Okay, forget I said that 7 and 8 are inter-connected. (this story is moving a little too fast for me -_-) Anyways, only one chapter because I'm doing all of this week's assignments. (Leave it to me to cram in advance... did that make sense?)

They ate supper together without speaking or making any sort of remarks. The silence was eerie and unbearable but no one was willing to speak. It is as if they all made a silent agreement to not talk about their current situation at meal time.

Amaryllis was quick to finish her meals. She couldn't stand the dark aura emanating from them all. Death is in the air; she can sense it. She kept her hands steady and it got harder with every single bite. The other three looked at her with concern in their eyes. She shrugged them off before finishing off her meal and pushing herself away from the table.

"I'm done!" She exclaims as she storms off into her room. She kept her sight steady and it took all of her will not to look back. Tears were welling up in her eyes but she dared not to cry in front of them.

She shut the door tight before collapsing into her bed. She let the tears fall; her death is near. She knows well that she'll most likely be the first one to die in the bloodbath. Like that would matter anymore; she's good as dead anyways. Her dreams are dead, her whole future is dead, there is nothing left for her in this world and that's a fact that she's starting to accept.

She closed her eyes and hummed her lullaby once more. It's the only thing that can keep her sane and can keep her from falling apart. The sadness was too much and she has to hum louder. She felt the melody course through her veins and she was at peace once again.

She was lost in her own dream; her fantasy. She savored the warmth of her mother's embrace and she inhaled the sweet comforting smell of her father's liquor. "There are no games." they would tell her and she would believe them. These are mere fantasies that were manifested by the distant memories of the past but she holds on to them as if they were real.

She knows it well and anyone can tell that she is slipping into insanity; slowly loosing her very being...

The room remained quiet after she had left. The silence was even more uncomfortable than before for questions were racing through the minds of the mentor and the escort, the kind that the boy tribute might be able to answer.

"So, what can you tell us about Amaryllis Porter?" Haymitch asks.

"Not much really. I do know that she's twelve and she's a girl. Oh, and she lives in the Porter House." He didn't want to talk but nevertheless he answered Haymitch's question. He refuses to look at them though; he couldn't tell if he's just shy or angry- maybe a bit of both.

"The orphanage?"

"Yes, that's why Porter is her last name. She knows nothing about her biological parents' identity." His rage began to boil. It's really not fair to send a 12 year old to the arena, as for him, he really couldn't care less if he dies. He stopped caring about himself months ago.

"That's really sad..." Comments Effie.

"Yeah, it is but do you know what's great though? It's the fact that after all of this she might be able to see her family- if they were dead that is and I'll finally get to be with mine. Death is fine with me but what about her? Why send a 12 year old to die?" He was fuming. He glares at the two as if they demons before getting down from his seat and excusing himself from the table.

Both Effie and Haymitch were shocked at the 'usually quiet and unfazed' boy's sudden burst of emotions. They agree with him though; it was unfair. The two continues to eat in silence; trying to distract themselves with food.

After the meal they both sat on opposite sides of the couch as they watch that day's happenings. They just stared at the screen; watching the vivid flashing lights but neither one of them was actually paying attention to the program.

Effie was still processing the fact that the girl tribute was an orphan. She further holds on to her belief that the little girl is her own. It may sound crazy but it might be true. If it is, will that be a good thing? She can finally hold her daughter in her arms but the girl will die in the arena- she might not even outlive the bloodbath.

Haymitch was lost in his thoughts as well. The fact that the girl is his daughter crossed his mind as well but he didn't linger on it. That would be absurd- if not impossible. He contemplates on the possibility that maybe one of them could actually win; it's just a dream but maybe it can come true.

Effie was the first one to break the silence; she couldn't hold it in anymore "Do you think it's possible?"

"What's possible, sweetheart?" he replies.

"The girl, she's an orphan. What if she's ours? It's possible." she replies. Her eyes were filled with happiness; she waited for this moment.

Haymitch sighs before replying. He gave a sad and a serious look. "That's stupid, it's impossible and if she is what will that make of us? The parents who sentenced their own child to die?"

She didn't look up at him for she doesn't want him to see the tears that were daring to fall from her eyes. "You're right, it's stupid. I'm sorry..."

Haymitch softened his gaze against her as he realized the effect of his words on her. He slides closer to her then he wraps his arms around her waist.

"I'm sorry..." he whispers.

"D-don't be. You were right..." she replies.

He holds her tight. He draws circles on her back with his right hand while the other gently wipes the tears away from her eyes.

"I'm sorry... The kids shouldn't see us like this." she says.

"Effie, they're both in their room. I doubt they'll come out anytime soon." he replies.

They kept their hold on each other; seeking each other's comforting touch, sharing comforting words and heavy burdens. This wasn't new to them; they've done this last year, the year before that and even the year before that.

"I'm really sorry. It just hurts to think of our little girl being send into the arena..." he says.

Effie nods in reply. She understands, she feels the same way but she couldn't really help it. She felt a connection towards the tribute. She has this need to care for her and protect her but of course she can't do that. No one is safe from the games.

"I'm turning in early... Good night, Haymitch." she says.

"Good night, princess. Don't think about it too much okay..." he gave her a peck on the lips before loosening his hold on her.

"I won't." she lied. It really wouldn't help, the harder she tries not to think, the more she thinks about it.

Once she's out of earshot, he walks back into the kitchen and grabs a bottle of liquor. It's the only thing that keeps him together. It was his friend, his ally, his sanctuary; it keeps him sane.

Effie was a few meters away from her room when she hears a familiar tune. She tries to locate the source of the melody then she suddenly finds herself standing in front of the girl tribute's room. She places her ear against the door as she listened in, trying to confirm her suspicions.

Sure enough, the sound was louder there. She couldn't believe it. Has she gone insane? Has her thoughts and hopes finally brought her to her mind's downfall? Or is this reality? Could it be possible that the young girl is actually humming the tune of the lullaby that her mother used to sing to her, the same one that she sang to her own daughter ever night before she was taken away?

She has to confirm it. She needs to know before it's too late but what will the tribute think of her? She might think of her as crazy for thinking that they could be related or she might hug her tight- making up for the years that they were apart. There's also the possibility that the girl will only show contempt and hatred towards her. What mother wound send her own daughter to her deathbed anyways?

She's also being nagged by the possibility that the girl is not her own and she's just deluding herself into her own fantasies. Either way, she has to know the truth.

She gripped the doorknob and proceeded to turn it.

One must face the truth head on, despite the consequences...

OOOOHHHH! SUSPENSE! Anyways, sorry for the late update. School has been really crazy and that's something I shouldn't take for granted. I haven't been updating my other hayffie fic as well, simply because I'm a little stuck in that one and it might turn into a tragedy if I try to write it now (I don't want to talk about the reasons okay T_T)

Anyways, all of your reviews are much appreciated. Please tell me when I'm skipping tenses, I really don't know how to check that one so I'll be relying on reviews.