The bed sheets were warm under my body and the soft, cushy comfort kept the warmth of both Haymitch and I trapped in the huddle of clothe so that it could warm our bodies. I breathed in the scent of Haymitch, and myself. The night we had just spent together had just made my life. It was amazing and I could never forget it. Haymitch, a drunk Victor would seem like a violent lover, but…Haymitch was so caring, and well…delicious. I grinned to myself. I'd gotten some sleep; after we'd….I giggled breathlessly and glanced behind me.

Curled behind me, pressed against my back and holding me close to him was Haymitch. I shivered in delight to be wrapped in his arms. All those years, dreaming about this moment, and it was even better then I thought. I never thought about the ticklish feeling of his soft breath on the back of my neck, the snores that came out of his mouth were actually lulling in it's sound. His tough, muscular arms around my stomach, keeping me pressed against his front. I could feel his hair brushing my shoulder and his legs tangled together with my own legs.

I'd woken up this morning in this same position and I'd considered just staying in this one moment forever, because right now is a dream come true. My favorite fantasy was always that I would end up with Haymitch and wouldn't have to worry about my family dying. Right now, I didn't have to worry about my family and Haymitch was in love with me.

Now I just have to deal with the Hunger games. That's right today is the day that I go into the arena to fend for my life. Now though, I don't have to wonder if Haymitch loves me. I can fight to come back to him, my family, and to the life we're all going to have. It's not like I didn't have a reason before but now everything just seems…sweeter than last night did. Maybe I was being overdramatic before with basing my life just around Haymitch's reaction? It doesn't matter now. I just now that I've got to make it back so that I can see where life takes me. Though, life probably won't take me many places if I'm in District 12.

There are very limited opportunities there. You either go to the mines or if you're a girl you stay back and try and find jobs as cleaning for the richer. If your lucky you'll become part of the merchants, selling bread, like Peeta and his family does is something you pass on to the family. So mostly you have to be extremely lucky, and born into it. Rarely, if ever, you can get the job of mayor, which is the best job to get because your money comes exactly from the Capital, and you're paid to keep quiet.

What kind of life is that? The only good part about it might be that you don't have many responsibilities at all. You only get up and go to work and do your job, come home and worry over how you're going to feed yourself and your family. That's been my life, except I don't go to work, I go hunt to get money and I hunt to feed my family. Now, if I get back from the Hunger Games then I can feed my family, myself, and even the whole of District 12.

When a victor wins, their District gets supplied with better things, more food, more money, more technology, more homes, and even better built homes. Maybe if I win, it'll be the end of the Seam and then everyone can have enough money to live. To see no more of those starving kids on the side of the road, their parents having abandoned them because they couldn't feed them…it just weakens the heart. I don't care how heartless someone is, if you see a baby, not even a year old, abandoned on the street you'll feel the pain of guilt that you're living even just a small bit better than them. At least Mom had had money at one point.

She used to be part of the merchant district, but then she met my father and fell in love with him. Dad had been from the Seam and poor but Mom loved him, despite what Mom's parents told her.

I glanced over at Haymitch, his face close to mine as I refused to move out of his warm embrace. I just wanted to turn and snuggle into his arms, but if I was caught in here, nude and in bed with an equally clothes less Haymitch, I can imagine that it'll all be over then.

So I gently unhooked Haymitch's arms from around me. I don't know about a sober Haymitch, but when Haymitch usually sleeps he sleeps heavily. Maybe, he'll sleep that way now. I didn't want to wake him, and have a sad, horrible good bye because that would only break my newly swelled heart. I want our last memories of each other, if I don't make it back, to be of the night we shared and not some tearful good bye that he'd see over and over again if I died.

I delicately, cautiously crawled off of the mattress and froze when Haymitch began to move. I watched him with prudent eyes and held my breath, expecting him to just open those gorgeous eyes and ruin my plan. I guess that wouldn't be to horrible seeing as he shattered my old plan of avoiding him until I went into the games.

Alas, he didn't awaken, only turned over to sprawl along the length of the bed. I waited another minute, to make sure he fell into a peaceful, and deep, sleep before I moved. I started tugging on all of my clothes, researching the damage that had been done during the night. Nothing seen to torn, or ravaged but I wouldn't be in them long, just long enough to get from Haymitch's room to mine. I tugged on my pajamas, what I had been wearing, and shuffled to the door but just as I placed my hand on the knob I hesitated.

