Chapter 2

My family is all curled up on the couch, except for Ash. He is sitting on the separate recliner. Dad is holding me tightly, a little too tight, but I let him because I'm afraid. Mom is holding Rose's hand. One minute until it is 6:30, Ash turns on the T.V. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The Panem anthem goes on and Dad squeezes me tighter. I see mom squeeze Rose's hand tighter, too.

President Cam walks to the podium. "There has been a terrible catastrophe in District 5." They show a clip of hovercrafts taking and shooting at the people. Dad covers my eyes, but I shoo his hand away because I'm 13 and don't need to be babied anymore. The screen goes back to President Cam. "I wish to make this quick, for I hate disrupting you all. This is a foretaste or preview of what will be going on around this time next year. The Hunger Games is back on!" President Cam says in a spirited voice. Mom and dad look at each other. I see them trying to retain their fear. Mom has told me how glad she was about the Hunger Games being gone because she feared us, her children, having to go through what she and dad went through.

"How is this so? Didn't they make a memorial where the arena used to be?" asks Dad.

"We will be spending this year making a new arena," says President Cam, as if answering dad's question. This makes mom feel even worse because the arena will be much harsher than any other because it's brand new. Harsher arena means harsher deaths.

"Katniss, it's been 24 years since the 75th Hunger Games, but next year… it'll be 25 years," Dad says to Mom in a melancholy sounding voice. Mom lets out a small wince and so does Ash and Rose, but I'm not sure what this means.