I shoot up in my bed faster then an arrow cuts through air. I'm sweating but i'm freezing. I hate nightmares.

This is the fifth night in a row i've been plagued by them now. I mean they're usually constant, but i at least have one night between every other two where i'm actually able to sleep without waking up panicking. They're always the same. Everything that i've done and thats happened - in the games and since them - it haunts me. I'll see a rotting body on the ground that once belonged to Jackson, it'd talk to me, tell me how it was coming to get me. The body would turn into a vapour and posses Thread, starting the next stage of the nightmare in which i'd see him execute Johanna's family all over again, each time their cries and pleads got more and more desperate. In the final stage, the possessed Thread would spot me and run at me with a speed it was impossible to run from. He'd grin like a maniac before pulling out a whip and beating me with it, putting inhuman strength behind each swing that felt so real. When i die in the nightmare that's when i wake up. Like now. I can't control my breathing for more than ten seconds, which means i can't stop shaking either.

I throw the covers off me and sit upright with my feet touching the floor. Rubbing the back of my neck i sigh as i realise there's still a good two hours before my daily schedule begins. It feels like it's two hours to sit around and think about the dream i had. Thats not good for my sanity in any way. For once, i wish i could have a dream that i didn't want to wake up from. A place where i could be with everybody i left back home. Also a place where we have countless giant statues of Snow and Thread which we burn every day and dance around, just because this is my happy place and that makes me smile.

When i get to thinking i could pass time with my imagination, i delve further into my dream place. I'd live in a nice house with my family and money would just be an unimportant number to us. Reggie wouldn't have been chosen, i wouldn't have had to volunteer in his place. Johanna would live the same way, she'd have her family back, her mom wouldn't have been ill to start with meaning she never would have needed to go to the games, her name would have only been entered six times and she wouldn't have gone.

I tried to think of this world without the games but i don't know any different. It's hard to imagine a life without them around at this point. But nobody i cared about would be chosen for them, and i'd grow the balls to talk to Johanna instead of resorting to staring at her whenever i saw her. That sounds weird when i say it now.

I manage to pass an hour imaging all of that, probably smiling the entire time. Good thing Hansen is out like a light, otherwise i'd appear a huge fool. Instead of sitting around, i spend the last hour showering and getting ready for the day ahead, even if that only takes twenty minuets. The last forty I spend talking with Hansen about the Quell. He isn't allowed to know what we plan, Coin made it clear on who could and couldn't, at least until she announces it to the whole District. But i did tell him to watch for the signs, because they're going to be there.

At exactly nine am, i stroll down to the cafeteria and meet up with my new found friends of sorts. Since i started teaching them to shoot a gun four days ago, i've gotten to know them quite well. The four of them are sat around one table, eating the mush that we call food here. It's porridge for breakfast. Though it's not bad, it could be better. Anyway, Cressida is helping Pollux to eat, seeing as he struggles a lot, whilst Castor and Messalla discuss schedules for the day. When i sit down they all acknowledge me by saying hi, except for Pollux who smiles. Another thing to note, i've learned to communicate with Pollux better thanks to his brother Castor, even if its only simple things for now.

"You look terrible." Cressida comments the miniute i put my tray down.

I sigh, seeing as i know she's right. "I didn't sleep good."

"It's showing." At least she's honest, that's a trait a lot of people around here are lacking.

"Thanks." I chuckle.

She smiles whilst laughing and then turns back to helping Pollux. That's when the Tv's around the cafeteria come on and the Capitol national anthem is playing. Time for an update on the games.

I know the gamemaker scoring was last night but Coin, myself and Boggs were in a debriefing with Plutarch at the time it was aired. I could have asked, but then remembered that it would be recapped the day after. Now. The footage playing in the background is of the tribute parade three days ago whilst Caesar and Claudius Templesmith recap that moment when the costumes of Katniss and Peeta burned like coal. It was amazing, i'll admit it. Then they play yesterdays addition of the scores being announced. The careers and Finnick scored tens and over, as was expected. Blight scores a five and Johanna a eight, a big difference from the three she scored originally four years ago. Twelve was an interesting one, both of them breaking Hunger Games records yet again by scoring twelves, though that i did know about yesterday, it's what Plutarch was updating us on.

Peeta painted Rue's grave that Katniss had made in the games last year on the floor. Katniss made a hanging effigy for Seneca Crane, the head gamemaker who Snow forced into suicide after he allowed the lethal lovers to walk out of the arena last year. I found the whole situation hilarious to be quite honest.

