Dehydration was making Mathias' head spin like he was stuck between reality and dreamland. Alfred and he had stopped for a while, but they soon realised it had been a really bad idea; they couldn't move anymore.

Mathias was wishing for a sponsor at the moment, though, he hadn't given a good show yet and he was certain he would simply die there. He couldn't. He couldn't die. His family was waiting for him back home hoping he would come back with food for the rest of their lives. Having this big of a family wasn't a blessing in the districts, especially feeding them. Mathias was used of being hungry, but not thirsty.

Using his last resources, he pushed himself up of the floor. They had almost reached the very top of the castle. Maybe, maybe just there, on the roof, there would be something for them… maybe just there…

He grabbed his axe and looked down at Alfred, "We got some more to do," he sorely said, promising he wouldn't say anything else until he had gulped five gallons of water.

Xxx

Alfred wasn't doing much better, but he realized what Mathias was trying to do. Maybe if they reached the top there would be some type of prize. To be honest, Alfred didn't believe in that. No, there wouldn't be any clean water source, just the dirty water they kept finding. The two of them needed to find a way to purify the water. But neither of them had paid any attention to the survival part of training. Out of all of the partners he picked, Alfred picked the worse one.

There was no doubt in his mind, if he ran into another career he would jump ship and ditch this pathetic survivor. But the problem was with Mathias' single minded attempt to make it to the top; he may never see his old crew. The two of them might even die before they made it. And was it just him or was it getting hotter the higher they climbed. After what felt like most of the day, they finally ran out of stairs. Alfred's knees were shaking just as badly as Mathias.

Cursing loudly Alfred almost wanted to kill Mathias for dragging his ass all the way to the top for no reason. "Well.. I guess we'll just head back down." Alfred said grimly.

xxx

"Head back down?!" Mathias barked, glaring at Alfred with all the consciousness he still had, "There's surely somethin' 'round, I can't believe…" he finished in a whisper, finally thinking he was way too exhausted to search more and gave up, "Right…"

They had wasted two days here, climbing stairs after stairs… for fucking nothing. Damn, his head was feeling like an earthquake, a really painful earthquake, and he was beginning to have black spots blurring his vision. Grabbing tighter on his axe, he grunted and leaded the way down, slowly. Each step was a real pain to do and he tried to stay as careful as he could even if all he wanted was to dash in a room and drink the filthy water there.

He was so thirsty and he could almost see Death waving at him.

Xxx

Niels limped along, brushing any help aside. There was no need to wear out the others because of his injury. He was just happy that Berwald had grunted awhile back that they were almost there. Almost where? It seemed to them they had been climbing forever. Maybe he thought that if they were higher up then the careers wouldn't venture so high. But Niels' pant leg was dyed red with his own blood and he felt weak and sick. It didn't help that he offered these two their food.

Eirik did have an idea on how to get food. There was always a shuffling sound of rats in the corners and he wanted to use the net Niels accidentally snagged. It was a good idea. Once they found a room for the night, Eirik and Tino went out together to try and get some meat while Niels tried to help Berwald make a fire. It was hot and unbearable, but if they wanted a fire that could cook meat, then they would need to make one now.

Xxx

They finally managed to have a little fire, fire that was warming even more the searing room. Niels and Berwald sat away from it but close enough to take care of it and not let it die. It was good to sit for a moment. The only moment he had been able to relax, and relax wasn't really the word, was the night Tino and he had been sleeping together under the blanket, in each other's arms, into that dark room near the Careers.

Just like Berwald opened the mouth to ask the older brother something, a canon blasted outside, announcing a tribute's death. They both jolted and Berwald rapidly grabbed his spear to get ready for a fight. He peeked outside. He didn't know if it was close, but he had to make sure it wasn't. Maybe it wasn't.

Twelve. There was only the half left now.

Maybe… He frowned, mumbling "Tino" before rapidly glancing back at Niels and waiting. No… if one of Eirik or Tino had been taken into a fight, they would have heard footsteps close by, struggling, screams, another canon, but no, nothing. They were safe.

