Note: I will use a few different POV's, so not only Katniss'. :) Thanks for reading and please review.
Chapter 1 – Punishment
Katniss' POV
Hundreds of innocent eyes are staring at Peeta and me, when we walk onto the stage and take our seats. It takes me a few seconds to realise that our names have been written on our small wooden chairs and that I'm sitting on the mayor's place. Fortunately my name is hanging next to Peeta's, which comforts me a bit, even though it hasn't been that long since we started talking to each other again. Several months of thinking, sleepless nights and a few not so romantic moments with Gale made me realise there's only one person with who I feel completely safe, the baker's boy sitting next to me. Gale is still my friend though, but now he is obligated to work in the mines six days of the week, we barely get a chance to talk anymore. Yet that's the least of my worries at the moment.
I always knew this day, the first Reaping after our rebellious victory, would come, but I hadn't prepared myself for the sickness I would feel looking at every scared child and thinking he or she could be sent into in the unforgettable nightmare I went trough. And this year is a Quarter Quell, of which President Snow doesn't want to tell what makes it so special this year. Makes the whole situation a thousand times worse. For the last few months I had daily passed by my old school, unable to think about anything else then that the world of two of them will be falling apart on this particular day. A moment I even thought Prim would be chosen, because of the stunt Peeta and I pulled, but he assured me that they won't pull the same name two times in a row. That's at least one year, I don't have to worry about her.
I search for Peeta's hand and intertwine my fingers with his. "We'll get trough this, Kat. I promise.", he whispers, after which he gives me a soft kiss on the cheek. He's probably right, we'll get trough this, with Haymitch' help. If he ever get's here though, I think he's still lying on the floor, drunk. On the other hand, Effie would never let that happen with her tight schedule. Right that moment the three of them set foot on the stage. The mayor and Haymitch walk to their places next to us and Effie – who seems to have dyed her hair in a blue-ish colour this year – rushes towards the microphone, standing between the two bowls with the names of the boys and girls of our district in them. Haymitch shortly pats me on the shoulder, but focuses on the video that has started. His alcoholic smell is more overwhelming than ever.
After the promotion video of the Capitol, Effie begins her usual speech. "Welcome, welcome and Happy Hungergames everyone." I barely hear anything she says, while I keep focusing on the bowl with names in front of us. Peeta squeezes my hand after some time as a sign I need to hear this. Apparently the only thing that's special about this year's Quarter Quell, is that the arena will be extraordinary and some new rules will be applied. Rules we will get to hear once the Hungergames have started. "And now, let's pick the name of the male tribute that gets to represent district 12 this year." Boys first? That's odd. Effie always picks the girl tribute first; it's one of her many rules. Peeta looks at me and seems just as confused as I am. Why would she...? She's trying to warn us. Oh no. Panic takes over Please, not Prim. Don't say Prim's name next.
"Maron Lake." A name I don't know. Immediately I search who it is in the crowd, scared that it's going to be a little boy and that that's the reason why I don't know him. But it's just the contrary. Maron appears to be quite tall and looks very strong; he actually looks like he can really win this. When he walks towards Effie, an older woman starts crying and screaming, his mother probably. I immediately feel sick again, thinking of all the fear she has to go trough now. In my mind, I promise her that I will do everything I can to make him win.
"Now, for our girl-tribute.." Effie loses her forced smile. She knows whose name she has to say. She knows it and she's not happy about it. "Katniss, you're killing my hand.", Peeta whispers again. I look down and see how both our hands look red, because I have been squeezing his as hard as I can, without realising it. I softly apologize, although I don't seem able to talk properly anymore. When I look up again, Effie already stands in front of her microphone.
"The girl who get's the honour of being this year's tribute is..", she hesitates for a second, "Rose Hales!"
Rose. Another name I don't know. Yet I know without a doubt, this is a message from President Snow, just for me. The white rose he left me after his visit at my house, another rose after I had kissed Gale. He's sending a threat and I'm the only one who realises it. A shiver runs down my spine. This innocent girl is probably going to die, because of me. Suddenly it's Peeta that is hurting my hand and I immediately see why. Rose, who seems barely 16, is waddling up the stairs with difficulty because her large belly is blocking her way. She's pregnant, heavily pregnant. Now she has to go into the arena and that's all my fault.