Hey, Guys! Welcome to Chapter 2. This chapter will probably be pretty short, because it's mostly just Reaping Day, but nevertheless, I hope you guys enjoy it. Let's get started!

Lily's POV:

The next day, Peeta and I parted ways while I went to talk to Ripper, and he crossed the lawns to Haymitch's house to dump out whatever liquor he had. It didn't take me long to make my point to Ripper. I told her that if she sold to Katniss or Haymitch, I'd turn her in. I paid her off as well, just for good measure.

I reached Haymitch's house and walked into the living room in time to see Peeta toss a cardboard box full of empty liquor bottles on the table with finality.

"There, it's done," he said.

"What's done?" Katniss asked.

"I've poured all the liquor down the drain," Peeta replied.

Well, that got Haymitch's attention and he pawed at the box in disbelief. "You what?"

"I tossed the lot," Peeta said simply.

"He'll just buy more," Katniss said.

I shook my head. "No, he won't. I've just talked to Ripper and told her that the second she sold to either of you, I'd turn her in. I paid her off, too, just for good measure, but I doubt she's too eager to be back in the Peacekeepers' custody."

Haymitch took a swipe at me with his knife, which I deflected easily with a scoff.

Katniss' expression turned anger. "What business is it of either of yours what he does?"

"It's completely our business. However it falls out, two, probably three of us are going to be in the arena again with the other as mentor. We can't afford drunkards on this team. Especially not you, Katniss," Peeta told her.

"What?" she sputtered indigently. "Last night's the only time I've ever been drunk."

I raised my eyebrows. "Yes, and look at the shape you're in."

Katniss turned to Haymitch. "Don't worry, I'll get you more liquor."

"Then I'll turn you both in and you can sober up in the stocks," I said.

"What the point to this?" Haymitch asked.

"The point is that two of us are coming home from the Capital. One mentor and one victor," Peeta replied. "Effie's sending me recordings of all the living victors. We're going to watch their Games and learn everything we can about how they fight. We're going to put on weight and get strong. We're going to start acting like Careers. And one of us is going to be victor again whether you two like it or not!"

With that, Peeta grabbed my hand and we swept out of the room.

Katniss and Haymitch agreed to our plan after a few days. I knew they would. As stubborn as they both are, they know that this is what's best for all of us. Every night we watched the old recaps of the Games that the remaining victors won. I as very curious when we watched Finnick's games. I saw him briefly on Katniss and Peeta's Victory Tour. I hope to God he isn't chosen for the Quarter-Quell. I could never hurt him either. Every morning we did exorcises to strengthen our bodies. We ran and lifted things and stretched our muscles. Every afternoon we worked on combat skills, throwing knives, fighting hand to hand; Katniss even taught us to climb trees, which I was already pretty good at, but not like she was. Technically, tributes aren't supposed to train, but no one tried to stop us. We all know that that's what the Career district tributes spend most of their lives doing. That's why they always win. This is nothing compared to that.

After all the years of abuse, Haymitch's body resisted the improvement. He's still remarkably strong, but the shortest of runs winded him. You'd think someone who sleeps with a knife beside him would be able to hit the side of a house with one, but his hands shook so badly that it took him weeks to achieve even that.

However, Katniss, Peeta, and I excel under the new regimen. I feel stronger than I was after training in the Capital for my first games. I was slightly annoyed when Katniss brought in Gale on Sundays to teach us how to make snares. I still don't like him, but it's a useful skill to learn, so I went along with it.

Months pass, and finally it's Reaping Day. I said goodbye to Vincent and Will early, just in case they decide to pull something and not let us say goodbye. Finally, Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch and I are escorted up to the stage by about six Peacekeepers. Then we each stand on one side of the stage. Katniss and I on one side, Peeta and Haymitch on the other.

"Welcome," Effie said into the microphone. "Welcome. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary and 3rd Quarter Quell of the Hunger Games. As always, ladies first."

I watched her reach into the bowl and pull out one of the two cards inside before walking back to the microphone.

"The female Tribute from District 12, Katniss Everdeen," Effie announced into the microphone.

I watched Katniss as she took her place by Effie's side as the female tribute. Now, the only way I'm going back to the arena is if I'm the Wild-Card. I suppose we'll have to see. I wonder if it would be worse to actually be there, or to have to watch them through a screen and not be able to do anything.

"Wonderful," Effie said. "And now for the men." She plucked one of the names out of the other bowl. "The male Tribute from District 12, Haymitch Abernathy."

"I volunteer as Tribute," Peeta said immediately, like I knew he would.

"I can't let you do that," Haymitch told him, grabbing his arm.

"You can't stop me."

"Peeta."

"Let go."

Peeta pulled his arm out of Haymitch's grip and joined Effie and Katniss centerstage.

Effie faced the microphone. "Wonderful. Now, to find out which District shall send our Wild-Card tribute." A young girl stepped forward from the back of the stage and handed Effie a black envelope. Such an appropriate color. Effie opened the envelope and pulled out a card. "The chosen district… District 12."

But of course it is. I tried to ignore my shaking hands as the same young girl poured the female tribute card—my name card, into the same bowl as Haymitch's and shook it for a moment, in an effort to make it harder to figure out which one it is, but being that there's only two, it's still a bit easy to figure out.

Effie's hand pauses a little as she reaches into the bowl. I don't think she likes this anymore than we do. Finally, she picks one of the names out of the bowl. "And the Wild-Card Tribute is… Lillian Mellark."

Ignoring my shaking hands and pounding heartbeat, I held my head high and joined Katniss at Effie's side. I'm the eldest, I need to be strong here. My eyes flicked to Vincent and Will standing in the front row, beside Katniss' family. I gave them a small nod in an effort to tell them that it's okay.

Effie faked a smile for the audience. "Very well. The Tributes from District 12. Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, and Lillian Mellark. Well, all that remains is…"

That's when the audience members began raising their hands in the three-finger gesture, one by one. Prim, Gale, Vincent, Will, and then everyone else in the audience before finally Katniss, Peeta, and myself. And then we were grabbed by Peacekeepers that began dragging us into the Justice Building.

"Oh, no," Effie protested. "But, but, but…"

"New plan. Straight to the train," a Peacekeeper snapped.

I can hear Katniss yelling a rushed goodbye to Prim. I turned my head and sent another nod and a small smile to Vincent and Will. Will had tears running down his cheeks and Vincent had his arm around his brother's shoulders. Seeing them being there for each other inside of fighting, made me just a little bit happier. I knew they could handle themselves, and I knew that they could handle themselves without me… Because this will most likely be the last time I see them.