Katniss POV:
The train moved as fast as I remembered, when Peeta and I first arrived in the Capitol many years ago. I looked over at Peeta who sat beside me calmly while my hands shook violently in my lap.
Peeta grab my hand and griped it affectionately and I smiled at him.
"I am fine." I said trying to reassure him.
"It's Rye I am worried about. He is not prepared to defend himself Peeta. Anything could happen, what if he starves to death, gets murdered, or ends up with an infection and looses one of his limbs." I said unleashing all of my pinned up anxiety.
"Katniss listen to me." Peeta said pulling my face towards his.
"Everything is going to be all right. We are going to try our best to end this before things get any worse. Rye can and will survive this. Willow is watching the games and giving updates on Rye's well being every day." Peeta said while part of me still melted when I gazed into his eyes.
"You are right. What would we do without our daughter Willow? She is taking care of the bakery while we are gone, and I know it must be hard for her to watch the Games everyday knowing that Rye sacrificed his life to save her." I said and I looked down at our intertwined fingers.
"It feels like yesterday our children were both innocent babies, and now one of them is fighting for their life." I said and before Peeta could find some way to rationalize with me the train stopped.
We made it off the train in silence and were greeted by Fileas, Rye's Escort, at the station.
"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Mellark." Fileas said with a bow.
"Please, Fileas you can just call us Katniss and Peeta." Peeta said and under the well mannered persona I could since Fileas's discomfort.
"Well, all right, Fileas said with a shy smile.
"I can take you to see President Chronis's assistant and she will inform you on whether he is available to meet with you."
Peeta and I both nodded in unison, and Fileas lead us to Chronis's mansion located in the City Circle.
When we arrived to the President's mansion, I realized nothing about the Capitol had changed in appearance. The citizens seemed gloomy and everything was less fast paced, but the appearance was the same. The fashion and the way people carried themselves evolved over time but everything else was very similar.
It was as if Snow's eldest great grandson was trying to mimic his grandfather's lifestyle and way of leadership. It was clear that Nikolas Chronis wanted to be his grandfather.
Peeta walked behind Fileas into a large, spacious room upstairs on the fourth floor. There was a thin, pale skinned woman sitting at a desk. The woman had olive colored hair and lime dyed eye lashes.
"Fileas," she said with a bright smile.
"It is a pleasure to see you. How can I help you?" She said rising from her desk and revealing her skin tight white dress.
"Hello, Gaia I am here with Katniss and Peeta Mellark. They want to speak with President Chronis. It is urgent." Fileas said.
"Well I am sorry but President Chronis is in a meeting, you will have to speak with him at another time." Gaia said sitting back down.
"Can he excuse himself for a few minutes? It should not take long." I said trying to reason with her.
"No, I am sorry. I will let him know that you were here." Gaia said avoiding eye contact with all of us.
"Listen, that bastard Chronis has my son sent into the Games because of Peeta and I, and I will be damned if he cannot spare a few seconds to meet with us."
I said slamming my hands on her desk and the door in the corner of the room opened. A large group of men and woman flooded through the door with loud chatter filling the room.
I walked towards the door quickly, allowing my anger to control me. Peeta followed behind me protectively.
When we walked through the door we saw a young man around the age of twenty five sitting down in a glass chair with a glass table in front of him, and his feet planted on the marble floor. There were velvet curtains on the windows on both sides of him and a beautiful view of the city behind him.
There was a holographic screen on the side of the room. The screen showed a field of white roses. The same roses that used to haunt my dreams because they reminded me of Snow, and the damaged he caused to everyone's lives.
"My grandfather favored to those roses." Chronis said causing me to snap out of a trance.
Chronis features were youthful and soft, but beyond blue eyes and blond hair was something dark and pitiful.
He placed a cocky side grin on his face and narrowed his big blue eyes. Peeta stood beside me.
"Do not play coy, have a seat." Chronis said gesturing to the two chairs in front of us.
Peeta and I both sat down quietly.
"I have been expecting both. Honestly, I thought you would have been here sooner but maybe I misjudged you." Chronis said never losing his grim expression.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I snapped.
"Katniss, Peeta said trying to quiet me before things got out of hand.
"Forgive my wife; she has been under a lot of stress recently." Peeta said attempting to fight fair.
"I can imagine why." Chronis said in an unamused way.
"Yes, and that is why we are here." Peeta said.
"Our son volunteered for his sister Willow at the Reaping and now his life may be on the line." Peeta said with a serious and structured mask on his face.
"That is how the game works Mr. Mellark." Chronis said almost seeming confused.
"Yes but Katniss and I were wondering if there was any way you could assure that our son makes it through the Games safely." Peeta finished.
"Are you asking me to allow your son to win the Games? You want me to allow the other tributes to die while your pride and joy's life is spared?" Chronis said leaning over the table.
"No, we just want our son to be safe and for no blood to be shed in the process." I said wanting to negotiate with him.
Chronis burst out into laughter. He laughed out loud but no joy reached his face.
"As ridiculous as you both sound, I feel sorry for you." Chronis said letting his smile fall.
"I need you to understand that my younger brother is fighting for his life as well and maybe he and Rye will both die. Either way it is none of my concern. When the tributes names and are called at the Reaping they are destined to die. That is the way things are and there is no changing it." President Chronis said with his hands glued together and with a stern expression.
