After six days, the finale was finally happening.

It came down to Corin and the District One boy, Maverick. To Johanna, it had become obvious that the Gamemakers were intentionally picking off other tributes. Sure, she felt bad for them, as they weren't really getting a fighting chance. But neither did the tributes in the 70th Hunger Games, if what Finnick had told her was true. But that was the way it was going to go sometimes then, and if that's what needed to happen to bring Corin home, then that was what would be done.

Johanna was tense, pacing back and forth in the control room. Maverick's mentor seemed to be a little more relaxed. Clearly, his stakes weren't as high, but this would mean pride for him and his District and that was really all those career tributes fought for. Only a few of the other mentors were in the room. Blight, for obvious reasons, also Finnick sat nearby alongside Mags, whom Johanna had yet to officially meet. She was grateful for all of the support that Finnick had given her. He still acted like a tool, but he had a good heart.

What Johanna had a hard time understanding was why the Gamemakers seemed to be pushing Corin and Maverick towards each other for a final showdown. There was no guarantee that Corin would beat Maverick in the end, especially with his wicked accuracy with the bow and arrow. Somehow they must have been trying to give her an advantage. The final showdown was going to happen within minutes.

The Capitol Square was full of people right now looking towards the screens. They were chanting and cheering, yelling out the name of the tribute they wanted to see win. This was the biggest moment in the Capitol for these people, and this was Johanna's first time witnessing it, even though she was a good distance away, it still disgusted her.

The cheers were getting louder.

Corin and Maverick had found each other. Corin charged towards the boy, as Maverick aimed an arrow at her. He fired.
A root seemed to appear out of nowhere and tripped Corin.
She fell flat on the ground.
The arrow flew over her head.

"Throw the axe." Johanna whispered to herself. "Throw. It."

Corin was up on her feet again as Maverick was fumbling for another arrow. She planted her feet firmly and tossed the axe as if it weighed nothing. It soared right towards Maverick, who didn't even see it coming and -

It missed.

The axe flew right over the boy's head. Corin stood frozen in place as Maverick instantly retaliated, firing the arrow at her.

Bullseye.

The arrow hit Corin right in the gut. She stumbled backwards, clutching the wound. After a few agonizing seconds, the girl collapsed on the ground.

Boom.

The square erupted into an excited cheer. A few people nearby started congratulating Maverick's mentor. The boy was cheering on the screen as the celebratory music was played.

Every ounce of fire and light drained from Johanna's eyes. Finnick put a hand on her shoulder, but he too was at a loss for words. She shrugged his hand off her shoulder and turned around and stormed out, everybody cheering all around her.

How can they be so happy? She thought to herself. She felt sick, and the fresh air wasn't helping at all. She felt rage, anger, sadness and heartbreak all at once and she wasn't sure how to cope. He lied to me.

"I shouldn't have told Snow about her."

Johanna looked up at Ryker, confused. She'd been back in District Seven for only five days now, and it turned out that she could barely function properly. The only time she had left her home was to visit Corin's mother, when the coffin was delivered to them. Her mother had opened it, and the sight of the lifeless girl nearly brought tears to Johanna's eyes. Nearly. But it didn't, because Johanna hadn't cried since the first day of the Hunger Games. She swore she wouldn't let anybody get the best of her again, enough to make her cry ever. That was the last time.

Now, she was just feeling so empty. She felt like she had nothing left to lose. She'd turned out to be completely bitter, snapping at anybody who had tried to be nice to her since. She ignored Blight knocking at her doors and didn't return Finnick's phone calls. She was pushing them away. The only one she'd let in was Ryker. But now, she was having obvious doubts.

"What are you talking about Ryker?" Johanna asked, her voice shaking a little bit. She had a sick feeling that she knew exactly what he was talking about.

Ryker sighed, "I don't know Jo-"

"You'd better tell me what the hell you're talking about right now Ryker or so help me..." She was tense. They had been sitting on the floor in her home but Johanna was on her feet now, towering over the other boy.

"When Snow had come over one day, I was here," Ryker started, looking a little scared, "He asked me if you and I were together. I told him no, she's in love with someone else."

Johanna was speechless, "How did you know?"

"It was obvious Johanna. I've known you for years, the way you looked at her, the way she looked at you. You were always with her... I knew exactly what was going on. And so when Snow asked me for a name I didn't think it would be good to lie, but I didn't think he'd do that to you."

"You told him about her?" Johanna whispered, mostly to herself.

Ryker was stuttering now, "I didn't know he was going to do that. I had no idea that he would've done that to you, a victor!"

"Are you serious!" Johanna was yelling, "She could have been alive! She could have never gotten reaped if you hadn't told him her name!" Johanna grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and yanked him up shoving him against the wall. "She didn't have to die!"

"What else was I supposed to do?" Ryker screamed at her, but Johanna still punched him square in the jaw. He fell to the floor, a little shaken. He was bleeding. Johanna kicked at him. "Please, stop! I'm not the bad guy!"

She froze, looking down at his bloodied up face. "I don't want to see you ever again," She whispered harshly. Ryker looked hurt, but Johanna was unwavering.

She had truly changed.