"Primrose Everdeen", Effie Trinket spoke aloud. There was absolute silence. No, not Prim. How could her name get drawn? She only had one entry, Katniss made sure of that. She starts walking toward the stage, shaking all the way. Everything feels wrong, even my breathing feels alien. Is this even real? I saw Katniss struggling to get to her, but the crowd wasn't cooperating and Prim stepped on stage. Gale was holding back Katniss, who was completely mute and wouldn't stop thrashing. Prim was still shaking as Effie asked for any volunteers. Katniss was screaming incoherently and ripping at Gale. Would he not let her volunteer? He has his hand over her mouth and she's biting him. I know what I have to do. I slowly raise my hand as my breakfast creeps up my throat. "I volunteer", I say calmly. The entire district is staring and Katniss has slipped into a trance in Gale's arms. I ascend the stairs and smile at Prim, who immediately starts to protest. She's proud, like her sister, and she won't let me die for her. "It would be my honor to compete in the Games," is all I can manage. Effie shoos Prim off stage and the Peacekeepers carry her away. "I'll bet you're Primrose's sister!"

"No, I'm Madge Undersee. I'm the Mayor's daughter." It sounds like a ridiculous thing to say, everyone knows I'm the mayor's daughter. For the first time, I look and see my father, he has tears in his eyes and is trying his hardest not to sob. Haymitch drunkenly grabs me and starts shouting something about me being bravest girl he knew. My mother faints. Mrs. Everdeen runs to her to make sure she gets medical treatment. While everyone is staring at my mother, Haymitch falls off the stage. I've offered myself up for slaughter. I haven't even officially been named a tribute and already my world is falling apart.

The peacekeepers take a moment to haul off my mother and Haymitch, Mrs. Everdeen close behind. I try to locate Katniss, but I can't see her in the crowd. Maybe they took her too? Effie is going to pull out the name of the male tribute when I see her. She's clinging to Prim with tears streaming down her cheeks. I know exactly what she's thinking. It should be her. She won't speak to Gale for a while for that stunt. Maybe never again. Why wouldn't Gale let her volunteer? Surly he knew that Prim was her whole world. I wonder if her name will be pulled again. What if it's pulled when Katniss is too old for the games? Who will save her then?

I am so lost in thought that I barely hear the name of the male tribute. "Peeta Mellark". Peeta is clearly shocked. I see him amble to the stage. He was obviously not expecting this. Two merchant kids in the games, this hasn't happened in our district since the first quell. I don't want to fight it out with Peeta Mellark; I don't want to fight it out with anyone. Honestly, I had expected this day to come sooner, but maybe I had a protection that came with being the mayor's daughter. Thoughts of the aunt I never got to meet swarmed me. I had just chosen my fate instead of it being chosen for me. Letting Prim be slaughtered would just deny the inevitable. I was always going into the arena, it was just a question of when and who it'd be with. Peeta would be a good ally. Volunteers were requested. None came forward at first, but then a very guilt ridden Gale Hawthorne stepped forward. His only sentence was "We deserve a chance at winner this year."

The time to say goodbyes came. My first visitors are my parents (mother looked slightly better than when she had fainted earlier). They cried and spoke of how much they love me and to go down fighting. How reassuring. Mr. Mellark came with kind words and cookies. Prim came after. She was sobbing hysterically. "Madge! Madge! Thank you. You shouldn't have, it was my name drawn. But oh thank you! Do well."

"Of course, Prim. I couldn't let you and Katniss be separated now could I?"

"No." Prim said through sobs. She started to sob on my neck. The peacekeepers called her away and she left with another "thank you".

The next visitor was a seam girl. I was afraid she wouldn't come. Katniss threw herself at me. I felt warmth flowing through every part of her body. "Madge, I'm so sorry. I tried to volunteer, but Gale… Gale wouldn't let me."

"Honestly Katniss, that doesn't surprise me a bit. I saw it all you know."

"Yes, but she wasn't your sister. She wasn't yours to save. I can never repay you. I can't give you for anything. Prim means…"

"I know exactly what Prim means to you. You wouldn't be able to function without her. I just couldn't let that happen."

"Time's up!" shouted the peacekeeper.

"Good luck Madge. Promise you'll try?"

My response to this was to kiss her on the cheek. I knew I wasn't making it out alive. A tear streamed down her cheek and she kissed me back with full force on the mouth. She pulled away and wiped her eyes, and then the peacekeepers pulled her away. As they were escorting to the door, I saw Gale sprint down the hall. He yelled for Katniss, but she just watched in horror. Katniss isn't the type to forgive especially when someone got in between her and Prim. Who cares if he volunteered for Peeta to protect her? Prim should've never had the chance to step in the arena. He jumped out the nearest window and took off. He was heading for the woods. He would try to make it outside the district. Everyone ran out of the building; however peacekeepers grabbed me to keep me from running off as well. I hadn't planned to run off, but I could see everything now. They couldn't catch him. His siblings looked shocked and then followed in his wake.

They dragged me inside the train and locked compartment from the outside. I couldn't cry. It was all too overwhelming. The only thing I could do was stare. After a while, I couldn't stare at the walls anymore and searched desperately for something else. My eyes settle on my pin. My mockingjay pin, or rather my aunt's pin. Mockingjays were a symbol of rebellion. Gale was certainly rebelling, but at what cost? Who would go in his place? Any of his family that was caught would be killed or beaten to a pulp. I hated him. Why was he doing this? Did he have a plan all along?

Haymitch stumbling toward my compartment as the guard's unlocked it. "So brave, Sweetheart." The drunk sat down next to me, then proceeded to stroke my hair. "You were so brave, just like before with the birds." What the hell is he talking about? He then scoots even closer to me. "I tried to stop them from getting you. But I just couldn't." He starts to take off his shirt. "It's alright, sweetheart. I'll save you this time." He got a nasty look in his eye, then proceeded to vomit all over his chest and wiped it up with his shirt. He stood up to leave. "Haymitch?"

"Yessss?"

"I'm not Maysilee. I'm Madge, her niece."

He looked toward the sky. "Sorry Maysilee. I'll try to save her. Let's hope she's not as stubborn as you."

The train started moving and Haymitch stumbled out. Great, Haymitch thinks I'm my dead aunt. Too many thoughts invade my brain and I am too exhausted to do anything but sleep.