May luck be on your side

Shortly after, the list of District Twelve residents who had won in previous Hunger Games editions was read. Seventy-four years after the rebellion against the Capitol, which resulted in the destruction of District Thirteen, only one champion is still alive, and that is Haymitch Abernathy, an old and physically unkempt man who, at this moment, appeared staggering from side to side and then dropped onto the previously empty third chair.

Jacob looked at this man, not expecting much from him. It's true that he maintains the appearance he was familiar with from the movies, but if he intends to offer himself as a tribute, Jacob knows better than anyone that Haymitch would choose Katniss as his protege.

In the original story, Haymitch pushed Peeta aside, believing that Katniss would have a better chance of survival. That's why only she received gifts from the Capitol, while Peeta received absolutely nothing.

"He's drunk, and quite a lot... But I can't blame him. His story is already depressing enough to be in this death-filled situation..." As time passed, Jacob felt increasingly calm, adjusting to this pressured environment.

On the other hand, the crowd responded with their customary applause to the drunken winner who was Haymitch. In his intoxicated state, Haymitch attempted to hug Effie Trinket, who managed to free herself with some luck.

The mayor seemed distressed. As everything is televised live, District Twelve is currently the laughingstock of Panem in their eyes, and he knows it. Therefore, he quickly tried to divert the camera's attention back to the reaping by introducing Effie Trinket.

The woman, as cheerful and vivacious as ever, trotted lightly to the podium and greeted in her usual style, "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"

Surely, this cheerful woman appeared oblivious to, or perhaps intentionally disregarded, the prevailing atmosphere in every corner of the square as she looked at the crowd with a smile. Jacob, on the other hand, was trying to focus his mind on what was about to happen next, appreciating every detail of his surroundings.

At this moment, without further delay, the time had come. As usual, Effie Trinket said, "Well, ladies first."

After saying that, she approached the glass urn containing the names of the girls. With delicacy, she reached into the bottom of the urn and pulled out a piece of paper.

The crowd held their breath. Jacob knew that it wasn't just the girls who were afraid, but also most of the boys who had a girlfriend, friend, or even a sister among the potential female tributes. If a girl is chosen, even if her older sister wants to take her place, as happened with Katniss and her sister, it would be impossible due to gender restrictions.

But the thoughts of the crowd were always the same, as if they connected as one neuron: "I don't want it to be me!"

After selecting the piece of paper, Effie Trinket returned to the center of the podium, smoothing out the paper in her hands, and approached the microphone, speaking in a clear and calm voice, "Primrose Everdeen!"

As soon as the name was announced, there was a dead silence, and Jacob fixed his gaze on the side of the girls where Katniss's sister stood.

"What bad luck..." Although it was expected, Jacob couldn't help but say that it was obviously very unfortunate. Out of thousands of papers with different names, Prim was chosen with only one entry in the urn.

In the distance, Jacob saw a girl who should be Prim taking small steps forward, filled with numbness.

"Prim!"

But at that moment, there was a loud scream from the crowd of women. It didn't need to be known that the scream came from Katniss, as she had already reached the front without much effort.

Officials immediately approached Katniss to prevent this potential problem, but she immediately said in a desperate tone, "I volunteer!"

"I volunteer as tribute!"

Absorbed by this scene, Jacob felt his entire body boiling with excitement. Those looks were the same as the ones he had been given during the Trial of Detention, that feeling of being judged to death for the actions of others disgusted him.

Shortly after Katniss volunteered, a small commotion erupted in the square. It is known that District Twelve has not had volunteers in decades, and the protocol is a bit rusty.

The rule is that when the name of a tribute is drawn from the urn, another eligible boy, if it's a boy, or another girl, can offer to take their place. In some districts where winning the reaping is considered a great honor and people are desperate to risk their lives, volunteering is challenging due to others who also wish to volunteer.

However, in District 12, where the word "tribute" is practically synonymous with "corpse," volunteers have almost disappeared.

"Splendid!" Exclaimed Effie Trinket. "But I think there's the small detail of presenting the reaping winner first and then asking for volunteers, and if someone suddenly appears, then..."

Effie Trinket seemed uncertain about this sudden and hasty intervention, deviating from the usual process of volunteering.

"What does it matter?" The mayor suddenly intervened. He was looking at the girl who volunteered with a pained expression.

"Let her come up!"

Meanwhile, Prim was screaming hysterically behind her sister, surrounded by the delegates who were holding her back.

"No, Katniss! No! You can't go!"

"Prim, let go of me!" Katniss said harshly, as this situation had greatly unsettled her, and the last thing she wanted was to cry.

When they broadcast the replay of the reaping tonight, they will take note of her tears and mark her as an easy target. She doesn't want to give them that satisfaction, that power of judgment, so she said again, "Let go of me!"

Jacob witnessed this scene and then saw a man step out from the group of boys. This should be Dale, holding onto Prim, who seemed to have gone mad.

"Well, bravo!" Exclaimed Effie Trinket, filled with enthusiasm. "This is the spirit of the Games!"

She was delighted to finally see some action in the district she had been assigned to, so Effie immediately asked, "What's your name?"

"Katniss Everdeen," Katniss replied after swallowing hard.

"I bet anything she was your sister. You didn't want her to steal the glory, did you? Let's give a big applause to our tribute!" Effie Trinket shouted excitedly.

Just when Katniss thought no one would applaud, someone in the crowd of men started clapping. "Bravo, amazing!"

As all eyes and cameras turned towards him, they saw a young man with a sickly complexion and disheveled hair that covered most of his face. But there was something that set him apart from the rest—a cold smile on his face and a sense of calmness around him.

Jacob, who had made up his mind, applauded with excitement because he would be the next to volunteer as a tribute, and that was something only a few people in the crowd knew.