After the Quarter Quell announcement, Katniss flees into the night in blind panic, tries to reach the woods, and is stopped by the electrified fence. She hides in an empty Victor's Village cellar and finally releases her terror by screaming into her shirt. As she calms, Katniss realizes the rule change was almost certainly designed to destroy her and the hope victors represent. She then understands a second consequence: either Peeta or Haymitch will be sent into the arena with her, and Peeta will almost certainly volunteer in order to protect her.

Katniss goes to Haymitch's house and finds that Peeta has already asked Haymitch to let him take Haymitch's place if possible. Drunk and bitter, Haymitch talks through the logic of who should go, and Katniss is ashamed that while she was consumed by fear, Peeta was thinking about saving her. Katniss then states what she really wants from Haymitch: if she and Peeta end up in the arena together, they must focus on keeping Peeta alive, because Katniss believes the Capitol has marked her for death anyway. Haymitch, pained by the request, finally agrees.

When Katniss returns home, Gale says they should have run away when she first suggested it, but Katniss rejects the idea because fleeing would endanger her family and she now feels responsible for Peeta as well. The next day, hungover and injured from breaking a window, Katniss breaks down in front of her mother and Prim instead of pretending to be strong. Their care steadies her. Later, Katniss visits Haymitch and Peeta arrives to announce that he has poured out all the liquor and cut off their supply, because he refuses to let his team enter the Games unprepared.

Peeta takes control of the situation by insisting that one mentor and one victor will return home, and he pushes Katniss and Haymitch into a disciplined training plan. Over the following days, they study the surviving victors' past Games, learn their likely opponents, exercise, practice weapons and combat, and try to build strength like Career tributes. Haymitch struggles because years of drinking have damaged him, but Katniss and Peeta improve quickly. Prim helps treat sore muscles, Katniss's mother changes their diet, Madge brings Capitol newspapers, and even Gale helps by teaching snares. Katniss senses that Gale and Peeta have set aside some of their tension, but she deliberately avoids deep emotional discussions with Gale because she fears giving him false hope or pushing him toward open rebellion.

On reaping day, the outcome everyone expects becomes official: Katniss is the only female victor in District 12, and Haymitch's name is drawn for the men. Before Haymitch can react, Peeta volunteers to take his place. Instead of being allowed the customary farewells, Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch, and Effie are seized under a new procedure imposed by Thread, rushed straight to the train under guard, and sent away from District 12. Katniss leaves watching her home disappear, with all her good-byes unsaid.