Chapter 10

Katniss

I regain my balance as soon as I grab Prim's hand. She's grown so much since last year. I remember I'd see her as a tiny little girl but now, she's almost as tall as me. Prim doesn't have to worry about today: Reaping Day.

I still feel a little unbalanced due to last night. After we found out what the Quarter Quell was, I couldn't help it but run and scream. I had to let everything out. After that, I went over to Haymitch and I didn't hesitate but to take some of his whiskey and drink it with him until we both couldn't. I don't even know how I made it all the way back home. But I'm thankful that I did.

"Please don't go, Katniss," Prim tells me as we begin walking to the Hall of Justice. "Please."

"I have to; nobody can volunteer for me, Prim. I'm really sorry."

I see the tear that's running down her face. I don't even see the point of everyone going to the Hall of Justice. None of the females have to be reaped and only Peeta and Haymitch have to be reaped.

Peeta.

My mind crosses him when I think of him. How did he react to the revealing of the Quarter Quell? I bet he didn't react to me, obviously. But that doesn't matter. What matters is if he gets reaped, which his odds are not even close to his favor, I have to protect him. I have to keep him alive in the arena. He saved my life and now I have to protect his.

"I have to go now," I tell Prim as we reach the Hall of Justice. "Please don't cry, don't cry. I'll be fine. I love you, and tell mom I said I love her."

"You'll try to win, right?" she tears up even more.

"Goodbye, Prim." And then I kiss her bruised forehead and leave. I can hear her weeping from yards away but I don't turn back. I don't want to turn back, even though I feel awful. I know that the peacekeepers are carrying her away but that's good. That way she won't see me.

I stand next to Mayor Undersee, his wife, and Madge. The reaping doesn't take long as Effie shows another presentation to our district, pulls out a slip of paper after it's over, and reads Haymitch Abernathy's name. But he doesn't have time to walk up to the podium as Peeta volunteers for him seconds after, and we don't even bother to say goodbye to our families. Besides, I already said goodbye to Prim but I didn't say goodbye to Gale. I see him in the crowd with a sorry look but I don't look at him. After Effie says, "Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor." We approach the train and are taken to the Capitol.

Haymitch is with us riding to the Capitol. Even though he wasn't reaped, he's still our mentor. Peeta sits on the seat next to me with his head down and he doesn't look worried. But he doesn't bother looking at me.

"Are you okay?" I ask him, knowing he's definitely not.

"Are you?" he looks up to look at me.

"No," I say.

"Neither am I."

Effie walks in the room after our short conversation. She wears a blue dress with glittery slippers. Her dress is puffy and matches her light blue hair. She pours herself a drink on a glass cup and sits in front of Peeta and me.

"Well," she says, taking a sip from her drink. I assume it's whiskey. "It's nice to have both of you back."

I don't say anything.

"You know, it's not bad," she says, "I mean you guys already know what to do, right?"

"Not really," says Peeta, "Effie, there are thirty four tributes this year, and twenty-four of them, including ourselves, are victors from the past. Katniss still has a shot of winning but I absolutely don't."

He leans back on his chair and sighs. He's not right; I'm the one who has no shot of winning. I'm willing to sacrifice myself for him. The odds may not be extremely in his favor for winning, but I know that they are higher than mine.

"Peeta," I say, "You're stronger than me. I know you have a shot of winning."

"Don't lie to me," he responds, "Even you know what you're saying is a lie."

"I'm not lying," I say, "You have a great chance to win. I believe you can win."

He doesn't say anything after that. I get why he refuses to listen me and is disagreeing with me but I know that he can win. Sure, both of us won last year because I pulled out the nightlock berries, causing both of us to be crowned the victors, but that was different. I created a revolution, a rebellion among the districts. Almost every district is uprising against the Capitol and it's all because of me.

Haymitch walks into our conversation but shockingly, he's not drinking anything or looks drunk.

"Hello Haymitch," Effie says, "Come join us."

He sits on the seat next to Effie and stares at both me and Peeta. I know what he's thinking. He's thinking the same thing he was thinking last year. Congratulations.

"What's going on?" he questions our awkward silence.

"I'll be right back," Effie says as she stands up and leaves the room. I don't know what to say or what to do. I know that Peeta is thinking too much because so am I. Haymitch stands, walks over to the table, and grabs a sponge cake with whipped cream on the top. He hasn't bothered to touch any of the drink beverages. I guess he drank too much with me yesterday to even touch a bottle.

"How'll we survive again?" Peeta asks as Haymitch takes a seat again, stuffing his face with the cake.

"Stay alive." Haymitch answers and takes the last bite of the cake.

That's what Peeta has to do. He has to stay alive and I'll do whatever I can to help him stay alive. He helped me stay alive multiple times and I'll do the same in return.

"I don't understand," says Peeta, "I don't understand how this year's Quarter Quell has two twists. Can they even do that?"

"Well they obviously did," Haymitch responds, "But that doesn't matter."

"Yeah it does," Peeta replies, "There are thirty-four tributes this year! I can't compete with thirty-three other tributes! The more there are, the most likely I'll get killed, but… I don't care, I don't know."

"Listen," says Haymitch, "I went into the arena with forty-seven other tributes. If I was able to come out as the victor, I'm sure you can. Both of you."

Peeta doesn't respond. There's a long silence and it's so quiet that I can hear Peeta's and Haymitch's hearts beat. I can hear the bloodstream in their body, flowing everywhere.

"I'll be in the other room," I say and leave the room.

I don't know what else to tell Peeta or how to respond to Haymitch. I know Peeta has too many thoughts in his head and I must leave him alone for that. I know that if I was him, I'd like to be left alone. Of course, I, too, have a bunch of things going on in my head. I don't know how I'll survive in an arena full of past victors plus ten additional tributes.

I don't know if I'll be the girl on fire anymore…

NOTES: Average-sized chapter; not too long, but not too short. Well, they're on their way to the Capitol. In case any of you are wondering, Tris and the others haven't gotten reaped yet. They will in the next chapter. Of course I can't tell y'all who gets reaped as y'all will have to find out in the next chapter;) but things are picking up and I hope all of you are enjoying it. Thank you all and review please:)