1 Month Later

"Nyla, I'm here!"

I hang up my coat and set my mittens and scarf onto the chair, like always, walking into the kitchen.

Balsam, Axel, Blight, and Johanna are all sitting at the table taking.

"Where's Nyla?" I ask, pulling a chair out to sit. I've been coming over here every weekend to try and help Nyla with Alona, Striker, and Rasp.

"She got sick two days ago," Axel answers somewhat bitterly. "Now we've been left to take care of the four of them. Plus Splinter who's still in denial."

Johanna makes a noise close to a growl, glaring at the curly-haired boy.

"Have they improved at all?" I ask simply, staring at the table.

Balsam shrugs. "Alona's better, but she's still delusional. Rasp is the best out of the four, he can sit up, and has been trying to get back to reading. Striker is still the same, and Nyla is just getting into the sickness so she's pretty under the weather."

I nod, and no one speaks for a moment before Blight folds his arms on the table. "We have to talk about something."

Something in his tone makes me tense, and I look up to meet a gaze that's so stoney it surprises me. "Something serious?"

Balsam nods. "So, the reaping is coming up and it's was going to be Nyla's turn to mentor. We rotate, like every other District. It's Capitol rules."

"For the girls it goes Nyla, Alona, Balsam, Johanna. The Capitol normally lets the new new Victor wait a year to Mentor," Axel continues.

"But Nyla is sick and they won't let Johanna repeat a year, or Balsam."

Blight's words set in and I look up at them all. "You mean... I have to mentor this year?"

Johanna nods. "Yeah."

1 Month Later

I'm not happy at all. I don't want to have to mentor. It's almost like Snow is punishing me. I have no experience yet, no way to help my poor tribute. Not to mention my sister's name is in the Reaping Ball this year.

The Victors had to leave a little bit early to get seated. We're up on the stage beside the mayor. It's so that the cameras and all the people in our District can see us.

I would have rather walked Pine to the Reaping myself. But I didn't suffer the worst of it. The dragged Alona, Striker, Rasp, and Nyla out here and their sitting there. Most of the District has gotten over the Winter Sickness but they still haven't. Most of them have decided to give their medicine to the skinny kids running around in the streets.

Slowly all the people trickle in. I think about what the eight people sitting beside me must have thought when they me going onto stage, Pine trying to yank skirt off, pulling me off the steps.

When I see Mom and Pine walk up I tense. Balsam must notice because she squeezes my hand reassuringly.

Pine steps off and stands in the back with the other 12 year olds, so I can't see her. Ilis comes up on stage soon and begins the whole thing.

I barely breath. I just hold my breath, and will her not to be called- not like I was. Finally, she goes and sets her hand down into the girl's ball and stirs her hand around for what seems like eternity all the while I'm realizing I can't volunteer for her if she's called.

When she pulls the name out and steps to the microphone, I lean forward. I can't remember most of what happened five minutes ago, I'm just thinking that if my sister is called I can't help her, I'll have to mentor her.

Breaking the seal on the slip she unfolds it, and I can almost see her smiling as she clears her throat and reads it clearly. "Lauren Pricket."

I let out a large burst of air and watch as a young girl steps out of the 16-year old section looking very firm, but her eyes show so much alarm. I bite my lip as she mounts the stage, her light blue dress looking too small her being very tall in stature.

"Any volunteers?" Ilis asks laying a hand on the girls shoulders.

No one does, of course. She calls the boys, but I don't listen to the name. He's the complete opposite of her, and a bit short, olive skin mixed with red and cark, dark hair.

"Thank you, and some applause for this years boy and girl," Ilis sings.

A low murmur of claps half-heartedly ring out though the crowd like always, frowns painted on everyone's faces. Not only is Parcel Day over, but now we have two new tributes to mourn in the Arena.

"Shake hands, you two," Ilis says almost like a command.

Lauren and the boy do, barely looking at each other. "This years District Seven Tributes!"

Their led off stage and everyone leaves slowly, parents embracing their children thankful they weren't chosen, this year at least. I wave good-bye to Mom and Pine- we've already said our farewells until I come back from mentoring.

Blight and Me follow two Peacekeepers all the while with me twisting my braid around in my fingers.

We're led onto the train, and in twenty minutes we'll depart.

"So, what are we supposed to tell them?" I ask Blight, sitting down while Ilis turns on the TV as they recap on our District's.

He s shrugs, lounging in a chair. "Mostly just about survival skills. Anything you used during your Games that helped you."

Insanity? I can't help but think it. I only won because I was so angry over they'd done to Lexi that I just lost my mind. That and I was lucky.

"Didn't you mentor Rasp?" I ask curiously.

Blight nods. "Yeah. But Striker mentored both me and Axel. And Ersatz helped himself. Mostly they'll ask the questions. Anything that you wish Johanna had told you, tell them."

"How do you get over it?"

He looks at me, his eyebrows knitted. "Get over what?"

"Knowing that your Tributes are gone, and it's partially your fault," I ask.

He thinks for a moment. "Well, it's not your fault, really. We can' control everything so it makes no difference. We're here to help them not win for them. "

No matter what he says I still can't shake that feeling. That if Lauren gets speared or eaten alive in that Arena...

I'm going to hold myself responsible for what happens this Hunger Games.