Chapter One

Katniss felt weird. Nothing hurt, though after all that time in the arena she felt like she should. The absence of pain is something she hadn't experienced in... well she couldn't exactly remember the last time nothing hurt at all.

"Katniss?" Haymitch's gruff voice asked, "How're ya doin sweetheart?"

"I feel nothing." Katniss murmured as she opened her eyes, "It's really weird. Stab me in the foot so I can know I can feel stuff."

"Is she paralyzed?" Haymitch asked, Katniss detected something akin to anger in his voice.

"No." A man in a blue uniform answered, they were both looking over her as she laid on a small uncomfortable bed, "That would be the morphling."

"Where's Peeta?" Katniss mumbled, "He got hit, I think he felt that. Does he have some of this?"

"Katniss," Haymitch said, squeezing her leg. Pity would be the word to describe how he looked at her, "Peeta... never left the arena."

Katniss stared blankly at him, "Then someone should go get him. His leg is very hurt."

"It's the morphling." The doctor explained, "You'll have to be direct for her to comprehend it completely."

Haymitch swallowed and frowned. He covered his face with his hand before looking at Katniss again, "Peeta is dead." He said shakily.

That hurt.

Katniss' face contorted and she gave a wail as she covered her face with her hands, "No Peeta's not dead. Peeta's not dead. Peeta's not dead. Peeta's not dead."

"Can't you sober her up or something?" Haymitch asked the doctor, "We've got very important company coming."

"I'll take her off the drip." The Capitol healer agreed, hearing a double meaning in Haymitch's words that Katniss did not, "It won't take long to clear her system."

"Katniss." Haymitch said, grabbing her hands and making her look at him. "You have to calm down, the president is coming and you will not look weak."

That sobered Katniss up quickly, she stared at Haymitch in confusion with tear-stained cheeks, "You only faintly smell like liquor. Why aren't you drinking? If what you say is true you should be drinking away your pain like you always do."

"I don't get drunk until all of my tributes are back home." He answered briskly, "Now Katniss do you know where you are?"

"If Peeta is..." She trailed off unable to finish her sentence, "And I'm not in the arena then the games are over and I won and I'm in Recovery."

"How did the games end?" The healer asked.

Katniss strained to remember, "I- I don't- I can't- It was hot. The Career was screaming, if I'm here he must've been dying."

The two men standing over Katniss exchanged a glance. "Ehm." The three looked towards the door to see Effie looking in, she beamed at Katniss before continuing, "The Peacekeepers would like you all to exit so the President may properly welcome Victor Everdeen back to Panem. "

Haymitch patted Katniss's leg on his way out, "Remember to be strong, and be smart too. You've made it this far don't do anything stupid now."

Katniss just nodded, steeling herself and giving a weak wave to Effie who waved giddily in return. The wave made Katniss realize that there was a bright yellow IV bag connected to her. She carefully got off her bed, her legs feeling weaker than usual, and hobbled over to the cabinets using the IV pile for support. She found a cotton ball and tape and carefully removed the needle before covering the small prick of blood with the cotton and taping it down.

Katniss smelled roses, she thought she may be hallucinating for whatever reason and had second thoughts about taking the needle out. "Ms. Everdeen your doctors think you need those nutrients."

Katniss didn't jump or do anything to reveal her surprise other than gripping the IV pole tighter as she turned around. A man with fitting white hair and puffy lips stared at her pointedly. "Good morning, President Snow." Katniss said, her voice steady despite her legs trembling and she stumbled back towards the hospital bed.

"It's actually 2 o'clock in the afternoon." The President informed her, "And there is nothing good about it. You have me in quite the predicament, Ms. Everdeen."

"Why?" Katniss asked, the word stumbling out of her mouth wondering how she could've done something wrong by winning the game. "Peeta's not here so it's not as if you have the problem of two Victors."

The president stared at her, "But I do."

No. That didn't make sense. There can only be one Victor the exception would only be if they were from the same district. "I don't understand."

"You shot an arrow at Victor Adonnos that missed and hit the mine controls that had been previously dug up by the Career Pack." The President spoke as if he was telling her the weather. It annoyed Katniss, "Thus triggering an explosion that only two tributes survived, albeit barely. That would be you and Cato Adonnos. I decided that two Victors as marketable as yourselves would be more profitable than none, so I allowed the two of you to be saved." He paused and looked at Katniss expectantly. Katniss' mind was reeling, it took her a few seconds to realize that he wanted her to thank him. She couldn't do it. She just stared back and waited for him to start talking again. He pursed his lips and continued, "Of course my generosity does not come without a price. It is expected that you will entertain Capitol citizens and anyone else I see fit in return."

Her stomach churned at the implication, "And if I object will you just kill me then?"

"No, that would be a waste of money and resources." Katniss was too smart to be relieved, "Instead it'll be your 'cousin' Gale, your mother, or your dear little Primro-"

"Don't." Katniss interrupted, standing up. As soon as she did a peacekeeper entered the room, "I'll do whatever you want, just don't touch them."

"Good." He stood and Katniss fought the urge to scowl as a second wave of the sickly sweet roses hit her nose. As he went to leave there was a commotion by the door a white uniformed peacekeeper opened the door and whispered something in the old man's ear. "Is he really?" Snow asked, the peacekeeper nodded, "Well let him in." Snow saw Katniss eyeing the conversation distrustfully, "Your newest friend wants to meet you." He called over his shoulder on the way out the door.

Seconds later the door opened wider and the tribute from Two walked in, his arms held behind him by two peacekeepers until he stood right in front of Katniss.

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