This is my first ever attempt at fanfiction and it's one that has been eating away at me for ages. So here we go. Thank you for reading and above else, I hope you enjoy.

I don't own any of the characters, they belong the author of The Hunger Games Trilogy, the wonderful Suzanne Collins.

Chapter One

I'm running. Each time my left leg lands, a pain shoots from my upper thigh to the tips of my toes. Something is not quite right about this, but I can't put my finger on it.

It's not important now, anyway. Never mind the pain, I simply have to keep running. It feels as if my legs have weights attached to them and the entire forest around me seems to stretch further away the more I try to focus on moving forward.

But I cannot stop, because she's screaming. I have to find her and protect her from whatever is causing her pain.

''Katniss!'' I call out, because I can't help it. The screams become raw, I can hear blood gurgling in her throat. Panic grips me and I try to run faster, but the pain in my leg is slowing me down and as I look down on it, I see the entire left side of my pants soaked in blood. Something still seems off about it.

There are no screams now. Why is it quiet? Suddenly all I need is just to hear her scream. Just once, Katniss, for me. Let me know you're still alive.

But there's nothing.

I see someone lying on the ground about a hundred metres ahead from me and with a sinking feeling I realize it's Katniss.

Suddenly I'm beside her and repeating her name, willing with my whole being for her to open her eyes. But she's not breathing. How could she, with that wide bright red gash running straight across her throat.

I put my hand gently under her head to support it on my jacket. Her hair is drenched in slick blood that's still seeping out of the wound. My throat feels thick and it's hard to push any air through the pipes. All I manage is the broken whisper of her name, pleading her to look at me, to take a breath, to move. Anything to indicate she's still here with me.

Before I can even fully form the thought, I know she's dead. I can feel it in the deepest corners of my soul, in my heart that feels as if it has suddenly turned to ash.

I can't feel my leg anymore and the strangeness of the situation dissolves. It has actually happened. The Hunger Games have taken my life and yet somehow, I'm still breathing. I'm not sure whether my heart is still beating, though. I can't feel it in my chest anymore. My insides just feel hollow.

But a sudden warmth starts to spread across my skin the moment I think about my chest. It feels nice and it confuses me. It is blood? Has someone killed me, as well? Penetrated my heart with a spear, perhaps? I hope so. It certainly feels like I'm losing consciousness. The trees around me appear to have started to melt and my vision is slowly turning black.

I close my eyes and let myself fall.

xXx

When I land on her bed in the train, I keep my eyes closed, because I can feel her pressed against my body. She's breathing. She's here, next to me. Safe.

God, is it even possible to love someone this much? It shouldn't be, it's destructive. And it's about to destroy me.

I suddenly understand why I felt warm in the dream. She's slowly running her palm up and down my chest in a leisurely manner, as if she did it all the time. I try to keep my body relaxed, because I know she will stop the moment she realises I'm no longer asleep. I keep breathing deeply, and it's a good thing, too, because otherwise it would be nearly impossible to remain still under her touch. And I don't dare move, because I know she's doing it without really noticing.

This isn't affectionate, it's merely idleness. I have to remember that.

Still, surely I can afford myself a few moments of getting lost in the dream after waking from a nightmare.

Just as my mind starts moving Katniss's hand along a more dangerous trajectory than merely my chest, I stop myself and slowly open my eyes.

I still don't let on that I'm awake, though, and look at her for a moment.

Her eyes are staring into the darkness, and she seems lost in thought.

I put my hand over hers on my chest and her muscles tense for a second in surprise. She looks up at me and tries to twist her mouth into a smile for my benefit, but I can see her mind had been occupied with dark thoughts just moments before. I remember my nightmare and let out a slow sigh of relief and gently squeeze her hand. Katniss seems to understand. She knows my nightmares primarily revolve around losing her.

''Are you okay?'' she asks.

''I am now,'' I answer. ''Why aren't you asleep?''

''I woke up about an hour ago. Had a nightmare.'' She hesitates for a moment as if wanting to say more, but doesn't. She rests her head back on my shoulder and I kiss the top of her head.

We lay there like this for a while. I revel in every breath that she takes, knowing these are the last moments with her safely in my arms. Soon we'll be thrown back into the arena.

Suddenly, the train jolts and starts slowing down rapidly. We sit up, confused. The rails are screeching and a deafening alarm goes off.

Haymitch bangs on the door and yells, ''Change of plans. Get out, you two!''

Everyone in the train is scuffling around nervously. Cinna, Portia and Katniss' prep team are waiting for instructions from Haymitch, since he seems to be the only one to know what's going on. My own prep team is no-where in sight.

''The Games have been cancelled,'' he says.

For a moment I feel as if a ton of bricks has fallen off my heart, but then he continues, ''Plutarch Heavensbee is dead. Snow figured out his conspiracy against the Capitol.'' Everyone's confusion at that is visible. What conspiracy? Sensing the flow of questions coming on, Haymitch continues hurriedly, ''No time to explain now, we have to get off the train. The Capitol is being evacuated. Rebels from all over the districts are taking over the trains and are arriving in the Capitol by the hundreds, killing civilians and burning down buildings. The Main Station has cut off all train traffic to slow down the rebels. The Peacekeepers are probably on their way here as we speak and if we don't move now, we'll be dead before sunrise.''

''Where do we go?'' Katniss asks.

Haymitch looks at her and smirks.

''To a place very much to your liking, Katniss. To the woods.''

I have a lot more prepared, so if you liked this little preface, let me know and I shall deliver ;)