Chapter 1: The Community Home

It has been three weeks. Three weeks since I discovered my mother cold and stiff in her bed. Three weeks since I had to break the news to Prim that we were now orphans.

And for three weeks, I have been hunting for even more game. For three weeks, I have been selling our possessions on the Hob's black market in chunks at a time. For three weeks, I have been lying to neighbors that the reason no one has seen my mother is because she is out all the time, seeing to a patient.

I can't keep up that lie for much longer. I can't keep any of this up for much longer. But I must. I don't have any other choice.

No children under the age of 18 are allowed to live without a parent or a legal guardian. I cannot pretend that my mother is still living for two years until I could go to the Justice Building and apply to be Prim's guardian myself. And Prim is only twelve. If we are discovered to be orphans living on our own, she will be sent straight to the Community Home, certainly. I could be sent there, too, though I am sixteen.

And children from the Community Home have the highest chances of being Reaped for the Hunger Games. Better to sacrifice a child belonging to no one than to sacrifice one with parents who love them.

A reality where Prim is in the Hunger Games cannot happen. It will not happen, if I have anything to say about it.

This promise gives me the strength to finish loading whatever trinkets I can still stuff into my burlap sack. It is pretty much full to the brim now, but maybe... I go through my mother's drawers. All that I find is her engagement ring, given to her by my deceased father oh so long ago. Though with how bursting my sack is, I doubt even this tiny little thing could fit in it. Still, I could probably haggle a good price for it. I decide to wear the ring on my finger into town until I can barter it, perhaps with Greasy Sae.

Suddenly, there is a knock at the door. I panic. Another visitor, who I will have to convincingly drive away with claims that my mother is out. I rush out of Mother's room, close the door, and order Prim to sit on the barely-cushioned bench beside the far wall.

But I know once I answer the door that I may not be able to drive this person away. Peacekeeper Thread, Cray's second-in-command, stands on our stoop.

I try to keep my voice even as I ask, "What can I do for you, Peacekeeper Thread?"

"Is your mother home, Ms. Everdeen?" he asks.

"No, she is out to see a patient..."

"... Then you won't mind if I have a look around?" I note how his hand tightens on the whip at his belt, making it clear there is no room for argument.

I gulp and stand aside. "Not at all. Come on in."

Thread strides past me into our humble house. My mind is whirring frantically, searching for a way out of this trap. I decide that giving him a tour will both leave me in control of what he can see and perhaps communicate to him that nothing is out of the ordinary.

"... And this is the living room," I say almost breathlessly. Both Thread and I observe Prim watching us from the settee with fearful eyes. I dare to hope that Thread will be satisfied that he has seen enough, but this is dashed when he points to the stairs.

"Mind if I look upstairs?"

Why should he ask me that? He'll go up there whether I mind or not. "I can show you the way..."

"I know how to climb stairs, thank you, Ms. Everdeen." He strides towards them. I frantically follow him. Not the master bedroom, not the master bedroom... I wish desperately. Please, look anywhere but the master bedroom...

I nearly cry in agony when the door to that very room is the first one Thread opens. He freezes in the doorway upon looking inside, and so do I. Now he knows. The Peacekeeper turns back to me imposingly.

"How long has your mother been deceased, Ms. Everdeen?"

"Three weeks," my voice barely comes out in a whisper.

"And I seem to recall your father passed away five years ago, is that correct?"

I nod. Thread begins moving towards me. I nervously back up - down the hall, down the stairs and into the living room. All the while, the menacing Peacekeeper speaks.

"You know the laws, Ms. Everdeen: no child under the age of 18 can be living without a parent or legal guardian. Since you did not inform us of these changes in your family circumstances in a timely way... that is grounds for imprisonment. And I'm afraid that your sister will have to be placed in the Community Home."

It is a far worse fate than I had even imagined. I let out a wail and run to the settee, throwing my arms around Prim.

"Not Prim! Please, please, don't take Prim! I'll do anything!"

Thread stops. "Anything?" He considers. "I might be willing to look the other way from this... development, if..." He stares at me.

