Chapter Seven! Definitely the longest chapter as of right now! This chapter was crucial and very important so that's why it's as long as it is. Thank for the wonderful reviews and all of the story alerts! You guys are wonderful! Keep it up! Enjoy and I will shortly be writing chapter eight. And thus begins the games...PSYCHED. Next week, my chapters may come out a bit slower, I have tests, projects and papers so it'll be busy.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or the plot line, some of the lines in this chapter are Suzanne Collin's. I do however, own my own characters and plot line.

Read on! ~xoxx, Carolyn


I wake up with sunlight shining on my face and the ocean waves crashing across the walls; the sounds of gulls cry out in the distance.

I sit up and stretch, stopping when I find three people gawking at the scene before them.

My prep team.

"Good morning?"

Athena stares at the fluorescent waves, her catlike eyes taking it in with so much curiosity, "Is this what District Four looks like?"

I smile softly and nod, "Yes, we have some pretty bad storms some days but for the most part, this is what it looks like."

"It's so beautiful," she whispers.

Sweetpea scrunches her little button nose, "I bet it reeks of dead fish though!"

Apollo closes his eyes and tilts his head back, soaking up the artificial light, "Who cares! This sunlight feels soooo good."

"Indeed it does."

"I'd like to visit sometime!"

I make a face as I look at his extravagant golden outfit that matches his own hair and make up perfectly, "Well, if you did, you certainly wouldn't be able to wear those clothes."

His face drops, "Oh. Maybe I'll just stay here."

Their love for beautiful clothes and bright, shining make up will always surpass their desire to see natural beauty.

I would hate to live a life like they do.

Athena seems to be the only one who would actually make the trip, "I'd give my clothes up to see it. I've never been outside the Capitol."

Sweetpea claps her hands, "Well enough of that, let's get to work!"

My team works on perfecting me for the biggest night of this week, the interview with Caesar Flickerman, an interview I dread.

My tan skin glows as if the sun lies just beneath the surface, my usually narrower olive green eyes look big and wondrous as they make them up with golden and sandalwood colored shadow and black mascara that reflects gold in the light. They color my cheeks with a dusty plum and my lips are a pouty, pale pink.

My long hair is sleek and shiny as it falls down my back, my bangs shimmer with golden dust.

I turn around and almost gasp. "And now you have been turned into a sun goddess my dear," the deep voice of Moana comes just from behind me.

"Ready for your dress?"

I nod and close my eyes while they slip the dress over my head, the fabric feels soft and airy.

"Open!"

The eyes widen as I take in the length of the mirror, staring at the creature that stands before me.

Sun goddess is an understatement.

The dress is a long, flowy yellow with one shoulder and a sunburst that extends outwards from my sternum.

"I figured since we already captured the ocean during the parade, we would work at it from the sun's perspective this time."

"It looks beautiful, your work is amazing!"

He smiles with pride, "Thank you Hydra."

I wear two inch heels that are sparkly and yellow, I can actually walk decently in this pair. Thank god; how embarrassing would it be to trip and fall flat on my face in front of all of Panem?

Moana hugs me, "You will do wonderful Hydra, I know it."

"I hope so, I feel like it will be hard to live up to the crowd's expectations. I'm always being compared to Arlen and I don't know if I can be as friendly and likable as he was..."

"The crowd all ready loves you, there is nothing to be worried about. They know you are who you are, just do as Finnick and Salacia have instructed you to do and you will sail through the interview brilliantly."

With one last hug, he sends me off to meet up with Finnick and Wiley, who is dressed in a white and golden suit, his red hair glows beneath the hall lights and his blue eyes look as clear as the summer sky.

"You clean up well kid," I pinch his cheek, a habit that Wiley despises.

He bats my hand away and straightens up, "You don't look so bad yourself oldie."

"Oldie? Heyyy, respect your elders."

He grins and sticks his tongue out at me, "Elder? Psh, no way."

Finnick takes my hand and twirls me around, "You look beautiful..."

Annie rushes at me and throws her arms around my neck, nearly knocking me to the ground, "OH! Oh you look so wonderful!"

I squeeze her back, "Thank you Annie, you look beautiful as well!"

Her usually wild hair is tamed, ringlets fall down her shoulders and her emerald eyes are glowing. She is dressed in a deep sea green dress that sweeps the floor and swishes when she turns.

Finnick pulls her close and it kisses her long and deep.

I can't help but feel envious.


Cato sat in his assigned chair and looked out at the crowd who sat in elevated stands that had been temporarily set up in the city circle. The sky was growing darker but the lights were bright and almost blinding, but that didn't stop him from giving everyone a bright smile and waving up at the stands.

