A/N: Welcome to the newest story from myself and Better a Freak Than a Fake! We hope you like it.

Chapter 1

Katniss stood outside her home feeling worried and somehow bitter all at the same time. The victory tour had ended months ago, though since then they had gotten a new head peacekeeper, Gale had been nearly whipped to death, and the fence that kept her from the woods actually worked now. To top it all tonight Snow was to announce this year's Quarter Quell. She let out a sigh, "This can get no worse." She said lowly.

"This year to show the Districts that not even their best families are safe from the mistakes of their past. The tributes will be reaped from the families of victors and City Officials only."

"This year, to show the Districts that no one is safe from their past mistakes; the tributes shall be reaped from the families of any previous tribute and city leaders, no age restrictions!" Katniss' head instantly shot over to Prim and her mother both of whose faces were now a ghostly pale. "As a final note, this year any volunteering is forbidden. No exceptions."

"No, you can't do that!" She shouted at the screen. She knew however that he can do whatever he wants and Prim just broke out crying. She rushed over and hugged Prim. "It's going to be okay." She said. "It's with the families of any other tributes. That means you still just your name out of plenty." Katniss said but was surprised when Prim pushed away from her.

"Yes, because that worked out so well last time." She said and ran up to her room before Katniss could stop her.

Katniss sighed she hated it, but Prim made a good point, and on top of that she had made an enemy out of the President and she knew that as a victor, if Prim's reaped, she'd have to mentor her. "This is something that Snow would do." She thought. Theoretically, these were written seventy-five years ago but even if so he's likely to rig the reaping to make sure of it.

There was no escaping the awful truth. Prim was likely going into the arena.

She got up and ran out the door. She did not know where she was running she just ran.

Just as canon she found herself in the cellar of one of the empty houses in the Victor Village with blood pouring out of her hand. She cried into her sleeve after all this she had failed Prim. "I should have just killed him." She wailed. "I should have just sucked up what the district was going to think of me and just killed him right there."

"You could kill him now." A voice in her head seemed to say

'That wouldn't stop Prim from being Reaped.'

"If there is no couple then no rebellion and no grudge."

'That would just confirm that there was no couple in the first place though.' He voice did not respond so Katniss just kept crying. How long she lay there she was not sure. She got up just now wondering where she was, how she got there, and why her hand was bleeding.

She looked around a bit dizzy. She found a staircase and headed up it finding for sure where she is and the broken window answered the other two questions.

'Okay calm down,' She thoughtand headed out the front door wiping her eyes.

She saw Peeta's house near and it somehow made her mad. Stupid Peeta if he had just had the decency to die when Cato had cut him none of this would be happening.

Not thinking all that clearly at the moment, she stormed over to his house. She knocked rapidly on the door and waited.

Peeta answered not very long afterwards. "You!" She growled angrily. Peeta was extremely confused so Katniss continued on, "Now Prim's going to be going into the arena and it's all your fault!"

"How is this my fault!?"

"If you had the decency to die when Cato cut you none of this would be happening!"

"Well sorry I did not die then!"

"You should be." Katniss growled stepping towards him.

"Katniss, calm down." He tried.

"I can't! Now all of that was for nothing!"

"Katniss listen there is no guarantee she is going in."

"Really, because I've already made such an enemy out of President Snow and it's certainly no secret that Prim means the world to me!" She hissed grabbing a knife. "I should have just killed you when I had the chance but I can fix that now."

"Katniss, put the knife down." He said barely dodging a slash. She didn't say any though and took advantage of his fake leg to knock him over onto his back. "Katniss! Please think about what you're doing!"

"I am." She growled pressing the knife against his throat. She pressed down on the knife hard not being able to get through the spine so not completely decapitated but undoubtedly dead.

"Katniss!" Haymitch's voice gasped from the doorway.

Her head shot over to him then back at Peeta's body and she shot to her feet it seeming to finally actually click what she had just done. "Ha...Haymitch...I..." She stammered dropping the knife and crawling away from Peeta. She started hyperventilating still starting at the body as she crawled away from it. "Wh-what haveIdone."

"You freaked out."

"Ikilledhim." She wailed and buried her face in her blood-stained hands. "Why? Why did I do that!?" She asked shaking.

