My fingers trail softly over the velvet couch, back and forth, tracing patterns of their own free will. I think of nothing as I stare at the carpet, it's thick and plush and the richest thing my feet have ever touched.

I am going to die.

There is no other option. Sure, I will try. I will fight as hard as I possibly can to get back to Prim and Peeta. But so will the other twenty-three tributes.

Suddenly the door flies open, and Prim flings herself at me, settling on my lap with her arms wrenched around my neck. She makes an occasional whimper, but otherwise says nothing. My mother sits next to us, silently wringing her hands in her lap.

For a few minutes none of us say anything, the gravity of our situation too heavy to sift through.

I clear my throat. "Prim, listen to me." Her head shifts on my shoulder. "No matter what you do, don't ever take out any tesserae. You can get by selling what you get from Lady, and Peeta won't let you starve." I pause, remembering my old hunting partner. "When Gale and I were close we had a pact, he might be willing to bring you game as well."

Prim's body shakes in my arms and she sniffles. "Don't talk like that, like you're saying goodbye."

"I just want you to be prepared." I turn to my mother. "Mother, are you listening to me? You can't leave Prim on her own. No matter what happens, I need you to be strong for her!"

My mother shakes her head, afraid of the force in my voice. "I couldn't help what happened!"

"I won't be there to keep us alive anymore! Peeta won't let you starve but he can only do so much, you have to be there for her!" I take a breath to steel my nerves. I can't afford to get too upset. There will be more cameras at the station. "You have to take care of her."

Prim's hand grips mine and squeezes it. "Katniss don't worry about me, all I want is for you to win. You will try won't you?"

"Yes. I'll try." But so will everyone else, and she knows that as well as I do.

Then the peacekeeper shows up at the door and he's signaling for them to leave. Prim clings to me and begins sobbing, and I'm crying out how much I love them before the peacekeeper wrenches them away and I'm alone again.

A few moments later, the door opens and in walks Gale.

"Hey Catnip." He's smiling, but it's obviously forced.

In spite of the situation, I still cringe at the horrible nickname he gave me when we first met all those years ago. "Hi Gale."

"Listen." His expression hardens. "You have to get your hands on a bow. That's your best chance."

I nod. "Yeah, you're right."

"Make one if you have to! You need a bow. A knife is easy enough, but you're strongest with a bow in your hands." He sighs, and his eyes find the carpet. "I'm sorry."

"For what? Prim being reaped? Gale there was nothing-"

He cuts me off, his tone serious. "No. I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately."

"What's up with that? It was nice having a hunting partner."

He laughs in response to my statement but it's humorless. "I thought you did have a hunting partner, what's his name again? Mellark?"

"Gale."

"Oh right, the boy who's never gone hungry a day in his life."

"Gale."

"The Merchant who thought he'd look totally cool shooting a bow, maybe he'd-"

"Gale!" I turn in my seat to face him completely. "I am being sent off to die and this is what you wanted to come in and spend up my time talking about?"

The fire hasn't totally left Gale's eyes, but he has the decency to back down. "I'm sorry Katniss."

I wanted to shoot back that he should be apologizing to Peeta, not me. How Peeta's mother would only let them eat bread that hadn't sold. And how on some nights, when business had been really bad, Peeta would fall asleep with an empty stomach. But it wasn't my story to tell.

Peeta may not be from the Seam, and he may not know starvation, but he knew what it was like to be hungry.

I catch his gaze, because I want to be sure he hears what I have to say. "Peeta is a good man. He helps me provide for Prim in any way he can."

Gale clears his throat and shifts on the couch, obviously uncomfortable. "I'm glad he's been there for you."

He looks like he wants to say more, but doesn't. I sigh. "Do you remember our deal we made?"

Gale's eyes shoot back to mine and he nods. "If anything happens to one of us, you take care of mine and I take care of yours."

"Will you make sure Prim is taken care of? I trust Peeta, but he won't bring in much game."

Gale nods, tense. "Katniss, I know I've been away for a while, but you won't have to worry about Prim."

Gale opens his mouth to continue, but then the peacekeeper is back and he's pulling Gale away and I'll never know what he wanted to say because the door slams shut behind him.

By now, I'm waiting anxiously for Peeta. I want nothing more than to time travel back to this morning and freeze in that moment forever.

Madge comes in next, which almost surprises me. Sure, we were friends of sorts. We sat together at lunch and I bring her strawberries that I gather in the woods. But I never expected her to come and send me off.