Cato was dressed in a charcoal colored suit with black accents, his ocean blue eyes were bright and girls called out his name from everywhere.

Well, almost everywhere.

There were some cheering for Marvel as well, which highly annoyed him. The District One boy was smiling and waving as well, giving a few winks here and there.

How stupid.

Caesar Flickerman walked out on stage to thunderous applause; he waved to the crowd and television cameras who had adored him for more than 40 years.

Flickerman had hosted the interviews for the games for all that time and looked the exact same every year. His face was coated with white makeup and his hair and eyebrows were dyed a deep midnight blue, just as his suit was.

His lips and eyelids were coated with the same color and the suit blinked with thousands of tiny bulbs that were made to look like the stars against the dark night sky.

Cato shook his head, Caesar looked ridiculous.

When Glimmer stood up for her turn, she turned and gave a cute smile to Cato, swishing her hair over her shoulder before turning to the crowd and taking her seat at center stage.

He had to admit that she was sexy in that see-through golden gown, her blond ringlets falling to mid-back.

"Just like Hydra," he thought.

He listened to her, Marvel and then Clover before he stood and made his way to the chair in the middle.

"Cato Mika everyone!"

The crowd clapped and cheered loudly before Caesar quieted them down, turning to Cato and smiling, "So Cato, how do you feel about being here?"

"Well Caesar, I am honored to be here representing District Two, its pretty exciting actually."

"That's good to hear, tell me, what is your strategy?"

Cato stared out into the crowd before turning and making eye contact with everyone, "Killing everyone and anyone who gets in my way."

The crowd is hushed as they stare open mouthed at the ruthless killing machine that sits before them.

But everyone noticed something.

As he had made eye contact with each tribute while he answered, he skipped over the girl from District Four.

"So you're determined to win?"

"Absolutely, that's what I'm here for."

"Well I wish you the best of luck Cato, although I'm sure you don't even need it."

Flickerman thanked him and moved on.

The boy from District Four was shy and bashful, the crowd awed and sighed at him as he answered the questions. He would be easy to kill.

Then she stepped up, the crowd went wild as she gave a small and pained smile.

Cato found himself gripping the edges of his chair, concentrating heavily on her.

She was breathtaking.

The sun itself seemed to radiate from beneath her skin as the yellow fabric swirled around her tiny frame like the ocean breeze.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Hydra Inna! You look beautiful tonight, sea goddess turned sun goddess."

Hydra smiled and waved to her stylist, "Yes, Moana is quite gifted isn't he?"

The crowd claps for the stylist as a camera catches his joyous face.

She sat down as Caesar asked her the first question, his voice was hushed, "Why did you choose to come here Hydra? We all saw that a friend was going to volunteer in your place...were you thinking about your parents when you went up to that stage?"

"I came here because I wanted to. Naida was the love of Arlen's life and I didn't want her dying in my place. Arlen would have never forgiven me if I'd let her go. As for my parents, I thought about them the whole time and I made a vow that I would come home. And I will."

"I see, that's very admirable and selfless Miss Inna. Do you remember what were you doing when your brother died?"

The crowd became silent.

Cato looked up and watched, he could hear Glimmer as she whispered to Marvel, "This is just all for the sponsors..."

"You're right, she's completely faking it."

Hydra bit her lip before beginning, "I was with my friends watching the games on the beach...we were all so excited and all ready celebrating his inevitable victory..."

She trailed off and took a deep breath, Caesar reached over and took her hand, giving it a light squeeze, "Are you ok?"

She nodded and continued, "He had her in his sights, he was going to kill her, win and come back home to us. But then they just came out of nowhere, I remember thinking that the colors were so beautiful and I didn't even understand what was happening until I heard him screaming..."

She stopped again and Cato could see the anguish in her eyes as she struggled to hold back tears, "They tore him apart like he was merely a scrap of raw meat. I...I heard the sounds of his flesh crunching as they ripped it from his bones...then...then he screamed my name and I, I knew that if I was ever called to the games, he would want me to go and win for him."

There were sniffles in the crowd and a couple of people even sobbed, it was the saddest thing Cato had ever heard. A single tear slipped down her cheek and Caesar squeezed her hand again, "Thank you for telling us about it Hydra, it must be so hard."

She briefly nodded, "It is, I miss him so much."

"I know you do."

He stood up and she did as well and he held up a hand, "Hydra Inna!"

The people clapped again and cheered as she walked back and took her seat.

It was hard for any of the other tributes to top that, but of course, District 12 had no problem with that.


Katniss watched Rue in her beautiful little blue gossamer dress, the crowd loved the little girl and her soft demeanor.

The crowd loved how she told Caesar that he couldn't count her out yet because she was fast and tiny which meant that no one could catch her which then went on to mean she couldn't be killed.

