Chapter One

I don't want to be back here. Stepping off this train means I will have two children's' lives in my hands. I don't want that responsibility. I don't want the guilt when they don't make it out alive. The whole train ride was pretty much a blur. All I could think about were my games. Sweet Rue who jumped through the trees like a bird; The bakers son who joined the Career's alliance and got killed once he lead them to me; The innocent children who died at my hand. This time, though, I'm not a tribute. This time, I am a mentor. This time, I get to stand by Haymitch's side and help one of our tributes leave the arena alive. Nerves are bubbling up inside of me, but I have to quickly push them back down into the pit of my stomach. I lift my head high, like Cinna always says, and I step off the train behind the kids. The bright Capitol lights nearly blind me. Tall buildings tower over me reflecting light onto one another. Smaller buildings are each a different vibrant color. I guess I never took the time to look around the last times I've been here. Being a tribute clogs up your mind up, and when I was on the victory tour all I wanted was to be back at home. Haymitch's voice behind me snaps me out of it.

"Go on up to the apartment and start to get ready for the tribute parade tonight, I'll bring the kids to their stylists."

I obey and enter the building. Nothing has changed, of course. I find the elevator and ride it up to our floor. Exhausted, I lie on the bed and try and catch my breath because all of this is happening so fast. I only get to lie down for a minute before Cinna walks in with my styling team.

"Ready to be the girl on fire again?"

I run up and hug him because it's been months since I've seen him. I don't know why, but I always seem to miss him when we're apart. He helped get me through so much, and it's always a breath of fresh air when I see him. Trailing behind him are Flavius, Octavia, and Venia. Venia squeals when she sees that I haven't even touched my eyebrows since the victory tour. Octavia rushes over, grabs my hand to look at my nails, huffs, and then walks out to get supplies. Flavius simply touches my hair then sends me to the bathroom. The first hour consists of soaking in baths, getting waxed, and having my nails filed. The second hour is all about the important stuff. Makeup is applied, my hair is styled how they want it, and my nails are painted. Finally, Cinna walks back in.

"Ready to see what I have for you this year? It's not as elaborate as last year, because you're a mentor this time around," he winks.

I smile a big smile that only Cinna can bring to my face. He opens the dress bag and reveals a beautiful, yet simple, red dress. He helps me into it and I turn and look at myself in the mirror. It's a light, flowy material that goes down to my knees. The fabric tightens around my waist then goes back out. The neckline is wide, but it has sleeves that cuff my shoulders. It's stunning. My makeup is done lightly with just a bit of smoky eye shadow and a light red lip-gloss.

"Katniss! You're going to be late, late, late!"

I swear Effie can break glass with that high-pitched yell. I hurry out of the room, but not before thanking Cinna for the dress. Effie rushes us down the elevator and into the hallway where the kids are waiting on their chariots. Walking past all the tributes I take notes in my head. One: Both strong. Two: Both strong. Three: Emotionless. Four: Prepared, strong. Five: The boy looks smart and the girl is small. Six: Skinny. Seven: Trees, of course. Eight: They have no idea what's going on. Nine: Really confused. Ten: Scared. Eleven: They look so similar to Rue and Thresh. I stare at the tributes from District Eleven for a minute thinking back to my sweet Rue, and the boy who spared my life because of her. I shake the thoughts of them from my head so I can observe my district's tributes. Noah and Louisa. Noah is surprisingly big for being from the Seam. His father got injured in a mining accident, so Noah had to start mining before he was of age. Everyone kept his secret, but he had to work twice as hard to support his whole family. Louisa is bright-eyed girl merchant girl. She's observant, and very light on her feet. Haymitch isn't around so I guess it's up to me to give the pep talk, great. I take a deep breath and give the best advice I can.

"Just relax. Smile and wave, that's all you have to do. Effie will you bring you back up to the apartment when you're done, I'll see you there."

And with that, I turn to leave. I can't believe Haymitch left me alone! I have never done this before and he leaves me alone with them. How could he do that? He knows I can't handle this without him. When I find him, I am going to knock the drink right out of his hand. And that's exactly what I do when I see him sitting at the bar.

"Haymitch! How could you leave me alone? I have no idea what I'm doing and you didn't even show up! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You can handle yourself, sweetheart. Now get me another drink," he slurs.

"No. You're going to get sober right now," I grab his arm and drag him to the elevator and jam the button for our floor. I can feel the hot redness flushing my cheeks.

"If you can't get sober for them, at least do it for me. I can't get these kids out alive by myself. I need you to help me, Haymitch," at this point it kind of sounds like I'm begging. So what if I am, though. I know I can't do this alone.

"Okay, sweetheart. Just calm down, sheesh. I think I'll go puke now," and he staggers off into his room.

I'm pretty sure that's all the dialogue we're going to need to have about that matter. The ghosts of the last years Hunger Games flash around the room, making me dizzy. It's haunted and I can't stay, so I shuffle into the elevator. I quickly calm myself down and then get to thinking about how to make sure at least one of my tributes comes out alive. Visualizing them in my head helps me to pick out aspects of what they should focus on in training. I guess I'm so lost in my head I don't see the brick wall of a man in front of me and.. Smack!

"I'm so sor- Oh. It's you" I'm now looking up at the victor of the 73rd Hunger Games. Cato. He towers above me, looking down at me with icy blue eyes.

"Watch where you're going next time, fire girl," he says through a cocky smile.

"Yeah," I roll my eyes and move to get past him, but he catches my shoulder with his arm.

"Can't wait to see what my kids are going to do to yours in the arena," he says with a confidence that I couldn't have even if I tried my hardest. Regardless, I can feel the anger rising up through me. My hands form fists and my teeth clench together. I can't just walk away without saying something. That will make him think he's better than me, and he's not at all. So, I take a breath and look up at him and say the only thing I can think of,

"They've got me this year."