Like last year, we are served delicious food unheard of in District 12. We eat to our fill, except Prim, who eats merely one bite and then excuses herself. Katniss follows, then me. We walk to Prim's room and open the door. Her dress is unzipped in the back and xshe's examining her back in the tall mirror and crying. I don't blame her. It looks terrible. It's a scabbed over and red. Katniss runs over and just lets Prim cry into her shoulder. "It still hurts…" Prim says. I immediately go and get some cool water and a washcloth and head back to the room. "Lay down on the bed." I say kindly. I lay the cool cloth on her back and she seems relieved. She begins to speak, and we listen carefully, having barely heard her voice since the punishment.
"I have nightmares…every night. I relive it in my dreams, the pain of it. And I feel bad about complaining of my pain when Peeta's is probably a thousand times worse. I feel…weak. I'll never win the games…I'll probably be one of the first to die." Tears stream down her rosy cheeks. Katniss strokes her sister's hair and gives her a kiss on the forehead and cries with her. I leave and let them have some time together. Only one comes out. Either Katniss or Prim will have to die. If Katniss dies, Prim may go into complete silence forever, judging by how she has been since the whipping, or Prim will die, and Katniss…poor Katniss would never be the same. But only one comes out. I don't know who to protect. All I know is that I will make sure one of them gets out of that arena alive.
I enter my room and lie down on my stomach on my bed. My wounds are still greatly recovering, walking is still fairly painful. I know that's not going to be a real advantage in the Games. I go to sleep thinking of how I'll be able to stay alive long enough to ensure either Prim or Katniss lives. I only have one option;
I'll have to kill, with brutality and with the attitude of a cold-blooded murderer.
The next day we make it to the Capitol. We go to the twelfth floor. A room has been added because of the additional tribute. We barely have time to settle in before we are instantly taken away by our stylists in order to be dressed for the parade tonight. Last year, Cinna's idea went over very well, pleasing the crowd greatly, and giving Katniss the name of "The Girl On Fire". This year, Cinna did a great job. Flames are included in the costume, yet again, and it was a black and red jumpsuit that shines with small red rhinestones to give us a "spark".
Soon we all gathered together. Katniss and Prim were wearing outfits identical to mine, both wearing the pinned up braid learned by the stylists from Katniss and Prim's mother. Soon we all three got on the float. "Don't smile, or even look at the crowd" said Haymitch, who was, yet again, our mentor. "Just let them know that this year, you are all still united, all three of you." and he staggers away, drunk as usual.
We get on our float and wait for districts one through eleven tom get through, which takes a while. Soon, we begin to enter the main aisle between the crown, which I ignore as instructed. Prim grabs Katniss' hand, and Katniss grabs mine, and like last year, we lift them up. District twelve is again the center of attention.
Once we get to the front, President Snow begins to speak. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's please welcome our tributes to the 75th annual Hunger Games and the 3rd Quarter Quell!" the crowd cheers. It's disguisting how joyful and excited they get about kids murdering each other.
I ignore his speech and before I know it we're heading back to the hotel. I go straight to my room and get ready for some sleep, preparing what I'll do tomorrow and thinking of Prim going in for that interview. Tomorrow will be interesting, I am sure of that.