Chapter: 4 Karina's P.O.V

"Why are you talking like that?!" I yell at Thalia "Come on! You know you are better than those idiots! Don't let them mess with your head!"

"I'm not! It's just not worth it! It's not worth it anymore! There is nothing I can do! It's over! I'm already dead!" she retorts anger in her voice.

"You are not dead! Not yet at least! You have a chance and you're just throwing it away!" I scream back with the same force "You're being stupid! You know how to hunt! How to kill! We have gone into the woods almost every day! You and I! I know you and I know you can handle a weapon! You can't give up that easily!"

"Karina! I know that! I know who I am! But I can't do this! It's not the same! I can't kill a person!" she yells back, her voice descending into a whisper "I just can't…"

I know she can't. She is strong and stubborn but I know she wouldn't dare to hurt a person. A human. But I would not tell her this. She is my friend and if I don't give her any hope she will give up on herself. "Thalia, Listen to me…at least try to win…" then I add with humor "…Do it for your Loverboy."

This makes her laugh softly. She gets up and walks to where I stand.

"Shut up. He is not my Loverboy," She giggles nervously while punching my shoulder. A peacekeeper walks in to tell me that my three minutes are over. I give her a hug because even if it is a horrible thought 'this may be the last time I see her.' I'm walking out the door when I call out…

"Make sure to not swallow him when he comes to see you…"

I close the door quickly cause she was surely about to strangle me. I laugh so loud that I'm sure all of Panem heard me, or at least she did.

The Seam is so quiet today. Almost everyone tries to disappear from the world on reaping day. But it's over, most of the houses release a warm, comforting glow. People are celebrating that their children have been spared for another year. Though, At least two of the houses have their shutters down. Their families are probably grieving over their children. I consider stopping by the Aden's household but I decide against it, I should give them their space. I'm walking on the dirt road towards my house. And stop in front of the place where my house is supposed to be. 'This can't be my house' I think to myself as I glance at it. It looks abandoned and cold. Something seems off. Even my mother's flowerbed looks dim and lifeless. I open the front door and step into the darkness. The only light available is creeping in from the shudders. I flip on the switch and find that my parents are standing on the far side of the living room. My dad is holding my mom tightly, refusing to look up at me. My mother's face is buried into my dad's chest; she is as white as a sheet of paper. Something is really wrong here! I look back to my dad's face and find that he is now looking at me. His eyes are filled with tears. He mouths only two words "I'm Sorry".

"Ah, Mrs. Masonry finally decided to join us." That voice, it doesn't belong to my parents. It has a strange aspect to it, almost as if it was hissing. The voice alarms me and I'm overwhelmed with fear. I turn my head to see where the voice had come from and found that it belonged to the person I hated the most on this plant. President Snow. "Do sit down Karina," he adds pointing to the chair next to his own. 'I don't want to! I don't want to be near you!' I think. But the president always gets what he wants and I know better than to refuse him. So I accompany him at the dining room table.

"May I have a talk with Mrs. Masonry?" He questions my parent "Alone." I glance at my dad, praying that he won't leave me alone with this despicable man. I asked for too much cause my dad nods and leaves the house, taking my mother with him. I'm left in silence…my only companion 'Snow'.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs. Masonry. You kept me waiting a long time." He is staring at me.

"I…I went to say goodbye to my friend."

"So you know Mrs. Aden? Lovely."

"Yes we are close friends. But we both know that you are not here to ask about her, so…why are you here Snow?"

He lets out a cold laugh that made my spin shiver. "Can't I just be here on a friendly visit to see the citizens of 12?"

"No," Is all I manage to say because we both know that that is the answer.

"You are a smart girl aren't you?"

"I don't know everything but I do know that you don't come to 12 on a casual visit. So my question still stands. Why are you here?"

"Revenge."

"What do you mean 'revenge'?"

"I think it's time for you to know your family's little secret."

"What are you taking about?"

"Don't get ahead of me Mrs. Masonry. You must know the whole story to understand."

"I'm listening…"

"I was checking the names of all of the citizens in the district, and I found something very strange. Your parent's names were not in the records of District 12, but in the records of District 2."

"That's impossible…" I barely whisper to myself, but Snow heard me.

"Oh, but it IS true. It didn't seem right so I went and did more research on your family. Do you know what I found out?" He waits for a respond but receives none and continues "Your parents were reported missing almost 16 years ago. But you were registered and of course born in District 12. They are registered as your parents. And how old are you? 16. What does that mean? Your parents escaped District 2 when your mother was pregnant and they came here to District 12. They got away with their little trick for 16 years. Do you think this makes me happy?" His voice does not change tone which scares me more than if he were screaming.

"What are you planning to do Snow?" I ask my voice becoming shaky.

"Don't worry about them dear. I will not kill them. They must suffer worse consequences."

"What is worse than death?" I ask, tears forming in my eyes.

"Take their little girl and put her in The Hunger Games. So they can watch her die painfully."

My eyes widen. That little girl he is talking about…it's…it's…

"Yes dear, YOU are going to be in the Games. YOU shall be the District 2 female tribute. I will come to get you tomorrow. Say your goodbyes and get ready to leave." He has a wicked, twisted grin on his face as he walks out the door. He stops and says "And may the odds be ever in your favor" before walking away. Leaving me sitting in the darkness of my house.