Xxx

Eirik stiffened when he heard the cannon. His hands dropped the rat he was busy skinning looking at Tino. Maybe Niels had bled to death or the careers had found them. "You don't think?" he whispered but Tino shook his head.

"No we would have heard them. But we better get back." Tino quickly picked up two rats and began a quick run back to their room. It was similar to the one that Eirik and Niels had slept in with a secret entrance. Only this time it was more like a chamber and there really was not physical way out. It was a better option than sleeping out in the open and Tino was just glad that these two brothers had a sharp eye for such subtle things like conspicuous switch or bump in the wall.

When they both returned, they saw two relief faces. It was weird to have two people whom one day you would have to kill smiling happily at your return and that it wasn't you who just died. Niels took the skinned rats and began to cook without saying a word. In fact it was only really Tino who ever wanted to talk. Eirik was more talkative than the other two, but not by much. But then again when you are faced with almost certain death you probably wouldn't be so chatty.

But Tino talked when he was nervous and he kept up a small conversation with his three other allies. Only Eirik and Niels bothered to answer, Berwald kept silent as he kept watch at the door. There was only silence when the four of them began to eat their first real meal since entering the arena. It was odd how fast the deaths were piling up. It made Tino feel anxious. By this time tomorrow, he imagined he could very well be dead.

Alfred didn't jump one he heard the cannon, nor did Mathias. It was the second one of the day and both of them were too hungry and thirsty to react. Everything was a blur as they both willed themselves just to walk and survive. They weren't gaining any luck in the rooms they searched and Alfred was surprised that he hadn't received a parachute full of clean, good water. But maybe that was his trainer's way of telling him that he wasn't pleased in Alfred's alliance. Then again, neither was Alfred. He regretted his decision with each step and each vain attempt in swallowing.

All he could feel with the burning in his throat, the heaviness of his tongue, and pounding of his head. His feet, he was sure ached from climbing and walking, but they were numb. That's why he didn't hear the footsteps running up from behind. With a sick smile, he knew who it was and Mathias was too lost in his own world to notice. Stopping, Alfred gripped his sword, ready to welcome his old alliance with open arms.

Xxx

Too late, Mathias heard something that sounded like running footsteps echoing in the empty ocean of his head. He didn't know if he should turn around or simply run, but neither of these solutions was pleasing his numb dry body. When his foot found a stable piece of the floor, or was it only his foot that was completely unstable, Mathias turned his head around only to see a blurred and pleased expression on his ally's face; or should he say, his ex-ally.

Too late, he saw the others on top of the stairs; the ones from district 2 and the one from 4, the only Careers alive up to now, and there, Mathias knew he was in deep shit. But luckily, they stopped when they saw Alfred and it gave Mathias enough time to gather the last strength he had and run away.

Berwald was automatically alerted by running footsteps in the hallway, and those were approaching rapidly. He rapidly turned to face the other and shushed at Tino, keeping an alerted ear towards the doorway. Gripping tightly on his spear, he signed at the other to rapidly get their weapons, the few knives they had and that sword from the dead tribute from 1. They stayed in the room, hidden on each sides of the door.

On person flew pass the door so rapidly they couldn't tell who it was. Then, four other people did, who were certainly the Careers due to their size. So, only three other tributes were dispersed around the ruins and safe… or were they?

When the footsteps faded away, Berwald motioned the other to move. They would come back in this room if it was safe later, but for now, they needed to change or floor. At least.

Mathias body was reclaiming some rest, was reclaiming to stop, but he couldn't; those guys were trying to kill him damn it! Saying he wanted to ally with them. But knowing they only had the half of them left, talking about the total number of tributes, it wasn't worth it anymore; he should have gone with them from the start. He should have gone to talk with one of the brothers instead of that retarded Alfred who wanted to play on his own. What kind of Career was it to abandon his fellow tribute from 1 in the first place?

