Ember (THG Mockingjay sequel)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5-

Everything happened so fast. I can't hear anything except screaming. It's all around me and I don't know where it's coming from. My limbs aren't working. Where am I? Who am I?

"Primrose?" A voice calling my name wakes me. It sounds like when I was 4 and my mom and I went swimming in the woods. I was underwater and my mom was calling me. She couldnt find me and fell into a frenzy searching for me. When I was found I was playing with a Katniss root by the pond.

"Where are you?" The voice says again. My mother had asked me that almost the entire day she searched. Im being shaken by someone. I look at who it was. It was a girl from school. Ivory, I think. She was looking at me sadly and pointing forwards. There was a whole line cleared for me. Peacekeepers were coming down it. It lead to the podium my mom, Haymitch, and mayor were on.

"Oh! There. Come on now." The lady waves me forwards. I slowly walk towards the podium, pushing the peacekeepers away. My feet make it up the steps. I stand there dumbfounded. I stare towards the crowd. I see my grandma with a deja vu and sad look. I catch my dad holding Barler looking like he was going to set rampage on the town. I look behind me and my mother looks like she's given up and wants to cry.

"Well, looks like we got a double whammy here. A daughter of not one, but two victors. Well, sit down now." I sit down in the tribute chair and want to cry but hold back my tears.

"Volunteers?" not a sound is heard. District 12 all moves in one motion together as the press the 3 first fingers on their left hand to their lips and then extend them towards me. Everyone does this. Even my own parents. Barler too. I learned this means a sincere goodbye. It makes me all emotional because I now know I'm going to die. I mean, a 12 year old daughter of 2 victors in the arena with a bunch of 16 and 18 year olds. How could I ever think I could?

"I guess not. Boys now." She walks to the glass bowl for the boys and pulls one off the top.

"Galen Hawthorne?" She asks. I can spot him in the crowd inching his way up.

"Ahh, that was much easier. Anyway," the mayor starts talking about the treaty of treason.

"Now shake hands." I look up at Galen and shake hands. Galen is 18, I'm 12. See what I mean?

"Ladies and gentlemen, the tributes of district 12!" I am pushed into the justice building and shoved in a room. Once the door closes the tears start flowing. How could this happen? My name was in once! Mom promised. She said.

"5 minutes." a peacekeeper opens the door and my family comes in. Dad comes over and picks me up, not letting go.

"Daddy." I say like a little girl. I know this wont help at all. It actually brings tears to his eyes.

"Pwim." Barler says. I look down at him from dads shoulder. He puts me down and I bend over.

"Yeah, what is it buddy." I ruffle his hair.

"Where are roo going?"

"On a trip. It may take long though."

"I'm not dat stupid." he stares at me, and looks a lot smarter than a 5 year old should be. I stop trying to shield him.

"I'm going away, possibly forever, to a game. This game is harmful, I might not ever see you again."

"Daddy told meh about it. You gotta win." he looks at me with his toddler eyes. He was so young, yet he knew.

"I'll try. But I can't make any promises." I kiss him on the head. He smiles up.

"I'll be watching everyding." I laugh a little. For the remaining time we sit on a velvet couch as a family holding each other.

"Times up." I clutch my dad's shirt, which makes things harder. He holds my hand and says,

"Sometimes you just gotta let go." I loosen my grip. He kisses me and walks away. I sit there and the peacekeeper comes again.

"5 minutes." it's Pine.

"Hey Pindrose." he says.

"Not my name."

"I know. I just got done seeing my brother."

"Nice."

"You know, I think it was for the last time."

"Why?"

"No reason, he takes pity on little kids."

"ok?"

"Prim?"

"Yeah?"

"I've seen you hunt. You can shoot a bird in the eye from a mile away. You can hunt. That's an advantage some tributes wont have."

"But the careers."

"Avoid them until you have to face them. If you see a bow, go for it. It'll be your best bet." I nod. "I'm counting on you." he hugs me awkwardly and so do I. Then time is up.

"Bye, don't let me down."

"I wont." the door slams and I wait. Surprisingly, I have another visitor.

"5 minutes."

"Hey Prim." it's ivory. The girl from school.

"Hi, Ivory?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry about you being picked. It wasn't fair."

"Nothing is anymore, right?"

"Yeah." Ivory sits awkwardly next to me.

"Ok. Its been nice to know you." I tell her.

"What do you mean?" She asks.

"I'm going to be killed in there." I clarify.

"No you're not." She tells me.

"Do you know the ages of the kids being reaped?" I question.

"About 16 years?" She thinks.

"18 year olds." I tell her.

"You still have a chance." She says.

"I don't." I say.

"What a pretty pin." Ivory compliments.

"Thanks. It was my moms." I tell her.

"Wish I had something like that." She sighs.

"You can have it when I die." I tell her.

"I'm not getting that pin." She says.

"Why not?" I ask.

"Because, you aren't coming back in a wooden coffin."

"Times up." A peacekeeper announces. She waves and walks out. I am left alone.