I sit in shock. I can't move. I can't speak. My mind is running in circles, trying to find a way to get out of this.

Of course, there are other male victors from District Four, so one of their names could be drawn, instead of mine. But I know that won't be the case. Probably every male slip will have my name on it, so that there is no chance of anyone else's being drawn. After all, I am one of the all time favorite victors. And Snow isn't happy with me.

There is no way out of this.

What I am really worried about, in this moment, is Annie. I know that if her name is drawn, no one will volunteer for her. And she will be killed. I may have a chance to win, but even if I put all of energy towards saving Annie, it won't happen. She is too frail, too fragile.

Snow knows this.

The female bowl will probably be filled with Annie's name as well.

I feel Johanna's hand on my shoulder. She is staring into my eyes. She knows that she is going as well. She is the only female victor left from District Seven, so there is no chance for her.

But she has no one left. She will probably enjoy this chance to make a last stand.

When I finally gain enough courage to meet her eyes, I realize that this is not the case. That her eyes are brimming with tears. That her nights are filled with as many nightmares as my own.

I look around the room, at the rest of the victors, trying to guess which of them will be chosen.

Chaff and Seeder are two of the only living victors from eleven, so I wouldn't be surprised if they are in this.

Brutus will probably volunteer. He's just like that.

Enobaria is the same way, and besides, with her crazy dental job, she became a Capitol favourite as well. And there is no doubt that the favourites will all be in this.

Beetee and Wiress, two older tributes, are the only victors left from District Three. They will be in it for certain.

Then my eyes catch Mags. My mentor. Her white hair falls down around her shoulders as she laughs. Her eyes crinkle up in the corners. And suddenly I realize that Annie will not be in it after all. Mags knows the truth. She knows she only has so many years left. I realize that no matter who's name is drawn, Mags will probably volunteer.

I feel both relief and horror. I can not stand to think about this anymore. These people are my friends. When we are thrown together in the arena as children, we don't know the others. It is difficult, painful, and it haunts your dreams. But I know these people. How can I kill them.

And the painful answer is that I can't.

I stare at Haymitch, who is just watching the two of us. I realize that I will not see him in the arena. There are only three living tributes from twelves. Haymitch. Katniss. Peeta.

Katniss will be drawn. Peeta will either be drawn or he will volunteer. His love for Katniss is real, no matter what she feels for him.

Somehow, I wonder if there will even be a victor in these next games. Or if the Capitol wants to throw us all together with the intent of making sure we are all dead. I wouldn't be surprised.

After what Katniss did, anything is possible.

And I realize that I hate her. It is wrong, I know. She didn't know what she was doing. But how can you feel anything but hate for the person who just signed your death warrant.

I breathe deeply. Hate hurts. I am not one to give over to it often, unless it involves the President or his minions. So I transfer my quick judgement of Katniss over to Snow. I allow myself a moment to wallow in this, and then I step away.

And Katniss is once again just a girl.

Haymitch is eyeing me now. I realize he has more to say. So I snap my mind back into the present, control my emotions, and focus on him.

Johanna notices the change and withdraws her hand from my shoulder, her own eyes now watching Haymitch.

"There have been rumors of uprisings in District Eleven, and perhaps a few of the other Districts. They are a pile of kindling, ready to be set ablaze, and Katniss has provided the spark. The President knows this, but he also knows that to kill her now will just provide a martyr. He won't risk that. The Games are his best chance to calm the rebellion. His way of saying that even the victors, our symbol of hope, are not strong enough to defeat the Capitol. His way of saying that we are powerless."

I close my eyes," And we are, Haymitch. We are."

He nods slowly. Then looks around. His eyes flit nervously from person to person. Then he stands up, and hands me a piece of paper.

"It's not safe here," he says. And then he leaves.

I unravel the small white slip, and read it, then hand it to Johanna.

"Roof. 7:00." Is all it says. I understand what it means, though. The training centre has a roof that is not monitored by camera. We aren't really supposed to go up there, so of course, no one will expect us too.

I look at Johanna, and she meets my eyes. We both know that the two of us will be in the arena next year. We both know that killing each other is not an option. We both know that because of this, our deaths our sealed.

We both know we are powerless.

I remember the first time I met Johanna. At the time, we seemed like the most unlikely of friends. Our personalities clashed in just about every way. She is rash, often immodest, and just too crazy. I doubt that she was always this way, of course, but it is what she had to do after the Games. I think, now, it has become who she is. It is her way of defying the Capitol. Of telling them that they do not own her, and that she can still be who she wants to be. They, of course, just take it as her true personality. And they either love her or hate her. There are no in betweens with Johanna. You either like her, or you don't. At first, I didn't like her at all.