And who was Mathias to think that…?

When turning a corner, Mathias stumbled on his own limp feet and crashed down on the stone floor, dropping his axe. Oh, those guys were having pleased face now. They slowed down, wanting to appreciate every single death they were causing, either by mental torture of physical one, and that Ivan guy really looked like the very type of guy to like this. Rapidly, Mathias crawled to get it back, causing the other to motion a tad faster and he turned around to throw the weapon at the first one, who was Alfred. Being too exhausted just like Mathias, he didn't have time to react and received it direction between the eyes, breaking his glasses in two perfect half before crashing down, causing a canon to blast outside.

But before the other guys could tell or do anything, the place moved, causing confusion into the group. A wall moved, separating the trio from the dead body of Alfred and Mathias and the place kept moving for a long moment before coming to a stop.

The Gamemakers were changing the castle's configuration.

A pleased cocky smile grew on Mathias' lips as he stretched to pull his axe back from Alfred's face and dropped down on his back, laughing. Though, he couldn't move anymore. It was over for him, he knew about that.

The group stopped, nervously looking around as everything moved. The floor was trying to separate them, though, they jumped around to stay together, witnessing some walls moving and new doors appear.

And new faces.

The Careers. Three of them. Standing at the end of a new corridor, were a lot closer than they ever thought they were.

Berwald rapidly pushed the other guys to start running and they aimed for a new staircase that had just appeared. He was happy they had taken they stuff with them, knowing that now they would be taken away from them in the now disappeared room.

Xxx

It was shocking to see the careers just down the hall looking at them, confused in what just happened. The whole castle was transformed and Niels didn't know where they were just that they had to run. Jolting into an adrenaline induced run, all four of them pushed and ran down the narrow hallway. What had once been spacious halls was narrow making it impossible to run more than one at a time. Berwald and he were in the front somehow with Tino followed by Eirik.

Niels looked back at his brother in a panic knowing if the careers caught them Eirik would be the first to be killed. Luckily for him Berwald was an incredibly fast runner and Tino would probably faster than Niels but he had clogged up the hall and the smaller man kept pushing on his shoulders begging Niels to go faster. It didn't help that his lungs were starting to burn and his lungs needed more air. And his leg throbbed and no doubt opened back up. He struggled to even keep Berwald in distance of him and the careers were approaching fast.

"Hurry up!" he heard Eirik yell in a panicked voice as the leader of the career pack, Ivan barreled towards them. He could feel Tino knock up against him as Eirik pushed Tino to go faster.

"Stop that!" Tino said as he struggled to stay afoot. The hall became lined with rubble and it wasn't long until all four of them were tripping over the loose stone. Yet Ivan was making ground and Niels could practically hear the man's breath.

They needed to find a familiar room and Niels looked around, trying to spot something to give them a compass to get out of the destroyed all. But rooms that they passed were from other floors that Niels saw in the past. It was as if they destroyed all the hall ways making everything dangerous and hard to get over.

"Ah!" Niels looked back to see that Tino had tripped at the base of the rumble and Eirik was leaping over the small man, ditching him as Ivan loomed closer. Getting to the top they punched through the next level and Niels recognized the area. The room to their left was the same place that Eirik and Niels had spent the night in the first night. Grabbing Berwald by the sleeve he steered them back into the study and he looked back to see Tino limping just as bad as Niels. He was near the opening and Eirik was yanking the switch to open the secret passage way.

But it wasn't like last time. It didn't stay continuously open and began to close as soon as the switch was pulled. He, Eirik and Berwald both climbed inside urging Tino to hurry up but the door was sliding shut before the smaller man could make it. The last thing they saw was Ivan making it to the top of the rubble looking at Tino with a murderous glint.

