I nervously paced the visitation room awaiting the arrival of my family nearly twenty minutes later. The room around me had a white theme decor. Although mostly vacant it had two big white leather chairs, a matching love seat, and a large white ivory table with a pitcher of water, white cups, and mints. A Peacekeeper stood at the door, it was big and metal, the only exit. I didn't see a handle so I assumed you could only open or close it from the outside.

I felt myself getting lightheaded, something that happened when I got over whelmed, and I knew I should sit down but I was too nervous to stay still. I passed the table over and over. It seemed like time was stretching out. What had been only twenty or thirty minutes felt like hours to me. Suddenly, I heard what sounded to be mechanical feedback from the Peacekeepers area and stopped. I turned to them and saw them typing into the wall.

"Please sit on the couch, Miss Tanner." They commanded. I looked back and forth at them, then walked back to the couch, not letting my attention stray from the door.

A long, loud buzzing sounded out and the Peacekeeper stepped back. I started crying when I saw Alec walked in calmly.

"W-Where is our mom?" I asked Alec, on the verge of tears. He walked to the couch and sat down beside me then pulled me into a tight hug. "Alec..." I trailed off as he released me.

"They only allow one family member to come in." He said. "Mom is a mess, so I was told to come here." I looked at him, took in everything about this moment. Since it was most likely the last time I would ever see him. The pain that statement physically hurt me

"You can win," he told me. "You're a fast runner a good hider and you can make rope and other materials from plants." He said, he sounded so sure of himself, and me, yet I wasn't so sure.

"Alec I love you. Make sure Mom is okay. Please? Tell her I love her." I pleaded. "Tell Jace I love him and he is like a brother to me." I could feel the tears streaming down my face as I asked him of this. I just watched him as he realized, and really let it sink. This was all happening too fast, I wasn't ready.

"You have a chance, Lee." He said. "Y-you have a chance. Don't think otherwise. You can do this." He stood and pulled me up with him into a hug.

"No..." I whispered. "No please, don't leave!" I begged. I knew I looked pathetic, I didn't care. He squeezed me tight and I squeezed just as hard. "I'm sorry for everything I've said. Please just don't leave me. Please..." I was near panic attack as he let go of me and kneeled to my level.

"Stop crying." He said sternly. "You always said I was emotionless now it's your turn to get that way." He said this with forced apathy that riddled his voice. He was being a coach, and I usually hated this but right now I knew I needed one. But only his word said this. The rest of him, his facial expressions, the tears in his eyes, all said worry and sadness.

"You have less than five minutes." The Peacekeeper reminded us.

With no response to the authority, Alec kept his eyes on me. "You are being filmed the minute you leave this building." He said. "We both know that you need as much help as you can get."

"Boy, don't ." I thought to myself sarcastically, he was never the sweetest person.

"You need sponsors." He continued. "And starting from the moment you leave you start have to make an impression. Your first impression on them will be the walk from the building to the train. Then you can cry from there to Panem if you need to." His lecture made me realize how hard, not only the game, but everything before and maybe after them will be.

"The moment you leave this room, the games have begun. You need to prove you are worthy, and that you aren't a normal 'poor district' girl."

He was right. I had to get this. I had to win this. I couldn't even respond to what he said, my mind was everywhere.

"Who are you?" He asked me. Momentarily confused before I remembered a few years ago, my father would always ask "Who are you?" To both me and Alec. He obviously knew who we were but it was a method of getting pumped up and ready.

"Kylee Tanner" I responded shakily, tears threatened to escape my eyes again.

"Who are you?" He asked again.

"Kylee Tanner."

"I asked, who are you?" He nearly screamed at me, a small smile on his face.

This time, matching his volume I said: "I'm Kylee Motherfucking Tanner!"

"That's the spirit!" Alec said, he kept the encouraging smile. "Now get out there, fault what you got, and get District 7 a winner!"

"I will. I promise." I said. Because he was right, I had a chance. I had skill.

"Time." The Peacekeeper called out.

Alec stood immediately, being a rule stickler he is. But pulled me in for another tight hug. "You've got this Lee." He said, then walked out without another word. I was still upset and silent tears were coming down my face. I used the back of my hand to wipe them away, then shut my eyes, forcing myself to hold back emotion unless I was alone. I couldn't be weak now. I needed to start fighting.

