The Others

Katniss's POV

Asha followed me to the woods, she seemed to finally understand that i couldn't talk to her in public and she was silent on our trip to the boundary. Hopping under the face, i turn to find Asha just drift through it. It made my stomach churn and cringe, i wasn't ready to see or accept that side of the spirit world yet. I pick up my bow and arrows from the hollow log and turned to Asha, she was no stranger to the woods, from the vision she sent me i get the feeling she was a regular visitor.

"So..." i start, what do you ask a ghost? Start off with personal or general questions? "How old were you when you... you know..." i muttered awkwardly, not mentioning the 'D' word.

"Died" she replied, bluntly. "I died Katniss, don't be frightened of the word." She tells me as she walks by my side. "I was 16, just like you."

"Okay, how many years ago did you... die" the words uncomfortable in my mouth. She seemed very accepting of death but i was worried that i might trigger something in her if i bring up certain memories.

"Almost 24 years ago." She says with a shrug.

"You seem to know a lot about my 'talent'" i say hoping to find out more about it, if i knew more maybe i could use it to a better advantage. "Are there more like me?"

"No you are the only one." She hums and walks by my side. "There are just myths of people with your gift. I feel you have not accepted you're responsibly" She said, her fingers twirling her braids.

"Responsibility?" I choked on the word, "so having the ability to see the dead is my job? I never ask for this! When i was younger i got laughed at for talking to thin air, i was known as the Crazy girl... do you know how hard it is to shake off a reputation like that? i have to keep in good with those traders to keep my family alive." I put more distance between myself and the departed young woman. "If i could help i would. Just go into the light and find peace" I stalked away, my life revolved around Prim and my mother, I couldn't be selfish and put spirits first.

Asha let me hunt in peace, she vanished into thin air and i continued on, losing myself in the woods, my second home. Managing to hunt down 3 rabbits i was done for the day and headed back to the Seam, keeping my head low until i reach the eclectic fence, waiting for a few tender seconds to makes sure the power was off. Hopping under i continued to my home which was more like a tin shack but it was an aspect of my life i would never want to change.

I involuntary shuddered, it wasn't a cold day, the sun was shining on the dried out crops and highlighting how we were slowly but surely dying. I look up to find hundreds of pairs of eyes. Most of them grey like mine, all of them dead. I move forward and they part, none of them taking their eyes off me. I get to my porch, there she stands, Asha. A small smirk on her face, Asha did warm me about not helping her.

I stepped onto the wooden planks, now on the same level as Asha. I turned to find the mob all standing in neutral positions, eyes wide and waiting. Some of them I knew and once had traded with, each one ready to beg and question her. My eyes fell back onto Asha. Hate oozed from my glare before turning back to the mob of dead villagers, "LEAVE ME ALONE!" I screamed though it had no effect on them; my screaming didn't make them move an inch. "I can't help you, I won't help you" My voice wobbled and I made my way into my home, slamming the door shut knowing that this would not stop them entering.

No-One's POV

It was past midnight, Katniss took a peak outside, they were still there, none of them had moved from their position. Tiredness took over sending Katniss into a deep heavy sleep but Asha provided her with the dreams.

Asha was in her head again, this time it was a different scene. It was bright and dry and there was soft music on repeat, there were hundreds of people about all being herded to the town centre outside of the justice building. It was reaping day. Katniss recognised a few faces, of course they looked younger here and she even recognised a few of them to be the ghosts who where surrounding her home. Her body was peering around, looking for someone then Katniss spotted him. The Man/Boy from the woods. In this light his blond hair shone, he was taller than the others that surrounded him and something about his rugged appearance was certainly attractive. He looked around when his eyes landed on her, they were sad and longing. Katniss wanted to make the body run to him. it was only a dream: it wasn't a life or death situation here.

A young man wearing bright yellow appeared on the stage that had been built outside the justice building he was grinning from ear to ear. Literally. He clearly had had surgery done so his smile ran from one ear to another. A very 'Capitol' thing to do. Clearing his throat and getting the crowd's attention he started off with his speech, all about the hunger games and its history. And of course this year was special: a quarter quell. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Hunger Games, each district had to offer up 4 challengers.