Turning, I watched Haymitch. This man, I had fallen in love with him over such a long stretch of time, but it had escalated quickly. I suppose it kind of had to. Haymitch and I didn't have a lot of time, and the future is unknown right now, but every part of me was determined to win this demented game, even if I have to…cheat.

Plus, I kind of think it's something Haymitch and I have in common, this need to give each other all we have. I know I can't just, ease into loving someone now. When I fall in love….it's fast and swift. Giving someone my whole heart first isn't the best plan but I can't help the way my heart feels for Haymitch. He deserved loving, and my heart loved him. And, he loved me. He'd told me plenty of times last night, until I felt it raidiating through out my entire being.

Now I knew Haymitch loved me and I don't think my heart could swell any more than it had all ready.

I shook myself and backed away from the bed, this time turning the knob and glancing out the door. It was still dark in the living area, no lights on or shadows big enough to be a human. Of course with these Capital people you could never tell what were plants or pieces of furniture and what was them. I hadn't seen such weirdly dressed people since I'd left Underland. I tip-toed out of the room, desperate to get to the other end of the hall without getting caught and I made it all the way to my own room. I suppose I wasn't really that different, unless you looked close. If you looked close up enough you'd see how disheveled my hair was, how my lips were swollen, and the slight limp in my step.

I closed the door softly, not forgetting that they'd probably hear the door close if I did it to loud. I glanced in my room and sighed. It seemed so cold now, not that it had seemed so loving before. I could still see the forest illusion on the wall. These people were so advanced; sometimes I swear this realm is like a mix of the old people, and a mix of the future people.

I hadn't thought about it in a while, since it happened, but I'm a little scared about going into the realm as I am. What if I…change? I've thought about this before haven't I? What does it really matter? I've got to go anyway.

I sighed and shuffled towards the showers. Soon, the people would come, I could tell by the time blaring from the electrical powered clock beside the bed. I took extra care to pick the specifications of the shower, because this could be the last one I ever had. I made sure to wash everything until even my skin was red from rubbing it with the wash cloth. I smelt strongly of vanilla, something I probably wouldn't find in the arena, where ever it was.

I was slowly coming down from my high as I realized how much trouble I still faced. I didn't even know what I was going up against in the arena. The Capital could supply us with anything or nothing even. I think I remember them doing that one year, sending them in with nothing in the Cornucopia but useless toothpicks. I stepped out of the shower and placed my hands on the rod waiting there in a fashion that I was becoming used to, and it scared me. I don't know if I want to get used to this kind of life, because even though it's something I'd get if I became a victor. But I also wouldn't have to worry about getting too used to this life when I'd be dead if I don't become a victor.

Walking into the closet that was waiting as always I looked around for something easy to slip off. I shouldn't have this outfit on for long because the stylists would prepare me for the arena in anyway they could. Every year they give the tributes a uniform to wear and a look that is decorated by the stylists in an attempt to gain last minute support from anyone who was willing to give some money. I knew that the Districts, if they had enough money, and they often didn't, could sponsor a tribute and get them something in the games. Not that, I believe District 12 will. They may have made the sign of respect for me, but no one in District 12 will have enough money for something as expensive as sponsoring. Some of the Capital people don't even have sponsor money.

I grabbed onto a black shirt and looked in the mirror but I startled when I saw marks on my skin. What are those? I moved closer to the mirror and then my face flushed. Those must be 'love bites'. I've never had one before…but to e honest I haven't done anything like last night before either. I brushed the sensitive skin and shivered. For a little while longer I could have something physical to remind me of the wonderful night I had.

I tugged on the black shirt, simple with sleeves and a high enough collars. The marks were pretty low so unless I have to undress I should be all right. It's not that I should hide them. Maybe if they do see them then they'll get even more bolstered. But this, it's something I don't know if I'm all right with sharing. Since I've come to the Capital almost everything I've done has been on display, maybe not to the public but to the gamekeepers for sure. I'm also positive that there are cameras in here, because sometimes during the Hunger Games they show clips of things that we've done inside. I tugged on some loose fitting jeans made with a fine silk fabric.

I stepped out of the closet and to my bed. I suppose getting some more sleep now would be a good idea. I don't know if it would really help seeing as most of my night has already been spent awake. I fell into bed anyways, tucked out.

