Caught

Standard Disclaimer: The Hunger Games Trilogy is the property of author Suzanne Collins, Scholastic Press and Lionsgate Entertainment. No infringement is intended nor any monetary gain achieved.

Warnings: Violence, mild sexual content, language, character death, AU, first person POV, possible OOC

Rating: M (mature audiences only)

Pairing(s): eventual Katniss/Cato; past one-sided Peeta/Katniss; one-sided Gale/Katniss; possible Haymitch/Effie

Summary: The 74th annual Hunger games sees Peeta reaped and when he dies he leaves Katniss alone to be targeted for the Capitol's ire at his actions. The Quarter Quell begins! Pairing: eventual Katniss/Cato

Prologue

"No one is sure exactly who attacked first. If our government knew they never told and therefor the news couldn't broadcast much but pure speculation. All we know now is that the sky has rained fire for seemingly days on end until there is seemingly nothing left to destroy. The world has gone dark. I think it might be the end now."

-Anonymous

The Daily News Archives

(One week post 74th Annual Hunger Games)

The Hunger Games has come and gone now. The 74th game saw the death of another girl from the Seam and Peeta. The boy who saved me and I never thanked was gone. I couldn't help but watch this year. I actually prayed for him to win. Prim, dear Prim who felt everything so deeply couldn't understand why I cried silently as the girl from 2 slaughtered him so effortlessly. I'd never cried before and she knew that, heartless as it sounds, but then she never knew how he saved me. Saved us from starvation with one selfless act of kindness. Peeta, the baker's boy, who threw me a loaf of bread and reminded me of my father's teachings. Reminded me how to survive. Since that moment I had taken up my father's bow and arrows and hunted for our survival. From Peeta I had learned how to live again.

I stood from my crouched position among the trees and raised my three fingers in a silent salute to the sky. To Peeta. Goodbye.

[A/N: Edited for the glaringly obvious typo of 64th vs 74th. Thank you to wonderful reviewer who pointed it out to me]