Haymitch - second quarter quell

the second quarter quell

"So, haymitch. what do you think about the games.. having one hundred percent more competitors than usual?" asks Caesar flickerman with a serious tone to his voice.

i reply, "i don't see that it will make much difference.. its just going to be a hundred percent stupid, as usual."

then the audience laughs and i let out a big sigh.

..................................................................................................................................................................

i follow everyone's eyes to the cornucopia where all the lethal weapons lay. then, we all glance at each other as the ten second countdown starts. i look rapidly around, trying to find any source of water which i will probably desperately need in a few hours. i need to get as far away from everyone as i can.. especially the careers. Five seconds have passed.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ... 'beep!'

the gong goes and everyone races to the cornucopia to get what they need to hunt and survive, but i end up bumping into Maysilee which stops me from running.

Our eyes meet, but then she turns her head quickly and carries on sprinting to the cornucopia.

i follow her. All the way to the cornucopia. i pick up a few things i think i'll need, and i begin to head off. i leave a short distance between us, just in case she doesn't really want me to be allies with her. i make my way across the woodlands, hardly making a sound, until i trip and make a big scene out of it.

she shoots her head round and gives me a look to say, 'what are you doing here?'

her golden, long hair blows elegantly in the humid summer breeze.

"maysilee Donner.." i begin.

"haymitch abernathy.." she murmurs whist clenching onto her weapons. from the cornucopia, she has got a blowgun with poisonous darts.

i open my mouth to speak but she walks away with no explanation. she look so unhappy about the games.

Then, I start thinking about the reaping..

as i stood in the huge crowd at the reaping, i heard her name being called out. i saw her look right over at this Young girl with blond hair too. they hug each other and tears run down Maysilee's face.

Maysilee slowly tip-toes up the stairs and onto the grey stage. she waits for our mentor to pick out a Small piece of paper.. which has my name on it.

"Haymitch Abernathy." says our mentor.

i make my way to the stage. breathing heavily.

i shake Maysilee's hand and she forces a smile.

we step away from each other. i probably feel as unhappy about this as Maysilee, except no tears are streaming down my face. i'm trying to stay as Strong as i can.

all eyes are on us. we are the tributes from district 12. The whole world will be watching us fight to the death in an arena.

i shake my head to clear out the thoughts of the reaping and i set my eyes back onto Maysilee who is walking down the hill slowly but quietly.

'Crack'

i hear the faint sound of a twig breaking behind me. i shoot my head round and i try to focus on these three figures that stand before me but the sunlight is effecting my vision slightly. now i only hear the birds singing and the tree leaves rustling in the breeze. this relaxes me slightly. until i make out three boys who look around my age. two of them are topless and have no weapons, whereas one of them has a black, dirty top on and is armed with a chunk of wood.