A/N: Welcome back to "Welcome, welcome"! Sorry it's taken so long for me to upload this chapter, I just hope it's been worth the wait!
-Gale Hawthorne-
Mayislee comes down the stairs looking as stunning as usual. Her shocking red hair falls around her face in its natural curls and her delicate body is clothed in a green dress which Katniss quickly identifies as the dress that she wore to Finnick and Annie's wedding last year. The Mockingjay pin that belonged to her namesake sits over her heart, a small but recognisable reminder of last year's rebellion.
This year is my last year in the reaping, but the odds are definitely not in my favour.
-Katniss Mellark-
The town square is full of people when we arrive. Effie Trinket and Haymitch Abernathy are already seated on the stage, along with the Mayor of District 12, as Peeta and I hurry to join them. As I take my seat, I see Mayislee's distinctive red hair in the crowd, and Prim's blonde plaits next to her. I watch them for a few moments, and my heart drops when I realise that this could be the last time one of them stands in District 12. Mayislee turns her head to the side, and I follow her gaze. Gale is looking at her, and they blow a kiss to each other just as the town clock strikes two.
The mayor steps up to the podium and begins to read.
-Mayislee Everdeen-
It's the same story every year, so I stare across square to where Gale is stood as he looks at me, and nods when I mouth a single word to him. The mayor tells us of the history of Panem, the country that rose up out of the ashes of a place that was once called North America. He lists the disasters, the droughts, the storms, the fires, the encroaching seas that swallowed up so much of the land, the brutal war for what little sustenance remained. The result was Panem, a shining Capitol ringed by thirteen districts, which brought peace and prosperity to its citizens. Then came the Dark Days, the uprising of the districts against the Capitol. Twelve were defeated, the thirteenth obliterated. The Treaty of Treason gave us the new laws to guarantee peace and, as our yearly reminder that the Dark Days must never be repeated, it gave us the Hunger Games.
The mayor falters as he glances down at his speech. My attention is once again drawn to the stage as the mayor continues.
"Last year, 24 previous victors of the Hunger Games were forced to take part in the Hunger Games once again. This was an attempt to subdue the beginnings of a rebellion. And it failed. The six remaining victors escaped from the Arena and soon a full scale rebellion was in progress. The Capitol won, and so the Hunger Games continue."
I look straight at Katniss and Peeta, who both look sheepish at the reminder of how much trouble they caused in their first, and second, games. The mayor continues once again, reminding us of the rules of the Hunger Games, not that there are many.
The rules are simple. In punishment for the two uprisings, each of the twelve districts must provide one girl and one boy, called tributes, to participate. The twenty-four tributes will be imprisoned in a vast outdoor arena that could hold anything from a burning desert to a frozen wasteland. Over a period of several weeks, the competitors must fight to the death.
The last tribute standing wins.
The mayor takes his seat, and as bright and bubbly as ever, Effie Trinket trots to the podium and gives her signature "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour." She turns and smiles at Katniss. It's obvious that Effie would have been happier if the rebels had won, but they didn't; and so Effie is forced to be the one who reaps the children from District 12 once again.
-Peeta Mellark-
I spot Gale and Mayislee looking at each other through the crowds, grim smiles on their faces. Katniss grips my hand, neither of us knowing what will happen next.
-Mayislee Everdeen-
Effie crosses to the glass ball containing the girl's names. Effie reaches in, digs her hand deep into the ball and pulls out a slip of paper. The crowd draws a collective breath and then you can hear a pin drop and I'm feeling nauseous and so desperately hoping that it's not me, that it's not me, that it's not me. Effie crosses back over to the podium and reads out the name in a clear, but slightly shocked voice. And it's not me.
It's Primrose Everdeen.
A/N: Oh. Don't worry, you won't have to wait long for the next chapter.