"Welcome, welcome," Effie trilled with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. "The time has come to select one courageous young lady and gentleman for the honor of competing in the third annual Quarter Quell. As always, ladies first."

She walked over to the large glass bowl, taking in the sight of all the pieces of paper gathered within. It was almost overflowing, and she was certain she had never seen as many names before. Hesitantly, she reached inside and began swirling her fingers around, trying to ignore the sobbing that had started in the crowd. Slips of paper fell over the rim as her hand moved, and when she thought she had taken as much time as she could, she closed her fingers around a slim piece of paper and pulled it out. She felt sick as she walked back to the microphone, looking out at the innocent children, one of which was about to be sentenced to die.

Unfolding the paper, she scanned the name and took a deep breath.

"Katniss Everdeen."

For a moment, no one moved and the square was silent. Then, a small child from the very front row began to move. She wore a yellow sun dress, which complimented her skin extraordinarily well, and had her dark brown hair pulled into a simple braid that fell over one shoulder. It was all Effie could do to contain a sob. She had chosen a five year old.

The small child struggled up the stairs to the stage, her eyes, which the woman now saw were a startling shade of silver, glassed over and her lower lip trembling. But she didn't cry. She walked up and stood by Effie's side as though she were an adult, and for some inexplicable reason Effie was proud of her.

"And now for the boys," she said, trying to control the tremble in her voice.

She walked over to the other glass bowl, almost identical to the girls'. Names fell to the ground as her hand swirled around inside until she grasped a random slip.

"Gale Hawthorne," she read, and watched with great sadness as a seven year old boy climbed onto the stage. He was almost identical to the girl, she noticed, possibly they were related. "I give you your tributes for the seventy-fifth Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Gale Hawthorne."

There was no cheering, not that she had expected any. After a few seconds of silence, she was given the signal that the broadcast had been cut and began ushering the children into the Justice Building.

"Where are we going?" asked the girl.

"You get an hour to say good-bye to your families," she explained, willing her voice not to crack.

The boy shook off her hand almost immediately after the doors closed, and she winced. Katniss on the other hand, slipped her little hand into hers and swung their joined arms back and forth as she escorted her to her designated room. It was clear she still held innocence that the boy did not have, and the woman knew they could sell that, though the chances of her winning were still almost nonexistent. They stopped outside a large door, and Effie let go of the child's hand.

"This is where you say good-bye."

"Are you coming back?" Katniss asked, a glimmer of fear in her eye.

"Yes, dear, I'll come back in an hour, after you've seen your parents."

No further explanation given, the child entered the room. Effie sighed. She couldn't do this. She couldn't take such young children to a place where they were going to be slaughtered. The boy clearly knew all about the Games. And why wouldn't he? He was older, and it wouldn't have been too many years before he was eligible anyway.

Katniss clearly understood the Reaping was a bad thing, as she'd been on the verge of tears when she'd been called, but how much did she know about the Games? Did she know that in one short week she'd be fighting other children to the death? Effie didn't think so, and it broke her heart.

Katniss sat on a plush velvet sofa, swinging her legs back and forth as she waited for her parents. She didn't have to wait long, as they were ushered in by Peacekeepers minutes later. Her mother was sobbing and her father's eyes looked haunted. Her baby sister, Prim, was whimpering in her mother's arms.

"Hey, baby girl," her father said as he hugged her tightly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Hi, Daddy," Katniss responded, content to stay in her father's arms. "Daddy, are the Games bad?"

The man took a deep breath. It was treason to speak against the Capitol or the Games, but what more could they do to him? They were already taking away his daughter.

"Yes, honey, they are. Bad things happen there, things people would rather forget.

"Like what?"

"Sweetie, you're going to have to fight other kids."

"But Daddy," Katniss said, "you said fighting was bad."

"It is, honey, it is. But now I'm telling you to fight as hard as you can. Use that punch I know you have." He tried to smile, but couldn't. "Katniss, you're not just going to fight. You're going to have to kill people."

"No! That's bad and wrong and, and..." the child gasped, horrified.

"I know, I know. But if you want to come home to me and Mommy and Prim, you have to. Understand?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Good."

He kissed her head again before allowing his wife to take the girl. She hugged her fiercely, Prim in the middle, and sobbed. Prim began screaming in distress, displeased that she was being crushed. Katniss took her from her mother's arms, cooing and humming until she calmed down. Their parents watched in dismay, wondering how they could live without her.

"Don't cry, Prim. I'll come back, I promise. And maybe Effie will even let me bring you a present. Maybe a teddy bear."

The baby, as if understanding her sister's words, cooed and smiled.

Effie was pacing the halls of the Justice Building as she waited for the hour to be up. She almost wished time would stop, at least that way the children wouldn't have to die. Before she knew it she had to go and fetch Gale and Katniss, though she took no joy in doing so. Gale was perhaps even more surly than he was previously, but Katniss just looked sad. She once again took her hand, though she didn't swing their arms.

"What's wrong, dear?" Effie asked as the child continued to stare at the ground.

"Daddy said I have to kill people to come home," she answered, still not looking her in the eye.

"Well, duh," Gale interrupted, and Effie glared at him. "That's what the Games are all about. Twenty-four go in, and one comes out. Blood, starvation, dehydration, being mauled, there are any number of ways to die. And the Capitol loves every one of 'em."

Katniss whimpered and clutched the woman's hand tighter, pressing against her hip and almost causing her to lose her balance.

"Gale," she said in a warning tone.

"I wonder how you'll die," the boy continued, ignoring her. "Maybe you'll die at the beginning, in the bloodbath."

"W-what's that?" Katniss asked, though she continued to cling to Effie.

"It happens at the beginning. The tributes step off their plates and fight over the weapons and food. They kill each other with knives and other things, as brutally as they can. Perhaps you'll die of starvation, or by knife. Maybe you'll be lucky and they'll snap your neck. Either way, you're not leaving the arena alive."

"That is quite enough!" Effie snapped, stopping to bend down and console the now crying child hugging her leg. "Shh, Katniss. Don't listen to him. Sometimes things aren't all that bad."

"But it's true?" the girl asked through her tears.

"Yes, dear," Effie said with a sigh.

She said no more, and resumed leading them to the train, trying to ignore Katniss' sniffles as she calmed herself down.