A/N: I'm sorry I took this long to update, it's just that I had writer's block, and I'm being swamped with homework. DX Anyway, I hope you like this! R&R! :D
~Fire
My feet are unsteady as I walk to the living room. Peeta's steady hands are on my shoulders, pushing me in the direction of the couch. I sink into the cushions of the sofa, my eyes fastened to the T.V. Peeta sits next to me, and Violet and Ash sit on the floor in front of us. Ash's face is neatly composed, but his eyes tell me the truth. He's just as afraid as the rest of us.
Violet's eyes are watering, but she takes a deep breath before looking at the T.V. screen. The Presidential seal flashes across the monitor before I'm staring into the eyes of the only man I truly hate. His ice blue eyes haven't changed at all; they still show the hatred and contempt they did all those years ago. The only thing about him that changed was his hair. It was all grey, and his face should have shown signs of aging, but in the Capitol, all the citizens get injections so they look younger. I hate them all with a burning passion.
Snow sits at a luxurious mahogany desk, with paperwork in front of him. In a corner of his desk sits a yellow flower in a crystal vase. But it's not just any flower, and my mind goes vacant as I realize what type of flower it is. It's a springtime primrose. I feel my face go pale as I remember Prim, and how she was brutally and viciously robbed of life. I know he placed the flower there just to put me on edge. President Snow clears his throat and opens his mouth.
"Good evening, citizens of Panem. Tonight, I'm coming to you live from the Capitol for a very special announcement. Tonight is the night the chosen tributes are revealed! But first, let's find out who's the Gamemaker this year! Ladies and gentlemen, I present this year's Gamemaker: Gale Hawthorne!"
My blood turns to ice. There is no way Gale of all people would think of helping the Capitol, much less help fashion the Hunger Games. Peeta is looking at me, gauging my reaction. I narrow my eyes.
Who cares what Gale does? He can work for the Capitol, I couldn't care less. I think to myself.
Gale's picture floats across the television, with President Snow's voice in the background. He was talking about new surprises in this year's Hunger Games, but I couldn't stop the hate-fest going on in my brain long enough to focus on Snow's words. Gale had grown up, there was no doubt about it. His black hair hung into his eyes, and under his tight black shirt, I could see his muscles and abs. But my feelings for him were gone. They had diminished when I walked away from him 15 years ago. The screen focuses on President Snow again, and he clears his throat again before continuing.
"And now, it's time to announce the tributes!" He states every tribute's name clearly, from Districts 1-10, when he pauses. He looks straight into the camera, and somehow, I know his blood-chilling smile is for me.
"From District 11, Primrose Everdeen, and Sebastian Odair." I can hardly believe my ears. He just said my dead sister's name, and Finnick and Annie's son. I fondly remember the first time I saw him, just a year after he was born. With his black curls and sea green eyes he looked like a mini Finnick. He even had the same grin. It made my heart ache that Finnick's son was forced to participate in the Games.
But my mind came back to President Snow's words. He had said that my sister was going into the Games. I was overcome with joy that she was somehow still alive, but filled sorrow and sadness at the same time. Why hadn't she called? Why hadn't she sent me a message of any kind to tell me she was still alive? Maybe President Snow had blocked any means of her communicating with anyone. That had to be it. I mean she wouldn't just accidentally forget to call me, would she? My mind was jumping to conclusions. I stopped assuming, and instead was just grateful she was alive. President Snow had purposefully stopped talking for a minute, no doubt letting the news of my sister sink in. He winked, and continued.
"The tributes from District 12 are as follows: Violet Mellark, and Asher Mellark. And there's the list of the chosen tributes, ladies and gentlemen! Tomorrow at midnight a train will arrive at each of the 12 Districts, and they will take the tributes to get prepped and ready. And Katniss-" He smiled maliciously before speaking again. "-I am always watching you." He winked again, and the screen fell blank.
Whew! Well I hope I made up for the short chapter with this one! Hope you liked it! Any suggestions, just leave them in a review!
And thanks to KatnissEverdeen44 for chatting with me! She's an awesome person! :D
~Fire