"Shall we watch the recap of the reapings?"Effie asks as she dabs at the corners of her mouth with a crisp linen napkin.

Silently moving we gather in the compartment with the television in various seatings. Peeta takes off to retrieve his notebook of information on the remaining victors. I take up a single seat across from Haymich's single, whereas Peeta and Effie sink into the shared space. The anthem begins to play and we settle in to watch our competition.

Out of the 75 victors, only 59 are still alive. I recognize many of their faces, from seeing them as tributes, as mentors, and from our recent viewings of all the victor's tapes. Some are so old or wasted by illness, drugs, or alcohol that It's hard to place them. Every district managed to scrape up at least one female and one male victor to enter the arena. Naturally, the Career tributes from 1,2, and 4 have the largest to pool from.

Watching the reapings takes far quicker than they felt. Peeta studies the recap intently, placing stars by the victors chosen in his leather-bound notebook. Haymitch watches in his corner, face flat and emotionless, despite watching his friends step onto the stage to their almost certain death. Effie makes hushed, distressed comments ever so often like, "Oh, not Cecelia" or "Well, Chaff never could stay out of a fight," accompanied with long, drawn-out sighs.

I try to take note of the other tributes, but only a few stick out like last year. There's the classically beautiful brother and sister from District 1, who won in back-to-back years. Brutus, a volunteer from District 2, who is at least 40 but is still a Career at heart and can't wait to get back into the arena. Why anyone would ever want to go through that again is beyond me. Finnick Odair, a capital darling from District 4. Bronze-haired beauty who won 10 years ago and age 14; the youngest anyone's ever won. There was a rather hysterical brunette who was also called on but was replaced rather quickly and comforted by an older woman who seemed to be in her eighties. The volunteer, if I remember right, was called Maria something? I don't remember much from her games, only that they went on fairly quickly and she uses a spear. She also had brown hair but seemed to be far more sure and capable of herself. She and Finnick look like they are close, they held a long hug and even held their hands up together like Peeta and I did last year. Individually they might be a problem, but together? Then there is Johanna Mason. A District 7 victor who pretended she was far weaker than she is to win her games a few years back. Effie seems particularly distraught over the district 8 female victor: Cecelia. It is hard to watch her detach herself from her three kids who clung to her with a wet face and scratchy screams. Chaff, the male victor from 11 who was chosen, is a close friend to Haymitch. I know they are close drinking buddies, but still, Haymitch holds a flat face.

Then I was called, the lone female from 12, no surprise. Haymitch is called on and before Effie could even get his full name out Peeta is yelling out that he volunteers. At this point, one of the announcers starts to tear up because it seems the odds will never be in our- star-crossed lovers' favor. She pulls herself together though to say that "These will be the best Games ever!".

I can't help but scoff at that. The best Games ever? More like the most brutal. I sit still in silence as Peeta rips out certain pages of the victors who were not chosen. We sit in silence, contemplating the games.

Peeta ends up speaking up after a few beats of silence, "So, let's recap who we need to be worried about. Try to remember their games."

Haymitch ends up flicking to the tv, rewinding it to the beginning of the recap. Cashmere and Gloss. Brother and sister from District 1." Their pictures flashed on the screen. I remember blonde curls bouncing as Cashmere walked up the stage. She waves the crowd. She blows kisses to the crowd with a wide grin. The television switches the Gloss. Similar features grace his face as his sisters. Blond hair, sharp cheekbones, long nose. His muscles in his arms are far more prominent than anyone from District 12. He too wore a smile, as if it never left his face.

"They won back-to-back games, 63rd and 64th respectively. Capital favorites. Lots of sponsors. They will be lethal." Haymitch finishes. He is no longer slouching in his chair. Instead, he has his feet planted on the ground, arms resting against them. He is more serious looking than I think I have ever seen him. A sharp contrast to just a few minutes ago, where it looked like he could care less as to who was reaped.

District 2 tributes came up on screen and Haymitch started up again. "The other half of the Career pack, Brutus and Enobaria". I remembered Brutus, a 40-year-old. He volunteered to go back. He had his fists up and pumping into the air. Ready to go back in, almost joyful to kill again. Enobaria was the name I couldn't remember.

Peeta ended up asking the question before I could, "What's with her teeth?

"She had them filed into fangs so she could rip peoples throats out". I suddenly remembered her games. She was impressive at hand-to-hand combat. During a fight with a tribute, she ended up ripping his throat out. She became so famous for that act I guess she had them sharpened and set with gold. She looks younger than Brutus. Around 30, maybe? Like Brutus, she looks at ease with the thought of going back into the arena.

Haymitch flicks to the next potential threats. I'm shocked when it's District 3 that pops up. I had originally noted nothing special about them. They look relatively harmless.

