THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS: violence, death

Note: Only one more chapter to go after this! Thank you to all of my wonderful readers! Love you guys! (Err…not literally…)

The arena rumbles, and my companion and I stumble around, clinging desperately to the hedges as the maze starts to shudder violently. Even though we haven't talked for hours, we both know that this is it. The final brawl. The Capitol idiots must be on the edge of their seats with anticipation by now, and I'm sure my family is either worrying about me or already planning my funeral. I glance at Percy as the hedges start to crumble, and dust rises all around us. Will I continue with the ally act? Should I kill him now and make it easier on myself? His eyes search mine, seeming to ask the same questions.

With a final groan, the walls of the hedge maze pretty much implode, and they disappear, revealing what the arena's metamorphous has produced. I see it, and I want to scream, wishing that Twinkle really had killed me instead of Michael.

It's a flat wasteland, only about twenty meters across in any direction from where I'm standing. In the middle of a circle, that's filled with nothing but dry yellow grass. The old arena is gone, shed like a second skin, and I can see Percy standing a few feet away from me, and two other figures not to far off. It's the perfect view for the people watching, because there won't be any obstacles to block their view of our deaths.

I stare at the other three, taking in their features as I get a better view of them. Ariel has short light brown hair, a long, Medieval-looking sword, and blue eyes. The boy from District Two has three knives lined up on his belt, merciless brown eyes, and the typical Career stature. Then there's Percy, my last ally, and I'm so afraid that he'll be the one to kill me.

We stare at each other for another tense moment, and then out of the blue, Claudius Templesmith's voice comes on.

"Welcome, tributes, to the final part of the Fifty-Fourth Annual Hunger Games!" He booms, and I immediately know what's coming. A sickening feeling settles in the pit of my stomach. "You four have one challenge left before you become victor! Just. . . .(insert drumroll). . . .don't die!"

What? My mind screams. That's it? Don't DIE? What does that (bleep) think we've been doing?

A split second after the announcer's infamous voice finishes, the District Two Career lunges at Ariel, and Percy and I watch in shock as she fights desperately for her life, struggling as the boy starts yanking his knives out. I can't watch any more. I use their fight to my advantage, pulling my own short knife out and nodding at Percy before slowly approaching the struggle. A cannon booms just as the girl stops moving. She's dead, and now I'm in the final three.

The Career whirls towards me, his eyes alight with ferocious glee. I'm horrified to find out that, even though they're the same color as Michael's, his eyes hold completely different emotions in their depths. The Hunter lunges at me, and I'm parrying his every blow with my little knife, one blade against three. I almost catch his side when I feel his second blade cut into my torso. It's big gash, and blood starts seeping out, soaking my thin layer of clothing. I bit my lip and feebly try to stab his ribcage, but he sees it coming and blocks the blow, sending my knife skittering into the grassy plain. It might be over for me. I think suddenly as I collapse, my knees bending slightly and my mind throwing pointless memories at me as the Career smiles, flashing yellow teeth.

"Annabeth! Duck!" Percy's voice screams from behind me.

I instinctively flatten myself onto the grass and Percy picks up my knife, lunging at the Career. I close my eyes and feel my muscles slacken in the embrace of the dead grass. Minutes slip by, and my thoughts grow foggier and foggier. I think I here someone scream, and someone else curse. . . .

A cannon booms, but it's not for me. I'm still alive, but not for long. There's footsteps near my left ear. I force my eyes open, wanting to know if the Career's come to finish me off. It's not him. It's Seaweedbrain, who's bleeding from multiple wounds, his blood coming out heavier than mine. He smiles weakly at me before falling over, coughing out more blood. He drops my knife.

I don't know what to do, and the whole world seems to be spinning around me. Who will win these awful Games?

I think I'm going to die, because Percy's cannon hasn't gone off yet and I'm finding it harder and harder to breath. I can feel my heart slowing, its rhythmic beat growing fainter and fainter in my ears. My body takes in a few shallow breaths, the world goes black, and then. . .

A

cannon

shot.

*BOOM*

I know you guys are probably feeling lazy, but please review! I want to know if this was any good! :) And yes, I'm sorry this chapter was kind of short.