Chapter One

My name is Rosemary Emerson. I am fifteen years old. I was born in the Capitol and I've lived here ever since. I hated the Games, and I wished they would end. I watched and watched, every year hoping something would happen so they would have to stop them once and for all. The people in the districts didn't deserve to be treated like this. It wasn't their fault that some of their ancestors did a terrible thing. They shouldn't have to pay for it like this. It wasn't until the Seventy-Fourth Hunger Games that I finally got what I'd been waiting for; Katniss Everdeen, the fighter; my new hope for these Games to end. I saw myself in her from saving her sister in the Reaping to the Rebellion just last year. If my little sister Gabriella was in that situation I like to think that I would save her life. She is ten years old. The new President, Plurtarch Heavensbee, has requested that we all meet in the city square because Katniss and Peeta are in the Capitol. It was a Welcome Back of sorts. There was also an announcement, but I am not too sure what that could be.

I walk to our bathroom and pull on my nicest dress. It's a blue summer dress that goes to my knees. I wore my inch high sandals with white straps. I'd been raised on designer clothing, but I always chose the basic outfits. My mother, when she and father were still alive, used to criticize me for it. She often told me that I'd be better off in one of the working districts, jokingly of course. I missed them sometimes, they had been killed during the rebellion I didn't blame the rebels or Katniss though… I only blamed President Snow, he'd brought this on. I go into my sister's room where she colors at her little white desk.

"What are you doing?" she asks.

"I'm picking you out an outfit for today." I say.

"What's today?" she asks staring at my clothes.

"Katniss and Peeta are coming, silly. Plus the President has an announcement for the citizens. We have to dress nice." I say while sliding hangers out of my way to look at each outfit.

"Oh." She said. Gabriella wasn't like me. She blamed Katniss and the rebels. She often told me she hated me when I tried to reason with her. I would never fight with her though I was all she had and she was all I had.

I found her a frilly sleeveless pink shirt and a black skirt with her pale pink flat sandals. I loved the color pale pink. It reminded me of babies which reminded me of innocence. I walked them over to her. "Let me help you with your hair afterwards." I say.

She smiles. I always did her hair, but she had one favorite style in particular. It was where her long black hair was braided then wound around into a braided bun sort of thing. I never named it, but now a thought came to me. I'd call it Gabriella. Her favorite part was after I finished the braid. I'd pick fresh flowers from the garden our mother loved so much and insert the tops into her hair. It was beautiful. Gabriella was beautiful anyway. Her long dark hair, beautiful blue eyes and the perfectly tanned skin, she looked like the female version of my father. I looked into the mirror at my reflection as she changed. I was average. I have wavy red hair like my mother. I was pale and my eyes were dark, almost black. I looked like my grandmother on my mother's side.

After I finished her hair I heard a knock at our door. I left Gabriella in the kitchen and went to answer it. It was a female guard of the President. I can tell because they still wore the Peacekeepers uniform. "Are you Rosemary Emerson?" she asked me.

I nod, "I am. Is there something I can help you with?" I ask.

"Yes, you are needed up at the President's Mansion." She said.

"What about Gabriella?" I ask. "She can't be home by herself long, she is only ten." I say.

"That's why I am here. I will stay here with her and make sure she gets to the city square on time. Now get going you need to be there before the Katniss and Peeta. They will be here in five minutes." She says.

I nod. I want to thank her, but I don't know how to word it so I leave hoping she'll explain to Gabriella.

On my way I see an old friend, Ryn Cane. She is just as confused as I am because she was being sent to the President's Mansion too. We walked together silently. I was thinking about meeting the one and only Mockingjay. That had been my only wish since after the rebellion…aside from always being able to take care of Gabriella.

When we reached the door of the President's Mansion there was a line. Twenty or so others around my age, there were boys and girls some of them I knew, others I didn't. We got in line behind the others I was at the back. Slowly the line disappeared. Finally, I was the last one outside. I was extremely curious now. What was going on? I stood there and I heard walking on the stones behind me. I turned around and I saw them, Peeta and Katniss.

"Hello, Katniss, Peeta." I say.

He smiles, "Hello, what's your name?"

"Rosemary Emerson." I say. "Katniss, I just want to say that I am glad that you finally were able to put an end to those Games. I hated seeing you people from the Districts suffering every year.

"That's a nice name." Peeta says.

"Thank you." I say.

"There were people in the Capitol that actually wanted the Games to end?" Katniss asked me, bewildered.

I nod. "I've always hated the Games. I didn't think it was right for you to suffer for the mistakes of your ancestors. There were so many things that could have been avoided if the Games wouldn't have happened. I say. "I've wanted to meet you two for a long time." I say.

"Wow, I can't believe I am actually taking to a Capitol child who doesn't hate me. All the others certainly hate me." She says.

"No, they just don't understand you." I say with a smile. I'd always been something of an optimist. I loved to look on the bright side.

"Thank you, Rosemary." Katniss said looking away from me.

I didn't know what exactly, but I could sense that something was wrong. Was I annoying her? Did she want me to hate her? I shook my head. No, she just isn't used to it…. I tell myself.

I am brought back to my senses when the door creaks open behind me. "Are you Rosemary Emerson?" a voice questions. I turn to face him.

"Yes." I say.

"Okay, follow me." He says. He looks past me. "Peeta! Katniss! Come on in no need to stand outside!" They looked at him and slowly made their way through the door past us. I saw Katniss glance back at me. Maybe she was scared about being back in the mansion that once belonged to her enemy…