"Have a good day, and shut the door on your way out." Chronis said dismissing us completely.
Peeta and I exited the room and I stormed out of Gaia's office.
"I knew this was a bad idea Peeta." I said trying not to break down.
"Hey, we will figure something out." Peeta said putting his arms around me.
"Well, well if isn't Katniss and Peeta Mellark." I heard someone say.
I turned around to see a tall and slender man standing behind me.
"Hello, my name is Krios Floros." He said with his hands held out towards me.
Peeta and I looked at each other puzzled.
"I am the head Gamemaker and friend of President Chronis." He said with a large smile plastered on his face.
"You seem upset is there anything I can help you with."
"Absolutely not," I said before Peeta could speak.
"Well, if you need any help with anything just know that I am available and that you have my word." Krios said discreetly and I stepped back when I saw something familiar on his coat.
Krios winked and then walked away.
"Do you think he is rebelling against Chronis? Peeta asked.
"I do not know this could be a part of some life threatening plan they are creating." I said feeling unsure about everything.
Zander POV:
Thane and his demented minion Dervilia walked in front of me and Iris as we treaded through the darkness.
Thane said he saw a small cave at the bottom of one of the mountains a few miles away from us.
"God, I am so tired." Iris said breaking the silence.
"You are always tired Iris." I said not wanting to hear another announcement.
"Yes but this is different, my feet are killing me." Iris said breathing heavily.
"If I'm not mistaken you begged your stylist to let you wear those boots." I said feeling tired from more than just walking.
"Yeah, but I did not know they would cause my feet to bleed. Can we just rest for a little while?" Iris said coming to a complete stop.
Several loud howls echoed throughout the forest.
"What was that?" Iris said loudly.
"Silence," Thane said raising his hand in deep thought.
"I am going to go check it out." Thane said already walking away.
"I will go with you." Dervilia said trailing Thane's steps.
I sat down at the bottom of one of the trees and Iris slid beside me.
"I smell like some kind of animal and I am starving." Iris said with her body starting to quiver.
"I do not see how you could be starving, after you ate an entire bag of dried berries that one of your sponsors sent you." I said.
Iris scoffed. "A bag of dried berries is not a proper meal."
"What is a proper meal? One prepared by a gourmet chef." I said with a small smile.
"Maybe, or at least something that has not been in a package for God knows how long."
I sighed. "Nothing will ever satisfy you."
Iris stared at me with her usual look that means she wants something. I looked away from her hungry glare.
"You satisfy me, Zan." Iris said in a seductive tone.
I turned around and looked Iris into her eyes, until I saw Dervilia approaching us.
Dervilia was holding her throat with both her hands and coughing up pools of blood.
I stood up and walked towards her. Blood was running all down her hands and her clothes were soaked in blood.
Right before I could hold her in my arms she fainted, expect she was not unconscious.
"You slit her throat." I said looking down at the deep gash across her throat.
"You son of a bitch, Thane you killed her." I yelled slamming Thane into a nearby tree.
"I would do it all over again." Thane said with a grin on his face.
"It was either you or her. Dervilia wanted both of you dead when she first saw you, but I figured we could help each other. I wanted to keep our alliance but it felt impossible with Dervilia around." Thane said and I released him from my clutches.
"Fine, try anything like that again and you'll be lying right next to her." I said walking away.
Zara POV:
My ears were filled with the sounds of the Polarwolves howls. There must have been hundred's chasing after me and I could feel the adrenaline rushing through me.
The white fur and tall stature were easy to spot in the darkness but I still felt cornered.
I heard several screams fill the air and I knew that there would be a countless number of fallen tributes.
I continued to run until my sprint was interrupted by three tributes.
I saw Rye, Rona, and Taro all standing together.
"What's happening?" I heard Rona ask.
I would have warned all of them but I did not have time to speak. All three of them turned around to see packs of the Polarwolves headed there way and they started running behind me.
I watched them as they ran behind me and I accidently ran into a tree. Rye stopped and extended his hand towards me. I did not have time to brush his hand away, so I allowed him to help me up.
Rye continued to hold my hand and we ran together through the forest. He was obviously a slow runner and I wished I had the courage to break free from him.
All of a sudden, around five canons fired and everything grew quiet.
There was no more howling, growling, or claw scratches against the trees.
The only noise that could be heard was the whistling of the wind. I moved away from Rye and Rona and Taro stood beside us.
I straightened my bag on my shoulders and started to walk away.
"Wait, where are you going?" Rona asked and I wondered was she talking to me.
"What do you mean? I am not staying around any of you." I said turning away.
"Taro and you are from the same District, correct?" Rona said.
"Yes we are." I said already knowing what she was referring to.
"Well, President Chronis stated that two people from the same District can win the games." Rona said.
"Listen, I am not much of a team player, so none of you want me as an ally." I said feeling pressured.
"We need all the help we can get Zara." Taro said and I looked at his miserable expression.
"I do not see how I can be any help to anyone, Taro."
"You can help us by knowing that we have someone else around that we can trust." Rona said shyly.
I looked down for a moment trying to decide the impossible.
"All right, but when it is time to kill both of you do not beg me for any mercy." I said looking at Rona and Rye.
Rye smirked while Rona nodded and I brushed past them both.
AN: Well at least now there are more interactions between the characters.