The Hunger Games: Chapter 4

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Sorry again that it took so long to write this. I'm typing this on my phone so forgive any errors. I own nothing of the amazing Hunger Games trilogy :)

Chapter 4: The Tributes

I go to the Everdeen house later with my share of the food Katniss and I gathered this morning. It feels like that was a lifetime ago. I told my mother my plans, and she agreed Katniss' family could use the food more than us.

I have to knock on the door several times before Prim finally answers. Her eyes are red from all the tears she has shed. Automatically, like with Katniss after the reaping, Prim embraces me. She trembles  in my arms, wetting my shirt with her salty tears.

"Why did this happen, Gale?" she cries out. "Why her?"

"I don't know." I reply. "I don't know, Prim." I start to feel tears of my own creep in on me, but I refuse them.

"They're horrible. They're evil." She sniffles. "Even the lady with the pink hair."

I laugh. "Of course she's evil. How could someone wear what she did in public and not be evil?"

That brings a little smile to Prim's face. She realizes that we're standing in the middle of the doorway. "Would you like to come in?" she asks.

As I walk in, I hear a loud hissing sound that can only come from Buttercup, Prim's cat. I have heard many stories, all bad, about him from Katniss. He's just as ugly as Katniss claimed, with muddy-yellow fur, half an ear missing, and a nose that looks mashed in.

"Don't mind Buttercup," Prim says, noticing our interaction. "He's perfectly harmless, aren't you baby?" She pets the cat and he purrs.

"Yeah. Harmless." I set the food I brought down on their small table and look around. I realize this is the first time I've ever been in the Everdeen house. It's almost the same size as mine, with thin walls separating the main room from the two tiny bedrooms. There's a mantle over a lit fireplace that has a framed picture of Katniss' dad along with a medal, the same kind my family received. Mrs. Everdeen sits huddled by the fire, even though it isn't cold.

"Hello, Mrs. Everdeen." I greet her. She doesn't reply.

"She's been like this all day." Prim informs me. "Hasn't said a word."

"Have either of you eaten?" She shakes her head. "Well you need to, Prim." I heat some food for them at the fireplace as Prim and her mother watch. When I leave they're eating the meal I fixed. They don't speak, but they seem grateful.

The reapings are on television when I get home. It had just started, so they're in District 1. Their tributes are an older boy and girl with ridiculous Capitol names, Marvel and Glimmer. Both are volunteers. 

"Hey sweetie." my mother says. "How are they doing?"

"As well as you'd expect." I reply. The tributes from Two are chosen next. They're also volunteers, and look deadly. My mother notices my attention, and turns off the small television.

"Are you okay, Gale?" Vick asks. He's still too young to understand fully what happened this morning.

"Yeah, squirt." I put on an uneasy smile. My mom, of course, knows that I'm not okay.

"Boys," she says, "isn't it about time you went to bed?" Rory and Vick groan and tell us goodnight. After they're tucked in, my mother and I sit in silence.

"Can we turn the reapings back on?" I ask. "I need to see it."

She nods and turns the television back on. A girl with vibrant red hair is being chosen from Five. Only a few tributes stand out in my mind. A boy from Ten who can barely walk. A strong, dark-skinned boy from 11. And Rue, the other tribute from 11. When I see her, I'm reminded of Prim. She has a darker skin tone, but she's the same age and size. Then Prim is called, and Katniss volunteers. I see myself carrying Prim away and the salute I started. Caesar Flickerman complains about etiquette as Haymitch Abernathy falls off the stage. Peeta Mellark is called and he shakes hands with my Catnip. The anthem of Panem plays, and the show is over.

"It could be worse." my mother says optimistically. I don't reply.

They'll play it again, probably all night, but I don't stay up to watch it. In bed, I think about the tributes, the enemies of Katniss. I hate them. I hate the Capitol. I hate the Hunger Games.

You've reached the end of published parts.

⏰ Last updated: Feb 14, 2014 ⏰

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