Sitting in the dark van that was taking us to the dinner, we were all silent. We had no idea where we were being taken, or what we would be subject to, but we all had the sense to keep silent. What seemed like an eternity passed before the door finally opened and the lights from the building poured in.

We were shuffled out and into what was once a convention center. The entire building was running electricity, something that I hadn't seen since even before the Capitol burned all of my family's crops. Looking at the others, I saw that most of them were mesmerized as well. My camera crew, made up of two men, was suddenly at my side, practically in my face, as the soldiers ushered us into the building.

We we taken into a back hallway, where Delco awaited us.

"Offerings, tonight you will be presented to the Capitol government. You will treat them with respect. Any attempt of rebelling, or of harming a citizen of the Capitol will result in the dismemberment of your hand from your arm." He paused for a moment. "Are we clear?" We all stood silently, none of us responding. He then continued.

Good. In a few moments, we will handcuff you. Then you will enter the meeting room.. There are 12 tables in the room. You will sit at the table with the number of your district. Later on this evening, you will be called to the stage. Go to the stage immediately. Are we clear?" Again, we responded in silence.

Good. Do not dishonor your district." Again, his eyes met mine. This time, his eyes seemed to pity me rather than despise me, though, which made me more afraid than ever.

Once I was put in handcuffs, a soldier came behind me and began pushing me forward. At the door into the dining area, I heard an announcer call my name and my district. The soldier's hands were no longer pushing me, but their presence was right behind me. My cameraman, and what I assumed was the director, changed angles every few seconds, getting my face and the crowds.

Everyone in the dining hall was completely silent, watching me as I proceeded towards table 11, where Daniel was already seated. I scanned the room, looking for the others. Each was a table alone, surrounded by Capitol citizens.

Once seated at my table, I took in those around me. There was a chair between me and the person to my right, as well as on my left. There were 6 men at the table, 6 women, and 12 children ranging from toddlers to some my age. They all stared at me, none saying a word.

After Cora and the boy from 12 were seated, the announcer asked everyone to stand to their feet. I used my hands, cuffed behind me, to propel me forward. I almost fell over into the table, but was able to catch myself.

"Please welcome your President, President Viktor Dillard." The room seemed to erupt with cheers as the president came to a podium in the middle of the stage. He was a man probably in his early 50's, but his hair was snow white. He was tall, thin, but not in a skeleton way.

"Thank you, please be seated." Everyone sat as one, and there was silence in the hall. "We all know how much we have sacrificed to achieve peace. No one in this room has been unaffected by the war. Which is why it's even more important to have the Games, in honor of the district's loyalty to the Capitol, and Panem. The Games allow us to grieve the rebellion, while still working with the districts to build a brighter future for our people. Now please, enjoy your dinner, and get to know the offerings that are paving the way for a new Panem." There was polite clapping from the audience as President Dillard joined a table set apart from all the others. The room slowly broke into quiet chatter, but no one spoke to me. At least, not at first.

"Is it true?" a teenage girl with straight, blonde hair at my table asked. Her parents must have been towards the other end of the table. Though some of the adults shot her a look at this end, none of them openly berated her. I looked at her in confusion for a moment. "Is it true that, in District 11, the rebels ate their own children to keep from starving?" A few members of the table shot her angry looks, but then returned their eyes to their plates.

"Not that I know of," I replied, watching at the Capitol citizens ate their food awkwardly, while I had no plate in front of me, and couldn't eat even if I wanted to. The handcuffs were beginning to chafe my wrists.

"So it's possible?" she continued. "That people ate their own children?"

"I guess." She shrugged, took a bite of her chicken breast, then came back with another question.

"And did you have orgies every night? Brothers sleeping with sisters and not caring?"

"Audi, stop," One of the women finally stepped in. "Honestly, you don't even know if she was a part of the rebellion."

"Well, she has to know, one way or the other, Mendal."

Mendal looked from Audi to me, then asked, "Well?"

"No, there were no orgies." I glanced behind me, remembering that my camera crew was watching. I wanted to honor my district, but I also was afraid of what they were going to do to me if I defended my district's honor. All I had to do was say the wrong thing, anything that they didn't agree with, and they could claim I'd done something that would warrant me getting my hand cut off. This may have been just an explorative outing for this girl, but I was not about to be careless.

The announcer took the stage again, asking all children under the age of 21 to leave the dining hall to go to another room. Audi stood and helped shepherd the other children out of the room; and to think, this girl was asking about orgies on a moment earlier.

Once all the children were out, the announcer called all offerings to the front. As I made my way towards the stage, I made eye contact with Delco. His stance was proud and tall as always, but his eyes spoke of something different. His eyes looked ashamed, pleading with me for forgiveness.