Chapter 1

by Dancer47

My heart beat painfully in my chest as I raced away from my home in District 12. I stopped at the fence enclosing the people of the district from the wilderness and tried to quiet my breathing. I listened for the hum of the fence that let me know it was electrified. All was quiet. Even the birds in the trees were silent and nothing stirred. I quickly slipped under the heavy fence that had been ignored by the Capitol for years. I, Prim entered the woods and immediately collapsed...

3 days Earlier:

"Noooooo!," Mrs. Everdeen screamed. Gale, the few others and I gathered in the Everdeen's house just watched in horror as Peeta and Katniss swallowed the poisonous berries. We caught a glimpse of them falling to the ground just as the game makers cut off the camera feed. I stared at the screen. This isn't happening. Katniss is coming home. I sat there for hours. Even as Gale and the others left, still I sat in total shock. Not even able to cry. Eventually I roused myself when I heard yelling outside. I ran to the window and saw the citizens of district 12 attacking the guards and starting a riot. The district was revolting against the Capitol.

2 more days dragged on with the terrible screaming and yelling in The Seam. They had cut off their food supply and the big screen in the square showed nothing. Finally I had enough. She had to get out of there. The guards were slowly overtaking the people of 12. She walked out of the door and saw a group of guards shoving several bloody citizens of The Seam down the street. She started running as fast as she could without thinking...

I woke up in a strange place with a bandage around my head and a person standing over me. When he saw my eyes flicker open a grin broke out over his face. "Mom! Shes awake!"

I heard loud footsteps pounding on the floor hurrying closer and almost passed out. The thumping from the footsteps echoed through my brain sending waves of pain shooting through me. "You're okay honey, you're safe." She murmurs softly into my ear as a net of black encloses me and I slip away again.

I rouse a second time to warm broth slipping through my lips. The same dark haired boy from before stared at me through curious brown eyes. I guessed he was about my age. 14 years old.

Scanning the small room, I saw crude stone walls. There was a simple light bulb hanging from the ceiling and a small window high on the wall as the sources of light. There was a dresser in the corner and something hanging on the walls. Finally my eyes made their way to the other side of the bed where the woman I had seen earlier stood. Shesmiled, a full, beautiful, sympathetic feature that fitted perfectly into her face. It looked as though she smiled a lot by the lines fanning from the corners of her eyes. She was simple but yet very beautiful.

I tried to sit up but stopped when extreme dizziness and nausea overtook me. My head throbbed and I flopped back on the pillow.

"Here honey, I bet you're hungry." the woman said softly. She slipped a spoon between my lips yet again.

"I...where am I? What happened?",i stuttered out.

"Well we found you unconscious,almost dead at the edge of the forest. Then Andrew," she smiled at the boy sitting next to me who ducked his head embarrassed at the attention. "Andrew carried you back here to our home. That was about a week ago."

I gasped. "I've been sleeping for a whole week?!"

"Yeah and you've been saying some pretty weird stuff too." Andrew smirked at me and I felt a wave of heat wash over my face. "Like what," I demanded.

"Oh just things about someone named Katniss?" there was a question in his deep voice.

Katniss, I thought, oh Katniss. I burst into tears and Andrew looked taken aback. I saw him mouth, what did I say? Across the bed to his mother.

She immediately started stroking my hair and talking in a soothing tone. I lay there and was oblivious to everything but the loud thoughts in my head. I didn't see Andrew or his mother get up and leave the room. I didn't hear the birds chirruping ouside or feel the cool breeze sweep across my skin from the open window. I could only think about Katniss and what I had done. My mother was left in town, probably dead. Katniss' friend Gale and his family of small children also left. And it was all my fault. I had silent tears running down my face when I finally drifted off into a very restless sleep.

This time when I woke up, there was no one in the room and I heard loud thumping and lots of laughter coming from outside. I slowly and shakily rose from the bed and walked to the window. Of course I couldn't see anything from this view. Lying on the dresser in the room was a short pink cotton dress with blue embroidery, my old shoes, and some undergarments. I quickly put everything on and looked around the room again. There were drawings adorning all the walls that took my breath away. Drawings of flowers and trees and nature. I realized then that this must be Andrew's room. I suddenly felt awkward like I was invading his space and privacy.

The thick wooden door creaked softly as I pushed it open. Peeking out I saw a short hallway with a kitchen at the end and about 3 doors all shut tightly lining the hallway. I silently slipped down the passage and glanced into the kitchen. It was also rock but it had more light streaming in from little holes in the walls and ceiling.

I don't know why but I was scared to run into someone. I felt like I was not supposed to be there. After searching the rest of the small house (not the rooms with the closed doors) and finding only a living room, I found a big sturdy oak door. I was sure it didn't lead to a more secret room like the ones in the hallway. It had light p;ushing through the small crack between the door and the ceiling. There was a little handle and I tried to push the massive door open. Nothing happened. Soon after I realized that it was supposed to be pulled open. I glanced around and felt my cheeks flush red even though no one was watching me. Whoops. Painstakingly slowly, I swung the door open and peeredaround the edge. Andrew had a rubber slingshot in his hand, aiming for a tree. His mother laughed as he missed.

"Oh come on! How hard can this really be?!" Andrew shouted and made his mother double over and laugh even harder.

I quietly went over and sat in the lush green grass behind them so they didn't know I was there. I watched, fascinated and amused as Andrew kept trying but never succeeded. Finally I let out a little giggle. He and his mom spun around to face me.

"You scared me half to death little one! Don't you go sneaking up on old Kylie like that! You're gonna give me a heart attack!" his mother, her name must be Kylie, said with mock scolding in her voice. She and Andrew laughed while I cowered, terrified to have been found out of my room. They looked at my face and instantly turned sympathetic.

"Oh honey don't be afraid. We don't mean you any harm. I'm so glad you're finally awake though because you've been out for a while! Are you hungry dear? Why don't you come inside and we'll get you something good and solid to eat. No more of that soupy broth!..."

Andrew stood back grinning as his mother talked to me and I couldn't keep my eyes from running back to his face. His chocolate brown eyes were deep and beautiful. I couldn't help but think he was beautiful.

"...your name honey? Are you okay?"

"Wha...what? " I asked confused.

"I asked what your name was."

"Oh. Umm Primrose Everdeen."

"Oh...well that's a lovely name." In the second before she spoke, a worried look passed over her face. She erased it quickly, but I saw it. She knew who I was.

Andrew stood back and didn't seem to react in any way to my name. He came forward, hand extended. "Hello Primrose. My name is Andrew Laine, but you can call me Drew." he bowed dramatically still holding my hand. I giggled again.

"Please call me Prim." I smiled.