Hello readers! Thanks for the reviews, they mean a lot! Keep'em coming! This chapter has several references to my other fanfic, Annie's Games. You should check it out! These two stories take place at the same time, so you may enjoy reading both as I continue to update them. Hope you enjoy!

It was that time of year: the Hunger Games. The day my life took a permanent detour was also a day of celebration for the seventieth episode of the famed ceremony. What was supposed to be the best week of the year turned out to be the worst day of my entire life.

"I think Sheen's going to win." said my friend Julia as she pulled live updates from her tablet. I was walking with a group of my friends through some city streets, just after school finished. We were anxious to get back home so we could start watching again. It was Day 5 of the Games. Thankfully, we didn't miss anything while in school. Earlier today a feast was announced, so school was canceled tomorrow. I thought school should be cancelled every day of the Games, but maybe that's just me.

"You just say that because he's hot." Arginus said.

I laughed. Julia shrugged, "So?"

"Whatever. But you're wrong, it's obviously going to be Thorn." Arginus said.

"No way!" I said.

"What? Yeah, it will be. He's easily the smartest guy, and he's great with weapons."

"Toren's pretty smart too." I countered.

"Yeah, but still stupid enough to try to betray his alliance on the first freakin' day. I can't believe he's still alive. He doesn't stand a chance against Mara and Thorn." Ariana said.

"And Annie." I corrected, remembering that Annie rejoined the Career alliance last night.

"She doesn't count. Toren could kill Annie in his sleep." Julia said. I had to admit she's right; Annie hasn't shown much promise in the Games, especially her weakness at the bloodbath.

Ariana spoke up, still on the topic of our favorite tribute, "What about Titus? That's dude's awesome!"

The three of us instantly shot her down. "Are you insane?! He's creepy! Did you see what he did to Joshua?" Julia said.

Ariana raised her hands in surrender, "Okay, okay! I just think he has a good shot."

Suddenly the four of us crossed a street, but not before a speeding police car cut us off. The siren wailed as the car zoomed out of sight.

"What's going on?" I said as I craned my neck to get a better look.

"I don't know..." Arginus said, "but I see a lot of Peacekeepers over there."

Just as he spoke, Peacekeepers poured out of trucks and cars nearby. They swarmed like ants to a massive building at the end of the street. I knew which building that was; everyone in the Capitol did. It was the Game Center, where all of the Gamemakers did their work of controlling the arena.

"What is going on?" I said in wonderment. Never before had I seen something like this. The Peacekeepers, dozens and dozens of them, made a perimeter around the building. They had guns out and shields up. All of the people around them backed away. As I watched, more and more cars showed up. A hovercraft swept the air.

"Hey, Lavinia." Julia said hesitantly. "Isn't that your father's car?"

I looked to where she was pointing. Yeah, that was my dad's car. A Peacekeeper was searching through it, his motive unknown. He pulled out a bunch of papers and ran off to his ranking officer to give it to him.

What was my father's car doing there?

"Let's get out of here." I said.

"But-" Ariana said.

"No, we need to leave." I was firm. Something wasn't right about this. Not at all.

The four of us walked away quickly. We turned the corner and the street was out of our view. But I couldn't shake the bad feeling I had. As the other three turned back to gossiping, a growing sense of dread overcame me.

I realized I was at my apartment. "Okay, guys, looks like I have to go."

"Bye!" the three of them said.

Julia shouted out just as I entered the building. "Wait, you're coming to my house tomorrow for a feast party, right?"

I turned to face her. "Yeah, sure. Wouldn't miss it. Finally we'll have some deaths." I said, not being able to wait to see some Careers kick ass.

"Okay, bye!" Julia, Adriana, and Arginus turned to walk to their respective homes.

The elevator ride up was fast as always. I got to my floor and the elevator scanned my thumbprint. It beeped and opened the door to my level.

"Dad?" I shouted, knowing he was home. Jonathan was still at his friend's house, probably making some bets on the Games. That idiot skipped school again today. Whatever, it's not like he's going to learn anything anyway.

Hmm...my father didn't answer. I wondered why he wasn't home like he usually was. Could it be because of his car in a weird place? Surely he just took public transportation home or he could have just walked.

"Heeeeellllo?" I called. I turned on the TV. Caesar was on, discussing betting odds and other things. Nothing changed much. I noted that Mara was still the highest contested tribute, with Thorn, Toren and Sheen right behind. Annie and Sasha were way low on the list. Holly had jumped up a few places and was now in front of cannibalistic Titus.

I thought about my father again. The Hunger Games were going on, something he always acted weirdly about. Could that possibly-

I jerked my head to side as I heard a loud thump from another room. It sounded muffled, like it was from closed doors. All of the doors were open, except for my father's study.

I stood up and turned off the TV. I stared directly at the door. There it was again, the same noise. Except this time it was accompanied by a human voice. I couldn't make out the words...it didn't sound normal.

Could it be...a moan of pain?

Panicked, I walked across the spacious room. I put my hand on the handle. Sounds were coming from the other side. My stomach sank with fear. But I was being was there to fear? What could possibly hurt me in the Capitol, the safest place in Panem?

I opened the door.

Two Peacekeepers, menacing expressions on. My father, beaten and bloody. Hands curled into fists. A pistol loaded. Furniture smashed. Blood everywhere. One of the men turned to me. Our eyes locked.

