Happy Easter, guys! I hope you all enjoy this one. And thanks for the reviews!

It was pretty ominous the moment we got to the mansion. Guards were everywhere, as well as normal peacekeepers. The lady was terrified of me, as I could see she was shaking like a leaf beside me in the town car the President had sent for me. She watched me from the corner of her eye, playing with her electronic tablet all the way there.

As we walked through the halls of the mansion I knew by memory, I looked down at my clothing. Skinny black pants made of cooling material, black with a red and grey stripe down the sides, clung to my legs formfittingly. The shirt matched the pants, with red and grey down my ribs. 'One' etched on the short sleeves, I sighed. This was starting to look unfair. I wasn't really District Born- I was a Capitol child.

But did it matter?

We came to the porch house of glass, and again we were outside, only this time it was quiet, oblivious to the sounds of the city. I heard the chirping of birds. I smelled roses and lilies and juniper and poppies. I knew where we were.

My grandfather's garden.

"Your gr- the president is by the lake. He wants a word with you alone." The woman in monochrome said hurriedly. I nodded, not looking back at her.

"Thanks," I grumbled, and I stepped down the concrete and tile squares, walking off into the maze I came to learn when I was little. I immediately saw the poppies and chrysanthemums growing first. Then the lilies and junipers, planted in the honor of the president's granddaughters. Deeper into the maze, I smelled the stench of white and red roses.

Grandfather's roses always did scare me.

I remember the first time I was allowed into the garden, at about four years old. Grandpa carried me in, showing me the different colors of roses he had created. But none were like the white roses. He was fond of those.

"Remember Lilly," He said to me as he cut a stem of flowers for me to take to my mom, "Even the most beautiful of flowers can hide the danger of thorns."

I shivered.

I came across the lake soon, thank goodness, and my boots made a squeaky sound in the tile underneath me now. There was a small gazebo in white, with creamy fabric flowing from it's openings. I faltered at my step when I came face to face with him.

In robes of grey and purple, President Snow sat on one of the benches in the gazebo, clipping a white rose from it's thorns. He had aged, his hair whiter than yesterday. Maybe he was overdone in make-up last night, but now he really did look like a grandfather. His piercing blue eyes were focused on the rose before him. Beside him were lilies.

I stepped into the gazebo, my boots clunky on the wooden surface. The President looked up at me, and his face changed.

Sadness crossed his eyes.

I shifted uncomfortably on my legs, crossing my left arm to my right to rub my shoulder.

"You…you sent for me?" I said after a long period of silence. He stood, then looked at me, from head to toe. He came and put his hands on my shoulders. Even at my older age, he towered over me. He sighed.

"I never thought I'd see you like this." He answered after the silence. His voice was strained. I gulped.

"I know." I replied. "Neither did I."

He pressed his lips together. "I am truly sorry, Lilly."

That's when I broke. Tears started to stream from my eyes. I cursed myself. I couldn't even be strong for my own grandfather. I held back the heaving sobs wanting to come out. I didn't want to be here. I didn't want to fight. I didn't want to represent this stupid District, the district I wasn't even born into.

I forgot he was the president, because I crashed into his arms, wrapping them around his old body like I did when I was a child. My face burried into his chest.

"I know," I cried into his robes. He hugged me back.

"You have to be strong, Lilly." Snow said with his authoritative voice.

"I know," I answered again, nodding.

"You will fight until the very end."

I pulled away. "W-what?"

"Lillianne, this is what the people of Panem need. To see that anyone- anyone can survive these Games. Even those of non-District blood."

My mouth drops open.

"What are you saying?" I whimpered, moving back a bit farther.

"You're bringing a new light into our country." He said, stroking my cheek. "You can calm our people down."

"The rebellion." I whispered. My grandfather scoffs.

"They're a failure," He says icily, looking out at the lake.

"They're a threat," I mumble to myself, considering the fact that if my grandfather was worried about the rebellion, that they were causing damage.

"Oh please, Lillianne." He says again.

"So…there's no way out of this, is there?" I ask slowly. My grandfather doesn't meet my gaze.

"There isn't." I answer myself. "How could you let this happen?" I whispered. My eyes narrowed in hurt.

"Lilly, now is the time to worry about the future of Panem."

"No!" I shouted suddenly. "This is not the time to worry about Panem. It's about how you're allowing you're youngest granddaughter to fight - to the death - in an arena. This is about how you did nothing to save me! It's about how you probably don't even care!"

I'm breathing heavy now, and I'm surprised at my sudden outburst of rage. His eyes are baffled. I pull my training shirt down.

"Lilly-"

"No." I interrupt. "I'm sorry. I just…. I can't believe this is happening."

"It's an honor, Lilly. And I am very, very proud of you, darling." Grandfather coos. He's about to hug me again, but I step back. I look down at my training boots, black leather with straps from instep to shin. I notice the contrast between him and me. A tribute and a Capitol citizen. I remember the last time I was here.

"Grandpa, why can't we come visit you anymore?"

My grandfather sighs. "It's not safe for you to travel here, back and forth, Lilly. And besides, you must fulfill your duty elsewhere. Make grandpapa proud."

I was wearing Capitol wear. A pink frilly dress with my blonde hair in pigtails. I still didn't understand.

"Grandpapa, can we come back to watch the games here?"

He shakes his head.

"Aw. I wonder what it'd be like to be in the Games. It looks so cool…"

"You, my dear, will never have to worry about that. I promise you."

I come back to normal time, and see that a lot has changed. The ribbon in my hair flaps with the wind, reminding me of this.

"You promised."

He looks at me from his spot, a bit confused.

"When I was nine," I say, a little louder, "You promised."

"That was before." He answered, shaking his head. "That was before, all of- this happened.

"It doesn't matter." I said.

He sighs.

"I really hoped this would never happen, Lilly," He replies ruefully. "But now that it has, I expect you to show Panem what you're made of."

I nod sarcastically.

"Tell me how that turns out," I remark. "Because I don't feel honorable. I feel horrible. I am disgusted with myself. In four days, I'm going to kill people, people that aren't even old enough to get to secondary school. But yes, Mr. President. It is truly an honor. Let me know how much of an honor it is when you see me live because I had to kill others." Then, with acid in my words, I say one last thing.

"If I even come back alive!"

I stomp off, breaking into a sprint. All I smell is roses, roses everywhere. I feel like puking, the stench making my head hurt.

My grandfather wasn't worried. He wanted me to keep Panem in check. He wanted me to bring the Rebellion down by just being in the Games. It didn't matter if I lived and won, or if I died in the bloodbath.

I was yet another piece in these stupid games.

I kicked a rosebush and stomped all over it before I got out of the maze. I kicked it in such a fury, that I never knew I had. Why couldn't I just go home? Why was I picked to begin with? Why is nothing going right?

Why couldn't the odds ever be in my favor?

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