#efe 2020

They bang on the door just after sunrise. Buttercup leaps from the windowsill to dive under the bed as I shove my feet into my boots and cross the room to open the door. No matter what you opened when the Peacekeepers knocked, or you soon found that you didn’t have a door, just a flat board of wood lying on your floor. Cray, Head Peacekeeper, stands on the doorstep

“Katniss Everdeen, aged sixteen on 8th of May this year?”

I nod tightly “That’s me” Cray knows who I am he’s bought wild turkey from me often enough, but there is a clipped formality to his voice, and I see the half-dozen other peacekeepers grouped up beyond him

“You need to come with us to the Justice Building, now”

“What is it?” My mother’s voice comes from behind me “What’s going on?”

“No need to worry Mrs Everdeen, in fact you should be proud of your daughter.” Still the formality in Cray’s tone, my mother's hand clamps on my shoulder, wrinkling the rough shirt. “Now Miss Everdeen comes with us, Mrs Everdeen you and any close family may attend at the Justice Building in half an hour to assist, bringing smart clothes for Miss Everdeen”

Cray holds out his hand towards me, I don’t take it but I step through the doorway, past him. The half-dozen peacekeepers form a box around me two in front, two behind, two at my sides. They are so precise it unnerves me, but as we march off I take a look over my shoulder. My mother stands in the doorway of our house, watching, and then Prim still in her night dress appears at her side in a flash of checks. 

Framed by the Peacekeepers we walk quickly through the district, the dirt paths and rickety Seam houses, then onto the more orderly streets of the town. Already people are up, and they look over but then avert their eyes. Someone in the centre of a squad of peacekeepers, it doesn’t do to show any kind of acknowledgement or association. Only a handful of children stare, because it is a strange thing to see, with our Peacekeepers. That only makes me stiffer in my stance. Somewhere in the long distance between the start of town and the Justice building, the peacekeeper on my left reaches out and touches my hand, making it seem as if she’s guiding me around a puddle on the ground. I glance over to see the formal reflective visor gone and recognise Purnia, who I’ve seen at the hob. Her eyes are kind as she whispers quickly, “Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble, I swear.” 

I want to ask her what is going on, but her eyes snap forward again and the glimmer of the visor comes down. We’re nearly at the square when I hear the pit siren. But not the horrifying screech that means there has been a mine accident, the hooting that marks an end of shift, and yet, isn’t the pitch different. Normality in the middle of chaos, but even that is wrong. 

We pace across the square, prominently visible. The shopkeepers are more awake than the Seam; setting up for the day, rigging out their awnings, polishing the glass, checking the lay of the window displays. They stop what they’re doing as we walk past, making a dull ripple of silence and I feel the fear in their gazes. But again, nothing more than looking, you don’t mess with Peacekeepers on official business. Then when we’re at the base of the two flights of steps to the front of the Justice Building, there is the sound of a scuffle going on behind. Only when we reach the big landing halfway up the stairs do I glance over, two of the baker’s sons are grappling in the shop door, the older pulling the smaller back into the shop. Purnia’s hand on my back urges me forwards up the stairs onto the stone frontage. The doors, with their huge proud eagle, swing open, then close behind us with a deep metal slam. Only my pride holds back a shuddering flinch. Now Purnia's reassurance feels very very thin. 

Inside the Justice Building entrance hall,mMy escort march me to one of the lifts. I along with  Purnia, and the other flanking peacekeeper step into the lift to be surrounded by the smell of sour milk. The other peacekeeper presses the button to take the lift up. 

As I turn round, just before the doors close I see the back pair of peacekeepers moving away to the flights of stairs at a quick jog. The lift doors close and it begins to creak upwards. Without the sun on the visors I can now see the face of my other escort, Livia. She's not in the job as often as some of them, but I've traded with her before now. Rosehip syrup comes to mind.

"Katniss, whatever is to happen, from the moment these doors open, you stand for District 12 in its entirety. Just - " Purnia pauses “Just show them what District 12 really is, not just the assumptions people make about it,  that it's all grubby minors. 12 is more than that. Be proud of it and show that pride.”

