Katniss, wait up!" Katniss paused so Darius could catch up to her.

"Hey, I wanted to say thank you for coming today. I know it means a lot to Rosalie and it means a lot to me too."

"You're a good man, Darius."

"So I've been hearing all day," he chuckled but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"You are," she said earnestly. "You'll take good care of her." He nodded and glanced back at Rosalie.

"She snuck up on me." Katniss nodded and patted his arm.

"Hey, I wanted to talk to you for just a second…I overheard you and Madge talking earlier…about the auction next week." Her eyes widened but he shook his head.

"Don't worry, I won't repeat anything you ladies said. I just wanted to…correct a couple of things she said. And to tell you…I think you should think about signing up, Katniss." She took a step back, startled.

"Excuse me?"

"Hear me out," he said hurriedly. "It's not quite as loathsome as it sounds. The auction is really a big party, meant for the guys to get to know the ladies. I know a lot of these men coming to 12 and believe me, they're decent men. Most of them. They're just looking for someone to take care of, and someone to bring a little beauty to their homes. And I know you've been having a hard time keeping your sister healthy." He cast her a worried glance and her gaze dropped to the ground.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to upset you. I just think you should consider it. You're a beautiful girl, Katniss, and you're smart and funny and hell, any guy would be lucky to have you as his bride."

"You're crazy," she shook her head in disbelief.

"Believe me or don't. But I can tell you what they're paying…it will keep Prim fed for three years at least. Plus you'd get a weekly allowance until the contract is up. You're only committed to him for five years. After that, you can take the money and run. Or you can extend the contract. Your choice." Katniss hated herself for considering this. Positively hated herself.

"The Capitol is really going to allow that many divorces?"

"The Capitol doesn't give a damn about marriages in 12," he shrugged.

"And divorce isn't unheard of around here. The details can be discussed between you and the man. I suppose if you're really opposed to marriage, you can discuss it just being a contract and you being his…mistress." They both winced at that word.

"What about…children," she said in a small voice.

"Again, that's between you and your husband-to-be. You'd be a wife, Katniss, not a slave. I won't lie and say I'm not excited to be a father and I'm sure a lot of the guys would feel the same. Most of us just want families, like everyone else. The good thing is, peacekeepers' kids are safe from the Reaping." Katniss's jaw dropped; that was a surprise.

"Guess you didn't know that. Yeah, our children are safe but the boys do have to go into training in 2 for a couple of years. It's much better than being sent to the arena though, you have to admit." She nodded, looking pale. Darius set a hand on her shoulder and offered her a smile.

"Just think about it, alright? And hey. Thanks again for coming out." He squeezed her shoulder and turned to jog back to his wife. Katniss watched them for a few moments, a sad look crossing her face. She shook herself and turned to walk back home.


Now that Katniss was finished with school, her future was completely up in the air. She didn't want to go into the mines, like everyone else in the Seam. But she wasn't a healer like her mother and Prim. She didn't really have a trade skill, so she didn't know how she would find a job.

She continued to hunt and bring food to the Hob. At least she made coins from that. But Darius had warned her, the day before, to be careful. With the relocation of so many peacekeepers, the fence might be turned back on one day and she could be hurt or even arrested and killed if she was discovered.

Since it was her only livelihood, however, she continued to sneak under the fence. She sat atop her hill and watched as trucks rolled in, carrying what she knew were new men from District 2. She wondered what they were like. Did they act like Capitolites? How did they feel about being relocated to an outlining district like 12? The poorest you could be in. She brushed her pants off as she started back home, her stomach growling for dinner.

She froze, however, when she entered her house. Her mother looked solemn and still and hovered over the couch. Drawing nearer, Katniss saw Prim lying on the couch, very still.

"Prim?"

"She just fell asleep," her mother whispered. She gestured for Katniss to follow her into the kitchen and Katniss launched into making a pot of tea.

"What's wrong with her?"

"I'm not sure. She complained of a scratchy throat this morning and she can barely talk. She's been having difficulty breathing and I can't get her to eat anything. She has a fever but she's trembling. I don't know what to do, Katniss." She set the tea in front of her mother and collapsed in the chair. Her mother hid her face in her hands.

"Why don't you get some rest and I'll watch over her tonight? Hopefully she will feel better in the morning." Her mother nodded heavily and patted her daughter's hand before trudging off to the bedroom.

In the morning, Prim was worse. A red rash had spread all over her chest and arms and her tiny body shook with her coughing. Her mother stood in the corner, her hand over her mouth.

"Mom. What kind of medicine do we need?"

"Capitol medicine." Katniss understood what her mother was saying. Expensive. Very expensive. Medicine that Prim needed to survive. Katniss stood to her feet and swallowed heavily.

"Mom, I need you to braid my hair for me and I'd like to borrow some of your rose wash." Her mother nodded, her face grim. She didn't have to ask Katniss what she was planning. She already knew. And she hated herself for not being able to stop her daughter from selling her freedom to save another daughter. She hated herself for not protecting her children. As Katniss readied herself and left the house, Mrs. Everdeen fell to her knees and hid her face in her hands. Her child had grown up too fast; without one daughter's courage, another daughter would be lost. She sobbed into the threadbare carpet and clutched her heart. She was such a failure. A failure of a mother. As far as she was concerned, they were both lost to her.