"You weren't thinking clearly, Sweetheart." Haymitch said carefully going up to her.

"I killed Peeta." She said.

"I know. I can see that." He said not sure what to say to her.

"Haymitch I...I'm a monster." She said.

"No, Sweetheart. You're not a monster."

"Haymitch." She said crying.

"I'm not mad." He said trying his best to comfort her.

"I killed him. I don't know why!?"

"You just snapped. You were angry and ended up misdirecting it." She just kept crying. He had no idea what to do and let her keep crying.

She fell asleep crying into him so he picked her up figuring he should probably take her out of the crime scene.

Her mom and Prim would have a heart attack seeing her like this and it would be difficult to explain so he took her to his own house and laid her down on his couch. She predictably soon started stirring from nightmares. He waited for her to wake. It wasn't much longer until she did shoot up screaming. "Hello to you too." He said.

"Nightmares," She huffed.

"Yeah, I know."

"It was real though, wasn't it?"

"Depends, what did you see?"

"Did I kill Peeta?" She asked drawing her knees up to her chest. He sighed and nodded. "I'm a terrible person!" She wailed crying again.

"No you're not." He said.

"He said he loves me so I killed him! How can you possibly excuse that?"

"You had a break down you would not be the first victor to do that and kill someone or the last."

"Really?" She asked looking at him.

"Really." He said seriously. "It's the Games. They destroy everyone who goes into them physically, emotionally, and mentally. Even the Careers despite what they like to think." He went off. "Every victor has broken down at some point. Most more." He finished. "And before you ask yes they kill as well."

"So, in a way you never really leave the arena?"

"No, it haunts you forever."

"Is that why you never sleep at night and always with a knife."

"Yes it is." He said. "I really wish I could tell you it gets any easier, Sweetheart but if anything it gets worse."

"So what do I do?"

As an answer he just flat out handed her a bottle of liquor. "Everyone has their ways."

Katniss stared at the bottle considering if she should but sat it down drawing her knees in even closer, "Maybe after these games but I have to be there for Prim."

"Think she is going in?"

"Why not? I've already made such an enemy out of Snow and it's certainly no secret that she means the world to me."

"You make a point, but we will get her through if it comes to that."

"Then she'd be like this and frankly now I'm not sure which I'd hate more."

"You do not believe that."

"I don't know. Okay? I certainly don't want her to be dead but I don't want her to 'live' like this either."

"I know." He said.

"What do I do then?"

"We make sure she lives first and foremost."

"Of course," Katniss sighed.

"Then we worry later."

"I guess that's all we can do."

"Exactly." Haymitch said.

"I really hope I'm wrong though." She said laying her head on her knees.

"So do I."

"She doesn't deserve that. Not that anyone does."

"Exactly."

"Except Snow. That would be kind of funny."

"Hilarious." He said.

"It would obviously never happen though."

"I wish. Then he'd truly see what he's doing."

"Yeah but would it change?"

"Tough call really."

"Exactly,"

"Let's be serious though."

"Okay, so now we train or wait."

"Train?" She asked confused.

"Yes, train the others,"

"Like Careers? Isn't that illegal?"

"What other options do we have?"

"Not really many but it's a big risk."

"Yeah, well, they need to train this time. I am done burying kids!" Haymitch said.

"Alright, I agree." Katniss said getting out of the fetal position. "Who though?"

"All of them, especially Prim."

"Where? Obviously the woods are still out of the question and we can't have Thread finding out."

"In the attic and basement of our homes."

"Alright, let's do it."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, it's about time that someone evened the playing field."

He smiled "Then we are agreed."

In spite of everything she got up ready to get started on that but realized that she's still covered in Peeta's blood and said in a shaky voice. "I should probably get cleaned up first."

"Yeah and the peacekeepers will want to know what happened

"Right," She sighed realizing the problem.

"Just stay calm, they expect breakdowns."

Katniss took a deep breath and put on her almost mastered emotional mask. "Ready." She said.

"You still need to wash that blood off." He said.

"Right that means going home..."

"Or you can wash off what you can here."

"That works too."

"I made sure to bring you here not wanting to scare them."

"Good point, okay." She nodded.

"Bathroom's in the same place." She nodded heading down the hall.

