I didn't know who this Mellark kid was, but by the look on Katniss' face she did. Yep, she deffinatly did. At least it wasn't Vick. Peeta Mellark had blond hair and blue eyes. Mellark, and then it hit me. That aha moment. The Mellark Family Bakery. Unfortunate, but not the end of the world. He looked very sweaty and he didn't look like he would have much of a chance in the Games. I didn't think many people would be betting on him.
How Katniss knew him to the point where she got a look like that on her face, I had no idea and I still don't. There was an obvious memory resurfacing in her mind. I could tell by the vacant look that took to her eyes. It only lasted a minute though before she remembered where she was and that later on in the day every citizen in Panem would be looking at her.
Effie Trincket announced the names one last time before exiting the stage. Peacekeepers came out and took Katniss and Peeta into our Justice Building. I hated the way the handled her. So roughly. Without any respect. What did they think she was going to do? Make a run for it?
All of the kids who's names weren't called were dismissed to go back to thier familys. Prim, who I forgot I was holding, wiggled herself free from my grasp. I watched her run into her mother's arms and I did the same. I had never felt the way I did then. So vulnerble. So helpless. I had always felt like it was my job to protect Katniss and I had failed. There was nothing I could do about it. About her going into the arena. I still held onto the hope that she could win, though. After all, she was the best hunter I knew. Still is. There was still hope for her and I didn't ever let go of it.