Disclaimer: I wish I was Suzanne Collins, but I'm not. So I own nothing.

"Cinna?" I whispered. "Is that you?" I felt rather foolish, sitting on the damp grass, talking to a book. There was no way that this could be real. I must be asleep. Or insane.

Yes. My heart stopped, my breathing shallow. Don't be alarmed, I'll do my best to explain everything, Katniss.

"Don't be alarmed? How can you ask me to not be alarmed? How-" I couldn't even form words. Everything was so surreal. It must be a dream. It has to be. I'll just wake up, and laugh this whole thing off. Though it would cease the questioning of my sanity, a part of me desperately hoped I was awake.

I know it's a lot for you to take in, I understand.The words began to form faster and I found myself struggling to keep up with them as they appeared. I'm not entirely sure why I'm able to speak to you like this myself, but I'm glad that it's possible. Tell me about what happened at The Capitol. It was overpowered, I assume?

My jaw nearly dropped. "Cinna, absolutely not. You can't just… just die, start talking to me through a book, and then ask ME the questions! I think it's my turn!"

I could almost imagine the amused smile playing at his lips when I read his response.

And that would be why we call you the Girl on Fire. I don't know much more than you do, Katniss. I know I was taken prisoner, and eventually killed. Everything was blank. Then I opened my eyes as if I was waking from a dream, and I was in this room. It's bright white, but very empty aside from myself and the pad of paper. It's not the same as my sketchpad, but I opened it out of curiosity. When I did, I nearly dropped it, I was so surprised. It has all of my designs in it, along with the letters you've been writing. I didn't even think about how strange seeing either of those was, however. I was more concerned with the fact I could see you.

My eyes widened. "You could see ME?" Subconsciously I glanced over my right shoulder, though I knew it wasn't as if he'd just be sitting on a bench smiling at me.

And I still can. You know, you should take a little more pride in your appearance, Katniss. People do still look up to you.

I grimaced, running my hand through my hair. So what if it was a little on the greasy side?

It's no matter, you can wash later. As for now, I have a favor I need to ask you. Did I ever tell you about myself?

I tried to remember, coming up with nothing. Cinna was the type of person who focused more on others' feelings, and I realized I knew very little about him. The only things that came to mind were the obvious; he'd worked for the Capitol, as a designer. "No, not much," I replied quietly.

Well, originally I was from District 9. The hunting district; you should be able to appreciate that one. My father left when I was very young, leaving my mother to tend to my younger brother, Sage, and myself. It was up to Sage and I to provide for the family, as our mother wasn't much of a huntress. Sage excelled, while I never seemed able to bring myself to full on hunt. On the rare occasions where I'd trap an animal, I usually ended up letting it go, unable to kill it. My mother constantly reminded me that if it were up to me, we'd all be dead, and that I should be grateful my brother wasn't as incompetent as myself. It used to get to me, and I began to look for an outlet for my pent-up anger.

"Fashion design," I found myself saying. I never would have thought that Cinna came from District 9. I guess I sort of stereotyped him as a Capitol pet, even though he didn't act the part. It would have made more sense if he'd have come from District 1.

Exactly. Fashion was one of the few things I felt at home doing. It just seemed natural to me, like speaking. I began to design some very interesting pieces, rather angsty, usually based around dark colors or flames. I'd bite my tongue every day as my mother berated me, and later let the words that I was too afraid to say spill out into my clothing. Everything was well for a while, until my mother went into my room one day when I was at school. She found the designs, and I don't think I've ever seen anyone fly off the handle as much as my mother did that day. She threw things at me, she cursed, she told me I'd never get anywhere. I'd never amount to anything. I would have better served our family if I just died, right then and there. Then at least they'd receive compensation for their loss, and it would be one less mouth to feed. It was delayed, but I suppose now she's gotten her wish.

To a normal person, Cinna's story would have evoked pity. They would have told him how sorry they were that he had to go through something as awful as that. Told him that he was worth so much more than his mother told him he would be. My response? Not quite so eloquent. "That bitch."

Extinguish the flames, Katniss. It's okay. That was the last day I saw my mother. I left at fifteen years of age, and I haven't spoken to her since. I looked Sage up one day, out of curiosity and found that he'd been killed in a hunting accident. It's just our mother left now. Thalia, her name is. And our father, but god knows where he's at. Anyways, I mentioned earlier how I had a favor to ask of you. It's a lot, I know, and I won't be upset at all if you decide it's too much to handle. But can you go to her? Can you take my sketchpad, show her my designs, and let her see how beautiful you are one on one? I'd really like for her to see that despite what she said, I was able to become something.

"Of course, Cinna. I'll do anything you ask me to. I'll just need a general idea of where she lives in 9." I waited patiently as he told me, excited to show Thalia just how wrong she was. Cinna was one of the most kind-hearted people I'd ever known, and I gained even more respect for him, knowing what he'd had to put up with during his childhood. If I could help it, she was going to regret ever saying such hurtful things to him.

Oh, and Katniss?

"Yes, Cinna?"

Wash your hair first, please.

There's chapter three! So, funny story. I completely forgot I had a story going, and wanted to update on Tuesdays. So it's 5:04 PM on Tuesday, and I just now finished. Sorry it's rushed, but I didn't want to miss my first scheduled update. I wasn't able to work anyone else in yet, and I'm still trying to figure out how to do that smoothly, so other characters will come in the next chapter or two. As always, thank you so much for reading! Leave me a review?