Dawn is just breaking when I shoot upright, awakened from my nightmares.

I dreamt of Peeta, of his name being called instead of Bannor's. My father, trapped behind the metal gate that leads to the elevator to the mines. Prim being chased and devoured slowly by mutts while I'm helpless to save her, forced to watch through the television screen.

Rubbing my eyes harshly, I make my way into the shower. The hot water helps calm me.

Neither Haymitch nor Effie have knocked on my door, but I'm hungry. I head down to the dining car and am pleased with what I find. Filling my plate, I situate myself near the window so I can watch the sun rise.

I'm finishing my last bread roll when Haymitch and Bannor come in. Following my lead, they both make themselves a plate and sit at the table. Haymitch also pours himself a glass, and I sigh.

Haymitch clears his throat. "We need to talk about training. Do you two want to be coached together, or separately?" My stomach feels queasy now, and Bannor pushes his plate away, his gaze falling to the table.

I shake my head. "Why would we want to be coached separately?"

Haymitch twirls his spoon for a moment, thinking. "Say that you have a strength you'd like to keep secret and hidden. Something you want to use to your advantage in the arena."

Bannor makes a noise in the back of his throat, which he quickly tries to disguise with a cough. "I don't have any special skills." He looks up at me, his hands shaking slightly. "And I think most in the district know what Katniss does."

He's right. I've sold squirrels to his parents, and I've sold fur from Prim's goat Lady to his mother as well.

When I don't respond, Haymitch nods. "Alright, so I'll coach you together. Bannor, what does your family do in town?"

Bannor clears his throat. "My mother is a seamstress. My dad just helps her keep her inventory stocked and organized."

I smile at him. "I know your mother, last year for Prim's birthday Peeta-" My throat suddenly constricts at the mention of Peeta. Trembling, I reach for my cup and take a drink.

Haymitch and Bannor are both staring at me, confused.

"Sorry." I feel my face burning. "A blanket was ordered for my sister for her birthday. She loves it, she sleeps with it every night."

"Alright." Haymitch's gaze lingers on me for a moment, before shifting his attention back to my district partner. "Do you help her with any of that? Do you, I don't know, tie any knots or help with the stitching?"

Bannor shakes his head. "How would that be helpful?"

"Think about it kid, if you take a knife to the arm, how are you going to close that wound?" Haymitch takes a swig from his glass. "If you could tie any useful knots, you could make yourself a half decent net."

Bannor's gaze returns to the table, his spoon idly pushing his breakfast around on his plate.

Defeated, Haymitch sighs, and then looks pointedly at me. "So you kill squirrels."

"I shoot squirrels."

"Well I'll be damned." He takes another swig. "And you're good with a knife."

"Not really. But I can hunt."

Haymitch twirls his finger around the lip of his glass for a few moments. He nods at me. "We can work with that."

Bannor's face has gone stark white. His chest is heaving, and his spoon is trembling in his hand. He laughs bitterly, then looks at me. "At least one of us has a chance."

"Watching your mom work all these years might've taught you something and you don't even realize it yet." Haymitch drains his glass. "Listen. In the Training Center, I want you two to focus on the survival skills. Katniss, don't touch a bow until your private session. You don't want the other tributes knowing you have an ace up your sleeve."

Haymitch drums his hands on the table, kicks the chair backwards as he stands, and pours himself another glass. Halfway out the door, he turns and calls out, "Meet Effie at the elevator at ten for training!"

Bannor doesn't move. His spoon is still clenched in his grip. His knuckles are white from the tension.

Slowly, I reach across the table for another roll and begin picking away at it. You could cut the air with a knife.

I clear my throat. "You should probably eat. Training all day is going to take a lot out of us."

He stirs slightly, but otherwise makes no move to resume eating.

I alternate between picking at the roll and picking at the skin around my fingernails. I'm feeling extremely anxious about being in a room with all of the other tributes. But before I know it we're being herded into a circle in front of the head trainer, Atala.

She explains the training schedule, protocol, and rules to us. Combat between tributes is forbidden, and my heart beats in my throat as the Careers glace around at that rule, as if they're sizing us all up.

For the next three days, I spend as much time as I can at as many of the different stations as possible. A few times Bannor joined me, and in silence we had worked side by side.

On the third day, we are summoned one by one for our private sessions. Bannor's went much smoother than mine did.

"You what?" Effie's gasps, shocked.

"What did they say?" Cinna's tone is much more even.