"Wiress and Beetee. Not fighters, but brilliant...and weird", Haymitch starts. He confirms my impression that they aren't necessarily physical advisories. He then goes on to talk about the male victor Beetee.

"He won his games by electrocuting 6 tributes and once". Surprise must have been etched onto my face because Haymitch raises his eyebrows at me. 6 tributes? He has a higher kill count than me and doesn't look like much of a threat at first glance. Peeta was right to be worried. I suddenly am glad he was so harsh with his expectations when we were training.

Finnick Odair's face is the next to flash across the screen, along with his fellow victor who volunteered. Haymitch says, "Finnick Odair. He won his games at 14. Youngest ever. Extremely humble.

It slipped out before I could stop myself, " You're kidding?"

With a roll of his eyes, Haymitch responds, "Yes I'm Kidding. He's a peacock. Total preenner, but he's the capital darling. They love him here. Charming, smart, and very skilled at combat, especially in the water."

I remembered back to the tapes we watched a couple of weeks ago. A living legend, he won the 65th and is still one of the youngest victors as he won at such a young age. He was a Career but ended up going solo for his games. With his extraordinary beauty, he never lacked anything. He was a beacon for sponsors, and with his charisma and charm, he had sponsors flocking to him. He never wanted food, medicine, or weapons. He had a short game, it took a week for his fellow tributes to realize he was the one to kill, but by then it was already too late. He was a good fighter with spears and knives he had found in the cornucopia during the bloodbath. When he received a trident, probably the most expensive parachute to ever enter the arena, it was over. He may be a peacock, but he is deadly at combat as Haymitch states, especially when it has to do with water fighting. He's from district 4, so he had been wielding tridents all his life. Practically an extension of his arm. After receiving the gift it only took a couple of days for him to be crowned Victor. The capital has been drooling over him ever since.

I speak up, wondering how we could beat him, "What about weaknesses"

Haymitch responds by gesturing to Finnick's partner and saying, "Only one. Maria Moher. She ended up volunteering for Annie, who has been a little crazy since she watched her district partner's head get lobbed off. She was mentored by Finnick and Mags, they're practically family at this point. They will be looking out for each other in the arena. I guarantee that they will be allies until the end."

Annie was hysterical when her name was called. She was screaming and thrashing around. While Maria looks incredibly dangerous I can't help but feel a connection to her. Volunteering for someone who might not have as good of a chance in the games. She is the only other volunteer besides Brutus. Unlike him though, she doesn't look excited, she didn't do it for herself. She did it for Annie. She looks confident and able to win. She has toned muscles…

"A guy like Finnick has to know she doesn't need help. I bet when it comes down to it he won't protect her" I state my thoughts out loud.

Haymitch sends a look of disappointment my way, "Well Katniss, does that mean you won't protect Peeta?"

I open and close my mouth looking down. I know I would protect Peeta till my dying breath, even if he is strong. I wonder if they are friends or have a different connection like Peeta and I do. Maybe not together, because Finnick and all his Capital "friends" but maybe they comfort each other. The hug they shared certainly gives off that impression.

Haymitch finishes off talking about Maria. "She is also liked by the capital. Similar to you guys she had a bit of a romance going on in her games which the capital likes. Unfortunately for her, she was the only victor that year." With that comment, I look down and my clasped hands and then at Peeta. He is focused on the screen. Staring intently and with purpose. Analyzing. He was always so much better at that than me. I can't help but appreciate having Peeta here. It would have been hard to lose him in the arena. Even harder to make it alone through everything after. I wonder if it was real though. If she actually had feelings for her fellow tribute or she was trying to get sponsors.

Continuing, Haymitch says, "Like Finnick, she is extremely good at combat. Particularly when she uses a spear. Unlike Finnick, she did not go solo in her arena. She paired up with some other district tributes. So she might be open to ally with you. Just know she and Finnick are a package deal."

"How can any of us trust each other? I ask.

Haymitch looks annoyed at my question. Like the last thing he wants to do is answer it. He still does, "It's not about trust. It's about staying alive. You need to know you are already starting at a disadvantage. Most of these people have been friends for years and these are experienced killers. If you want to survive you are going to need allies"

Peeta speaks up, already forming some ideas I assume, "Okay, I think that-"

Haymitch cuts him off, "Ahh, You're not the problem". He turns to me.

"No". Bad idea. They'll kill us off in our sleep, or leave us open. They are already dangerous as tributes and our enemy, but they are already victors. They know how to and will kill us if they want. And they will want to. We are their enemies. Only one of us can make it out. I want it to be Peeta, but they will want it to be themselves. There is no way they won't sabotage us.

With an exacerbated look Haymitch reprimands me, "Do it your way, but I know these people. You go it alone, their first move is gonna be to hunt you down. Botha you."