Ember's POV

I stand in front of the mirror and look at my face one more time. My dark brown hair is pulled back to reveal the entirety of my face. Mom does it so I can look nice for the reaping, I never protest because I secretly I like it. I think it really shows how young I look, how young I still am. I see my green eyes staring back at me and I notice the hints of freckles I have that scatter across my nose and down onto my cheeks. You would have to be really perceptive and only inches away from my face to notice them. I can't help but feel reminiscent of the last time I really paid attention to how I looked, back when Katniss won the games last year. I hear a knock on the door and my mother's voice on the other end. It brings me out of my memory. "Ember? Are you ready?" Before I yell back I take one more second for myself. One more look at who I am, just in case I won't be coming home tonight.

"Yes" I tell her as I open up the door and find my mom on the other side wearing her best dress. I nervously hold onto the sides of my faded purple dress as my mother puts her hands over her own face and begins to tear up. "Mom" I breathe out, trying to push away the temptations of my own tears sitting in the wings of my tear ducts.

"You just look so beautiful" She always gets so emotional before the reaping, being any only child means I am all my parents have. We all watched a girl from district 12 win the games and the reality is it could be anyone, it could easily be me. I never thought about how many times my name is entered, how easy it would be for Effie Trinket to pull my name out of the bowl.

"Thank you" Is all I can muster up inside of me to say back. She pulls me close and hugs me tight, I close my eyes and try to remember everything about this moment, everything about my mom. There is a whole different feel to this year's reaping. I can feel it in my bones. Ever since last year I can't shake this feeling like I might somehow be a part of this. My dad walks into the room and my mother wraps her arms around him, his face is still and emotionless. I have never seen him cry and the reaping's are no exception, I like to think that it's because he is hopeful. He is dressed nice and holds my mother as she cries.

"It's time to go" He says for them both, my mother is still crying into the sleeve of his shirt.

"Okay" I take a deep breath after and am about to walk out the door when my father grabs my arm and pulls me into a hug. He doesn't do this a lot either. My mom stands at the front door wiping away her tears. When my dad pulls away he doesn't say anything, but he doesn't have too, I already know everything he would ever need to say. We all walk out of the house and head towards the square, I look around and see all the other families with their children heading towards the same place, and it's crazy to think that two people out of all of district 12 could potentially be heading to their death.

We get to the square and I get in line with all the children, I watch my mom and dad walking into the crowd with all the other adults. I find Katniss Everdeen's mom as she stands looking nervous, it hadn't dawned on me that Prim is also entered this year, it could be two years in a row that her daughter is sent to the Capitol.

I get up to the front of the line and the peacekeeper takes my finger and prick it, the first two times they did it had hurt, now it's just a slight familiar sting. I walk out of line and to the crowd of the other 17 year old girls and just look forward to the stage, I see Haymitch and Katniss and Peeta all standing around talking, Peeta is holding Katniss' hand and I can see her engagement ring, the sunlight reflects off it and it looks absolutely beautiful. Soon Effie Trinket makes her way to the stage and she plays the same video she plays every single year. When she is done she begins the same speech she also says every year.

"Welcome, welcome to the 75th annual Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor" I watch as she steps up to the mike to speak again, it's time for her to choose the tributes. "Ladies first" She puts her hands into the large bowl and pulls out a slip of paper, she opens it up slowly and after reading the name steps back up to the microphone to announce the female tribute. "Ember Levan"

"No" I whisper to myself. Suddenly everything has stopped and I can feel the rapid pace of my heart beating practically out of my chest.

"Well come on up" Effie's voice booms over the crowd. I make my feet move one step at a time and make my way up to the stage. Everyone's eyes are on me, everyone is watching me step up to claim my prize, death.

I look at my feet as I step up the stairs, when I make it up to where Effie stands she pulls me close to her, I can smell the sweet scent of her expensive perfume and it makes me feel sick.

"Let us all clap for our courageous female tribute" Effie's voice booms out into a now silent crowd. No one claps. Instead they all raise their three fingers, it's how we say goodbye. Effie looks a little shaken by this and looks around, we all watched how dangerous this symbol was during the tour, people died over this. When peacekeepers don't charge in to stop this she continues. Without skipping a beat she steps over to the other bowl to pull the name of who will either be my ally, or my enemy.

I look around to my left and can't help but see the relieved face of Katniss, it wasn't her sister's name this time, she can breathe again. I can also see the sadness that is creeping to the surface, I look to Peeta and see the sympathy in his face. I watch as his grip on her hand tighten, they both need each other, they are both keeping each other up right now.

Effie has now picked a card and is ready to announce the male tributes name. "Ash Mentra" I watch as he makes his way through the crowd, I know him. He is in my class, he is my age and I have even talked to him a couple of times. He walks up the stairs and I notice a sort of confidence he has, he doesn't look as scared as I know I am. He walks up and extends his hand to me and I shake it.

