The Mocking Jay Sings Again

Chapter One (Re-Upload)

  I groaned as I felt something shift next to me. When I sat up, I saw my younger brother, Rye, laying next to me. This became a habit for him, ever since his time for his first reaping came. I knew that my mother and father weren't going to be with us for this one.You see, My parents were former victors in the hunger games, and this will be their first year being mentors for District Twelve's tributes. My godfather, Haymitch, was just too old to mentor this year. It was up to me to get Rye up and into his nice clothing for the reaping. Before waking up my brother, I slid out and headed into my bathroom to clean myself. I took a shower and got out ,braiding my hair like my mother would normally do for me. 

 

  Alot of people told me that I did look like my mother, expect for my eyes. My eyes were like my father's, they were a light blue that almost always matched the sky. After I was finished getting in my grandmother's blue dress, I went back into my room. My brother was already up and trying to button up his dress shirt, or well our father's dress shirt which was a bit too big on him. " Willooooww, Can you help me?" He asked as he turned around. I smiled and shook my head at him, before going and helping him with his shirt. " Come on Duckie, We don't want to be late." I tell him as I fix up his shirt. He groans at the childish nickname, but I just smile. He's always been like this, he'd act embarrassed by the nicknames he was given, but I knew that he like it. After slipping on our socks, we made our way from our large kitchen, where our dad had already set out a plate with fresh sweet buns on it for us. I had to swat away Rye's hand as I was pulling on my shoes. " No, we can't have them yet, you know that they're for after the reaping." I waited for Rye to put on his shoes, before I ushered him to the square. 

 

There at the square, I caught eye of my friend Newt. Newt was a thin boy, with ashy blonde hair and blue eyes, almost like my dad. Often times, Mom would tease me a bit, saying that I would marry someone like my father one day. I shook my head and smiled as I saw Rye run towards him and the boys duck off into their section. On stage were four chairs, One for the mayor, one for the District Twelve escort, Denio, and two for my parents. Once everyone is gathered in, and settled down, The mayor makes his speech about the hunger games...Honestly I've had it memorized for years now and I just tend to tune him out. After that, our parents are introduced and brought onto stage. Soon Denio went over to the bowl filled with the female names. Five of those slips in there had Willow Mellark written on it, and in the boy's bowl had two with Rye Mellark. Denio gave everyone a grin, before dipping her hand into the female bowl. When she withdrew the slip from the bowl, there was almost a collective gasp from the females. Denio opened the slip and taped on the microphone, and then she read the name. " Willow Mellark."

My breath was caught in my throat as I heard my name being called. This couldn't be happening to me. I caught a glimpse of my parent's face, they both looked very distressed. Everyone in front of me cleared out a path for me. As I walked, I tucked my dress in closer to me and slowly passed my brother and Newt. Both looked very sad as my footsteps echoed in the silent streets as I went to mount the stage. Denio smiled and clapped her hands ,almost trying to encourage everyone else to clap . Everyone took their three middle fingers and pressed them to their lips, before holding them up in the air. A hunting whistle rang out, first from behind her, the echoing all around. Denio looked around confused, before she cleared her throat and went to the bowl filled with the male's names. She reached her hand in and pulled out a slip. Her annoyingly bright high heels clicked against the ground as she opened up the slip. " Rye Mellark." Even before Rye could move, the voice rang out. " I volunteer as tribute!" ....I knew that voice..... It was Newt! He pushed his way through the crowd and stood in the path way. " I volunteer as tribute!" He said again, before he was escorted up to the front stage. Denio helped him up onto the stage and pushed him towards the microphone. " I bet that was someone you know." She said as she clapped her hands.

" I present to you, District Twelve tributes!" She said happily, " Go on, shake hands." Instead of shaking hands, we hugged each other tightly. Quickly we were ushered into the Justice building. This is where we get visitors. No surprise that my first visitors were my parents and my brother. Though Rye tried to put on a look that he was a tough boy, he was about to break down when I hugged him tightly. I pressed a soft kiss to his head, and began to tell him what to do. I instructed him to listen to his teachers, and do his work, and listen to whoever our parents put in charge.Next, were my parents, though they would see me, there was the chance that I would never come back again. Mom hugged me tightly, and while she held me, she gave me a piece of advice I wont ever forget. " Do what ever it takes to get home, even if that means to lie." I sniffled and nodded, before I was embraced tightly by my father. " You can do it sweetie." He said softly as he kissed my head again and again. Soon they were taken out, and Al was brought in. Al was a good friend of Mine and Newt's. He was quick in his introductions, before he produced a small thing. The little thing was a necklace with a few small willow tree branches with tiny leaves on it, but a piece of bark was fashioned as the trunk. " I wanted you to take this with you, you know since they let you take one thing from your district. " He said softly as He walked forward and clipped it around my neck. Al cupped my cheeks and forced me to look at him. " Willow, Listen to me, you have to come back. There is so many people counting on you. You need to win, and we'll all be rooting for you....I'll even try to start up a fund for you for a sponsorship." He said as he held me close. Our tender moment was broken by the peacekeepers pulling us apart, telling that time was up.