The three of them stayed there, shocked until they heard the thuds and Tino's screams. There were wet, blunt strikes and the man's scream that left a lot to Niels' imagination. Ivan was budgeting Tino to death much like he had the first day with his first victim. No matter how far they climbed down the stairs, it seemed Tino's screams followed them. Niels didn't even try to keep a brave face knowing that it could easily been him and anyone that was captured by Ivan could expect a similar death. Eirik began crying, the shock and the sounds getting the best of him. If it weren't for Berwald pushing them to keep going, the two brothers would probably have stopped in the middle of the stairwell.

But that was dangerous and they needed to get out. They emerged after descending several minutes where there were broad hallways again. But the rubble was just as numerous.

Xxx

Berwald kept pressing the boys down the hallway, wanting to put as much distance as they could between them and Ivan. That sick bastard… Tino deserved a better end than this one if no end at all. But everybody was playing along the game's lines and it was making Berwald sick. Couldn't they understand who the real enemy was?

But the man was not a real leader. He was one, but not a leader of words. He was a leader of actions and he couldn't convince anybody about doing anything.

When Berwald realised that Niels couldn't continue due to his leg and some breathing problems, the man stopped and slowly walked closer to him to take him into his arms and continue they way to at least a safer room. They cautiously walked, Eirik leading and looking around to find a place for his brother to rest. They found a little room and Berwald put Niels down, returning at the door as usual to peek outside.

He could still hear Tino's deadly screams even after the canon announced his death. It was impregnated in his memory. But they couldn't stay here for too long; there were voices in the direction where they came from and very certainly were they belonging to the same people that were already pursuing them.

"Quick," Berwald pressed Eirik, staring at the end of the hallway with his spear pressed against his side. Tino's death had removed them some water supplies and a knife along with their purification device. He turned the end to look at the brother, observing the boy helping the older one drinking from their remaining drinkable water and he kneeled down to help him wrap the man's leg back. It was bleeding again, but they couldn't do much for now, they needed to keep going.

They continued their way down the hallway in the same direction they were previously facing. Eirik was helping Niels walking; as long as they stayed silent.

Though, after a moment, they could hear a low whiny death rattle in the next hallway. Someone was dying just there. Berwald looked back at Niels and Eirik with a slight frown and they silently continued their way until they came around the corner and spotted a guy on the floor slowly breathing. He didn't seem harmed.

And Berwald automatically knew who it was.

Rapidly checking behind them to see no one was following, Berwald walked until he was over Mathias and gave him his usual cold glare.

"Fuck, I'm in hell," the lying man grumbled, turning his head on the side. The man with the spear snorted, mumbling "Ye can walk?" It was obvious Mathias hadn't found water in days and that he was in an advanced state of dehydration, but outside of that, he looked manageable.

"Fuck ye…" Mathias simply sighed, not strong enough to say anything else. "Well, if ye don't need water…" Berwald simply said as he kicked the axe out of Mathias hand and leaned to grab it, turning around to go meet the other guys before he could hear Mathias yell "Come back here ye homo! I'm so gonna kill ye!"

Berwald slowly shook the head and requested Eirik to give him one of their water bottles to throw it at Mathias. He didn't even bother giving him in hand. Though, all of a sudden Mathias looked like he still had energy as he threw himself on the bottle, shakily opened it and drank it all in no time.

Xxx

Niels looked at the man blandly. The last thing they needed was another injured person. But seeing how they really didn't stand a chance against the careers another person was just another person that could die before Eirik. Besides the man was just dehydrated unlike Niels that was injured and might just die from the festering wound. Well it wasn't festering yet, but Niels had seen too many Hunger Games to honestly believe that it might scab over and heal. No even if he managed to keep it clean Niels would probably be long gone before it could ever heal. So who really cared if this man tagged along?

Berwald on the other hand seemed to be perfectly fine with living this other tribute to die. Leaning on his brother's shoulders Niels said in a bland voice, "We might as well take him along. It might give us an edge against them." Their number priority was killing the careers off. All of which seemed to be doing a fine time wrecking havoc on the playing field. It was just the end of day three and there were only seven or so left. If they could get to a safer place, the game makers might actually give them a few days of rest. Maybe then Niels could heal some.

