Typically, when career tributes finally become of age to volunteer for their designated annual Hunger Games, a great majority of them do so without hesitation, as the possibility of bringing immense pride to the district that birthed them was an opportunity they couldn’t afford to pass up. Not when the fantasy of winning the games had already been throughly instilled into their heads from the minute they were born.

But of course, this desired fantasy that many career tributes shared was immediately shattered beyond repair once they experienced what it was like to be a victor outside of the arena. This same phenomenon occurred to you when you won the 74th Hunger Games, because despite all the time that’s passed, you still couldn’t get over the fact that you had killed your former district partner, Cato Hadley.

Granted, it was either you or him, considering that the gamemakers revoked the two victor rule when you both least expected it. However, since you knew deep down inside that this technicality was a comfort to nobody but you, you decided to spend some time out of District 2 borders in order to collect your thoughts.

It was working for a while, until a peacekeeper caught you sneaking out one day while you were least expecting it. Oddly enough, they seemed.. familiar. A bit too familiar for your liking. “Do you know how much trouble you can get for being out here?” That same peacekeeper harshly reprimanded, towering over at you with ease since he was about 6 foot. “I should execute right here just for your stupidity.”

It was then that he let your arm go with a small sigh. “But I suppose I can’t blame you. A life without me isn’t a life I wouldn’t want to be living either.” Suddenly, the peacekeeper removed his helmet to reveal a face you thought you wouldn’t ever see again.

“Miss me?” Cato asked, a small smug grin making its way to his face.