I'm sitting in a cell in the Capitol, although I'm not sure why I'm there. I hear screaming in the distance. A metal door bangs open, and a masked peacekeeper drags a battered Peeta into the room. The peacekeeper says "What do you know? What do you know about the plan?"

"I don't know anything, I'm telling you the truth. I don't-"

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW" the peacekeeper screams at Peeta, and raises his whip. I try to run and stop him before he hurts Peeta, but I can't move.

"I'm telling you the truth, I don't know anything about the plan. Katniss and I got separated and-"

"DON'T MENTION HER NAME" the peacekeeper screams

"Where is she? Did you take her too?" he asks

The peacekeeper's lips curl into a sneer. "Why should I tell you? As far as you know, she could already be dead"

I start to shake, but I still cannot move. The peacekeeper raises his whip and hits Peeta twice across the face. He inhales sharply and continues to fire questions at Peeta, while I stand there motionless. I cannot save him.

The peacekeeper leaves eventually, and I try to get Peeta's attention but I cannot.

The door bangs open once again, but this time I know who it is before I even see his face. The stench of roses and blood overpowers me. I start to shake uncontrollably and I fall to the ground. President Snow begins to shock Peeta by pressing a button.

Peeta is crying out in pain, and I can't get to him. I can't reach him. I put my hands over my ears and scream, because the stench of Snow and the sight of Peeta being tortured while I stand here helpless is too much to bear.

I'm still screaming when I open my eyes. Then I realize I was having a nightmare.

Peeta sits up panicked. He climbs across from me and grabs my arms.

"It wasn't real Katniss, it wasn't real Katniss" he keeps repeating, until I stop screaming and remove my hands from my ears.

"I-I-Peeta-you were-I couldn't-Peeta" I stammer, unable to form a coherent thought. Peeta pulls me close and strokes my hair.

"Shhh, shhh. It's okay. Whatever it was, it was just a dream. It's not real."

I wrap my arms around Peeta and hold him tight. He does the same.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he says "Sometimes talking about my nightmares helps me get rid of them"

"We were in the Capitol. You were being whipped and electrocuted and I could smell Snow and, and, I couldn't stop them from hurting you. I couldn't get to you"

Peeta is about to respond when there's a knock at the door. We hear Effie's voice

"Katniss, are you alright? I heard quite a commotion. Sounded like-"

"She's fine Effie" Peeta interrupts, and his eyes meet mine.

"We're both fine. Go back to sleep. Don't worry about us"

"Alright, goodnight"

"Goodnight"

Peeta shakes his head after we hear her walk away.

"I guess the walls on this train aren't soundproof huh?"

"Was I really that loud?"

"Katniss you were screaming, understandably of course."

"I know. I'm sorry I woke you"

"You don't have to apologize. I get them too. The nightmares."

"Why don't you wake me up when you get one?"

"Because my nightmares are usually about losing you. Once I wake up and realize you're here, I'm fine." Peeta looks at me.

"I said that to you before, before the Quarter Quell. Real or not real."

"Real" I say as I snuggle back underneath the covers.

"We have to get some sleep." He tells me "We've got a big big big day!" he says, mocking Effie's silly Capitol accent.

I roll over and bury my face in the pillow.

"Goodnight Peeta"

"Goodnight Katniss. I love you"

"I love you too Peeta."

And as he hold me tight, I fall into a nightmare less sleep.

We both wake up to Effie's rapid knocking on the door telling us how big of a day it's going to be. Then I remember. The 7 of us, the remaining victors, will have to be the jury for Peacekeeper Thread's trial. Peacekeeper Thread, the one who whipped Gale for hunting a turkey, the one who whipped me across the face when I tried to protect him.

I am furious with Haymitch, because I know he knew about this. He likes to keep secrets from us. Damn Haymitch.

Peeta and I get dressed and go to the dining car to get some breakfast. Haymitch is sitting at the table.

"Good morning Peeta. Katniss." he nods at us. I just glare at him.

"Who pissed in your cheerios this morning?" Haymitch says.

I take a piece of toast and sit down in the seat farthest from him.

"Seriously, why are you treating me like-"

"Did you know about the trial?" Peeta asks

"What trial? I don't know about any trial-"

"Bullshit you didn't know about the trial" I say and slam my tightly wound fist on the table.

"Seriously, what are you guys talking about?" he questions again, and I let Peeta answer him.

"The trial for peacekeeper Thread...remember him?"

"Damn, how is he still alive? And okay, so their trying him for his crimes. Why is that such a big deal?"

"Because we all have to be on the jury. Me,you, Peeta, Johanna, Annie, Beetee, and Enobaria. We all have to decide what his punishment is, and I don't really find that fair to any of us. Why should we have to decide what happens to him? Honestly, if I had my way, I would shoot him myself. But we all know Annie's going to want all of us to be impartial, and we all know I suck at being impartial, especially towards a peacekeeper who whipped me across the face." I say bitterly.

I get up and shove my chair underneath the table. Peeta and Haymitch stare at me, open-mouthed.

"Katniss I-" Haymitch starts to say but I interrupt him

"Sorry. I'm going to sit somewhere else" I say as I stalk away.

I hole myself up in a closet in one of the bedrooms. I pull my knees up to my chest and take deep breaths.

My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am on a train that is heading towards the Capitol. Peeta is on the train. Haymitch is on the train. Effie is on the train. I have to decide whether or not to put Thread in jail. I don't know why I have to choose. I don't know why I have to choose.

I'm interrupted by Effie flinging the closet door open. She crouches down and looks at me through her fake purple eyelashes.

"Now Katniss, lets get out of the dirty supply closet, shall we? We're almost there, and I know Peeta will want to be with you when we pass through the city, won't he?"

"I guess" I mumble as I take her outstretched hand and pull myself upward.

She leads me back to where Haymitch and Peeta are sitting. Haymitch appears to be arguing with Peeta about something.

As we get closer to them, their voices become clearer.

Peeta says "Why should she do something she doesn't want to do, why did no one tell us about this?"

"You think I'm not saying the same thing? No one told me about this either, if you remember correctly"

"If she freaks out, I'm leaving with her. No one can force us to do this Haymitch, haven't we all been through enough?"

"I don't know Peeta, they just want a good show. They still want a good show. And if that means putting the last of us through emotional hell then by all means why not?"

I choose that moment to open the door I'm standing behind. Effie trails closely behind me

"I'll do it. But I won't be happy about it." I offer.

"Good girl Katniss. Still playing the game" Haymitch says with a smirk.

"I'll never stop playing the game. Not for them anyway."

At that moment the light outside of the train goes dark. I know we're in a tunnel, one of the many that lead directly to the Capitol.

Peeta and I walk up to the window and I take his hand.

He looks at me. "Ready?" he says

"I hope so" I return, as the darkness turns to light, and we are faced with a sea of cheering Capitol citizens. They chant our names. Peeta waves and smiles at them.

I let go of his hand and fall back into a seat. I squeeze my eyes shut as a memory resurfaces. One of Peeta waving and smiling to the citizens of the Capitol, and Haymitch telling me the only way to win was to get people to like me.

As the train pulls to a stop, Peeta continues to wave, as security guards stand at the train door blocking us from the crowd.

On the train platform a big sign that no one bothered to take down reads "Welcome Tributes, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"