This. Cannot. Be. Real.

I suddenly feel dizzy and unsteady. She's supposed to be dead! I watched! I truly thought she was. Perhaps I'm hallucinating. No. Of course not!

The Avox's hand rests on my shoulder and I look in her eyes. A single, glistening tear falls from her cheek and lands on my hand. The Capitol around me is now spinning and I feel like I might pass out.

I open my mouth to ask if it's really her, but she puts her finger over my lips. And that's when everything goes black.

~◆~

"Annabeth? Annabeth!"

I open one eye slowly to see Juniper holding a cold, wet cloth to my face. I look around and notice that I'm on the couch in the sitting room with my mentor, escort, and fellow tribute staring down at me. This isn't awkward at all.

I draw my hand to the back of my head and wince. A large lump has already formed that's quite painful to the touch.

"What happened?" I order gruffly, rubbing the throbbing mass on my head.

"You must've blacked out." Justus says as he hands me a glass of water. I gulp it down quickly, nodding my thanks to him.

"Yes." Juniper adds," You were helping some Avox-"

Then it all comes rushing back to me, everything. I half jump half fall of the couch in a wild attempt to catch up with my mother who I thought was murdered back in District Thirteen.

"Avox?! Where'd she go?" I shout, clutching the arm of the couch, trying to regain my balance.

Juniper exchanges a confused glance with my mentor. "I don't know!" She squeaked," She's an avox! How should I know?"

"Maybe you hit your head too hard." Blaze comments from the other end of the couch, in his usual cold, deep voice.

"Oh, just shut up!" I snap,"I have to find her!"

"Annabeth," Justus grabs my shoulder," It doesn't matter. She's long gone. You'll be lucky if you even see her around here again." I narrow my eyes as he continues," It really doesn't matter. She's a criminal.

I push his hand off of me forcefully, " You don't know that!" I snarl," You don't even know her, and you definitely don't know me, either!"

I storm out and push open the door to my room. I slam it shut, rattling the entire floor purposely. Holding back tears, I fall to the ground on my knees. I know what I saw, it was my mother, Scarlet Meadows. Even though I haven't seen her in almost ten years, I'd have to be blind to not recognize my own flesh and blood!

I get to my feet, about ready to get into the bed and end this awful day, but then I notice a small slip of paper sitting on the nightstand. I know that wasn't there before.

I pick it up and squint to see the writing:

Meet me on the roof at nine o' clock.
-S

I stare at the paper, my head still throbbing. The roof? How in the world am I supposed to get on the roof? And how do I know if this is just a trick? If it's my mother, really, I don't care if I get caught, I think.

Glancing at the digital clock displayed on the far wall, I see that it's already 8:45. If I'm going to do this, I need to go now.

I quietly tiptoe to my door, closing it silently on the way out. Looking both ways down the hall, I don't see anyone. I scamper to the left, hoping there's an access to the roof there. Luckily, there is.

I open the door to the outside, tensing as it squeaks, and bound up the spiral staircase. Passing through a second door, I'm outside. A cool breeze blows, causing a cluster of wind chimes to rattle.

I look around, and spot my mother sitting near the chimes. I run over to her, unable to stop myself, and leap into her outstretched arms. We sit there for a while, embracing each other, until I pull away.

"I-I thought you were dead!" I stutter, blinking back tears," For all these years all of us thought you were dead!"

She strokes my hair, comforting me. I'm waiting for her to respond until I realize something sickening. She has no tongue. The Capitol cut it out. She will never be able to speak again.

"Y-You can't talk?" I ask, already knowing the answer. She shakes her head, then pulls out a piece of paper and a pen. I guess this is the only way we can communicate now.

I sigh, still unable to believe what has happened the past days: I'm reaped for the Hunger Games, with my best friend. It's revealed that my mentor won the Hunger Games. And now, my mother, who I thought was killed by Capitol bombings, is sitting next to me before I go in to the Hunger Games. This is undoubtedly, the longest week in my life, and most likely my last.

Mother taps me on the shoulder, pointing to her writing on the paper:

I can't stay long, but I had to see you.

I nod, "Me too." Reality sets in and I realize that in three days, I'm most likely going to die. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm.

You can win, Annabeth, I know you can, Mother writes, silencing my horrified thoughts temporarily.

She's probably just saying that because she's my mother.

I shake my head," No. I can't. I'll be dead in the first few seconds. I'm the smallest one here."

But you'll have Spruce too.

I clench my teeth," That's another problem. There can only be one victor."

I guess she doesn't have any comforting words to top that because all she does is rest her hand on my shoulder. She kisses my on the cheek and points to her writing one last time, I love you.

"I love you too, Mother," I whisper as I get to my feet. She wipes away tears and begins to walk towards the exit. I stare after her, wishing with all my heart I could stay with her and not have to go into the Games. That'll never happen.

~◇~

I gently shut my door and slide into the large bed. I pull the covers over my head and close my eyes. I'm praying for good dreams tonight, but the opposite occurs. All I can think about is my first day of training tomorrow and the Games.

When sleep finally does come, it's filled with my own screams and cries as I'm slaughtered on live television...
~◇~

"Wake up, Annabeth!" Juniper's usual preppy voice sounds as she pounds on the door.

I wake up with a jolt; actually pleased that she woke me today, dragging me out of my horrid nightmares.

"Yeah?" I mumble tiredly.

"It's your first day of training! You don't want to be late!" She replies, acting like last night's "debate" never happened, " Breakfast is waiting."

At the mention of food, I'm wide awake. I hop out of bed and scamper to the bathroom and splash some cold water on my face. As I walk out, there's an outfit waiting for me on my bed: Skin tight black pants, a short-sleeved matching shirt with the number 12 on the back, and flexible running shoes.

After I get dressed, I fly down the hall towards the wonderful smelling food.

Everyone is already seated, helping themselves to some buttered biscuits, fresh fruit, and these so-called "pancakes" smothered with syrup. It all sounds delicious to me, so I sit down and fill my plate until it's no longer visible underneath all of the food.

As I stuff an entire pancake in my mouth, I look around. Perhaps Mother will be serving at our table!

But of course, she's not.

"We're leaving in five minutes, so hurry and finish eating. " Juniper orders as she wrinkles her nose, spotting me licking syrup with my hands.

Adding my final touch, I lick the plate clean.

Justus looks at a golden watch on his wrist,"Almost ten o'clock! You guys have to get going!"

Juniper looks like she might faint as she runs around, demanding that we hurry and not be late.

I roll my eyes as she pulls a strand of hair behind my ear. "You want to at least look presentable!" She gushes in her stupid accent.

I hold back a retort as she grabs both Blaze's and my wrist and nearly throws us into the elevator in a unsuccessful attempt to "be on time".
Finally, the elevator door opens with a ding and we step out into Training Center floor.

I can't help but cringe under the gazes of the twenty two other tributes- the tributes who will soon be cast into an arena to fight to the death.