Prologe: POV Katniss Everdeen, F, D12

Cato holds Peeta in a headlock. I have my arrow aimed at his head. He laughs.

"Shoot me and he goes down too." Peeta's turning blue. I have no other choice. I let my arrow fly. It hits Cato and flies into his eye. I know because that's where I was aiming. The blood is dripping into Peeta's beautiful blond hair. Cato screams, a inhumane noise, and falls over the side of the Cornucopia, holding onto to Peeta. Holding onto to Peeta. The tears drip down my face, but I had no other choice. I have my family, and Gale. Oh, Gale. I miss you. I'm so ready to come home. I drop my bow as one cannon sounds. Then moments later, so does the other. I fall down on the cold metal, and wish that the world would collapse around me. I don't hear the loudspeaker that announces me the winner. I don't hear the roar of the crowd. All I hear is my beating heart and the guilt that is forming inside me.

POV President Snow

Ahh yes. I smiled as I pulled the envelope marked 100 out of the wooden box presented to me.

I turn to the red blinking light, indicating that I am live to the thousands of citizens of Panem. I clear my throat with a small cough.

"Good evening ladies and gentleman. Welcome to the reading of the card. This year we celebrate our 100th hunger games, which is also a quarter quell. On the first year, to show that we could turn families and friends against each other, the tributes were voted on by their district. For the second quarter quell, to show that two rebels were killed for every single Capitol citizen, districts were forced to send in twice the amount of tributes. On the third quarter quell, to show that if you were a rebel, you would receive no mercy from the Capitol, no sponsors were allowed to send gifts and parachutes. Now we celebrate the fourth." I pop the golden seal open and slowly pull out the card. My quick eyes scan the paper, before I continue.

"This year, for the fourth quarter quell, all tributes will be the children of victors, regardless if the victor is dead or alive. If you are between the age 10 and 100, your name will be put in the reaping ball." I start to laugh, as soon as the cameras are off a harsh, loud, bloody sound. I fall on the floor choking. The world is fading around the edges as I struggle for breath. Yes. I welcome death. This is the end of a perfect life. I feel so good despite the pain in my chest. I hear concerned voices, but they soon fade with my final ragged breath. Yes. Yes. YES.

POV Sofia Hawthorne, 13 F D12

Damn. That's me. I'm going into that ball. I turn to my father, Gale, and see that his mouth is slightly ajar and his eyes wide. Mother looks the same as usual since her games. Teary eyed and oblivious to the world. Except now it seems different.

Oh Gosh. Oh my frick fracking freaking ficking gosh. I have just realized that it's going to be me. Well, me or Sienna, Mr. Haymitch and Mrs. Effie's daughter. And on of Aunt Madges sons! Well, Mrs. Madge. She won the 77th Hunger games. She's not really my out. Auntie Prim is! Anyway, one of Mrs. Madges sons will be going into the arena with either me or Sienna.

I start to scream. And Tyler starts to cry seeing that I'm upset. I'm so glad that he's only 's it going to be like for him possibly growing up without me? Crap. I cannot think like that. Even with the very probable chance of my death approaching, I cannot afford to think like that.

POV Toby, 15 M, D12

Oh no. Holy crap no. No. No.

The room spins I think I pass out.

Later, when I come to, the final words of President Snow come crashing down around my head. I groan and attempt to go out again. Damn it. No such luck. I'm about to call for someone, when my mother Madge comes running in.

"Honey!" she runs over and rubs her longs fingers down my cheek. "Are you ok?"

"What do you think?" I shake my head no, and the sudden tears that come are flung from my face. It's going to be one of us! How can she be holding it together? One of her sons, either me or Jackson is going to die! Suddenly I'm pissed. I push her off of me.

"Why couldn't you have just died! Then none of this ever would have happened!" I break down sobbing. She pulls into her warm chest, and I hold onto her. I feel her tears dripping onto my hair, and we just sit like that, for a while.