Red Apples [Completed]

Chapter 1: Katniss Snow Everdeen

~4 Years Later~

I fall to the ground as my step mother slaps me, I accidentally spilt her drink on her dress and shoes only because I was rushing as I have many chores to still do. She grabs my hair forcefully pulling me back

"You worthless child. Didn't your parents ever tell you to walk properly" she spits

"You look just like your father... I always hated him and was happy he had died and left you, all alone. You're the scum of this earth and you are not worth to be a princess" she spits and lets me go and I rush off to the kitchen eventually starting to cry and one of the head cooks starts hugging me

"I don't know why she treats me so. Elaine, isn't she meant to love me?" I cry

"Shhh. It's okay Katniss. I promised your father I'd keep you safe and to make sure everyone sees you on the thrown not that disgusting, vial, filthy wrench" she coos stroking my hair while everyone else continues their jobs

"I wish my father was here. Ever since he died everyone has been glum. Everyone in the villages are poor, they never sing and dance, they're never smiling, everyone has just become miserable" I say hugging her tight as I calm myself down

"We all wish he were here. Also your mother, we were all thinking that our lives would be happy and that your parents would be here forever" she admits and I sniff pulling away while wiping my eyes

"Why is my life just falling to pieces?" I sigh and she frowns

"Don't worry princess. The time will come where you will have your moment and take that awful woman's place" she explains and I sigh, I highly doubt that.

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I walk through the deep forest berry picking, my stepmother had sent me out to go berry picking for a ball that she is going to hold, now most people in my position right now would pick poisonous berries and make sure she eats them but I am not that cruel even though she treats me horridly I still don't like the idea of just killing to get what I want, my parents taught me better than that and I know that no matter how cruel the person is to me, I won't kill them just because I want what they have.

As I pick the berries I hear a noise, a noise of a horse galloping, I place the basket down as the horse comes over

"Woah! Woah! Slow down buddy. It's okay" I stroke his snout and he calms down and nuzzles me and I giggle as it tickles

"Finnick! Finnick!" I hear a voice till a man comes into view, he comes closer and I get a better view of him, beautiful blue eyes and ashy blonde hair, I can tell he's some kind of royalty as what his wearing and how fancy the horse is

"I'm sorry. Did he frighten you?" He asks and I shake my head

"No. He's a little more calm now" I explain stroking his snout and he looks at me in a way I can't describe

"Excuse me for sounding rude but why are you staring at me?" I ask trying to sound polite

"It's just... Finnick is never this affectionate to strangers" and I shrug

"I guess he knows I won't hurt him" I say

"You seem really familiar madam. It's like we've met before" he states

"I highly doubt I've seen a prince in my life" I reply and we hear his name being called, Peter is his name? I didn't really hear it properly. He mounts his horse and smiles at me and rides off after saying goodbye and I sigh, he's handsome, that's for sure but he could never love me, why would he? My face is dirty, my hands has dirt on them from the garden my dress which is more like rags is filthy, I'm not a princess I'm just a girl who can't even get her own palace back. Nobody needs me.