I could have gone to see my brother then, I was family after all, but I couldn't bring myself to do it yet. So, instead, I said my own good-byes. There weren't many, I hadn't had many friends since my return four years ago. I think many of my old friends were scared of me. The HUnger Games had changed my life in millions of little ways. There had even been a boy before, we had planned on getting married once we were old enough. But, when I returned, he was different- or at least I was. I couldn't feel the love for him I had before. I was cold, harsh, and confused, so I didn't blame him for ending it. The only real friends I had left were my family and the other victors.

So I wait down the hallway from my brother for my parents and sister. My sister is twelve this year, it was sad to say that my dad and I had been so worried about her that we had kind of ignored my brother. When they left the room my sister had tears in her eyes and my mother's head was buried in my father's chest. I ran over to them immediately and tried to hold all three of them in my arms at the same time. After a few more hugs we said our final goodbyes. As I began to turn away from them, my mother grabbed my arm. She made me promise that I would bring Sawyer home. The force and desperation of this action didn't startle me as much as it did my sister. My mother was almost always rather unemotional, but I had always known that Sawyer was her favorite, her only son. I'm honestly not sure that she could survive if he didn't.

I boarded the train silently; however, I was the last so all eyes were on me as I walked into the dining car. Looking into my brother's eyes at that moment I couldn't contain myself any longer. I run right at him- throwing my arms around him. Something in his eyes triggered the tears. Maybe it is because they are so similar to mine, blue with gold flakes toward the center, but I was immediately reminded of the fear that had been coursing through my body as I sat silently on the train four years ago.

In past years Ketler and I had shared responsibility of both of the tributes, hoping that our different skill sets would help create and well-rounded and prepared tribute. However, this year Ketler and I decided to each take one tribute. He knew I would never be able to help the other girl, Sasha. In all honesty I hadn't given her as much credit as she deserved at the reaping, no one had. But as I had reexamined Sasha in the past day I realized she was smart, fast, and cunning, almost fox like in those ways. Honestly, any other year I would have been overjoyed for a tribute like her; a surprise that no one in the arena was expecting, almost like I had been. I began to see her as a bigger and bigger threat.

Turning on the TV that night I assumed my district's reaping would be a big focus. I mean what were the odds that two siblings were chosen in a matter of four years. But no one on the television even mentioned it. I didn't want to believe the Capitol wasn't mentioning it because it wasn't chance, but that is what seemed more and more likely as the night went on. It was true that the volunteer in district twelve was surprising, and newsworthy as well, but recently the Capitol hadn't been very happy with my choices and I couldn't help but think that they were punishing me. Punishing me in the worst way, by making me walk my brother to his imminent death.

I think I had been staring at Sasha for a few minutes before my brother said something. The time I had spent with my brother had passed too quickly and somehow we were already at the tribute parade. Sasha and Sawyer climbed onto the cart adorned in ridiculous metallic silver costumes- with head pieces to match. I was willing to admit that I didn't know much about fashion but I was sure that these outfits were not it. I was angry with the designer, she wasn't trying! She didn't realize how important this was, my brother's life was at stake. But to her it was only a game and the tributes were just two dolls for her to play with.

I stood back as I watched the chariots roll out and I felt him standing behind me. I was about to turn to face him when, out the the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of fire. The tributes from district twelve were ablaze- literally on fire. I was instantly filled with jealousy. Not that I wanted to look like that, but I wanted it for my brother, I wanted him to be successful.