Author's Note: This is my tenth chapter, that's double digets, and I'm so happy I've made it this far! Hopefully this will work out so that I can wrap it up eventually. I know this chapter is short but I wanted to end it like I do so yeah. Anyway I have to go to bed so read and review please;

I do not own the Hunger Games

Chapter 10; in which there is a reaping, a fight, and still more blood.

It had to have been at least on hour before I was standing in the middle of the district twelve square waiting for Effie Trinket, who was chosen as the district's escort for some reason that must have something to do with my parents' past, to pull out the first name.

She reaches into the large, glass ball and takes one of the two slips of paper there. "Muscosa Mellark," she announces.

I walk up to stage, unsure why they even bothered to take me back here because they knew I'd just end up back in the Capitol again. Effie doesn't ask for volunteers. That was one of the things the president said could not be done. We couldn't volunteer.

"Now for our second Victor," she reaches into the ball again and reads the name we all know is printed there. "Katniss Everdeen," for some reason they're using my mother's maiden name. I'm not sure why, but they are. I think it might be because it gives the illusion that they're not putting a whole family into the arena to fight to the death.

My mother walks up, her face emotionless. She knows how horrible the Games are. She knows this was caused by her when she pulled out the Nightlock to save herself and my father so many years ago. Maybe I should blame her for this, but I don't. She did what any half decent person would do. If anything I admire her courage for standing up to the Capitol and helping to free the Districts, if only for a few years.

Effie moves to the other ball and pulls out one of the two slips. "Haymitch Abernathy," she announces. Haymitch comes up shakily. He's drunk and everybody knows it. I understand why he can't stand to be sober right now.

He reaches the stage and grabs the microphone from Effie. "Do you know what you're doing?" He yells, "You're repeating all your mistakes! This will be your last one!" Peacekeepers run up and drag him into the justice building, leaving behind a shaken crowd.

I glance over toward my mother who looks completely unsure of what just happened.

"Well," Effie Trinket continues, putting an end to the silence that covers the square. "Let us now select our last tribute-"

"Quit with the show, we all know the only slip in the ball says Peeta Mellark, just like they planned. Haymitch is right, this is messed up!" I can't find the owner of the voice in the crowed before he's taken away by peacekeepers but I recognize it. He's one of Chase's friends. Alexander Ross, the son of the butcher. We were never really friends, he didn't beat me up so I'd call him a casual acquaintance, but he was Chase's best friend since kindergarten. He never was too intelligent but I've always respected him for speaking his mind, even though now that could be the reason he dies.

Effie obviously doesn't know how to respond, she attempts to continue by reaching into the ball and reading my father's name off the small slip of paper.

What happens is amazing to me and will live with me to my final breath.

As my father walks up to the makeshift stage, the people of the district slowly bring their middle three fingers to their lips and hold them out to us. This is an old gesture from district twelve that says goodbye to somebody you love. My mother takes me into her arms and kisses the top of my head.

I don't see what happens next but I hear screaming and yelling and gunshots as the peacekeeper frantically drag us into the Justice Building.

Then Haymitch is yelling something that I'm having trouble understanding, my mother is answering quickly, and somewhere in the distance I hear more gunshots and insanity outside. A peacekeeper grabs me from behind and is holding a gun to my temple, my mother's freaking out, dad is trying to get out of a peacekeepers grip, Haymitch threw up on the carpet, and I can't see Effie. A gun goes off and my mother screams as blood pours down my dad's arm. The peacekeeper had missed thankfully and lets go in surprise, the one holding me is distracted and without thinking I bite down on his arm that is now directly in my face. He curses, letting go of me and dropping his gun. I had managed to draw a little blood. I turn as fast as I can and kick him in the head.

People flood the room, some body shoots at one of the peacekeepers and the woman goes down. Somebody yells out orders but my mind is focusing too much on the decision of fight or flight to process the command. I'm being pulled up stairs, down hallways, and ultimately to the roof of the building where a hovercraft is waiting on the roof. I'm pulled on and when I try to get out I'm held back and told to calm down.

Eventually somebody just gives me some kind of sedative to keep me from trying to get away, but right before I fall asleep I think I see my mother sitting next to me.