74th Hunger Games Challenge: We Always Were Chapter 25: Nightlock, a hunger games fanfic

74th Hunger Games Challenge: We Always Were

By: Jamie Sommers

Chapter Twenty-five: Nightlock

Wow...I can't believe this story is almost done! HUGE thanks to my betas S and A. They're awesome! A, thanks for making me laugh. S, thanks for making me think. To all of you that continue to read and review, I thank you. Now...

74th Hunger Games Challenge: We Always Were

Haymitch stumbled backwards at the first sight of the creatures running after Katniss and Peeta. A pack of Capitol's mutations, mutts for short, were converging on the three remaining tributes as they ran to the Cornucopia for safety. "Sweet Jesu…" Haymitch felt his legs give out as he collapsed into a chair behind him.

New bets starting flying around the Capitol's party, people wagering on which tributes would survive the Gamemakers newest twist. The Star Crossed Lovers weren't getting good odds.

"She hardly has any arrows left." Haymitch felt someone slap him on the back and laugh, "Should've sent her in some of those instead of the food." He wanted to break the man's hand. To turn around and leave the commentator in a bloody pulp, but Haymitch couldn't move…couldn't breathe. There was something about the mutts…something familiar, but he couldn't place it. The creatures ran on four legs, were covered in different colored fur and varied in sizes. One of them stopped and stood on its hind legs and waved the rest of them on. It was covered in dark brown fur. Its eyes were surrounded by gold. Haymitch could swear he had seen the mutt before.

He watched as Katniss scrambled to the top of the Cornucopia, away from the pack of deadly animals. Cato was at the tip of it, doubled over, trying to catch his breath. Peeta was still trying to get up the side of the metal object. Katniss took an arrow out and aimed it for Cato's head when the sound of Peeta's scream resonated through the party.

"No," Portia felt herself trembling with fear at the sight of Peeta in such grave danger. She whispered, "Climb."

Effie squeezed the stylist's hand in her own and closed her eyes. She couldn't stomach what was about to happen. She couldn't watch Peeta be torn to shreds by the mongrels the Capitol had created to entertain the viewers.

"Climb, Peeta!" Katniss was screaming at him and leaning over the edge of the Cornucopia in a frantic attempt to pull him up to her. "Climb!"

Effie felt a shiver run down her spine as she heard the sound of sharp objects scraping along the Cornucopia's metal surface.

"What?" Katniss yelled out.

"He said, 'Can they climb it?" Effie's eyes flew open at the sound of Peeta's voice. He was on top of the Cornucopia with Katniss, but now they had dangers to face below them and across from them. Cato.

Haymitch stayed focus on the mutts trying to get to the top of the Cornucopia. They were all the same type of mutt, but none of them looked alike except for two in particular. There were two of them that almost looked like twins. Sandy colored, wavy fur and their eyes were unmistakably blue. "My God," Haymitch was sure he was about to vomit. "His brothers," he spoke his thoughts aloud.

Effie glanced at Haymitch to see him drained of all color. "They'll be fine. They'll be fine," she chanted quietly to him.

Haymitch stared at the screen and shook his head. One of the mutts, a slender one with a powdery colored coat was making a running jump for the end of the Cornucopia. Its four inch razor sharp claws hung onto the edge of the metal structure in an attempt to pull itself up. The camera showed it baring its teeth at Katniss.

Katniss stood with her bow and arrow in her hand and took aim. She didn't shoot at the mutt right away. She stared at it and Haymitch stared with her. It was as if they had both come to the realization at the same time. The powdery colored fur should've been the first hint. But it was the long pink eyelashes that gave it away. Haymitch and Katniss said what they were thinking at the same time, "Effie." Then Katniss released the arrow into the mutt's throat.

…..