"Hi" It just pops out of me, it feels like the right thing to say even when I don't know quite what really to say. I might have to kill him, or he might kill me. He doesn't respond but looks away. He looks towards the crowd and I follow his lead and do the same, I see my parents and feel a pain in my heart. My mom's face is hidden by the arms of my father, I can't even see her face but already know she is crying. Effie comes over and lifts up my right hand and Ash's left. Two halves of one whole.

"This year's tributes" Effie announces while everyone's three fingers are still up in the air, there isn't a single reaction. This is really happening now. I am a tribute.

I look over to the couch that sits in the room but can't seem to sit down, I feel so trapped. I pace around the room and try to figure out what the hell I am going to do, I am going into the Hunger Games, and this is actually going to happen. The door suddenly opens and my parents walk in, a peacekeeper is behind them. "You have five minutes" He barks without taking a single step inside the room, he closes the door and is gone as swiftly as when he came. When he leaves I am painfully aware that it is now just the three of us. My mom's face is red and blotchy from the crying I know she has been doing, she pulls me into a tight hug.

"Oh my baby, my sweet sweet baby" She whispers into my hair over and over again. I can feel her hands running through my hair, undoing all the work she put in this morning to tame my long locks. My hair now falls on either side of my face, she is protecting me in the smallest way she knows how to right now. But hair is not enough of a shied for where I am going.

"Mom" It's the only word I can get out. She pulls back and brushes some of the loose strands of hair that have fallen out of place. She revels my eyes and she kisses my forehead. It is only when she stops to wipe away my tears that I realize I am crying alongside her.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry" She keeps apologizing to me as if it was her own hand that pulled my name out of the bowl up there.

"What do you have to be sorry for?" It sounds so stupid once I hear the words echo back but I truly couldn't think of anything else to say. It really does baffle me that all she can do is apologize right now.

"That I couldn't protect you" She pulls me into a hug again, I look over her shoulder and lock eyes with my dad, he's crying. I have never seen my dad cry once in my life, turns out sending his little girl off to fight is the secret to his undoing. I pull away from my mom and walk over to my dad.

"Daddy" I breathe into his shirt as I hug him tightly. I can feel as he plants kisses on the top of my head, he pulls away and holds onto my arms so he can look into my eyes when he says the next things he needs to tell me.

"You need to do everything that you can to win" I look in his green eyes, an exact replica of my own stare back at me and I can see so much intensity in them it actually scares me.

"I can try" I find enough courage to say this back to him, I think he needs to hear this more than me. I know this is the only thing I can do to comfort him right now. Even if I can't win he will know I tried.

"You need to listen to your mentors, they won last year and did something we have never seen before, they can help you" He sounds so desperate as he tells me what I already know. He is holding onto so much hope that the success of the path can guide my fate.

"Okay" I can't let him down so I don't argue, I keep my own fears to myself this time.

"Make an ally, it worked for Katniss and hopefully it can keep you alive" He pulls me into hug again and my mom comes up and wraps her arms around me from behind. I am sandwiched between their warmth one last time. I know when the times comes for them to finally pull away that will be the official end of my youth.

"I love you so much" My mom repeats over and over into my hair.

"I love you too mom" I tell her, I push through my own fears and doubts to let her know one last time how much I love her.

"We will see each other again" She tells me and even though she is still wrapped around my back I just nod my head so she can feel my agreement, I can't say aloud promises that I can't be sure I can keep. There is a knock at the door and I don't have to turn around to know he has walked fully into the door this time.

"It's time to go" He shouts, I can feel my parents bodies tense up as the sound of his voice. They both finally let go but my mom comes back for seconds as she hugs me real quick for one final time before being lead out the room. I will never be able to forget the looks on their faces.

The door closes and I'm left alone, I feel the material of my dress between my fingers and try and calm myself down, I have to look strong when I go out there, I can't let them think I am weak or an easy target. Soon another peacekeeper comes in and leads me to Effie Trinket, she is already waiting there with Ash. I guess it was a quick goodbye with his family too. I try and study his face to find any hint of emotion, but all I see in those brown eyes of his is calmness. He is completely together, suddenly I am worried that he will be able to tell that I was crying. I wipe my face one last time self-consciously as we walk to the train We get on and instantly I am stunned, everything looks so luxurious. There is fine furniture that looks so comfortable to the touch even from afar. There are tables filled with food, more food that I have ever seen in my life. Everything looks so good, I have never gone hungry in the same ways other families have, we were one of the lucky ones in district 12 but I can feel my stomach become its own person at the sight before us.

"Wow" I just let it slip out, like word vomit all over again. I can't seem to get a hold of myself but I guess I have at least a valid excuses today.

"Isn't it just fantastic? Everything is from the Capitol" Effie has literal glee in her voice, she is so boisterous and bright up close and I can tell she is living for our reactions to all this glamor. Maybe that is what helps her get through days like this, knowing we will be greeted with so much wealth in what may be the last few weeks of our lives.