  The fact that the Peacekeepers who know about things because they are the officials of the district don't really seem to know what this is about far more than I am willing to let on. And why warn me or cue me at all. Whatever is going on, it's to her benefit for the District to look good for some reason. Of course the Peacekeepers are the security, the day to day panem representative in our district, so they want to look good.

The lift in the Justice Building is supposed to be slower than a slug but it is too soon when the box stops and the doors open. It must be slow though for Cray and the other four Peacekeepers stand there to receive us. Cray is slightly further back, his face tinted red. I resist a smile at the thought of him having to puff up all those stairs for me. The flash of amusement is quickly doused, what am I doing here? To represent the District, according to Purnia. That’s the same high flowery language Effie trinket uses each Reaping day. But how? A reprobate hunter being whipped? Have they snached Gale too, to make an example of both of us… or some of the Hob traders?  They lead me down the corridor to two large wooden doors at the end with the same eagle insignia as on the Justice Building main door we passed through earlier. Last time I was here I was eleven, receiving a medal for my father who I would never see again. I blink sharply, forcing back the emotions behind my mask. Purnia warned me. 

Keep it together Katniss, you stand for District 12.

Cray pushed open the wooden doors of the hall, and we walked in. The wooden beamed hall seeths with Capitol people, a mass of bright colours. As someone notices our arrival there is a sudden hush, and in the gathering of the silence I hear someone say "President Snow has chosen well this time."

 Even then a shrill Capitol voice rises and out of the throng comes Effie Trinket, the Capitol representative who each year calls out the names of those reaped 

"Here she is, our District Sposata" her hands are outstretched towards me as if in welcome, but I'm still coping with the shock of the too brilliant false pink dress she is wearing, so bright it cannot be a natural colour. She clicks towards me in her heels, moving straight past Cray without even an acknowledgement. Her eyes note my clothes and hollow, then falsely brighten again.

 "You are a darling, I am sure."

She glances at Cray, who straightens and answers a question she hasn't even asked "I asked her family to arrive in half an hour with smarter clothes, to give you a chance to explain everything to Katniss, Miss Everdeen,about her situation."

"Quite right." She beckons to me as she turns away "Come with me, dear and I'll explain everything."

I follow her then perch awkwardly on the wood of a recessed window seat. I already know at least part of what she is about to say. As soon as the bubbly man said the words President Snow. A dim memory from that starving spring I turned 12, extra mandatory viewing,watching a girl from District 4 in the Capitol, walking between rows of people in a dress of luxury we could only dream of, to be married to the president of Panem, a man old enough to be her father. There had been pain in her eyes, pain I hadn't understood or cared about then, as she walked. I drag myself back to listen to Effie prattle "it is a great honour to be chosen for your district Katniss, to be the one to symbolise the partnership between the Capitol and the District." 

Partnership..not likely. 

I but in, before I think too deeply about that. "What about my family, my tesserae, I provide for them". 

Effie actually looks sympathetic for a moment before it morphs into excitement "You needn't worry Katniss, they'll receive a Capitol stipend to replace your wages, a house in Victors Village... They needn't worry about the tesserae anymore with that. Besides with the marriage they'll become Capitol citizens by extension, and they'll be ineligible for reaping." Effie pauses to tally where she's got to in her list of benefits, and it's a good thing because my brain is fixed on those three words 

Ineligible for reaping. 

I go and Prim won't be in the pens this summer knowing that there is a slip with her name on itin the girls great glass bowl. And not just this summer, but every summer, as the slips would pile up each year.- for this I would be willing to die, marriage is a small price to pay. 

"How many of my family?"

 "Just siblings dear, those with a shared parent."

A pang of regret that I cannot register Gale and his siblings as my cousin and have them excluded from the reaping too.

"Is the marriage today?", it tumbles out before I can stop it and Effie laughs softly, pityingly like you would with a child. I clamp my jaw shut before I say anything else stupid and she shakes her head. 

