AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hope that this chapter explains somethings that were pointed out in the previous chapters :)

And THANK YOU, THANK YOU! For all of the follows! Were almost close to 20 followers!

To answer MaidenAlice's question ... The ring is NOT Katniss', it is Gale's ring. It's not meant for anyone. Gale just won't tell ANYONE why the ring is so important to him ... And the fact that Gale won't tell his best friend anything about, and it's been 2 years since he had it on, All of the rage she held in before, started to pour out in that chapter. Katniss just can't stand the fact of Gale keeping secrets from her.

Well, I hope I answered your question and PLEASE, if anyone else is somewhat confused about what is happening or ANYTHING at all, just ask your question in the reviews and I'd be happy to answer them.

I would also like to thank MaidenAlice and Paige Mellark for the Reviews! And just so you know, with all of the reviews we get, we will be mentioning EVERYONE that does reviews our story before every chapter!

ENJOY!

Chapter 4

Peeta's POV

I can't believe I didn't see this before! You're such an idiot, Peeta Mellark!

I'm passing back and forth in my bedroom, thinking …..

I sit down on my bed. My hands sliding towards my face, elbows on my knees.

All this time …. I thought that they killed each other. Maybelle and Audrey. I even saw it with my own eyes! But it was just the Capitol. Snow.

I shake my head left and right, the realization sending tears streaming through my fingers and cheeks.

It had to be true, Johanna told me. But given the fact that the guards we chasing her, I suppose that was confidential. If they killed Maybelle and Audrey …. Did they kill the rest of the girls, too?

This causes my knees to fall to the floor with my 'possibly-true prediction'. Eyes still remaining watery.

I choke back my last sob and wipe the tears from my face. I just stare and the floor and look up to the ceiling hopelessly. I take a deep breath.

'It's my fault,' I say aloud.

One last thought forms in my mind and everything comes back to me.

My meeting with President Snow.

Here I stand, just a day after I was crowned victor and winning the games. Just as Snow placed the iconic victor crown on my head, he lightly whispers in my ear,

'Meet me in the board office at 7. We have some very important business to discuss,'

Before pulling back and casually walking away with two armed bodyguards, leaving me with a million thoughts and questions running through my head.

The elevator makes a faint ding sound, indicating that I am just minutes away from being greeted with that snake-like smile that just sends chills throughout my whole body.

'Mr. Mellark, President Snow is ready to see you now,' says the secretary standing behind a large desk with the Capitol seal on the front.

'Thank You,' I murmur.

I walk towards the front of the double doors that my "meeting" with Snow will be taking place, anxiously waiting. I walk in the large board office to find President Snow perched comfortably in his plush chair. A combination of blood and roses stained the air, causing me to wrinkle my nose in pure disgust.

'Please take a seat, Peeta. Is it alright is a call you Peeta? Or would you prefer Mr. Mellark,' asked President Snow.

'Peeta is fine, thanks,' I reply cautiously taking a seat in front of him.

'Congratulations to for winning this year's game, Peeta. You did a very fine job. It was quite an unfortunate outcome that you didn't end up with a beautiful young woman by your side at the end. It's such a shame. You deserve to be happy, after all the things we put you through. '

'Yes. It was unfortunate ….' I say without emotion.

I know that I have to be careful with what I say to this man. So, I try to make my answers as general and plain as possible. Agreeing every once in a while and an occasional nod.

'Well, it's a lucky day for you, Peeta. Because you have a very long line of suitor's here in the Capitol,' says President Snow in a serious tone.

'I'm sorry, I don't follow,' I say with confusion in my voice.

'Let's just cut down to the chase here …..'

As soon as the words came out of his mouth, I had a bad feeling something was going to happen. And I'm not going to like it.

'Peeta, you should know that I don't just call anyone down to my office, just for 'chit-chat,' says Snow, placing air quotes between his words.

'And you, my friend, are among the fan favorites in the Capitol. For example …. I see you as another Finnick, as some would say.'

Before I could reply, President Snow added one last sentence.

'What I am saying here Peeta, is … We want you to be the next Finnick Odair.'

