An Eye For An Eye

by SilverZelenia

[OLD;not revised]Rhosyn was used to the spotlight - it had been given to her from day one. She'd never had a problem with it... Until now. AU, starting when Katniss would have killed Coin. This is the story of what would have happened if Coin had been smarter - this is the story of the Capitol games, the victor, the tributes, and the people experiencing their horror for themselves.

Prologue - this first bit is set in Katniss' POV. After this, it gets into the main character of the fic. Chapters will be longer.

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Our eyes are locked - mine and the snake known as President Snow. "Oh, my dear Miss Everdeen. I thought we had agreed not to lie to each other." He's right. We did. ( - Mockingjay, page 372, copyright Suzanne Collins)

Snow has that same amused look as when he said those words back in his quarters - the words now echoing in my head - as if he's still playing games and he's watching a child cling desperately to life for the audience's amusement.

My eyes drift upwards, scanning the crowd for my sister's murderer, and as they do, my bow starts rising up, ever so slightly, to aim at the crowd. Where is she? I can't find her, eyes flicking over row upon row, until, finally, they lock onto President Coin. She's perched well back into the crowd, a suprisingly thin barrier separating them, it was no wonder she was hard to spot. My fingers tighten on the string in anticipation, pulling back just the slightest bit, before my brain registers what I'm seeing, and they freeze.

Coin has a human shield. A human shield that I know. Peeta. Haymitch. Gale. They're all seated in a tight row in front of Coin. Gale and Peeta's expressions are blank, fixed on me like the rest of the crowd. My eyes find Haymitch's - Haymitch, who is positioned directly in front of Coin, blocking any way to take her down without killing another person I care for. He nods, slowly, discreetly, eyes never once leaving mine.

I'm frozen. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. The crowd starts getting antsy, staring at me. Someone lets out an incoherent yell to do it already, and then silence dominates once more.

The bow drifts downward, almost of it's own accord. Silence. I pull the string back, staring down at the white-haired monster. Another pause, while we stare at each other, and then - with the familiar, soft, swishing sound, it's done.

Snow crumples to the ground, flat on his back, the laughter still etched on his face.

Loud, deafening cheering roars out from the crowd, but I only wanted one thing in that moment. I wanted so desperately, I needed, to vanquish the satisfied smirk that Coin had fixed right on me.

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The first chapter is on it's way. R & R, tell me what you think (so far)!