'District 13'

Chapter 9: New Games

The rain was coming down like a waterfall. It'd been like that for hours. Adam was lying against a rock with his arms folded and his jacket pulled over him. Bianca sat beside him, cleaning her weapons. Adam was pale, dirty and silent. He refused to eat and claimed that he had no appetite. Every time anything went down his throat, it would find a way to come back up again. Bianca watched his whitening face, near a shade of gray. He was ill. Very ill. Adam caught her gazing at him. She looked away instantly and returned to her weapons. Adam sighed and rested his head against the side of a tree. He shut his eyes for a moment, listening to the rain. But suddenly, there was a voice right in his ear.

"Wake up, 13." It came as a dark chuckle. It was Cato. Adam's eyes shot open and he looked around desperately for Bianca, who was calmly still attending to her knives.

"Bianca!" He whispered.

"What?" She replied, looking up at him. Adam glanced around for Cato anxiously. Bianca raised an eyebrow. "What?" She repeated. He glared back at her.

"You mean you didn't hear that?" He asked. Bianca's brow furrowed as she stared at him.

"Hear what?" She asked. Suddenly, the voices were spreading.

"It's all fun and games." Maya's voice sighed from the far left. Adam's head snapped in that direction.

"Not like it matters anyway." Owen snorted, from elsewhere.

"Having a good time?" Marvel asked sarcastically.

"Did you really think you could escape the Careers?" Glimmer giggled.

"You have no chance." Seneca.

"Stop!" Adam shouted abruptly, now breathing heavily as he feverishly searched for the owners of the empty voices surrounding him.

"What? Stop what?" Bianca panicked from her weaponry.

"How did you not hear any of that?" He asked, looking at her frantically.

"Hear what, Adam?" She asked in irritation. Adam gestured to the forest area with a flail of his hands.

"That!" He exclaimed, looking at her. Bianca stared at him in confusion. "Everyone! The voices!" He said.

"What voices?" She asked. Adam's eyes widened slowly. Bianca's did too as realization washed over them. Bianca adjusted herself on the forest floor, setting down her bow and arrows. "Adam… What voices?" Adam's gaze fell to the ground, trailing up to some trees ahead. He frowned in confusion as Caesar Flickerman stood meters away from him between the trees, grinning at him.

"How're you doing, my boy? You know, you were a real crowd favorite!" He laughed.

"Adam?" Bianca asked from his side. Adam glanced at her, then back at Caesar.

"You're very handsome. She's lucky." Caesar said, stepping forward, nodding at Bianca.

"Bianca, tell me you see him." Adam muttered. Bianca looked forward quickly, scanning the empty forest.

"See who?" She asked, turning back to him. Adam laughed nervously.

"Caesar Flickerman, Bianca! Caesar Flickerman! He's standing right there! Can't you see him?" He raised his voice at her, feeling like he was going to throw up again. Bianca moved closer to him, trying to see from his eye-level.

"Nobody's there." She said, looking at him. "Adam…" She began, piecing things together. "You're… hearing things and seeing things." She muttered. Adam licked his lips as Caesar's frightening, unnatural smirk widened. The fluorescent man gleamed down at him.

"Welcome, Adam." Caesar greeted. Adam peered up at him, breathing uneasily. Caesar's grin faded like a gunshot, turning into a twisted, murderous frown. "Welcome to delirium." Came a dark growl from the back of his throat.

"Adam! Are you even listening to me?" Bianca shook his shoulder, making him turn to her.

"Didn't you see that?" He asked frantically.

"See what? Adam, there's nothing there!" She protested.

"No, he was just…" When Adam turned back to face Caesar, he was gone. "What?" He breathed.

"Adam? What's going on?" Bianca asked, staring at his drained face, now plastered with terror as he remembered what Caesar said. Welcome to delirium. Adam gasped softly.

"Delirium." He uttered in realization, looking up at Bianca. "Bianca, delirium." He said, louder. Bianca sat back on the ground, running a hand over her face.

