"Welcome citizens of district 12!" Anita calls out, "This is a special year! Our first Hunger Games in thirty years I know you are all anxious to see who your tributes will be!"

People did this every year? Twenty-three kids died and one came out? My parents told me about it a few years ago. They were in it. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. The last victors. I never thought I would be the one in the reaping. I'm only fourteen though. My name won't get drawn. Neither will my twelve year old brother's.

"Ladies first!" Anita says all too excitedly. "Lily Mellark!"

Before I can react, a voice screams out, "NO!" I see my mother jumping over the ropes the spectators are behind. "NO! She can't go!" She yells. There is a flicker of recognition on Anita's face, and then a flash of pain. I don't even know what to do. How did she find my name out of thousands?

As I slowly make my way to the stage, trying to look brave, I see peacekeepers holding my mother back. She is screaming things I can't repeat at everyone and everything. This has to be a dream. I know I'm going to wake up soon. I know I will.

But I have no such luck.

"Well, isn't this exciting! The child of two victors! You must be a real fighter!" Anita says. I wish she was right.

"THIS IS RIGGED!" mom yells as the peacekeepers drag her away.

"Now for the boys!" Anita says. She's obviously trying to keep her professionalism unbroken. Before she reads the name on the paper, she gives a quick look of shock, but quickly wipes it off. It can't be…

"Orion Mellark!"

No, no, no. Not my brother. Not my brother. He can't fight. He can't die. Anyone but my brother.

Orion walks up onto the stage in tears. His gray eyes filled with pain and fear. Gasps of shock go through the crowd. They don't approve of us being chosen. I wonder what the Capitol thinks of this. They're going to love it. I hate them already.

"Let's have a round of applause for our tributes, Lily and Orion Mellark!" Anita exclaims, but no one claps. There is a look of shock and... anger on everyone's faces. "G-go on you two, shake hands!" Orion and I shake hands. I give his hand a reassuring squeeze. He smiles weakly, but it doesn't go to his eyes. I wonder if I will ever see his real smile again.

We are guided to the justice building. I've been there many times with my mom and dad for dinners and special events, but I never thought I'd be here to say goodbye to my family before I go to the very place that nearly killed them, and then left them with never ending nightmares and flashbacks. Will I be like that if I come home? I won't come home though. I'm getting Orion home.

Unfortunately, since my parents are my mentors, they can't visit me, but our good friend Haymitch is the first person to visit me. He may be a drunk, but he's like the Grandpa I'll never have.

"Lily, I want you to know that I have faith in you. You're strong like your mom, and you have a way with words like your dad. You could win this," says Haymitch

"No I can't, Haymitch, I'm-"

"I know your mom's taught you how to use a bow. I've seen you shoot. You're just as good as she is."

"Yeah, but what good is a bow against a sword?"

"You'd be surprised. A sword can only kill at close range; a bow can kill at a distance."

"I don't want to kill people. I can't kill people. It's hard enough for me to kill a squirrel."

"You'd better learn quick,"

"Time to go," a peacekeeper says. Haymitch gives me a quick hug, encasing me in the wretched smell of white liquor.

"Stay alive," he whispers, and walks out.

Next, my best friend Gina comes in. She sits down on the couch next to me and takes my hand.

"I'm so sorry, Lily. This never should've happened," she whispers.

"It's okay. It's just Orion…" I can't bear to say anymore.

"I know, I know."

"I'm not coming back, Gina. I'm getting Orion out. Somehow I'm getting him out."

"I would do the same if one of my brothers had to go with me."

"Time's up," a peacekeeper says. I give Gina a hug, and she walks out. I know I won't have any more visitors.

Anita finally comes to get me. She has a still-teary Orion with her. I take Orion's hand and hold it tightly. I want him to know that I love him and that I'm there for him.

As soon as we step on to the train, our parents run up to us and encase us in on big group hug. Mom is still crying, but dad is keeping it together. I wish we could stay like this forever. All of us together. The train starts to move, and I pull away to get my final glimpse of my home.

Normally, the first thing tributes do is meet their mentors, but we already know them better than anyone, so we just sit on the couch until it's time for dinner. We don't say much. Dad makes feeble attempts at conversation, but nobody feels like talking. Anita finally comes in for dinner after hours.

