Prologue 3 years before the first book...
Katniss's POV
Music booms throughout the enormous house. I question my reasoning for actually coming to Madge's end of the year party, but as he walks toward me my heart skips a beat. For years I've fantasized about Peeta and I being together, but every other girl at this party has the same dreams. In the end he'll end up with another merchant in the town, and I'll most likely be with Gale. No matter how much I wish I could change the inevitable fate awaiting me, I've learned over time to deal with what's going to happen now, so I'm not disappointed later.
"Hey Katniss," his voice calls snapping me out of my thoughts. I smile, trying not to try too hard.
After hours of talking and drinking, with the boy of my dreams, I feel his lips crash against mine. Whether it's the high level of alcohol running through my blood stream, or my body going into complete shock, I find myself drifting away, and entering a void of darkness.
I awake minutes later only to find Peeta's strong body on top of mine. He attacks with his lips filling me with mixed emotions, but I can't escape the reality, I need to get out before something happens that I'll regret.
"Peeta," I gasp between breaths, "Please stop it," I don't know if he doesn't hear me, or if he truly doesn't care, either way he ignores my plea. He's too heavy to move, and I find myself trapped. My tough exterior crumbles as tears start to fall out of my eyes, but Peeta still refuses to move. Then I start smelling the horrific odor of alcohol in his breath, not only making me gag, but also reassuring me that I won't be getting away.
The next thing I know, I'm laying in a puddle of tears, completely naked, my attacker pinning me down to the bed, somehow enjoying watching me cry. Never in my life would I have thought Peeta of all people would be capable of hurting me or anybody, but it just shows how wrong I truly was.
Taking in deep breaths I stop the tears, and build back up my strength. About an hour passes before he falls asleep, me wrapped tightly in his arms. As I release myself from his grasp and redress myself, I can't help but feel disappointed in myself for trusting him. It was my fault for getting too close.
Entering my house, is worse than the events that had occurred earlier in the night. I open the door only to find my father violently kicking my mother, who doesn't even seem to care about the obvious pain, he is putting ehr through. I run over and push him away from my mom, not wanting to see her hurt as well.
"What the hell is going on here," I scream between sobs, not knowing how else to react.
"Katniss, sweetheart, please just go upstairs and let your father and I finish our conversation." I look at my mother once more, this time with absolutely no respect. Disgusted by her words I don't move a muscle, while I wait for someone to explain the situation.
Thrown off guard by my act of disobedience my father moves from my mother over to me, and holds me against the wall.
"Listen to your mother Kantiss," he spits in my face before I feel a sharp pain across my face as his hand meets it, and he drops me, letting my body hit the ground. Without another word I run out of the house, with no where to go. I end up scaling a large tree, and falling asleep on one of the larger branches, attempting with all my willpower to forget the last few hours of my already terrible life.
A/N Thanks for reading, I will do my best to update soon. Please review, it would really mean a lot to me. Also review or PM me with any ideas or things you would like to be incorporated in with the story later on. Thanks.