"Jesus… Of course. Untreated illness in the games can lead to…" She looked back up at the boy, gazing around the forest floor with horror in his eyes. "Being delirious." She ended. Adam glanced at her.

"You should kill me." He said suddenly. Bianca's eyes widened.

"Adam! What the hell?" She exclaimed.

"Nobody wants a delirious person around them! Who knows what I'll be like tomorrow! Or the day after! It'd be a nightmare for you! You should just get it over with then kill Cato and go home!" He said.

"No!" Bianca bellowed, furious at the proposal. She scurried towards Adam again and pulled his face towards her. She looked into his eyes. She could tell by his pupils just how bad the delirium was getting. "I'm not killing you." She said, looking back at his full expression.

"Bianca – "

"I said no!" She protested before he could say anything more. Bianca planted a kiss on his forehead and pulled away. "No." She repeated, shaking her head. Adam looked slightly let down at Bianca refusal, almost as if he had been dishonored. He shrunk against the tree, and took Bianca's hand. He needed it. He held it in his as he stared forward. Despite the pain all around his body, he was more terrified of the mental illness that would follow. He wasn't sure where it'd take him. Bianca sat next to him, letting him hold her hand. She could tell Adam was dreading the future but she didn't have a choice. She would not let him die.

A day passed by. Adam could tell my nightfall that something was changing. He could barely keep his focus on any conversation, and his legs were starting to feel numb. He could move them as if the pain was becoming non-existent. The voices came in and out, and his imagination was alive. Before he went to sleep, he saw Drew and Katie standing side by side, muscles tight, staring at him. Bianca was already asleep by then, and Adam didn't want to wake her. But Katie and Drew were staring right at him. Eyes glistening like they were on fire, bodies irregularly tensed.

"Maya shouldn't have died." Katie said to him. Adam peered up at her, blinking hard, trying to make their images go away. Drew moved forward, and from his bitter lips he said:

"It should have been you." Adam's eyes widened, staring up at his older brother in horror. He heard a suddenly ringing in his ear that was so high-pitched that Adam cringed. It faded in and faded out, leaving him in pain. He peeled his eyes open again, and found that Katie and Drew had vanished. Just like his other illusions. Adam sat back against the tree with an exhausted sigh. Even though he knew they weren't really there, Drew's words hit Adam square in the chest. Bianca stirred in her sleep, sensing a disturbance around her. She looked up at Adam, and the discomfort on his face.

"You alright, Torres?" She asked. Adam glanced at her once, with a half-smile.

"Of course." He lied, trying to reassure her. Bianca uneasily adjusted herself on the ground.

"Whatever you say." She uttered. As Bianca dozed off to sleep, Adam's condition worsened. And by morning Bianca awoke only to find that Adam was gone. She scanned the trees, rushing through the thick morning air. "Adam?" She called. She wasn't even afraid of Cato hearing. "Adam?" She raised her voice, ducking under a branch. She pushed through the trees until she heard a voice.

"Over here!" Adam called. Bianca rushed in his direction. He was standing out by the lake, with his hands in his pockets. Bianca stared at his legs. He was vertical.

"You're standing. Adam, how are you standing right now when you could barely move yesterday?" Bianca asked. Adam chuckled slightly, and turned swiftly to her. Bianca's eyes widened at the sight of him. Adam's face was light gray, and the circles under his eyes were heavy and black. His teeth were stained with blood and his unforgettable blue eyes were irregularly dilated.

"Magic I suppose." He responded with a smirk.

"Adam… Are you still hallucinating? Can't you feel the pain?"

"I am pain." He said with locked eyes. For once, Bianca felt some sort of fear wash over her with Adam looking at her like that. Adam grinned at the expression on Bianca's face. "Do you believe in time travel?" He asked suddenly. Bianca frowned, shaking her head.