Tonight it would be the interviews with Caesar Flickerman and tomorrow the games would begin and we'd see if Plutarch's arena design will help our plan along as much as he claims it will.

"Ethan!"

I turn around and see Boggs marching over with haste. He stops close enough so i can here him without having to shout and says. "President Coin is expecting us."

"Sure." I get up instantly, noting how the eyes of Cressida and the others are on me as i do. "I'll see you guys later." I say to them.

They all nod and go about their business as i follow Boggs out of the cafeteria and to President Coin's office. When we get there Coin is on vid call with Plutarch, though this time there is somebody with him. Haymitch Abernathy.

Upon noticing that Boggs and i had arrived, Coin stands up from her chair and asks. "So what do you have for me?"

"Names and a plan." Plutarch answers.

"Then share them." She says.

"Mr Abernathy managed to secure solid alliances for Katniss across three separate districts." Plutarch gestures to Haymitch who stands forward. "If you would please..."

"Sure, sure." He waves Plutarch off. "Finnick Odair has agreed that he and Mags will stay with them and get them to safety away from the careers. I spoke with Johanna Mason and she agreed to the terms - reluctantly but eventually - that she would protect Wiress and Beete and get them to Katniss."

I feel an all too satisfied smirk on my face when Haymitch says Johanna agreed to be part of this. Coin even glanced at me as though she knew i would be at that precise moment.

"Other victors on our side include both tributes from Districts Six and Eleven." Plutarch finishes. "I believe Woof and Cecilia also agreed to look out for Katniss but it's not definite."

Haymitch nods in confirmation.

"And the arena?" Coin asks. "With such challenging surroundings how do you intend on getting them out?"

"Beetee Latier has planned everything out, though it will include destroy the arena." Plutarch straightens out his jacket and laughs a little. "The plan is to wait until all those not with us are dead before Beetee uses the lightning tree to destroy the arena. Ms Mason has been instructed to take care of the tracker in Everdeens arm at any cost. The others we'll deal with once we have them on board a hovercraft and Thirteen bound."

"Why wait for the others to die?" Boggs folds his arms.

"There are preparations we must make, the games will be a distraction for Snow, it allows us to do so a bit more freely. Plus people need to see that our girl is a survivor in the worst of situations." Plutarch also folds his arms and then stares at me. "I may need your help once we arive in Thirteen, Ethan."

"My help?" I ask a little dumbfounded.

Plutarch only nods and smiles.

It's Haymitch who steps closer to the camera, points and says. "Hey, aren't you that boy from Seven? The one who died a few years back?"

Well that's putting it bluntly. Regardless i nod.

He continues pointing "Well when you see Johanna again, tell her stripping naked in front of a drunk old man like myself isn't what she wants to be doing with her life."

"She what?" I ask.

I can see Coin rolling her eyes right now. Haymitch saying that is clearly making her think her statement of Johanna being too unpredictable was the most valid point since stating Snow was an evil, vindictive bastard.

Haymitch nods. "Right in front of myself, our little heroine - who didn't enjoy it so much - and Peeta - who enjoyed it more than he lets on."

I start laughing quietly to myself suddenly, gaining a smirk off Haymitch and a grin off Boggs but a scowl of President Coin.

Johanna did say to me she wanted to strip in front of somebody one day. By the sounds of it she got mixed reactions. Haymitch loved it, Katniss hated it and Peeta likely loved every second of it but it won't admit because of his finance disliking it.

"With all due respect Mr Abernathy, that is not the reason we're holding this meeting." Plutarch states it plainly.

Haymitch throws his hands out and says. "What? I thought the kid deserved to know his lady friend is running around naked showing off her lovely bosom."

I should probably watch my behavior whilst in a formal meeting as Coin would call it, but all i can do is laugh. Maybe it's because Haymitch is one hundred percent drunk as a skunk right now and everybody knows it.

"Enough of this childishness!" Coin slams her fist on the table.

The smile on my face vanishes and i shut up.

Haymitch grins at Coin and says. "Sorry darlin'."

She sighs tiredly. "Plutarch you and I will talk later, without Mr Abernathy present."

"Of course, Ma'am." Plutarch bows his head.

"Pleasure meeting you, Madam President." Haymitch smiles

"Just get your job done." She says to him coldly before disconnecting.

