This is my gift to you. A super early update in thanks to the many responses I received from you all in answer to my question. I got many answers that helped make my decision clear. So thank you all so much for answering me.

Prim's POV:

I'm afraid.

Last night was the worst night that I've had since I got here, which is really saying something since the first night should always be the worst night.

Of course, everything was great, up until Peeta had to open his big mouth and tell the entire nation about our kiss only a mere hour or so after Cato decided to tell everyone that we had a fling. It all went downhill from then.

First, Peeta gave me a hard silent treatment, which consisted of hard glares and an accusatory tone whenever the topic ended up being about me. Haymitch, surprisingly did not say a word about everything that had happened between me and Cato, but he did comment on the Peeta situation, saying that I most definitely caused 'one helluva riot' back at home. Effie.. oh my god, Effie.. She went on, and on, and on about me keeping everything a secret. Then, she decided to scold me, saying that I caused some Capitol scandal and that she would definitely get a bad reputation for. Then, she scolded me for 'breaking poor young Peeta's heart'. Seriously, I wanted to smack her so hard.

And to top everything off on the beautiful mud cake that I had made with grass frosting, Cato most definitely is very upset with me for lying by not telling him about me kissing Peeta. His cold, hard glare burned into my face up until the moment we were finally out of eyeshot. I felt like I had 'cheated' on him in some way, even though we never made things official seeing as it wouldn't make any sense anyway. I tried to talk to him last night, but he pushed me away and walked off.

Also, I could only imagine the reactions at home for the decisions that I made. I couldn't help but feel like one of those girls that parents in the Seam warn us smaller girls never to become: the ones that pass themselves around to guys. My mother was probably extremely disappointed in me for even thinking about a boy at my age, but I was more worried about the fact that I could have disappointed Katniss.

So, long story short, my life, the one I have before a couple hours from now, is over, and there's nothing that I can do to fix it because I'm not allowed to see anyone other than Cinna until the Games and I don't have a telephone to call anyone.

I had said my goodbyes to Effie and Haymitch after Effie's scolding. Effie started talking about how she appreciated me and blah blah blah. I didn't really listen to her because most of it was about her. Haymitch, his last words were a bit peculiar. He told me, and I quote:

"Remember to find him when the time comes."

His statement alone had confused me because I had no clue as to what he was talking about. I didn't know who 'him' was, and I didn't know what 'time' I was waiting for. I had asked him when I would know when the 'time' was for at least a little clarity, but all he said was 'Trust me. You will know.' I couldn't do anything but trust him, so that's what I'm going to do.

Cinna woke me up early today to take me into a small room and dress me in the attire that I would be wearing in the Games. He was silent the entire time, and it was so quiet that I was sure he could hear my nervous heart beating. Cinna dressed me in thick black spandex pants, a matching spandex top and a thin green jacket with lots of pockets that was paired with brown sturdy boots. My hair was down in loose waves.

After I got dressed, we were escorted to a large hovercraft, where to my surprise, all of the other tributes were already seated. When I walked in, all eyes were on me, and then they all turned to stare at Cato who was quite obviously trying to avoid eye contact. I took the seat next to Peeta, who was also avoiding me, and the best part about this was that I was seated directly across from Cato. It was so hard not to look at him, to apologise, to do anything without thinking of his lips planted on mine.

A person dressed in all white came up to me and put their hand out.

"Your arm," he/she stated. I realised that it was a woman.

I frowned and put my arm out. "What is this?" I questioned the woman. She didn't answer my question, just stuck a large and painful needle inside my arm and pushed something inside of me.

"What is this?" I asked her again. She pulled the needle out of my arm. The woman wipes my arm and walks away, not even answering my question.

I feel the hovercraft moving when someone answers my question.

"It's your tracker," Cato answers, not making eye contact with me. I stared at him long and hard, before finally speaking back.

"Thanks."

"Yeah whatever. I would have expected your boyfriend to answer, but I guess he's not the only one that you've screwed over," Cato answer coldly, finally making eye contact, anger evident in his eyes. His comment shocked me.

"He's not my boyfriend," I told him.

"Yeah. Well, neither am I," he spat back. My tears were trying to be strong and stayed in my tear ducts.

"I didn't screw anyone over," I retorted. I was surprised that we were even having this conversation right now. "We were not together, we still aren't together, so what does it matter to you who I do things with?" I figured that if Cato could make such a bold comment like that in front if everyone, so could I. Who cares? I'm going into the Games. He's the least of my worries.

