Chapter-5

A/N: So this chapter is pretty much the same as what goes on in the story line, but it is necessary to get to the action. I left a question at the end of the chapter, please review and tell me an answer! :)

Chapter 5

Every year, we go to the reaping, and don't get called. It's nerve wracking every year, but this year is much different. Prim is in the reaping this year. Only 1 time, but she's in that bowl. She's 12, I'm 16, and Gale is 18.

When I get to the woods, I find Gale's and my spot. A little nook in a tree stump on a hill, where we spend time looking down at the woods. When I see him, he looks angry.

"Hey Catnip," he says. How he heard me, I don't know, but most likely from years of being my hunting partner. We've become accustomed to the sounds of one another's footsteps.

"Hey Gale," I reply. We don't say much. Gale knows I'm a quiet person too, and he allows it today. He hands me half a roll, from the bakery I assume.

"Cost me a squirrel. Guess the baker's feeling generous this morning."

I hand him some cheese from Prim's goat. I got Prim the goat for her birthday a few years back. It was beat up, and had claw marks in its side, but when I got her, my mom and Prim fixed her up and saved her. The butcher was supposed to buy the goat to kill and make meat of, but saw me trying to buy it and allowed me to.

We eat our roll and cheese, throwing a few berries on top to sweeten the snack.

He throws a berry in the air for me to catch with my mouth. As he throws it, he says "May the odds be ever…"

As I catch it and bite into the sweet berry, I finish his sentence. "Be ever in your favor." We both use our best Capitol voices, replicating District 12's escort.

We head back to our homes in the Seam, and agree to meet before the reaping takes place.

"Katniss, your home! I ran you a bath and laid your dress out on the bed," my mother says. My mother? Well, today is considered a holiday, and she is up and about every reaping day, but it still is weird seeing her and talking to her.

I head inside the bathroom, and bathe myself. When I finish, I go into Prim and my room, and get dressed. When I finish, Prim walks in with our mother.

"You look beautiful," my mom says.

"I wish I looked like you Katniss," Prim says.

"Oh Little Duck, I wish I looked like you," I say with a smile and tap her nose lightly.

It's time to head to the Justice Building. As we walk, I can tell Prim is scared. It is her first reaping after all, so I can't blame her at all. I was scared too, my first reaping. But Prim's name is in there only once, so she should be safe, right? Right?

Gale meets us halfway to the Justice Building. I didn't think about it at all before I see him, but his name is in there 42 times. 42 out of thousands, but 42 is still too much. I'm worried about Prim, when I should have been worried about Gale.

We walk quietly, until we get to the Justice Building. They take some blood from out finger and fingerprint us, to keep track of everyone here. If you don't show up, you are killed when they find where you are hiding. The only way they allow you to stay home, is if you are on your deathbed.

The girls are on the right side of the Justice Building, the boys on the left. Gale and I were split up obviously, and so are Prim and I. We are lined up by age, so she's up front, I'm closer to the middle.

It's time. Effie Trinket, the escort for District 12's tributes, walks onto the stage. But as she begins to speak, Haymitch Abernathy, the Victor of the 50th Hunger Games, falls off the stage and throws up on himself.

Haymitch began to drink after his victory. I don't blame him, to be completely honest. He was forced to kill people, innocent children, to come home to his family. When he got home, one by one, his family members died in accidents. I don't believe they randomly died after he won, but I keep that to myself. He is the only alive Victor of District 12.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, let the Reaping for the 74th annual Hunger Games begin!" Effie says loudly into her microphone with a smile. It sickens me how happy she can look when she's about to choose two children to fight for their lives in an arena.

"But first, a word from President Snow," she says.

A video turns on, on all of the screens of the Justice Building. Snow talks about the war, and why the Hunger Games take place.

After the video plays, Effie speaks again. "It's time to select the tributes," she says, almost giddy. I'm disgusted by her, wishing I could rip her head off.

"Of course, as always, ladies first!"

I turn and see Gale looking at me. He gives me a small nod, and I return it.

"The female tribute from District 12 is…" Effie says slowly, to add suspense. "Primrose Everdeen!"

Primrose Everdeen. I'm going to be sick. My sister, my 12 year old sister, is the female tribute? She was in the bowl one time! The odds of picking her name were damn near impossible!

Before I can even think about what I'm about to say, I'm walking towards the stage.

"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" I scream, looking at Prim. She's crying, breaking my heart, knowing I won't be coming back to her. But it doesn't matter, she's safe. I spent my whole life trying to keep her safe, trying to keep her alive, so it is only fitting that I die doing just that. I pray my mother comes back to her, keeps her alive when I'm gone.

I look at Gale. He's looking sad, but proud. He smiles and nods at me. I know he'll keep Prim fed, but still, how can he feed Prim, his sister, and his two brothers?

I walk up the stage, slowly, trying my best not to cry. Not to show any emotion at all. Emotion makes you weak, being weak makes you not a good choice for sponsors. If I plan on trying to win, I need sponsors.

When I'm on the stage I look around. I look at my mother, with tears in her eyes. She knows. She knows she only has one daughter now. I just hope she knows she has to be there for her daughter.

I look at Prim, who is bawling her eyes out. I hope she understands, I couldn't just watch her fight for her life knowing there was something I could've done to save her.

I look at Gale. He mouths She's Safe, and I can't help but let out a small smile. At least I won't die for nothing.

And then I see him. Peeta Mellark. He spent the last 5 years helping keep Prim and I alive. And now, I know for sure Prim will be fine. She'll have Peeta's bread, and Gale's game. She'll be perfectly fine when I die.

"What's your name, dear?" Effie asks me.

"Katniss Everdeen," I whisper into the microphone.

"Well Katniss, I'd bet my hat that was your sister!"

"Yes. Yes it was," I reply, still showing no emotion.

"Well ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Katniss Everdeen!"

It's quiet. Not a single sound, not a word. Instead, the crowd puts up the three finger signal, meaning goodbye to someone you love.

I put up three of my fingers too, as a thank you to them all. I won't see them again, they know this and I know this. I won't see any of my loved ones again. I just hope my death is quick, and Prim isn't watching when it happens.

A/N: So there is chapter 5! I know it was almost directly canon, but the story would not be interesting told from Katniss' point of view of another two people in the games. So she has to be the one in there. I hope it was interesting still, nonetheless! :)

Please answer this question in the reviews. Would you rather see Peeta in the arena with Katniss, or Gale? I have a plan for both paths, so I'm letting you guys decide. I won't write the next chapter for a day or two, to let you guys decide which boy goes in. If no one reviews, I'll pick which I want, so please review! Have a good day! :)