Or So I Thought Chapter 1: Prologue, a hunger games fanfic

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Katniss. Happy Birthday to you!"

I close my eyes and blow out the flickering candles in front of me. I push away thoughts of another fire and another place. A place filled with screaming as the careers discovered a girl who was just trying to get warm.

My eyes flash open, I shudder a bit as Gale and Peeta standing side by side come into focus. My sister Prim not far from them. My mother was still inside, recovering from the stress that the games had put upon her. I'm not sure she'll ever be the same.

A skeletal Victor's Village surrounds me. Empty but for three occupied houses. Peeta, Haymitch, and me. The only survivors from district 12 in the 74 years of the hunger games. The odds are never exactly in our favor. Doomed to be scantily clad miners during the tribute parade. Outsiders in the arena they shove us into each year. My skills and Cienna saved me from this. Surrounded with fire, Peeta and I were displayed to a crowd that loved every minute of it. There were sponsers lining up from that moment on. For me at least.

Peeta was not as lucky. Smart, but expendable. Or so everyone thought. Joining the careers was the move that started and nearly ended the games for him. He had no choice to but to hide, until I found him. From then on the games were sealed and we won together. But the happily ever after didn't last. Today, my birthday. Tomorrow, the Victory Tour.

Yes, yes. Huge parties, all for Peeta and I. We, 'earned it' as Effie says. Earned it by killing and hiding, betraying and lying.

The stylists call and I stand up to go. No time to celebrate today. Today begins the rest of my life, endlessly riding that train.

Or So I Thought.

A/N: I've already seen Catching Fire twice and I just had to start writing this. This is just a preview so stay tuned for more! It should be coming, real soon.