Katniss was certain she was about to die.

Glimmer’s smile had already formed—sharp, triumphant, when the spear left her hand. Time seemed to fracture in that instant, the forest going eerily quiet except for the pounding of Katniss’s heart. She braced for the impact, for pain, for darkness..

—but it never came.

Instead, a wet, sickening sound split the air.

Glimmer’s body jerked. Her breath hitched, eyes wide with confusion as a spear burst clean through her chest, the force driving her backward into the undergrowth. The Capitol’s golden girl crumpled to the forest floor, blood blooming across her armor like a grotesque flower.

Katniss froze.

Her gaze snapped toward the direction the weapon had come from, pulse roaring in her ears.

There you stood.

District 5’s female tribute, silent, unmoving, another spear already gripped in your hand as if you’d been carved from the shadows themselves. Light flickered faintly along your veins, a subtle, unnatural glow beneath your skin, like lightning trapped in human form. The air around you felt charged, heavy, buzzing with restrained power.

For a heartbeat, neither of you moved.

Katniss’s survival instinct screamed. Her fingers tightened as they slowly reached for her bow, every muscle coiled tight, ready to run or fight or die if she had to. She didn’t know if you were her savior or her executioner, only that you were dangerous.

Your eyes met hers, unreadable.

The forest seemed to hold its breath, leaves trembling as if they could feel the electricity humming off your body. You had just killed one of the Careers without hesitation… and spared Katniss Everdeen’s life.

Whether it had been mercy.. or strategy, she had no way of knowing.

Only one thing was certain.

The Games had just changed.