Even though it has been ten years since I became the champion of the sixty fifth hunger games, I can still smell the blood in the air and holding a knife still scares the hell out of me. The day I was told there was a possibility of going back into the arena all of the memories and night mares of my kills came back to me. As the day of my final reaping came closer the night mares became more and more intense to the point where my husband Solomon would wake me from my screaming fits. the night before the reaping was no different, "Sweetheart, wake up!" he said softly as he shook me gently awake.

My eyes darted around the room because in a moment of dilerium i wasn't sure where I was and then I saw his dark brown eyes shining at me and knew it was safe, "Solomon."I breathed.

"I'm here Sweetheart. I'm here." He said as he held me to his chest and gently stroked my long red hair. After a few moments he asked me what the dream was about, even though it was clear he already knew, "Do you want to tell me about the dream."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before I told him of dreaming about my final kill in the arena and the terrifying moment my cross bow triggered and the arrow landed in my oponent's chest, "Solomon, it was horrifying watching the light leave the little girl's face." as my oponent was only twelve years old.

Solomon's eyes filled with sadness and sympathy for me, "And you're scared you're going to have to relive that aren't you?"

I just nodded as I fought back my second round of tears, "Yes. Aren't you?" I asked because Solomon was the champion from the year before I was.

He sighed, "I'm always affraid of that. But it's not going to be us. there's been five other champions since us so it's likely our names won't be called."

"But what if we are? What if the odds are not in our favor and we are tossed into the arena again." I swallowed hard because the thought of killing my beloved Solomon was too hard to imagine or the idea of seeing him killed by anyone else was equally as hard.

Solomon's eyes darkened, "then we fight. And at the end, I want you to kill me."

My eyes widened, "SOLOMON! How can you ask me to do that?"

He tucked a wayward strand behind my ear and with tears in his eyes he said, "Because I know you and I will be the last ones and our children need their mother."

"But they need their father too."

He nodded in agreeance, "I know baby. Which is why Beetee and Wiress are going to volunteer as tribute if our names are called."

My eyes widened again, "What? Why would they do that for us?" I found this outrageous because Beetee was an insane old man; as it was it was a miracle that he won the games when he did. And Wiress was a grandmother of four and a great grandmother of eight and she has hated the games ever since her year.

"Because Beetee, Wiress and I have had this plan since you came out of the ring. And Beetee has always had a lust to get back in the ring and Wiress, she's a cunning and crafty old woman who made up her mind once she found out you were pregnant with Alec and saw the healing that came through your pregnancy. She did not want to see the healing come undone and you become the person you were then."

I felt humbled at the thought of Beetee and Wires being willing to die for Solomon and myself but that made me wonder though, "So if you've had this plan since then, why did you ask me to kill you when we were the only two left."

He smiled shyly, "Because I wanted to know that you are still my kind and compassionate Sweetheart. And not that blood thirsty savage I watched in the ring."

I sadly looked away because the truth was, I was savage when I was in the ring; my trainer thought it was in my best interest if I became a predator, that way I could keep from being someone's prey, "I've changed since then Solomon."

He kissed my forehead, "I know Sweetheart. I know. But it is late, we should probably still try and get some sleep."

I nodded as i lay back down still thinking of what tomorrow's reaping could bring.

I was awoken the next morning with a loud banging noise at the door and my son at my door, "Mom, the peacekeepers are here."

My heart broke at the sight of my little boy who was shaking and white with fear but i told him, "Darling, go to Nana's room. Tell her where Papa and I are and do not come out until Your father or I are back. Do you understand?"

He just nodded his head.

"Good. Now go get your sister, and take her down to Nana's. "

"But-" he said with fear.

"Just go darling. It will be alright."

He nodded and proceeded to do as I had told him. Solomon then entered the room looking just as fearful as our son, "We have to go."

I nodded, got up from bed and dressed quickly. Then, without realizing it, I took one more look around before taking his hand and going to the meeting that would decide our fate.