100th Hunger Games

Chapter 2 ~ The Reaping Part 1

(Katniss's POV)

Clove runs at me with a knife, Cato draws his sword and stabs Peeta's lower knee, Prim runs to help the wounded just as the second round of bombs go off...

I scream. Waking up from the dream

'Katniss, Katniss it's ok' Peeta puts his arm around my shoulder while I rest my head against his shoulder.

'It was just a dream Katniss' Says Peeta

'No it wasn't, It really happened Peeta' Just as I finished the sentenced a scream cuts through our conversation.

Peeta and I run to Rose's bedroom. She is curled up into a ball under her bed covers.

'Rose, it's ok. We're here now' Peeta is a lot better at comforting then I am.

'How many times do I have to watch my family die in the games?' Rose cries. I understand her, for I have had those dreams too.

Finnick walks into the room just as Rose has calmed down. He is like Peeta, has the nightmares but doesn't react to them, he just keeps it to himself.

'It's reaping day' Finnick says, handing Peeta a berry.

'And may the odds...' They say together, tossing the berry in the air.

'Be ever in your favour' Say Rose and I, catching the berries in our mouths. I still feel guilty doing that, it was a thing that just Gale and me did.

'It's 10.00' Says Peeta, looking at the clock in Rose's bedroom.

'4 more hours' 4 more hours until the reaping, until family's suffer more tragedy then last years. Where not only are the children being taken but maybe parents, grandparents and friends.

After we all shower I give Rose my mockingjay pin. People say it's unlucky but It's the only thing I have that reminds me of Rue. Rose reminds me so much of Rue that I feel that the pins belongs to Rose.

I see a tear slide down Rose's face. I wipe it off and give her a hug. She isn't just worried about her and Finnick, the whole of 12 is in the reaping bowels, meaning that her friends and Peeta and I are in danger. Haymitch is also in trouble but he promised to take care of Peeta for her.

I link arms with Rose and with Peeta and Finnick links arms with Rose. We head off to Haymitch's house, knock on his door and head inside. After Haymitch is ready we go over to Effie's and then walk in a group to the town square.

After Rose and Finnick break off into the under 18 section me, Peeta, Haymitch and Effie walk into the over 18. The are no tesserae's this year so it is an equal chance of anyone.

Faye Crest walks onto the stage at exactly 2.00. She talks about how she has a very special film brought from the capitol, but we see it every year. It's basically clips off the dark days, the past war, and sometimes clips of me 'defying' the capitol. It shows the security footage the night Hale killed Paylor. But the war tired everyone out and we didn't want any more lives lost. So we left Hale to run Panem.

'Wasn't that a nice film?' asks Faye, half expecting the square to burst into rounds of applause.

Nobody makes a sound.

'Well then, lets get started, under 18's first I think' She says smiling.

Faye reaches into the bowel and I find myself holding my breath.

'Fred Gonzales' I crane my neck to have a look at the first tribute. It's a small boy, 12 by the looks of it, who is quite skinning and freckly.

A lady screams, probably his mother. Fred walks onto the stage with tears swimming in his eyes. I know how his mother must feel. If my children are reaped, Hale would never live another day

'Lovely. How old are you Fred?' Asks Faye.

'T T T Twelve' Fred response. Half crying

Faye pushes Fred onto a seat and returns to the microphone.

'Ok, our next tribute is... Jackson O'dair' my left hand automatically goes over my mouth. My right steadies Annie, as she can barely comprehend what has happened.

Jackson walks up to the stage. He isn't crying, more shocked. Finnick comes into mind. Not my son but Finnick O'dair. How Jackson could win. He isn't as good with a trident as Finnick, but he isn't useless with one either.

'Ok, How old are you dearie?' Ask Faye.

'Fourteen' at least Jackson was able to say it better than Fred.

After Jackson is seated Faye walks up to the next bowel. She takes a while digging out a name. When she finally picks one she unfolds the paper and reads it aloud.

I feel faint. I feel sick. I feel as though my world has been teared away from me, because for the second time in my life, the two words that I though were sweet, were now my breaking point, because that name is

Primrose Everdeen.