"Adam, something is really – "

"The Einstein-Rosen Bridge." He stated, moving passed her. Bianca turned, staring as Adam walked off in the opposite direction. "They're maximally extended, which refers to the idea that space-time wouldn't have any edges. And if possible any trajectory would continue this path arbitrarily far into the particle's future or past." He said.

"You're really not making any sense over here." Bianca interjected. Adam laughed, and turned back to her.

"Was I talking to you?" He asked. Bianca folded her arms, looking around.

"Well, who else would you be talking to?" She asked.

"Hello! These guys!" He sang as he gestured to the area around him. Bianca's eyes widened. She knew right then that the delirium had gotten the best of Adam already. It had taken him and consumed his brain and body. Bianca watched as he walked off, rambling to people that didn't exist. One brave move cost him his sanity. "If the trajectory hits a gravitational singularity like the one at the center of the black hole's interior, then we have a problem. Oh, we'll have a big problem!" He laughed. Bianca sat down by the water, staring at it as it picked up debris and carried it along. She felt useless, knowing just how delirious Adam was becoming. "Hey! Hey, you!" Adam called, rushing back to her. Bianca looked up at his face hopefully. "You there. What realm is this?" He asked.

"Adam, don't you – "

"Adam? Who's Adam?" He asked quickly. Bianca paused. Her face smoothed over in disbelief.

"Adam… That's your name." She said slowly. She waited for the notion to click in, and for the nuts and blots to turn in Adam's head. For the light bulb glow. Anything. But he remained indifferent, staring down at her with confusion wrinkled over his face. Bianca's eyes watered as she glared up at him. "Adam, that's your name!" She raised her voice in frustration. He wore that same blank expression, full of wonder and misunderstanding. "You don't even know your name! Do you know my name? Tell me you do, Adam! You knew it just seconds ago!" She breathed desperately. Adam stared down into her eyes, searching right through her. His lips opened shakily as he began to shake his head.

"I've never seen you before in my life." He said. The sentence dropped like a bomb. It proved just how quickly the delirium had gotten hold of him. Bianca's heart sank quickly.

"You… you don't know me?" She breathed, blinking as the tears stung her eyes. Adam slowly shook his head again. Bianca gasped as she turned away from him. "You don't know me?" She repeated through her chattering teeth.

"No… Have we met before? Elsewhere perhaps?" He asked. Bianca buried her face into her knees, cradling herself. He didn't know her. He didn't even recognize her. He did merely seconds ago. Now she was a stranger. "Are you sure?" Adam asked. Bianca nodded from her knees. "There must be some memory you can give me about us that'll help me remember." Adam said thoughtfully. Bianca looked up at him with red eyes.

"Back in The Capitol, when I apologized to you with Caesar Flickerman?" She suggested hopefully. Adam grinned nervously.

"The Capitol? What's that?" He asked. Bianca felt herself trembling as she turned back into her knees. Adam shrugged and sighed, going back to his invisible lecture. Bianca was helpless. She now meant nothing to him. The history between them had been erased in seconds and there was nothing she could do to bring it back. What memory would do the trick? She had no idea. Adam, like many others, had lost his mind to the games. His wounds proved to be more fatal than anyone could have imagined.

Bianca led Adam back to where they were camping out, and said nothing. She couldn't sustain a conversation with him. His mind was always elsewhere. He wasn't the Adam she was used to. But he was still Adam. And she still wasn't going to let him die. By then, the Gamermakers were growing tired of this 'fair play' between Adam and Bianca growing distant, and Cato sulking on his own. So as decided, it was time to bring it all together. Right then, when Adam could have been too delirious to battle. A voice cracked overhead.

"Remaining tributes, to the Cornucopia." Claudius stated simply. There was no explanation. Nothing else that followed. Just that. Bianca looked back at Adam, who was watching the fire with fascination, and grabbed his arm.

"What?" He breathed, looking up at her in shock. Bianca stood to her feet.

