Chapter Text
“That's the end of the first chapter-” Beetee starts to close the book when Johanna jumps up, pointing her finger at Beetee.
“Don’t you dare close that book! Continue reading!”
Katniss stared in Beetee’s direction, not at him but at the book in his hands. Haymitch’s name wasn’t drawn? But how would he end up in the games? A million ideas ran through her head, and seeing the look on Beetee’s face, it was clear she–along with everyone else–would get the answer soon enough.
“Volts, I swear-”
“Alright! Alright!” Beetee said as he quickly flipped through the first few pages to find the second chapter, “Chapter 2… The screen goes dark for a second, and then the flag reappears. Obviously, they don’t want the rest of the country to witness the disorder here in District 12.” (SOTR - Collins, 23)
Flaire scoffs as she leans into the couch, the adrenaline of discovering that one of the victors was basically a sham slowly coming down. “No shit, Sherlock! The problem is how did Haymitch get there in the first place!”
Murmurs of agreement surrounded Katniss, and she could feel Peeta taking her hand in a tight grip. They were both nervous. Despite how blunt and out of it their mentor was when they were both shoved into the 74th Hunger Games, they’ve all grown and become each other's support systems. They were the only ones who knew about each other's pain. From the vile world of the Capitol down to the human instincts within the arena. But the one thing Katniss believed that Haymitch didn’t understand was how it felt to cheat the games.
Her hand tightened against Peeta’s as she realized that maybe she was wrong about that.
Small winces show throughout the room as Beetee reads at how many members of 12 try to help the poor kid, but catching stray bullets from the peacemakers. At the mention of Haymitch not knowing what to do, the emotions reflect on other victors. Either just feeling sympathetic or remembering any of their own experiences? Katniss didn’t know.
Katniss can hear the ringing in her ears as Beetee’s voice soon becomes muffled. And all Katniss can see is Gale, the head peace keeper circling him like a wolf, the whip–despite hanging at his side–already crackling, while he was helpless, bloody lashes on his back. Her breath hitches as she curls in on herself her eyes start to shut her eyes when the movement of heads whipping towards their couch, quickly causes her to recover.
“Mellark, your father is a complete idiot! He really just stood there?!” Cashmere asked bewildered. Peeta, for a genuinely good person and tribute, surprisingly scowled at her.
“My father probably hasn’t seen someone slaughter light that! Why has yours?” Peeta hissed, clearly angry at the mention of his father, and Chasmere just stayed silent before she murmured something about twelve being pathetic. Katniss quickly moved her legs over Peeta’s to keep him from getting up. She knew he could easily push her off, but the weight was enough.
She also ignored Finnick's smirk.
"At least Burdock was there. Who knew that in the end their kids would be married and have a kid.” Thunder snickered. Oh right. That.
Katniss let out a cough as she shifted her legs off of Peeta, and nodded. She forgot that most of the Victors didn’t actually know about the supposed baby that she was having. Especially considering the fact that she, herself didn’t even know about it until it was announced. But with the amount of glares and eye rolls at the mention, she knew that most of the victors could easily see through the facade. They all had to play the right cards in order to get the favor of the capitol. It makes her wonder who Haymitch learned it from.
There's the collective gag as Drusilla’s voice calls out to the district. People either are wincing remembering they heard it in person–some of the older tributes– while others could only imagine the shrill voice screaming. Beetee read about the fury of peacekeepers shoving anyone marked with gore into the shops, and getting rid of Woobine Chance’s body. Katniss could see how tense everybody was, wondering what's going to happen with Haymitch.
“Then I hear Lenore Dove’s voice, and my head shoots up like I don’t control it. She’s trying to help Woodbine’s ma, who’s latched on to his hand as a pair of Peacekeepers attempt to carry him away.” (SOTR - Collins, 24)
“...Oh he didn’t…right? He’s not that stupid.” Nelly murmured, eyes wide as she suddenly seemed to close in on herself.
“He would.” Both Finnick and Katniss said aloud. Johanna, who was still with the members of District 3, just let out a hum of agreement as she gently nudged Finnick. Katniss knew Haymitch would do something like that, because she basically did the same thing. Finnick on the other hand knew he would do it, no matter what.
“Love makes you do stupid things.” Peeta said to a room of unanimous agreement.
It's clear that what's about to happen isn’t going to end well. Haymitch believes that himself. The fact that Lenore Dove is helping get this boy’s mother and along with how Haymitch reacted, it clear he’s going to step in. Especially at the moment Beetee reads at both Woodbine's mother and Lenore and fully tugging at the boy’s body.