Katniss's hand shook as she filled out the form and was told to go wait with the others. She didn't look at any of them as she passed. She sat straight-backed in the chair, her head held high. It didn't matter why she was doing this. It didn't matter why any of them were here. She knew some needed to feed their families while others felt like this was their last chance to find a husband. She tuned out the announcer's voice, her heart racing in her chest. She felt like she was on parade, and the audience of men was a Capitol audience, watching her march down the Avenue of Tributes. Darius was wrong; this wasn't a party. It was an auction block. And she was selling herself. She felt like a common whore.

The announcer, who sounded suspiciously like Claudius Templesmith, the announcer for the Hunger Games, gave the men a few moments to look at the women on the stage. Papers were being passed around and no one spoke. Finally, the announcer started to call names and the women rose to their feet. She nearly stumbled when she heard her own name being called. Glancing around, she wondered who had purchased her.

Her heart ceased to beat as the old peacekeeper, Cray, walked toward her with a crooked smile on his twisted face.


Katniss could hardly breathe as Cray took her hand in his.

"Well, well, Miss Everdeen. I've spent many a year watching you and here, I get the most excellent surprise." He leaned forward to kiss her cheek and she nearly gagged.

"Come, my dear. Let me show you your new home."

"If you please sir," her voice trembled, and she inwardly winced. "I don't have any of my things with me. If I could run back to my home and fetch my belongings-"

"Don't worry about it. You will have all new things. My bride deserves the best." She blanched and did her best to hide the tears. She would refuse to ever speak to Darius again after this. She hoped he would hear about what became of her and would feel some form of guilt. She doubted it though.

After all, she was just a common Seam girl who was fighting for survival, just like the rest of the country.

Cray kept a tight hold around her waist as he lead her to his house near Merchant Circle. Katniss stifled a cry as they passed the bakery and she stared at the large apple tree in their yard. Cray pushed the door open and guided her inside.

"I expect you're hungry. I'm famished myself. The kitchen is there on your right. Find something to make us some dinner." Katniss nodded and ran out of the room, desperate to be away from the old man. The kitchen was well stocked but Katniss did not how to cook very much. Her mother had always praised her stew so she hastily found some ingredients and tossed them all in a pot. She winced as she heard Cray come in behind her and her hand shook on the counter top.

"Do you know how to use a stovetop," his breath seemed to burn the back of her neck. She shook her head and he reached around, his chest pressed to her back. She tensed up as he pushed her forward, his hands moving around the counter.

"Light a flame right here. There we are. And now we make sure the flame catches and burns…set the pot over it. Good. See? It's much easier than setting it over a fire."

"Yes, sir," she said softly. She felt his nose on her cheek and she closed her eyes.

"Mmm, you smell heavenly." She fought to keep from turning her head.

"Thank you."

"After dinner, we have much to discuss." He left her alone to cook and she said a silent prayer of thanks.

After dinner, he lead her upstairs and he showed her where the bathroom and everything was. In the bedroom, he indicated a drawer full of ladies garments that she could choose from. She felt sick as she remembered how many ladies had come to this house. How many had worn these garments? She'd sooner go naked. But she forced herself to choose the long sleeve nightgown that covered all of her. She wondered if he would allow her to sleep in another room but that was a foolish hope. When he came back from the bathroom, he grinned over at her.

"You cover up that beautiful body of yours, my dearest. I long to see what you're hiding under there." Tears caught in her throat as he indicated for her to climb under the covers and he moved closer to her. She squeezed her eyes shut as he buried his face in her neck and inhaled her scent.

"Tell me, Katniss. Have you been touched by a man before?" Katniss silently pleaded for death to take her and swiftly.

"No sir."

"Truly? Not ever?"

"No sir. I have never even…kissed anyone before."

"Well we must rectify that, mustn't we?" Katniss fought with everything she had to stay still. His lips met hers and she did not respond. They were cold and chapped and she held her breath while he pressed against her mouth. She almost gagged when she felt his tongue, like a slimy worm prying her lips apart. She shook her head but this angered Cray.

"You are to be my wife, girl! You will succumb to your master!"

"I am not your wife yet, sir," she reminded him and his eyes narrowed.

"I should teach you your place, wench!" She braced herself for the blow but it did not come. Instead, he grabbed her and flung her from the bed. She trembled where she stood and thought very seriously about jumping out the window. Except it looked barred from the inside. He stood in front of her and cupped her chin.

"You dare to defy me? I hold your life in my hands, you stupid whore." She said nothing but continued to tremble.

"Better yet, I could return you and take someone else. I could take that pretty sister of yours."

"You won't touch her," she cried, and she froze at her own words. Her eyes widened in horror as she realized what she had done. Cray's lips turned into a cruel smile and he nodded.

"You love that little girl, don't you Katniss? You'd do anything for her?" Tears streaming down her cheeks, she nodded.

"So am I to assume you want me to continue to teach you your place?"

She took a deep breath and forced herself to think of Prim.

For Prim, she thought over and over. She nodded and he backhanded her across the face. She crashed to the ground and cried out as he grasped a fistful of her hair, dragging her to her knees.

"I look forward to teaching you how to be good to your master, Katniss. You have a lot to learn."


thank you guys for the awesome comments! I'm happy to be back and writing again! Will try not to let you freak out too long ;)

Xoxo