Peeta ran as fast as he could, on his bad leg, towards the Cornucopia. He had to get away from the animals that were hunting them down. He didn't dare look back at them; even a split second could mean the difference between life and death. Katniss' feet were dangling off the edge of the Cornucopia. She was scraping to get to the top. "Go, Katniss!" He screamed out. He reached her and pushed her feet upwards so she could get to safety. His hands reached up and he began pulling himself up, but he could hear the creatures closing in on him. He was sure this was how he was going to die. "No," he told himself. He wasn't going to give into the Gamemakers ploy. His foot gripped the side of the Cornucopia and he used all of his strength to pull himself upwards. His upper body was over the edge and he could make out Katniss getting ready to fire a deadly arrow at Cato. He let out a guttural cry as one of the creatures reached him and pulled at his leg. He could feel its claws tugging at his boot.

"Climb, Peeta!" Katniss turned and ran to him. "Climb!" Her hands reached out to his, but they couldn't get a hold of him. If Peeta let go and took her hands he could fall into the den of wild animals, they could both fall. She gripped his hand in one of hers and grabbed the back of his jacket with the other. Adrenaline shot through her as she hauled him to safety. She kept pulling him away from the edge, higher up the horn of the Cornucopia. "Come on, Peeta!"

He stumbled to his feet and they ran upwards. Cato was doubled over, trying to catch his breath, but he wasn't what either one of them feared in that moment. It was the beasts the Gamemakers sent in that were the immediate threat.

She heard Cato call something out to them, but she couldn't understand him. "What?"

"He said, 'Can they climb it'?"

Her eyes flew to the rim of the Cornucopia. The animals were trying to figure out a way to get to the top. There was something about them, Katniss realized. These weren't normal animals. They were familiar. She heard them letting out a high pitched squeal and saw them forming at the base of the metal structure. "What are they doing?" Katniss could feel her heart palpitating as she saw two of the beasts clasp their paws together and a third one running for them. The pair of creatures boosted the running one in an upward motion towards their location. What kind of animal can do this, she thought? "Mutts!" She called to Peeta as she took aim on the one that was making its way over the edge of the Cornucopia. But these weren't normal mutts and Katniss knew it. She saw the face of the beast as she took aim and noticed the unnatural color of its fur. Not quite white, it had a pink tinge to it. Its collar was made intricately woven lace and its eyelashes were long and pink. Pink! "Effie." Had the Capitol taken out their revenge on those that had helped Katniss and Peeta in the Games? Would they actually hurt one of their own?

"Shoot it, Katniss!"

The sound of Peeta's scream shook her to her senses and she let the arrow fly right through the mutt's lace collar. She saw the blood spattering from its wound and heard it whining like an injured animal. Katniss stood still. She surveyed the other mutts that were surrounding them.

"Katniss?" Peeta was grabbing her by the arm. Dragging her further up the Cornucopia.

"It's them," she said to Peeta. Her eyes were large with fear.

"Who?" Peeta turned to look at the mutations.

"Effie…Haymitch…Cinna…" Katniss saw the features of the mutations. Their coloring, each of them had different colored fur. Three of them were sandy blond, like Peeta. She could make out the blue of their eyes. One of them had a chocolate colored coat with gold surrounding its eyes. Three of them were light blond, one had longer fur than the rest and… Katniss choked on her breath. "PRIM!" She could never resist those overly large eyes. Fear that the Capitol had taken their friends and family into custody and implanted their eyes into the mutations sent a bolt of sheer horror through her. Peeta reached out and grabbed her before she could run to the mutt that looked like Prim.

Peeta took in what she was saying and stared at the Capitol's creations. He saw two stocky beasts and knew they were meant for him. They were his brothers. Another beast had been taller than the other two, but still had similar features, it was his father. He wanted to run to them. To save them from the Capitol, but he couldn't. This was the Gamemakers plan and he knew it. "No, Katniss. No." He gripped her by the arms and shook her. "It isn't them." He looked around and tried to believe what he was saying, "It can't be."

"Gale!" Katniss saw the tall mutt making his way over the rim of the Cornucopia. It was Gale. She held up her arrow, but couldn't pull on the bow. She couldn't kill Gale. Even taking out the mutt formation of him repulsed her. Its coat was black, straight and shiny. Its eyes were Seam grey. The same ones that looked at her in the woods…that watched her back and kept her secrets. The mutation was taller than the rest of the pack. Its shoulders wider and its reach longer. In one swift move it reached out and slashed at Peeta's leg causing a long cut down the length of his calf. Katniss lifted her bow and shot her arrow, without hesitation, killing the Capitol's version of her lifelong friend.

