Thread: Hope is the Only thing Stronger than Fear |||| Randomname and Horror_Show

The Reaping ------------------------------------------------------------------- It felt as if hearing Primroses name being called created such an impact that every wisp of air from Koltons lungs had been knocked out. For the first few seconds after hearing this tragedy, the male stood there struggling to inhale, to exhale, or to do anything for that matter. It was so stunning to watch the scene unravel in front of his dark brown eyes. All at once, so many memories flooded back to him. All of those nights spent with Katniss and Prim when the young girl had nightmares and fears about this very moment. Kolton promised her that things would be okay and she would never get chosen. For Gods sake, her name was only in the glass bowl once! Katniss made sure of that and so did Kolton. However, just as everyone realized, it only took one slip of paper to send you to your immediate death. Nothing about this situation was fair and Kolton felt so powerless. If he could trade places with Primrose and keep the blonde home and safe with her older sister, then he would do it in a heartbeat. The Games did not work in such a way though. The only answer to this was volunteering for whatever male was chosen just so he could ensure that Prim got back home safely. A twelve-year-old child should not be thrown into these circumstances. How in the hell could she match up against an eighteen-year-old male from District One or Two? Needless to say, the odds were certainly not in their favor and their luck was only starting to dip. Somewhere far away, Kolton could hear the crowd murmuring unhappily as they always do when a twelve-year-old gets chosen because no one thought this was fair. Then Kolton saw her, the blood drained from her young face, hands clenched into fists, walking with small, stiff steps up towards the stage. Then, Prim's name elicited from somewhere in a strangled cry, and then in a shout. It was Katniss and Kolton had a twisted feeling in his gut about what would happen next. Katniss had tried her hardest to keep Prim out of this situation in the first place so of course she would do anything to continue that trend. Regardless, Prim would not be going in the Games this year. Instinctively, Kolton wanted to move towards Katniss as the guards heled a yelping, crying Katniss. His heart sunk deep into his stomach when he heard those two words that made the Peacekeepers let go. There was some confusion on the stage. District 12 has never had a volunteer in decades and the protocol has become rusty. The rule stated that once a tributes name has been pulled from the ball, another eligible child of the same gender may step forward to take his or her place. In some districts in which reaping is such a great honor, people are eager to risk their lives, the volunteering was complicated. But in District 12, the word tributes is pretty much synonymous with the word corpse , volunteers have been all but extinct. Needless to say, protocol did not matter here and the Mayor just nodded to Effie and said to let the girl come forward. Prim was screaming hysterically behind Katniss, wrapping her skinny arms around the older girl like a vice. This was definitely something worthy to catch on TV so all the cameras were pointed right here at the breakdown ongoing in the middle of the Square. Clearly, Prim did not intend letting go of Katniss so Kolton hastily dashed through the guards who quit chasing him once they realized what he was going. He pulled Prim off Katniss and lifted her off the ground as Prim continued thrashing in his arms. All Kolton could do was flash a weak, sad smile towards the girl that held the key to his heart. No words were needed now because their time together was not over quite yet. From the very second Katniss volunteered, Kolton knew that he would volunteer as well. It was not because of feeling pride in winning the reaping nor was it because he wanted to save whomever the male tribute might be, but it was because he wanted to go into the Games with Katniss just to make sure he could save Katniss and help the brunette escape home. It meant he would have to die for this to unfold but that was such a meager price to pay compared to the alternative. Kolton would die one million deaths if it meant Katniss could live freely and happily. She could move on without him and still find something else with her life. Kolton continued carrying Prim to the edge of the ropes dividing the tributes and the attendees watching from outside. After placing her in the older womans care, he meekly nodded and returned back in line with the other males. Brown eyes turned towards the stage to see Katniss standing there and he immediately felt mortified and furious. No, he was not upset at Katniss for volunteering, he was upset with the Capitol for even placing them in this kind of position. What if things were different? What if this world was not so evil and disruptive? What kind of life might they have? They could have children, get married, and things would be so much better. All they could do was do the best with where they are and what they have but that was not saying too much. Even worse, Effie seemed so fucking happy about everything, cheerily introducing Katniss and moving onto the next part of business which was for the male names. She crossed the stage over to the glass ball which held the boys names and grabbed the very first slip that she encountered. Again, the entire square drew in a collective breath while the flamboyant woman zipped right back across to the podium where she is reading the name. And its a name that Kolton is all too familiar with. Its his own. Again, the air was taken out from his lungs. The pure shock of the entire moment was registering