"You can't be serious!" spat Johanna as Plutarch was done explaining. A few other victors also joined her in furious voices while others just silently processed what the gamemaker just had said. Plutarchs words still hammered through Peetas skull.

"The twist of this years Quater Quell will help us to spread the fire of rage the people of Panem need to start a rebellion successfully. If we send you beloved victors back into the arena and you show them that you won't fight each other because it's not the right thing to do they'll get inspired. They will gain courage from it. They will follow you into the fight."

"Have you ever considered that even if you're the gamemaker you can't protect us from the trauma we all endured during our time in the arena? You really ask us to return to the place which turned us all into damaged souls? Plutarch, this is insane!" Cecilia stared at him with fear flashing through her eyes. Peeta understood her point. He'd rather march with thousand of soldiers into the capitol and kill the people who are responsible for this than going back into the arena and having to kill the people who were now surrounding him.

Plutarch raised his hands and silenced the still talking victors. "I know this is more than I could ever ask from you, but think about it. Is there really another way to defeat the capitol? District 13 might have some bombs that could destroy the capitol completely but so do they. At the end there would be no winner only destruction. We need the support of the people in the districts. But first we need to earn it. Sending you back into the arena shows them that no one will be ever safe from the games even if they have already won them. It will make them mad but also afraid. You need to show them that the capitol isn't as strong as they all think. You need to show them its weakness."

"And what is that weakness supposed to be?" Seeder asked critically.

Plutarch smiled. "With the games the capitol wants to show the districts how weak they are. How powerless they are. That they can't do anything to make them stop. But if you refuse to kill each other in the arena you show them that the capitol has no power over you anymore. You show them who is stronger and the people will always follow the stronger party."

"How is this plan ever going to work? If we refuse to kill each other they'll just slaughter us with their mutts," Johanna said in a cold tone.

"That's not going to happen. Let's just assume you're the only tributes left in the arena. You refuse to kill each other. It will make the people in the capitol uneasy and it'll make Snow uneasy. If he gives me the order to kill you all, I won't follow it. This is the part 13 joins our plan. They know the exact position of the arena and as soon as you made your point clear to the people of Panem that you won't fight each other anymore they'll come. They'll get you out of there and to 13. We're all be going there. Just think about the impact this would make. The message you will send to Panem. The victors join the rebellion and rise against Snow. You are the strongest people known in Panem. They'll follow you. I'm sure of it."

Silence fell. Nobody knew what to say. To Peeta the whole plan still sounded as mad as the first time Plutarch explained it but it also got a lot more brilliant. He could see what he meant. It was logical. If the simple folks from any district would rise against Snow he could just destroy them without anyone ever knowing or hearing about it. But if the victors would do that in the games for everyone in Panem to see he could do nothing about it without risking to ignite an inferno which would swallow a whole nation. He could only try to act undercover; to slowly kill them all off in the arena and make it look like an accident. But he wouldn't have Plutarch on his side. He didn't know that his gamemaker is stuck under the same blanket as the victors.

Plutarch sighed deeply. "If you no longer want to be part of this mission, I understand that completely. But if we don't take action now and do something against Snows regime no one ever will. We'll only sink deeper into his darkness."

The victors hesitated for a few minutes. Peeta was the first one to rise. "I don't care if I die during this whole plan. If it means that someday the people of Panem will be free from this snake I'll do it. I have nothing left to lose."

Haymitch watched him amused before he rose from his chair as well. "The baker boy is right! We're already pretty fucked up anyway. What damage will it do if we go in there again but this time we are the ones in power?"

Cecilia didn't seem to be really convinced when she also got to her feet. "I don't do it for the sake of Panem. I do it for my children. They deserve a better life in a better future."

Several other victors got to their feet as well. Finnick, Beetee, Wiress, Mags, Blight, Woof, Chaff, Seeder and the Morphlings. The only one left sitting was Johanna who stared at all of them with slightly widened eyes.

"Johanna?" Finnick eyed her vaguely.

A wicked smile spread on her face as she rose. "Don't worry, I'm also in. I just can't believe how stupid and mad we're all are to be agreeing to such an obvious suicide mission."

"Miss Mason, the plan will work out," Plutarch tried to assure her.

But Johanna just mockingly cocked her head. "We'll see about that, Mister Heavensbee. But know one thing. If this doesn't work out me and my axe will haunt you forever. Understood?"

Plutarch grinned. "Understood."


Katniss could barely comprehend what she'd just witnessed. The victors will rise against the capitol. District 13 still exists. Peeta agreed to this plan.

A shiver ran down her spine and she didn't listen to them anymore. Everything around her blurred. If Gale knew what was about to happen he would gladly go into the games himself. This whole plan would even excite him while it only horrified Katniss. How could they be so naive? They would only get themselves killed. Snow won't ever allow something like that. He'll only kill them all just to show the citizen of Panem that no one is strong enough to throw him off.

She instantly knew that she could never tell Egeria about this whole thing. Even though she was positive that this plan would fail she didn't have the heart to take the only hope the people in Panem have. Plutarch was right. If they didn't do anything no one ever would. They could at least try and if it works out Katniss would take back every doubt she had inside herself now.

While she didn't paid attention dust had creeped into her nose and tickled it now. Before she could stop herself she sneezed very loudly.

Suddenly everything around her went silent. The voices of the victors had died off. The only sound seemed to be her racing heart as she held her breath and listened for any sudden movements. But in the end nothing could've ever prepared her for Finnick who suddenly stood right before the gap she had squeezed herself into and now yanked her out of it.

She tried to wind herself out of his grip but he was faster than she had expected. He shoved her to the ground with incredible power. The air left her lungs when she hit the ground hard. She gasped desperately for air while Finnick pinned her arms and legs roughly to the ground.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" he hissed and watched her with raging eyes.

"Finnick!" Katniss panicked as she heard Peetas voice. She tried to hide her face but he recognized her instantly.

"Katniss?" Peeta stared at her in shock and was silent for a few moments. "What the hell are you doing here?"