Chapter 1

As the group of people walk in, I see the drunken Haymitch staring right at me and I then knew Katniss would be there too, probably headed to her death. Effie looks in my and the other Avox's direction and smiles.

"Oh, looks like they've got you a matched set this year," she says. It's because the other girl and I are both red heads. I think her name is Lavinia.

Katniss looks in my direction. At first she looks confused, but then I see it dawn on her face; she realizes who I am. I am now a mute slave of the Capitol.

Haymitch grabs her wrist in case she shows recognition of me, which would only result in my punishment. But she doesn't say anything, just stays silent. She is speechless.

We just stare into each other's eyes. I wonder what I would say to her if I could talk, probably that I was sorry she was probably destined for death. She would probably say how she wished she had been there earlier when Gale was getting whipped, so I wouldn't have stepped out, and then as a result had this done to me. I would never talk again. Never be happy or even have a little bit of freedom.

I wonder if I had been put here to unravel her. I know the Capitol wants her dead; she indirectly created an act of rebellion when she pulled out those berries in the last hunger games.

Katniss twists her wrist free of Haymitch's grip and storms off down the hall into her room. After that the red headed girl and I are dismissed to finish preparing for dinner.

Effie goes down the hall, obviously to retrieve Katniss from her room. When she comes back she is still alone. Is Katniss not coming to dinner?

Maybe she can't face seeing me. But just as the thought crosses my mind, I see her walking down the hall towards the dining room. She sits down but doesn't speak, like she is lost in thought and, no one else is around. I stand a little behind her and off to the left.

Katniss moves her hand and a bowl of peas flies off the table and before I can do anything, she is down under the table scooping up peas. I get down beside her and we are obscured from view. For a moment our hands brush and she grabs my hand and I squeeze hers, it's like we are saying all our unsaid words in that one gesture. I wish we could have had more time and be alone so I could give her a hug or write something down. But our time is up, as Effie says, "That isn't your job, Katniss!"

I let go of her hand and she returns to her place. I continue to clean up the peas and take the bowl to the kitchen. I must admit I used to have a bit of crush on Katniss even though I am a few years older than her. But it was more of admiration for her spirit, I realised.

Would I ever see her again?

Will she die this time around?

Will I get punished for knowing her?

Ok crappiest thing I have ever written but It's going up anyway (:

I could do more on Darius's life if you want. Just review and say (: I would like to say a thanks to "when-i-caught-myself" for being my beta and editing the grammar. Grammar is like my worst fear ;)