The Hanging Tree

The somber mood is exclusive to those on the stage when the highlights of the Hunger Games begin to roll. As the lights dim, and Peeta takes a deep breath to steady himself, we both find ourselves wishing we were anywhere but here. The first thing we see is Effie pulling Prim's name out of the bowl, and then me volunteering. Peeta begins to tremble. I squeeze his hand harder, and I begin to quietly hum. My mother would actually have a heart attack if she heard me singing this on a Capitol stage, in front of all of Panem, but she can't hear me.

"Are you, are you,
Coming to the tree
Where they strung up a man they say who murdered three
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight in the hanging tree."

(Alternative ending to The Hunger Games)