Chapter 1

In my nightmare, I stand in the pen of 12-year-old girls. Effie Trinket crosses the stage to the girls' Reaping ball.

"Ladies first!" she says. Her hand plunges into the bowl and pulls out a slip of paper. "Primrose Everdeen!"

I stand frozen to the spot. This can't be happening.

"Primrose Everdeen!" Effie calls again. "Where are you, dear?"

The crowd parts and I feel myself walk forward. Up the stairs. Onto the stage.

"Hello, Primrose! District Twelve, say hello to your newest tribute!" The crowd cheers. I desperately scan the masses of people for my sister. But Katniss isn't there.

Effie calls a name I don't know, then my heart leaps with fright as a huge boy walks onto the stage. His muscles bulge under his shirt. His eyes are cold. His gaze settles on me and slowly and deliberately he walks forward, pulling a knife from his belt. What is he doing? He raises the blade. Is he going to kill me? But he can't! That's against the rules! The blade starts coming down toward my head.

"Katniss! Katniss!" I scream. She'll save me! "Katniss! Katniss! Please! Save me! Katniss!" But she doesn't come. She's not here. "Katniss!"

"Mrow?" The scene vanishes and I am back in bed with my mother and Buttercup.

"Thank you," I whisper to my cat. "You saved me."

I sit up and cuddle him. The other bed is empty. Katniss is already gone, along with the cheese I left for her. She's hunting now, to bring us food for our feast tonight.

I try not to think about the Reaping later today as I get up. I carefully cut some bread and cheese for Mother and myself. I am just setting down the plates when she comes up to me.

"Good morning, Prim," she says, smiling softly.

"Good morning, Mother," I reply.

We eat our meal then Mother says, "It's almost eleven thirty. We need to get ready."

"We slept in that long?" I say, surprised. I didn't think to look at a clock when I got up.

"Yes."

She crosses the room to the rickety chest of drawers and pulls something out of it. She holds up a skirt and ruffled blouse and eyes it. Nodding, she lays it on the bed and pulls out two dresses, which she also lays on the bed. Then she turns to me.

"All right! Time to wash!" I can tell she's trying to be light hearted for my sake. I appreciate it. I'm so nervous, I feel like I'm going to explode.

Mother gets some water and puts it on the stove while I unbraid my hair. She tests it with her finger, then pours it into our tub. I undress and climb in.

"Mother?"

"Hmmm?"

"Do you think – will it – what if-"

"Oh, honey, you're not going to get chosen."

"What about Katniss, then?"

"Well…"

"She's got twenty slips in there!"

"It's not much of a chance, Sweetie."

"Still – what if-"

"Prim, there's always going to be a 'what if'. We are never certain." "But I'm sure –"

"But you just said you can't be sure!"

"This conversation is over. Talking about it won't do anything. You're just getting anxious."

"Okay."

Mother helps me wash, scrubbing me with soap and putting a small amount of precious shampoo in my hair. When I emerge, I'm squeaky clean.

I'm handed a towel, then led to the bed.

"This was Katniss's first Reaping outfit. I think it will fit you… If not, we can pin it."

I dress in the blouse and skirt, which are too big, so Mother ends up pinning. Even so, I can't keep it tucked in back.

Then Mother does my hair in two French braids and I pull on stockings and my fancy black shoes.

I sit down and pet Buttercup as Mother bathes. When she gets out, she says, "Why don't you go milk Lady so we can have milk for lunch?"

I agree and walk outside to where Lady is, Buttercup trailing behind me.

"Hello, Lady!" I say. "Do you have some milk for me? Huh?" She does. When I walk back in, I'm carrying a full bucket of milk.

"Oh! You look so pretty!" Mother is wearing a lilac dress that I guess came from when she worked in the apothecary.

"Thank you, Prim," she replies, then takes the milk and puts it in a cool place.

I watch as she comes to our mirror, sits, and braids her hair. I wish I could braid my own hair, like her. She has just finished when Katniss comes in.

She washes, then stares at the dress Mother has laid out for her.

"Are you sure?" she asks.

"Of course. Let's put your hair up, too," Mother replies. She dries Katniss' hair, then braids it in an elaborate hairstyle against her head.

"You look beautiful," I say in a hushed voice.

"And nothing like myself," she says, then hugs me. "Tuck your tail in, little duck."

I giggle and say, "Quack."

"Quack yourself," she says, laughing. "Come on, let's eat." She plants a kiss on my head.

We sit at the table, and I smell the stew Mother must have put on while I was milking. I serve the milk and some tessera bread. We don't eat much.

At one, we leave for the square. I'm so frightened I feel like I can barely function. Katniss gently guides me to the sign in station and then to the twelve-year-old girls pen at the back. Just like my nightmare. But Katniss is here, I tell myself. She won't let anything happen to you.

More people press in on me from all sides and I begin to feel slightly claustrophobic. This does nothing to help my mounting panic.

The clock strikes two. The mayor steps forward and reads the history of Panem. I don't listen. I've heard it a million times and I'm too afraid to focus on anything. Then the mayor introduces Haymitch Abernathy, who tries to hug Effie Trinket.

The mayor quickly introduces Effie Trinket. She trots to the microphone and says, "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor." She talks about what an honor it is to be here, then crosses to a glass bowl. "Ladies first!"

Not me, not me, please not me.

Effie walks back to the microphone.

Not me, not me, please not me.

She smoothes the paper.

Not me, not me, please not me.

"Primrose Everdeen!"

A/N: So the first few chapters are going to be mostly Prim's perspective on what is happening to Katniss, but soon it will be her doing her own thing, so please stay with me. And please R+R!