"So if I went and kissed Clove and she told everyone right after you confessed something to the entire nation that you wouldn't just do for anyone, how would you feel?" Cato spits back at me. His words rip at my heart at how right he was. If that happened, I would have been furious with him. Especially if I was like him and didn't even want to talk to someone I trusted about my personal life.

"But-"

"Just save it Primrose. No one wants to hear any more excuses that you have," Peeta states, staring at me with eyes that looked like everything had been sucked out of him.

"Oh my gosh. Someone please tell me this is not super awesome right now," the girl from District 1 comments with a chuckle. I think her name was Glitter.

"Can you shut up?" Cato growls, causing her to shut her mouth. Cato rolls his eyes back to me, giving me the same glare.

"Peeta, please. It's not my fault you were using me to get over your obsession with my sister," I tell him. It was kind of harsh, but I didn't know what to say. I should not be entirely to blame for this entire situation. Maybe Peeta shouldn't have kissed me first.. same goes to Cato. Kissing them wasn't my choice, not at first.

"Yeah, well at least I stuck to one person. I wouldn't stoop that low," Peeta says.

"Slut," Clove muttered under her breath, although it was loud enough for everyone to hear it. It hurt my feelings, a lot more than I thought it should have. I should not have to go through this only moments before I'm launched to my death, but this is happening.

"Don't fucking talk to her like that!" Cato yells to Peeta and Clove. Everyone jumps at his booming voice that fills the large area we were all stuck in. I was surprised. One moment, he was blaming me for everything that happened, and the next, he was defending me.

Even though he was defending me, everyone was still staring a me like I was the worst person in the world, like I was the reason we even had the Hunger Games. It was depressing. I felt like I was the only target, and that it was the mission of 23 people to hunt and kill me, and the person that finishes the job wins the game. I wanted to cry. Cato hated me. Peeta hated me. The Careers hated me, although I don't even know why.

"Just forget it," I finally say after a while and turn my attention to my hands neatly folded in my lap. I didn't pull my head up once until we landed and I was being escorted out and met by Cinna.

We walked into a small corridor which only had a glass of water, and the pod that would carry me up. Cinna silently braided my hair in a diagonal that fell on my left shoulder. He stared at me for a good minute and then I was wrapped safely into his arms. We stood there hugging, not saying a single word, until a simulation announced that I had 30 seconds to stand on the pod.

Cinna pulled away and smiled sadly. "Remember what I said when you get in there, okay?" he asks.

I nod slowly. "I'll remember every single word," I promised.

Cinna stroked my braid softly. "I love you, beautiful rose, no matter how long I have known you. I believe in you, forever."

"I love you too Cinna. And thank you for everything."

"10 seconds."

I put the glass of water down and stepped onto the pod. As soon as both feet made it onto the pod, it shut and started taking me up. My heart pounded at what could happen in only a short minute. I could be killed in the Bloodbath. I could run and someone would find me and kill me. I could move before the timer went out and be blown into pieces. Anything could happen.

I was exposed to the arena, and reality hit me hard.

I'm in the Games. I'm in the Games.

I felt every ounce of my blood pumping in my veins. My head was pounding at the same speed as my heart.

Trees. That's all I saw for miles, other than the Cornucopia that sat strategically in the middle of the arena. All of the weapons and supplies were sat at the Cornucopia, the Gamemakers knowing that it would be the centre of danger. The trees stretched into hills. I didn't see any water, animals, or whatever else I may need.

"Welcome to the 74th annual Hunger Games!" Seneca Crane's voice blared through unseen speakers. "Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"

I stopped my scanning of the area and looked at the tributes surrounding me. I eyed my opponents, sizing them up and trying to determine the moves that they would make. I knew the Careers would go straight to the Cornucopia, but what about the others? There are some brave ones that I knew would follow them, like Thresh from 11.

I spotted exactly what I was going to run for: the dark green backpack sitting further away from all of the other objects. I would make a beeline for the bow and arrows my eyes landed on the moment I rose up, and then dart outward, grab the bag, and run for the forest.

30, 29, 28, 27..

After planning my strategy, my eyes searched hungrily for Cato. He wasn't directly next to me, or anywhere near me for that matter. I finally found him, nearly 10 tributes to my right. He was staring at me hard, shaking his head as if to tell me not to try what I'm thinking.