"To the Cornucopia." She repeated. They set foot immediately. Neither of them bothered to put out the fire. They trekked through into night, following Bianca's instincts to where the Cornucopia was. The hike was agonizingly long due to their lack of conversation and understanding. The relationship between them was gone when Adam was lost to the infection. Bianca was empty thinking about it, but she kept on going, pushing forward with Adam close behind her. Once they were out in the open, Bianca stopped, putting a hand to Adam's shoulder. She heard a shriek. "What the hell was that?" She snapped, looking back at him. Adam wasn't paying attention. He was looking up at the stars and smiling blankly. That smile didn't belong to him. Not at all. Bianca sighed, looking elsewhere. Then she heard it again. Another scream. It took a third scream for her to realize that it was a cry for help. But… who would need help in the Arena besides… Cato? Right on queue. He came running out from the far end of the trees, dashing through the grass. Bianca cursed under her breath as she struggled to get her bow out. She glanced up at Cato, but he was unarmed. He had his backpack on with all his gear inside it, but he wasn't carrying any of it. He was bleeding too. Heavily at his forehead and limbs. Cato skidded to a halt, looking back at the forest. It was silent for a moment as the three tributes stood in the moonlight. Cato was breathing deeply and quickly, searching the trees. He turned suddenly, glaring at Bianca and Adam. His jaw tightened. This was it. He reached for his backpack, hauling a sword out of it. "Watch it…" Bianca warned, pulling an arrow out from behind her.

"Watch what?" Adam asked, shrugging. Of course. Adam didn't even know who Cato was, nor did he understand their objective. Cato started off with a jog, which quickly turned into a full power run. Right towards them. Bianca fired her first arrow, straight into Cato's thigh. She was quick and Cato had underestimated her. He faltered, staggering forward to clutch his knee. But he pulled himself up, recovery fast. He chuckled as Bianca pulled back another arrow.

"It's no use." Cato said, shaking his head. He looked up at Adam. Adam gave him a small wave and a smile. "What's wrong with him?" He asked, nodding at Adam. Bianca gulped, aiming straight for Cato's head.

"Delirium." She responded coldly, letting the arrow go. Cato ducked quickly, but the arrow snagged the top of his ear. He groaned as blood poured down the side of his face. He clutched his ear, or well, the bottom half that was left of it, and looked up at Bianca furiously.

"As I said before, it's no use!" He grumbled through his bloody teeth. He shook his head, starting to chuckle again. "I'm already dead. Isn't that right? Ever since I was born I've been dead and the only life I had was her. That was all. And Thresh… Thresh took her away from me!" He grunted, grasping his weapon tighter.

"Clove?" Bianca frowned. She glanced at Adam, who obviously had no recollection of her.

"What does it matter anymore?" Cato snarled. Bianca flinched at the outburst, holding her aim on him, hovering over his heart. Cato rolled his neck back while frustration built up in him again. He took a deep breath and began. "It was day one at Career training in District 2. I was just as stubborn, bloodthirsty and arrogant as I am today but you know what? That was just what my parents wanted to see! And how're you feeling now, guys?" Cato asked, looking up at the sky, knowing that somewhere they were watching him. He glared back at Bianca. He was struggling for words. Bianca could tell by the strain at his neck. "But that was also the same day I watched a girl strike five Bulls Eye's on her first go with a set of throwing knives. I remember that I, uhh – I walked right up to her when she was alone… and I said, 'Hey, I'm Cato'." Cato laughed slightly to himself. But it was full of pain and frustration. He swallowed hard, staring up at Bianca's arrow, pointing right at him.

"And she looks at me – right in the face – and she says 'Clove. My name's Clove'." Cato ducked his head toward his chest, hiding in his own shadow as he frowned with tears. Bianca stared at him, watching the breakdown first hand. She felt her grip loosen on the bow as Cato shook in front of her. He tried to look back into her eyes, forming sentences on his tongue. "That was the first time I ever heard her voice. I bet you'd remember something like that, wouldn't you, delirium boy? You're the type." Cato jeered, nodding at Adam who was blindly searching around for nothing in particular, in his own world. Cato stepped forward, causing Bianca to regain her grip on her weapon. "I bet you'd remember the first words someone you love said to you." The sentence hit Bianca hard. Adam's head snapped up at the words. He stared at Cato with a furrowed brow.

