A/N: Big thank you to everyone who reviewed! Really appreciate your feedback.

I'm sorry it took me a while to update, but I somehow managed to overwrite my almost done second chapter with a different file... so I had to start all over. This is why I hate using a tablet for writing. But anyway, I think I like how this turned out more than what I had written before. Let me know what you think!

Again, English is not my first language. And I own nothing.

"I always wished for this. But it's almost turning into more of a nightmare, than a dream."

- Marshall Mathers

DAY 1

The icy breeze that the wind has brought with it was like a bucket of cold water poured right on their heads. But they still just stood there, unmoving, barely breathing. And none of them knew how to behave. None of them knew what to think. None of them was willing to move first.

If this was a typical Bloodbath, they'd all have been running in different directions by now. People watching them must be on the edge of their seats, excited as ever.

Clove didn't feel excited at all, though. She was pissed the hell off. Her eyes narrowed at the person in front of her, blood pulsating in her vains angrily. Because there was no way that of all people she was stuck with Katniss Everdeen, as her ally. Of all people, it had to be her. Somebody must have heard her swear about the girl millions of times a day since they had arrived and they just thought it'd be super entertaining to see her struggle to keep the fire girl alive. The girl she was looking forward to kill. Now all her dreams were crushed and she had to play this new role. She didn't have any choice. It was the only way if she wanted to survive. She had to play along and swallow down this big joke that was just shoved down their throats.

Oh how all those Capitol clowns must enjoy this...

Clove continued to look at the brunette who didn't really bother to glare back. She just started looking around and her eyes widened a little, as she noticed something Clove had been aware of all along.

No Cornucopia. No weapons. No food. Just trees. Only Goddamn trees everywhere around.

She turned her head to the left and met Thresh's dangerous eyes, piercing her through like a very sharp knife. Okay. Now that she knew she wouldn't be in control the way she had originally thought she would, the big, muscular guy standing a few feet away had her feel threatened. She knew he was her ally. But the Game Makers can do whatever they want with those rules. They are the ones that make them. They could take this one back as easily as they introduced it.

Clove broke the eye contact and turned her head to the right now where the little boy from 4 stood, pale and shaky, but she couldn't tell if it was because of the cold or out of fear. She guessed it was both.

Damn it. This little guy was going to be nothing but a major pain in the ass. She knew it. She was sure that he would have been killed in the Bloodbath... if things hadn't changed, that Is.

It felt like hours had passed since the countdown. Claudius' voice was still echoing in her head, though and it was giving her a headache. She shot each one of her allies a quick glance and decided to take the matters into her hands. Somebody had to. And she was damn sure she didn't want to end up, following the orders given by anyone, but herself. She felt like making that first move was going to give her some more control.

So she stepped off her metal circle, slowly but confidently, completely sure that it wouldn't have her explode into a million pieces. She looked up at district 12 again and rose her eyebrows, daring her. She could almost sense how uncertain she was. There was no other way, though. For now. They had to play their parts. Whether they liked it or not.

Funny. Clove knew that being a member of this team in the Games was going to be way harder than murdering in cold blood. She was prepared for the latter.

This? Not so much.

She almost smiled to herself, as she realized that most probably there was only one other person in the arena that shared that feeling with her.

Wherever he was.

Nobody dared to speak first. As soon as they finally realized that this was not a joke and that they were going to have to deal with each other from now on, they silently decided looking for food and water was what they were going to do next. So just like that, they were following Cato, having nothing to say, or maybe they were still too shocked to get a word out. Cato was anything, but surprised by now, though. He felt closer and closer to the edge with every step he was taking. It was cold enough that he could see his breath, but the rage he felt was keeping him warm.

This was the worst possible scenario that he would have never thought to consider before today. He had thought about the Games a lot ever since he had volunteered. He'd considered getting different allies. He'd considered not killing too many during Bloodbath. He had even considered Clove getting hurt . Even that wouldn't have thrown him off as much as this did. This rule change. What the hell were they thinking? What is the point? A greater show? What could have possibly made them think this was a good idea?

'We should split.' Cato spoke as the first one in the group after they had spent the last hour, walking down the dusty streets in silence. The other three looked at him with different emotions on their faces. The redhead seemed very uninterested; Cato almost found this funny. Rue just glanced at him with her eyes slightly widened and Peeta frowned.

'We're supposed to stay together. In order to survive, we have to-"

'Yeah, thank you for the painful reminder, Lover Boy.' He snapped at the other guy, his hot blood running fast through his body, making it even harder for him to calm down, 'but we will have a better chance of finding water if we split, got it?'

'What if one of us dies?' Peeta challenged him again, keeping his head high, trying to let their self-proclaimed leader know he was not afraid. Cato glared dangerously and walked over, stopping right in front of him, letting him feel how big of an advantage he had over his body.

'If one of you dies' he spat through gritted teeth 'I promise I won't cry.'

And with that he turned his back on everyone and started storming off, fists clenched.

'You won't cry and you won't win.'