She walks straight to me, wasting no time. "They let you bring one thing from home to wear in the arena." She unpins a small circular gold pin from her dress and hands it to me. "Will you wear this?"

I get a good look at it, and I notice that it's a bird in flight. "Why are you giving me your pin?"

Madge shakes her head. "Just promise me that you'll wear it in the arena." She leans in and pins it to the collar of my dress. "Promise me?"

I nod. "I will."

She kisses my cheek and then pivots for the door, not even waiting for the peacekeeper to return to escort her out.

When she reaches it, her hand resting on the knob, she pauses and looks over her shoulder at me. "Good luck Katniss." Then she's gone.

My chest tight, I grab one of the velvet pillows off of the cushion next to me and bury my head in it. My heart is pounding and I am trying desperately to swallow my fear.

When the door clicks open and I hear the heavy footfalls, I don't have to guess who it is. I spring off the couch and into Peeta's grasp, he holds me so tightly I am lifted off the ground.

His shoulders are shaking, and his chest is heaving from his cries. Still in his arms, he carries me back to the couch where we settle together, his hands in mine.

"Katniss I should've volunteered. I should be going in with you!"

I shake my head. "No. I didn't want you to. You need to be here for Prim. I don't trust my mother to hold it together."

Peeta's voice cracks. "You have to come back to me Katniss. I don't know what I'd do if you didn't."

The intensity of his tone would scare me usually, as he has always been much more gifted with voicing his feelings than I have. But I know this could be the last moment I ever have with Peeta. "I'll try."

"You have to promise me you're going to try harder than you ever have before. You're the strongest person I'll ever know and the whole time I'm watching I want to watch knowing you're giving it your best."

Peeta's fingers trace down the edges of my cheeks, into the hollows and down to my jawline. He's looking at me as if he can't afford to look away, as if he looks away for even a moment I'll be gone.

"You can do it Katniss."

It's almost a losing battle at this point, keeping my emotions in check. I take a deep breath, and lean forward so I can bury my face into the hollow of his shoulder. His arms wind back around me, holding me together.

There is so much I want to say to him, but it feels as though my throat is closing up. "Remember what I told you."

Peeta shakes his head softly. "What?"

"In the woods. Don't stand with your feet so close together." I smile, fondly remembering. "You almost shot that turkey, and you would've if you had trusted yourself."

Peeta nods. "I'm going to do my best to take care of Prim until you get back. After you win maybe I'll teach you both how to make cookies in our new house."

Suddenly the door is swung open, and Peeta is frantic. He pulls me into his chest as tightly as he can, crying out for more time.

The Peacekeeper has no patience for his pleas, and rushes forward. He gets a good grip on Peeta's arm and pulls, his voice firm and harsh. "It's time to escort the tributes to the train. Your time is up."

I am still clutched in Peeta's embrace and neither of us are ready to let go. My fingers cling to the fabric of my father's jacket as the Peacekeeper jostles us.

"Last warning."

Peeta cries out desperately. "Please!"

I know what comes next, more Peacekeepers will come and Peeta will be punished severely for defying orders and delaying the departure of the train.

Sighing, I release my hold on Peeta and immediately his eyes find mine. "Katniss, this can't happen! They can't take you!"

I stand tall, using his shoulders to pull myself up. I push my lips against his to silence him.

It's not our first kiss, but it is definitely the most passionate. I try to put all the words I always wanted to say but couldn't into it, and the goodbye he deserves but don't have enough time for.

When I feel the Peacekeeper tug again, I pull away completely. Peeta reaches for me, struggling against the man's tight grip, but I force myself to stay. I know I would only make things worse for him if I gave in.

"Peeta, it's okay. Go be with Prim." My voice wavers, but doesn't crack. "It's time for me to go."

"No! This can't happen!" Peeta is struggling so violently the single Peacekeeper is having trouble keeping ahold of him. "Let go of me! Please, please!"

Hearing the commotion, a second Peacekeeper rushes into the room. Now with two officers holding him, Peeta's struggling begins to die down, his energy spent.

"Peeta! Don't let them starve!" My cry is frenzied, fueled by the fact they have almost managed to drag him out the doorway.

"I won't! You know I won't!" Peeta is pulled out of my sight. "I love you!"

My knees buckle and I have to catch myself on the arm of the couch so I don't collapse. It's not the first time he's told me this, but it feels so different than before.

Peeta is still screaming, but I can't make any of it out as he is being taken farther and farther away from me.

A third Peacekeeper steps into the room, gesturing for me to follow him. "This way."

