• •
  The sun is blazing over District 12. Everyone's in their best clothes, standing in rows, trying not to breathe too loud. Effie Trinket is on stage, all pink hair and fake smiles.

"Ladies first!" she chirps, reaching into the girls' bowl.

I don't even hear my name at first. I just hear my little sister scream it. Then I hear it echo over the speakers. My own name. My own voice in my head saying "no, no, no."

I walk to the front. My legs feel like they're not mine. I can't look back. I can't look at my sister. My mom wouldn't leave her. She wouldn't. I know that. So I just... walk.

I see Katniss in the crowd of past victors. She signed up to be a mentor this year. Safe. Only for this year, though. Next year, she'll have to decide again. That's the new rule the Capitol made. Keeps us "fair." Keeps us scared.

Then Effie reaches into the boys' bowl. She pulls out a name. Her face goes white. She doesn't even have to read it.

"Peeta Mellark."

The crowd gasps. Katniss's face goes pale. She knows what this means. Peeta didn't sign up to be safe this year. And now he's paying for it.

Then I hear his voice boom over the speakers. Not from the stage — from the crowd.

"Wow. Very original, Capitol," he mutters.

He walks up. His face is white. Pale as flour. Pun intended. He doesn't look at Katniss. He doesn't look at me. He just stares straight ahead like he's already in the arena.

So this is happening. Again.

The 76th Hunger Games. And we're all in it.

We're in the Capitol now. Everything is shiny and loud and smells like fake flowers. The tribute tower is huge. We've got our own floor — me, Peeta, Katniss, and Haymitch. It's weird being here with them. Katniss won this place last year. Peeta too. And now they're back. Except this time, Katniss is a mentor. Safe. Peeta's a tribute. Again.

I'm sitting on the couch, picking at the fancy Capitol food that tastes like nothing. Peeta's by the window, staring out at the city. Katniss is pacing. Haymitch is drinking.

"So," I say, breaking the silence. "What are we gonna do now that there's pretty much, like, three tributes here?"

Katniss stops pacing. Peeta looks at me. Haymitch snorts into his glass.

"Three?" Katniss says. "There's two. You and Peeta."

"Yeah, but you're basically a tribute too," I say. "You won. You're a victor. You're still in the system. You're just... safe. For now."

Katniss doesn't say anything. She just looks at me. And for a second, I swear I see something in her eyes. Something scared.

Then the TV turns on by itself. Caesar Flickerman's face fills the screen. He's smiling. He's always smiling.

"Breaking news from the Capitol," he says. "A tribute from District 1 has unfortunately passed. We are asking for a mentor to take her place. Volunteers?"

Nobody moves. Nobody breathes. Haymitch sets down his glass. Peeta turns from the window. Katniss just stands there.

"Volunteers?" Caesar repeats.

Silence.

Then Katniss blinks. "Wait — what?"

She didn't hear it. She was in the bathroom. She was thinking about something else. She wasn't listening.

And the Capitol takes that as a yes.*