I stand on the stage next to Haymitch. The town square is filled with children between the ages of twelve and eighteen. Fear is prominent on their faces, hands tremble, mothers cry.
I was with them last year, but now I get to watch. Victor of last year´s games had given me everything I could want. Prim´s dress stood out from all the others, new and expensive. Mine was the same as last year´s, my own personal rebellion.
There is not a lot of that left. The Girl on Fire has been reduced to flickering candle light, ready to die out at any moment. Every move I´ve made since our victory in the arena has been watched carefully. Peeta and I are the happiest couple alive on the screens. Even now, our fingers are tangled together, my grip whitening his flesh with its strenght.
Truth is, we don´t speak when we´re alone. He hasn´t been able to forgive me for my deception, even though I sometimes think I did love him, still do. Peeta handles the scrutiny better than I do. His life had been normal and legal, where I spent most of my life hunting in the forbidden woods close to the Seam. I haven´t fired my bow in a year.
The danger my team had warned me of has seemingly been non-existent, but I know better. Peeta can relax, he was innocent. I was the one with the plan, I am the one people want to fight with, I am dangerous. Well, they think I am.
I wish I could say that I wanted to fight, but I can't risk it. Prim is my weakness and the Capitol knows that, so does all of Panem. My cry to volunteer last year has displayed my Achille's Heel for the world to see.
I watch a gloved hand reach into the container with Girl's names, and District 12 waits with dread as Effie openes the piece of paper.
The woman can't control her reflex and she meets my eyes. She may be a from the Capitol, but she likes me, which can only mean one thing.
The Capitol is stupid.
Why? Because her reaction means that for two years in a row, Prim's name has been taken from thousands. I wonder if there are any other names at all. I doubt it.
If the three of us can keep Prim alive, the Everdeen sisters will be the symbol of the rebellion I've only heard whispers of. If she dies, the Capitol loses their bargening chip to keep me in check.
They don't think so, they think I'll still have Peeta, but they're wrong.
Effie recovers and announces the girl tribute. Prim doesn't hesitate this time, maybe she suspected it. Prim was always the thinker.
The boy tribute is practically skipped over in the confusion, but I see him. He's from the Seam, the youngest of four brothers. He's weak, sickly, the mines will kill him if the games don't. Neither of his brothers volunteer, they'd be stupid to.
Peeta and I stand behind the children, I rest my hand on my sister's shoulder.
Effie wishes us all Happy Hunger Games.
I feel the smoldering embers grow. A sea of fire rushes through my body and an inferno sets my eyes alight. Nothing left to lose, and everything to gain.
I smirk at the screen, let the world see.