…..

"What are those things?" Posy ran to Gale and he took her into his lap.

"Mutts," Gale said with disdain. He watched as Katniss shot at the one she called Effie and wondered why the Capitol would create a mutation out of the woman. She was one of their own and Katniss hated everyone from the Capitol. She'd probably enjoy killing off a mutt that symbolized Effie Trinket.

"It's them," Katniss' head was flying back and forth taking in the different beasts that surrounded them.

"Who?" Peeta called to her.

"Effie…Haymitch… Cinna…PRIM!"

"NO!" Gale screamed out at the television as Katniss began heading for the blond covered creature with overly large eyes.

"No, Katniss. No." Peeta held onto her and shook her as he said, "It isn't them. It can't be."

Gale's entire family was staring slack jawed at the television set. Gale lifted his sister off of his lap and sat her down between himself and his mother. "How is she supposed to kill something that looks like Prim?" He asked Hazelle.

His mother's face was full of terror as she saw the Capitol's version of her own son reaching out to kill Peeta.

"Gale," Katniss' eyes were wide with horror as she looked at the mutation.

Gale was repulsed by the scene. He was turned into a monster at the hands of the Gamemakers. A killing machine for the viewing audience. No one would really know who he was in other districts, but Katniss and Peeta would know and that's what the Gamemakers were counting on.

"No," Posy cried. "Not Peeta."

They could hear Peeta's scream as the animal's claw entered his flesh and tore it open. Blood shot out of the slices the mutt made in Peeta's leg and sprayed across the base of the Cornucopia just as Katniss' arrow plunged into the eye of the Gale mutation, killing it instantly.

"Peeta!" Katniss called out and pulled him to her. She dragged him to the center of the Cornucopia, but Cato was already on his way to her. He grabbed her around her neck and forced her to the edge of the horn. She was flat on her back and he was pushing her head over the side. Holding it down for the mutts to reach.

Gale was shaking as he watched the mutts step back and make way for the one that had been made in Prim's image. It ran with its claws and teeth bared, straight for Katniss' head.

…..

Katniss couldn't breath. She knew if the mutts didn't kill her, the pressure of Cato's hand on her throat would. His eyes were crazed. There was no reason for Cato not to snap her neck, except to provide the audience with a good show. She could hear the high pitched sounds coming from the mutts. She gasped for air. She was choking. Dying.

The Prim mutation was headed straight for Katniss. "NOOOO!" Peeta cried out as he felt adrenaline coursing through his veins. He ran at Cato and rammed him in the stomach with his shoulder. In one swift move he lifted the Career off of Katniss and threw him across the Cornucopia like a sack of flour. The mutt missed its chance at beheading Katniss and slammed into the side of the Cornucopia.

Katniss scrambled for her bow. Her feet were sliding across the top of the golden horn. Her palms gripping at its surface. She needed to kill Cato. If she killed him then they'd win and the Games would be over.

Peeta turned to Katniss to pull her up, but she was already making her way to the bow. Peeta took a step in her direction and felt the arm around his neck cutting off his air supply. Cato had him in a death grip. He could hear the sound of Cato's ragged breathing pulsing in his ear. He tried to step out of Cato's grip, but his tattered leg was useless. He felt himself being dragged to the edge of the Cornucopia, his feet slipping on the blood that was flowing freely from his calf. He reached down in an absent manner to try and staunch the flow of it, but it caused Cato's grip to tighten.

Katniss whipped herself around to take aim at Cato and stopped before releasing the arrow.

Cato's maniacal laugh caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end. "Go on. Shoot." He taunted her. "Then we both go down and you win." Peeta was struggling to keep his footing as Cato tightened his deadly hold. "Go on. I'm dead anyway…" The Career, who had been full of himself throughout the entire competition, was now coming to terms with his own death. "…I always was, right? I…I didn't know that till now." Cato looked to the dark sky and said, "How's that?"

