Thank you so much for the reviews! I really appreciate it! Can't believe people found this story, with so many updates it was gone from the top of the page in like half an hour!

I've already wrote quite a lot for this story so updates should be quite quick and regular, I thought I'd put this chapter up quickly because it kind of explains what direction this story is going in a lot better.

Please Read and Review!

***Chapter Two***

Gale couldn't help but feel like the ghost of his old friend's journey. He was walking in her footsteps, down the same long and lonely corridors escorted by silent guards; hearing the same echoes of his life in district 12 dwindle away, as he stepped into the identical train as she had one year ago.

He couldn't describe the uncomfortable feeling that had settled into his gut as he stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. The train had pulled slowly away from the station and Gale stole a few glances of his district as they left it behind. The room he was in was far to lavish for his liking, not even the copious amounts of gourmet food could tempt him to move from his spot by the door.

Gale tried to imagine Katniss in this room, and what she did when she first stepped in. He imagined she, much like him, stayed silent and took in all the alien objects around the room, refusing to sit and take part in the conversation with the mentors.

At the thought, his eyes dropped to the old man sitting in one of the oak chairs around the table. Looking as though he had not a care in the world as he stuffed a bread roll into his wide mouth, the man was named Haymitch Abernathy. Gale had heard of him before when Katniss told him small stories of her time away. She never truly told Gale the extent of her time in the games, a fact that angered him slightly; perhaps he could've felt more at ease with his situation if she'd divulged every detail.

She mentioned this man a few times though, how much he'd helped her and seen her through till the end. Telling how he had sent her gifts that kept her alive and encouragement to carry on. Katniss rarely gave out compliments and so Gale trusted that this man really could be of some use to him. However, as Gale watched the old man swig from a liquor flask, he had to wonder whether Katniss had been mad to believe in this drunken oath.

"Sit down lad!" Haymitch roared as he sloshed his drink in an effort to wave Gale over to the table. "This little girls putting away so much there might not be any food left!"

At his words the girl sitting beside Haymitch dropped the roll in her hand and blushed as she looked down to her lap. Gale couldn't blame her for shoving food in her mouth like it would disappear; back in the district food did disappear and at his thoughts his stomach rumbled in protest against his cruel and unnecessary starvation.

Haymitch surveyed Gale with a dazed look as he took his seat and began slowly filling his plate. "Your Katniss's friend, aren't you?"

Gale had to swallow extra hard as the food in his mouth was almost spat out in shock at the old man's words.

"She told you about me?"

"That you were her hunting partner."

Gale kept his expression blank as he nodded his head in answer. Of course that's all she said about him, after all they were just hunting partners, and he was learning that all too lately.

Haymitch wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and slapped his thighs, "she said that you were pretty useful with snares, and shooting, perhaps you might have a chance."

"As for you," Haymitch turned in his chair and faced the younger girl, Patricia, "what can you do?"

The girl looked across at Gale and blushed again. She'd always seen him around the district; most of the districts girl's tended to take notice when he was around, and had always had a secretive crush on the handsome older boy. She remembered countless meetings with her friends and they'd stand in a small group and giggle about how strong he looked and what it would be like to kiss him.

Now sitting across from him she realised how silly she'd been. He was far too old to be interested in her and she could clearly see the pain on his face whenever Katniss was mentioned, everyone knew he had a thing for the pretty brunette.

"Um... I can run." Patricia blushed once more when Haymitch burst out laughing and shot her an exasperated look. "Great, got a winner here."

Gale found the old man's antics cruel and shot the little girl a reassuring smile, "I think running's essential in this game, it could help you." Patricia gave him a grateful look and continued eating the huge amount of food still stacked upon her plate.

An overwhelming scent filled Gale's nostrils and he wrinkled his nose against the smell, he already knew where it was coming from and briefly closed his eyes in annoyance at the strange women's entrance.

Effie Trinket. Gale could recall the numerous occasions in which he would laugh with Katniss as they mocked her high pitched and pretentious voice. Not only did she dress in the strangest way but her mannerisms and character always came off a bit mad in Gale's books. He didn't like her one bit and the thought of having to spend so much time with her in the coming weeks made Gale almost pray the games could begin sooner.

"Aw, look at my beautiful tributes!" Effie gushed as she swooped into the carriage and stood beside Gale, her eyes studying his face as her hands came up to grip the sides of his head. Gale had to try hard not flinch as a sickeningly sweet smile spread across her lips.

"Aren't you handsome? I think you'll have to win, I don't think I could stand to see such a pretty face destroyed."

Forgetting his pretence of politeness, Gale ripped out of her grasp with a snort of disgust. He threw himself away from the table and went to stand in the far corner, facing the windows. If Effie was insulted by his behaviour she didn't let it show as she moved straight onto the girl, excitedly gasping at how precious the young girl was.