"You loved Clove?" Bianca asked, keeping her lock on him. Cato turned to her bitterly.

"Doesn't matter now, does it?" He asked. Adam stared up at him, then at Bianca. The blue was returning to his eyes as something came over him. "I'll let you in on a secret," Cato said, picking up his sword again. "I don't want to do this anymore." He said. Bianca's eyes hardened.

"Then why are you doing it?" She asked.

"I need to achieve something from this. Because when I return to District 2, it won't be home anymore. I have nothing left to love there." He said. Bianca could see the unwillingness in his body movement. She believed him, for once. She believed that he was telling the truth. And suddenly, a sentence left Adam's lips.

"What reeks?" He blurted out.

"What?" Bianca muttered, glancing at him. It made no sense. Adam glared back at her.

"What reeks?" He repeated, approaching her. "Bianca, that was the first thing I ever heard you say." He explained. Bianca's eyes widened.

"You know my name?" She breathed. The memories flooded Adam suddenly as he returned to himself. Cato had flicked the switch.

"We were competing to get Sav's Dead Hand tickets with Eli and Wes and you said: 'What reeks? Ever heard of deodorant, Doctor Doom?' That's what you said, wasn't it?" Bianca dropped the bow and flung herself into Adam's arms. There was his answer. They grasped each other tightly, full of desperation.

"You're back." She murmured into his shoulder.

"Never left. I was with you every step of the way but couldn't snap out of it." Adam said, pulling away from her to cup her face.

"This is so not the time!" Cato bellowed, now approaching them quickly.

"Adam…" Bianca warned.

"I'm on it." He grumbled. Instead of attacking him, Adam shoved his backpack of weaponry into Bianca's arms.

"Adam?" She gasped. He stepped forward.

"I can help you, Cato!" He shouted. Cato plundered onwards anyway. Bianca shrieked as Cato pulled the sword out, right towards Adam's neck. "For Clove." Adam grunted as the weapon pressed against his skin. Cato halted immediately.

"What did you say?" He uttered. Adam gulped against the sword.

"Listen to me… For Clove." He said. Cato's lips shivered as he was once again overcome with emotions he was unsure how to handle.

"What do you want? Spit it out." Cato whimpered, swallowing hard. Adam glanced down at the bloodied sword pressed against him, and then back up at Cato's face.

"An alliance." He said simply. Cato raised an eyebrow.

"An alliance?" He and Bianca repeated in chorus.

"Like day one at the bloodbath. Cato, I'm going to need you to trust me. Real trust this time." He muttered under the blade. Cato glared into Adam's eyes. His hand was shaking with feelings that he didn't understand. "I can help you." Adam said again.

"How?" Cato persisted, pressing the blade harder against his skin. Adam gasped for air against it.

"Clove would have wanted better things for you. Cato. Everything that you feel, I feel it too. Trust me." He breathed, stumbling back slightly at the pressure of the blade. Cato stared at him. His lips were shivering open as he physically restrained himself from slicing Adam's head clear off his shoulders in that moment. But he could feel the sincerity radiating off Adam. He could feel a certain hope that he longed for. And suddenly, Bianca's eyes dart in the direction of something that sounded like a growl. It came from the trees where Cato had run from.

"Wait a second…" She murmured. The two boys followed her gaze to the trees just as a husky looking animal launched out from them, digging its paws into the grass. And another. And another. And even more. They poured out of the trees, growling and huffing through their glinting teeth.

"Muttations!" Cato exclaimed.

