A/N: summary – Katniss' tracker stops working after she is chased by Cato while trying to retrieve Peeta's medicine. She falls down a hill, knocking herself out. She is declared dead and her body is retrieved. Without her in the games, Cato wins. As a gift for his victory, President Snow rewards Cato with the girl on fire to play with.
"Just this time twelve!" Thresh growled. Katniss was sprawled on the grass, too stunned to react as the hulking boy retreated from her. "For Rue!" He turned and ran towards the trees. Katniss watched, still gathering her wits. A figure stepped from the tree line just as Thresh drew level. Katniss saw the flash of a sword and a cry as Thresh collapsed to the floor. She stumbled to her feet. She could see the blonde hair and knew without a doubt who it was. She looked over at the fallen Clove. Clearly, Cato had heard her cries for help. Katniss started to run, heading for the safety of the trees, the cave and Peeta. Her head stung from the wound Clove had inflicted and she felt dizzy. She could hear Cato pursuing her; close behind and realised she couldn't return to the cave. If she did and Cato killed her, Peeta would be at his mercy. She quickly changed course, running into unfamiliar woodland.
"I'm coming for you! Girl on fire! Where you running to?" she heard Cato's taunting voice following her and she stumbled, placing her foot heavily on the ground. She let out a scream as the ground beneath her feet crumbled and she plummeted down a bank. Her flailing arm struck something sharp and blood instantly began to flow from the wound. Her head smacked against a rock and blackness engulfed her.
In the control room of the Capitol, the number 12 that symbolised Katniss' tracker flashed and went out. Seneca Crane frowned.
"What happened there? Show me the footage." The assistant nearest to him brought up the camera onscreen which showed Katniss falling down the hill. Cato's feet appeared at the top of the hill as he scanned the surroundings for the girl but was unable to see her due to the covering of leaves she had acquired as she fell.
"Is she dead?" he asked. Normally the trackers only went out when the tribute had died but there was no sign of any injury and the fall alone wouldn't have been enough to prompt a death. The doors to the control room burst open and an irate looking President Snow entered the room.
"What is going on in here?!" he demanded.
"We're not sure sir; we think there's been a malfunction with the tribute from district 12's tracker. What would you suggest we do?" President Snow considered this for a few minutes. He had seen the girl's potential from the beginning, saw her as a threat when she'd showed her solidarity with district 11 and sparked rebellion at the death of the young girl. If she won the games, it was likely to cause trouble. He knew that her companion, the boy from her district wouldn't survive long without her.
"Sound the cannon and collect her body. If she's dead then the problem is solved. If she's not, I will handle it." He swept out of the room. The Game makers exchanged glances before Seneca Crane nodded.
"Do as he says."
The cannon was sounded, the image shone on the sky. In District 12, Gale and Prim clutched each other for comfort as Ms Everdeen finally succumbed to the depressed oblivion that had been clawing at her mind since her daughter's name had been called at the reaping.