He doesn't answer immediately. Instead he just thinks over whatever was his source of information. "No not yet, but with the Paylor-like line of rulers gone and the new president was instated today you can bet to see it in the near future."

"How long are we talking about?" I feared to even hear an answer spill from his lips no matter the length.

Haymitch shook his head and spread his arms in exasperation. "Months, maybe a few years at most. The president has to situate a firm grip on the people of the Capitol. Once that happens it could take him as little as a few weeks. The districts, even though it's been thirty years, are still weak. They don't always see eye-to-eye if you know what I mean."

Sadly I do. Mom and Dad have talked about it to one another, and even to us. They believe we are old enough to know what is happening and might happen. Which is good, because I do not like to be in the dark on matters that could quite possible involve us.

What do we do? This question plays in my head over and over and over again. My head is reeling over all the possibilities and outcomes of the new president's hold on Panem. Just then, still in my own thoughts I think of something horrid. "You don't think that those Games will start again do you?" I wasn't the one who voiced the question it was Aidan. I raise my head to look at him. He is definitely scared, and face it, who wouldn't be, but it's different for him than for me. Despite his whole body visibly shaking I can an air of calmness surrounding him, he definitely knows how to compose himself more than I do myself.

Haymitch's face grew grim after Aidan spoke. You can see the sorrow in his eyes, probably as he remembers the past experiences of the games. "I think it is a very high possibility that they will start again. If that's the case then you might want to start doing something about it now."

I throw my head into my arms that are on the table. I don't want to cry; I don't want to seem weak. I feel a stroke of my hair and I move my head away from the soother, then I hear an unexpected voice. My mother's. "Haymitch, is there anything we can do?" Her voice sounded strong, much like when either Aidan or I get hurt.

I jerk my head up to see her and my father standing side by side with his hand around her shoulder, gripping firmly. They have steeled themselves to maintain a grip on reality and to look strong toward their children, whom have never seen them as weak as only minutes ago.

"What do you want to do Katniss? Move to another continent?" Haymitch asks jokingly. It wasn't time to be funny, however what else would there be time for. We have to be able to still joke around, or at least that is the way I see it. Just not right now.

My father spoke, "No that will be highly improbable. Even if we did leave there is no guarantee that we could survive as long as it would take to get to a different country let alone a new continent. We have to find a way to prevent the chance of our children going into the ring."

"But there is no guarantee that the new President will reinvent the Games." I say trying to keep the positive side.

The lot of them gave me a weak smile and I knew I wasn't fooling myself either. With the presidential elections we got to see the type of people that were being elected. The one that was, Aulus Pratt, came from District 2; mother, father, and Haymitch claimed he was in District 2 when the second rebellion rained down on District 2. They also said he was fighting for the Capitol; so it would only make sense for him to want the previous Capitol.

"You're right honey; there is still a chance that the games will not exist under his role." My father says. You could see him trying to say positive for us. Give us something to hope for. We stay silent for a while trying to think of something to do.

Haymitch breaks the silence telling us he's going to drink and if we want to join we're more than welcome. The four of us, in my happy little family, retreat back to our house. There we try to keep ourselves busy. Dad and I cook dinner while Aidan cleans the house and mother tries to make a new bow and a quiver of arrows.

Dinner is a wild turkey stripped from the bone, sautéed mushrooms and onions, and a stew of carrots and tubers in thick gravy. None of us are really hungry, but eat anyway. Who knows if this will be the last meal of free food? We don't even know if our parents' victory fortune will continue to be supplied by the Capitol.

After dinner we sit by the fire in the living area, winter is just passing but it is still cold. The seasons are fighting to win the weather. One day it is sunny and warm the next day it is back to cold, harsh weather. At night regardless of the day weather we set a fire to warm the house and keep all us warm.

My mother fiddles with my long tangled hair as I sit with my knees pulled to my chest. I put my head on my knees and drift off to sleep. Falling asleep is a bad mistake because I experience my first horrific nightmare.

I stand in a crowd of girls my age. I've seen this before, in History class. They would show footage of previous events such as this, the ceremony, the interviews, and the most barbaric thing I've ever seen. The Games. Now, I stand being forced to partake in the Games since the Capitol rebellion by standing in a crowd waiting for my name to not be called, hoping I am saved.

The new escort from the Capitol stands at a podium in front of the Justice Building; forced on the stage are my parents and Haymitch. Three of the only living victors left alive from the second rebellion. The escort walks to a ball of papers, each of which holds a name on it. Five of which could be mine, three could be Aidan's. I cover my ears afraid to her a name. I know most of the kids in my age range, I will feel regret for anyone that is forced to be humiliated by the Capitol.

Everyone grows still and I know that someone's name has been called. The girl next to me stiffly walks to the parting of genders and down the way to the Justice Building. I am so shocked, she was I quite girl from my class. Rarely spoke to anyone always looking down to the floor but very pretty all the same. She was chosen for this Games.

I am still so shocked I don't even have time to cover my ears again before the name of the boy is called. With his name called I am on the floor in seconds. Crying my eyes out. Cinna-Aidan Mellark.

I wake up crying. This is one thing I don't think I could ever take. I don't want anyone to have to go through the same dangers as my parents especially not my brother. My brother, who is so kind he can hardly kill a fly, but at the same time, wicked enough to shoot a fleeing deer in the eye. He is not evil wicked, but brilliant wicked. Neither my mom nor I can shoot fleeing game with such precision. In fact, I can barely shoot. I am better with throwing a knife than shooting a bow.

My brother who I've always taken for granted because he is so kind, so soft-hearted, so pure. With his precision and the mode he goes in when hunting I am afraid the Games will ruin him. Turn him into something else, a lethal monster of the new Capitol control.