Caesar was beaming and said that he would never count her out in a million years.

Then there was Thresh, he was so quiet yet he was so big.

She was glad that he had declined the invitation to join the Careers, clearly his protectiveness for Rue would take precedence over anything else.

Then it was Katniss' turn.

She shook Caesar's hand and then sat down, her nerves were set on fire.

"So, Katniss, the Capitol must be quite the change from District 12. What's impressed you most since you arrived here?"

She sat there, silent as the grave, trying her best to come up with something to say, "The lamb stew..."

Flickerman began to laugh as well as members of the audience, "The one with the dried plums?"

"Oh yes, I eat it by the bucketful."

He turns and holds his own stomach, making the crowd laugh again, "It doesn't show does it?...Now Katniss, when you came out in the opening ceremonies, my heart actually stopped. What did you think of the costume?"

Cinna raised an eyebrow at her, "You mean after I got over my fear of being burned alive?"

The rest of Katniss' interview went perfectly, and by the end, the crowd was drooling over her. She looked like a flame in her silky red dress with his yellow, orange and blue tipped jewels.

Next, it was Peeta's turn, the last interview of the night.

The audience adored him from the start, of course.

He was charming as he strode through his interview, he was a natural speaker and one could easily tell.

Caesar asked him a question that everyone was dying to know, "So Peeta, do you have a girl friend back home?"

He hesitated, then shook his head, "Handsome lad like you? There must be some special girl. Come on, what's her name?"

Peeta sighed, "Well, there is this one girl. I've had a crush on her ever since I can remember. But I'm pretty sure she didn't know I was alive until the reaping."

Everyone sighs, "She have another fellow?"

"I don't know, but a lot of boys like her."

"So here's what you do. You win, you go home. She can't turn you down then, eh?"

"I don't think it's going to work out. Winning...won't help my case," Peeta states.

"Why ever not?" Caesar seems truly confused.

Peeta turns a deep scarlet red, "Because...because...she came here with me."

All of the tributes behind stage, turned and stared at Katniss, her mouth wide open.

Peeta Mellark was in love with Katniss Everdeen.


Hydra's POV

I can't help but feel absolutely terrible for poor Katniss.

She's floored.

I find myself next to her and I wave a hand in front of her glazed eyes, "Are you ok?"

She stares at me, "I have no idea what just happened..."

Nathaniel steps up besides me and puts a casual arm around my shoulders, smiling down at me with bright eyes, "Great job Miss Sun, you look gorgeous!"

I blush and smile back, "Thank you, you did great yourself."

We both move aside as Cato pushes past us in a hurry, bumping his shoulder hard against Nathaniel's, "What's his problem?"

I shrug, "Who knows."

We walk back to the elevators again and before I get on he squeezes my hand, "Good luck tomorrow Hydra, stay safe."

I look at his face, trying to imagine him dead; it's impossible.

"Thanks...you take care of yourself ok?"

He winks, "I got a seven, I feel as if that says I can protect myself pretty easily."

I hug him tightly, "Good luck."

He squeezes me back, "Its been a privilege to know you Miss Inna."

"And you Nathaniel, I'll see you tomorrow."

After a few minutes, I find myself back on an elevator with a bunch of the other tributes. I cannot wait to be free of all of this make up and this dress and be back into normal clothes.

On the ride up I can't help but sit there and wonder, will the friends I've made come after me in the beginning seconds after the gong rings? Will friendships be so easily forgotten that it will be so easy to take the life another?

I catch Cato's eyes and I know I will be seeing him tonight more than likely.

Something is different though, he doesn't make a point to hide the way he stares at me.

Glimmer notices and snaps a finger in front of his eyes, "Hello? Earth to Cato?"

He shakes his head, "Yea?"

"You did great tonight," she trails a finger down his arm and smiles, "I'll see you tomorrow."

The remainder of the elevator ride is quiet, Wiley stays close to me and holds my hand for the majority of the time.

Tomorrow is the day.

We both know it and I wish I could hold his hand forever and keep him safe.

We reach our floor and the door opens, Finnick is there with open arms and he holds me tightly, "You did so well Hydra, I'm proud."

I smile at him he sits us down on the long, plush ocean blue couch.

"We need to talk about tomorrow. What you are going to do at the beginning; I want you both to avoid the bloodbath at the Cornucopia. That is for the Careers and their thirst for blood. When that gong sounds, grab what you can, if you can and run."

I sit there and take in everything he says.

Wiley is trembling besides me and I turn to him, taking both of his hands and mine and looking deep into his eyes, "Listen to me Wiley, I want you to do exactly what Finnick says. Grab a weapon if you can and get out and into safety. Wait for me when you get to a safe distance. I promise that I'll find you."