“He’s right. His ma’ is gonna be so mad.” The Morphling Female whispered. Her eyes were filled with pity.
“He didn’t know what was going to happen.” Beetee sighed as he leaned back against the couch, taking his glasses off for a second and closing his eyes before putting them back on and continuing to read. The hisses of pain echoed throughout as Haymitch gets hit in the temple with the rifle butt.
The moment Haymitch was mentioned as a replacement, it seemed that the reality had finally settled. Haymitch was never picked, he was just a replacement. A replacement that won a game full of tributes who were forced into the reality. He was someone who was never meant to be in the games in the first place.
Kartniss found back a smirk at how angered President Snow must’ve been.
“Oh they better not!” Seeder hissed, sitting up slightly as the mention of Drusilla wanting to have Lenore Dove shot, “ I will bring that woman back then beat her into her grave if she shoots the girl!”
“She doesn't." The witness said softly, and at the same time Beetee held up a hand signalling Seeder to calm down. And immediately what he reads next, makes Katniss pissed at the guy in the violet jumpsuit.
“Hold it. If I could, Drusilla, I’d love to keep her for the tearful good-bye. The audience eats that stuff up and, as you always remind us, it’s a challenge to get them to even notice Twelve.” ( SOTR - Collins, 25)
“I mean recently, Twelve’s been doing a good job of getting noticed.” Gloss hummed as he examined his nails. The look on his face clearly showed that he wanted to stir up trouble. It didn’t work.
“Thats not the point Gloss, the point is that this asshole is using her for clout!” Nelly snapped at him. Katniss could see the slight tears welling in her eyes. If her victor was already getting teary now, Katniss wonders if she’d survive the rest of the book. She wonders if any of them will survive the rest of the book.
“The Capitol does it all the time, Nelly. What the hell did you expect?” Finnick huffed, as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the cushions. “They did it with all of us, getting us pity from the onlookers. Hell they sure turned the dial up when Katniss over there volunteered.”
Although the moment Finnick stopped talking and Beetee read who Drusilla was addressing, Katniss could feel the many of the newer victors freeze up, including herself and Peeta.
Nelly stared wide-eyed and she quickly murmured out, “I didn’t say anything. None of you heard that about him.”
Plutarch. Plutarch Heavensbee, witnessed Haymitch's Reaping. Could Katniss even call it that? No. Plutarch witnesses Haymitch being voluntold for death games.
“It’s not like he could do anything. Guys at the bottom of the food chain in this instance. We’re probably going to hear about some of the things he did in order to become a Game Maker.” Cecilia murmured.
Katniss quickly scowls at the mention of Drusilla calling the people of her District “District pigs.” Other victors show their disgust, and surprisingly, none of the Victors seem to let out a snicker like Katniss would expect them to.
“They better not do anything to him.” Chaff huffed and luckily nothing happened. Just some threats to Lenore Dove from Drusilla And Plutarch wanting to get more angles of the reaping. Katniss scowls though, as Drusilla yells for Wyatt Callow to get back in the pen.
Animals. That's what all the capitol citizens seem to imagine. It pisses her off to no end. How they are dressed up and basically forced to put on a circus act. It makes her livid. It makes her want to show the Capitol citizens what happens when you back a frightened animal in a corner. When they are forced to bite.
“God she’s so proper. Always needing to be on time? Ugh.”
Suddenly a voice spoke up that startled Katniss. It was Mags, and she said something that caught Katniss’s attention. And despite the rest of her words being garbled Katniss got the point.
“Time….is……..Imporant.” It allows Katniss to think back to her first time meeting Plutarch, and the watch he shows her, specifying midnight. But why?
“And she can’t even get his name right! Like at least try for his final moments within his district!”
“But it’s not his final moments…?”
“For them it seems like it is, idiot.”
Katniss blinks as Beetee continues to read and she notices something. Plutarch was making sure that Haymitch didn’t try to pull anything. It confused her and as she looked around she noticed some of the other Victors notices. Specifically, everyone located on the District 3 couch, Beetee and Wireless have a look in their eyes while Peeta and Katniss share a glance.
“I’m surprised nobody is trying to call the capitol out.” Thunder muttered.
“It’s because no one is willing to.” Katniss spoke up. “Sure, maybe my father and Blair, but keep in mind they aren’t there. Everyone is still too shocked, everything is basically going over everyone’s head. Besides you all heard what happened to Woodbine. Anyone who snapped out of it still wouldn’t try anything.”
