Katniss: I guess all those hours decorating cakes paid off. Peeta: Yes, frosting. The final defence of the dying. (252)

How did Rue end up on that stage with nothing but the wind offering to take her place?

A verbal promise behind closed doors, even a statement written on paper-these could easily evaporate . . . .

Her name's Prim. She's just twelve. And I love her more than anything.

All I can think of is the emaciated bodies of children on our kitchen table as my mother prescribes what the parent's can't give. More food.

We sit in silence awhile then I blurt out the thing that's on both our minds. "How are we going to kill these people, Peeta?

I know he was desperate. That makes people do all kinds of crazy things.