He looks up at me with tears in his eyes and I lean my forehead against his, "Everything will be ok, I promise."

He begins to cry like the child he is, a child who should be back home with his parents and school friends, out on a boat with his father.

I hold him tightly before taking him to bed, I tuck him in and sit there until he is fast asleep.

His face is streaked from the tears and I clean it off gently with a warm cloth before leaving him to his dreams.

Finnick is waiting when I get out and he grips me tightly, hugging me as if it is the last time he ever will.

"Stay alive Hydra...win."

I can barely nod as my eyes fill with tears, and for an instant, I am scared, more scared than I've ever been in my life.

I could die tomorrow.

Annie appears from the darkness of the hall, her eyes sad and forlorn as she wraps her tiny arms around me.

"Swim, swim, swim for your life Hydra..."

"I will Annie, I promise."

She kisses my cheek, "We love you..."

I can only nod as she pulls back and looks into my eyes, her hand coming up to cup my cheek.

For a moment she looks completely sane, her eyes hold mine as if we are the center of gravity, "Do not let him die."

I shake my head furiously, "I won't, I promise I won't."

She's shaky now as her eyes well with tears, "Don't let him die like I let Urial die, don't, don't, don't!"

Finnick pulls her away and then hugs me tightly, "Go get some sleep."


The roof is silent as I make my way up, it is chillier tonight than usual and I pull the mint green tunic tighter around my chest.

I admit it now, I'm afraid to die.

Was this how Arlen felt?

I wish he was here now so I could talk to him and listen to his advice, it would have helped so much.

"Hydra."

His voice is softer tonight as he walks up behind me; I can feel the warmth radiating from his chest.

"Cato."

"You were such a great actor tonight, I'm sure you'll have plenty of sponsorships during the games."

His words are shocking and painful; I turn, ready to tear his head off on the spot, "Acting? Acting! You thought I was acting? He was my brother! My whole heart! I watched him die and I will never see him again! How the he-"

He stops me from speaking another word with a kiss that is so full of desire and power I can barely breathe.

He pulls back and looks into my eyes, "I know Hydra...I can see the anguish in your eyes and I am sorry that your brother is dead...but was he really your whole heart?..."

I don't understand what he is asking.

The brutal killing machine that is Cato kissed me, I don't know what to do or what to say.

The feel of the wall is cool against my back as his hands come down on my waist and push me up against the bricks, "I don't want to kill you Hydra," he whispers, his lips nuzzle my ear as he speaks.

"I don't want to kill you either..."

He kisses me again and I kiss him back as forcefully as I can, my stomach is on fire and sparks run through my veins, it's like being consumed in flames or sinking in the depths of the ocean.

I push back though, this cannot happen.

"Cato, don't."

He looks at me with pain in his eyes, pulling me back to him, "Why Hydra? Why not?"

"I have to kill you or you have to kill me, this is going to make it wo-"

He cuts me off again with another kiss but his this time it is full of pain and anger, he pushes against me so hard I lose my breath completely and gasp for air.

The tears fill my eyes and threaten to overflow again but I quickly wipe them away, "I have to go to bed, so do you."

He cups my face in his massive palms, his voice is cold like a winter breeze, "Get away from us, stay as far away from the Careers as you can."

With that one last warning I hurry to bed, my lips still throbbing from those fierce kisses.

I bury myself in my pillow and cry till I can't cry anymore.

The door to my room creeps open and I see Wiley standing there, tears in his eyes and hair damp from sweat.

"May I sleep with you please? I don't want to be alone tonight..."

His voice is so small and childish and when I open my arms he runs and jumps on the bed, crawling in next to me and curling up like a kitten by my side.

I put an arm around him and brush his curls from his eyes, "Don't worry, I'll be here if you have any bad dreams."

He nods and in seconds he drifts off to sleep for a second time and I fall asleep myself, dreaming of Cato and those kisses I wish had never happened but would be angry if they never had.


Cato lay there in bed, sleep was so far away he thought it would never come. He could still feel her soft lips against his, so warm and inviting.

He wanted her to be with him right now, in his arms, he wanted to love her and keep her out of the games.

He shook his head, No. This was all wrong, how stupid could he be?

Falling for her was ridiculous and it couldn't happen.

It was too late though.

No wait, it wasn't.

He had to kill her, it was why he was here and he wanted to win.

He also wanted to watch her fight, he wanted to see the anger in her eyes, he wanted to see her kill and take the vengeance she wanted so badly for her brother.

But at the same time, he wanted to keep her alive.

He was so conflicted his head was spinning and he rubbed his face with his hands, groaning loudly and punching the bedside table.

"Damn you Hydra Inna," he cursed under his breath.