Hey guys! Since I had some time I decided to finish the next chapter before the movie comes out. Speaking of, i'll be going to see it tomorrow so i'm very excited. I hope you enjoy and for those of you going to the movie welcome to the 76th annual Hunger Games!

Chapter 3- Winter

Katniss hurried to catch up with the Peacekeepers, who were right on Shay's trail," Kid must be desperate and stupid if he think he's going to escape that easily with his hands cuffed," One of the Peacekeepers said. Peeta grabbed the bag of food and trailed behind them.

Katniss shot an arrow at Shay's shoulder, barely missing him and hitting a tree. Peeta's eyes widened," We're trying to catch him not kill him!" he exclaimed.

"I know, I'm trying to make him stumble a little so we can," Katniss explained. She aimed a bit above his other shoulder and he ducked to the side. When he did, he lost his balance and fell.

Shay looked back at her with panic in his eyes, then mischief. He broke the arrow and used a sharp piece of it to start picking at the lock. The Peacekeepers saw this and hurried to him.

Unfortunately for them, Shay managed to get out of the cuffs right as they got to him. He then got back up and kept running. Everyone kept following him.

That was when Peeta realized where he was going," He's headed back by our house," he said.

The Peacekeepers got their guns out," We'll get him before he reaches there," they said.

Katniss shook her head," Let him reach the house."

"Ma'am?"

"Katniss what are you… oh I get it!" Peeta said.

"Miss if we let him get there he could steal more from you," One of the Peacekeepers said.

"No, this kid is too clever to do that. Besides it's our house, so we can handle it without you guys," Katniss said.

"With all due respect.."

"…I said we can handle this. Now are you really going to argue with the Mockingjay or are you going to make sure nobody tries to do any more damage to the bakery," Katniss interrupted them.

The Peacekeepers sighed," Ok fine, but make sure he doesn't do any other crap or we'll get in huge trouble with the boss," they told her. They both went back by the bakery.

Peeta smiled at Katniss,"Do you really think he won't try to take anything else?" he asked her.

"No, I just can't stand Peacekeepers, even in their current state. We aren't going to find out what is really going on or find out who he's trying to protect if they stay in pursuit of this guy," Katniss told him," besides, if Haymitch sees him he'll take him down easily."

When the two reached the house, Haymitch came out of his house, dragging Shay by his shirt," Found some girl going through the stuff in my attic and she almost took out my hearing with her flipping scream. Then this one decided to come up and try to attack me for getting near her," he explained.

"I'm sorry ok! It looked like you were going to hurt her and I panicked. And obviously I'm not going to act flipping rational when I've got people trying to chase me down!" Shay exclaimed.

"Her, as in Winter I'm guessing," Katniss said.

Haymitch let go of Shay, but stayed close by.

Shay looked at her in fear," Please don't tell the Peacekeepers about her, this was all my fault not hers," he begged.

Peeta sighed," Shay we got the Peacekeepers to stop chasing you for now, and I promise we won't let them know about her," he said.

Katniss looked to Haymitch,"Is she still up there?" she asked.

"Yeah, she was too scared to even come after me when I was dragging him out here," Haymitch explained.

Katniss turned to Shay," The food, the wine, the money, you stole it for her didn't you?" she asked. Shay silently stared at her.

Peeta saw this as a silent yes and completely understood him. This young man was taking desperate measures to provide for someone he loved, even if it meant taking a beating. It was something he understood very well, something he himself risked a long time ago.

"Listen, I know how it is to risk everything for someone you care about, but you don't have to steal," Peeta told him.

"How else am I going to get us what we need then?" Shay asked him.

Peeta looked at Katniss and she knowingly nodded. He took out the wine and gave Shay the bag of food," You need to just ask. We know what it's like to have very little, and we're willing to help if you'll let us," he said.

Katniss smiled at his offer. Though she was a little wary of this newcomer, she knew he was right. And this made her very proud of him, for this was the boy with the bread that she fell in love with.

Shay looked at him in shock," Even after I stole from you, you're still willing to help? Well that's… that's amazing. Thank you so much," he said. He looked towards the attic," well then, I better make sure Winter is ok."

Haymitch nodded and let him go in and get her. Katniss sighed," He's an odd guy, don't you think?" she asked Peeta.

He shrugged," True, but he seems to have the right intentions," he said. Peeta looked down at the wine and laughed," I wonder if I should give this back or not," he teased.

Haymitch grabbed the bottle from him," I'd prefer that you don't make me want to hurt you kid," he said. He opened up the bottle and drank half of it," ahh, just what I needed."

"Really Haymitch," Katniss said to him.

Haymitch gave her a smug look," You two are willing to help some girl and a coal miner that just tried to rob you, you don't have any room to judge sweetheart," he told her.

Katniss rolled her eyes at him. She then looked at the house curiously," He's certainly taking his sweet time with her," she said. She handed Peeta her bow," I'm going to go see what's going on."

Peeta nodded. Katniss was about to go in, but Shay quickly came to the front door," Sorry it took so long, Winter was really freaked out by all of this. Oh…" Shay tossed a wad of cash at Peeta,"… sorry about the money. I had Winter sneak in and steal it while we were talking last night. We aren't hiding any portion of it with us I swear," he told Peeta.

Peeta tucked the money into his coat pocket," I believe you, thank you for giving it back," he told him.

Shay smiled and looked behind him," See, they're not going to hurt us. They said they want to help us," he said to Winter, who was hiding behind him.

Winter crept out from behind him. She looked to be as old as Shay, even though she was a small thing. She also had black hair, pale skin, and bright blue eyes that took distracted from the fact she had scars running down her neck. Her clothes only consisted of a tshirt, old jeans, and a pair of worn sneakers that did not help from keeping her warm.

She looked at them with curiosity, but that quickly changed to pure hatred," No… they'll just destroy us," she said. Winter clenched her fists, trying to hold herself back.

"Winter what's wrong?" Shay asked.

"The one I was telling you about," Winter told him," he's here." She glared at them.

Katniss backed away, seeing the intensity in her eyes. She saw her eyes dilate and knew what this meant.

"You… you tried to kill me!" Winter screamed. She took a pocketknife out and ran out the door.

"Winter no!" Shay yelled and went after her.

Katniss looked in shock at who she was going after," Peeta go!" she yelled.

However, Peeta didn't hear her. He stood there in shock, remembering why her name sounded so familiar, "What have I done…"

I hope you enjoyed this weird and dark chapter. I promise I will try and get the next chapter out as soon as possible and get into what exactly is going on. Until next time.. may the odds be ever in your favor.