District 6

Why me? Jacolby thought bitterly as the Peacekeeper dragged him roughly down street. It's not like he was the only one there. There had been three others at the butcher's shop. He had known it was a bad idea in the first place, but the money that could be made selling the meat in the black market was irresistible. Plus, the geniuses who devised the suicide mission had been very persuasive.

The Peacekeeper yanked him to a stop in the middle of town square, where a few people who had been hurrying about their business. They all paused in their tracks to look sadly at the scene. Most were from the poor part of the district, and didn't know him as a thief, nor did they care as long as he wasn't stealing from them.

The larger man shoved him to the ground and aimed his gun at Jacolby's head. He squeezed his eyes shut and waited for the shot, wishing for something, anything, that would postpone his death so he could say goodbye to his sister.

"NO!" He jumped at the shout. His eyes shot open and he found himself looking at the back of a girl at least five years younger than himself and half his size. The Peacekeeper was staring with eyes wide, gun held half up. Jacolby felt his mouth fall open. What was wrong with this guy? Was he really afraid of a girl half his size.

The girl's arms were stretched wide, with a firm stance that left her rooted to the spot, rooted as surely as a tree. Most Peacekeepers would have shot her for getting in the way. What did they call it? "Miss, you are obstructing justice."

That's it! "And what has this boy done that justifies putting a bullet through his head?" The girl didn't sound like a lowly District girl speaking to a Peacekeeper, higher up in the monarchy than herself. She spoke in a demanding tone, almost as though she expected to man to do as she said. Is she insane? He could put a bullet through her head without second thoughts. That also left the question of, why hadn't he done so already.

Jacolby shifted slightly to try and get a look at her face. Her face was half cover by shadow from her hood, which has pulled tight over her head, well, it was freezing outside, but he could make out her eyes, a fierce blue set, fixed on her opponent, and her jaw was set in a particularly demanding poise. He couldn't place her face, but he would recognize the look on it anywhere. After all, he had seen it every time President Snow made his speech at the Chariot Rides for the Hunger Games. It was the face of a person who had made a demand and expected it to be carried out.

"Snow," he breathed, at the same time that a voice shouted, "Kat!"

He whipped his head around to look for the source, and found it in the form of a young boy striding across the square. His dark eyes were set on the girl with a strong hint of annoyance in their depths. His black coat and sweat pants, and the flame designed hat pulled down over his ears, all screamed Capitol, and important Capital at that, since they were cleanly cut, with precise designs.

"Miss Snow, I have to ask that you back away." The man didn't even seem to notice the Capital boy striding towards them, as he was so distracted by the death glare he was receiving from the 'Capital's Sweetheart'."

"What has he done?" she demanded.

"Kat!"

"He was stealing, a crime punishable by death."

"Justice is an eye for an eye. Did he kill someone while he was stealing."

"No, but-"

"Kat! Would you get over here? Now!"

"Then why are you trying to kill him?"

"Because-"

"I demand to speak to Grandfather Snow on this matter before you kill someone!"

"But-"

"Now!"

"Katalina Snow, get over her, now, or I swear!"

"Shut up, Corda!" The Capital woman standing at the edge of the sidewalk gave a scandalized look and began to waddle over after the boy, advancing quickly.

"Come on, Kat!" The boy snapped, grabbing Kat's arm.

"Don't touch me, Slader!" She snapped, pulling her arm away harshly. The girl's hood fell back, and Jacolby gasped. He had never paid much attention to the Capital's Sweetheart, since in his opinion, she was just another Capital, too big for her breeches, but he had to admit, there was a reason she was talked about in the District all the time. She had a couple quirks that would give her away, for one, the whiskers that twitched under her nose, and the twin cat ears that poked out of her bubblegum hair, but if she wore a hat all the time, and plucked out the whisker, she could pass for a District girl. She had the pale complexion of a girl from a factory based district, someone who didn't spend a lot of time in the sun, and bright blue eyes that would fit right into those of the merchant girls in six. Her lips could have been twins to his sister, nearly paler than her skin, and the lightest array of freckles dotted her small nose, easily cover up by the lightest layer of Capital make-up.

Her appearance had to be the mildest he had ever seen on a Capital, except maybe Cinna's appearance, or the boy she was arguing heatedly with. At last she won and the Peacekeeper yanked him off the ground and began dragging him in the direction of the Mayor's house, the Capital's in hot pursuit, Kat and Slader still arguing loudly.

~District 6~

"This had better be good, Cooper!" The old president snapped, appearing on the screen in front of Kat.

"Good to see you, too, Grandpa," Kat said, sarcastically.

"Oh, Kat, it's you."

"The law about thievery being punishable by death, is there a way to get around it?"

"I see someone doesn't feel like idle chit chat today," the man responded, idly picking at a plate of lunch.

"You're dancing around the question," Kat responded blankly.