What was he doing? Katniss couldn't believe what she was seeing. Cato was challenging the Capitol.

"Is that what you wanted?" Cato screamed out to the invisible Gamemakers.

Katniss saw his movements as a chance to free Peeta from his grip. She lifted her arrow, but Cato glared at her and smiled.

"No…Nuh uh!" He was moving Peeta back and forth as if trying to dare Katniss to take aim. "I can still do this. One more kill. It's the only thing I know how to do. Bring pride to my district…" Cato began laughing like a mad man. "I can still do this!"

Peeta's eyes met Katniss' as Cato rambled on. He could almost hear her mind formulating a plan, but Peeta knew he'd be dead by the time she figured out what to do. Peeta's hands stopped clawing at the arm Cato had around his neck. He felt his way across the Career's forearm until he reached the back of Cato's hand. He held onto Katniss' piercing stare and slowly drew an X on the hand that was choking him.

Katniss' eyes flashed to the spot Peeta marked and took aim. Cato's laugh turned into a scream as Katniss' arrow pierced his flesh. Peeta threw his shoulder back against Cato and the Career lost his footing; plunging to the ground. The sound of Cato being brutally attacked was instantaneous. The mutts converged on him and began ripping at his flesh.

Peeta collapsed to his knees and Katniss caught him before he fell face first onto the bloody metal surface. She expected the cannon to sound, but it didn't. She could hear Cato's screams and the sound of metal scraping metal, that's when she remembered his body armor.

"Peeta," she was trembling. The air in the arena was frigid and the Cornucopia was in the center of an open field. There were no trees…no bushes to prevent the icy air from blowing right through them. "Move your hands." Peeta's fingers were covering the cut in his leg. Katniss tried to assess it with her eyes, but she couldn't see through the blood. She let her fingers trail down along his calf and felt the gravity of his wound. There wasn't one cut, but three of them. The back of his leg was practically shredded.

"Katniss," Peeta's breathing was heavy and he could feel the life draining out of him. "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," her voice was shaking. Peeta was going to die if she didn't stop the bleeding, but how.

"I never wanted to leave you."

"Then don't!" She looked around for their backpack, but it had been left by the lake when they escaped from the mutts. She did the only thing she could think of. "Peeta, I have to stop the bleeding or you'll die and you can't die. You promised me you wouldn't." She took off her jacket and ripped off her shirt. "I'm going to put a tourniquet on your leg." She pulled her jacket back on and zipped it up. She ripped off a strip from her shirt and tied it above the bleeding. She grabbed her last arrow and forced it through the knot she had made. "You might lose your leg, Peeta."

"Better than the alternative, right?" Peeta felt the first twist of the tourniquet and clenched his teeth.

"That's right." Katniss kept turning the tourniquet until the blood stopped flowing freely out of Peeta's leg then used the remaining portion of her shirt to bandage Peeta's calf.

"I'm tired," his voice was weak.

"Don't go to sleep." Katniss ordered him. "You have to stay awake."

Peeta nodded his head and noticed Katniss shivering. "Come here." He unzipped his jacket and pulled her into it. "You're cold."

They sat huddled together, trying to stay warm. Katniss forcing Peeta to stay awake. The sounds of Cato screaming…crying out in pain, surrounded them.

"Why don't they just kill him?" Katniss spoke into Peeta's neck.

"You said it yourself…it's the finale." Peeta held her head against him. "Why does he keep fighting them?" Neither one of them needed to voice the answer. Cato was a Career. He was raised to fight until his dying breath.

…..

He couldn't sit still. It had been hours since Cato had fallen from the Cornucopia and the Gamemakers wanted to make an example out of him, so the mutts took their time. They slashed at the body armor, which held up, leaving his head free from injuries. They tore at Cato's feet leaving them in bloody stumps. His hands, shredding his fingers down to the bones. One of the mutts stood atop Cato and sliced him across the throat, but not deep enough to cause death. Then it licked the wound and let the blood from his injury drip from its mouth onto Cato's cheek.