I follow the uniformed man, immediately trying to wipe my face clean as I've learned to do after my father's death. There isn't much distance from the Justice Building to the station and I need to be ready for what awaits.

Just as I suspected, the station is crawling with reporters. Before the car has even finished parking, they are already swarming like a cloud of insects to get good shots of us.

I'm glad I didn't cry. I can't afford to look weak. And with how many reporters there are, there will be a shot of each of us from every angle. Nothing will be hidden or left to the imagination.

It's almost a relief when the doors of the train slide shut behind us, all of the cameras clicking and flashing was starting to give me a headache.

Effie shows us to our rooms, and explains we are allowed to do whatever we want as long as we are ready for dinner in an hour.

I decide to take a shower, and it takes almost the whole hour to figure out all the knobs.

After dressing, I get a good look at my gift from Madge. I smile as I recognize it as a mockingjay. A bit of a slap in the face to the Capitol, but they also remind me of my father.

The birds used to stop and listen, as he would sing to me after a hunt.

A knock at the door startles me, and I quickly fasten the pin to my shirt. Effie collects me for dinner, and she walks stiffly in front of me down the train car.

We reach the dining car, and I take note that our mentor Haymitch is absent.

"Where is Haymitch?" I ask my district partner, who shuffles in his chair at having a question directed at him.

"Last time I saw him, he said he was going to go take a nap." He immediately ducks his head, focusing intently on the empty plate in front of him.

The food is brought out in waves, and I've never seen so much in my life.

Dinner is mostly quiet, save for Effie's chattering. She goes on about how the food was better last year, and the latest trends in the Capitol. As if that will help us any.

I use this time to observe my fellow tribute. He's scared, and it's obvious from his puffy eyes and his inability to make eye contact with me. I'd guess he might be fourteen, maybe even fifteen. His hair is blond, lighter than Peeta's. He also has light blue eyes, almost like the sky.

Effie interrupts my concentration. "It's been such an exciting day!" She makes no comment on Haymitch's absence, which startles me. Does he do this every year?

My district partner is trembling, and he's using his fork and knife to roll the carrots around on his plate.

I clear my throat. "The best thing you can do for yourself is try to put on a few pounds. You'll need all the strength you can get for the Games."

Effie beams. "Yes Katniss you're right! I'm so pleased to see a pair of tributes with respect for the Capitol's generosity. The pair last year ate like animals."

The two tributes from last year were from the Seam, I had gone to school with them all my life. The girl's family lives three houses down from mine and on the nights I can't sleep, I can hear her mother screaming from her nightmares.

Effie's comment disgusts me, so I make it a point to eat the rest of the meal with my fingers and I use my shirt as a napkin.

After dinner is over, we all retreat to another compartment to watch the recap of the Reaping.

Quietly, I observe my competition. My visits with Prim and Peeta have sparked determination for me. Seeing Prim absolutely beside herself with worry for me fills me with desperation. I have to win. I have to go home to them.

The only real threats are the Careers, and possibly the girl from Five and the boy from Eleven.

When we watch Twelve's recap, I'm pleased to see I show no fear on my face. The only emotion I show is the desperation when Prim's name is called.

I find myself studying Peeta's form intently, I watch as he rushes forward to sweep Prim away. Then again when he tries to volunteer for my partner. I take in every detail. I want something to hold onto in the Arena.

Bannor, whose name I just learned after Effie draws it, looks over at me. "You didn't look scared on that stage. And you volunteered. You'll probably get sponsors." I hear the jealousy in his voice, but also the fear.

Effie clicks her tongue. "It's not that easy. Your mentor is the piece in between you and any potential sponsors."

Bannor and I watch as Haymitch falls off the stage, then the anthem blares and the program ends. I take in her words and realize how much danger I'm actually in. Our only lifeline to the outside world is a drunk with no care or thought for anyone but himself.

As if on cue, Haymitch staggers into the compartment. "Did I miss supper?" His voice slurs to the point that I can barely make out what he's just said. To drive that point in just a little farther, he vomits all over the carpet then slips and falls in the mess.

Effie scowls, then hops around the pool of vomit and flees the room.

Hi guys! I know it's literally been a year. If you've followed me for a while you know I'm really bad about posting. I'm sorry, I know what it's like to follow a story that you love but it's not consistently updated. I've been having a lot of personal problems going on in my life since 2015. I've used art and writing as an outlet, but sometimes it just doesn't work. Still, I hope you enjoy this chapter and I hope you all forgive me for disappearing for so long. Reviews are appreciated and cherished, and they also motivate me to get more content written for you!