18, 17, 16, 15..

I look for Peeta next, who's only 5 away from my left. He's staring out to the Cornucopia, and I know that he's going to run toward it, just like I am. If I get caught, I'll just have to fight my way out.

7..

My heart beat slows.

6..

I love you, mom.

5..

I love you, Gale.

4..

I love you, Buttercup.

3..

I love you, Maggie.

2..

Lastly, I love you, Katniss. I will win, no matter if I lose, for you.

1..

Ready?

Boom!

I sprint fast and hard, not paying attention to anyone and anything that was around me but that bow and arrows. My chest is already heaving at how hard my arms and legs were pumping, trying to get to that one weapon. I make it to the Cornucopia and swipe the object in my hands without even stopping, and then I turn and make my way toward the green bag. The weapon was slung effortlessly onto my shoulder and I had the bow and an arrow ready in no time.

I try my hardest not to look at the murders being committed next to me by these children. The stabs, snaps of necks, strangles.. Age doesn't matter anymore, though. We're in the Games. Everyone is the same age.

I notice a guy running toward the same bag as I was, and he was watching me as we neared the bag. I poised the arrow and pointed it at him as I ran closer to the bag at the edge of the forest, drowning out any sounds of screams and agony.

The boy pulled out a knife I didn't even know he had and steadied it in his hand, ready to stab me anywhere on my body. I could sense my first kill coming in those few seconds. I felt the urge to lower the arrow and let him kill me so that I could keep whatever dignity that I had within me. I don't want the Games to turn me into a murderer.

NO Prim. Do not let your conscious take over.

Kill him.

Without giving it another thought, I released the arrow, just in time. The boy had raised his arm and was just about to plunge the blade into my chest when the arrow lodged perfectly in the middle of his chest. I closed my eyes and grabbed the bag, watching the boy fall, all in slow motion. When I opened my eyes, his knees had just connected with the soft grass beneath him.

I felt my heart escape my chest and I resisted the urge to burst into a fit of cries and let someone kill me for the deranged act that I just committed without the blink of an eye.

I killed an innocent boy.

I did.

No one else.

Primrose Everdeen.

"The Capitol's sweetheart."

"I'm so sorry.. I'm so so sorry," I cried to him as his eyes began to droop closed. I thought I saw him nod once, before he fell at my feet. I stared at his body for a minute, realising that what I did not want, for the life of me, came true the moment I convinced myself not to release the arrow.

I'm a murderer.

I picked up the bag quickly, and before I disappeared into the forest, my mind snapped to thinking about Cato, and I turned around and let my eyes search for him. My eyes did find him. Just as his hands so effortlessly snapped the neck of a small girl, a sly and easy smirk on his mouth. That smirk. I tried to, but I couldn't close my eyes. Everything that he has said to me is real. He's bad. He's corrupted. He takes pride in killing people.

For the first time ever, I was truly afraid of him. Afraid of his large hands that so easily killed who knows how many people already. Afraid of his smirk. Afraid of his height. Just him.

Cato picked his head up and looked right into my wide eyes, and instantly, guilt fell over it. His hands dropped to his side before they reached up to me, but by the time they moved an inch, I was already gone.

My legs and arms pumped at the same speed that they had as soon as that bomb went off, running as far away from the horror that I had been a part of. I looked for somewhere to hide, for somewhere to shield myself from the Games and let all my emotions come crashing down. I couldn't do it in the open, not when there could be tributes around that could see it as a weakness and come after me in my vulnerable state.

My running slowed once I was a considerable distance away from the Bloodbath, and soon I began to walk, searching for some water to calm the burning inside my chest. I didn't dare stop to look inside my bag until I found shelter.

There was rustling behind me, and I readied an arrow and spun around as fast as I possibly could, but nothing was there. I turned back around slowly, but kept the arrow ready and continued my search. I really wished I had a companion right now so that it wouldn't be so quiet and I wouldn't feel so lonely.

My aching legs walked for what seemed like hours, looking for some food, water, anything. My head was pounding, most likely due to the dehydration and grumbling from my belly, and my feet hurt, but I didn't stop. I looked for signs of water that I learned at training.

Muddy ground, small aquatic animals, such as frogs, insects attracted to flowers.. but I didn't find anything. I could feel my heartbeat slowing as my desperation rose. I was giving up. I was giving up, and I needed a rest.