I sit there taking in what President Snow had just requested. And then, I remember what Finnick told me.

He said that because he was handsome and very popular with the Capitol, there were people that would pay for him. Selling his body to complete strangers. Prostitution. And he had no choice.

The thought scares me. Men and women 'buying' me?

Not wanting to think about it anymore, I gave President Snow an answer.

'No, no thanks,' I say with full confidence, but falls immediately because I wasn't thinking when I answered.

Just then, I recall that Finnick was black mailed. Snow had threatened Finnick, saying that he would kill his family if he didn't do it. Finnick declined. And the next day, Snow's threat came true. Even though it killed him to know that his family was gone, he still refused. But then the Capitol told Finnick that they would kill some girl named Annie. I don't know a lot about it. He didn't tell me much about the girl. All I knew was that she was the only thing he had left, so he agreed to become a male prostitute.

As I was about to take back my answer, President Snow spoke up.

'Okay … You can go now,' says Snow casually, like it was no big deal. But it was.

Walking out of his office now, I wondered... I thought he was going to threaten me like he did to Finnick. I guess he changed his mind.

With that, I shrugged it off and told no one about my meeting with Snow.

At the time, I thought my meeting with him had little importance to anyone. I was stupid for thinking that it was normal. That Snow would allow someone to refuse his offer. That I declined to be his, 'Play Toy'.

And with what Johanna said ….

They did it … They killed them!

And Snow asking me to be like Finnick.

Everything was fitting together into this messed up puzzle.

The Capitol killed Maybelle and Audrey because they didn't want me to be with either of them. To present myself as a free man in the Capitol, so my 'suitors' can have me all to themselves!

This discovery reinforces my other assumption that I made earlier. That Snow meant for all of the others to die alongside Maybelle and Audrey.

And with body guards trying to shut up Johanna….

Now I understand ….

They were trying to keep it a secret. That they were the ones that killed both girls. Because they thought that If I suspected that they killed each other by ACCIDENT, then it would be easy to get me to saying yes to Snow's offer of becoming the next 'Finnick Odair'

AND I KNOW he wouldn't let me into the meeting BECAUSE I said no to his little offer.

Those guards should know … that you CANNOT get that big mouth of Johanna's to shut up. Put a piece of duct tape, glue her mouth together … Do what you want, but it ends up blabbing whatever she can get out in the end.

For once, I was actually GLAD of that blabber mouth of hers. She finally put it to use.

I breathe a sigh of relief and smile at the ground, happy with my detective work.

I thought it was going to be something much worse. Thankfully, I am okay with finding out with the rest of Panem what the Quarter Quell will be.

As on cue, the T.V in the living room turned on.

Running to the living room now, I found myself in the same position I was in before. Alone.

I wonder why Jo, Fin and Haymitch aren't here yet.

Breaking away at my thoughts, the T.V buzzed in an involuntary frenzy. Grey, black and white dots decorating the clear screen.

'Huh, weird …' I say aloud, as I take the television remote in my hand.

Clicking the off button, the T.V remained the same.

Creasing my forehead in confusion, I repeatedly tap the button 5 more times with my thumb.

Nothing.

Until the screen changed from the shades of dots, to the Capitol Seal.

They better come quick. The Announcement is about to start.

With that, I sit myself comfortably on the couch.

As far as I know, I have no idea what hell is going to happen in this year's games. The possibilities are endless.

Twice as much tributes?

2 girls instead of 1?

As I try to come up with a reasonable change in the games, the Capitol seal vanishes. And thus, revealing President Snow at the podium, putting his right hand on his heart as the Panem national anthem plays through-out the stadium in the Capitol.

As the anthem plays, President Snow stares directly into the camera, like he's staring directly at me. With his piercingly, bright eyes. Like he's trying to tell me something.

Like THIS is all for me …..

AUTHOR'S NOTE: So ... the end of this chapter is just to get your minds turning. Please remember to review, if you haven't already done it! I hope that this chapter made sense and explains a bit of what happened in the earlier chapters. I'll be posting new chapters every TWO DAYS, and 3 days if I forget or something. So tune in next time!