I back up in fear and shock and immediately blend into the trees. My eyes widen as I realise why this has happened.

Thread's suspected me from the beginning. So why not light the fence up with electric current then trap me inside the woods, conveniently walking past it at some point to apprehend me.

I try to calm down, for I've been shaking for a minute, but I don't know what to do.

This has happened before, it's not unusual. But usually Gale and Katniss knew what to do. Normally, we would just find a nice tree to rest in until it turned off. Which it always did eventually. Prim and Rory even got into the habit of checking the fence, to save our mothers some worry.

However, now, this is a problem. Because (a) I've taken deliberate steps to mislead my family into thinking I'm not here, (b) if Thread has turned the electricity on deliberately, it likely won't turn off any time soon and (c) I don't live near the Seam anymore.

So I need to tackle this fence. And soon. Because if I don't show up, my family will worry and Thread will have me arrested.

I know I can't get under it without baking myself good and proper, so I'll have to get over it.

I begin to look up, trying to find a tree with a good branch to climb over it. Finally I find a sturdy oak and shimmy up it. When I get onto the branch, I see why Gale, Katniss and I always tried to wait it out. To be high enough to avoid getting fried, you have to be about twenty feet in the air. My branch must be twenty five.

I start to slowly walk along it until I'm level with a patch of snow that will hopefully soften my landing.

Very slowly, I sit down, then drop to just my hands. Hanging there regretting my life, I closed my eyes and tried to gather the courage that Austin said I have. I don't want to think about him right now, but somehow, that's when he always comes to me.

I take a deep breath. Then, very reluctantly, I release my hands and drop.

I don't feel anything until I get to the snow, thumping several places in my body all at once. I'm hoping for bruises, but after I move it's pretty certain that my tailbone is broken and my ankle is sprained.

Despite this, I force myself to walk normally (even though it's killing me) and I walk to the square.

My mother and my siblings can't know I was in the woods. I have to work up an alibi, however thin, to try and help my story.

I decide to tell them that I was speaking to someone at the Hob about trying to get Prim's goat, Lady, pregnant, because I wanted to surprise her and she was talking to me about it earlier.

I also go into a shop and buy a packet of peppermints. I'll just tell her that I was walking around the square, handing out food the rest of the day.

I arrive at the Victor's Village, sore and sorry. I'm close to tears, but I can't show it.

I walk up to my house and open the door, but I don't expect to see two peacekeepers, a man and a woman, standing at my door. The woman's face remains impassive, but I swear I see a flicker of surprise on the man's.

Behind them, I see my mother, Mrs Everdeen, Gale, Rory, Vick, Posy, Prim, Katniss, Austin and Haymitch. All eyes are trained on me.

"Hello," I say, acting surprised.

"Hi, love, you're just in time for dinner!" My mother says, coming forward. I try to stop looking surprised. Because, in fact, I'm very late for dinner.

"Can I help you with something?" I ask the peacekeepers.

"Head peacekeeper Thread sent us with a message for you," the woman says sternly.

"They've been waiting for hours," Rory says, and eye roll in his voice.

They've been waiting for me to fail to return. To know that I'm stuck in the woods and to take all my loved ones and family in for questioning. Is that why the Everdeens, Austin and Haymitch are here?

"Must be an important message," I say, a small smile on my face.

"May I ask where you've been, Miss Everdeen?" The woman continues.

"Easier to ask where I haven't been," I say, taking off my jacket, scarf and (with the absence of any empty seats) sitting on the arm of the chair Rory's sitting on.

"So where haven't you been?" Haymitch asks.

I sigh. "Well, I was going to try and get Prim's goat pregnant, as she was telling me about yesterday, but somebody," I turn to Rory, who told me where the vet lived, "gave me completely inaccurate information as to where he lives."

"I said he lives next to the east entrance to the mine," Rory fights back.

"No, you said west, because I asked if it was next to the slag heap and you said yes."

"The slag heap next to the east entrance."

"No, when did you say that?" I ask.

"Last night," Haymitch rolls his eyes.

"Rory definitely said east," Austin jumps in. "I was there too. You just don't listen when people speak to you."

I restrain my urge to swear at him. Why is he even talking? This isn't any of his business.

"Bet people told you he didn't live there today and you ignored them as well," Haymitch's teases.

"Shut up, Haymitch," I mutter boredly.

"What's in the bag, Miss Hawthorne?" I had forgotten the peacekeepers were there.

I know she's hoping for game or plants, but if she is, she's going to be sorely disappointed. I take the peppermints out the bag. "See for yourself."

"Ooh, sweets!" Prim, who I'm surprised has kept quiet this whole time, takes the peppermints and she and Rory stuff ones into their mouths. They then pass the bad to Austin and Haymitch, who also take some.

I bite my lip and turn to the peacekeepers. "You came with a message?"

"From head peacekeeper Thread," the woman says. "He asked us to tell you that the fence around District Twelve will now have full electricity twenty four hours a day."

"Didn't it already?" I ask a bit too innocently.

"Good day, Miss Hawthorne," they say in sync, turning round and exiting the house.