"So where are Katniss and Peeta?" This is the first time I have heard Ash speak, his voice is steady and confident, I guess that wasn't just a show for everyone and must just be who he is. I don't let that distract me from the fact how weird it feels right now to be meeting him under these circumstances. Especially since I already kind of know him.

"They should be joining you soon, you two just enjoy yourselves for right now" Effie says then swiftly disappears into one of the other train compartments leaving Ash and I alone together. I sit on a couch and look at the window, Ash sits down beside me.

"Hi" The calmness of his voice starlets me for a second but when I look at him I am greeted by his smiling face. Maybe my dad was right, I can make some allies. What better way to start is than with my fellow district 12 tribute, it worked out for Katniss last year after all.

"Hi" I say back to him and return the smile.

"Sorry if you thought I was kind of standoffish at the reaping, I just was a little in shock about everything" He confesses to me, I guess I can add honesty to his ever growing list of attributes.

"That's okay, I didn't take it too personally" I mean it when I tell him that, I never thought once he was purposely antagonizing me, it has been a hard day for everyone. "I couldn't have guessed you were in shock at all" I add in to reassure him I took notice of his composure and to thank him for his honesty, he didn't have to be vulnerable with me right now. He doesn't have to be vulnerable with me at all if he didn't want to. I take this as a sign of him being a trustworthy person, and therefore a trustworthy ally.

"Well I was, I never really thought it would ever happen to me I guess. Next year would have been my last year of being entered" He is no longer facing me when he says this, his eyes divert to the window and he aimlessly stares out, anything to avoid my eyes. I also don't take this too personally.

"Me too" I let him know we share a deep sadness and anguish about what transpired today. We are already bonding.

"I was really hoping that we could work together and that we can stick together. I really think this is our best chance of surviving" I am so relieved to hear him say all this. He wants to work together. That means I have at least one ally right now, and maybe even a friend.

"I think it's a good idea, so we agree that we need to stick together no matter what?" While I am relieved to hear he agrees with me and we are seemingly on the same page I still call his bluff. If I didn't put it out there that this wasn't a deal to stay friends while we are living in the lap of luxury, that this deal doesn't expire the moment we jump off those platforms and it suddenly is everyone for themselves.

"Yes" He reassures me, I can hear the sincerity in his voice and I believe him.

"Good" I smile at him but my attention leaves his face when I hear a compartment door opening. Katniss and Peeta walk in and I can instantly tell from Katniss' face that she has been crying a little bit today as well. I know it must be hard leaving her family again. I push the thoughts of family out of my head as soon as they come into it. I don't think I could bear to think of my own right now.

"Hi, I'm Peeta" He introduces himself to us both while Katniss stays quiet by his side.

"I'm Ember" I reach my hand out to shake Peeta's as I greet him.

"And I'm Ash" Ash follows my lead and reaches out to also shake Peeta's hand. Neither of us reach out to Katniss. I wonder if Ash can read her face the same way I did.

"It's nice to meet you both, not under the circumstances but me and Katniss are going to do everything we can to help both of you" Peeta smiles warmly at us and I can instantly tell why Katniss fell so hard for him, he has this calming presence about him.

"Thank you" I tell him and hope he knows how much his kindness means to me. I can already tell that Peeta is sweet, I believe he will do everything he can for us. That he isn't just making empty promises to ease any of the tension of the entire situation.

"How old are you two?" This is the first time Katniss has spoken and her voice is strong, it sounds a little different in person compared to on the screens. If it wasn't for the slight tint of red under her eyes I wouldn't have been able to tell by how she speaks that she is having a difficult time right now.

"We're both 17" Ash answers for us both, Katniss puts her hand up to her chest like it is a reflex to Ash's answer. I can't help but take notice yet again of her engagement ring.

"So are we" Katniss chokes out, a little less strength in her voice this time. It really puts into perspective how alike we all are. In much different circumstances we would have all gotten together waiting outside school, instead we are on a train heading straight first into our shared destiny. Katniss and Peeta are our age and have already won a Hunger Games and now are about to get married. They always seem so much older looking up at them on a screen. Never kids just like us. But maybe that's the secret of the games, Ash and I must not be kids anymore either.

"Well why don't we have something to eat and then we can talk about some strategy" Peeta burst the bubble of our shared gloom and brings a freshness back to the air just by being himself. I am already thankful we have him as our mentor.

"Okay" One of us speaks as we all head off to the dining table. I can feel my head spinning, everything really is happening so fast. Just an hour ago I was reaped, became a tribute and now we are about to start talking strategy with our mentors. I try to burry deep down the person I used to be before I stepped foot on this train, I have to leave that all behind. We are not in district 12 anymore, we will be in the Capitol soon. The train keeps us in a constant motion as a reminder there is no escape from this. The games will begin and I will be forced to find out just how good I am.