My tired eyes scanned the area for any predators before I collapsed on the ground, my eyes squeezed shut tightly. As my bum hit the ground, I felt something wet seeping into my bottoms, which could only mean one thing..

My hands searched the ground with happy discover, and sure enough, my lips curved as I felt it.

Mud.

I let out a happy squeal followed by laughing, and didn't take another moment to open up my green bag, where luckily, a canteen was sitting directly on top. I stood up quickly, wiping as much mud off of my body as possible. I didn't look through the bag anymore, just zipped it up and kept walking.

Not a few moments later, I found it.. the water.

I felt like a I had won the Hunger Games already when I spotted that water, and I didn't care any longer. I was proud of myself for keeping up with the determination to find water, so I did what I thought was prize enough: I put my face in the water and let the relief fill me. I then scurried for my bottle to fill it before remembering one tip that I forced myself to recite in my head too many times last night.

"The water may look pure, but it never really is. Two drops of purifying serum does the trick."

My hands frantically grabbed for

my bag, and I search for the familiar little bottle. I pulled out all of the supplies I was given, taking inventory of them all at the same time:

1) rope

2) beef jerky (thank heavens!)

3) an extra jacket

4) crackers (thank heavens..again!)

5) WATER PURIFIER!

6) a small first aid kit

The amount of happiness I felt was like nothing before. I wanted to jump and scream and yell at the top of my lungs. I filled my canteen with water and put the two drops in before I gulped it down and repeated the process three more times. I ate one cracker as a little treat and then refilled my bottle and packed my bag back up. No way was I staying here, where everyone was probably going to end up sooner or later.

Soon, the cannons started going off. I counted 9. I tried to think about if it was Peeta, Cato, Cherche, or even Rue. But, I couldn't think like that.. it only put me down. I hadn't seen Peeta, Rue or Cherche after the bomb went off, so I was a little more worried about them than Cato. Just thinking of Cato and his hands.. those hands that so expertly touched me.. and what they could do, I shuddered as if a breeze hit me.

I had to move. Find some food. I can't rely on crackers and jerky for the entire time I'm here, so it's time to walk back into the deep forest, set snares, and find somewhere to sleep. I wasn't too great at climbing trees, but I had a reasonable amount of skill, so if that was what I had to resort to, then so be it.

Instead of waiting until I found somewhere secure, my emotions caught up with me, and with each step that I counted, a tear fell down my cheeks and a thought ran through my head.

I'm here.

I killed someone.

I'm being hunted.

I'm no longer pure.

I'm no longer 14.

I want my mother.

I want Katniss.

I want Cato.

I even want Effie.

I need someone.

I cried the entire 1000 steps I took away from the glorious pond, and then tried to set up snares through my tear blurred eyes. This was the task I had the hardest time trying to accomplish while others passed with flying colours. The leaves were too delicate and the sticks broke too easily. My hands shook too much, and eyes wouldn't clear up.

I cried in frustration, anger, sadness, for everything that I have to endure because the Capitol thought I deserved the punishment. The stupid snares wouldn't work! It was dark, signalling just how long I had been walking, unless the Gamemakers did this, and I couldn't see.

The rustling I heard earlier came back, and I wiped my face and grabbed an arrow so fast that I thought I could win a gold medal for my speed. It was coming from a bush. I pulled the arrow back and counted to three, getting ready to release it.

"Wait! Don't shoot it, please. I won't hurt you," a voice cried out. I stepped closer, the arrow still poised, as a body slowly emerged from the leaves. The breath I was holding was let out in absolute relief as the girl from 11, Rue, walked out of her bush.

"You nearly scared me to death!" I scolded her. She smile apologetically and stepped closer.

"I'm sorry. Let me help you," Rue offered, taking steps past me and setting up the snare that I was struggling with. Her small hands, the same size as mine, worked easily with the leaves and broken branches, and soon, she had two snares already set up in half the time I took.

"How did you do that?" I ask in disbelief, staring wide eyed at her ease. She went so fast, and did not experience a single struggle. It was like she was working a miracle, like the ones I used to do with my mother.

Rue shrugged and stood up, brushing dirt off her knees. "I don't know. It just came to me." She studies her masterpieces, as did I. The girl was pretty skilled.

Rue's eyes rose and met mine. We stared at each other silently and I lowered the arrow that I realised I still had poised. I could trust Rue. I knew I could. I don't know how I knew, but I just did. She wasn't anything like the other tributes here. She was harmless, just like me, or how I used to be.

