She stands near the window. She looks like a little bird about to fly away from this horrible place. Prim. Glowing like a little flower. She has her hair braided in two braids and is wearing Katniss old reaping clothes.

"You look beautiful!" I squat down next to her and hug her trembling body. She's scared. My body tenses. I will protect her. Then I notice that her blouse is tucking out of her skirt in the back. It looks like a little tail. I let her go and tuck her blouse.

"You better tuck in that tail little duck!" I smile at her.

"Quack! Quack!" she giggles loudly. I can't help but laugh.

"Quack yourself." I nudge her tummy. Then I take the piece of still warm bread out of my bag and give it to Prim. Her little innocent face lights up.

"I laid something out for you both too." I hear my mom speak from the back of the kitchen. She has laid something out for me?

"Thanks." Katniss mutters quietly. I nod speechless and make my way towards my room where I find a tub with warm water. Warm? I have to thank my mom later for heating it for me. I take my time to wash all the dirt and sweat of my body. I have never taken a bath before the reaping. I have never seen the point of it. I always went in my ordinary hunting clothes thus earning a few disgusted glances from the peacekeepers or the richer families. Not that I cared. I even wash my long thick black hair. I get out of the tub and dry myself. I take a glance at my and Prim's bed. I can't believe my eyes. An incredible white strapless dress is lying there waiting for me to put it on. This is one of mom's most treasured dresses. I have no idea why she lets me wear it. It's incredibly beautiful. I carefully put the dress on and brush my hair. I take a short glance at the broken mirror before I go downstairs. I stop in my tracks. A beautiful, elegant girl is looking back at me through the smithereens. My crystal blue eyes are like little diamonds in the dark. I shake my head and leave the room.

"Wow.. Just wow.." Katniss whispers while looking at me. I walk to her and put my arm on her shoulder squeezing it a bit. I stand there towering over her. Now I can clearly see the height difference. I'm much taller than her. I'm taller than any girl in district 12.

"You are so beautiful Callista!" Prim smiles at me "I wish I looked like you!"

"Oh no! I wish I looked like you little duck!" I giggle. That's when we hear the first siren. The horrible sound hurts my ears. It tells us that the reaping is in an hour. Prim stiffens and starts to breathe faster. I clench my fists. Katniss notices this and comes to sit next to us. She turns to Prim.

"Hey, you want to see what I got you today? It's a mockingjay pin. And as long as you have it nothing bad will happen to you." Prim takes the little round pin with her shaking hands and smiles a little.

"I promise." I suddenly add. This seems to calm Prim until the next siren. That means that we have to go. And maybe not come back. Mom quickly comes and hugs us all. She doesn't say anything. She doesn't need to. No words can help us now. Nothing can help us now.

We stand up and Prim takes a deep breath. I take her hand and squeeze it reassuringly. Katniss takes her other hand and we head out to meet our fate. I'm not scared. I'm not scared for myself. I'm terrified for Katniss and little Prim. It's her first year. She is protected as much as possible. I try to control my heartbeat.

We reach the Justice building in silence and take our places in the line. Ha. I dryly laugh to myself. Justice building? Where is the justice in this sadistic event? Posters are hanging throughout all the square like it's some kind of festival or celebration. Every year all the district 12 people do is celebrate the death of their children. I her Prim sob and look back. Katniss is trying to comfort her.

"Next." Husky voice interrupts my thoughts. I stick my finger out to the woman and feel a little sting. I keep my eyes on Prim and see her relax a little. I sight and take my place in the crowd of fifteen year old girls. All of them stare at me in awe. The boys can't take their eyes of me. I start to feel uneasy. I never liked a lot of attention. I keep looking around trying to find Katniss and Gale. I spot Katniss and she gives me a small comforting smile. I also spot Gale in the far back. His mouth is open and the blush is back on his cheeks. So he spotted me too. I wave at him but he's too breathless to say anything. A screechy voice of a very annoying woman brings me back to earth.

"Welcome! Welcome to the 74th annual Hunger Games! .. And .. may the odds be ever in your favor!" I almost throw up at the sound of this phrase. I can see two people on the stage. The annoying strawberry near the microphone and our mayor. Haymitch Abernathy is nowhere to be seen. I guess he's lying somewhere half dead. He is the only hunger Games winner left in district 12. I will never understand how he was able to win.

"Here is a special film brought to you from the capitol!" Effie shrieks in her disgusting accent. I pay no attention to the film. I keep thinking of Prim and Katniss. No matter what happens I will protect them. I have to repay them somehow for giving me a home and a loving family. They showed me what is worth living and fighting for. I owe them my life.

"Now, the time has come for us to select a courageous young man and woman, for the honor of representing district 12 in the 74th annual Hunger Games!" I can hear my heart beating loudly. My hands feel numb. My throat is dry.

"As usual – Ladies first!" The screeching strawberry walks confidently to the huge bowl of names. Thousands of names. Prim is in there only once. Once. But Katniss… I somehow manage to take a breath. I watch as a glittering pink hand reaches into the bowl and quickly takes out a note with someone's name written on it. That someone's destiny is sealed. Their time has been counted. Effie comes back to the microphone and bends out the note. I squeeze my eyes shut. I hold my breath in… and beg.. Please not Katniss.. Please not Prim.. Please not.. me.. Effie leans into the microphone and takes a breath..

I can feel myself slipping away..

I can't hear.. or see anything..

My whole body goes numb from the pain..

My blood stops in my veins..

My heart stops beating..

"Primrose Everdeen!"