Cato had tears streaming down his face as he realized who the Capitol's mutation was designed for. "Mom?" Cato stared into the mutts eyes. The creature sneered and licked his wound again then jumped off of him.

Gale stood up and ran out of his house. He could no longer watch what had been one of the worst stunts the Capitol ever pulled during the Games. He ran to the woods, but the fence was on. He was desperate to hide. The thought of Katniss being tortured to death by the mutts was first and foremost in his mind. He turned and ran as far as his feet could take him and collapsed to the ground. The sun was almost up. How long had it been since the final battle began? How long had Peeta been lying in a pool of his own blood atop the Cornucopia? And was Catnip still alive? His questions had him up and headed for the town's square. He entered it just as the sun came over the horizon.

"I think he's closer now, Katniss. Can you shoot him?" Peeta's voice was weak, but he was alive. They both were.

"My last arrow's in your tourniquet." Peeta gripped the arrow in an attempt to remove it. "No!" Katniss stopped him. "You'll bleed to death."

"I'm already bleeding to death," Peeta whispered. Gale could see the turmoil in Katniss' expression. Peeta pulled Katniss' hand off of the arrow and removed it from his bandaged leg. He handed it to Katniss and said, "Shoot straight, Katniss."

Katniss took the arrow out of Peeta's hand and grit her teeth. She stood at the edge of the Cornucopia and looked down at Cato. Gale wanted to puke from the sight of him. The mutts had gotten through the armor in certain spots and he could make out chunks of the Career's flesh squeezing through the seams. His head was now a tangled mess. His cheeks had bloody slices, part of his lip was gone, but his eyes were still alert. Katniss pulled back on the string of her bow and let the arrow fly into Cato's skull.

"Did you get him?" Peeta called out. The sound of the cannon's blast answered his question.

Hoots and hollers erupted through the crowd in the square. Gale stood unblinking. "They won," he breathed out.

Katniss raced to Peeta's side. "It's over."

Peeta's head fell back as he choked out, "We won."

"Hooray for us," Katniss buried her head against Peeta's chest.

Gale watched as a hole opened in the woods and the mutts disappeared into it. He was expecting the sound of Claudius Templesmith's voice to announce the Victors from District 12, but nothing happened.

"What the hell?" Gale heard someone next to him call out. "Announce the winners already!"

The crowd was getting restless as was Gale. They all watched as Katniss and Peeta determined that they needed to move away from Cato so the hovercraft could remove his remains, and made their way to the lake. At the first sign of the Capitol's craft, the entire square cheered. They watched as Cato was lifted from the ground and celebrated when they heard the familiar voice of the Games speak.

"Attention Tributes! Attention! There has been a slight rule change. The previous revision allowing for two Victors has been revoked. Only one Victor may be crowned. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor."

…..

…

The night was never ending. Haymitch wanted to drink. He wanted to close himself up in a room and drink until he passed out, but when he stood up he felt Effie's damning stare and sat back down. Effie, he thought to himself, I never meant to get you so deep into this. The moment Haymitch had seen that the Capitol turned the escort into a mutation, he knew it wasn't meant for Katniss and Peeta, but as a warning to the woman who had let her patriotism falter. Effie had no clue what she signed up for when she chose to help him, Cinna and Portia. Haymitch had never intended on telling her that her overzealous actions could be a danger to her. She was from the Capitol and couldn't be trusted. But she had put her trust in him and Haymitch felt as though he had let the woman down. He could only hope that she would go back to her Capitol ways once they left and keep her head down. Then he overheard her comment to Portia and knew that Effie Trinket could never go back to the way she was before. Yes, it was the longest night of his life.

In all the years Effie had been a part of the Hunger Games, this had been the most brutal display she'd ever seen. She could barely stomach what was being played out on the screen and though she wanted to leave, she would not give the Gamemakers the pleasure of seeing her faith in Katniss and Peeta waiver.