I scanned her body. She was holding a red backpack with one knife in her hand and another stuck inside her belt. Her lips were dry and chapped, her eyes big and brown, and her body was shaking slightly.

"Have you found water yet?" I asked her.

Rue shook her head no. "I did find someplace secure to sleep, but not any water. I was just looking when I saw you."

My hands went for my bag and I pulled out my water. Rue took it with big eyes and sipped it, her mouth curling into a thankful smile. She drunk about half before handing it back to me.

"Thank you. Did that come in your pack?" she asked, referring to the canteen that I handed her. "With purifier?"

I nodded my head. "I got some pretty decent things. What about you?" I asked, sitting down and opening my pack. Rue followed suit and opened her pack, and we both took inventory of what we got. I showed her my things, and learned that Rue had gotten a sleeping bag, a first aid kit, a sack of cherries (which is amazing), a jacket, and some rope.

I gave her some of my crackers and she gave me some cherries and we sat there, sharing the rest of the water and talking about what we saw in the Bloodbath.

"So, was all that stuff that was said yesterday and today true?" Rue asked suddenly.

"What do you mean?" I knew what she was talking about, but there was so much that she had to be specific.

"About you and Cato? And Peeta?" she clarified.

I nodded smugly. "Sadly. I made too many mistakes since I got here," I admitted sadly. One of those mistakes was kissing Peeta.

Rue grinned, an evil grin. "We all make mistakes. But was it a mistake kissing Cato?" she asked, knowing that she was hitting a touchy subject. I suddenly felt all the hidden lenses of cameras watching over us and the millions of people at home listening in to our conversation.

"No," I sighed. "That's one thing that was never a mistake," I said, smiling at the handful of good memories that we shared together.

"You're so lucky. That guy is so hot," she commented, making me smile. "How old is he anyway?"

"16."

"Really? So you're only two years apart. He looks so much older!" Rue almost yelled.

"Yeah."

"What are you going to do now?" Rue asked, looking at me with so much hope and glee, like she wanted nothing more in this world than to see us together. I used to think the same way.

"Nothing," I shook my head. "What can I do, anyway? Now that we're here, there is no hope."

Rue looked at me with sad eyes etched with disappointment, but she didn't comment on the hot topic much further. I was quite happy with that since it was making my heart heavy and tired just thinking about him. I couldn't hold it in anymore, and a yawn escaped my mouth.

"Tired?" Rue asked. I nodded slowly. "Why don't you come to the cave with me?"

I nodded again and we walked to the cave. It actually wasn't a long walk from where we set up the snares, and it was so well hidden that I didn't even know we had made it there until Rue walked inside of it. Just as we got to the cave, music started playing, and faces appeared in the sky, the faces of the dead: both from 3, the guy I killed from 6, both from 7, both from 8, the girl from 9, and the boy from 10. I was relieved. Everyone that I cared for was still alive.

Rue and I walked into the well hidden cave, not saying anything about the tributes that had already fallen today, and sat our things down.

"Take the sleeping bag. I'll take first watch. I'll wake you in about an hour," she said, throwing the sleeping bag to me.

"Are you sure?" I questioned. "We can just share the sleeping bag. It's pretty cold." The temperature had dropped drastically and these clothes weren't do doing anything to keep us warm. I went to my bag and got the extra jacket, putting it on and thankful for the warmth it gave me. Rue nodded and turned to face the cave entrance.

As I laid down, I breathed slowly, accepting the life and person that I had now become. I was thankful to whatever gods there were for keeping those I loved alive, and I was thankful for Rue.

We didn't have to say it, but I knew we were allies.

A/N

I know this was long, but you guys deserved this.

The Games have finally started, and things are finally real. I really would like it if you guys would give me feedback on how I write the experiences during the Games, whether positive or negative. I want to make sure that I'm keeping it interesting but still reflecting the actions, reactions and thoughts of what Prim and Cato would have.

I also wanted to thank you for the tremendous response to this story. It has become very popular, 10,000 views on and 3000 on wattpad, which I must say, in wattpad, it took the story only 3 days to go from 2000 to 3000. And no, I'm not bragging, I'm merely letting you guys know how you can make me so happy just by opening the new chapter. You have done so much, and I am so happy for that.

I love you more than breathing.

Vote, comment, share, follow and thank you so much for reading.

Cheers ?

Myesha xx