"Ladies first" the smiley man shouted out and pranced over the pot full of names, dipping his hands in and swirling them about to bring out 2 slips of paper. His fingers pry open the first paper. "Maysilee Donner" he cried out clapping his hands furiously. Katniss watched as the small fragile looking girl stepped forward, Katniss caught a glimpse of her mother, silent tears rolling down her cheeks. Maysilee stood at the announcer's side, like Katniss's mother tears streamed from her eyes. "And our other lady is Everbee Count" once again, his hands clapped as the young girl stepped forward only around 13 and joined Maysilee on the stage, none of them look hard enough to kill a fly let alone a human. The crowd stood in hushed, there looks were enough to kill.

Katniss found herself peering over to the Man/Boy, he was Cleary relieved to know that his girl was not going into the hunger games this time. His lips formed two words "I'm sorry", and he turned away watching the announcer bounce over to the other name-filled-pot.

Pulling put two pieces of paper, he made his way back to the microphone. "Our third contender is Haymitch Abernathy" the man/boy stepped forward, head held high and accepting of his new role. Katniss's body went weak, she found herself slumping to the floor.

I kissed Haymitch Abernathy and liked it. Her inner thoughts screamed.

But Asha's body was numb; her world was falling apart just as it was begging. For the first time, Katniss really regretted pushing her away. She felt light again but only because a peace keeper had picked her up and took her into the justice building. He placed her in a small room with blue walls; the body was perched on a brown material chair, just left waiting.

The door was thrown open to reveal Haymitch. He looked as cool as ever, leaning down to Asha's level and kissing her ever so gently. The sweetness of the kiss broke Katniss's heart, they didn't deserve this. "I love you" he whispered, his voice husky.

"I love you too" Katniss found her lips tremble out. Her finger reached out and stroked his face, taking in every detail. Haymitch's chances of winning were 47:1. The odds weren't really in his favour.

"I'm going to win this, this is not the last time we will see each other" He stated, trying to spark hope into his girls broken heart. "And when i do, i will be putting a ring on your finger. Promise me you'll say yes"

A giggle escaped her lips; he was mad, well and truly mad. But she nodded and kissed him one last time before he was dragged from out of sight.

Katniss woke up freezing. Someone had left a window open because there was a gust of wind sweeping through her bedroom. She opened her eyes to find a house. It was a big, fancy house. It was one from Victory's village, she had sleep walked across town and she knew the occupant of this house. It was the only house in victor's village to be lived in.

Katniss was angry, entering her dreams was one thing but making her sleep walk across town was stepping over the line. Katniss turned to find Asha, her eyes sad but looking right through Katniss and to the house. "I can feel him" her shaky voice spoke. She was alone; she didn't bringing any of her mob of the dead with her.

"You've been watching over him" Katniss guessed, she knew little about district 12's second victor or than the fact he was a loner and was a known alcoholic. She had always just assumed he had picked up his drinking habit after being in the Capitol but she now had a feeling that Haymitch Abernathy was deeper than that.

"I watched him drink himself silly and had no way to stop him" she corrected me. She was hurting, just like that day at the reaping she looked numb, like she couldn't bear to take in any more information. She clearly blamed herself for his alcohol dependency issues, "I just had to stand by and watch him ruin his life."

"And what exactly do you want me to do?" Katniss asked, not with an attitude but more of a sympathetic tone, confused on how she could help a 41 year alcoholic. "I can't exactly ban him from going to the market and buying liquor"

"He doesn't need liquor, he needs company" She whimpered moving forward and to the front window of the house. "The hunger games destroyed his life and left him with nothing. I know your mother struggle to move on from the death of your father, she went silent, Haymitch went drinking. Your strong Katniss, you have been in a similar situation. He is so alone. Please Katniss, he needs you"

There was a crash from inside the house, Katniss joined Asha at the window peering through the netted blinds. It was dimly light and as far at Katniss could tell it was like an earthquake had hit by the piles of rubbish that had formed. It was so full of rubbish she couldn't tell where the crash had come from or where the occupant was.

"Oops!" Asha whispered and vanished from sight.

"What?" Katniss turned in confusion to her ghostly friend but only found an empty space.

"I don't care who you are or what you want." A low male voice warned, "Make one false move and your dead."

Katniss turned to look over her right shoulder to find Haymitch Abernathy, no longer a mysterious lover but a pissed off drunk. But Katniss was not focusing on him but more on the knife that he held that was aimed at her neck. Oops indeed.