Kill, kill, kill.
That's all that goes through my head. I look down at my uniform, a black outfit with the Capitol emblem sewed on the chest area. In my hand is a handgun. On my back is a bow and arrow that I professionally handle. I am a deadly weapon and all I know is that I had to kill. Kill whoever threatens the president. My president.
All of us guards march out onto the central platform. In front of us stands President Snow and he eyes each one of us carefully. I can swear that his eyes lingered over me for a second longer and that makes me grin. I am getting attention by my master. That should be good news.
I never had a life before the transformation. President Snow said so. He told me I was only a girl that lived alone in the forest with nowhere to go. He did me a favor by bringing me to his home, The Capitol.
There are a hundred of us. I am the youngest of the guards. All the other ones are at least twenty years old. Because of this, I feel special, more important.
It has been two weeks since my transformation now but I already feel like a professional. So far, I have been sent out to finish off simple jobs for the president.
We are all called to order. President Snow is pacing in front of us, his specialty guards. He is rereading our Code of Conduct, telling us we all had a grudge against the districts because each one tried to kill us. I wonder which district tried to get rid of me, but President Snow never told me.
After reading our Code of Conduct, President Snow turns to us and we salute him in unison. He salutes back and stares at each one of us gravely.
"Men and women of the Capitol," he begins as his eyes land on me and don't waver. "A rebellion has begun among the districts. We had tried to settle them down from the beginning, but many of my men's lives were taken. I leave this rebellion in your hands. It is predicted they will be nearing the Capitol any day now and we must have all of you ready. Understood?"
"Sir, yes sir!" we all declare as one. He smiles evilly and points a finger at me.
"Everyone here is dismissed to the quarters, except Katniss. I need a word with you."
Everyone salutes the President again then leaves to the main quarters of the Presidential guards. I wait for everyone to be dismissed then I follow the President to his private office. He takes a seat and watches me enter.
"Katniss, I have a special job for you," he begins and smiles when he sees the joyful look on my face. "This rebellion is being led by someone you may have encountered in your previous life." I smile gruesomely. The rebellion was led by my own personal enemy. I could pull off revenge mechanisms.
"Yes, Katniss," he continues with the same smile as mine. "But you won't be leading the other guards." My face drops. I thought I was going to be appointed a special task. "Don't jump to conclusions, Katniss," he scolds. I ask for forgiveness and he gives it to me. "I want you to pretend."
I smile. I was going to be the President's own personal spy.
"Yes, Katniss," he cracks as if reading my mind, "you will be spying for me. But be cautious for they will do the same." I look at him in confusion. "They will pretend to take you under their wing for they will believe I don't want you anymore." I growl. How dare they think the President hates me?
"Is it understood?" he commands. I nod and salute. He smiles at me and takes out something from his desk drawer. He hands it to me and I study the object.
"You are our greatest weapon in this battle, Katniss. You will be sent on your way tomorrow morning. One of these," he points at the object, "was implanted in your head when we transformed you. Within it is a microchip so that we can detect where you are at all times through our computer. We also can control your thoughts and actions." I stare at him with my eyes wide. He leans in and whispers, "For your own safety." I nod in approval and understanding and salute him. He is going to keep me safe.
On my way out the door I let out a toothy grin. Having personal attention from the president was a big thing for all us guards.
When I reach the Presidential Guards dining hall, a whole supper is lied out for us. I quickly take a seat between two strangers and engulf the food on my plate. When all our plates are replaced with desserts, I look up at the girl serving me my plate.
My breath is caught in my chest and my eyes widen. The Avox has flaming red hair that grabs my attention. The girl is staring at me as well and tears are rolling down her face.
"Do I know you?" I ask her. She lets out a quiet sob and looks around, making sure no one notices us. She turns back to me and nods once. She picks up a dirty plate from in front of me and glances at me one more time before moving on. I stare behind her, my brain hurting as I try to decipher who she is.
Minutes later, we are all dismissed to our chambers.
That night I dream of nothing in particular, at first. Then, voices in my head begin to echo through my mind.
"Katniss, wake up! You're not like this! The Capital changed you!" I recognize the voice as my own. But the voice sounds vulnerable, weak. It's as if I dug it out from the back of my mind.
"Katniss you can't do this! The president is lying to you! You know it! Remember THE HUNGER GAMES!"
I wake up, startled. In seconds, my dream is forgotten as if locked up in another chamber of my brain. I look over and sleeping beside me is a small girl. We are both lying down high up in a tree in the middle of a forest. I realize I'm still dreaming.
I lightly grab her arm and try to shake her awake. Who is she and why does she look so familiar?
"Katniss?" she says weakly. She moves the dark hair out of her face and her pixy like features look up at me. I stare into her big eyes and suddenly, I'm brought back into another world.
"Don't go." Rue tightens her grip on my hand.
"Course not. Staying right here," I say. I move in closer to her, pulling her head onto my lap. I gently brush the dark, thick hair back behind her ear.
"Sing," she says, but I barely catch the word.
Sing. My throat is tight with tears, hoarse from smoke and fatigue. The song that comes to me is a simple lullaby, one we sing to fretful, hungry babies to sleep with.
I give a small cough, swallow hard, and begin.
I'm brought back into the dream and I look at Rue with confusion.
"Wha-what happened? Why am I here?" I ask in bewilderment.
She reaches over to me. "Katniss, they did something to you."
But right before we can touch each other, a loud screech enters my mind and I instantly wake up from the startling dream. I scream till at last the noise subsides. I glance around and notice all the other guards around me are still fast asleep. My face is coated in sweat and I'm shaking wildly, but I don't know why.
"Why am I still awake?" I ask myself. I slowly lie down and try to rest but my mind is troubled with something I can't even recall.
What had I been dreaming about?