I'm so so sorry I haven't updated!! I will try to update more often I promise!! Sorry for the extreme inconvenience. I've been rushing through this chapter because I SO DESPERATELY want to get Blight in the games!! Anyway, sorry.

Emerson's POV

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I sit on the couch, wrapped in blankets like a baby. I can't believe Snow did this to us. Just for one thing I said twenty years ago. I didn't know it would cost us this.

The TV hums to life and I start.

Caesar Flickerman introduces himself, and I noticed his hair is dyed Pastel yellow this year. A big, burly kid from one stands up and joins Caesar on the couch. I whimper a little as I realize this is what my son will have to face.

I stare into space for the next few interviews, but snap back into reality when I hear his name.

"Blight! How are you doing tonight?"

Blight walks up in a midnight blue suit shining with fake stars. He laughs. "Just fine Caesar!" They exchange some remarks about his outfit, then cut to the chase. "Blight, do you have any allies?" He asks. "Well," he blushes, "there is this one girl. Her name is Megaera."

Good. He has allies.

"The girl from One?" Caesar asks in disbelief. I stare at the TV. One? That's a career district!

"Yes. As she told you, she volunteered for her sister before the careers could."

I sigh. I don't want my son allying with a career. They start talking about other things, like the arena and training.

The phone rings.

"Hello?" I ask. Almost no one I know has a telephone. "Em- it's me, Johanna," she sniffs, "Something happened."

My stomach tightens.

"Johanna, what is it?" I ask, trying to calm my nerves. "Snow, um... He-" she takes a shaky breath, "He- he killed my parents." Her voice cracks and I can hear her crying on the end of the line.

My hand claps over my mouth and I drop the phone.

"They were hanged in the square an hour ago." A tear runs down my cheek and I start shaking.

Why any of this? Why all of this? Why everything?