The view from the train soon became obscured as they began to descend into a tunnel, the light that filled the room became extinguished and Gale held his breath in response. This was one of the few things Katniss had mentioned, the darkening of the train and then the startling flashes of camera's and screaming of the already adoring fans as the train came to halt in the depths of the Capitol.

Just as Katniss had told, light flooded into the room and Gale had to turn away from the bright flashes of photographers as the train came to a sudden stop. Gale sucked his bottom lip in as he tried to calm his jittery nerves. In less than a minute he would have to walk through a mass of sadistic people who acted out heartache so convincingly for the tributes that it was almost believable, until that is, they place bets on who is first to die.

Haymitch grabbed Gale by the shoulder and steered him forwards until he was standing beside his district partner. Patricia looked absolutely terrified with tears glistening in her pale blue irises and as Gale gazed upon her, a sudden and malicious thought entered his mind; Her tears make her look weak, she'll never survive. Realising that he too probably looked just as weak with his shoulder slouched forwards and his forehead creased with worry, Gale decided it was time to start playing along with this disturbing game.

Straightening his back and puffing out his chest, he clenched and unclenched his fists tightly, willing the veins to pop out which resulted in his muscular arms protruding even more impressively. Fixing his expression to resemble a look of pride and slight arrogance he turned the corner of his mouth up in a smirk just in time for the carriage doors to open and for the screams of thousands reached his ears.

As he stepped out with his shoulders set in a broad stance he glanced back at Patricia who was frozen in her place. His first idea was to ignore her, decide that it was every tribute for themselves and her weak physique would hinder not help him in the games. However as her glistening eyes met his, he felt a stab of pity in his heart, he hated to admit just how much she reminded him of his own sister.

"Come on." He stepped back and held out his hand to her, trying to convey his best reassuring smile. "Be strong."

Her small hand clasped in his as the cameras began shooting their exchange in a frenzied attack to try and get the best picture. Gale ignored them as he continued forwards with the small girl. He could see a group of women, scantily dressed, by the railings barring the crowds from overrunning the pathway. Gale shot them a dazzling smile and resisted the urge to roll his eyes as they swooned in response, some of them clearly old enough to be his mother.

"This is horrible." Patricia whispered, she'd always hated attention due to her shy nature, and walking through a crowd as one of the spectacles was something she never would have wanted for herself.

"It'll be over soon, look there's the end." He motioned to where Haymitch and Effie were now waiting impatiently for them. As they stepped up the small set of stairs they paused on the platform and turned around. "Give them your best smile." The pair heard Haymitch murmur before they all disappeared behind the next door.

Gale breathed out a long sigh of relief now that he could drop the charming expression he'd adopted. Haymitch clapped his hands together and grinned, "that was exciting, they loved you."

He aimed the comment at Gale and again ignored Patricia who was starting to realise she was thought of as a lost hope. More tears stained her cheeks and she felt Gale give her hand a soft squeeze before dropped it and turning to face Effie.

"What now?" Gale regrettably spoke to the crazed woman for the first time. Effie showcased her pearly whites in a sinister looking smile.

"Interviews."

"What?" Gale growled sharply, although he'd always made an effort to not watch the games, he knew that the interviews were right before the games began, definitely not this soon in their arrival.

Haymitch frowned, "Don't be daft Effie, they're not for another few weeks yet." Clearly he had no idea what was going on either which made Gale relax slightly.

Effie pursed her lips, looking utterly delighted that she knew something that no one else did. "There's been a change of plans. There's a surprise in store and the interviews have been brought forwards."

"Does that mean the games have been brought forwards too?" Patricia cried out, her arms wrapping around herself in a self protective manner. Effie shook her head and assured them they still had a few weeks before the fighting began. The trio followed Effie down a long corridor and it was only once Gale had stopped pressing the old woman for details that he could hear a distant roar of a crowd.

"We're not even dressed properly." Gale snarled, he was still wearing his reaping clothes that were now dusted and wrinkled, there was even a food stain at the bottom, was this some kind of trick to make him look bad in front of the capitol?

"Everyone will look like you do, and trust me the cameras won't be focusing on any of you."

Gale glared at the back of head at her cryptic words and rolled his eyes to the ceiling. If this was what Katniss went through, he was surprised she managed to bite her sharp tongue and not get herself into trouble. He was having trouble containing his temper and he'd only been gone less than a day.

Finally with a small push from Haymitch, Gale and Patricia were both thrown from the back stages and into their spot light at the end of a stage. Gale first registered the many faces of the other tributes that were all standing in a curved row, their eyes swooping over him and Patricia, sizing them up as competition. Before Gale could do the same however his name boomed and reverberated off of the huge walls of what looked to be a stadium packed with capitol beings.

He looked up and was annoyed to see his face filling up the huge screen behind them, the camera was on him right that second and he quickly decided it was time to show his game face once more. Plastering on what he hoped looked like a charming smile he raised his hand in the air in a small wave, resisting the urge to make the symbol of his district with his fingers.

