A/N: It's been a long time since I've written anything, even my own personal stories. This is the first time I've written fanfiction since… a while. But I hope you enjoy this story. It's definitely set in an AU. Pain and heartbreak is coming, I promise. Enjoy.

Chapter One: Bells

Katniss awoke that Sunday at noon to the all too familiar sound of the bells tolling. Her infant, Rye, cried from the next room, and her young daughter Willow dipped under the covers quickly. Katniss confusedly sat up, her hands shaking with memories of what these bells meant in the past. But not now; they couldn't mean the same thing that they always did. That time was past: the starvation gone, the people safe, the fences lowered. There was no way she could breathe still if it wasn't. She'd be long dead if this had all been a dream. It hadn't. It was real; the scars on her face and body proved that.

"No, not yet mama, I'm still so sleepy." said Willow quietly. Her blonde curls peeked out from under the covers. Katniss nodded slowly; she patted her daughter's head, rising from her bed and following the sound to the window. Haymitch stepped out onto his porch, looking around. He beckoned to her upon seeing her face through the curtains. She stepped away from her window, walking to the door and around the corner into Rye's room. She hushed him gently, for just a moment, rocking his crib backwards and forwards. She walked away, down the stairs, looking for Peeta. Where is that son-of-a-bitch? Thought Katniss to herself. She started to worry, hands shaking harder. She opened the front door after looking into the dead house. She watched, the scattered remains of District 12 walking slowly onto their porches, into their yards. Victor's Village was no longer the empty partial town it had been before the war; it was full of life and color. But today the color seemed to dissipate before Katniss' eyes, and she walked across the colorless path to Haymitch. He met her half way, a deep frown etched into his already lined face. He was still striking, even in age.

"Where's Peeta?" asked Katniss, voice trembling in fear. "What's going on? Why are the bells ringing again?" Haymitch motioned towards Greasy Sae's house.

"He went to get breakfast from Sae's daughter for you, Katniss. Happy birthday, by the way, sweetheart." He said, quickly. "But there are more pressing matters than your dutiful husbands location." Katniss nodded, wrapping her arms around herself in her familiar way. She was nodding a lot – it was all she could do, her voice trapped in her throat by the fear of what the bells were to bring.

"W-what…" said Katniss, stuttering. She cleared her throat, starting over. "What's going on, Haymitch?" Why are they ringing the bells again?" It was Haymitch this time who shook his head. He put a hand on Katniss' shoulder, nodding towards the house. She let him guide her into her neatly manicured yard and up her carpeted stairs. She ran upstairs to retrieve a freshly wailing Rye. Peeta walked through the front door as she walked down the stairs. His pupils were huge, and he clenched his hands tightly into fists. He walked straight to Haymitch, looking him dead in the face.

"Restrain. Me." He said through gritted teeth. Haymitch gripped Peeta as tightly as he could, wrapping his strong arms around him. "I'll rip President Paylor's head off," he continued into Haymitch's shoulder. "I thought this was over, with Snow's death; I thought this was over with Coin's death; I thought this was why you killed her: To never have this again."

It finally dawned on the other two what was going on. It had been 24 years since the war. It had been 25 years… since… the 75th Hunger Games.

"NO!" screamed Katniss. She clutched her child to her, panic bubbling in her throat. "NO! It CAN'T be!" Peeta shook his head, stepping out of Haymitch's arms. He had returned almost to normal.

"But it is. It was on the television at Sissy's place while I was trying to get you breakfast." He said, anger boiling on his tone.

"Peeta…" Haymitch trailed off. "Why is this happening?" his voice alone hurt Katniss.

"Punishment." Said a voice from behind the three. Gale Hawthorn stood in their doorway. He limped through the front door, obviously badly beaten and on the verge of collapsing. Katniss hurried to Peeta, handing him Rye and grabbing a chair from the dining room table. She pushed it towards him as he walked into the room. He sat down hard, and she looked at him carefully.

"What do you mean?" she said. She looked more closely at the damage done to Gale. His left eye was limp, drooping in his face. The socket and cheekbone looked broken, and she touched gently around the area. He winced, and she pulled away for only a moment. "Gale?" she repeated his name, feeling it against her tongue. "Please? I know it hurts, but you have to keep going." She stood, walking into the bathroom and retrieving the first aid kit.

"Like Peeta said, the 75th Hunger Games, the third quarter quell…" he paused again, hissing in pain as Katniss reaffirmed her initial thought that his cheekbone was broken. "It was the catalyst for all of this, right?" They all nodded, still slightly confused. "Well, from my understanding, especially from living in Two, they, the Capital, expected it. All of it. And they let it happen so they could exact THIS revenge. The President… She was murdered. Two days ago. I was only just able to get out of Two before the police state broke out. It's happening all over again, Katniss." He paused for a heavyhearted breath. "There was never any stopping them."

Tears rolled down Katniss' face as she did her best to set and seal the bones in Gale's face.

"So…" said Haymitch and Peeta together.

"So we sit back and watch as more children are reaped, again and again, and the Capital takes all its spoils, and your family is executed." Said Gale. "Along with me, all of 13, my family, Haymitch, and any surviving victor for that matter." He finished, looking dismal.

"Turn on the television, Peeta." Said Katniss, not looking at him. She could barely breathe, hands shaking hard with the effort of staying composed enough to finish with Gales face. The television flickered to life, not having been used in almost 25 years. The seal of the Capital surrounded by the seal of each district flashed on the screen. A face faded into view, and Peeta gasped. Haymitch clutched him, hands grasping his shoulders tighter than ever.

"Hello," said a booming mans voice. "Your president has had an… unfortunate accident. President Paylor, as of a few days ago, is no longer with us." Katniss turned: the voice sounded familiar to her, but it couldn't be. She screamed, pointing at the screen. She stumbled back into Gale, and he held her to him as she sobbed painfully. He stood, squeezing her shaking body into his chest, trying to quiet her so they could all hear. The man's face was snaky, just like his fathers. It was Snow, but it wasn't Snow. "I will now be taking over, just like my dear old Dad. Happy Hunger Games, my friends." The snake faced man smiled. "And may the odds be… so ever in your favor."