It seemed like only minutes later I was awakened by a banging on my door. My brain was still fuzzy and my moments sluggish as I stumbled to the door to answer it. I blearily looked out to see a group surrounding my door, Effie, Peeta, Cinna, and the three stylists. I can just see Haymitch spread out on the couch that faced my door directly but his mouth was smug, and his eyes were glittering. He looked better by miles. His natural tan was back, and he'd obviously let someone dress him up in his black and white outfit. I thought it was fitting since it matched my dress of last night. I could just see a little red tint at the ends of his jacket, and a grey in his shoes.

I smiled at everyone pleasantly. I know my eyes must have glittered and my smile had probably been large enough to classify it as a grin. All of my worries disappeared again for a little while at just the sight of Haymitch.

"Yes?" I asked them. My head was getting clearer and now I can remember that for all they know I was going to try and stay cooped up in here until they had to get the Avoxes to get me out. I vaguely thought of Hade. I hadn't seen him since that night but I wasn't sure I should. Finally I had gotten closure, and though he was virtually a slave, he was also alive and relatively safe in his job, or so I hope.

They all stood there, cautious, even Peeta. I'm sure he thought that I was going to stay inside of my room as well. "It's time to go." Cinna said, pushing into the room ahead of the others who were in front of him at the time. He closed the doors in their face and turns to me, smiling. "I think what you did was very brave." He confessed, smiling comfortingly at me, but I didn't need his comfort.

"I'm fine." I told him, instead of telling him about last night. Why should I have to tell him what happened? Even though I consider Cinna my friend, I've also only known him for a few months, and I've only spent dinners with him really.

"Okay," He doesn't question me, and I'm glad that he understands that I don't want to talk about it, even if it's for an entirely different reason then what he thinks it is. "Then slip into this." He handed me a white, plain outfit. It's more fit to be seen in District 12, if it were black, and not here in the fancy world of the Capital. I don't find the need to head into the bathroom. Cinna's seen every part of me that there is to know. I don't think, until I've slipped on the white pants and shirt he handed me, about the marks Haymitch left. Cinna doesn't say anything but I can see the amusement in his eyes. I refuse to comment.

"All right." He opened the door to my room and hustled me out. No one is there, but I don't get a moment to realize any thing because Cinna is pushing me over to the stairs, and pushing me farther up them until I reach the roof. I pushed open the door and walked onto the roof. I hovercraft, a massive and bulky aircraft that uses air to move, awaits me there. I imagine it's to take me to the catacombs, where the final preparations will take place.

Haymitch is standing with Effie off to the side because they don't get to come with us, only the tributes and their stylists get to come. I couldn't keep my eyes off of Haymitch, his silver orbs looking at me was all I could see. I wish I could have given him a proper good bye but I'm not complaining. This way, I may not be distracted in the arena by good byes and my many promises to come back, both to others and to myself. Forcefully I dragged my eyes away from him and I looked to the Capital people who came from the hovercraft. They wore bland white suites, much like the one I was wearing.

It didn't matter though, because I can tell from the hair, dyed, polished, and primed that they are from the Capital. If that wasn't enough, the way they carried themselves also said it, with their back straight, and heads high you can tell they don't do hard labor. People from the Districts, not the first four anyway; walk like the entire world is balancing on their shoulders and if they stumble once they'll die.

"Just place your hands on the bars, and the feet on the platform, please." One of the cheerful, accented people said. I sighed and placed both feet on the platform and placed my hands on the white marks on the bars. As soon as my hands were placed on the bars my muscles cramped up and were incapable of movement. It felt like electric shocks were moving through my body and stiffening my bodies movement.

The ladder and platform rose into the hovercraft but I was released even then. Instead another Capital slave came up to me, smiling her fake, blue tinted style. "Don't worry dear; it's only your tracker." She held a large metallic needle and I couldn't even scream as she shoved it down the length of my forearm and squeezed the trigger. Something cold and hard moved painfully into my arm, right in the middle of it. The contraption left a smooth bump in my skin and I wanted to shudder as the lady almost seemed to yank out the needle causing more pain then absolutely necessary.

Now they'll be able to track me in the arena, as if the camera's won't already be staring at me all the time, or that they don't already know every inch of the arena and have it marked down to the last tree leaves. But, the Gamemakers probably had to be sure; they wouldn't want to lose a tribute would they?