She and Portia had gripped hands more often than not during the night and when Effie heard the catch in Portia's throat, she turned to the stylist and whispered harshly, "Don't cry. Don't give them the satisfaction." Portia nodded at Effie and held her tears at bay for the remainder of the night.

Cinna tried to stay strong. He allowed himself a few seconds in which he'd close his eyes and take a few deep breaths then he'd keep focused on the television screen. They all needed to stay strong for Katniss and Peeta's sake.

The silent support from the Capitol was all the team from District 12 could offer Peeta and Katniss and they were all determined to provide it until the end of the Games. They sat with their shoulders straight, heads high and confident. Nothing would break this team.

The sound of the cannon announcing Cato's death caused an eruption in the Capitol. The team from District 12 all clasped hands and smiled at one another.

"They did it," Cinna said quietly.

"Did you ever doubt them?" Effie asked.

They sat at the edge of their seats in wait. Seconds ticked by and their smiles slowly faded.

"Something's wrong," Haymitch said under his breath. "They should've announced them as the winners by now."

"Perhaps Katniss is right? Maybe they have to move away from Cato and let the hovercraft come for him?" But Effie knew even as she asked the questions, the Gamemakers had one final twist left in the Games.

"There it is," Portia said as the image of the hovercraft appeared and lifted Cato's body up.

Haymitch remembered Effie's comment about the Gamemakers always being a few moves ahead in the Games. Just like chess, he thought. Haymitch turned to Effie and said, "Checkmate."

…..

"Wake up, Peeta! Wake up!" Katniss shook his shoulders and screamed at him until his eyes fluttered open. "Do not fall asleep! You have to fight it, Peeta." Her arms wrapped around him inside of his jacket. "Don't leave me here," she was petrified that Peeta would die before Cato.

"I won't," he whispered and kissed her hooded head. "I won't leave you."

"You can't, Peeta." Katniss was on the verge of crying, but fought the tears. "I'll never forgive you if you do," she tried to smile, but it was useless.

"Look at the moon, Katniss." She didn't move. "Look at it." He felt her head tipping upwards. "Can you tell how much time until morning?"

Katniss looked up at the heavens and saw the moon's progress. "We have awhile yet." She sat quietly. "Do you think he'll be dead by morning?"

"Let's hope so. If not, then you'll be able to see him and you can shoot him." He felt Katniss nod against his chest. "Talk to me, Katniss." Peeta could feel himself falling asleep.

"I…I can't."

"You can." Peeta squeezed her torso. "Talk to me."

"About what?" Katniss couldn't think of anything but the sounds Cato was making from the ground below them.

"Anything…your dad. Tell me about your father."

Katniss lifted her face to his and said, "What do you want to know?"

"Tell me the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of him."

"He made me happy." Katniss swallowed hard. "I miss him so much."

"I know you do, but you're surviving without him. You're taking care of your family and living your life, even though he's gone." Peeta didn't know if he was going to die or not, but if he did, he wanted Katniss to know she could go on without him.

"I guess."

"My mother was right when she said you were a survivor. You are." Peeta felt his eyelids drooping and fought to keep them open. "I think you can endure anything."

Katniss looked at him and said, "Why are you saying this, Peeta?"

He lifted his eyebrows as if saying, I might die. "You'll be all right no matter what, Katniss."

"I'll be all right when we win and we go back to District 12." She pulled him closer to her. "And we are going back…together."

"Okay, Katniss." Peeta wasn't sure if he'd be going back lying in a pine box or sitting on a train, but he knew he'd be sent back to District 12 eventually.

"I've decided to forgive you, Peeta." Katniss told him.

"Forgive me?"

"For Buttercup." Katniss kissed his cheek. "Prim loves that cat."

"She's a great girl." Peeta told her. "She taught me the difference between a mint leaf and basil."

"She did?" Katniss had no clue that Prim had ever discussed herbs with Peeta. Maybe when she was taking care of Buttercup, she thought.

"Prim taught me about a lot of stuff in the meadow." Peeta wanted Katniss to know how exceptional Prim was to him too.