I can't even defend myself. I'm horrified. I had promised the two most important people in my life that I would do everything I could to win, and I had just ruined everything.

"They didn't pay attention to me." Bannor's voice trembles slightly. "I think they were all drunk. I was mad, too."

Haymitch nods. "That's the worst part about our district. We're so overlooked. We don't even have a chance to begin with. By the time it's your turn, they're bored and ready to go home. This is all a big game to them, they don't care who lives and dies just so long as they get a good show out of it."

"What about my family?" I think of Peeta and Prim suffering for my impulsivity. "Will they punish them since they can't punish me?"

Haymitch laughs. "Sweetheart, they're already punishing you." He tears at a hunk of meat with his fingers. "What did they do?"

"One man fell backwards into the punch bowl."

Everyone laughs, even Bannor.

The anthem interrupts us, and we all quickly make our way into the sitting room to watch the scores be announced.

Bannor gets a six. Effie smiles encouragingly at him, and Haymitch gives him a nod.

I get an eleven.

Confused, I turn to Haymitch. "How could that have happened?"

He grins at me, then grabs me by the shoulders and jostles me around. "They must've liked your fire! They need characters with some heat. Remember, this is a show to them. It's more interesting if they've got players with a temper."

The next day, I wake just as the sun is glowing through the silk curtains.

It's Sunday, so that would normally mean Peeta and I would spend most of the day in the woods stocking up for the week. I'm worried about Peeta, his aim is decent but he doesn't bring home much game on his own. Mostly he forages, and sets snares and traps.

Years before, I had met Gale on a Sunday for the first time.

Shaking my head to clear the memories away, I pull myself out of bed. Gale had come to say goodbye to me after the Reaping, but thinking of how great of friends we had been compared to what it was like now just hurt.

I take a quick shower then head to the dining room. As we eat, Haymitch explains that we'll each have four hours with him, and then four hours with Effie.

By the time it's Haymitch's turn, I'm beat. Effie checked me on nearly everything I did. Walking in heels, sitting, posture, gestures, and smiling are all things I underperformed in.

The four hours with Haymitch don't turn out to be any more bearable. We spend most of the time talking in circles. We can't find a single angle that works for me. I'm not charming, or funny, or vulnerable.

At the end of the four hours, Haymitch has given up. "Sweetheart, just try not to be so open about the fact you despise them all." He tips his glass back, draining it, and stomps out.

My prep team shake me awake in the morning. When they're done with me, I'm accented in shades of red and gold. Cinna dresses me, and I gasp when he brings me to the mirror. The dress shimmers, as it's covered in reflective gems in shades of red, yellow, and white with tiny tips of blue to accent the flame design. "Cinna. Thank you."

Cinna has just given me a fighting chance.

We meet with Bannor, Haymitch, Effie, and Bannor's prep team at the elevator. Bannor looks striking. His blond hair is slicked slightly to the side and back, and his black suit follows the fire theme as there are flame accents trailing up the sleeves.

We are herded in with all of the other tributes, and we all walk in a line to our seats on the stage. My heart is almost throbbing out of my chest. I seek out Cinna in the crowd, but even his presence doesn't comfort me.

The interviews slip by, in my anxious haze only a few stick out. Glimmer from District One flirts and giggles. Cato and Clove from District Two are ruthless. Rue from District Eleven is sweet, and her district partner Thresh's interview is stoic and straight to the point.

All too soon Thresh's buzzer is going off and they're calling my name. It feels as though I watch myself rise, make my way to center stage, and take my seat.

Caesar grins at me. "Katniss, Katniss! The girl on fire!" The audience cheers, and my eyes widen in shock. I find Cinna, and he smiles at me as if to say I told you so.

"Katniss, I have to ask. I know the Capitol is so different than what you're used to. What's been your favorite experience since arriving here?"

My throat feels as if I have cotton shoved all the way down my esophagus. "Eating the lamb stew." The audience laughs, and I smile. "It's delicious."

Caesar laughs, and gestures at his body. "I perhaps have an extra bowl or two when it's served." The audience shouts reassurances and laughs along with him.

I find myself laughing too. The audience's reaction to me so far has given me some confidence. Maybe I won't crash and burn through this interview like I thought.

"Now Katniss, your outfits have been to die for. Your stylist is wonderful! What did you think of your parade dress?"