She turned on the shower and wondered what to do about her clothes. She took off her coat hoping the blood didn't seep through to her shirt. It didn't. "Okay easy then." She said taking off her snow pants and left in normal pants. She took off the rest shortly so she can wash off herself.

It was quick and easy. She sighed and dried off putting back on the clean clothes. "Ready." She called.

"Good, then now we can go."

She nodded following his lead

She folded her arms against the cold as they headed outside. "Remember stay calm."

"Right," She nodded with her mask on. He picked up the phone and called the peacekeeper.

"Head Peacekeeper Thread," Thread answered.

"We need assistance."

"A crew will be right over."

"Thank you." Haymich said.

They were over pretty much right away. "What is the emergency?" Thread asked walking in at the head of the pack.

"Peeta's dead." Katniss said her voice impossibly calm. "Back at his own house."

"What!? What happened?" He asked.

"I killed him."

"You did!?" He asked turning to her.

"Yes I did. Just snapped after the announcement. Haymitch says it's very common for victors."

"It is so common that we have protocol for it that is in every district."

"Which is?" She asked still keeping calm.

"You will have to report for mental evaluation every week for the next few months. Once you are deemed mentally for you will stop. To many break downs however will result in more traditional manners. Also you must give two weeks victors money to the family."

Katniss nodded and said, "No problem."

"Other than that. There is nothing to be done."

"Alright then, thank you, Sir." She said masking the disgust in calling him that.

"We will retrieve the body."

"Of course, it's in his home here in the Victor's Village just a few feet from the front door."

"Got it." He said.

"Report to your evaluation tomorrow at 2."

"Where is it?" Katniss asked.

"The Justice building"

"I'll be there."

"Good" He said nodding. With that, they luckily left. Obviously over to Peeta's house.

"I should go home." Katniss sighed looking out into the snow it had been a very long night and she needed to talk to her family.

Haymitch nodded, "I couldn't agree more."

"See you in the morning, Haymitch."

"Yeah, then we'll gather the possible tributes."

She nodded and headed out into the cold. As she walked past Peeta's home she saw the Peacekeepers carrying out a black bag. She took a deep breath and just kept walking. She got home and walked in quiet as she could.

Being a huntress that meant absolutely no noise at all. She headed to Prims room knowing she had to start there. "Prim," Katniss said carefully.

"What do you want?" She asked.

"I need to tell you something but I'm not going to say it through the door."

There was a pause then the door slowly swung open to show Prim her blonde hair a mess and eyes red and a bit puffy. She had clearly been crying. "Come in then," She said not looking up. Katniss entered and Prim closed the door. "So what do you want to say?" She asked.

"Haymitch and I have a plan."

"Alright, what kind of plan?" She asked looking up slightly but still not looking Katniss in the face.

"We're evening the playing field." Katniss answered. "It was his idea since we're done burying kids."

"So then, we are training?"

"Exactly, you and anyone else eligible for these games."

"Really? You are going to give us all a fighting chance if we work for it?" She asked hopefully.

"Yes, really, and we'll make sure Thread and the others don't find out."

"Okay, we can do that." She said.

"That help?" Katniss asked.

"Yeah, it really helps." She said hugging Katniss.

"Good," Katniss said obviously returning it. "You've obviously already seen that I'd do anything for you."

"Of course you would. I was just mad before."

"That's understandable. It's a terrifying thought."

"Yeah it is, but I'll be okay."

"I'm sure of it. It will start tomorrow."

"Okay, thank you Katniss." She said.

"You're welcome, Prim."

"I love you." She said.

"I love you, too."

Katniss hugged her close. "It'll be okay."

"You think so?" She asked.

"Yes I do."

"Okay, I trust you."

"Good, you should." Katniss said stroking her hair.

"Why us?" Prim asked

"I don't know." Katniss said with a sigh.

"Will we be okay?"

"Yes you will. I promise that."

"What about you?"

"I will." Katniss said really just for her sake.

"Okay." She said.

Katniss woke up early the next day of course in for her and Haymitch's plan. She was nervous, but ready she knew this had to be done. So she got dressed, braided her hair, and headed over to Haymitch's house.

She was surprised he was awake and had a list in front of him. "That everyone we need to get?" She asked coming over.

