They’ve got company

Katniss's thoughts turn to her hometown unofficial boyfriend Gale, imagining his face as he watches her and Peeta's intimate moment on the screen. She pictures the jealousy burning in his eyes, the way his fists would clench at his sides. The thought makes her feel guilty, like she's betraying him.

She looks at Peeta, her expression hardening. “This isn't real,” she says, her voice cold and distant.

Peeta frowns, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What are you talking about?" he asks, his voice tinged with hurt. "I thought... I thought you wanted this too."

Katniss shakes her head, her jaw clenched tight. "No," she says firmly. "I don't want this. I don't want any of it."

She stands up abruptly, the water cascading off her body in rivulets. She reaches for her clothes.

"We need to focus on surviving," she says, her voice hard and determined. "That's all that matters right now."

Peeta watches her, his expression unreadable. But Katniss can see the hurt in his eyes, the way his shoulders slump in defeat. She feels a pang of regret, of longing. But she pushes it down, burying it deep inside where it can't touch her.

As Katniss and Peeta step out of the river, dripping wet and half-naked, they're suddenly confronted by the two female members of the Career pack. The women block their path, their weapons trained on the pair's chests.

Katniss's heart races, her mind immediately going into survival mode. She knows they're **** like this, without their clothes or weapons.

The careers pack are the four tributes from Districts One and Two. Unlike the other districts, they train for the Hunger Games each year, wanting to be nominated for this. They’re dangerous, deadly and they’re usually the ones that that win the games.

Katniss steps in front of a weak Peeta, her body shielding his as she faces down the Careers. Her eyes are hard, her jaw set in a determined line.

“What do you want?” she asks, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins.

The blonde Career named Glimmer smirks, her eyes roving over Katniss's barely-covered body. “Well would you look at this,” she drawls, her voice dripping with mockery. “Look at the little mockingbird, all wet and exposed.”

Her companion chuckles, her hand tightening on her weapon. “Maybe we should take her back to our camp,” she suggests, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Show her what happens to pretty little things who wander into the wrong territory.”

Katniss feels a surge of anger, of disgust. She knows what the Careers are capable of, what they've done to other tributes.

“Try it,” she spits, her voice low and dangerous. “See what happens.”

The Careers exchange a glance, a silent communication passing between them. And then, as one, they raise their weapons, aiming them squarely at Katniss's chest.

Katniss tenses, her body preparing for the impact of the arrows. But she doesn't flinch, doesn't show an ounce of fear.