I lay in bed for about an hour once the sun came up. I didn't want to move, really. Getting up, though, was needed. I was hungry. Who knew in this world of plenty that I would know hunger? Today was the last day of training. This afternoon, I would showcase my skills for the Gamemakers, and the world would know how much I impressed them tonight. Then tomorrow we would be in the arena. That is where the weight of this would get real.

I dressed quickly, and moved from my room to the dining room. Beetee was already there, and he patted the seat next to him. Once I was settled in with a full plate, he started talking.

"Are you in with them?" He asked, watching me.

"Yes." I answered instantly, not lifting my eyes from the plate. I felt ashamed. We don't typically align ourselves with the careers.

I felt his hand on my chin, and he made me look at him. "They will keep you alive. Listen to them, Qwerty. Obey them."

"They'll keep me alive for as long as I can be useful to them." I corrected him. But he didn't seem angry or upset by it.

"Or until you kill them. I have the utmost faith in you, Qwerty." He said softly before he gave me a kiss on the cheek. "So, what is it that you'll show the Gamemakers?"

"I was going to take one of the wires they showed us how to make snares with, and I'm going to use it to turn the training area into a briars patch of sorts."

"You'll only have fifteen minutes."

"I think I can get it done in ten. Then, I'll use one of the training dummies to trip it."

He watched me for a moment, before nodding. "Playing to your strengths."

"Just like my mentor told me."

Before our exchange got too sappy, Buffer and Aix strolled into the room, talking in soft tones. Now was the time that we wouldn't be all buddy buddy. I was waiting for this moment. I reached out for Beetee's hand. I wanted him right now, and I didn't know why. I'd never felt this raw need for someone before.

"I don't know what the plan is." I whispered to him, looking down at the floor then. "But I think we'll get to talk at lunch."

"Before the two from one get called in for their individual training." Beetee whispered back to me. I was nervous now. I wasn't sure if my plan would go through, or if it would blow up in my face. I picked up my hot chocolate, and just looked into the mug. This wouldn't be a good day as far as my life went.

Beetee gave me a little nudge, and I finished the drink, and rose up to my feet. Keeping my head bowed, I strolled out of the room, and towards the elevator. This would be the last peaceful day I had in the games. As of tomorrow, I would be in the arena. And who knew what would happen there?

Stepping off of the elevator, I saw that Kali and Marina were already up in the training area, so I walked over to them. Marina grinned to me while we watched Kali wrestle one of the attendants. "So, tomorrow, whoever is closest to you is going to get you away from the fighting." She whispered to me, pretending to watch Kali take the attendant down. "We're all in this together, until we get to the final seven. So whoever gets you out of the blood bath, we'll find you. And you'll be safe."

I nodded then, and placed my hands on my hips. "When did you all discuss this?"

"It was Thor's idea… He sent Kali down early to tell us all about it. He'll be down at his normal time. Don't worry. Jacque already said he'll make sure you get out of there. He thinks if we keep you alive there, you'll find a way to keep us alive for as long as possible."

"He's right. I will, until the time comes and we have to look out for ourselves. But we all expect that, right?" I said, trying to give off a genuine smile. "I have one thing though. The boy from my district. Buffer, I don't want him in with us, but I made a promise to his father. I told him I'd see to it that the boy wouldn't suffer. I mean to follow through with that. If he survives the cornucopia, whoever kills him needs to make sure it's quick and painless."

"That much, I can assure you I'll try to do for him." She said softly then. "And the girl from seven, she's another young one."

"Quick deaths for anyone twelve years old. I can stand behind that." This came from Thor standing behind us, and watching Kali. It caused me to shiver though. What would he do? Snap their necks? At least that kind of death would be painless and quick. Very quick.

"What's the plan for today?" I asked then, since we all joined together, it was obvious Thor was our leader, the pack Alpha. And after what Beetee told me, I was going to start working my way in, obeying him. Obedience, for now, is my ticket to life. And as a fan of life, I'll go with that.