"Goodness me, no Katniss. Today is your district farewell, then we'll go to the Capitol. There are so many things that you need to know and that need to be done. The fitting of the dress, your trousseau," Effie waves her hand as she speaks and the cuffs flutter like birds. The marriage, that will take place in a week, once we've dusted you off a little bit.” I feel like I have been doused in cold water. Effie is looking around slightly suspicious at one of the fire places, which does seem fairly free of coal dust. 

These people are not interested in me. Just in a symbol of the district they can have without it's bad points. I rub my fingers on the smooth wood of the seat, while she rattles on again sounding rather like a squirrel chattering in the branches. After a while she notices that I am not attending in the slightest and huffs, then she gets up and leaves me to the whirl of my thoughts. 

There is a velvet cushion on the window seat, my fingers find it, rifling the stroke of the fabric back and forth. But even this is strange, different from the little house, where it's only place is a tiny strip on my mother's collar. I turn and stare out at the square below. The stalls have been herded away, people in uniforms are setting up huge projector lights, uncoiling the rope for one large pen in front of the steps, I cast my eyes upwards and sure enough there are nests of extra Peacekeepers appearing on the roofs I can see. It's like another reaping day, apart from the fact there are no age pens. The thought, the realization hits like a stone, sinking through my mind and into my stomach. It is a Reaping day, and I am the lone tribute, chosen by a lottery I don't even know; to go to the Capitol. I turn back to the room, and Effie must have been watching because she's stops her chattering and comes to me

"You will love this Katniss, I've just been to talk to Cinna, the ideas he has for your trousseau, you'll be the talk of the world." I have no idea what a trousseau is,  other than it needs fitting according to her earlier comment.

"Miss Trinket," I use my best manners voice, as if I was at school, "I will be able to come back to District 12 won't I?"

"Of course", the cuff birds flutter. "Why it would be utterly gauche to miss any special district events… but Katniss there is so much in the Capitol the winter celebrations, the illumination yo will never have seen the like, the fireworks the dinners, and I haven't even mentioned the private parties."

But through that I hear what she isn't saying, that once I leave the district I become a person of the Capitol and that my visit back will be few and far between for display. Some of it must have shown on my face, because Effie starts chattering again "But of course we're not rude, after you have been presented to the district and received their acclamation, you have two whole hours to make your goodbyes to all your friends, so they understand before you are whisked away to the Capitol for a time" 

[i]or forever[/i]  I add in my head. 

"You mustn't come back until you are well settled in." She holds out a notebook and a gold pen, seeming warmer in her attitude "Here, you write down a list of everyone you want to see, and that way I can give them priority over anyone else who comes to curry favour." 

The back of the notebook is slightly furry in my hand, a strange texture between pelt and the velvet. The pen is so strange, cold and gold that I am almost afraid to touch it, that I'll leave fingermarks on the shell. Effie leaves again. Livia steps closer to me, ostensibly a protective guard. She leans over and subtly twists the pen so a small nib pops out of the end, giving me a tiny chin up nod then becomes inscrutable again. I turn my attention to the page, the list of people I really want to see as it forms in my head as I run it down. 

[i]Gale Hawthorne[/i]

[i]Hazelle Hawthorne[i]

[i]Primrose Everdeen[/i] I'm not taking chances she'll be forgotten, but I hope she'll come with our mother. 

There are others I'd like to add, but I don't think I can safely invite Hob people without giving reason, and I can't send peacekeepers to fetch them on official business. But Sae is safe. Yet as I add her name, I realise I don't know her surname. Only that her Hob name amongst us is Greasy Sae, and we can rely on her to take what we catch and to not begrudge us hear in the winter. I stare down at the page, trying to remember, trying to hear someone else use it, but I draw a blank. Livia bends her head down, speaking low.

"Its Fetler." 

[i]Sae Fetler[/i], I write it down pause... then add another name beneath 

[i]Madge Undersee.[/i]

We aren't friends, not like Gale and I but I realise that I'd feel guilty to leave her out, to disappear without a proper explanation to her face, although being the mayor's daughter she probably knew before I did. Half a dozen names, all the people I can put down to say goodbye to. Not much really. Effie clicks over on her heels, wordless I hand over. She nods, half glancing." I'll see they come". She speaks with such confidence and nods with such assurance as if no one would dare say no to her.

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