"Adam, time to go!" Bianca grabbed his arm, hauling him towards the Cornucopia. He stumbled after her, rushing to the figure in a daze. He was feeling the pain all over his body again, now that he had nearly fully snapped out of his delirium. They reached the Cornucopia and scrambled to get on top of it. With a heave, the two District 13s made their way over the center. Cato slammed into the side, trying to pull himself up. His wounds were fresh and severe. He was struggling. He was in pain. He was desperate. Adam, without a second thought, darted forward and grabbed Cato's hand. Cato stared up at him in disbelief as Adam tried hauling him up onto the Cornucopia. Adam looked up, seeing that the muttations were getting closer.

"Bianca!" Adam called desperately. After some hesitation to help the District 2 boy, she gave in. She rushed to Adam's side and grabbed Cato by his arm and shirt. Just as the muttations reached them, they hauled Cato's body onto the top of the Cornucopia. The three of them slithered to the center, as the muttations attacked the sides viciously. Cato glared at Adam and Bianca.

"You helped me." He grumbled.

"Well, what else did you want me to do?" Adam retorted. They stared at each other for a moment. Cato huffed in defeat, grabbing his weapon from his bag again. Bianca got ready for his attack.

"An alliance." Cato scoffed, dropping the bag to the roof as he pulled out his sword. Bianca and Adam paused as Cato rushed passed him. "There should be twenty-three of these muttations around us right now. Each of them, minus us and the District 12s, are DNA muttations of each of the fallen tributes." Cato explained. He stood at one end of the Cornucopia, facing the muttations. He looked back at District 13's tributes. "Well? Alliance or what?" He shouted. Bianca and Adam glanced at one another. Was Cato agreeing? He was. Adam looked back at Cato confidently and grinned as he spun a spear between his fingers. Cato's lips twisted into a similar smirk, and so did Bianca's. The three of them clutched their weapons in their palms and stood back to back, watching the mutts. Nobody knew just what would follow, and prepared for one of the most epic, unexpected battles in the history of the Hunger Games.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

"More than anything."

Cato was the first to strike. He brought his arm up, and the sword came crashing down onto the skull of one of the mutts. Bianca was second, sending a spear into a mutt's eyes. Adam was third, thrashing a spear into a mutt's chest as it gurgled in pain. And in the Gamermakers room, there was a wave of panic.

"No!" Seneca shouted even if the tributes couldn't hear him. "Can we spawn new ones? Why aren't any of them jumping onto the Cornucopia?" He pressed in fury. Nobody could respond to him as they panicked to find other alternatives to turn the tributes against one another, or kill two of them at least. To show them that they could not rebel against the rules.

But spears, arrows and the swings of a sword – came smashing into the mutts, injuring them severely if not killing them. Blood splattered the Cornucopia's sides as the mutts crumpled over the deceased ones. Side by side, the three tributes attacked them. Adam, Bianca and Cato were working together.

"Find! A! Way!" Seneca bellowed. "Do it! Do anything! Put on a show! Three tributes can't survive!" He screeched, pounding his fist into a desk. Cato lifted his arm again, holding it above his head as he stared menacingly down at a mutt. It had dark fur and a pair of brown eyes that were cold, yet passionate. They were unmistakable. The mutt stared up at Cato, lusting for his flesh. There was a heavy metallic collar around its neck with a stone in the middle, which had the number '2' engraved right in the center. District 2; Masonry. Cato's face softened.

"Clove?" He breathed, staring down at the muttation. He lowered his weapon. The mutt had, without a doubt, Clove's DNA. A part of her. "Clove!" Cato shouted. Adam looked back at him as he stabbed another mutt in the forehead with a spear. Cato's eyes were wide as he stared down at Clove's mutt. It growled and leaped forward, closing its jaw on Cato's ankle and tugging him off balance.

"Cato!" Adam shouted, tackling him. Bianca glanced back, watching Adam slide across the Cornucopia, attached to Cato.

"Adam!" She called. Cato screeched in pain while Adam kicked the mutt in its nose. Cato and Adam were dangling right over the other mutts. Any lower and they'd both be dead.

"It's Clove!" Cato gasped, holding onto to Adam.

