𝑯𝑶𝑷𝑬 | 𝑃𝐸𝐸𝑇𝐴 𝑀𝐸𝐿𝐿𝐴𝑅𝐾

𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 𝕺𝖓𝖊 • 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔬𝔫𝔢

⚔⚜⚔▏𝑯𝑶𝑷𝑬
➶⌢➴ life in district twelve

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐈 𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐔𝐏, the other side of the bed is cold. My fingers stretch out, seeking Prim’s warmth but finding only the rough canvas cover of the mattress. She must have had bad dreams and
climbed in with our mother. Of course, she did. This is the day of the reaping.

I prop myself up on one elbow. There’s enough light in the bedroom to see them. My little sister, Prim, curled up on her
side, cocooned in my mother’s body, their cheeks pressed together. In sleep, my mother looks younger, still worn but not so beaten-down.

Prim’s face is as fresh as a raindrop, as lovely as the primrose for which she was named. My mother was very beautiful once, too. Or so they tell me.

Sitting at Prim’s knees, guarding her, is the world’s ugliest cat. Mashed-in nose, half of one ear missing, eyes the color of
rotting squash. Prim named him Buttercup, insisting that his muddy yellow coat matched the bright flower. He hates me. Or at least distrusts me.
Even though it was years ago, I think he still remembers how I tried to drown him in a bucket when Prim brought him home.

Scrawny kitten, belly swollen with worms, crawling with fleas. The last thing I needed was another mouth to
feed. But Prim begged so hard, cried even, I had to let him stay.

It turned out okay. My mother got rid of the vermin and he’s a born mouser. Even catches the occasional rat. Sometimes, when I clean a kill, I feed Buttercup the entrails. He has stopped hissing at me.
Entrails. No hissing. This is the closest we will ever come to love.

I swing my legs off the bed and slide into my hunting boots. Supple leather that has molded to my feet. I pull on trousers, a shirt, tuck my long red haired braid up into a cap, and grab my forage bag.

On the table, under a wooden bowl to protect it from hungry rats and cats alike, sits a perfect little goat cheese wrapped in basil leaves. Prim’s gift to me on reaping day. I put the cheese
carefully in my pocket as I slip outside.