Prim's Games

Chapter two

I barely register anything after that. I'm vaguely aware of the boy that is chosen, Peeta Mellark. The mayor finishes his dreary Treaty of Treason and gestures for me and Peeta to shake hands.

Tears start to stream down my cheeks. After Peeta is finished shaking my hand he puts his arm around me in a protective brother kind of way.

The anthem of Panem plays though I can't hear it over the screams and cries of someone. I realise that it's me, I'm the one that's screaming and crying.

I bury my face into Peeta's shirt. He pats me supportively on the back, whispering that it'll be okay. But it won't be, he and I both know that.

After the anthem finishes the Peacekeepers drag me into the Justice Building. I'm conducted to a room once inside. It might be a really nice place, I don't know. I'm laying on the floor with my eyes tightly shut, trying to sing myself to sleep.

Maybe this will be one of my nightmares, I will wake up and have to live through the reaping once again, only this time I won't be chosen.

No such luck.

My Mother comes to visit me first, supporting a limping Katniss.

"Prim!" Katniss cries as she runs up to me. We embrace each other, me crying and her trying to reassure me.

"I'm so sorry, Prim!" She sobs "I should have been there to volunteer for you. If I didn't spend those five extra minutes hunting I wouldn't have been attacked by dogs and I could've volunteered for you."

I was so surprised. I'd never seen Katniss this way, the games were already ruining both of us.

"Listen," Mother interrupts "Prim, you have to make friends with Peeta, he'll protect you."

"Be brave." Katniss supports "Use your medicine skills and knowledge, it's the only way you can win."

She says it desperately, because knows I can't and won't kill anybody and therefore I can't win.

"I'm scared!" I tell them both. It's the first time I've admitted that to anybody, even myself.

"Your braver than you might think." Mother says.

The Peacekeeper comes to the door, it was time for them to leave.

"We love you!" Mother and Katniss say in unison before they are dragged out.

My next visitor is my best friend, Jice. We became friends after I helped Mother save his life. He is unable to talk.

He passes a beautiful silver locket to me that must have cost a fortune. I admire it. In my family we could never afford something so expensive.

I try to give it back to me but he gestures for me to keep it.

"Thank you." I whisper "Your the best friend I've ever had, I'll miss you."

He smiles shyly. For him, a smile is worth one thousand words. He will miss me, and I will dearly miss him, too.

"My Mother and Katniss will do anything you want," I tell him.

He looks up at me, he has tears streaming down his face, yet he doesn't make a sound. We embrace each other for a hug. Then the Peacekeeper is at the door. I wave goodbye to Jice.

It is then when I realise that this is the last time I will see my family and Jice if I die. But I want so badly to see them again.

But how can I? How can I survive when I can't even kill mice?