This shouldn't be happening.

No. No, not the Hunger Games. Of course THAT shouldn't be happening.

But in the games... THIS shouldn't be happening.

Rising up from the labyrinth underneath... to come face to face with President Snow, the Cornucopia, and a hovercraft parked next to it.

He just stood there. Smiling at us. Waiting. Was he doing it to build suspense for the watchers, or to torture us?

A minute passed. For sure. It felt like five before he spoke.

"My Tributes. I was surprised this morning to have a message from the Maker of Games."

The Maker Of Games. The illustrious title of the first Head Gamemaker.

Sadistic, Cruel, and given mostly unlimited power in his designs. His art would become the groundwork for all that would come after.

In the first game those who were reaped had their families brought to the capital as well.

Being broadcast across the sky was their youngest living family member.

They were given a directive: Kill a tribute in 24 hours, or one of your loved ones die. Kill yourself, they all die.

What he didn't mention was not defending yourself counted the same as killing yourself.

The first blood bath killed 11 tributes, and 9 of their families.

It was strange the first reaping. Almost as if it was staged. No family had less than 3 kids. Almost... well almost as if it was rigged.

Of course. It wasn't. The capital wouldn't do that.

In the first 20 minutes of the Hunger Games 61 citizens of Panem were executed.

The Maker of Games was borne.

He retired after the 24th Hunger Game, but not before playing his last trick. The...

"Apparently the Quarter Quell next year requires... a Certain preparation from this years game."

Of course. When it comes to the psychopath expect the freaking unexpected.

In the fourth games the cornucopia was filled with nothing but water bottles. Half of them were filled with poison.

It was in the desert.

It was this bastard that crafted a thousand cards to torture Panem with for the next twenty-five thousand years.

I wonder if even he realized Panem would fall before then? Or perhaps his last card reaps every living citizen?

"Of the 24 tributes in this arena, none will be declared Victor."

What? I... What? Prim! Gale!

"Instead, when there are 12 left, the games will end. These remaining 12 will become citizens of the Capitol."

50%. One out of Two. I can survive. Peeta can survive. Why? The Capitol knows NO Mercy.

"They will have the prestigious honour of joining the ranks of the game makers."

This. No. They can't be meaning to-

"In doing so they will be doing something never done next year!"

My God. Please. PLEASE.

"Next year the tributes will be the families of all the tributes this year!"

I can't breathe. Why Can't I breath. He couldn't have said.

No. He did.

Prim. Mom. They have just been reaped. Peeta's father, mother, brothers.

And I must either die here, or aid in their deaths.