A roar of approval met his ears with various screams of his name from what he could see were flatteringly beautiful women. Patricia was next and Gale took the opportunity to look back at the other tributes, some had looked away and were now fiddling with their thankfully dirty attire, Gale was glad he wasn't the only one wearing unflattering clothes. However there were some tributes still eyeing him up, a huge brute of a man in particular who was flexing his huge arms and smirking as he caught Gale watching him. Gale watched as the brute held up his arm and slowly drew a finger across his neck, obviously attempting to scare Gale. Gale sent back his best ice cold glare but was soon preoccupied with the girl that was standing next to the brute.

She looked completely out of place standing next to that cold man; unlike him she was slight and had an aura of innocence about her. She, like most other tributes, apart from the careers, looked anxious and shy with her head bowed down and long tresses of blonde hair fell down, hiding her eyes. She was shifting from one foot to the other and looked to be edging away from the brute, as if she felt his eyes upon her she looked up to meet his gaze. Gale drew in a sharp intake of breath at the sight of mesmerizing emerald green irises, and found it hard to draw his gaze away. It was her however who broke the contact as she looked back down at the ground, her hands bunching up the fabric of her long pale pink dress, giving away her stressed demurred state.

Gale only wished he hadn't been put on stage last so that he could've caught her name, though he decided that he would make sure to watch the highlights later just so he could learn it.

There wasn't much more time to think about the angelic girl however as the man they'd all been silently waiting for made his appearance. Caesar made his grand entrance surrounded by beautiful dancers and laughed in delight at the audience's reaction as he stood at the very front of the stage.

He peered back at the tributes, smiling at them one by one as the crowd died down enough for him to be heard through his glittering microphone.

"Don't our tributes look fabulous this year?" He bellowed raising his hands in excitement. Gale winced at the high pitched screams emitting from the crowd and wondered just how long he was going to have to stand on this stage for.

Again Caesar waited until the crowds fell silent before raising one stencilled eyebrow and smiling slyly. "Wait... I think there are a few missing!"

He let a sense of confusion wash over the crowd and the tributes as they all began to count how many of them were on the stage. When they reached the correct number of 24, a slow buzzing of disagreement filled the air but Caesar held up his hand and wagged one finger back and forth.

"You think all our tributes are on the stage?"

Like in a pantomime there was a resounding 'yes' from the audience and as Caesar smirked into the camera, remaining silent, Gale felt his stomach knot uncomfortably, was this the surprise Effie was talking about? What was going on? Gale looked down the line of tributes to see each looking just as baffled as he felt, even the careers were glaring at each other in puzzlement.

"I think you'll be surprised to know, there are some tributes missing!" Caesar's voice was low as he tried to keep the suspense going, "and I think they have just arrived!" His voice boomed as a long crash came from the end of the stadium were two huge doors swung open.

Gales heart plummeted and his jaw dropped open as he watched the scene unfolding in front of him. The stadium was silent as everyone watched in shock as a pair of tributes walked through, then another pair after that, then another and another and another. The line was on going and they marched in sync to the thunderous music pouring through the grainy speakers.

"What the hell." Gale cursed, looking down at Patricia who was transfixed by the sight of the tremendous lines of tributes heading up to the stages.

"There are thousands!" An original tribute and a career yelled, stepping out of line in anger. He was swiftly pushed back in by some guards and Caesar let out a deep chuckle.

"Not quite a thousand, but they do make our tribute count an even 100."

Caesar let the news sink in and as the crowd began to hum in excitement he began to explain.

"After the excitement of two district tributes winning-" Gales stomach did a somersault as a large image of Katniss appeared on screen. "-we felt the games needed shaking up a bit. We needed to do something different and better than ever before!"

Caesar continued with a gleeful look, "so the game makers firstly decided that there weren't enough tributes... now we have 100." A loud applause followed his words and Gale felt sickened by the news.

"Secondly they felt the games didn't last as long, it's no fun when the games end early. So they wanted to extend the games. More tributes, an even bigger and more impressive arena and a whole lot more entertainment!"

There were dark spots in Gale's vision as he strained to take in proper breathes, his lungs burned from the lack of oxygen but the shock to his system was overpowering his will to function properly.

He jumped as he felt small fingers grip his hand, looking down with a dazed expression he saw Patricia crying beside him, her tiny hand grasping onto his for strength.

"I'm going to die." She whispered softly, not caring that we weren't supposed to talk to each other.

Gale's eyes unconsciously floated towards the blonde angelic girl from earlier and his eyes widened once he saw her staring back at him. She looked just as flummoxed and hopeless as everyone else but somehow, through all the pain evident in her brilliant green eyes, she still managed to send him a smile, though he could see the sadness laced within her expression.

"We all are." He looked back at Patricia shaking his head, "we don't stand a chance."

So there we have it! The Games are going to be bigger and more frightening than ever!

Hope you enjoyed reading and would love to hear your thoughts on the story so far!

Thanks!