I was right to expect a bollocking off Coin for being so childish, because she certainly didn't hold back when she started on me. Though she said she understood eventually, she also said its my job to stay professional when in situations like that. At the end of the day i'm still that kid from District Seven, not an army born civilian and sometimes it's impossible not to laugh. Especially when i know she'll have enjoyed every second she was in front of them.

Coin practically throws me out of her office after that, ordering me to follow my schedule until she needs me again.

The rest of the morning i'm working away along side Castor in the armoury smiling and laughing randomly every time i think of what Haymitch said to me. I think i'm just happy to know Johanna is finding ways to amuse herself at the expense of others. When we hit the training centre and meet up with Pollux and Cressida, they all watch me strangely as i start grinning to myself when the thoughts pop back up again. It stays that way the entire session, yet strangely none of them ask why. At lunch time though, Cressida does sit forward and ask me why i've been grinning to myself all day. I told her why, I mean i doubt it's vital information to the rebellion, unless Coin plans on seducing Snow by throwing naked women at him. You never know, it could work.

Cressida made comments on how she always thought Johanna was a loose cannon ready to fire at any given time, but not in a bad way. She actually said it was refreshing to see a victor who was a little on the side of rebellious than them falling at Snows feet and being puppets for him to play with.

After lunch i was relieved from any actual duties so decided to go help Pollux with his work in Storage. Basically just lifting heavy crates of weapons and the odd nuclear warhead, because here in Thirteen there is a whole damn lot of them. Makes you feel uneasy, knowing if just one goes off you're screwed. It'd be quick though, I guess.

I helped out there until five, at which point we all returned to our rooms. I stayed there for an hour, before heading back out to the empty cafeteria in order to watch the Quell interviews. When i say empty, i mean it. Not even the cooks are here cooking up the slushy shit they call good grub. Most people have likely gathered in the meeting hall, a place in which the games will be broadcast over the projector. I would go there to watch, but there's that many people there you can't hear what's going on on screen. So Coin agreed to air the interviews in the cafeteria for me when we went topside a while back.

I sit down just as the show comes on the tv, the music playing and showing various images of Caesar smiling and laughing and even crying when interviewing certain Victors after they won. Showing the three acts of drama the Capitol love, happiness, humour and sadness that isn't there's. After the starting screen the cameras switch to the indoor stage set for the interviews this year. Being a Quell it was a huge improvement over last year. Along the back with the screens was an entire stand made for the victors. The stage was made with silver trims and black marble and was much much bigger compared to any stage ever for the tributes. Nice of the Capitol to give them that, right?

Caesar walks out of the automated doors underneath the stand for the victors, again showing the improvement of things for the Quell. He has purple hair this year, purple everything actually. He starts laughing and waving to the crowd, "Thank you! Thank You! Thank you for being here tonight, on the eve of the seventy fifth annual Hunger Games!"

The cameras pan onto the massive audience and show them going wild in their seats. Their crying, laughing and clapping with excitement at the same time. Some are grabbing each other and screaming into each others faces. Tch, I thought they were bad last year.

"We have never seen anything like this. And we will never see anything like it again." Caesar hushes the crowds with his words. "Because tonight, on this stage, twenty four of Panem's brightest stars, will vie for the ultimate crown. Tonight will be their final opportunity to express their thoughts. Our final opportunity to express our love. And heartbreakingly, to say goodbye to all but one."

The audience let out heartbroken sighs as Caesar says that. Obviously thats not how it's going to be, we're going to get as many of them out as possible, save for the careers. We could have approached them for the rebellion I suppose but their districts are too close to the Capitol. It's not really worth the risk. Besides, this has to look like an actual Hunger Games for a while, that means somebody has to die. Unfortunately they drew the short straws.

"Let's hear it." Caesar shouts and starts laughing, inciting the crowd to do the same. "I'm so excited!"

There is a quick break so the Capitol could air a very special message from Snow about the Quell. He detailed how very sad he is to lose twenty three stars of the Capitol, but i can see it in his eyes, the bastard is glad. He's getting rid of twenty three threats to his life in his opinion. When the interviews are back on, Caesar welcomes siblings Cashmere and Gloss onto the stage. I lose interest when Cashmere starts pretend crying, it always has annoyed me when you could see it was fake.