The ladder soon released me, and I stepped down, my legs wobbling. I was ushered to my seat with the other tributes but we weren't close together by any means. The seats were bulky and two to a row. I imagine that Cinna, since he was the only one I'm allowed contact with, for the protection and preservation of the tributes. (They tend to kill each other if they aren't kept apart.) As I sat down, Cinna himself was pulled up by the ladder, though he wasn't given any kind of tracker. He was merely looked over for anything that he could possibly give me that would help me in the arena.

When Cinna was seated beside me I took enough time to look out of the window beside me and take one more glance of that Capital, and of Haymitch who was standing on the roof with Effie still. There was no way around it; I wouldn't be seeing Haymitch for a long time. That is if I ever see him again. I can't see any of the features of him, just his blonde hair and suit but it doesn't matter. We start floating away my arms tightened on the chair.

"It's all right Katfir." Cinna whispered and I glanced at him. His eyes glinted with knowing, and I wondered briefly if Cinna didn't just know everything. He took my hand off of the armrest and squeezed it. I took his invitation and as we gained altitude, and the Capital, the massive city that it is, faded, my lungs seemed to lose more and more air. I couldn't help but to hyperventilate. I can't remember when it was exactly that I grew so afraid of heights – no it's not heights I'm afraid of, maybe just aircrafts.

Cinna was right beside me the entire time, holding my hand and talking me through it. He didn't touch on the other subject, the very place we were going to now, he didn't even try to give me any advice on the topic like the stylists for the other tributes were trying to do right now. Maybe if it wasn't Cinna's first Games he would have advice for me, I'm not sure. Portia and Peeta are right behind us in their own seats but I was too nervous to hear what they were speaking about. As soon as we made maximum altitude the belts that had once been securing us to our seats released. Cinna helped to pull my trembling body from the seat.

We were shown, by a brown haired, avox boy to a room where they've laid breakfast out. None of the tributes are here so I'm guessing they have a room for every tribute. My stomach is in knots, and I'm almost sure that if I try to eat I'll pass out or even vomit. None the less I tried my hardest to eat everything, savoring the mash potatoes especially. This was the last time that I was going to eat like a god. It's funny how when I first ate I didn't even like this food, yes I was mesmerized by it but I hated knowing that we were poor and they eat like gods.

It actually didn't take long for us to reach where the arena was. The windows of the room blocked out with a black screen long before we reached any where. I suppose they did that so that we couldn't tell what the arena was going to be like from our surroundings.

When the hovercraft stops moving, another avox comes to herd Cinna and I out of the hovercraft and down a blacked out, creepy, claustrophobia inducing tube to the 'launch room'. In the districts, we call it the Stockyard. It's not unlike how a butcher herds all of his animals together before they die.

Everything I see here, the two beautifully made couches, and the table in between, and even the red stained wooden walls that are oh so tame for the Capital, are brand new. I'll be the only tribute to ever use this room. After the Hunger Games all of the arena, including this place, will be turned into a museum where the Capital people can go to where the arena is and visit hotspots. When I say hotspots, I mean they can go to where people are killed, where they starved to death. They're considered vacationing spots to the Capital people, it's somewhere they'd even take their kids to. You can even reenact the Hunger Games or there will be a midnight showing of the Hunger Games right in the arena.

I'm told by Cinna in a soft voice to go shower again, and brush my teeth. I do so willingly. I may have done so already but what chance am I going to have to do these things in the arena? When I come out Cinna does my hair in a French (I don't even think they know its French here) braid down my back, and it reminds me of my sister who needs me, whose going watch this Hunger Games, and possibly see her older sister die. No, I won't die; she'll instead have to live with seeing her beloved and revered sister killing others. I shudder to even imagine what she will think of me then. But if I get back, I'll be able to afford a Capital surgery and make her better. Prim will even be able to afford her own garden, she's always loved gardening.

Then the clothes arrive. Cinna softly corrected me on what I thought was the procedure. It turns out that he did not get to design the outfit that I would be wearing into the games. Instead, all of the tributes would be wearing the same thing. When Cinna handed it to me I was a little cautious of it.

First there were warm, black jeans that would capture heat well, but also be breathable without catching on many of my surroundings. There is a beautiful, and tight black shirt that peels to my skin, a belt to keep the pants up, and a jacket special designed to keep in body heat, or that's what Cinna tells me. I can't say anything to him.

