The ripping, tearing, screaming… it was so vivid in my mind. Her eyes flashed once in the darkness.. and then I awoke screaming.

But there weren't any arms to comfort me… not tonight. I had closed myself off from him.. Afraid to let myself love.

I rose from my bed, my clothes damp across my frail body… After Prim's death I stopped functioning. She, my little duck…. taken from me so quickly.

I think that was one of the reason's I was afraid to love… everyone I had loved for so long was taken from me. Prim, Finnick, even Boggs. I loved them all in their own special way, and now they were gone.

I walked down the stairs, they creaked slightly under my weight and made my way to the kitchen. It was still such a luxury for me to make a warm kettle of tea using our stove.

I pushed the window curtain to the side and saw that the light in Peeta's house was still blazing.

What time could it be? At least after midnight.. yet he was awake.

I quickly brushed the thought of Peeta staying up late because he was with another woman out of my mind.

He wasn't ready for that, still had enough of a problem believing that in his life in District 12 wasn't a lie.

That our relationship wasn't a lie.

I poured myself a hot cup and settled into the hard wooden chair. I glanced up when I noticed that the light in Peeta's house had gone dark.

Suddenly I felt something rise up in me, the need not to feel alone… mainly I was afraid to go back to bed.. afraid that I would be haunted by Rue's eyes.

I walked silently to the door and slid on a pair of slippers.

Closing the door behind me, I walked across the crunchy grass, pulling my robe tighter against me.

I stood outside of Peeta's house staring at the doorknob.

What had come over me?

I wanted to go in, but was afraid.

When did the girl on fire become afraid?

I stood there for what seemed like hours, although I'm sure it was just minutes before I gained the courage to put my hand on the cold copper knob.

I turned it slightly, and almost laughed out loud when I discovered it was unlocked.

It was almost like he was asking me to come… that or he didn't care if anyone in District 12 broke into his house.

I slid silently into the dark house—suddenly feeling like a burglar.

I had been in Peeta's house thousands of times, and the layout was very similar to mine.

I knew he would probably be upstairs, so I climbed as quietly as possible to the top.

When I reached the top of his stairs I noticed the door to his bedroom was open.

Staring at me from the windowsill in his bedroom was a pair of intense blue eyes.

"Katniss?"