The next morning, I wake extra early. I want to go to the woods to clear my head. I grab my hunting gear and put it on. I grab a bag and stuff it with food and water from the kitchen. I tiptoe out of the house and close the door quietly behind me.

I walk through the winding streets of the Victor's Village, passing one vacant house after another. Haymitch, Peeta and I are the only ones who live here. Peeta and Haymitch live alone while I live with my mother and Prim. I've always wondered if anyone else will move in. Probably not.

I reach the fence that leads to the forbidden woods. I put my ear close to the fence to check for the hum that means that it is electrified. When I hear nothing, I dive under the fence into a big enough hole for a person and brush myself off when I am standing on the other side. I jog deeper into the woods and come to a tree log. I pull out the night-black bow and quiver of arrows. I strap the quiver over my back and hug my jacket closer to my body as a chilly wind cuts through my clothes.

I jog deeper into the woods and start towards the pond my father used to take me to. I need a place to sit and think.

What is this deal with Snow that Peeta is so worried about? Why won't he tell me what's going on? It hurts me that he feels like he can't tell me. I need to find out.

I start to jog faster to get my blood pumping. I start to sweat, despite the biting wind. Snow said something about a grand finale. What does he mean? I've done all I can do. I put on the best performance I could. What more does he want from me?

I reach the pond. A small shack sits over to the side, closer to the trees to stay covered. My father and I built it together before he died.

I shake my head and swallow the baseball-sized lump that has suddenly appeared in my throat. I sit near the pond and busy myself with absently plucking the grass that has still survived. I open my hand and see katniss greens laying in my palm, the plant I was named after. My father taught me every type of plant, nut, and berry there is. He and I made a book full of them, which I keep near my bed.

"Oh, Peeta," I mutter to myself listlessly. "Why won't you tell me what Snow's up to? I want to help you."

"Katniss?" I hear a familiar voice call softly. I whip my head around to see Cinna emerging from the woods. He has a determined look set on his face as he steps over fallen branches and dodges hanging ones. I smirk as he brushes himself off. He is wearing skin-tight jeans with a plain white t-shirt, a leather jacket hugging his figure. His eyes are flecked with their usual gold glitter and his cheeks are rosy from the cold.

"Cinna!" I say. "What are you doing here?"

"Snow asked me to come with him," he answers. "Effie and Portia are here, too."

"Why?" I ask.

"The grand finale," he says.

My mind flashes back to the conversation I had with Snow in the Justice Building. He mentioned a grand finale. What does that mean?

"How did you find me?" I ask. "How did you know where I was?"

"Prim said you might be here." He smiles warmly at me, causing my cheeks to warm. He walks over and sits beside me. He takes my hands in his rubbing them to warm them.

"We have to get back soon," he says. "We can't keep Snow waiting."

I suddenly shiver violently. Cinna notices and wraps his arms around my shivering form.

"I know you're scared," Cinna says. He rubs my back inn slow circles. "It'll be okay."

"What about Peeta?" I whisper. "What will happen to him if we fail?"

Cinna pulls me away from him and looks at me.

"Nothing will happen to Peeta," he says. "Or to you. Not while I'm here." A fire enters his eyes as he says this.

"Cinna..." I whisper. My heart leaps to my throat and forbids me from speaking.

"What is it, Katniss?" Cinna says tenderly. "You can tell me anything."

"I love you," I choke out.

Cinna's face contorts into something I can't quite comprehend. Relief? Sadness? Happiness?

Then I look into his eyes. What he is feeling is love. It swells in his eyes and his face brightens. He smashes his lips against mine. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him close to me. He tightens his arms around my waist and kisses me ferociously. We begin to tilt dangerously close to the pond. Cinna feeds more fire to the kiss and I happily oblige.

I feel us slide down the back. My foot touches the water.

"Cinna I mutter into his lips. He gives on final push and we tumble into the pond. It's freezing clod and bits of ice are swimming near the bottom.

I kick up to the top and gasp oxygen into my lungs. Cinna pops up beside me and starts swimming towards the bank. Probably ruined his new clothes, I think. I laugh out loud. Cinna turns from safe ground and smiles at me.

"Come on, Katniss." Cinna holds his hand out to me. I swim over to him and take his hand. We stand and twine our fingers together. As we head back through the woods, Cinna twirls me around occasionally or kisses my forehead sweetly.

When we reach the fence, just as I am about to dive through the hole, I hear something. A faint hum is emitting from the fence.

The fence has been electrified.