I look at Cinna. "After I realized I wouldn't burn to death, I thought it was beautiful." Caesar and the audience all laugh again, big genuine laughs. Cinna smiles and raises an eyebrow at me, and makes the tiniest twirling motion with his finger.

I spin in a circle once and the reaction is immediate. The audience is cheering, and Caesar cries out, "Oh, that's wonderful! Do that again!"

So I do, I lift my arms and spin until I stumble directly into Caesar's outstretched arm. Caesar and I both laugh as he helps me settle back down into my seat. The audience is cheering so enthusiastically, Caesar has to ask them to calm down so we can continue the interview.

We go back and forth with some playful banter about my private session score of eleven for a few moments before he gets serious.

"Katniss, let me tell you. Watching you volunteer for your sister just warmed my heart. Can you please tell us about her?"

I feel a knot build in my throat, so I clear it gently. "Her name is Prim. She's so smart and kind, and I love her so much."

The audience breaks out into hushed awes. Caesar grasps my hand in his. "And I have to know, who was that beautiful blond boy that came up and carried her away? The one who tried to volunteer?"

I look right at Caesar, and I give him a genuine smile. "His name is Peeta." I sigh, this might be my last chance to make sure Peeta knows how much he means to me. My words have failed me many times, but now being honest and genuine might just help keep me alive. "He saved my life once. He's strong and he's the most caring person I know. I love him, and if I make it home, I'm going to marry him."

Caesar squeezes my hand. "I bet both Prim and Peeta came to see you after the Reaping. What did they say?"

I swallow carefully. The knot has built back up in my throat and I'm trying very hard not to get too emotional. "They told me to try to win." I look right at the cameras now, imagining them both standing in front of me. "I promised them I would."

Caesar opens his mouth to respond, but before he can the buzzer signaling the end of my interview goes off.

"I wish we had more time! I had so much more to ask you about!" He helps me stand, then kisses my hand. "Best of luck to you, Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire!" Caesar sweeps his arm dramatically and the crowd erupts.

The cheering continues long after I've taken my seat back in line. Bannor's interview is easy going. He's visibly nervous, but overall he plays it off. Caesar bounces back and forth with some playful banter until his interview is over.

We all stand for the anthem before we file back into the elevators.

Once we've returned to our floor, our prep teams and Haymitch congratulate the both of us. "You did well, sweetheart." Haymitch squeezes my shoulder. The others all chime in, offering words of encouragement and praise.

Effie squeals about how wonderful we did. She hugs me, with actual tears in her eyes. "It has been an honor chaperoning you." She claps excitedly, hugs Bannor, then excuses herself.

Haymitch and Cinna both reassure me, and Haymitch gives me some parting words of advice. "Stay alive." He then nods, turns and leaves the room.

I head to my room, and take a shower. I scrub off everything but the flame accents painted onto my nails. Hopefully this tiny reminder of Cinna and my prep team will give me something to hold onto in the arena. Once I'm clean, I change into a fleece gown and tuck myself in.

Tomorrow I'll be roused, dressed, and transported to the arena.

I squeeze my eyes shut and rub my temples. What terrain will I be thrown into? Did I win any sponsors over? I spend the rest of the night drifting in and out, not quite falling asleep. All too soon, Cinna is standing over me.

He sits with me in the hovercraft, and gently encourages me to try to eat some of the food that's been laid out. Cinna helps me dress into my Tribute uniform. He does my hair in a simple braid down my back, just like I'd normally wear it. Once we're done, he pins my mockingjay token to my shirt.

We sit together in silence, my hand enclosed in his while we wait.

I almost jump out of my skin when the intercom announces it's time to launch. Cinna walks me over to the metal plate that will carry me up into the arena.

"Remember what Haymitch told you. Run, stay away from the Cornucopia, and find water." He kisses my forehead. "I'm not allowed to bet, but if I could, I'd bet on you." Then a glass tube comes down, breaking off our contact. My chest tightens and I gasp. Cinna smiles at me, gently. And then I'm rising.

The sunlight is so bright when I come out of the dark tunnel, that I'm only aware of the wind blowing and the strong smell of pine.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy Fourth Annual Hunger Games begin!"

Hello everyone! I'm not sure if anyone is even following this story at this point, and if you're not I don't blame you. I'm a very inconsistent writer. But on the bright side I have a few chapters written out, edited, and ready to post!

Also, happy ten year anniversary to the hunger games movie! It's hard to believe. Anyways, please enjoy this chapter! I hope you all like it!