Peeta POV:

I went back to school the day after Rye left, not one teacher gave me stick for missing school, everyone in school seemed to be making a collective effort to make me laugh or just to be nice. I got no homework, and everyone invited me to their table at lunch but I didn't want anyone to be nice to me, I just wanted normal behaviour and I wanted Katniss. Why did it have to be her sister reaped? Why did Katniss have to volunteer? Why did there have to be the games? I just think wistfully about if she had never been reaped because if she hadn't I wouldn't be sat alone right now, I would be with her. I wish there was something that I could do but her fate isn't in my hands, it is in hers.

I pick my way through my food but really I am not hungry, to be honest I haven't been hungry since the day she left, I just miss her and I feel like a total sap for saying all this love stuff but in only a year and a half I have fallen so hard for her that I will never get back up again. My little thought train is interrupted when a student from a younger year burst into the dining hall,

"Guys, the TV in the history classroom is showing the games. I don't know why but if you want to know you need to come." I didn't even need the other half the sentence I was flying out the room as soon as he said the TV was on because the TV is only on when something bad is happening in the games and generally that means someone is dead. I ran faster than I thought I could, people parted ways for me as I made my way to the history room. My heart was in my throat and I knew any second I was going to cry. Please don't die Katniss. You can't do that to me. At the front of the room I could see some of Gale's siblings; they looked at me and had expressions saying 'we know what you're going through'. Not a single person begrudged me this seat because I might not be mentally strong but when I need to I can throw a punch and everyone knew it.

I managed to lower into my chair my eyes fixed on screen. Something major was happening. Gale, Katniss and the tribute from eleven were being chased by a swarm of something. Rory, one of Gale's brothers, leant over and whispered to me, "Tracker Jackers," my heart sunk threw the floor. This was defiantly bad news. Tracker Jackers were Capitol mutations that's sting was venomous and cause powerful hallucinations and sometimes death. And they were after Katniss. I saw Gale's little sister walk in and she took a seat next to me, she gripped my hand like it was a lifeline but I didn't protest because right now I needed her support as much as she needed mine.

The mutts chased them relentlessly until I saw Thresh get drawn into the mass of them, immediately he was swarmed with them, Gale whipped his head round to help but there was nothing he could do.

Gales POV:

I turned my head round and see Thresh get swarmed by what looks to be over five hundred wasps. I can barely make out his full body because of the huge scores of the wasps. I try desperately to think of a way to save him but I come up blanks. I think I finally understand how Catnip felt on the first day of the games. I feel so guilty because a little voice in my head is saying 'let him die, he dies you get closer to twelve' that is what the Capitol have done to us, turning us against one another for their own frivolous entertainment to fill their pointless lives.

I want so desperately to do something, but I can see that I will never find a solution. Before the wasps realise there is another victim stood motionless behind them I regain my spirits and start to run, but before I turn I throw my spear at Thresh, at least then his death won't be as painful as it is now. After I have done this I realise how stupid that was, I am down to two spears and I won't get any more now. I start running when I hear Catnip scream in pain, she's been stung. But before I can even react to help her they attack me. Around ten different wasps attack me, stinging my body from all angles, my vision starts to become hazy and everything doesn't seem to sit together properly. All I can think is I am dead; this is the time I am really going to die.

But clearly the game makers have different plans because once I fall to my knees, the wasps disappear completely. I see a flash of images in front of me, I see Katniss with Peeta, Katniss laughing with Peeta. Then she glares at me and screams, "I don't love you Gale, no one cares about you so at least if you are reaped for the games no one will miss you." Her laugh is harsh and cruel. Then she turns to Peeta and kisses him. I try to lash out, stop her but I am immobilised and I just sit and watch. Slowly she dissolves and my family appear, but the act like they can't see me

"He is so stupid," Rory hisses through clenched teeth, "I hope he dies, and then we can be happier."

"Why does he never do anything right, I can't remember him ever helping us." Posy's voice snarls from behind. My siblings part way as my father comes through them, he is dead, but he is here.

"You know I only ever worked in the mines so I could be away from you, if you were never born, I would still be alive. You killed me Gale. IT. WAS. YOU.

The pain subsides and I start to see clearly again, my vision is rimmed with a golden glow but I decide that it is probably just down to being attacked by... by... something. I don't really know what just happened. My name is Gale Hawthorne and I am in the Hunger Games. I am in here with... HER. She dragged me here because she would rather I die than her stupid boyfriend. My body starts to shake and my fists clench. Why would she do this to me, she is a liar and I have to kill her.