Chapter 11

"If you think about it, it's not that surprising," her district partner says as he slowly pulls the knife from his belt.

"Here it is," he thought, "The star crossed lover was going to kill her in front of the whole country." The only thing that brought justice to this thought was the likelihood that the district twelve tribute would be the most hated victor in the games history, and you can bet anything that he was going to add fuel to the fire. Peeta Mellark did not deserve the title, without her, the district partner would have been dead and everyone knew it.

In an instant Katniss had loaded her bow with an arrow and pointed it straight at Peeta's heart. This made him smile; she was a fighter and was not going to fall at the last hurdle. Peeta throws the knife to the ground and she does the exact same which causes a slight grimace on the game makers face. He had wondered how she could do this; throw everything away when she could be moments away from her victory.

"No, Do it." Peeta says as he limps towards her and thrusts her bow and arrow back in her hands.

For ten minutes the pair threaten suicide and he wishes that she would not take the easy way out, she was a fighter, well that was the impression that he had got. She wouldn't do this; she shouldn't do this, not to him not right now.

"We both know they have to have a victor. It can only be one of us. Please, take it. For me." The very annoying, but persuasive district twelve boy says.

He starts to say how he loves her, and what life would be without her but if he did truly love her, then why did he join the career pack and lead them right to her, ready for the kill. Love is not that. Love is being there for the other person no matter what, in sickness or in health.

That was when it came to him. Did he love her? He did try and do everything for her; he gave her hope in her darkest hour even though she did not know it was him. He still helped her.

Her fingers fumble on the pouch that is attached to her belt. Night lock berries. His eyes widened and he leaned closer to the screen in the control room.

"No I won't let you." Peeta whispers to her.

The game maker tries to stifle a laugh but it is the sarcastic snort that he can't hold back and he does get the odd stare from one of the lower game makers. He returns their stares with a deadly glare and with his piercing blue eyes, they soon turn away.

"Trust me," She whispers, "On the count of three?"

She empties half of the berries from her hand to her district partners and all the game makers, including him start to panic. They need their victor but he needed her to live.

There were frantic whispers from the game makers and someone had called President Snow and by the look on their face, the president was not happy.

Katniss tilts her hand so the camera's can see the night lock berries in all there destruction. It was strange to think how a couple of berries can kill a person, could kill her. This is what he hated most about the seventy-forth games. The way she overcomes the most brutal devastating blows but is willing to give it all up for a boy who had betrayed her within the heartbeat.

"One…" She said, "Two…"

"The president says it's your call Game Maker Seneca." A young game maker had said, with a horrified sound to his voice.

"Three."

She lifts her hand to her mouth and her district partner does the same, but only looking at her. Katniss looks around, taking in the scenery.

He shakes his head and quickly stands, "Let them live."

He felt nothing inside but utter dread. He had let two people win the game, two victors to go home too. The president would be looking for someone to blame, for someone to kill and he knew it had to be him. He was the head game maker, the one making the tough decisions but he never thought that the decision would be as hard as this.

"Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victors of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. I give you the tributes of district twelve." Claudius Templesmith's voice had boomed all around the arena.