I grabbed the pitcher and a glass then poured myself a glass of water, then chugged it. I did it twice more before the door opened to reveal two armed Peacekeepers.

"Miss Tanner, we need you to come with us." He stated.

I stood silently I walked forward, checking my posture and face for tears. I plastered what I hoped was a smile on my face and met with the peacekeepers outside the door.

They turned to the right and began to walk, I was pushed forward by the other Peacekeeper. He kept his hand firm on my waist, just a little bit too low on my waist for my liking. We continued walking the white hallway until it turned into a much darker, formal tone.

The walls and flooring were a deep red stone look. The doors the same shade of red, but they were a solid color painted to the metal of the door, and finally. In addition, the keypads on the walls were black. The peacekeepers stopped and the one behind me led me to a chair in a small waiting area. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply trying to relax. It didn't help when I heard shuffling and a small sob from around me, making me want to cry more.

'There's a time and place' I reminded myself. I heard more footsteps come up and tried to count them. Two? Three? Before I could finish counting I was yanked from my chair and forced to stand.

"Watch it, buddy!" I nearly yelled at the Peacekeeper who had his hands on me. I pulled away from them abruptly and looked at who was in the room. Quilla, multiple Peacekeepers, and Andrew.

"Let's get this show on the road!" Quilla piped, breaking the momentary silence. Her high-heeled boots clicked on the floor as she opened the door. the door. "Now you both know that from here on out until you reach the train you will be live on television for all districts and the capital and all of the tributes to watch. Correct?" I nodded and Andrew mumbled a response.

"Good, good," Quilla replied. She smiled at us, her whole neon orange aesthetic screamed at us. She was wearing a full face of orange makeup, a beautiful orange dress, her hair, boots, everything, amazing. She walked to the door and opened it for us. "Come on now. We have no time to waste."

I slowly walked to the door nervously and tried to remember what Alec said to me, but my brain seemed to melt. I sped up when I caught Andrew out of the corner of my eye walking towards the door. Immediately I went into defense mode. Physically I could tell he could overpower me, so I had to make it seem like I was stronger than I am. I lifted my head high and walked out of the building, trying not to pay attention to the peacekeepers that followed and surrounded the path to the train. I knew I could end it here. Fling myself at a Peacekeeper and get shot. But I knew I had to try. For my family, friends, and my District. It was time district seven got a winner.

Followed the short path to the train with fake confidence. Even if all I wanted to do is cry I wouldn't let anyone see that. I couldn't let anyone see that if I wanted to win.

I finally made it to the train and got on the step up, but was stopped by a Peacekeeper putting his hand on my stomach.

"What is it with all you people and touching us?" I growled at him and stepped back. I bumped into someone and turned. Andrew.

"Looks like you lost all of your luck to Andrew?" I said to him, squinting due to the sun in my eyes. It must be one in the afternoon by now.

"Yeah, I guess so." He replied

I nodded as confirmation to him, then turned to the Peacekeeper. "God, what is the holdup?" I complained. "I'm getting cold."

"Listen girly, I don't control this. I just follow orders." He shot back at me.

I glared at him then looked around. Maybe a long-sleeved dress would have been better for the last day in October. As if Andrew was reading my mind, he said. "Short sleeves weren't the best choice, was it?" He laughed at me.

"No, it wasn't. Thanks for informing me." I shivered and leaned my head back, then closed my eyes. God, I had never wanted to be back home more. Suddenly I felt something wrap around me and came to alert almost immediately. Andy had put his jacket around me.

As much as I wanted to just push him and his jacket away I was COLD. I took the jacket and put it on properly, then gave Andy a small smile.

"Thanks." I told him. He simply smiled in response.

"I am here." I heard someone scream. I turned my attention from Andy to the person screaming down the pathway.

Two people, a man, and Quilla came walking down the path rapidly. The man was older, bald, and stout. Who was he? I recognized him and he had by no means the look of someone from Panem.

Andy leaned closer to me, he also looking at the pair.

"Is that our mentor?" He questioned me.

I furrowed my eyebrows and turned my head looking at him. "I don't think he is really the- "

"Hello, Kallie. Austin. I am your mentor, Shane" He said tiredly.

"It's actually Kaylee and Andrew." Andrew reminded.

"Oh, yes, yes. Let's go!" She clapped her hands and started walking to the door of the train car. "Come on dears, we have much to do."