Prim puts a hand to her mouth in understanding. I turn pale. Thread has just propositioned me. One sexual encounter - my virginity! - for his silence. A bribe of the highest order. Would he take me in my mother's bed, with her decaying body lying right next to us? Or my own bed, the one I have only ever shared with Prim?

My face hardens in sudden resolve. I will do anything for my sister... except that. "No."

Thread's brow furrows as he frowns. He advances towards us, and Prim and I shrink against the wall. "This is not a request, Ms. Everdeen..."

RAT-A-TAT-TAT. A knock at the door. Were it not for the terrifying moment I presently find myself in, I would scowl. Who the hell is it now? But any excuse to get away from Thread is a good one, and I quickly jump up to answer the door.

I am shocked to find Peeta Mellark, the baker's son, in my entryway with a pan full of bread.

"I... thought I might drop these off. For you and your family."

I let him in, flustered, and oddly find myself hoping he never leaves. Thread would not follow through with his intentions while there is a Merchant present. As Peeta sets the bread on the table in the living room, Thread suddenly points to my finger. "I did not know you would soon be married. Who is your husband-to-be?"

I almost jump a foot in the air as I realize he has noticed my mother's engagement ring on my finger. "I... I..."

"I am!" I have no time to stare at Peeta in astonishment before he suddenly swoops me into his arms and kisses me right on the lips. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see that Prim's mouth has fallen open in utter shock. Thankfully, Thread does not notice. I have no choice but to close my eyes and put on a show, kissing Peeta back.

"What... mmmmmm... what are you doing?" I whisper under my breath against his lips.

"Just play along," he hisses back. He finally releases me. Thread has at once both a stunned and pleased look on his face.

"Congratulations, Mr. Mellark! And when, pray tell, is the wedding?"

"This Saturday," Peeta blurts out. "At the Justice Building. In fact, I was just about to stop by there and make a reservation after this delivery. Isn't that right, sweetheart?"

I barely clue in to the fact that by 'sweetheart', he means me. "That's... that's right!" I add.

Thread actually laughs. "Look at her, the blushing bride! No wonder there was such a misunderstanding! My apologies, Ms. Everdeen. Congratulations on your impending marriage!" And with that, he shakes Peeta's hand before sweeping out the door.

I wait for a minute or two to make sure he's gone before rounding on the baker's son.

"What in the hell was that?"

"I believe it's called saving your life, sweetheart," Peeta deadpans, and I bristle at his insistent use of that nickname. Peeta Mellark and I are most definitely not sweethearts. We're not even friends. We're not anything!

But apparently now we are...

"You lied to a Peacekeeper! A Peacekeeper who is going to go back to command right now, and tell everyone there that we're... engaged! Now we're stuck in... whatever-this-is!"

"And what would you rather be, Katniss? A raped orphan stuck in the Community Home or even in prison, perhaps impregnated by that sleaze?"

I pause in stunned silence. "How much did you hear?"

"All of it. Why do you think I knocked when I did? I knew what he planned to do to you, and I won't stand for it!"

It is rather pathetic that all I can do when around Peeta is stare at him in disbelief. "Well... thank you," I croak out, the words of gratitude sounding foreign on my tongue from lack of use, from intentional lack of being in anyone's debt. "But that still doesn't change the fact that our District's government assumes we are going to be married in two days!"

"Then, we'll just have to go through with it, won't we? What's done is done." My face must betray my lack of confidence, for he suddenly takes my hand. I jolt at his touch. "Katniss, we can be married long enough for both you and Prim to come of age."

I gawp. "So for the next six years?"

"If that's what it takes to make sure we're out from under the law. Then, you can throw me into the streets and stage a really messy divorce. I'm very dramatic when I have to be!"

Prim giggles. I scowl, reaching up towards my lips that Peeta kissed out of the blue. "So I've seen." It was quite the performance.

Peeta smiles tenderly. "For the next six years, I promise to take care of you - both of you," and he eyes Prim.

I feel Prim's hand tugging on my arm, eyes on me, begging me to say yes, but I hardly register any of it. This young man is willing to give up his future for a good while just to ensure my sister's and my welfare. I have always been very particular on paying debts, and knowing when a trade is fair. For an offer such as this, I can think of no other, more equal payment than...

"Yes. I will marry you."