The man took his time wiping his mouth, before responding, "Why would you ask such a question."

"Because I want an answer."

"Right, well, your answer is no," he answered.

"There must be some way around it!"

"There is not," he replied, "why do you care all of a sudden?"

"'Cause I've never seen a seventeen-year-old boy kneeling to be shot!"

"You didn't think adults were the only ones who steal did you?"

"No, but-" Kat paused trying to find the words. "The law isn't fair. You said yourself the best law is eye-for-an-eye!"

"Well what do you suggest? We steal something of his? How will that stop him?"

"Well you can't just kill him?"

"Why not? We are stealing something from him! His life!"

"Did he steal someone else's life?"

"Well," the older man paused. "There may be one way around it."

"What is that?"

"We could steal his future."

"How?"

"The Hunger Games."

"No! You'd be better off killing him now!"

"Let him decide," Snow said simply. "Put his name in the bowl twice as many times as the person with the most tesserae or a bullet in the head right now."

Kat thought a moment, then said, "Fine, I'll ask him." She then stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

She found the older boy waiting outside. He straightened when she came out and stared at her expectantly.

"Well," she said miserably. "You have two choices. You can take the bullet as planned originally, or they can put your name in the reaping bowl twice as many times as the person with the most tesserae."

He stared at her, mouth agape. If he took the bullet, there would be no saying goodbye to his sister, on the other hand, if he took the extra chances at being voted into the games, he would have another few months to prepare, and even get to celebrate one more birthday. Plus, there was always the slight chance he wouldn't be drawn despite the number of times his name was in the bowl, or a chance to even win. A smile came to his face at the thought of his District not being hungry for a whole year. He had the potential to win.

"I'll take the extra names." Kat blinked at him uncomprehendingly.

"You will?"

"Yes," he replied, smiling broadly, he would be worried later, right now he was giddy with the fantasy of how loved he would be if he won.

"Okay, then," Kat said slowly. "I suppose it's settled." With that the preparations were begun for his punishment, and an hour later, Jacolby was walking away to tell his family the news of what had happened.

Kat smiled to herself, then felt someone dragging her backwards. She thrashed in protest, and the dragger tightened their grip. The person didn't release her until they were in an abandoned ally, then they released her and spun her around.

"What is wrong with you?" She spat giving him a rough shove.

"What's wrong with me? I could ask you the same thing. You could have been shot back there!"

"He wouldn't have shot me! I'm the Capital's Sweetheart, he'd be in too much trouble."

"He may not have recognized you! Especially with that hood over your head!"

"Why do you even care!" Kat demanded, stamping her foot, and creating a small cloud of dust.

"Because!" Slader snapped. Kat didn't look away from him and he huffed trying not to cave under the menacing glare. "You wouldn't understand!"

"Because you won't let me!" Kat shouted with a frustrated growl that grew into a scream, which startled a cat the yowled indignantly and disappeared around a corner. "You have a hissy fit and expect me to get why your mad, but you won't explain!"

"If you can't figure it out on your own than you won't understand it even if I explained it!"

"Why not!"

"Because you won't!" Slader exclaimed, his voice hitting a note of finality. He then turned on his heel and stomped away.

Kat screamed again, and slammed her foot into a nearby trash can. It crashed to the ground, spilling its contents across the ground. She regretted it immediately as a rush of pain coursed through her foot and up her leg. She hopped on one foot, gripping her other in her hands. Her balance was soon lost and she tumbled to the ground, landing hard on her backside. She groaned, considered getting back to her feet, then decided she didn't have the energy to get back up.

She lay on the frozen ground for what seemed like a long time, though it could just have been her imagination, watching her breath fog in front of her face. Then a head popped into her line of vision, "Aren't you cold?"

Kat shrieked, and moved to leap to her feet. However, she cracked her against the girls. She jumped back holding her head in her hands. Kat got to her feet slowly, cradling the sore spot forming on her forehead. She struggled to make her mouth work and in the end found one word. "OW!"

"That feeling's mutual," the other girl muttered, flashing a grin. Kat stared at her. She was a tall, lean girl with round hazel eyes that were glinting with amusement. She was pale, suggesting no sun, but judging by her toned arms and legs, she was no stranger to work. She wore a frayed gray coat, a gaping hole on the left side certainly letting in the freezing air.

"What are you doing?" Kat asked, her voice thin with exasperation.

"Not sneaking up on a Capitol kid anymore, that's for sure. You're way to jumpy. Got something to hide?"

"Yeah, a large bruise now!"

"Nah, bruises make you look tough," the girl responded, waving her hand nonchalantly. Kat gave her a disbelieving look. "Wow, a little hostile are we?"

"I'm nothostile!" Kat snapped.

"Okay! Okay, I believe you," the girl raised her hands innocently. "No need to get all defensive."