Having heard that he stopped again abruptly, panting. The need to beat the hell out of district 12 was fighting with the need to consider that as much as he hated Peeta, he actually could be right. What if this decision was going to get one of them killed? What if the Game Makers were not just screwing around? What if all this was actually how things were going to stay for the rest of the show?

Cato turned his head to the side, seeing them out of the corner of his eye. They all just stood there, staring. Normally, he didn't mind when people stared. But this trio was the worst punishment ever.

Peeta swallowed hard, lips shivering, as the air around them felt like it was even colder than before.

'Fine.' Cato said finally, his voice bitter and full of resent 'we stick together.'

And with that he started walking away again and just by the silence he could tell they weren't following.

'Need an invitation? Let's move!' He yelled at the top of his lungs over the shoulder. Rue jumped a little and Peeta put a comforting hand on her shoulder. But this time, the three of them obeyed.

It got dark way too soon for Clove's liking. They still had no water, no food and no supplies. The woods seemed to go on and on, no fields, no streams, just trees all over the place, sounds of animals filling the silence. She never would have thought she'd feel this Goddamn helpless. That's because she was supposed to have everything she'd need. So far she had nothing, plus three super slow and useless companions. Which still meant she had nothing.

All of a sudden Katniss stopped and kneeled, touching the ground and the leaves on it. Clove heard them stop and turned around with a frown, seeing Thresh and the boy just watch the brunette getting her hands dirty.

'Too early for prayers, fire girl.' Clove said with a snort. Katniss ignored her, which only made her angrier. At this point everything they did, from walking to breathing, was annoying her. After a short while, Katniss moved to a different spot a few feet away 'The hell are you doing?' Clove snapped impatiently.

'I wouldn't think that you paid any attention to survival skills station on the training, did you?' She responded quietly, her emotionless eyes looked up at her, as if she was actually waiting for an answer. Clove didn't really have one so she just stared back coldly 'thought so.'

Katniss got up and pointed to their left; 'we should go that way.'

'And why would we?' Clove barked, absolutely clueless and mad with the fact that the other girl was telling them what to do.

'I'm trying to find water. If you don't want any, stay here. And good luck.'

And with that she just walked away, Thresh and the kid followed her without another word, leaving Clove alone and fuming.

She knew Cato would laugh at her now if he could see her. Pathetic. Wherever he was now, she was sure he was doing a way better job ordering his allies around.

She shook her head firmly to get rid of any thoughts of her partner. He was not here. And he was not her parter anymore. Those were the hard facts.

Yet she couldn't help but think what would happen if she faced the blonde guy right now? How long would he hesitate for before trying to break her in half?

She might have been his district partner. But Cato lived for the Games. For becoming the victor. He wasn't going to spare anybody. Including her.

With one last shake of her head, she followed Katniss.

They walked into one of the tall buldings that looked completely ruined from the outside but inside, it appeared nobody had ever walked in here. Grey walls, lots and lots of small rooms and stairs. Every window was broken, the floor covered in glass. And it was absolutely empty. No furniture, no stuff, nothing whatsoever.

It was almost dark at this point so they could barely see. Cato was somewhat uncertain about trying to search this bulding now. There was a lot of floors and stairs and he just didn't feel like it was a good idea to have them look for anything useful in here. It didn't look like they'd find much anyway.

'Ok. Let's get out of here.' He told them, turning around 'we have to find shelter for tonight.'

'We could stay here.' Peeta said, looking exhausted. Dehydration was starting to affect all four of them.

'Really, Mellark?' Cato barked, annoyed that district 12 dared talking back to him.

'While I'm flattered that you made an effort to remember my last name, I don't think staying here is a bad idea-'

He realized only a second too late he shouldn't have opened his mouth at all. Cato's hands locked around his neck and had him pressed against the wall before he was done talking. He gasped, as his back hit the wall hard and Rue stepped back, terrified. The redhead wrapped an arm around her shoulders, looking more than careless for once.

'Let me explain something to you, dumb shit.' Cato whispered, his voice deep and dangerous 'I tell you to do something.. and you do it! Clear?'

Peeta looked like he tried to glare back at him, but he probably didn't have the guts to do so, as Cato's big and muscular form held him in place, his hands squeezing his neck, demanding an answer. So he nodded, wincing and trying to push him off. Cato let go of him, looking at his startled face with crazy, dark eyes. It was like he turned into something else for that moment. And right then Peeta was sure he wouldn't hesitate to seriously wound him if he still tried to fight back or argue. The new rule wouldn't matter.

'I got it.' Said Mellark with one hand on his neck. 'Got it.'

'I sure hope so.' Cato snapped, then turned around and saw the girls standing there, both pale and shaky. His eyes returned to their normal blue at the sight of them, but he said nothing. For some reason he started thinking of Clove again. Of how she never looked at him the way those two were right now. His two little allies were staring at him like he was a monster. Funny. He didn't even leave a bruise on beloved Peeta. Yet.

She never saw him as a monster. Even though he was one.

Where are you..?

Cato shook his head and walked away, not bothering to tell them to follow.

He knew they would.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading. I hope you liked it and that you want me to continue. I'll really appreciate your feedback.