It's the morning of the Reaping. The 75th annual Hunger Games…this means another Quarter Quell. I fear what the rule will be this year, but I don't have time to get too concerned about that. I go over to Katniss' house. Prim is sitting still and silent. Katniss watches her with sad eyes. "You about ready to go to the Reaping?" I ask.

"Yeah, just a second." replies Katniss. Prim stands up and follows us out the door, followed by their mother. We all arrive. I follow Katniss, who, to my disappointment, walks over to Gale immediately and hugs him.

We must separate by our genders and I watch as Katniss walks away, holding Prim's hand. Unlike last year, Prim isn't crying, shows no sign of emotion whatsoever. It was all whipped out of her. A woman from the Capitol steps onto the slightly bloodstained stage and clears her throat into the microphone to silence the crowd of District 12 civilians.

"Welcome, welcome!" she begins. "And welcome to the District Twelve Reaping for the annual Hunger Games, and our 3rd ever Quarter Quell! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"

Silence continues in the darkness of the event while she smiles brightly on stage.

"This year's Quarter Quell rule is quite…fun! This year, as our special rule, the tributes will be chosen from a pool of previous victors!"

Oh no, Katniss is the only female victor ever from our district! She has to go back into the arena! I have to get back in! I have to be picked. I'll volunteer if Haymitch is chosen. I have no choice, I must protect Katniss. The woman continues speaking.

"Along with that, each tribute must bring, if they have any, a sibling as another tribute!"

No! They can't. Katniss and Prim both? I look over. Katniss is crying, hugging Prim, who's expression is blank. Every sacrifice till now has been useless: Katniss volunteering for Prim last year, having her whipped instead of starved to death, because this is the Hunger Games, no one will volunteer for her this time. Prim is going to die.

"Let's pick our tributes, shall we? As usual, ladies first!" the woman says. She moves her hand around in the bowl as if there is more than one name in there, but we all know there isn't. "Katniss Everdeen!" Katniss walks up on the stage. "And she has only one sibling, so no difficulty in having to choose!" She looks at the paper. "Primrose Everdeen!" And almost robotically, Prim walks up on stage next to Katniss.

"Now for the gentlemen!" She moves her hand around and reads the paper. "Haymi-"

"I volunteer!" I yell loudly. Haymitch glances at me angrily. I look at Katniss, then back to him, eyes pleading, hoping he understands. He nods, letting me know he does. "Alright, Peeta Mellark. Being an only child, I guess you are the only male tribute for District Twelve this year! Let's give a round of applause for our tributes." No one applauds, just point out their arms and put up their first three fingers in a salute to us.

We are lead away and put in separate rooms. My parents don't come, but Gale does.

"Peeta, I know that after that whipping I have no right to ask anything of you…but I'm going to anyways."

"What?" I ask

"Keep Katniss and Prim safe."

"Only one can live, Gale. I'll do my best to keep them both alive as long as possible, but in the end, one of them will have to die."

Gale nods and is taken by the guards. I sit down slowly, the worst of the wounds on my back still healing. That will probably slow me down in the arena. Same with Prim. Soon the guards come back in and take me to the train, where I meet back with Prim and Katniss, and we head off for the Capitol for preparations…prepare for the Games.