I use the opportunity to stretch and rub my eyes, seeing as the game plan the brother and sister are playing is just irritating me. The interviews for the other half of the careers are much more interesting. Brutus is a man of few words and that made him terrifying, and who doesn't love a bit of crazy Enobaria remarking how upset she is with all this Quell stuff but still she plans on enjoying it. Beete Latier made some interesting points on how the Quell was written by men and it can surely be unwritten just as easily. Wiress was short with her answers and little bit barmy, but she and Beete are genius' and will benefit us greatly in the rebellion assuming we can get them out.

"Finnick." Caesar introduces the man of great interest to me.

I've been informed enough of how Finnick at times seems to be the only other person Johanna gets along with aside from Blight. When i meet him, i'm going to make sure i thank him for being there for her.

"I believe you have a message for a very special somebody." Caesar laughs and Finnick grins to the crowd. "Can we hear it?"

Finnick nods and looks at the camera longingly. "My love. You have my heart, for all eternity. And if ... If i die in that arena, my last thought will be of your lips."

Up until now, the victors had used their interview to voice their displeasure with the whole Quarter Quell, yet Finnick keeps up his charming, darling act. I think I know why though, I mean he never specified who he was speaking too and that'll drive all the women in the Capitol insane thinking it's them. Making lots of people think they could be your one true love is a hell of way of starting some fights. My hat is off to Finnick.

The next victor from district four was Mags, it was upsetting to watch in truth. She was too old for this, she didn't deserve to spend her twilight in an arena when she could be living much longer peacefully at home.

Five and Six go up and get interviewed and go stand with the others, then the one district i'm watching for rolls up. Mine.

As Johanna walks onto the stage, dressed in a light brown dress resembling tree bark, i can almost feel the anger radiating from her and i'm watching on a screen. Caesar must be shitting himself.

After he laughs and stops the crowd chanting her name happily he says. "Now we have seen a lot of tears here tonight. But i see no tears in Johanna's eyes, Johanna you are angry."

I think that's putting it lightly. She looks like she's ready to go Enobaria on everyone and start ripping throats out. With blunt teeth that makes her even crazier.

It's even more evident when she does that agitated laugh she uses so often. "Well yes i'm angry." She does the laugh again and looks Caesar dead in the eye. "The deal was that if i win the hunger games, i get to live the rest of my life in peace." Her eyes move from Caesar and land directly on the camera. It's as though she is looking directly at Snow as she says. "But now you want to kill me again."

This time when she laughs you can just here the hate and anger bundled up within her.

Johanna rolls her eyes onto the crowd still laughing and shouts. "Well you know what? *Bleep* that! And *bleep* everybody that had anything to do with it!"

Even i'm sat with my mouth hung in a perfect 'O' as Johanna storms off the stage still swearing and being censored and insulting every Capitol member she possible can before she exits at the side. Even if the Capitol bleeped out the word, it's very obvious she just told the Capitol, Snow and near enough everybody to fuck off. If that doesn't show a rebel i'll quite gladly cut off my left testicle. Snow's face right now will be priceless.

So far Johanna is the only victor to actually be honest and say what she really feels about well, everything. She didn't hide behind the innocent little Mason act like she could have. She just showed her true anger and left them all catching flies and disgusted with her foul language. In some ways i think her carefree attitude is a good thing, it means nobody will mess her around. In other ways it's going to make her reckless to a point where i doubt she'll care if she lives or dies. Hell she might already be thinking that way, it wouldn't surprise me.

But i'm already worried about her enough as it is, i don't need to add more of a reason to be.

Caesar is pretty quick to move on from Johanna who can still be heard faintly, shouting at people backstage. It's after Blight has walked on stage that she finally stops and the crowd stop gasping in shock at her behaviour.

"Blight, it's been a long time since you have stepped out onto a stage with an audience as large as this." Caesar smiles and puts a hand on Blights shoulder. "How do you see your odds of winning?"

Blight doesn't look at Caesar, the audience or the camera, he just looks at his shoes as he says. "I'm not here to win. I'm h-here to survive as long as i can." Then he looks at them and says. "This w-whole Quell feels like a betrayal. Have we not paid o-our dues the first time we played these games?"

The effect he has is quite surprising, seeing as by most standards he wasn't an incredibly popular victor. He has many of the Capitol citizens in the audience nodding in agreement with him and wiping away tears with small hankies.

"I can see you're very upset by this." Caesar nods and develops an empathetic look on his face. "And i think all of us, are deeply saddened. But we wish you the best of luck, Blight."

"Thank you." Blight nods.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please give a big hand for Blight!" Caesar holds Blights hand in the air.