Dinner is unlike anything I've ever tasted. Our first course is lamb stew. My mom says that it was her favorite back when she was a tribute. Orion and I both eat every bite. Then, we get a little chicken filled with orange sauce. Again, absolutely delicious, and then we get dessert, which is a pot of chocolate with a ton of things to dip into it. We have to get two more pots of chocolate because Orion and I are eating tons of it. When they take the third pot away, I realize how stuffed I am. I feel like I'm going to throw up, but it was worth it.

"Time to watch the reapings!" Anita says in her typical cheery way. We all make our way to the couch, I sit next to mom and Orion sits next to dad. Dad is holding mom's hand tightly. This is probably just as hard, if not harder for them as it is for us.

The first reaping shown is District one. The tributes are both tough looking, but neither of their name's stick. Then district two. When the girl's name, Carmen Hawthorne, is called, mom gasps.

"You don't think that's Gale's daughter do you?" she asks in disbelief.

"Yes, I do," dad says. A tear rolls down mom's cheek.

"Who's Gale?" I ask.

"He was my best friend," mom whispers, still in disbelief. I can't help but wonder why she never brought up this Gale guy before. I don't bother to question her further though. It would only make it harder on her. I turn back to the reaping, which is now at district four.

All of the other reapings pass by quickly, and only a few tributes stick with me. Carmen, from two, a boy from seven who looks like he could crush someone's skull with a squeeze of his hand, a viscous looking girl from eight, and a small, dark-skinned girl from eleven.

"Now Claudius, were there any stand-outs for you?" a yellow-haired announcer, Caesar I think was his name, says.

"I think this will be an interesting year, Caesar. Obviously, we have the children of the victors of the 74th Hunger Games from twelve; it will be interesting to see how they fare. Also, a little known fact, Elaina, from district 11, had an aunt whom many people may remember from the 74th games. Yes, her aunt, though now deceased, was none other than Rue." Claudius says. Mom gasps and walks out of the room.

"Rue was that girl, her ally," I say. I remember mom telling me about how she sung to her as she died. She, along with my dead aunt Primrose, was the inspiration for my name. Primrose, Rue, Lily, they're all flowers.

"Yes, she was. I'll be back in a minute," dad says. He walks into their room to talk to mom.

"You two need to get to bed. You've got a big day tomorrow!" Anita says. She guides us to our rooms, and then goes to her own room. As soon as she is out of sight, Orion throws his arms around me. I feel his warm tears soaking into my shirt. What am I supposed to say? I can't tell him it's going to be okay, because it's not, saying I'm sorry means nothing, all I can do is hold him while he cries and try not to cry myself.

After about five minutes, Orion pulls away. I give him a kiss and send him into his room. Then I go into my room. I'm exhausted, but sleep never comes. After a while, I can't bear the confines of the bedroom and make my way to the couches where I find my mom with a box of tissues and a glass of what looks like milk.

"Couldn't sleep?" I ask. She snaps her head around. I guess she didn't hear me come in.

"No," she says. I sit down next to her and she puts her arm around me and holds me tightly. I have to remind her that I have to breathe a few times.

The sound of a cup being set down is what breaks us apart. One of the servants is quietly walking away, and there's another glass of the white stuff. Mom hands it to me. It tastes delicious. It's warm, sweet, a little bit spicy, and very relaxing.

"I'm sorry, Lily," mom says.

"Don't be. Nothing you did could've prevented this," I say.

"I know, but I'm the one that should be staying strong for you, not the other way around."

"It's okay. I know this is just as hard for you as it is for me."

"How do you feel about this? Being in the games and all. Do you have any questions?"

"I do have one question. Tell me how you and dad both won again."

"Oh no, you are not going to pull something like I did with the berries. The last thing you need is the Capitol turning on you like they did me. I would rather have both of you die than have you go through what I did,"

"Maybe I could pull it off though. I mean, you and dad had to pretend to be in love to prove that you pulled out the berries as an act of love, not defiance. If I did it, people would see it as a girl trying to protect her brother."

"Whatever you do, do not try to pull something like I did. Please, Lily. Promise me you won't."

"Okay, okay, I won't."

"Are there any other things you want to know?"

"No, I'm getting sleepy. I'm going back to bed,"

Mom gives me a quick hug and a kiss, and sends me off to bed. Whatever was in that milk had a soothing effect, and it doesn't take long for sleep to find me.