Chapter Four

I stare at him in silence. Gale knows that I am nervous, so he starts to talk.

"President Chaff... What are you doing down here?" Gale asks looking left and right. No, not suspicious at all.

"Boy, I don't want you to wonder what I am doing. What are you doing down here? Showing miss Anne around?" President Chaff says with a mishevious grin.

"Er- um, yes."

"Yes what?"

"Yes, sir."

The conversation ends there. President Chaff whips out his walkie talkie and mumbles something into it. Before you know it, Peacekeepers are stomping down the stairs coming towards Gale and I. I freak. I am kicking and screaming for my mother to help me, but she just stands there. Jane takes a motion but is pushed down by President Chaff. As she tumbles to the ground, my fists and voice stiffens.

"You will never hurt them! You'll have to go through me first!"

I see a tear slip out of the corner of my mother's eye as the Peacekeeper drags me away. I can't stand the thought of them being tortured. The Peacekeeper throws me onto the pavement outside the Capitol door. They keep Gale. I heard Gale screaming for help as I heard the whip lash his body. I start to run. I run to Liam's house just a quarter mile away. I talk with Liam for a while.

"They held my mother and sister captive!" I shout with anger.

"He won't hurt them, Anne. He is trying to hurt you." Liam tells me in a calmful tone.

I sigh, "Could anything get any worse?"

"Actually, we do have the Reaping ceremony to go through today," He looks at his watch then faces towards me, "And it starts right now. We better hurry!"

I am so close to going on a rampage right now. Liam and I get a ride from his older brother, Scott. As we take our places in line, Effie Trinket comes onto the stage.

"Happy Hunger Games! May the odd be in your favor."

I shiver at the words. Effie puts her fancy manicured hand in the boy's bowl and pulls out a name.

"Liam Marnkings!"

Everyone in the audience gasps... except me of course. Effie sticks her hand in the girl's bowl this time and pulls out a name. The crowd takes a deep breathe as Effie says the name.

"Well, this will be quite a game this year. Anne Hemsworth!"

She said MY name. My name! I have to fight against Liam, my best friend, my brother. I walk up onto the stage and stand closely beside Liam. I am suprised I didn't hold onto his hand. Some of the Capitol's officials come on the stage to take us away when our mentors arrive. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Or should I say, Peeta and Katniss Mellark. The officials take up intoo the hovercraft followed along by Peeta and Katniss. Katniss takes me and puts me in a seperate room, away from Liam. That's when a group of stylists come in and put me through plucking and pulling. They wax off my leg hair and cut my hair to where sitting at my shoulders. They pluck my eyebrows, too. I feel like a doll and the stylists are little girls playing with me. When I am done, I request to go see Liam. To my suprise they let me.

"Liam!" I shout at him.

"Wow, Anne. You look... different." Liam tells me. I am not sure if it's a compliment or not.

"You too!" Katniss is motioning me to come towards her. "Well, I've got to go, I'll talk to you later." Liam nods. I follow Katniss down a series of stairs. She pulls me aside.

"Now, Anne. This is my first time mentoring... obviously. Anyways, you are about to go into training. After you practice at some or all of the stations I will show you to your room and you clean up to get ready for dinner. We serve dinner at 7:30. Don't be late." Katniss finishes her talk with a smile. I enter the training and look at all of the stations. Some of them meet my criteria, but I should take all of themif I want to survive. I glance around and go to the Special Weaponry station. I pick up some knives and began to throw them around when I throw it, I almost it hit someone at the station across from me. That person was not happy.

I go to every station and learn all kinds of things. I report to Katniss and she takes me up to my room on the west wing. She unlocks the door for me and hands me the key. As she leaves, I look around my room. I have never had a room this fancy before. I even have my own diary! I go into the bathroom and begin to get undressed when I something talks. I look around to see nothing until I heard it again. It's coming from the wall. There is a piece of technology I've never seen before, since I'm from the Seam. I find the off button and press it so I will have some peace. I step into the shower and there is a million different buttons to activate my showering needs. I pick delicate and began shampooing my hair and rinsing off all the sweat build up from training. I go to the wardrobe and pick out a nice evening dress. It's pink silk with a flowery bottom. I fix my hair into curls and head down to dinner. I never expected for him to be here.