I take the first watch while Peeta sleeps. I don't know how he does it though because when its my turn to sleep, I find the ground cold and hard. I'm also nervous to sleep in front of Peeta. What if I snore? What if I have a nightmare? One of the bad ones that I wake screaming from.

Sadly, the latter happens. When I open my eyes, Peeta is hovering over me with his hands on my face. "You're okay, Katniss. It's okay," he tells me in a soothing voice.

Just then, the door swings open and slams against the wall. Peeta and I's head snap in that direction. Standing in the doorway is a short, stalky man. He's wearing a baseball cap, glasses, a District Eleven t shirt, and blue jeans. He looks like a total normal man... until he speaks. "No, Katniss. You're most definitely not okay."

The walls threaten to close in on me. My mouth goes dry, and my lungs feel like they could explode at any second. I scramble to my feet, taking Peeta along with me. I push us against the wall as far away as I can from him. "You," is all I can manage to say. I was never good at words.

"Yes," he says with a smile as he saunters into the room and shuts the door behind him. "Care to make introductions?"

Peeta is on guard beside me. The football player in him has come out. His shoulders are hunched a bit, knees bent, and his fingers flex like they are already around this guy's neck. I find myself in a similar pose, but I'm trained to fight back. I don't bother to reply. Instead, I deepen my scowl.

"No?" He says with a laugh. "I suppose its okay. We'll get to know each other just fine." His beady eyes flicker to Peeta, and I want to yank them out of their sockets. "You may have heard about me. I'm the Justice Killer."

I hear Peeta's breath hitch as he realizes the reason behind my sudden need to fight. "Peeta Mellark," he says, introducing himself like he's in a testosterone contest. Who's dick is bigger?

"Oh, I know exactly who you are. I've heard all about you from my nephew," the man smiles in a way that makes my skin crawl. I can't help but wonder how he will kill me this time. "Cato Ludwig."

My scowl drops off my face and is replaces by pure shock. I can't even try to hide it. My legs feel like jello as I suddenly know why the Justice Killer singled me out. Why he singled me out and kept me alive. Why I was the one to be mentally tortured.

I can't even look at Peeta for the fear of coming unraveled. If there is anyone on this planet that hates Cato as much as I do, he's standing beside me.

The Justice Killer just laughs and begins to pace on his side of the room. His steps are not frantic but determined and heavy. "You see, I grew up in District Seven. I met Snow in college. We were roommates, and we bonded over our mutual... dislike of people. We knew that we were better than the boys that looked down at us and the girls that denied us.

"I was surprised that I had found someone who shared my dark interests. I was even more surprised to be living in the same space as him. It's like fate brought us together." He stops pacing and looks at the two of us. "Just like it has brought the three of us together. We're going to have some fun."

~Age Eighteen~

Therapy goes well. A woman with a black bob and wide rimmed glasses tells me she wants to see me everyday this week, and then once a week after. She told me I was safe about a hundred times in an hour. I want to write the whole therapy thing off, but I decide to make it worth my time. I tell her everything, and she listens.

I insist that I am okay to stay home alone. My mother does not need to miss out on work, not when she's still paying my first medical bill off. Reluctantly, she leaves after lunch.

I can't imagine what is going on at school. I haven't turned on my phone since last night. I'm sure the rumors have circulated and everyone has noticed Cato and I's absence. According to my school counselor and principal, I can have the entire week off to rest and recover. If I need more time, I can have it. But I know that I can't take anymore time. Next week we will take our final exams, the ones that decide if we will graduate or not. Then, there a scholarship ceremony, where I will be announced as the valedictorian. And finally, there's graduation.

I can only hope that Madge can cover my bruises with make up.

Madge. I told her that I would check in, but I haven't There's no doubt in my mind that she will be knock on my door the second school is let out. She'll tell me the gossip about me, but she'll make it sound better than it actually is. I already know that I have committed social suicide by getting the star quarterback locked up. I'm lucky I only have to show my bruised face for one more week.

My assumptions are correct when there's pounding on my door after school hours. Still, I'm paranoid that my attacker has somehow gotten out of jail and come to kill me. I open the door slightly and peak my head around it to see my visitor. I shouldn't be surprised when I see who's standing there.

