I sit at a new-looking desk already etched with deep scars. District Five's head Peacekeeper sits opposite me. His name is Artus, and he's was a friend of my fathers. He's trying to figure me out, get me to talk. I won't. He breaks the silence.

'Miss Layard, is it? Anya Layard?' He asks this as if he doesn't already know. I remain silent.

'Well, Anya, do you care to share with me why you were out of your house after curfew?' If you look closely, you can see that the scars make patterns and shapes.

'I was wondering if you could help us, Anya. A girl was seen in the storage unit just an hour ago, and she had a younger boy with her. The worker on duty says that the girl was collecting food; snapping crusts from bread, taking a handful of berries, a chunk of cheese. It turns out that this girl has been taking food for a while now, such meagre takings that at first we didn't notice. I don't suppose you'd know who this girl is, would you?' I have to tell myself to keep my eyes down, and not show any spark of emotion pass over my face. He leans forward and places his chin on one clenched fist.

'The worker also said that the girl had fire-red hair and sharp fox-like features. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but aren't these attributes you both share?' He watches me for a moment, then gets up from his chair and walks slowly around it. Crouching down beside me, he stares up at my face and I glance into his eyes. To my surprise the inquisitive look is gone and replaced with concern.

'Look, Anya, I can't help you if you don't talk,' he looks around the room, staring at the bare walls as if President Snow himself will come striding in, 'The worker was sleeping just before he saw you. We can pass it off as a dream if you just let me help you. You can go home and...' seeing the expression on my face, he lets his sentence trail off. He knows there's nothing left for me, not anymore. The walls hold no life, and it has been a long time since the house has held laughter. Artus straightens his long legs and crosses back to his seat just as another Peacekeeper comes into the room. He looks nervous.

'Sir? You have an important phone call on hold,' He catches his boss's gaze, 'very important.'

'Thank you,' Artus replies, his voice returning to its regular firm, authorative state 'So, Anya, I understand that it's a delicate time for you. I understand that you have nothing to do with the mishap in the storage room,' He looks from me to his colleague 'she was taking her little brother to visit their mother's grave before the reaping. I'm sure you remember the incident.' Of course he does. Everyone does. It's kind of hard to forget the screams of a twelve year old girl when she finds her mother lying crumpled on the floor surrounded by what was once live electrical wire. She short circuited the building. Our district takes care of electricity and my Mother earned her keep by fixing the broken generators. It turns out someone had forgotten to turn the one she was working on off. Or maybe they turned it on whilst she was in there. Either way, by the time I came across her charred, blackened body she was already gone. People were dragging me away as my body was racked with sobs, but I remember looking up and seeing my brother staring at her lifeless form. Just staring. That was the last time he properly looked and saw. It ruined him.

'So am I allowed to go?' I ask, preparing to leave. Artus gives me a curt nod. I try not to shake as I walk to the door and brush past the Peacekeeper still filling the frame.

'Anya?' I turn to see Artus staring at me once more. 'Tomorrow's a big day. May the odds be on your side'