on his face and the struggle to remain emotionless for Kolton was very obvious. Even though the male wanted to volunteer and join Katniss, he had definitely not expected for him to just outright get selected. Everything was already so devastating but adding to the peril of this situation was Kolton being chosen and not volunteering. The odds were seriously not in their favor today. Slowly, the male approached the stage and climbed the wooden stairs to take his position a few feet from Katniss. Effie followed protocol and asked for volunteers but nobody offered to take his spot of course. The Mayor began to read the long, dull Treaty of Treason as he did every year at this point because it was required but Kolton was not listening to a word he had said. After the Treaty had been announced, Kolton and Katniss were motioned to shake hands. The look on Koltons face when he turned to Katniss was one full of alarm. Those brown eyes of his were wide and his breathing was unsteady. Seeing the tears falling on Katniss cheeks broke the males heart. The familiar feel of Katniss hand in his own made him not want to let go but they hardly even touched before she collapsed into his arms and the blonde sunk down with her as well. As she cried into his shirt, he wrapped his arms tightly around her and a couple tears fell from his own eyes. I love you, Katniss. I love you so much. He whispered in such a sad, defeated voice. Effie asked him to affirm what he said and Kolton did just so the woman would leave them alone for the moment. As the couple sat in the embrace, the Panem national anthem played throughout the square and drowned out everything else. Usually this moment showed the two tributes prepared for war standing and ready to play the Games with the anthem playing. This scene was much different. Here, two lovers sat embraced together and holding one another tightly. The moment that the music ended, the tributes are taken by a group of Peacekeepers and marched through the front door of the Justice Building. They had to be literally torn apart because their grips were so tight on one another. Once inside, they were conducted to separate rooms and left alone. It was the richest place that Kolton had ever been in, with thick, deep carpets and a velvet couch and chairs. The time allotted for the tributes to say goodbye to their loved ones is one hour. His first guests were obviously his parents and his sister. All three were crying but his sister was perhaps the most hysterical. They were really close, kind of like the Everdeen siblings were. They all engaged in a group hug and just held each other. They were all trying to convince Kolton to win and come back home but they should have known better. After saying goodbye to a few more friends, it was only his immediately family remaining. It was time to have a true heart to heart chat before anything happened. Im sorry. I love all of you so much but I cant come home. Not without Katniss. What kind of man would that make me to be so selfish and not worry about her? I would rather die than to see Katniss die. She has to live and she has to win. The only way I get home is if shes with me and we know thats not possible. Besides, dont you remember what you said to me, Dad? Right when I said I thought I loved Katniss a couple years ago. You gave me advice and you said to not ever tell a girl that I loved her unless I was willing to die for her because thats what true love meant sometimes and thats how you knew if you were in love. Well I do love her and I will die for her. I cant be in a life where shes not with me, I hope you understand. Im sure shell take good care of all of you after this is over. I just cant do it if she died I wouldnt know how to live. Obviously, they were still trying to convince him out of it or at least if something happened to Katniss, he would still try and win for her and for his family. Kolton reluctantly agreed and decided to not go through with his original plan if something happened. If she were to be killed, he actually had thought he would end his own life because it would be too much but he knew that if it was reversed, he would want Katniss to keep fighting. They had much to talk about between now and then. Back in the present moment, Kolton continued his back and forth between Brooke and his parents. When the time was up, they finally came to the realization of what the reality of the situation was. On one hand, they were proud of Kolton. He was being a true man, willing to sacrifice himself to save the woman he loved but on the other hand they did not want to lose him. It was a completely disgusting thing to endure but once those doors were slammed shut with his family wailing and crying for it, it was done. Kolton felt at peace with his decision though. They were all okay and said their proper goodbyes. It was time to focus on the present moment now. It was a short ride from the Justice Building to the train station. He had never been in a care before and rarely even ridden in a wagon because traveling in District 12 was mostly done by foot. The station was swarming with reporters with their cameras trained directly onto both his and Katniss face. At this point, Kolton looked like he was pulled together and just tried to look straight ahead and reach the train. Their faces and a recap of the Reaping was being broadcasted on multiple screens. Once they reached the doorway, the tributes were forced stand outside and have the cameras snap plenty of pictures before they were allowed inside. The entire time, Kolton was holding Katniss hand tightly. He tried to look at her and speak but they were harshly scolded to look forward and Kolton was not in the mood to deal with pissing anyone off, especially not peacekeepers so he did just as they were ordered.