"It's not Clove it just has her DNA! She doesn't remember you! It's not her!" Adam persisted, tugging at Cato's shirt. They slipped further towards the edge. Adam called out in agony as the friction met his burn wounds. He didn't let go of Cato. He refused to break the alliance, or his promise to him. He tried his best to keep his post as the mutt moved forward and bit further up Cato's leg. He shrieked in pain. But Bianca marched forward suddenly, aimed, and sent an arrow straight into the mutt's skull. Cato shook free from the mutt's teeth. Adam hauled him away from the side. Cato breathed heavily, watching as Clove's mutt took a second arrow to the head, killing it. He watched Clove die for a second time. But he reminded himself that it wasn't her. It couldn't be. "Cato." Adam said, out of breath. Cato looked up at him and the hand extended towards him. He took it and was pulled to his feet. Limping and bloodied, Cato returned to his place with tears in his eyes. The three of them continued fighting, killing any mutt in their way. And suddenly, a roar of new mutations rose from the ground. These were not from the games' tributes. These were reserved mutations. They looked like eagles, only bigger, and heavier. And… hotter. As in, the birds were ablaze. They came soaring down towards the Cornucopia. But the Cato, Adam, and Bianca were determined to survive. Seneca's eyes widened as the three tributes viciously fought back against the flaming birds and the beastly mutts. The tributes stood by one another, slicing and killing in a whirlwind of mutations against them.

"No, no, no, no, no… No!" Seneca kicked his chair against the desk, frustrated more than ever. As the camera zoomed in on the tributes, he noticed that they were almost entirely out of supplies. Now that wasn't allowed to happen. If the tributes all die from the beasts, that wouldn't be allowed either. Seneca waited, hoping for a turn of events as they fought back against all the Gamermakers plans. They were ruthless. But as Adam and Bianca reached for their last arrow and spear, releasing it onto a mutation Seneca held up his hands. "Stop! Get rid of them! Get rid of the mutations!" He shouted quickly. Everyone in the room looked at him like he was insane, but quickly followed his orders. As Cato brought an arm up at a mutt, it sunk into the ground. The three tributes stared as the mutts vanished into the dirt, and the eagles mutations fell to the ground, doing the same. It was awfully silent.
"Is it over?" Adam breathed, looking at the grass, expecting another attack. Cato looked back at them, breathing just as heavily as they were.

"Only one tribute can survive." Came the deep, agitated voice of Seneca Crane, crackling through the sky. Adam's arms fell to his sides. Bianca sighed heavily and Cato shook his head. "Some of you are wounded beyond self-repair. And if you refuse to kill each other, you'll all die a painful death on your own. So why not get it over with?" He grunted. Seneca should not have been talking like that, but it was obvious how irritated he was. Bianca and Cato looked back at Adam. Adam's eyes widened. He was the one who was injured most out of the three of them.

"Do it." He uttered. Bianca glanced at Cato, whose eyes were fixed on his blood-covered sword. Adam gulped hard, putting his hands behind his back as he tried to stand as straight as possible. "Make it fast. Do it." Adam said, tilting his chin up. Cato's eyes were fixed on Adam's throat, knowing just how to slice his head clear off his shoulders. Bianca's heartbeat began to quicken as Cato brought his sword up. But Cato shook his head, letting it fall to the Cornucopia with a loud bang.

"No." He said simply, folding his arms. Adam glared at him. "You risked your life for me. Twice." Cato murmured. Bianca dropped her bow.

"Kill me then." She suggested.

"No." Adam and Cato said at the same time. Adam glanced at Cato in surprise. Cato sighed, rolling his eyes. "I don't want to put him through the suffering I have to go through without Clove." Cato said. He kicked his sword over to Adam's feet. Adam stared at it, and looked back up at Cato, shaking his head.

"No way. I'm not killing you." He grumbled.

"Me neither. Clove would have wanted you to survive." Bianca said. The three of them stared at one another, back and forth. Cato licked his lips.

"Then what do we do?" He asked, squinting. The Gamemakers decided to turn time, making the arena slowly transform to morning. Sunlight drenched the trees and greenery, revealing the bright red blood soaking the grass and the Cornucopia's sides.

