5 years after the 20th Hunger Games:

It is the day of being reaped for the first Quarter Quell. We were being reaped from the victors. There are only three victors from Disctrict 9. Me, Jay Pitrock, Cliff, a girl named Belle Littlebrook. I had won the Hunger Games five years ago. I am currently twenty years old. I have a metal leg. I lost the real one to the boy from District One in the 20th Annual Games.

This year is the 25th Annual Hunger Games and the first Quarter Quell. We went straight to the train. It took twenty-four full hours to reach the capitol. Cliff was the mentor again this year. Hannah was our escort. Colt was still my stylist. I was ready. I was going to use the sword this year. I was going to win again. I hoped.

We got off the train, met be cheers. We went up to District 9's floor in the tribute center and then to our stylists. We were getting uniforms for the chariot ride.

My costume contained of wheat-like shorts and wheat colored shoes. I had bracelets made of wheat too. There was no shirt.

When I got on the chariot, I patted the horse and saw that Belle had a wheat dress, wheat colored shoes, a wheat crown, and wheat bracelets. I noticed her studying my own outfit. I chuckled when I saw the look on her face.

The chariots went out. All of the tributes wearing something about what they did in their districts. There was cheering and whoops. I even heard some people whistle. When we reached President Snow's balcony, he said, "Welcome back, victors! We wish you all luck in the 25th Hunger Games."

Then the horses took us back into the room we'd come from.

The next day, we started our training. It was the same as last year. For my personal assessment, I showed the gamemakers my sword skills. I earned a nine for it.

One the day of the interview, the day before the Games, I waited backstage. I walked to other victors. Some congratulated me on my win in the 20th Games. I thanked them and smiled. We wished each other luck, when the games began. The careers were already planning for in the arena. Not sure how they did. We didn't even know the environment yet.

I watched Belle come back through the doorway. Then I heard my name called. I walked through the doorway, nearly tripping on my metal leg. I pumped my right fist into the air. There were many cheers. I sat down when Caesar did. He had red hair this year. I remembered that he had orange last year, though it was hard to remember.

"Are you ready for this year, Jay?" The first question from Caesar didn't surprise me.

"I feel ready. Now that I have a metal leg, it'll help me in fighting a little more. Makes me more confident, but doesn't take away any of the fear."

"Do you think you will win again?" Caesar asked me.

"No. Definitely not. I barely won my first games." I answered. "And all of these guys are experienced killers. I might as well try though. Might kill a couple."

"Do you think your dad misses you?"

"Of course he does." I chuckled at the question. "He'd never not miss me. He's probably crossing his fingers and hoping I don't die."

"In the chariot parade, what was your costume?" Caesar questioned.

I laughed. "I was a piece of wheat."

"I thought so." Caesar grinned. We stood up and I pumped a fist into the air.

I walked backstage just as the girl from ten went out. I grinned at Hannah.

"Good job." She told me.

"Not too hard to talk to a whole nation." I shrugged. "Easier than losing a leg."

We went back to our floor and ate. Later, I found myself on the roof of the tribute center. I slept there and woke up at 6:00 A.M.

I went down to the first floor and out of the building. I went to Colt's stylist room. He hugged me. "Good luck today. May the odds be ever in your favor."

I gave a small smile. "Thanks, Colt. I hope they will be."

He gave me the outfit for when I am in the arena. It was a white tank top and black pants. We flew to the arena in the hovercraft and got my tracker injected into my arm. We went to my tribute room. I got in the tube and let it lift me up.

The arena was a dome. There was a lake in the middle. A cornucopia was in the middle of the lake. There were pedestals surrounding it. We each stood on one. I listened to the beating timer. I spotted a sword in the cornucopia. I was going after it first. Then I was going to swim to the beach and head into the rainforest surrounding the lake. What a fun arena. I hear the last twenty numbers of the timer. I braced myself to swim.

Twenty. Nineteen. Eighteen. Seventeen.

My breathing sped up in fear and dread.

Sixteen. Fifteen. Fourteen. Thirteen.

I tried to relax. Tried not to be afraid of my fate.

Twelve. Eleven. Ten. Nine.

Relax. Just relax.

Eight. Seven. Six. Five.

I felt the tension in my muscles.

Four. Three. Two.

One.

"May the odds be ever in your favor."

Go!

I leapt off the pedestal and into the waters, swimming towards the cornucopia.

Kill or be Killed.