Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games

Warning: This oneshot is the main reason this fic has been rated T. Due to themes present in this chapter, it may be unsuitable for younger readers.

A/n: Last one. I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed, favourited or alerted this story - it's made me a very cheery person. I'd also like to thank those who have simply been following the fic. I hope you've all enjoyed this fic as much as i enjoyed writing it (is that possible?). One more thing: I've recieved a request to do something similar but based on the mentors' viewpoints of all these tributes (credit goes to Be Nice To Nerds for the idea). Would there be more people who'd be interested in this? It wouldn't be up for a while as i'm starting uni soon but if people think it's a nice idea, i'd be willing to try and not mix it up with various law essays.

Anyway, i hope you enjoy!

24) Katniss Everdeen – District Twelve (Girl)

Sponsor – an abused woman

The cuts and bruises on my body still ache from all the beatings he gave me for sponsoring Katniss Everdeen. My left hand is broken in three places from that first day when he found out I had spent his money. My right leg bears a scar from when he found out he couldn't reclaim his money. He stopped short of killing me that night for one reason only: he knew that was what I wanted.

Throughout the last few weeks, the only thing which has kept me even mildly sane is Katniss Everdeen. Whenever he has had his way with me, whenever he has beaten me or sworn at me, I have just thought of the moment I tried to be her. The moment I spent as a free person, one with hope and a future. It sounds like hardly anything, sponsoring her, but it helps. Every night, when he's been asleep, I've gone downstairs and watched her. Envied her. Wished I could be like her.

Tonight, it's just her, Peeta and Cato left. Cato reminds me so much of him that it's scary. But watching Katniss easily calms me down.

Cato is being attacked by some sort of muttation and even though I know it's wrong, I can't help feeling a vicious stab of pleasure. Because Cato is Katniss' him. And he deserves all of this.

Eventually, Katniss takes pity on Cato and shoots him, using the arrow from Peeta's tourniquet. I envy her. She has a boy who would die for her and-

Wait a minute…

She won! They won!

A smile cracks my face, using muscles that feel unknown to me. Katniss won. She won. I helped her do that. That moment of daring was worth it. Katniss has helped me and I have helped her.

But why haven't they left the arena?

I shouldn't be surprised when Templesmith tells them only one can survive. I am but I shouldn't be. After all, I know how the world works. There are no happy endings.

Katniss aims her bow at Peeta. Peeta throws his knife away and she drops her weapon.

What will she do? I wish I knew. But I don't. Of course I don't. Despite all my wishes, I'm nothing like her. I'll never be like her.

Peeta is saying how much he loves her. She holds out her poisonous berries. Another stab of envy flitters through me as they begin to count down.

She even has the courage to kill herself.

"Stop! Stop!" yells Templesmith. My eyes widen as he keeps speaking. Are they … is she …

"Yes!"

I can't help shouting gleefully as Katniss and Peeta are declared the winners. Swiftly, I clap a hand to my mouth and look around carefully for the blows which will soon be coming.

Then I straighten.

Because I have just remembered the last gift Katniss gave me.

I might not be a survivor and I might not be a fighter. I'll never be brave or strong or merciful. But she inspired me to try and there is now one thing she is, which I am too: free.

I killed my husband last night.

Fin