"Lavinia, run!" My father screamed. I stared at him, his nose broken and blood splattered on his face. "Now!"

I moved like a cornered animal. I turned and sprinted as fast as I could. I could hear the man closest to me taking pursuit. I jumped over the couch, knocking over a table. I looked behind me and saw the man catching up. My body felt like pure adrenaline. I didn't understand what was happening. I had never been more confused...or more afraid.

So that was what tributes felt right before death.

I ran to the door and frantically rushed to open it. I had my hand on the handle when the Peacekeeper got me.

"NO!" I screamed. His body slammed into mine and I hit the door. I felt my hands being forced behind my back. I kicked and struggled, but his body weight kept me in place. His fist connected with my neck as he tried to keep me still. Pain exploded in my head. I started to scream.

"STOP IT! STOP!" I begged, tears flowing down my face. "NO!"

He forced my arms behind me, not bothering to relieve any pain. My arms felt liked they were being forced out of their sockets. He quickly tied my hands together with some sort of handcuff.

"Lavinia!" My dad yelled. "Don't say anything to them! No matter what they do!"

"Dad!" I sobbed. "What's going on?!" I winced as my captor dragged me over to the study. My father came into view. The two Peacekeepers had been beating him...badly. He was on the ground, slumped over from pain. It must have been going on for quite a while.

I whimpered as the man tossed me away. I tried not to yell as I hit the ground. The Peacekeeper kept an eye on me, leaving no possibility for escape.

"Tell us what you know." The demand hung in the air as my father stared down the Peacekeeper.

"Tell us what you know." My father was determined not to say anything.

"Daddy," I said, trying not to break down. "Please, what's goi-"

"TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW!" The man said, punching my father in the stomach. My dad slumped over on his side. I could tell he wasn't budging.

The Peacekeeper closest to me grabbed my hair. He jerked me over to him, dragging me on the ground. He pulled out a gun.

"NO! Please, no. I'll do anything. STOP!" I screamed. The Peacekeeper gave no notice.

"Tell us what you know. Give us names." He said calmly, staring into my father's eyes.

My father's eyes were rock-solid, betraying nothing. But when the gun was drawn, I saw something.

I saw fear.

"Tell us who the others are," He said, "Or the girl dies." He pointed the gun at me.

My heart stopped. "NO! PLEASE!" I screamed. I started kicking and squirming to get free. But the man's grip was too strong.

My father was starting to weaken in resolve. "No, stop. She has nothing to do with this!" he spoke with ferocity.

The man cocked the pistol and put the gun on my temple. The metal was cold against my skin. I sucked in choking breaths, knowing that my time could be up.

I was helpless.

"Five." The man said.

"NO! STOP IT! PLEASE! I WON'T SAY ANYTHING!" I shrieked, sobbing from panic and terror.

"Don't do this!" My father warned.

"Four."

"PLEASE JUST TELL THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO KNOW!"

"You're making a mistake!"

"Three!"

"Just stop."

"TELL THEM!"

"Who are the others?"

"Tell us!"

"STOP!"

"Two!"

"DADDY!"

I closed my eyes for what I was sure was the last time.

"ONE!"

He squeezed the trigger.

I heard two gunshots. My father grunted. Shouts of pain. I heard liquid splatter across something. More shouting. Another gunshot. A thump as the Peacekeeper behind me fell down.

I opened my eyes.

The man who was holding me in place was on the ground. Blood was around him, pooling around his chest. There were two bullet wounds there.

I slowly turned my head to the side. My father was holding a gun, the one that the other Peacekeeper was holding. There was a body next to him. A dead one. Blood was pumping out of the hole in his forehead.

I was in shock.

"Lavinia, baby. I'm so sorry." My father came over to me and enveloped me in a hug. "I never wanted this to happen to you."

He fumbled with my handcuffs until they fell off. I rubbed my wrists. I didn't say anything. It was too surreal.

He gripped me around the head and held me up. We looked into each other's eyes. I finally spoke, "What's going on, dad?"

He smiled slightly. "There's so much I wanted to tell you, baby. I've kept so much from you. So much. But I need you to be strong, okay? I need to you to. I know you can do it. You're a strong girl."

I nodded. It was too much to process.

"I know you're scared, and I know that you're confused. But we have to move; we're not safe here. We have to fine Gamemaker Maximus. He's the only person we can trust. Okay? When's Jonathan coming home?"

I didn't speak for a second. "Any minute now, I think."

"Okay, good, good. We need to wait for him. Okay, Lavinia?" My father looked at me and brushed off my tears. "You're being so brave right now. I will explain everything later, okay? I just want you to know that I lo-"

BANG!
The gunshot was louder this time, more deafening. I looked to the source of the discharge. The Peacekeeper laying on the ground with bullet wounds in his chest. The one whom I thought dead. The one with a gun still gripping in his hand. The gun pointed directly at my father's head.

I looked at my dad. I stared in horror at the wound. I had seen countless deaths before. I watched children die and die. I've cheered when stabbings happened and laughed at beheadings. But nothing, nothing, could have prepared to at the blood dripping from the hole in the middle of my father's forehead.

My father fell to the ground.

Dead.

Next Chapter: Lavinia tries to deal with her grief as she searches for answers.