'Jasmine Fride!' The escort says. This can't be happening. Am I dreaming again? I pinch myself. This is real.

I can do this, I think to myself as I walk towards the stage. I can. Yeah, so much for that. And to think that only this morning I was laughing with Louisa. Louisa, well she's my best friend. She has flowing golden brown hair and is very funny. I thought I'd never be reaped. Well the Capitol can take everything away from me in just a second. Like my father. And my brother. And now my hope. And they're supposed to protect me, ensure I live a long healthy life? Well they failed. Miserably.

Anyway back to reality. I walk towards the stage, hands shaking, the sweat dripping off my face.

'Aaaw. Here she is!' My escort says cheerfully. Jeez. How can you be cheerful about sending someone to their death?

I stand and face the crowd, grimacing, waiting to see who my partner will be.

'Sawyer Diode!' The escort says. Sawyer smiles wickedly as he walks towards the stage. Yippee. I'm with the boy who is the best in our training academy. Who always gets praise, while I on the other hand get criticism. It's not my fault I can't slice a dummy's head with 99.9% precision. Jesus.

'Shake hands darlings!' Our escort says again. Oh my god, it's not even the train ride, and I already hate my escort. As we shake hands Sawyer winks at me. What's that supposed to mean? I don't even know, but I have no time to think about it as we are lead into the Justice building.