I turn around to all the people I love.
Even without the woods story, this was going to be a long explanation.

☘︎☘︎☘︎

The next day, we all sit down at the TV to hear the announcement of the Quarter Quell. As I mentioned previously, the Quell games have one special rule, and today was the reading of the card. AKA, the rule getting announced.

I'm slightly scared because, whatever it is, I have to go to the Capitol with Haymitch and Austin and mentor the two kids that have been reaped. I won't be doing the proper mentoring (I'm too young) but I still have to go with them.

Which means I'm going to have to hug, kiss, and be all over Austin again. Which is just what I need.

Anyway, I turn back to the TV as President Snow steps out, all dressed in white, complete with white rose, and with a small box of about five cards. He picks out the one closest to the front and addresses the crowd.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the seventy fifth year, of the Hunger Games! And it was decreed in the charter of the Games, that every twenty five years, there would be a Quarter Quell, to keep fresh, the memory of those who died in the uprising against the Capitol. Each Quarter Quell, is distinguished by Games of a special significance.

"And now, on this, the seventy fifth anniversary of our defeat of the rebellion, we celebrate the third Quarter Quell," he takes a deep breath and reads the card. "As a reminder, that not even the strongest can overcome the power of the Capitol, the tributes, will be reaped, from their existing pool of victors in each District."

My mother, Gale, Rory and Vick gasp. Posy and I remain oblivious, staring at the TV. My mother starts to cry and my three brothers look at me and then the TV in shock and disgust.

Then in an instant I understand... existing pool of victors... District Twelve only has three living victors... two male, one female...

I'm going back into that arena.

☘︎☘︎☘︎

In an instant, I'm running out the house. Where to go? The woods, of course. I'm at the fence before I realise that it's on. I'm trapped. I run back to the Victor's Village, opening a door of one of the unowned houses and running down to the basement.

I sit there crying for a time I do not know. I can't believe I'm going back into the arena. How can I? This is obviously not a coincidence. This can't be the card that was written seventy five years ago when the Games were initiated. If President Snow wanted an excuse to kill me, he sure has one now...

This also means that I'm going into the arena with either Austin or Haymitch. Austin or Haymitch!

In a second, I jump up and scramble out the basement. There's no situation I'd ever be put in where I'd ever kill Austin or Haymitch, but I certainly know how I want the reaping to go...

I hate to say it, but I don't want Austin to die. I don't care whether I live or die, but he has to stay alive.

It surprises me that I'm so scared to think about him dying.

And then another thing...

If Haymitch is called, Austin will surely volunteer for sure. As a way to go in and protect me. But if Austin's name is called...

I run through Haymitch's door, skidding to a halt just before he sees me.

He laughs as I come in. "There she is, all tuckered out. Finally did the math, did you, sweetheart? And you've come to ask me to... die?"

"Fuck off, Haymitch, I'm here to drink," I say impulsively. I'm not giving him the satisfaction.

"Oh, finally something I can help you with," he jokes, handing me the bottle in his hand. I take a swig. The liquor is awful but once it goes down, it feels like fire and I like it.

Haymitch looks up. "What's it say that, Austin was here forty five minutes ago begging to save your life and you only just now show up?"

"It means we have to save him," I say in a low voice. I'm going to ask Haymitch to help Austin. Volunteer if he gets reaped. To save him and let me die.

"You could live a thousand lifetimes and still be out of that boy's reach," Haymitch sits back in his seat. "Fortunately, he, for whatever reasons, chose you."

"Well, I didn't ask him to," I snap, a shiver running through me as I remember the words of our argument...

"Why do you hate me so much, Willow?"

"Because you love me!"

"Okay, so he's besotted and you're..." Haymitch raises his eyebrows.

"Come on, Haymitch," I laugh spitefully. "No body decent ever wins the Games."

"No body ever wins the games, full stop," Haymitch says. He lowers his voice. "There are survivors, but there are no winners."

"Austin has to survive," I say. "We have to do whatever it takes to save him."

Haymitch sighs a long, heavy sigh. "Here's where I don't understand you, Willow. Austin proclaims his love, he tries to protect you, he does everything he can, and you throw it back in his face. But then now, the second - okay, well maybe not the second - but when his life is threatened, you still want me to ditch you and save him."

I digest this slowly, not wanting to answer.

"It's... complicated," I say eventually.

"Sure as hell is," chuckles Haymitch.

We sit in silence for a few minutes, drinking liquor and breathing slowly.

And then, finally, Haymitch heaves a sigh and says. "Alright, if they call his name at the reaping, I'll volunteer in his place."

"Haymitch, thank you," I say, tears springing to my eyes.

"But, if they call my name and Austin volunteers, there's nothing I can do," Haymitch checks with me.

"You can help him in the arena, like you did for me," I look down.

Haymitch turns. "I think these games are gonna be different."

"I don't care. Do whatever it takes," I make completely sure that he'll help him. "Austin lives, not me."

Haymitch nods.

Nevertheless, I don't go home entirely satisfied. I know he's promised Austin that he'll keep me alive, and I know he'll have to double cross somebody.

I just don't know who he's going to choose.