Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games.

Review reply to GirlOnFire44: Thanks for the review. The books didn't describe Annie's games; they just said a dam broke and flooded the place. So i invented a bit and decided there could have been a maze leading to dammed river. And yep, this is Maysilee's :)

A/n: Well, i didn't leave it so long this time. That's really all i can say except thank you for all the reviews. They make my day :) Hope you enjoy.

29) Maysilee Donner – Nominee

On Reaping day, we don't have to wake up early because the mines are closed and few people are up to shopping. But the Reaping always scares me too much to actually sleep so I get up early anyway. I'm not the only one; my sister is awake as well. I can tell from her snores which are just a little too perfect to be genuine.

Step one to a successful Reaping day: pretend everything is normal and leave bedroom as quietly as possible.

I head downstairs but she comes down about five minutes later and sees me making myself breakfast. The nice thing about my sister is that we don't have to talk and it's still comfortable. So we sit in silence, chewing away at our food.

Step two: when words can't express the horror of something just look away and know the other person understands you anyway.

Eventually, she says, "I'm scared."

"Of the Quarter Quell?" I ask. She nods. "Same here," I say. "But the odds are still low that we'll be picked."

"Twice the normal chance," she shoots back.

I attempt to smile. "I thought I was meant to be making you feel better."

She tries to smile back. "Sorry, May."

We go back to eating in silence.

Step three: any attempts at talking about the Reaping should be stopped before they start. It never ends well.

We sit for a few more minutes before our parents walk in and my mother tries to start a conversation about our neighbours. No one's really buying into it but we keep talking anyway. It's better than sitting here and wondering whether me or my sister – or both of us – are going to be called into the Hunger Games this year.

I've always wondered what I would do if I did end up being called. The obvious answer is that I would die because I've never killed anything before and I don't think I can do it now. But I wonder whether I would survive for a few days first.

We do odd jobs for a bit, trying to waste time and put off the Reaping. But, too soon for our liking, my father announces that we have to go the main Square. We walk there in silence, meeting up with a few other friends, all of whom are stressed. No one talks about the Reaping at all but there's no doubt that the 'double tributes' rule is worrying everyone.

Step four: try not to be of Reaping age in a Quarter Quell year. It makes everything worse.

At the square, we register and head towards the section for seventeen year olds. Normally, the Seam kids and the Town kids don't really mix much but the Reaping is always an exception and I find that we are next to a few people from my class from the Seam and my friend Carys Jover. We all nod at each other and wish each other luck as though we actually speak. Solidarity – only at the worst of times.

At two o'clock, the mayor begins to read. He reads the same thing every year but this time, he's added something about the Quarter Quell. To show that for every Capitol citizen who died in the rebellion, so did two rebels, we have to play this extra game. I find myself gripping my sister's hand as he reads. I'm not sure when I did that.

Soon, our escort jumps up and starts to talk about how excited we should all be. I notice Al Janek, our only victor, looks tired. It's been twenty-eight years since he won; he's not even that old. He has to look after four tributes this year. I guess it's not going to be easy.

"So let's pick our tributes. Ladies first," the escort shouts out and I find myself gripping my sister's hand again. I'm probably crushing it but she isn't complaining. The escort goes to the first bowl. "Ren Marok."

I breathe out silently. One down. And then I hate myself for having such a horrible thought. Meanwhile, a fifteen-year-old girl walks up on stage, clenching her fists. Seam, by the look of her, and absolutely terrified. There are no volunteers.

"And for our second girl ... Maysilee Donner!"

I think I nearly break my sister's hand. Carys hugs me, gently prying me away from my sister. Then I force myself to break the embrace and walk forward. Behind me, I hear my sister sobbing. But I can't turn around.

Small steps. Get to the stage first and then worry about everything else. Steps for when you've been called to die. That's what I need.

Step one: Get up onto the stage and try not to plead for someone to switch places with you.

The escort is very happy to see me and instructs me to shake Al's hand after no one volunteers. Then she calls out the boys. They're both from the Seam – Lewes Welch and Haymitch Abernathy. I've seen them around once or twice but I've never really focussed on them. Haymitch is the only one of us who seems at all calm. Ren is crying and Lewes is obviously trying not to. So am I. The Hunger Games. Forty-seven other tributes. How am I supposed to survive?

We're told to go to the Justice Building. Haymitch walks off first.

Step two: walk to the Justice Building without breaking down.

I force myself to move. Ren and Lewes are behind me.

Step three: enter room and try not to cry.

I sit down and wait for my family. The fourth step will be to get through this hour without collapsing. The fifth step will be to get through preparation. The sixth step?

Try not to die.