Here's chapter 2. Anything in italics has been exerpted from the Hunger Games, copyright Suzanne Collins. I DON'T OWN THE HUNGER GAMES!

Lilac POV:

I wake up a little confused. Where am I? Then I remember what happened yesterday. I'm in the Capitol, ready to help them on some sort of a mission, to bring back a little girl and have her be my new sister.

I sit up, and go to my dresser to pick out an outfit. I put on a pretty, light pink dress, with pleats in the skirt, and black flats. I put a headband in my hair that matches the dress, and go out to breakfast.

When I get to the table, I find that my breakfast has been laid out for me. I put some eggs on my plate and sit down to eat.

Suddenly, I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around, and Damian is standing there!

I jump up and give him a hug. Damian was so nice when he mentored me. I am so happy to see him here.

"Damian, why are you here?'

"The Capitol asked me to escort you to the hospital under the Training Center. Katniss is already there."

"What about Haymitch?"

"Haymitch is in the mentor room helping Delilah out in the arena. We don't want her suffering the same death that Malex did."

We both wince. Delilah, the District 12 female this year, has managed to survive until the final 8, but our male tribute, Malex, died in the bloodbath by - well, I'm not going to talk about it.

"Lets go. We're on a tight schedule."

I obediently follow Damian to an elevator. He presses a blue button, and the elevator plunges down, moves to the side, and plunges down even more. I can't help but think of an ancient book I read once, called Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Finally, we arrive at the hospital. I am clutching onto one of the railings in the elevator, breathless and almost sick.

Damian rubs my back. Obviously, this is not the first time that Damian has ridden this elevator ride.

I step out of the elevator, and Damian leads me through corridor after corridor, twisting and turning. Finally, we reach a door. I motion to open it, but Damian stops me.

"Lilac, you can't go in there. Rue will be revived there. The only people allowed in will be Katniss and Rue. You will watch from this conveniantly placed window.'

I look to my right. Oh, there is a window there! Looking inside, I see Katniss sitting on a chair, wearing simple tawny pants, a light green blouse, a brown belt, a black jacket, and boots. (A/N: Sound familiar?) I wave. For some reason, she's not waving back!

"Lilac. It's a one-way mirror. She doesn't know that there is a window there. She thinks it's a mirror."

Oh.

Suddenly, a hovercraft appears in the room. A platform is lowered down, with a box inside. Dr. Grossman's voice says, "Katniss, take Rue's body out of the box."

Katniss obeys. I get my first real glance at rue. She has dark skin, and dark hair, and is dressed in the same outfit as Katniss. She is very pretty.

"Now, sit on the chair and lay Rue's body on your lap."

As soon as she does so, the room changes. Now, instead of looking like a hospital room, it looks like a Hunger Games arena. I see Katniss draw in a sharp breath; obviously, this was the arena in her Games.

A weird light shines on the wall facing Katniss. It is red, then yellow, then green. As soon as it turns green, Katniss begins to sing.

"Deep in the meadow, under the willow

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes

And when they open again, the sun will rise.

Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm.

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you.

Deep in the meadow, hidden far away

A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray

Forget your woes and let your troubles lay

And when it's morning again, they'll wash away.

Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm.

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you."

The song is beautiful, reminding me of home in 12. As soon as she finishes the song, Rue's chest begins to slowly rise and fall, and her dark eyes flutter open.


So there's the chapter. If anyone has any ideas on better chapter division or a better title, please let me know.

-Goldie031