The wonder and the happiness from this morning have completely left me. Now my nerves are frazzled from what I guess could be performance anxiety. How was I going to go about this? As, Kismet (Destiny), I shudder to call myself that name even though I've accepted the fact that I am Kismet, I am still her, me, or whatever. Anyways, as Kismet, I have had very many experiences with many weapons, and with…taking lives but how could I make sure that the…humans, do not understand that I am more than a girl from a starving and stupid District for mining. They are already cautious of me, what with my skills with an axe.

I didn't even know if there will be any axes. I don't know what the terrain will be, or what the weather will be like. But there is nothing that can really, truly keep me chained; if I can imagine it, then it can happen. Of course, I don't count that one time I was bond to a human's life by his mother. Mostly, I don't count it because it turned out pretty well in the end. True, I don't need to tell the humans who I am or what I can do, but I've broken that rule before, but I shouldn't really try to crack the minds of the humans by doing something in terms they will not comprehend.

Cinna and I anxiously sit and wait. On the edge of the room there is a carved out circle in the wall. Cinna was given instructions to pass on to me that when they call for me I was to step onto the platform and shut the glass so that they could lift me into the arena.

Right now though I'm anxiously wringing my hands together. There were refreshments on the table, with a large pile of mash potatoes. I'm sure the gamekeepers were trying to be nasty, making what they thought for sure would be my last meal be here of all places. I sighed and slumped back on the chair. I was so tired already. I had no idea how long I would have until they put me out into the open. One year they let us out at midnight after keeping everyone locked up in the catacombs for four weeks. I doubt they'd do that again, seeing as they all went insane.

Before I knew it I was being shaken awake by Cinna. I looked up into his brown eyes, startled. "They are calling for you." He said worriedly. Indeed I could hear what I suppose is an intercom system. A woman's voice was telling us that we had five minutes to prepare. Cinna got my attention again when he held up his hand, holding a familiar golden pin.

"The lady, Ms. Madge that you bring the strawberries to told me to give it to you. She said that…" Katniss had to stop for a moment to take breaths. Her lungs were getting worse.

"She said that you brought her a bear pelt and that her father only gave you a blanket." I looked down now, to the pin. It was golden with a bird on it, a mockingjay.

"This has to be worth something…maybe I can sell it to…"

"For once, Katfir, keep it for yourself." Katniss told me strongly.

"Where did you get that?" I asked him quietly as I took it from his hands and gently caressed it. I missed my sister. If she'd been here, I could have told her of my progress with Haymitch. She'd be so happy for me, knowing her she'd probably try to take down Haymitch with a sister talk to warn him off or something utterly embarrassing.

Haymitch. How could he be feeling right now? I know my stomach is in knots just from putting the pin on my shirt now. I took a deep breath. I didn't have enough time to think about him. The woman's voice is already counting down for us.

"It's your district token." Cinna said as I walked to the glass container. I put one thing on the soft metal inside the tube and looked up. All I could see was blackness, no doubt so that I wouldn't look up and see where I was going to be before they wanted me to. I looked back for one moment at Cinna.

"Thank you, so much for everything." I told him, grinning one last time at him, just so he can know that the thank you didn't just go to the pin. I wanted to thank him for everything he's done to make sure that I make it through the games.

"Remember to run away from the cornucopia, find some water, and some shelter and the rest will follow." Cinna told me, squeezing my shoulders for a moment and looking me in the eyes. "If I was allowed to bet, I'd bet on you Katfir." Cinna confessed. I desperately breathed in as the glass started to close by itself. Cinna stepped away from the container but taped his chin. Hold your head high.

I straightened my clothes and held my head high just as the platform started to rise into the blackness of before. As I was pushed through my eyes were astounded by the brightness for precious seconds before everything came into focus.

Trees, grass, water, and the cornucopia. I let out a breath of air as I looked around me. It's a forest, just like the ones outside of District 12. I felt like a small weight had been taken off my shoulders.

Then I hear the happy, fake, and horror inducing voice of Claudius Templesmith from everywhere around the arena. "Ladies and Gentlemen, let the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games begin!"

Haha! I have made it to this stage! I feel like I've accomplished something major! All right guys I'm off to try and write the next chapter of the story!