His teammate seemed to be thinking along the same lines since he now had the delusional man on his feet. The going was slow but eventually the career voice disappeared. They must have taken the wrong turn. Lucky for them because Eirik couldn't support all of Niels' weight and he collapsed after a few more minutes of walking. "I got to rest." He huffed heavily clutching his leg with shaky hands.

"I agree." Eirik piped up in a weak voice. All of his clothes were soaked in sweat and the sun was going down. It would be a cold night if they didn't start on a fire. At least that was one of the things Eirik was good at. They gave up in probably the worst places, in a ballroom of some type. The open area was eerie but they believed the Careers went back down to regroup and get more supplies.

Xxx

The last thing Mathias wanted was to tag along Berwald. This man was disagreeable and especially disagreeably silent and judging. He was certain that under the silence was hiding a killing machine or something the like. During the night, if he didn't stay cautious, he would have his head rolling.

But damn god that water…

And now, his stomach was dangerously grumbling, but this he could manage for a few more days. The man silently followed the other into that huge room where they had no cover, but it seemed that one of the District 8 was injured. Oh, these were the brothers Mathias had noticed during their two weeks in the Capitol. Well, now he supposed that they were seven plus the three other he didn't know, so, only eleven of all the tributes were still alive. He half heard a canon earlier, but he didn't really pay attention… he actually thought it was announcing his own death and laughed when he realised it wasn't him yet since he was still conscious.

While the white haired boy was busy taking care of his older brother, Mathias turned to Berwald and pressed him to give him back his axe, "Look dude, give it back," he tried to take it himself but was stopped by the dangerous point of the man's spear.

They stared for a moment until Mathias rolled his eyes and dropped himself against the wall, near a window. Berwald did the same, keeping a safe distance from his fellow 7 and sighed, looking outside. The sun was slowly fading and soon, when it would be dark enough, the anthem would play and the sky would illuminate with Tino's face from District 5.

The second Niels' wound was exposed to the air, Mathias jolted and shouted, "Woah, what happened there?!" craning his head to get a better few of the injury. It didn't look good. Only a parachute could help him with that, in his opinion. Unless they didn't move for several days.

Xxx

"I had a run in with a dead career yesterday." Niels answered in a gravelly voice. His throat was sore, his lungs exhausted and his body shot. But he still had enough energy to hiss when Eirik used the last remaining clean water on his wound. It seemed like such a waste but Niels' life depended on it.

"Think I should go find more water? We might not have time to boil any tomorrow morning." Eirik said in a haunted voice. No doubt Tino's screams were ringing through his head just like it was in Niels' and Berwalds'. Niels didn't like the idea of his brother going out to look for water but he had a valid point.

Now they had a dehydrated person and an injured one. Tomorrow they needed to eat and drink their fill. Though from the rat they ate Niels still didn't feel hungry. Opening his back he saw in his net was a half eaten carcass of rat. Eirik had brought so much back with this net that he couldn't even finish his meal. For a moment he felt selfish and didn't want to share, but in the end he tossed the half eaten flesh over to the other district 7 tribute. "Yes go, and see if you can catch some more rats." Niels groaned as he sat up to try and start a fire. "We shouldn't wait until tomorrow, they'll no doubt be hunting for us again." And they knew where they were. Or at least the general area.

Xxx

Mathias stretched to grab the eaten meat and looked up at the district 8 tribute, flashing him a grateful cocky grin before almost swallowing the meal. He was so damn hungry… Teaming up with Alfred had been the worst idea he ever had. Well, in the first place, he really thought the man would tag along the other Careers, taking him with him, but he didn't and they were both stuck together without any knowledge on how to survive. At least this group looked ok…

Outside of Berwald, of course. He couldn't bring himself to trust him. Not that he had already managed to show him he couldn't, but simply the look on his face told so. He never tried to learn more about him, to get to know him, but still.