I saw her briefly for the first time after her own games, three years ago. The 71st Hunger Games. I was in the crowd that year, when she was crowned as victor. When they asked her what her thoughts were on the Games, and how they had gone, she answered with these words," The Games are a sadistic tool of a sadistic man." Then her microphone was cut off and she was escorted immediately away. My heart fell when she said those words, and she later told me that she had come home to her family already dead. I expected something of the sort, having had the same thing happen to me. Since then, she has been more careful. Not to the same degree as me, though, as she has no one left that she loves.

None the less, I made up my mind that I would speak to her. I got that chance just before she left the training centre to go back home.

"Hey." I winked at her. She looked down, and I was just trying to cheer her up. "You were pretty bold back there, on the stage."

She looked me up and down disapprovingly. "As if you know anything about being bold."

For some reason I hadn't expected her to recognize me. But of course, she had. I didn't understand what she meant at first. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, you obviously don't have a problem with sucking up to the Capitol. Actually, you probably enjoy it. You're a disgrace, that's what you are."

I turned and walked away then. I wanted to say something cutting in return, but that is not in my nature. I walked away, I went to my room, and I cried. I didn't know why I had let her words cut me so deeply, but they had. I knew then, that I had made a mistake going to talk to her. Made a mistake thinking maybe we could be friends.

The next time I saw her was during her own Victory Tour. Annie and I, as well as the other victors from four, were expected to attend the feast for her. I didn't want to, but I did, of course. She looked quite stunning, really. She was in a mermaid type dress, to reflect the flavor of our district. Flecks of gold reflected back in her wide set brown eyes, and the flowing red of the dress matched her perfectly. I didn't care, though, and at the first opportunity I gave Annie some poor excuse and slipped outside to the beach. It was only a two minute walk from the Justice Building, where the feast was being held.

I sat on a rock and stared out at the sea, tears streaming down my face. No matter what the Capitol told me, I was still a broken boy. It hurt me deeply when even those I loved, or other victors, or those who should understand, didn't. Of course, Johanna didn't know then. Didn't know what she would have to face.

After a moment, I hear footsteps behind me, and I feel someone stop, almost touching me.

"I'm alright, Annie. I'll be inside in a minute."

A soft laugh. I turn around to see Johanna standing there. How she slipped out from the feast, I have no idea. She sits down beside me without waiting for an invitation. The mixture of sand and water smears her dress, but that is obviously the last thing on her mind.

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry, Finnick. For what I said last time. I didn't know, I didn't understand the pressure us victors are under. I guess I can't blame you for your actions."

I turn on her then, eyes flaming with anger," He forces me into that, Johanna. Don't you understand. The Finnick on television, the Finnick the Capitol sees. That is not me." Tears begin flowing then, and I hate myself for my weakness.

She is silent for a moment. "I didn't know...I..." she stutters. Somehow stuttering does not seems characteristic of this girl beside me. "I'm sorry."

I nod, and look away. I want her to go. I accepted her apology, what more does she want from me. But she stays, sitting next to me. Finally I stand up. "You'd better get back to your party, little mermaid."

That's when I see her eyes. The streaks of tears down her cheeks. And she looks so different here, now, than the girl I saw on the stage with Caesar Flickerman.

"They killed my family." she says, softly.

I wrap my arms around her then, and she sobs softly. My heart breaks for her, and I realize that just as she was wrong to judge me, I was wrong to judge her. Perhaps we are more alike than I thought.

"I'm so sorry, Johanna."

She pushes me away, then. And stands up. Goes to the water and washes her face, free of the tears and also of the makeup. Her prep team won't be too happy with her.

"Do I look like I have been crying?" She questions.

"No." I respond."You look beautiful."

She smiles then, and walks away without a response. And I knew then that I had made a friend. A friend for life. Or death, which is probably going to come sooner.

Looking up at her now, I know that she, too, is reliving that moment. Our first meeting. I have never trusted anyone like I trust her. Never had anyone understand me, like she does. There is nothing else between us, we both understand that. There is no one for me, but Annie. And beside, even if we had feelings for each other, marrying outside your district is forbidden. Even for victors. Not that I would want to, anyway.

Her spunky personality takes hold again, then, and I almost laugh, even in this moment, at the change in her. She jumps up, takes my hand, and laughs like I have just said something funny. I understand what she is doing. People will be wondering why we look so solemn. I laugh too, but it doesn't come out as real as hers does. Being fake is about the last thing on my mind. Besides, I understand why we are not telling them, but don't the rest of the victors deserve to know as much as we do.

I stare at the clock. 6:34. If we leave now, we will have just enough time to get to the rook by Haymitch's prescribed 7:00. I take Johanna by the arm, and lead her out. Mags notices me leaving, and follows us. I notice a few other victors slip out at the same time. They probably have trains to catch. The games are over. Time to go home for most of them.

