They're showing the pictures they took yesterday of Katniss in the gowns. I prefer the ones I created with her in mind. She looks better as her and not a creation of the Capitol. That's the part of her that shows now. She's so different from when I first met her. She's still got her fire, but it's different.
The special finishes and I go to turn the television off when Caesar Flickerman says, "Stick around for an important message from President Snow."
I wonder what it is. It's too early for anything about the Games. They aren't for another three months. Then, I remember. The Quarter Quell. They have to have the reading of the card. What's the cruel twist this time, I think. Every twenty-five years they add some twist to the Games that makes it even worse for the tributes.
Snow walks up to the podium and a smug smile plays across his face. A young boy dressed in white brings a small wooden box up to him. He opens it and pulls out a card marked with a golden 25. He speaks. "This year, the tributes were voted in by the citizens of their district." I can't imagine the betrayal the tributes must have felt from being sent in by the people from their own district. I'd much rather be chosen by chance. Next, he pulls out the card marked 50. "On this year, twice the amount of tributes was sent into the arena." That's the year Haymitch won. That must have been difficult, to have forty-seven others trying to kill you. Then he draws the card marked 75 for this year. "As a reminder to the districts that even the strongest among them cannot prevail, this year's tributes will be reaped from the existing pool of victors." Katniss, I think. She'll have to go back in. It must be a set up. This wouldn't happen otherwise. They must've done this to get back at her. They must've done it to show that even the Mockingjay isn't strong enough to beat them. They want to prove that they will always be stronger. Most people believe it and lose hope, but I refuse to. I'm still betting on the Mockingjay.