"Defensive! You probably just gave me a concussion, and you wanna call me defensive!"

"Wow, someone woke up on the wrong side of the litter box."

"What!"

"Oh come on! That was funny!" the girl laughed, eyes glinting brightly.

"Not really," Kat snapped.

The girl stopped laughing abruptly and sighed. "I suppose not. Sorry."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Saria," she replied. "And you're clearly not in the mood for small talk so I'll be going."

"Wait!" Kat called, lunging forward and grabbing Saria's wrist. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. I've just had a few last few weeks."

Saria smiled warmly. "It's okay. I have bad days all the time." The girl replied, waving it off.

Kat smiled at her and said, "So, you wanna sit down for an interview?"

"As long as I don't have to sit down on the frozen ground," Saria replied with a bark of laughter.

"Alright, fair enough. So where do you suggest we go?"

Saria thought a moment, "Caffine central," she replied at last, "My friend's brother owns it. It's warm and I can bully him into giving us a discount on some hot chocolate."

Kat gave a girly giggle, something she hadn't done since she left the Capitol, and followed the mousy haired girl.

~District 6~

"Okay, last question," Kat noted, sipping a cooling cup of chocolate. "Based on the number of times your name will be in the reaping bowl this year, would you say your chances of going to the games are high or low?"

Saria frowned, picking at one of the loose strings lining the edge of the gaping hole in her coat. "Well, I take out five slips a year for tesserae, and this is my fifth year, so," she scrunched up her face in concentration, "That means twenty-five slips this year. I don't think that's really bad, but it's not great. Maybe an average chance."

"Thanks," Kat smiled, gulping down the rest of the chocolate. "Wanna show me where the Victor's Village is? I would like to speak to some of the victors."

"Sure," Saria replied with a smiled. "Come on!"

Saria lead her down a series of streets, which Kat lost track of after about eight. Finally they came to the patch of flat land that held the large houses of the victors. "Nintey-nine years and only twelve of these houses have ever held residents."

"Well, it could be worse," Kat told her. "District 12's only ever had three."

"I suppose you've got a point. Still doesn't make it feel any better though."

"Trust me, you could feel worse."

Saria said goodbye, insisting she had to get back to her dad's shop for work. Kat waved her off, and then turned to face the victor homes. Twelve victors in ninety-nine years, and only six were still alive. She strolled over to a house marked with a six, which, unless she was mistaken, should belong to the eldest victor.

She reached out hesitantly and jabbed the doorbell. The sound bell rang solemnly through the silence surrounding her, and no response came. After a few moments of silence, she reached out to hit the doorbell again. "No one's going to answer."

Kat jumped at the voice, and peered around to find its source. She found it in a small, dark haired girl, no older than herself. The girl was standing a few feet behind her, on hand on the strap of the black bag slung across her shoulder and the other hanging at her side. Kat though she look vaguely familiar, but she just couldn't put a finger on what gave her the feeling.

"Why not?"

"Jayanna died yesterday," she replied, matter-of-factly, "but even if she was still alive, you wouldn't have gotten anything out of her. She had real bad Alzheimer before she died."

"Oh," Kat blushed.

"Anyways, if you wanna talk to a victor, my dad's home," the girl continued. "He was the victor to the 85th Hunger games."

"Oh, yeah," Kat nodded, "Spare Khyle, right?"

"Yep," she replied, dark eyes sparkling excitedly.

"That would be awesome," Kat nodded, following the girl toward another house.

~District 6~

"So, How do you feel about mentoring your first Quarter Quell?" Kat wondered, biting into a fresh cookie that the blond wife of the victor had brought.

Spare shook his head. "Scared. I don't know what to expect, it's always the last thing you think is going to happen."

Especially this year, Kat thought, smiling to herself.

"Do-"

"Well, hello," a voice rang out. Kat paused and glanced at the doorway, where a shaggy haired boy stood leaned against the door frame.

"Um, hi," Kat replied, unsurly. "Anyways-"

"You're the Capital girl who's going around the districts, right? What's your name, again? Cat?" he purred.

Oh God, Kat thought resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "Yeah, Kat Snow, and you are?"

"Dog," the boy grinned.

Shoot me, now.

"His name it Rash," the girl from the village, who's name was Crash, responded. "He wishes he could be a dog though."

"Whatever. Girl fall over themselves when I walk into a room," the boy grinned.

"Yeah, to get out," Crash snorted.

Rash set his jaw angrily and said, "Well what do you know?"

"A lot more than you my friend," Crash replied.

"Shut up!"

Kat clicked off her recorder, realizing the fight wasn't ending soon, and called over the banter. "I think I'm gonna go get some… dinner or something."

"Bye," Rash breathed as she walk by him.

Instinct nearly caused her to slap the boy, but she managed to hold back and instead put on a sweet smile, and say, "Bye." And good riddance.