An hour later, I sat on one of the few remaining boxes from the Cornucopia. Cato emerged from the darkness of the Cornucopia, tugging a shirt over his head. I watched as the chest that had been pressed against mine less than five minutes ago disappeared under the fabric.

Cato groaned, and stretched. `I don't think anyone has ever tried that before eh little bird?` He made a little `heh` sound as he sat down beside me, `I'm glad I picked you to be my first.`

`Same here.` I whispered as he kissed my neck.

`You know about the rule change right?` I asked him.

Cato looked moodily into the sky. `Yeah. The only way for two people to survive is to be from the same District.` He said mournfully, `Hey, have you studied the rules of the Games?`

`Yeah, we're required to do so in District 4.`

`There's an old rule that nobody has used yet in the past 74 Hunger Games, and that's to disown your District, and choose to represent another.`

I shot up on my feet, gasping. `What? You're going to turn into a District 4 tribute?` I stuttered in disbelief.

`Yeah. You want to survive don't you?` He looked at me quizzically.

I nodded frantically. `Yes, but not at that cost!`

`Wouldn't it cost more if both I and Clove has to die?` He pressed, `After all, I'd be nicer if you let me see the child before I die.`

`But District 2 will hate you, your friends and family will turn their backs on you, and half of my District won't even try to accept a newcomer.` I pleaded.

`Karen.` Cato took my hands, and looked into my eyes. His hazel brown eyes burned into mine as I held his fiery gaze.

I closed my eyes, and let out a huff of air. `You have the last say Cato.` I managed to stammer out, `I can't control you.`

`Then let us begin.` Cato stood up, never letting go of my hand. He looked at me with his powerful eyes.

I nodded warily.

`This is a message for all of Panem to hear.` Cato shouted at the sky in his deep, rich, booming voice, `This day, I hereby renounce District 2 as my own, and…`

At that moment, Clove burst in through the clearing. `What the…` She muttered, mortified. I clasped a hand over her mouth, and nodded for Cato to continue.

`Will represent District 4 in the 74th Hunger Games!` Cato finished.

The gamemaker's face appeared on the screen. `Your wish is granted boy. Serve District 4 well.`

Clove shot Cato a murderous look. `Cato!` She screeched. Thus began the worst hour of my life.

Clove clutched three double-sided daggers in the gaps between fingers in each of her fisted hands. She dashed at Cato, and swung her fist in a downward motion, opening a gash across his chest.

Cato looked down at the wound. `Blimey.` He muttered before swinging the shaft of his spear up to deflect the next slash.

I flicked a dagger at the back of her knee, and watched as it tore into the ligament.

Clove fell, clutching her knee, and howling in pain, wriggling the knife free.

`You're still valuable against Catnip.` Cato said as he tried to staunch the flow of blood streaming from his chest, with his shirt that was cut to ribbons.

He reclined against the box, watching me and Clove warily. I poured disinfectant and bandaged the gash, and cauterized Clove's knee with a hot knife blade.

The last District 2 representative winced at the heat, but didn't make a sound. I removed the red-hot blade when the smell of burned flesh reached my nose.

`The bleeding's stopped. There'll be massive scarring, but if you do make it though the Games, it won't matter very much, because you'd just get plastic surgery and skin grafts, and it'll be as good as new.` I patted the red, and raw knee. Clove grimaced.

`Tough girl eh?` Cato sneered, a bandage covering his bare mid-section. He flung the remainder of his shirt at Clove's head, and it snagged on her head.

She flicked at the blood-soaked material, as a metallic, coppery tang filled the air. `Feh.` Clove waved Cato's taunt away, `I'm not like the randy dogs you are…` She shifted to the right, trying to stand up.

Out of the blue, an arrow sped, and bit deep into the metal of the Cornucopia where Clove's head was a minute ago.

`Looks like our little Catnip is here.` Cato grinned malevolently, grinning in anticipation.

`You killed Peeta didn't you?` Katniss' voice carried across the outcrop.

`At least one of us will die here Catnip. I suggest we make this an even fight. Get out of your tree.` Clove's voice was razor sharp, slicing though the air as Catnip slid down the tree.

Catnip grasped her bow tightly in one hand, the other, fumbling for an arrow. Two tear streaks marked her face. So she had believed Lover Boy eh? You'd think she wasn't so dense headed.

The three Careers circled the lone tribute from District 12. I tossed a knife by her feet. `The least we can do is to abide by the laws of chivalry, and make this an even fight. A bow won't do you any better than last time.` I said scornfully.

For all those people out there who support Katniss, my apologies, but I hate her. And for good reason too. After all, if I want to get out of this arena alive, she's going to have to die.

Catnip picked up the dagger warily, and threw her bow into the Cornucopia. `Good girl.` Cato purred.

Clove wasn't impressed. She attacked Katniss, throwing her weight on top of Catnip's 5`7 frame. Squealing, she dropped to the ground, and grabbed Clove, they rolled on the ground, grappling and clawing.

Clove finally rolled on top of Catnip, tossed away her knife, and straddled her legs. `You lose.` She hissed, stabbing a knife into Katniss' bruised body.

Katniss stifled a scream as the metal bit deep into her flesh. Clove removed the knife, and dragged a line over Katniss' arm. The tip of the blade drew blood, and Katniss bit her lip so hard, that it bled.

Clove turned Katniss over, and carved her name over the girl's back, in big, bloody, smudged letters. C-L-O-V-E. The twisted, girl dragged the blade over Katniss' neck, letting the blood pool around her wounds.

Tears of pain and hopelessness streaked down the face of the girl from District 12. `It would be mercy to kill her now.` I said, grimacing at Katniss' torn and abused body.

Cato raised the spear over her heart. `At least one of us had to die here Catnip, and everyone needs to make sacrifices sometimes.` He said, `I'm going to end your misery.` Cato thrust the spearhead in between the two sides of her rib cage. Katniss clawed feebly at the shaft. Abruptly, her hand dropped, and her breathing stopped. Thus ended the life of the last District 12 hero.


A/N: Mwahaha! Did I mention how much I hated Katniss? Now she's dead! Mwahaha! Sorry, don't give me any flames for that, I'm just being honest. Did you like the surprise when Cato turned against District 2? R&R please! :)

-Katara Macken