The Mockingjay Pin
The reaping is almost here, and I'm not prepared. No one is. I turn my torso away from the cakes and march studiously forward to the town square, rubbing my mockingjay pin with my fingers.
This shouldn't be anything new to me. I've gone through this terror before - many times, but I just can't seem to shake it. The possibility that I might be chosen stalks my every move and laughs at the slightest shudder I make.
My mother is already there. I bet she's scared out of her mind. Normally, I would comfort her, but there's no way to comfort her when it comes to the reaping. Nothing can soothe her soul until she knows her daughter is safe another year.
My mind is foggy and empty with fear, but I manage to drag my body into the town square and align myself in the designated area along with other girls in my age-group.
The announcer, Effie Trinket, perpy and bubbly as ever, walks languidly to the stage and accepts a microphone with felicity. She is tall and wears a lot of pink - pink make-up, pink hair, pink everything.
"Happy, Happy Hunger Games!" She yells in the most boastful tone she can attain. "We are here to honor two individuals today - two happy, lucky, lucky individuals! But first, let's have a word from Mayor Undersee!"
Mayor Undersee walks to the stage and begins the tradition of telling the story of how Panem came to be, the famous revolution of all the Districts, and how the Hunger Games is a form of punishment for that revolution that occurred many years ago.
After he's finished, Effie walks to the front again, and says, "All right! I won't keep you waiting any longer! Let's get started! Ladies first!" Like a self-righteous flamingo, she holds her head up high and pulls a piece of paper out of the bowl of female names.
I close my eyes.
"Gina Everdeen!" She says with a ghostly-white smile.
My heart sinks.
No.
No, no, no.
The Peacekeepers trudge forward and stand beside me as I try to gather my thoughts which seem to have fallen to the floor around my feet. My world collapses and I feel like my back is laden with two tons of so many mixed emotions; I can't even process them. I force myself to clear my head and only focus on the movement of my feet as I tramp over to the stage and stand in front of the crowd.
From here on out, I'm going to have to keep my guard up and hide every emotion from my face. The other tributes will see me as weak and easy prey if I allow myself to cry.
"Now for the boys!" Effie announces and stretches her hand into the bowl of male names.
"Stan Marsh!"
Oh no, I think. Not him.
Stan, a young boy with black hair, walks to the stage - his eyes, so gripped with shock that I can't help but wonder if that's how I looked when my name was called.
He stands beside me and I glance over at him with curiosity. I wonder if he remembers me. He and I attended the same school as each other. He was always really nice to me. One time, he even took the blame for something that I did so I wouldn't get into any trouble. I wonder why. Too many memories are associated with this boy, and now we're going to have to fight to the death in an arena. Great. Could things possibly get any worse?
Fiddling with his hands, he refuses to return my gaze, so I look away and wait for the Peacekeepers to escort Stan and I to the Justice Building, where Mayor Undersee lives his life of luxury.
I sit inside a room in the Justice Building and stare outside a window. This cannot be happening. It's too unreal. The shock is too much for me to even analyze, so I just let my mind go blank. It starts to rain, and I shiver, pulling my legs up close to my body and lean my head on the window. The coolness of the water against the pane soothes my aching head, but it doesn't get rid of the haunting hollowness inside my heart.
My mother arrives and we say our goodbyes. I tell her to stay strong for me, and that I'll do my best to win.
She doesn't seem too convinced, even a little remorseful, but she nods curtly and accepts my assurance.
Within an hour, I'm prepared and ready to get on the train to the Capitol - where I will be trained and prepped for the Games.
Stan and I are herded together by the Peacekeepers, and both of us are doing our best to avoid the camera shots. Without saying anything, we duck into the train and as soon as the doors close, we're off along the tracks and moving.
We don't have anything to say to each other until Effie steps in and says, "This way. You have to meet your trainer. Come, come!"
I look at Stan and shrug. He returns the gesture, and then we're following Effie along the train cars. "Try not to startle him," Effie warns, "Haymitch can get a little tart when he's disturbed unexpectedly. Such a vile creature he is!" We nod and follow her into the dining area.
A man sits in a seat at the table, and he appears to be quite drunk. His white shirt has various yellow-ish stains, and his head is bobbing about like as if it was on a spring.
"Ah! So here they are!" Haymitch says, raising his arms above his head.
Stan groans in disgust and I'm guessing it's because of our trainer's strange odor. He smells of alcohol and filthy sweat. No wonder Effie is standing at the other side of the car.
This is our trainer? We can't win with a drunkard as our trainer! I sighed. The odds are not in my favor today. Not at all.
"Sit down, sit down! Have some food!" He says, gesticulating towards the chairs on the opposite side of him.
Stan and I take our seats, and gaze longingly at the array of food before us. There's no food like this back in District 12. Hot, piping turkey, various puddings, scones, tarts, soups, salads, pastries, cordials, wines, juices, and even a little champagne are available to us.
Stan and I immediately start eating, and the food is so rich and filling, that my stomach is having a hard time agreeing with it.
"At least you two have proper table manners!" Effie says, crossing her arms.
Stan glares at her and flicks some mashed potatoes at her face. She closes her eyes and flinches like she had been hit with a bowling ball rather than a few ounces of mashed up potato.
"You little nuisance!" She cries and leaves the dining car like a snooty feline.
I suppress a laugh, and bite into a bread roll to keep my face straight. Funny how one can laugh amidst no happiness.
Haymitch chuckles, "Good one, kid."
The jovial air dies down, and Stan plays with a grape on his plate - rolling it around on the glass with his fork distractedly.
"So," Stan says, "What's the plan?"
"What do you mean?" Haymitch says, taking a swig of white liquid from his bottle.
"You're our trainer." Stan verifies. "What are we supposed to do when we get to the Capitol? Do you have any tips?"
"Here's a tip! Stay alive!" he guffaws aloud.
Stan and I give each other an annoyed look, and Haymitch continues to laugh drunkenly.
Anger boils inside of me, and I can't help but lunge at Haymitch and smack the bottle out of his hand. It crashes to the floor and the alcohol deviates without direction.
"Get your act together!" I shout. "You're supposed to help us survive, and all you seem to be doing is laughing about it like it's all a big joke! Our lives are at stake here!"
Haymitch glares seethingly at us and then sighs, "I suppose you're right." He turns his head away, but then suddenly looks up and throws a knife in my direction. I have no time to react, and the knife flies past me and cuts the edge of my shirt, barely missing my neck.
It thuds into the wall behind me and I'm petrified with shock.
"Don't you ever do that again," he threatens. "Now, I'm willing to help you two as long as you do what I say! Have I got that clear? Obey me, and I'll stay sober enough to help you guys through this thing."
Stan and I nod slowly, and Haymitch grabs another bottle from underneath the table and exits without another word.
"Charming, isn't he?" Stan says sarcastically.
"Very," I agree.
Stan then switches his gaze to the window, and I turn to see what he's looking at.
"We're here," he says, trodding to the window and gazing outside.
I follow suit and stare at the place that I've heard about, but have never encountered in person - the Capitol of Panem.
LOOK FOR PART II COMING SOON...
