Cassius laughs as I finish telling him a story about how my father tried teaching me to bake when I was four, but I nearly caught the house on fire.

"So you forgot about it and just went outside? For two hours?" He asks, I laugh and nod.

"I saw a ball and wanted to play okay! I forgot."

"and your father just forgot too?" Cassius asks.

"I think he went out and left me with my mother, who was alseep the whole time." Cassius and I both laugh again and I find myself leaning my head on his shoulder.

"It's a shame this can only last a few days." I say as Cassius take a peice of my undone hair in his fingers.

"At least we got to meet each other." He says, drop in my hair and putting an arm around me. I took off Cliffs ring on the chain when Cassius was getting his water from his pack, I felt like he was with us. It felt wrong. Maybe it's because I realized he's probably watching, hating me.

It's mid afternoon now and the temperature is likely thirty degrees now, too hot to do much.

"Who do you want to win?" Cassius asks me. I look up at him, not raising my head off his shoulder.

"What do you mean?" I ask him.

"You know, who do you want to live?" He repeats. I look out at the arena again, thinking.

"Ideally? Everyone. Realistically? I don't know. Probably you." I can't help but see Rye being who I truly want to win, but I can't muster the heart to tell Cassius that.

"I don't want to win." He tells me. This time I raise my head and look at him. He looks to me and then back out at the arena before us.

"I know you want your brother to win. That's your mission, I don't blame you." He pauses and swallows hard before he continues.

"I'm a big believer in fate, you know everything happens for a reason." He turns to look at me,

"I know you'll die before you let your brother die. I don't want to win. If you die, I die. I think I was meant to come here. To meet you." Cassius looks at me, right in my eyes.

"Cassius..." I whisper before pulling him in for a kiss. Like before, time melts away and I forget about the games. Whenever I kissed Cliff it was never like this.

We only pull apart when there's a ringing sound. I squint my eyes to see a small silver parachute landing on the rocks a few feet away. I stand and walk over, picking up the package. Attached to the parachute is a small grey box with a latch to keep it closed. I walk back over to Cassius and sit next to him, holding the box in my lap.

"Who's it for?" He asks. I shake my head.

"No idea." I say, turning the box over to see if it has a name.

"Might as well open it." I say, unhooking the latch and opening the lid. Inside are two white envelopes, one with my name, the other with Cassius's. He reaches in and takes his and I take mine, closing the box and placing it aside.

"Must be our one letters." Cassius says, flipping over his envelope and tearing it open. He pulls out three sheets of paper and begins to read one. I watch him for a moment before remembering my own letter and ripping it open. I find three letters as well and read who they're from. One from my mother, one from my father and one from someone named Camellia Harvardash. It takes me a minute before I recognize the name. The girl I volunteered for at the reaping. I unfold hers and see it's written in neat cursive, the kind they force you to use in school.

Miss Willow,

Thank you for volunteering for me. I was so scared when they called me, I didn't want to die. I heard you yell and felt bad for you. I didn't want you to die either. I went to find my mom after and she hugged me. I asked her who you were and she told me you were a very brave person and that we'd pray for you every night. She told me you were someone I'd want to be. I do want to be like you.

Everyone here at home loves you. We watch the games in the square and the people from the Hob and your dad's bakery give out food to everyone. We all cheered when we heard your score. Right now it's day two in the games, but I bet you'll get this later. You were so strong in the beginning! We all cheered when you beat the boy, Knox I think. I'm glad you joined the careers. They're strong. You can win. Please win. I want to thank you in person. My mom and dad want to thank you too.

You're my hero,

Camellia Harvardash

My eyes begin to well up with tears as I read her letter. I fold it up and wipe my eyes as I pull out the letter from my father.

Darling,

I'm so proud of you. When I was in my games I did the same thing as you. I wanted to protect your mother so I joined the careers to keep her safe. I know it's hard, I know there will be days you'll want to quit, just give up and die. You can't. You're too much like your mother. She always says you're more like me, but when I watched you volunteer, I saw your mother when she was sixteen, marching up the steps.

I don't know if you volunteered for that girl or if you had your own reasons, but I respect you either way. The girl came to our home that night with some cookies she and her mother made as well as a tin of goat milk. She apologized saying it wasn't much, but all they had. Of course we didn't accept but she insisted. She said her mother was so grateful for what you did.

Your brother is scared and I don't think he knows you're trying to protect him. It's day two and he's doing well physically, but I can tell he's scared. I can't say more because they'll censor it out but I can tell you how proud I am of you. I love you and want you to know that, no matter how the games end.

You'll always be my rebellious, curious and brave daughter.

Stay safe.

Dad.

This time the tears spill over. I look at my father's handwriting and rub my thumb over the black ink. I feel the tears wet my cheeks but I don't attempt to dry them, as I know they'll only be moistened again when I read my mother's letter. I hold hers in my hands for a long time before I read it, I was never close to my mother growing up, but we were getting closer as I aged. I already know what her letter will say, even before I read it.

Willow,

I'm so sorry. I should have told you everything from the beginning. I should never have kept my past a secret from you, and I'm sorry. I was a coward and couldn't face what I'd seen and done in my past. If this doesn't get through you may never know how much I love you and how proud I am. I was so scared before you were born, but as soon as I held you, I knew you were special. You proved that to me at the reaping.

I volunteered for my sister at my reaping. She was twelve. You never met her and I never told you about her. She died many years ago, long before you were born. I saw that again in my head when I saw you volunteer. When your brother was picked, I knew you would make it your mission to save him. I see that now.

I want you to know that this is your life, your future and your heart on the line. If you want to save Rye, you can. If you want to live, you can. If you decide you don't want to die and your brother dies in that arena, I promise you I understand. I wanted nothing more than to save your father in the arena, but I admit, there were times when I wanted nothing more than to live. Remember that there are many battles you'll face in your lifetime. Should you come home, the games will be the first of many. Choose them wisely.

If you come home, we'll love you and be proud of you. If you don't, we'll love you and be proud of you.

You can make your choice, and don't be afraid to be afraid. Sometimes fear is a powerful thing. But hope even more so.

Say scared, and stay hopeful.

Mom.

My head collapses into my hands and my tears soak the papers. I sob into the letters uncontrollably, the words breaking me down. I feel Cassius's arms around me, but I continue to sob as he pulls me into him as he tried to comfort me. I think of the little girl, Camellia, watching the games, thinking I'm a hero for saving her. I think of my father, proud of who I am and who I've become. What kills me most is thinking of my mother, watching me and seeing me for who I really am, a scared tribute who doesn't know what to do. My mothers words resonate with me, reminding me that this is my life, I have choices and I can choose my battles.

I think of Dew and what she said to me in the final moments I was with her. I to her about the crowd chanting for our freedom and her saying they already know. This is when it all falls into place.

The districts already know the Capitol has been lying about my parents. They know the truth. They know the Capitol has become corrupt once more and they know my parents are their allies, not their enemies.

That's what my mother was trying to tell me, that if I live that will be a battle I'll fight.

I will fight in the revolution.