The first night

"Where's the virgin?"

"Not having sex, that's for sure!"

"What do you think, lover boy? Where would that virgin go?"

"I thought I saw her frigid ass running this way."

I had been trying to stay as silent as possible from my hiding place high up in the tree, but if not for my makeshift harness, I would have fallen off the branch when I heard Peeta's voice.

I don't know what shocked me more: the fact that he was working with the Careers, or that he would talk about me so callously.

Not even 24 hours ago he had kissed me; now he was mocking my virginity and teaming up with people who wanted to kill me!

Alarmingly, they decided to set up camp at the base of my tree.

I was confident that they didn't know I was up there, as they would surely have tried to kill me if they did.

I wasn't planning on moving for the rest of the night, so provided they left me alone, I would reciprocate.

If I'd had my bow with me, I could have picked them off one by one from a safe distance. But one versus six, armed only with a knife? Those odds definitely weren't in my favour.

"How's she 18 and not fucked anyone yet? There must be something wrong with her!"

"Promise me we can strip her naked before we kill her. I want to see that crying, pathetic face one more time."

To try and block out the comments floating you into the canopy, I recollected my first day in the Hunger Games.

xxx

Haymitch had warned me not to go for the Cornucopia but the bow had been sparkling in the morning sun, calling out to me.

I had been trying to strategise how I could get there first, loot supplies, and get out again, when I met Peeta's eyes.

He shook his head. Had he read my mind, and was telling me not to do what I planned? My mind flashed back to the previous evening; his lips on my own, while I stood soaking wet before him in nothing but a damp robe.

And just like that, my chance had gone.

The horn had sounded, and the Careers were already halfway to the Cornucopia.

Fuming at Peeta for once again confusing me, I sprinted towards the woods, stopping only to scoop up a backpack.

With the blood bath happening behind me, I put as much distance as I could between myself and the Cornucopia.

After a few hours, I'd stopped to do an inventory check.

A large, serrated knife; a water canister; strips of dried meat; and a length of rope.

I'd used my District Twelve-honed survival skills to forage more food, and after climbing up into a tree, I had lashed myself to the trunk to make sure that I didn't accidentally fall out while asleep.

I had been marvelling at the material of my jacket (thin enough to keep me cool under the hot sun, but also able to trap air when the temperature dropped at night), when the Careers had loudly cut their way through the vegetation.

xxx

I wake up to a pain in my abdomen.

I scrunch my face and try to fall back asleep, but I know I can't put off the inevitable.

I hadn't relieved myself since before the opening bloodbath, and that choice was now catching up with me.

I squirm from side to side on my branch, feeling bloated.

The Careers (and Peeta) were still fast asleep on the forest floor, but moving would risk waking them up. They'd already had a good laugh at my nudity; seeing me squirming for the toilet would only add to their mirth.

I hold on for as long as I can, hoping that the Careers would wake up and move on, but I finally have to admit defeat.

I close my eyes, cringe, and for the first time since I was a little girl, wet myself.

I try to keep a neutral expression as I feel a warmth spreading through my underwear and down my legs. The material of my pants was dark enough that it should hide the telltale wet patch, and I had to stop myself from audibly moaning as relief flooded my body.

Typically, it was only a few minutes later when the Careers begin to stir. I stay silent as they pack up and move on. When I'm satisfied that the coast is clear, I untie myself and climb down the tree. I can't ignore how my wet pants are sticking to my legs, and by the time I alight on the forest floor with a SQUELCH, I'm so mortified that I want the ground to open up and swallow me.

Instead, I **** myself to go on.

I'd stripped naked, confessed my virginity, and now wet myself. The sooner **** came to me, the better.