Berwald stayed silent with his gaze wandering outside as he let out a low approving grunt. No. If they had to stay here for a long time, they had to take some supplied right now before those crazy Careers found them.

After several minutes of no Eirik, the sky outside turned completely dark and minutes later, the anthem played, featuring the fallen. It showed that one from 1, one from 3 and Tino from 5. Berwald's lips stretched on a side as he noticed that probably only Tino of all the tributes wore a smile on his picture. Things would go slowly up to now. They would be allowed some rest unless the Careers found them, but it was very unlikely. They needed some rest too, they were still humans after all.

Berwald turned his cold gaze on Mathias who was soundly eating and sighed, leaning his head back on the wall, "It'll be cold t'night," he said, looking up at the high ceiling. They didn't have their blanket anymore since it was in Tino's pack, and they clearly didn't want to pass an uncomfortable cold night.

"I'm not sleeping pressed against yer gay ass, forget 'bout it," Mathias said, sucking on his fingers as he threw the clean bones away. God, food was so damn good in an empty stomach…

Xxx

Niels' lips quirked slightly and he looked at the man. For a moment Mathias smiled at him before Niels flatly said, "One who just got rescued from certain death shouldn't complain about where he sleeps." Niels honestly didn't care about the sleeping arrangement and he was personally too exhausted to care. How this man even managed to bitch was beyond Niels.

In the darkness Niels struggled to get a fire started but eventually they had a small one just when Eirik returned with water and one rat. It wasn't much, but at least they would have something to tie them over. Together the brother boiled their bottles not allowing either Berwald or Mathias to help. One screw up and they would ruin the bottle and make their situation much worse. They even gave one bottle to Mathias to suck down by himself while Berwald, Eirik, and himself shared one together. But tomorrow they hoped they would be able to drink and replenish their energy some. The way his leg throbbed was a sure sign that Niels wouldn't and couldn't move to tomorrow. Right now his life was in the game makers' palms.

After nibbling on the rat, the four of them laid down. It was clear that Mathias and Berwald were not going to cooperate. Niels really didn't care and curled up next to the dying fire next to his brother. Those two could pout and hate each other all they wanted but Niels would be somewhat warm with his brother. It was their loss if they had their manly pride on the line and refused to sleep with another man.

Xxx

Berwald wasn't willing to die out of cold this night though and he didn't wait too long before lying closer to the brothers by the dying fire. Anyway, Niels was in a bad shape and he would be the one to need that blanket they lost with Tino, so, not even waiting for an approval of the shivering man, he wrapped an arm around him.

Mathias crinkled his nose looking at how weird they all looked. Well, not that it was weird, he didn't mind gays or whatever. It was just Berwald. The man looked all strong, straight and manly and everyone knew he swung that way. He had been witnessed with other guys back in district 7. It was just weird… and it was like Mathias feared the man would have an eye on him.

But anyway… even if he knew Niels was right, and this place was no place to be picky because in the end only one of them would get out of here alive, he couldn't bring himself to come closer to get somebody warmth. No… not tonight at least. He was still glad that despite his obvious repulsion toward his fellow 7 he still saved his life. This man was a whole lot too complicated for him to understand him…

The night passed without any flaw even if they all had nightmares. Berwald saw again and again the last picture he had of Tino, the expression on his face, Ivan running behind him right before he did God knew what with the man's body, those scream echoing in his ears. Berwald had killed during the Game, he really did, but it was nothing compared to witnessing someone that could be called a friend being killed, or at least hearing their deadly screams.

Just the same, now, Mathias feared someone would turn against him during the night and kill him. Alfred did turn against him and all along he could have done it during his sleep. Even if those guys looked clean and faithful, no one really knew…

"Someone cried durin' their sleep," Mathias sleepily mumbled as he drank some water from his bottle. He was mainly rehydrated now that he had finished his bottle and they would need to find more so there could all share… if they were willing to.