"Yes it is." Haymitch said. "Worked all night on it." He said as she looked it over.

"How did you remember all these names?"

"I pay a lot more attention than you think. I could never forget anything about any of the children I've mentored."

"Oh, I'm sorry." She said.

"Not your fault. Besides, pretty much everyone but me and the people on this list had forgotten them completely."

"Right, well, where do we start?"

"It would make sense to start the closest and make our way towards the Seam."

"Okay, so to the Candy Shop first."

"Right," Katniss said not realizing the certain string there.

"Good come with me." He said.

So they both headed out and down the path towards the town. Katniss felt odd about this. She didn't say anything about it though and just kept walking.

"Feeling off?" He asked.

"A little," She sighed.

"It'll be okay. We just need to be careful."

"You really think we can do this?"

"Of course I do." He said.

"Then I can trust that."

"Good then, we should be fine." She nodded and just kept walking.

They walked into the candy shop which was a small room painted blue. The owner at the counter looked very sullen and scared given the announcement. "Hello." Haymitch said

"Oh, hello Haymitch, hello Katniss."

"Hello Orion." Haymitch said to the short red haired man

"What brings you two here?"

"We are her to offer you a deal." Haymitch said.

"Alright, what is it?"

"We want to train all of you."

"Really? But, isn't that illegal?"

"Yes but we need to make sure you all have a chance."

"What if Thread finds out though?"

"He won't find out." Katniss said.

"Alright, if you're sure."

"We are so are you in?"

He nodded, "Yes I am."

"Good, see you then."

"When's then?"

"Soon as we get the others."

"Sounds good, where then?"

"My house." Haymitch said.

"That works, I'll be there."

"Good, see you then."

With that he and Katniss left Haymitch crossing him off. "Well, the hardest one's out of the way."

"How was that hardest?"

"Because it was for Maysilee Donner." Haymitch said and Katniss remembered the name from the previous day when her mother mentioned.

"It was?" She asked.

"Yeah, she was one of my district partners and my ally."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Katniss said.

"Yeah, if it wasn't for her there'd literally be no way I could have won. She was quite the fighter and even made it to the final five before her throat was skewed by bird mutts. We had split off the alliance before that but the second I heard her scream I went running and had held her hand until she died."

"Did you love her?"

He hesitated then said, "That's an awkward question to answer since at the time, I had a girlfriend."

"Did you though?"

"Well… yeah… I guess there was something there."

"I am so sorry."

"Nothing that can be done about it." He sighed.

"I know. I wish there was."

Then she realized something, "What ever happened to the girlfriend you did have?"

"Hard to explain. Better move on." Haymitch said.

"Alright," Katniss agreed seeing that he doesn't want to answer.

"Next is the Mayor."

"Right," Katniss sighed with a nod.

"Come on then." He said.

So they both headed over.

The Mayors house was slightly larger than most and painted black this time Katniss knocked. A few seconds later Madge opened the door.

"Hey Katniss." She sighed.

"Hey Madge, can we come in?"

"Sure, come on in." She stepped aside and let them in. "So what brings you here?"

"We have a plan relating to the Quarter Quell which involves you and your family."

"I'm listening." She said carefully.

"We're going to train you guys. Everyone eligible for these games."

"You think that's a good idea?"

"Yes we do. It's about time someone evened the playing field. 1, 2, and 4 have been training their children for decades. Why not us?"

"Well, you make a good point."

"Exactly, so, you in?"

"Yeah, I will get my brother."

Katniss nodded as she left and ran right into Madge's brother causing them both to stumble.

"Oh! Sorry Katniss." He said. He was about a year older than Prim had olive skin dark red hair and almost impossibly green eyes, and stood at what she guessed was about an inch or two taller than Prim. He also looked worried thinking he might have angered her.

"I'm not mad, Measle." She said right away.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." Katniss said. "We have a plan with you guys."

"What kind of plan?"

"We're going to train you guys for if you're reaped."

"Is that safe?" He asked.

"We'll make sure of it." Katniss insisted.

"Okay, I'll be there."

"Good, it will be at Haymitch's house." Katniss told them.

"Okay, see you then."

"See you then." They both nodded and Katniss and Haymitch left.

A/N: All reviews are welcome. Thanks for reading.