home to where my family can see me in all my glory, pale, dirty, lifeless. I sat down on the couch and placed my head in my hands, thinking. I didnt even realize my mother place her gentle shaky hands on my back. The TV flashed on and Snow's face was shown, he had several cards scattered on a table in front of him. "As you know, every 25 years there is a twist. I will pick one of these cards and whatever it says, will be the twist. I will reveal it right now," He says, he picks up a card on the end and starts to read, "This year, there will be twice as many tributes but 2 victors male and female and 2 others male and female, however in the case that there are more then 2 victors, those victors may volunteer. "

My heart sunk, either me or Katniss were going back into the games, both of us could.
"Elsa, it'll be okay." She says. It'll never be okay until these cruel games known as The Hunger Games stop. Everyone knows that.
I ran to the woods, first picking up some Knives and Blue, who was being treated by Prim the whole time I was gone. When I made it to the woods, I tied up Blue to a tree with a long rope and ventured a little far the into the woods where I threw the knives at the trees, hard. I threw them and threw them until I had none left and had to collect them from the trees. When I did I continued to throw the knives. This helped me with the stress of the games, everything I threw a knife it felt as if I was throwing away my stress. I had gotten way better at throwing knives, I almost always hit the target now. I kept throwing the knives at the trees until I heard a noise. Quickly I grabbed a knife from the nearest tree and threw it where the noise was coming from. I saw a flash of ashy blonde hair jump back as the knife hit the tree closet to it. Peeta. "I'll take those." He smiles as he takes away the knives I was holding.

"How are you not pissed off about all this?" I ask.

"I am," He replies, "I just dont show it."

"How?" I ask.

He just shrugs.

"Elsa, your really good with these knives," He says pulling one out from a tree, "But next time try not to kill me."

"Sorry." I said, "I'm just mad."

"I have 100 percent faith that we will make it through this alive." He says.

"Peeta, Snow is not going to let us all leave this alive, the way he lives life i'll be surprised if one of us make it alive." I groan, sliding my back down a tree until I reach the ground. Peeta sits next to me, examining my knife.

"This knife is beautiful," He says, "Where did you get it?"

I take the knife in my hand and look at it, it had designs on it of a Katniss flower.

"I found it in the woods," I say, "When I was looking for game, I found it in a log, I think it was my dads."

"It beautiful. " Peeta says.

"It is. " I reply. Out of nowhere Peeta takes my hands.

"Elsa, I dont want to go into the games again." He says.

"Peeta, its okay. Neither do I." I reply

"Were already a big target." He says, "I mean, You and Katniss are sisters who won back to back and were both big targets, and me and Gale are also victors. Lying on my death bed."

"You should go." I say.

"Yeah I should, dont want to get hit in the face with a knife." Peeta says getting up.

"Wait, is Blue okay?" I asked.

"When I walked past him he was staring at fish in the lake." Peeta says.

"Okay, thanks. " I say. Peeta walks away, he looked back once.

"Peeta," I say.

"Yeah?" He asks.

"Thanks." I smile, he just returns the smile and continues walking.
Hours passed and at this point everyone was getting ready, my mother was helping Gale though. He was doing better but not by much, he'll probably have to sit most of the reaping. I wore a dress that was denim on top and a silk fabric on the bottom, I wore black flats and tied my hair into a french braid. I wore my mothers necklace, and a ribbon on my wrist I found in my dads chest I while back.

"You look pretty today." Katniss says, her usual reaping humor was showing.

"As per usual." I smile. It was a fake smile however, I never really smiled truefully on the day of the reaping.