"Katniss!" Peeta exclaims like he's never been happier to see me. A look of relief washes over his face. "I had to see you. You wouldn't answer your phone, and I had to know what's going on. The rumors... they're horrible."

I panic and shut the door in his face. I can't let him see like this. I've got two swollen, black eyes, my lips are puffy, and I've got twenty-two thick, black stiches. He'll never look at me the same.

I take several deep breaths and remind myself that this is Peeta. I've known him since before I can remember, and he's seen me at some of my worst times. Still, my heart can't take it if he looks at me like a terminal animal. Peeta knocks on the door again, and it shakes me from my thoughts. I carefully lift the hood of my sweatshirt over my head. Keeping my back to Peeta, I open the door and walk outside.

"Katniss? What is going on?"

I pull the hood down and decide that it is now or never. "The rumors are true," I croak out, my voice a little hoarse from when Cato strangled me.

When I turn around, I see numerous emotions run through Peeta's face. Horror. Sadness. Disbelief. Finally, it settles on anger. "I'll kill him," he says in a deadly tone.

"If you think this is bad, you should see him," I try to say in a joking way, but the humor is lost in translation.

Peeta opens and closes his mouth multiple times like he's trying to figure out what to say. Finally, he settles on, "Is that why you called me?"

"That was before it happened," I tell him. "I thought I needed help."

"I had no idea. I called you back."

In a very small voice, I tell him. "It was too late." I never got his phone call because I was too busy fighting for my life.

Peeta has a weird expression on his face. Its almost like he's ate something unpleasant and wants to throw it up. "Did- Did he-"

I know what he's about to ask, so I cut him off. "Were you having sex with Delly?"

He blanches. Despite being a hormonal, teenage boy, Peeta and I rarely talk about sex. Sometimes he comments on how hot a girl is or how nice of a rack she has, but it stops there. I notice him shift when we watch romantic scenes, but he's been a total gentleman. I think he doesn't want to make me uncomfortable, but I could see Peeta chit chatting away with his friends like its nothing. But between us, that topic rarely comes up. "What?"

"That's what people do on prom night, right?" I ask, ignoring his discomfort. "They have sex?" I've seen enough rom coms and chick flicks to know what is supposed to happen on the most magical night of my teenage years. The dress comes off. The back of a freshly washed car.

He narrows his eyes at me. "I was not having sex. What the fuck, Katniss?" His voice is harsh.

So, I bite back. "Then why didn't you answer your phone?"

He scoff and throws his hands up in the air. "I don't know, Katniss. Maybe I was changing out of my tux or talking to Delly on the way to Finnick's. I don't know, but what I do know is that I called back. I've been calling you back, but its you who wouldn't answer."

"The last thing I wanted to do after spending the night in the sheriffs office and the day in the hospital was answer my phone, Peeta," I say as I cross my arms. When did this become my interrogation? "I've hardly slept in two days, and I have to see a fucking therapist."

Peeta's face softens, and I see the pity wash through his blue eyes. Its like he forgot that this terrible thing happened to me. "I-I'm so sorry, Katniss."

Justice Killer is Cato's uncle. Tries to torture Peeta, but Katniss lies and tells him that Peeta neve meant anything to her. Peeta has hurt her beyond measure, and nothing they do to him will ever matter to her. If they want to hurt her, they'll have to do it physically, not mentally.

The butler with the white gloves enters. He doesn't bring us food this time. Instead, he brings us chains. I can feel them around my wrists and ankles already. The sting of the metal as I desperately tried to free myself is a feeling I will never forget. I have an indention on my right wrist, a permanent reminder of my time with the Justice Killer.

He moves towards us, and I see the muscle in Peeta's leg flex out of the corner of my eyes. This is it. This is our chance.

Then, something unexpected happens. Two bees fly through the door. No, not bees. These are bigger and more yellow than a normal bee. A hornet? No, I've seen these in my woods they're...

"Tracker Jackers," I hear Peeta whisper beside me.

