ꜱᴛᴀʏ ᴀʟɪᴠᴇ [𝘏𝘢𝘺𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩'𝘴 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴]

“District 12. Where you can starve to death in safety.”

“Name?” The man asks. “Haymitch Abernathy.” My voice is stern and strong - you learn how to hide your nervosity over time. “What is your request, Haymitch?” He questions, even though he clearly knows. I’ve been here many times over the last four years and he’s always the one sitting behind that worn-off counter. “My tesserae, sir.” He looks at me, amused. “Weren’t you here just last month?” He raised his eyebrows.Wow, really? I can’t remember.I have to physically stop myself from rolling my eyes. “Yes, sir.” I hold my tongue behind my teeth though. For everyone’s good. I’ve seen what they can do to you if you don’t. He eventually pushes three heavy bags over to me and I rush out of the door with them.

Someone suddenly hangs their arms around my shoulders. My heart stops for a split second. “For God’s sake Raven, don’t do that to me.” I say, gasping for air. “Oh wow, didn’t know I could scareyou," she laughs and pulls one of the grain filled bags out of my hands and slings it over her shoulder. “Is that all you get for a ticket to the death games?” She snickers. We both joke around for a while, even though we both know it’s not funny in the slightest. It’s still better than crying I suppose.

Suddenly, the conversation turns serious. “Are you scared?” I frown “You know, of being picked tomorrow?” She adds. I think for a moment. “Yeah, I mean the whole ‘twice as many tributes’ thing makes it hard not to be.” I answer truthfully, there’s no point in lying to her. She knows me a little too well for that. “I’m pretty sure my name’s there more times, than anyone else’s.” I say. She smiles up at me sadly, “fourty-five times,” she mutters. It’s the same for her. The rest of the walk home goes by quietly.

“Thank you,” I break the silence as we get to a crossroad, where we have to part paths. “Of course.” She responds. I turn away, but before I can walk away, she embraces me in a strong hug. I wrap my arms around her back too. “I’m fucking terrified, Haymitch.” She whispers. “Yeah, me too” She sobs into my chest and I try to comfort her as best as I can, but nothing could ever stop the fear and exhaustion except for the end of the games themselves, but my best guess is that’s not gonna happen anytime soon, so for now, all we can do is stand here under a dead apple tree and let all our emotions out with each other, only the stars watching over us.

After a few minutes, she pulls away, her burning red eyes staring into mine. “I should go, my parents are probably getting worried.” I nod in agreement. I kiss her cheek softly and pull the grain back over my shoulders and set out on the short way home.

“In honor of the second quarter quell, as a reminder that for each deceased Capitol citizen, two rebels died, each district must provide the Capitol with twice as many tributes.” The mayor read off his piece of paper. Nothing new to any of us. My eyes search the crowd only to find Raven, her facial expression unreadable like stone.

“Now, for our tributes.” Effie says with her extra posh Capitol accent. She has worked as an escort for twelve for as long as I can remember, yet her true age really doesn’t show thanks to all the surgeries I can only imagine she went through in a desperate attempt to work for literally any other district, but us. We have never had a victor and it makes sense. Most of the times, the ‘careers’ win. They’re the tributes from one, two and four. I heard that district three didn’t make it into the pack because their only contribution would be their inteligence, since three is responsible for technology.

“As always, the girls first” She follows up. My breath gets hitched in my throat as I hope for any name but Raven’s to be said. Effie reaches into the glass bowl to her left and pulls out a neatly folded note. “Maysilee Donner!” She basically yells in excitement, I let out a silent sigh - even though she still could get chosen - the chances are a lot slimmer now.

“Where are you, Maysilee?” A girl suddenly steps out from the crowd. She looks to be my about age - sixteen, maybe seventeen. She’s followed by loud sobbing of two other girls. One of them is undeniably her sister - they’re practically identical and I recognize the other one as the daughter of the district’s healer.

“Now, exceptionally, the second female tribute representing district twelve is...” She ruffles through the little papers once more. “Raven Stark.” My heart drops.Oh no no no no.

“I volunteer as tribute!“, her sister screams before Raven could even take a step forward. “Oh wow, the very first volunteer from district twelve.” Effie states, an amused look in her eyes as she helps her up to the stage. I can hear Raven crying somewhere behind me, but I can’t see her. I don’t dare to turn around.

“What’s your name, dear?” Effie asks, it’s visible she’s thrilled about this brutal encounter. “Catlina Stark.” For someone who doesn’t know her, she’d look cold and collected, but to me, it’s clear she’s panicking. Who could blame her though? “I bet my hat that was your sister, wasn’t it?” Effie almost states. Catlina simply nods.

“Time for the boys.” She smiles sheepishly and reaches into the second bowl. “Eleos Garderown!” She calls out. When I see him, it breaks me - he looks like it’s his first reaping. She welcomes him to the stage.

“Last but certainly not least...” She pulls out the last name.

“Haymitch Abernathy.”