"Well, if nobody wants to kill each other, then, there is… one other option." Bianca murmured. The boys looked up at her as she rummaged through her bag. She pulled out a cloth containing the food Peeta left, and opened it up to reveal the Nightlock berries. Adam reached out, taking several from her hands.

"Suicide. Of course." Adam uttered coldly. He was surprised to see Cato smile as he took some from the cloth.

"Then Panem won't be able to get the ending they want." Bianca dropped the bag, with her own share of Nightlocks in her hands. Cato examined the berries quite fondly. "Are we… ready to die?" Bianca asked slowly, looking at the Nightlock berries in her palm. Adam placed a hand on the side of Bianca's face, stroking her hair. He stared at her lovingly, taking in every aspect about her. Her lips. Her eyes. Her jaw. Everything.

"Yes." He said softly.

"I was born to die." Cato murmured, watching the two as they longingly gave each other final caress. The three of them looked at one another again.

"So this is how it ends, eh? Who would've guessed?" Adam asked. Cato grinned feebly.

"I hate to say it, but it's been a pleasure, 13." He said in that same smug voice.

"The feeling's mutual, Cato." Adam returned. He sighed, looking at the Nightlocks in the palm of his hand, then back at Bianca. Bianca gave her favorite blue eyes a final stare.

"See you on the flip side, Torres." She said. He smiled faintly.

"See you on the flip side." He repeated. Cato sighed heavily, feeling weak.

"At the count of three." He began boldly. They placed their hands palm-up together. "One…" Cato glanced back up at Adam and Bianca, who were giving each other a final kiss, slow and passionate. "Two…" They pulled away, and Adam gave her his signature kiss on the forehead. He looked back at Cato, who glanced between them. All were equally glad to be spending their final seconds in such fine company. "Three." The tributes quickly lifted the poison into the mouths, letting the Nightlocks tumble through their lips.

"Stop! Spit it out, stop!" Came a roar overhead. With a splutter of salvia and blood, the Nightlocks came shooting out of their mouths. Cato coughed, having the taste of one stinging the inside of his cheek.

"Did you eat any?" Bianca wheezed.

"No, I don't think so." Cato shook his head, spitting onto the grass. They heard the sound of a gurgle beside them, and turned their heads. Adam buckled over, dry heaving as his hands tried to find something solid to hold onto. He was scratching at his neck and his eyes were wide. Trust Adam to be the one to consume anything presented to him. "Adam!" Cato grunted, running towards him. Adam collapsed onto the Cornucopia on his hands and knees, heaving.

"Adam?" Bianca shrieked. Cato pulled at Adam's shirt, trying to haul him to his feet. Adam's arms were numb, flailing, unable to hold onto anything steadily.

"There! You know what? There! There you have it, Panem! These are the three winners of the 74th Annual Hunger Games! Well… Well done!" Seneca cut off his voice quickly with a surge of electricity. The hovercraft appeared in the sky, lowering towards them. Bianca watched in horror as Cato held Adam from behind, heaving at Adam's chest with his arms, giving him the Heimlich Maneuver. Adam's eyes widened as the poison surged through his body.

"Adam?" Bianca shouted over the sound of the hovercraft. She felt hands around her suddenly, pulling her up into it. "No! Adam!" She protested. She felt a sharp jab in her neck as a needle plunged into her skin to shut her up. They grabbed Cato, too, trying to pull him from Adam's body.

"No!" Cato roared, pulling at Adam's chestw. "No!" He screeched again when he was forced away from him. The second their bodies were on the hovercraft Cato ran against everyone's protests and returned to Adam. Adam's eyes were flickering in their sockets, as he started convulsing and shaking violently. Bianca watched as Cato determinedly tried to save him, fighting off anyone who attempted to stop him. Bianca blinked slowly, fading into a forced slumber as Cato struggled above Adam's lurching body.

The games were over.