I gulp when I realize that he is right. A genetically engineered wasp, that is distinguished by being bigger and more yellow than possible in nature. Created to attack anyone or anything that disturbs them. The FBI is aware of their existence, and I've seen files where they tried to train the insects to do the governments bidding. A failed experiment made in the desperate times of war. The government attempted to destroy the nests, but they missed some. Now, they live in peace.

How did I not notice this before?! Their sting can cause hallucinations, multiple stings can result in death due to poison. The gas that I have fallen victim to twice reminds me a lot of what I've read about Tracker Jackers.

It happens so fast. By the time we know what the insects are, they're stinging us. I can't even move my arm to swat it away. Its too fast. They have singled each of us out despite the fact that we did not disturb their nest. Have these two kings of poison figured out a way to train the Tracker Jackers? When the government couldn't?

I don't have much time to dwell on the idea. My body convulses almost instantly at the painful prick in my forearm. It wells up instantly. I look up in horror at the Justice Killer, who's smile gleams back at me. He turns to walk away, and I mindlessly stumble after him. I trip and fall, and he's gone. Ants crawl towards me, and I call out to Peeta for help, but he's busy swatting at imaginary beings.

Just before everything goes dark, the ants bore into my eyes.

~Age Eighteen~

"Sorry for what?" I ask him. I know the answer, but I want to hear him say it.

"I should have answered the phone," he says as he pulls fists full of blonde curls. "I should have..." he trails off, stopping himself from saying whatever he is about to say.

I have nothing left to say but the obvious. "It's too late."

"I heard he was arrested," Peeta says in a lighter tone. Forever the optimist. "By last period, his mugshot was circling, but I couldn't look at it. I had to see you. I tried to leave during lunch, but the office wouldn't let me sign out. I'm eighteen, and they wouldn't let me sign myself out!" I can tell that he means if. I know that if Peeta knew I was hurt, then he'd burn the school down trying to get to me. Honestly, I'm surprised he got here so late.

I see a white car drive by, and I know its Madge. She's checking up on me since I haven't texted her. All at once, I feel tired. Exhausted. I don't want visitors, and I don't want to talk about this anymore. "It's fine, Peeta. We can't change the past." My voice is monotone, and it even scares me.

Peeta studies me. All of me. He starts at my face and moves down my body. Any other time, I would make a sarcastic comment or beat the shit out of him for doing it. But this time is different. He's not sexualizing me. He's making sure I am okay. My suspicions are confirmed when he asks me, "Are you okay?"

I look into his blue eyes. The same blue eyes that I've been looking into since I was a able to walk. The boy next door. The boy with the bread. My Peeta. "No," I tell him unable to lie to my best friend.

He moves forward to hug me. He means it in a comforting way, but I'm not ready for physical contact with a male. Haymitch is excluded since he is like a father figure to me. I see hurt flash through his eyes when I flinch and take a step back. Before he can say another apology, I say, "I'm tired, and I-I can't do this right now."

I turn quickly on my heel and flee inside the safety of my home. I sink to floor in front of the door, and I know that the wooden barrier is the only thing keeping me from Peeta. Its several minutes before I hear his footsteps walking away. And for the first time in a day, I am able to cry again.

When I come to, I'm dangling. Its familiar and haunting at the same time. My wrists are bound together above my head. I feel the coolness of the metal around my ankles as well. How did I end up in this situation twice?

I hear chains twinkle beside me, and my eyes fly open. I forgot that I am not in the Justice Killer's lair with my squad. I'm in Snow's with Peeta. Peeta is trying desperately to pull the chains off of him, but its useless. His face is red from the exhaustion it is causing. "Its not use," I tell him while trying to keep all emotion out of my voice. He doesn't need to know the terror that is about to come.

"Don't give up, Katniss," he tells me as he tries to free himself again.

I've not given up. I'm saving my strength. "I've been here before. I know that there's no escaping."

Peeta stalls his movements and looks at me. I can see the fear in his eyes, but I also see determination. A will to get free and live. A fight to stay alive. There has always been a fire in Peeta. I've known it since we were little. There's something about him that I was never able to shake.

And I know with that fiery look that I will do anything and everything I can to protect him.