There's silence and soon that silence is filled with small squeaks or hisses as Drusilla threatens to shoot everyone.Winces at the fact that Drusilla threatened to kill everyone. Katniss can basically hear the sound of the Peacekeeper shooting a bunch of gunshots into the air.
They’re trying to replicate the normal. Show the views from the capitol and the Districts that everything is fine. But it’s not. Haymitch isn’t with his friends, surrounded by younger boys who are giving Haymitch room.
“It always seems like a dream.” Cecelia muttered. And it’s true. Walking up there, to the stage, believing that it was all a lie. Everything is fake, despite it being true. Katniss always wishes it was a bad dream and she wishes this nightmare was over.
“Oh. They’re gonna show Lenore Dove’s reaction now.” Peeta murmured.
“She isn’t crying, so Plutarch won’t get his tearful good-bye. Not from her and not from me. They will not use our tears for their entertainment.” (SOTR - Collins, 28)
“Damn right!”
“You tell ‘em Haymitch!”
“Whoo!”
The moment Beetee finishes reading Drusilla’s speech, the silence is quickly filled up with Enobaria’s mocking tone. “May the odds be ever in your favor! Yeah right.” She mimicked in a high pitch voice which got some of the victors to crack a smile.
“I’ve always hated that phrase.” Eddy sighed, leaning against Flaire, who shoved him off.
There's a small moment between Haymitch and Lenore. Him staring at her from the stage, while she looks up at him. Katniss can imagine the flinch as the confetti cannons go off. Cannons break the spell easily. Doesn’t matter if it’s confetti for the ruthless sound signaling a death within the arena. They always brought the people back to reality.
“God she is so dramatic. Poor Haymitch.” Seeder muttered as she pressed the palms of her hands to her eyes. Everyone, including the victors of the Career districts let out an annoyed groan at Drusilla’s complaining. Luckily, it seemed like the group was in collective agreement that this woman was horrible.
“It’s a great story for dinner parties!” Johanna mocked, leaning more of her weight onto Finnick. “God I hate the fact that she thinks some little mess up is going to ruin her career. God Capitol citizens are the worst.”
“They are.” Cashmere spoke up quietly, and for once it wasn’t her trying to dig her nails into someone. She had her eyes closed, and was leaning heavily against the couch as well. Though there was a small tilt upwards in her lips at the mention of Haymitch accidentally getting offered champagne.
“Drusilla grabs a glass and notices the people of District 12 standing mute and miserable while the last bits of confetti drift down on them. ‘Well, what are they staring at? Filthy beasts. Go home! All of you!” (SOTR - Collins, 29)
“She really thinks of us as animals.” Peeta muttered in disappointment. Thunder lets out a snort, and rolls his eyes before gaze settles on Peeta.
“Of course she does. They shove us into the arena and bet on us. We’re like dogs being put on for show then sent to fight.”
Katniss will never admit it but it’s…hard listening to how everyone is putting up a struggle. Blair and Burdock, other members of twelves booking it to the side streets, happy to escape the reaping. And then there’s also Lenore Dove.
“Oh no.” Cecelia gasped at the fact that not only was Lenore getting restrained by Peacekeepers but also when Clerk Carmine and Tam Amber quickly entered the situation. Then, there's the collective sigh of relief as she was released, Haymitch mentioning the quick exchange of money. And speaking of Money, there was also Mr. Donner who tried to bail his daughter out using said money. Enobaria scoffs.
“Oh please, she was already picked. No way they’re gonna allow her to get saved. Though I will admit, it would be interesting if they accept the bride.”
“They won’t.” Beetee sighs, “Her twin, Merrilee stops their father.”
“Madge’s mother.” Katniss mutters so only her and Peeta could hear. The Callows yelled, and Katniss felt her breath hitch at the mention of Sid. Oh it was so easy to remember Prim. The yelling and screaming. Katniss has to watch Gale drag her away making sure nobody gets hurt. She let out a shaky breath, and Peeta turned to look at her with a tilt of his head, which she again waved off.
“I would’ve punched them right there.” Blight huffed at hearing Haymitch get yanked back from his little brother and mother. There’s then the complaints as Druisllia mentions that there would be no good-byes all because of a stupid mistake that the peacekeeper made.
“It was the Peacekeeper! Seriously? No goodbyes?” Flaire asked, a hand on her heart.