He offered me a little grin, and a shrug of his shoulders. "When Jacque, Bangle, and Charm get down here, we'll work on camo. Not that the seven of us will really need it." He said with a chuckle.

"I will. I'm not the physical type like the rest of you are." I said then, watching him closely. That caused him to grin though, and shake his head.

"You will be." I didn't know if I liked the way he said it or not. But something about his tone made me uncomfortable. Like he's going to test that himself. He's so sure of himself, though, that there is no denying if he truly did try something, I think I would be powerless to stop him. I looked away from him, in time to see Kali pin the attendant to the mats and see him tap out. That caused us all to clap for her.

I was starting to feel oddly numb, though. I didn't know why. Could it be that come tomorrow, these people who were trying to be friendly with me would be trying to kill me. This is the part of the games that most people despise. They make tributes work together for a week, preform, and do their duties, then we're put against one another, in this sick game, and this quest for control.

Once the others joined us, we did move over to the camouflage station, and we spent a good part of the morning painting on ourselves, trying to make our skins blend in with some of the things they had brought in. I had my hand looking like a fairly decent rock by the end of it. All the while, though, my mind was going on the trap I wanted to make for my individual training.

We had just finished cleaning up when the tone rang for lunch. Thor and Jacque ran off towards the cafeteria, while Bangle, Charm, Kali, Marina, and I moved off slowly behind them. Bangle looked confident, but withdrawn. He would be the first one this afternoon, so he had to set the bar high for everyone in these trainings. He ate eagerly just like the rest of us did, but he was quiet through the meal.

Before anyone knew it, though, he was being called by the Gamemakers. I sat back then, and looked down at my plate, which was now empty. Fifteen minute, was all the time we would be given. And this was a time that we needed above all else to prove ourselves. After all, a high score meant better sponsors, and a good sponsor was your ticket through the games. I shifted a little in my chair though, and Charm looked at me, smiling.

"You'll be fine." She murmured, as she rose to her feet after being called. Two down. Three to go before I had to go in. I did spare a glance to Buffer. He looked green. I didn't know what it was that he was planning on doing in there, but I did hope that he had something good up his sleeve.

When I looked back, Thor had this dark look in his eyes, as he tore into a bit of bread. He wasn't looking at me, he was looking at buffer. If Thor was going to be the one to kill Buffer, I was just praying that it would be fast, like we talked about. With the look in the boy's eyes, though, I couldn't be too sure. He looked as though he could eat the boy and have that be his personal training. I bet if he did he'd get a twelve.

I didn't have much time to dwell on it, though, before Thor was called. He sauntered out of the cafeteria, and I spared Kali a look now. Her jaw was set, her eyes forward. She was already working on her plan. Maybe spending the morning painting on ourselves was a good thing for all of us. She looked like she needed it.

"Good luck." I whispered to her, and she looked at me with this shocked look on her face, before she broke off into a petal of laughter.

"You too, Qwerty." She said, as she was called for her training session. Now it was just Buffer before me. Jacque watched me looking his way, and he sighed.

"You're worried about the boy." He said when I looked back at him.

"He's too young for this. Too innocent." I said then, sighing some as I leaned back in my chair, and pulled my knees up to my chest.

"Well, he'll go into his death knowing what a full stomach is." Marina said a small smile on her face.

"We all will." Came from Jacque. They both looked so solemn. I wasn't sure I liked the tone. Both careers, but District four hadn't been a career district for long.

We fell silent as I watched Buffer get called out. I wanted to run over, and give the boy a tight hug, but I knew that wouldn't be allowed. No touching until we're in the arena. Even something like that. He was a good kid, though. He deserved more than this. More life.

"You have a plan, Qwerty?" Marina asked, watching me closely. I nodded slowly then, my jaw set, my eyes locked on some spot on the wall ahead of me. "Good… You'll place well." She said, trying to keep me even. I appreciated it more than she would really ever know.

Before I knew it, it was my turn, and I was walking out into the training facility once more.