The crowd do as Caesar asks and each and everyone of them are convinced they will never see Blight again. In fact, up until District Twelve they harbour the same looks on their faces, at that point they're so damn excited for whose about to come out their smiles are almost jumping off their faces.

"Ladies and gentleman, the victor of last years Hunger Games!" Caesar motions to the doors with a swing of his arm as he shouts. "Katniss Everdeen!"

Out she walks. Our Mockingjay. Dressed in a long, incredibly large and not so pretty wedding dress made of feathers. I'm pretty sure this dress was not her stylists choice, it was too tacky for his tastes. Cinna i think, he makes dresses to suit who she is and this wedding dress didn't do that. Regardless Katniss comes out onto the stage with the crowds flailing just for the chance to say her name and stands beside Caesar who looks her dress over multiple times.

"Katniss Everdeen! You look stunning! Doesnt she?" He gestures back and forth between the gown and the crowd.

It's breathtaking just how crazy their all going over her. They're grabbing each other and screaming and cheering. It's not going to be a secret that she is the favourite.

"Now Katniss this is a very big and very emotional night for all of us. Won't you say?" Caesar holds the mic out to Katniss.

The girl on fire smiles sweetly and chuckles. "Don't go crying on me now Caesar."

Caesar starts laughing and getting excited. "I can't make any promises you know me."

"Well you know i wouldn't believe you even if you did." She counters.

They love that, all of them, seeing as their laughing and screaming more until Caesar hushes them down again.

"But Katniss, on a more serious note. I think we're all here a little disappointed that a certain wedding will not take place. Aren't we folks?" He looks at the audience sombrely then back to Katniss. "Alas... But am i correct in saying that this is the gown you would of worn on that day. Yes? No?"

Katniss smiles, though something in her falters "Yes president Snow thought everyone would want to see it."

Of course it was Snow who told her to wear the dress.

"Well president Snow, as usual, is right." Caesar smirks to the crowd and shouts. "Am i right folks? I love it! I love it! Don't you love it?!" He looks back at Katniss and says, "Will you do us the honour please."

Everybody knows what he means. The infamous spin by the girl on fire. But how could she top the flames on her dress from last year? Well you could always turn the ugly wedding dress into a beautiful blue gown styled like a Mockingjay bird with wings that opened out when Katniss outstretched her arms. That's exactly what she did. It was amazing, the audience were going wild and Caesar was stammering like a fool as he looked on in true awe.

He started stammering about what the dress was so much Katniss had to say it for him. "A Mockingjay."

To that he nodded excitedly and said. "Your stylist has certainly outdone himself this time, Cinna, stand up and take a bow!"

The cameras travel into the audience in time to pick up the man behind the dress that spelt out freedom. You could see it in his face that he was proud of what he'd done, but he knew the odds of getting away with this were slim. I see now that not everybody Capitol is the same, that some of them don't have dark personalities to hide. Cressida and the others are great people and if i hadn't ever been told they were from the Capitol i never would have guessed it. For what he just did and the way he and Katniss share a glance to one another, i'm willing to bet Cinna is just the same.

Katniss is told to go up and stand with the other victors, she's right at the end near Chaff from eleven as Caesar introduces Peeta Mellark. The reception he receives is almost as big as Katniss', but still not quite there.

"Peeta." Caesar nods at Peeta. "The wedding. Marriage. Never to be."

"Well actually we got married, in secret." The audience gasp in disbelief.

"A secret wedding?" Caesar chuckles. "Alright do tell."

"We want our love to be eternal." The audience coo at that. "You know Katniss and I, we've been luckier the most and we wouldn't have any regrets at all if not... If not..."

Caesar's face becomes both curious and worried. "If not for what? What is it?"

Peeta breaths in deeply and says. "If it weren't for the baby."

The second the word baby left his lips the entire crowd was off their seats shouting at Caesar and the cameras to stop the games and how it was inhumane to do this. Are they really only just realising the games are inhumane now? As for the pregnancy i'm not even sure if it's real or not, Plutarch has said nothing and i'm sure Haymitch would have told him if it was true. Either way it got the reaction that the rebels needed and that's really all that matters until we get through the games and get them out.

With the crowd still in uproar, Caesar sends Peeta to stand with Katniss and the victors as he tries to calm them by saying how surprised they all are. The audience only grow more restless with what happened next. Katniss, Peeta, Finnick, Johanna and Blight were the first victors to instigate the act, but the others - including the careers - soon followed.

Each and every victor held each others hands in the air.