A/N: I like to keep all my Hunger Games fanfics true to the books as possible and for them all to connect somehow. This story can be read whenever, but I recommend reading after "Sunset" to avoid major spoilers. For those who already read that one, welcome back. Enjoy!

Echoes of the Past

The Pin

The three of us, four if you count the canary, are on the floor working on our homework while we wait for the mandatory broadcast. Daffy tweets a happy song while Aster lets him climb on her shoulders.

Caesar Flickerman appears on the screen with his usual amount of energy. Already I'm annoyed. Every year he changes his hair, eyebrows, and makeup and this year he's gone with dark green but still keeps the same blue suit.

"Here at the Capitol, preparations are already well underway for what will be the biggest Hunger Games in twenty-five years. Yes ladies and gentlemen, it's time for our second Quarter Quell!"

Father goes rigid in his chair while Caesar laughs. "They're going to read the card."

Aster puts Daffy back in his cage and comes back to Maysilee and me. We don't have to wait long before President Snow is on the screen. He starts talking about things we hear every year in the Treaty of Treason. But then he changes to talking about how every twenty-five years there would be a glorified version of the games.

"On the twenty-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every district was made to hold an election and vote on the tributes who would represent it."

I look back at Father who fiddles with his pin that he sometimes pulls out but never wears. His brother was voted in that year along with a girl from the Seam, Clea Wolf. Neither one came back.

"And now we honor our second Quarter Quell," says Snow. A child comes up and holds a box of cards. He carefully pulls out a card that is marked with a 50. Without much fanfare he starts again. "On the fiftieth anniversary, as a reminder that two rebels died for each Capitol citizen, every district will send twice as many tributes."

I sit there stunned. Instead of two tributes, we will send four. It's like having our names in the bowl an extra year.

"I should get home," says Aster picking up her papers.

"We'll walk you over," I say. Maysilee gets up and follows me.

"Hurry back," says Mother. "The Peacekeepers will be on edge tonight."

She's not kidding. Four Peacekeepers rush past our house heading for the square. The uneasiness that it's not a good idea to be outside grows as we walk to the Stauntons. Her parents spot us from the window and a second later their front door opens and her father beckons us inside. "You shouldn't be out here."

When we get further in I see why. A few people sit in their kitchen supporting injuries.

"What happened?" says Aster jumping into action.

"Peacekeepers," growls Mrs. Staunton.

Screams echo outside. Mr. Staunton looks outside and then bolts the door. "It's not safe out there. You'll have to stay here tonight."

Maysilee and I look at each other. Our parents will have to understand. I just wish there was a way to let them know.

The rest of the night is spent helping the Stauntons' with their patients. All seven patients are from the Seam. None of them instigated the riot. They were just in the way.

The next morning, I am stiff all over from sleeping on the floor. At least the pillow was soft. A few of the injured start to leave when there's a knock on the back door.

"Ah, Mr. Everdeen. Come in," says Mr. Staunton.

Aster perks up a bit and I find myself smiling mischievously. She isn't the first girl among our friends to like the tall gray eyed boy from the Seam, but she is one that he actually pays attention to. While Mr. Staunton turns his back to go through his supplies to see what he needs, Cedar Everdeen steals a glance of Aster and smiles.

Right now it's fine, just a harmless infatuation. But our parents will expect us to marry a boy from one of the merchant families.

I think I know who Aster will end up with. Rye Mallark is certainly interested in her. As for me, I think that my parents are hoping that Neal Undersee and I will continue to get along. My sister won't think of anyone yet, not until she is out of the Reaping, but she'll have no problem finding someone.

Mr. Staunton turns back and names off the plants he needs.

"I'll see what I can get out there," he says. He turns to us, "Ladies."

A small sigh escapes Aster when he leaves. Maysilee and I will tease her later, but not in front of her father.

We eat our small breakfast in silence until the sirens go off. It's a summons to the square. Stuffing the last bit of toast in my mouth, I go outside. The district is already gathering, but I wait to see if I can spot our parents. When they see us, they calmly walk over, but as soon as they're in front of us we're tightly wrapped in their arms.

"It wasn't safe, Father," I say.

"I know. You girls all right?"

"Yes," I say for both of us.

"Keep moving!" a Peacekeeper barks.

Father wraps his arm around me and we walk to the square. The Head Peacekeeper stands in the center along with a man from the Seam I don't recognize tied to the post. The Head Peacekeeper shouts something about the man's crimes, but I can't understand all that he says. But I do understand the punishment as the man is whipped over and over again. At twenty lashes the man collapses and that's when the Peacekeeper stops.

"Let this be a lesson to all of you what happens when you break the peace. Now back to work!"