The President keeps me here as long as he can. I still have another four days before my train leaves the station.

Mags looks at Johanna and I, and then tilts her head. "Where are you going?" she asks.

I consider telling her, but decide to wait. We are both going back to Four, so I can tell her anytime.

"Just for a walk outdoors. Johanna has to leave tomorrow. I wanted to say goodbye."

Mags nods, not doubting our story, and leaves the lounge using the door that we were planning on going through. That door is the furthest from outside, and if we catch up with Mags, we will have to explain why we didn't go the quicker way. So, we make for a side door, and cut around to get to the training centre. We make very good time, but are still two minutes late. It doesn't matter, it's Haymitch. He's not the most punctual person himself.

When we reach the roof, I catch the sound of low voices. I am about the make my way in their direction, when Johanna prods me.

"Voices?"

I realize what she is getting at. There should be no voices. Haymitch asked the two of us to come. Nonetheless, I decide to check out who is talking before looking for Haymitch. What we find surprises both of us.

Haymitch stands talking to Mags, Beetee, Chaff, and Seeder. Mags eyes us as we join them, and says, "A walk, huh?"

I give her a guilty look, and then wink. She doesn't look all too happy that I lied to her, and the wink doesn't make up for it.

"Sorry," I mutter.

She nods, and then she winks back and smiles.

I love her.

I notice that Annie isn't here. Wiress either for that matter. It's probably a good thing, whatever Haymitch is going to tell us, they probably couldn't handle. At least I know that I can speak openly with Mags. It's pretty difficult to keep secrets from her, she knows me far too well.

Haymitch starts talking now, not in a conversation way, but in an informative way, and I know that this is it. The group that gets to know his plan. Or whatever it is that he is talking about.

"So, as I have already told each of you, the Games next year are going to involve the Victors."

We all nod, and I swallow back the lump that forms in my throat again.

"What you don't know is what we are planning on doing about this."

Again, we nod.

"Obviously, Haymitch. Get to the point, some of us want to get some sleep tonight." Johanna says.

Haymitch glares at her, but she doesn't back down. She isn't the type to do that. He begins to speak again, without addressing her comment.

"It is of the utmost importance that what I am about to say is kept secret. I am not supposed to know. The person who told me is not supposed to know. You all are not supposed to know. The Capitol will kill you if they find out that you know. We have decided that we can trust you six. The rest we are not sure about."

The victors gathered nod again. We will be secret. We all know too well the costs of disobedience.

Haymitch takes a deep breath.

"The new head gamemaker, Plutarch Heavensbee, came and spoke with me right after the Games ended. He told me that something has been in the working for a long time. They have been waiting for someone to come along and set it in motion. Katniss, and her handful of berries, have done just that. Finnick, Mags, Beetee, Johanna, Chaff, and Seeder. You are among the less than two hundred people in all of Panem who know this. Other than those who live there themselves."

He is making no sense. "Haymitch, what are you talking about?" I question.

He glares at me now, and raises a hand to silence me. "Give me a moment, Finnick. I'm explaining it as I go."

I wince at the rebuke. It was nothing, really, but I find it difficult to take after everything that has happened today.

He takes another breath. And another.

"Well, get to it, Haymitch." Johanna sounds angry now. I laugh a little, knowing that Haymitch is purposely teasing her.

"District Thirteen was not destroyed by the Capitol as we have all thought. The new Head Gamemaker is an undercover worker for them. They have been building up their defenses all these years in order to start a war against the Capitol. And they are ready. With the help of Plutarch, and some good planning, we are going to try to rescue you all from the arena, and in the chaos that will follow, we will start our rebellion."

We all stop breathing as we try to decipher what Haymitch has said. When it hits us, we still can't breath, because of the hope that has begun to build up within our chests. Hope where there has never been hope before.

"But there is one thing. We know we cannot rescue you all. We will do what we can. But we need you to promise us one thing. Katniss has become the symbol of the rebellion. Right now, uprisings have begun, people waving her mockingjay on flags and banners. We need her, if no one else, to get out of the arena alive. We will promise to rescue as many of you as we can, if you will promise to save Katniss. To protect her, even if it means giving up your own lives. We will be discussing this with some of the others, but we needed you six to agree, first."

Mags nods, and then smiles. "Lets take a vote. All in, raise their hands."

It seems a bit juvenile to me, but the others don't hesitate.

Mags is first to raise her hand. Then Seeder. Beetee. Chaff. Johanna hesitates. I have already heard her opinion on Katniss, and it's not exactly a good one. But she raises her hand.

I take a moment longer. I can't bear the thought of leaving Annie alone, but I have already accepted my death, anyway. This way, at least I have a chance. And I am not afraid of death.

I look into the eyes of the other victors. My allies. My friends. There is no way that I could hurt them.

So I raise my hand.