I bit my lip and turned round to see a peacekeeper standing behind us. It was exactly the same one who had been standing next to Prim a couple of minutes ago. Gale squeezed my hand harder than before. "We just wanted to get something from my house", he tried to save the situation, but the peacekeeper only shook his head and pulled us back to the crowd. Wow, this went really well…

"Fucking shit", I heard Gale cussing. He tore his hair is desperation and bent down to me. "I am sorry."

"It's okay", I whispered as soon as the peacekeeper couldn't hear us anymore. "We still can leave tomorrow."

In this moment a strangely dressed woman entered the stage and started with the Reaping.

"Welcome, welcome. My name is Effie Trinket and tonight I have the outstanding honor of leading through this Reaping. The Capitol wishes Happy Hunger Games to all of you and…may the odds be EVER in your favour." She smiled encouragingly at the crowd and presented a short film-clip. As always it was a mix of promotion for the Capitol and some kind of introduction in the Hunger Game's history. Next to me Gale snuffled with contempt. "How nice."

You could hear Effies voice again as soon as the clip was over. "And now the choosing of the tributes. As always…ladies first." Her hand slipped into the big crystal ball to pick one the many slices. She took one and looked at the crowd. "How exciting. I always love this moment." Yeah, who doesn't?

"This years female tribute is…." She opened the piece of paper. "PRIMROSE EVERDEEN!"

I froze and stared at this tiny piece of paper in her hand. No, that was impossible. It couldn't be her, her name was only in there ONCE for heaven's sake! The girls around me started flashing me glances, but I was still not able to move. I felt like I couldn't breath and all I could see was my little duck heading to the stage. The peacekeepers were at her side immediately, pushing her forwards. I ran after her as fast as my feet would carry me. "PRIM!"

She turned round and I could see the tears running down her cheek. Of course the peacekeepers didn't care at all and continued pushing her to the stage.

My heart started racing and I closed my eyes. "I VOLUNTEER! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!"

When I opened my eyes I found everyone staring at me and not a single word escaped their mouths.

"NO KATNISS, DON'T DO THAT!", Prim cried, but I had already made my decision. There was no way she would go into the arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen, district twelve's first volunteer!" I heard Effie Trinket's voice, but it seemed too far away. The peacekeepers took my hand and pulled me forwards. Before I entered the stage I looked back one last time. Gales face was pale, white as a sheet of paper, his expression frightened and…hurt. He was holding Prim who had started sobbing uncontrollably at his shoulder in the meantime. I wanted to scream something to them but one of the men gave me a hard push and I had to climb the stair to the stage.

"Hurry up, darling." Effie took my hand and pulled me upwards. Then she pulled me to the microphone, her heels clacking on the floor. "What's your name?"

"K…Katniss Everdeen."

"I bet that was your sister, right?"

"Yes."

"How sweet. Well, well. A big applause for Katniss Everdeen."

When I took a look at the crowd again all the people touched three fingers of their left hand to their lips and held it out towards me to give me one last silent salute.

I didn't have a chance to be stunned or even to move when Effie pulled me to the second crystal ball. "Now it's time to choose the male tribute.", she spoke with a wide grin on her face. God I couldn't express how much I hated this woman right now.

Her hand slipped in the ball a second time, picking one sheet of paper. "PEETA MELLARK!"

Peeta? The baker's boy? O lord, please don't do this to him!

"I volunteer."

Terrified I looked in the crowd and saw where the voice was coming from. NO! PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE REAL!