“It was because Haymitch stepped in most likely.” Finnick started. “Seriously, guys, it's obvious. The stunts pulled by the tributes have consequences.” Beetee hums in agreement before he continues reading.
Peacekeepers keep having to shove the families back but luckily Plutarch steps in. Katniss wonders more about why Plutarch desperately wants multiple shots of the tribute's family. Surely there’s another reason behind it. There's quiet sounds of cheer as Merrilee slips past the Peacekeepers, who are pushing back other relatives.
“...and for a moment the Donner twins become one, arms locked around each other’s necks, foreheads, noses pressed together. A mirror image that the Peacekeepers tear into two.” (SOTR - Collins, 31)
Katniss could practically see the similarities. She’s seen Merilee around, and it’s so hard to imagine someone who looks exactly like her but so ready as well. Katniss wonders what it would be like, having the two actually be around. But one is buried deep within District 12 while the other is buried 6 feet in the ground somewhere within the capitol.
“Wow. Big family.” Brutus says in surprise at the mention of Louella’s half a dozen brothers and sisters, “Really wonder how Plutarch’s gonna use that.”
They stay stoned faced. Numbly dazed despite Plutarch asking them to either gasp, or cry out. They don’t. They just stare numbly, walking as Louella was whisked away into the Justice Building.
“Good for them.”
“As Haymitch said earlier, they didn’t let them use their tears for entertainment.”
Soon it’s Haymitch’s mother and Sid’s “turn.” It’s clear in the writing that they don’t want to be there but Plutarch offers up a minute with Haymitch but only if they give a dramatic reaction. Along with Haymitch, there's the murmurs of “Don’t do it!” And groans of frustration when Ma agrees.
“You guys need to realize they don’t have the same leeway as most of us.” Finnick sighed. “They are considered citizens, and not victors or upcoming tributes. They don’t have immunity.”
Katniss turned to stare at Finnick, “Neither do we.” He turned to look at her.
“Then let me rephrase. Unlike us, they don’t have the focus that victors have. We’re constantly watched, they aren’t.”
They hear as Plutarch continues to ask for Ma and Sid to do all of these different things, until the poor boy is actually crying. Many of the victors are more curled in on themselves, as the moment allows for the Abernathy’s two minutes and immediately after Haymitch pulls them into a crushing hug. Haymitch then quickly starts dumping his pockets, giving any leftover money and peanuts into his mother’s hands before giving Sid a knife and the gumdrops for Lenore Dove. Little coles echo within the room as Sid told Haymitch that he would make sure that the gumdrops made it to Lenore Dove.
“‘You’re the man of the house now. If you were some other kid, I’d be worried, but I know you can handle it.’ Sid starts to shake his head. ‘You’re twice as smart as me and ten times as brave. You can do this. Okay? Okay?’” (SOTR - Collins, 33)
God Sid was so much like Prim. Katniss desperately wants to know what happened. The Haymitch she knew now was a complete mess. His boiling hatred towards the capitol, makes her wonder. But this book left them all wondering. They were about to see the deepest darkest parts of the Second Quarter Quell.
Katniss glanced around some of the Tributes, seeing a few Tributes, Mainly Nelly and Flaire turn their heads away, tears prickling in their eyes. A small voice in the back of her head mentions how they wouldn’t survive a day in the arena they were about to go into.
“He’s a good older brother.” The Morphling female muttered, picking at her finger nails. And the moment Drusilla’s mentioned again there's small huffs of annoyance. And soon Haymitch is being dragged away by Plutarch. It’s silent as Beetee reads about Sid trying to reach out to Haymitch, with Haymitch getting shocked in the process so it was easier to get him to the train. Haymitch getting cuffed. The coal car the tributes get shoved into and soon, the train and its tributes are off to the capital. Three to their deaths, and one who will unknowingly become the victor of the twisted game.
“That’s when I saw Lenore Dove. She’s up on a ridge, her red dress plastered to her body, one hand clutching the bag of gumdrops. As the train passes, she tilts her head back and wails her loss and rage into the wind.” (SOTR - Collins, 35)”
“Glad the kid got the girl her gumdrops.” Woof muttered. There is once again hums of agreements. There was a collective silence, Haymitch being glad that Lenore Dove refused to let Plutarch milk the moment their hearts shattered.
Beetee closed the book before setting it on the table in front of their couch. Leaning forward and resting his head in his hands as the victors thought about what they had just listened to.