"Peeta? When did Prim go to the meadow with you? She never mentioned that she saw you there."

"She wouldn't have. I asked her not to." Peeta shivered as a rush of cold air blew across them. "But I used to see her there and she'd point out the different herbs…flowers…she taught me a lot." Peeta couldn't say that Prim picked them, because that would be considered stealing from the Capitol. "I told my parents I had to tutor her after school and each day I'd meet her there."

Why didn't you meet me there? Katniss wanted to ask him, but she knew the answer. Because she was in the woods with Gale…hunting. "You were her friend?"

"She was mine," Peeta said softly. "She used to tell me all about you." Peeta looked down at Katniss and said, "She worries about you…about you and your mother."

"She probably worried about you too. Prim's that way."

"That's not what I mean, Katniss."

"I know." Katniss understood what Peeta was saying. It was time to try and forgive her mother for checking out after her father died. Katniss wondered if Peeta died, if she'd react the same way her mother did. Something inside of her said it would be worse. That she'd never recover if Peeta died. She began rubbing her hands up and down his sides inside of his jacket.

"If boys could volunteer for girls during the reaping, I would've volunteered for Prim." Peeta looked down into Katniss' eyes. "You Everdeen women are something special. Prim…she's special, Katniss. She helped take my mind off of all the bad stuff that was happening to me just by talking to me…about you." He smiled. "I think she knew I loved you before you did. She's all that's good and decent in this world. I would've volunteered for her without a doubt. This world would be a much better place if we had a few more people like Prim in it."

Oh, Prim. Katniss wished she could hug her sister and tell her thank you. Thank you for providing Peeta with a true friend when he needed it most. "Like you and Prim." Katniss gazed into his eyes. "Peeta…one day you're going to have to tell me everything you've done behind my back."

Peeta let out a little laugh and said, "Where's the fun in that?"

They sat holding each other for hours. When Peeta felt sleepy he'd start talking to Katniss about anything and everything. He asked her to point out the progress of the moon in the sky and they tried to figure out how long it had been since they left their cave.

"Katniss," Peeta whispered. "The sun is rising."

She could make out Peeta's features now. His face was pale and sallow. His eyes sunken in. "We have to get you back to the Capitol."

"I think he's closer now, Katniss. Can you shoot him?" Peeta barely had any energy.

"My last arrow's in your tourniquet." Peeta automatically reached down to pull it out of the tourniquet. "No! You'll bleed to death."

"I'm already bleeding to death," Peeta whispered to her. He could see it in her eyes. She couldn't bring herself to remove the arrow, but she needed to if they had any chance of surviving. He placed his hand over hers and took it off of the arrow then pulled it out. "Shoot straight, Katniss."

Katniss had no idea how she could keep herself steady. She was frozen solid and petrified that Peeta would bleed to death the second the tourniquet was released. Then she heard him say, "Shoot straight, Katniss." It was the same advice he had given her before she went into her private session with the Gamemakers. She took the arrow out of Peeta's hand and walked to the edge of the Cornucopia, blocking out the sounds Cato was making, knowing that she couldn't let anything distract her from her target or Peeta would die. Just like the apple, Katniss, she thought to herself as she pulled back on the bow's string. She saw Cato's pleading eyes and knew it was time to put an end to his suffering. To all of their suffering. When she released the arrow it wasn't Cato she was shooting, but President Snow himself. He was the reason they were in the arena. He was the reason all of the tributes had died. The arrow entered Cato's skull with such force, it killed him instantly.

"Did you get him?" Katniss turned to Peeta as the final cannon of the Games shot out.

"It's over." She ran to Peeta.

"We won," Peeta wanted to cry as he hung his head back. He wanted to scream. To yell. Why? Why did this have to happen? Why did all of these kids have to die? Just so you could have your Games?

"Hooray for us," Katniss buried her head against Peeta's chest and tried to hide her sorrow.

"They're leaving," Peeta noticed the sound of the mutts getting quieter.

Katniss looked out and saw an opening in the forest that they vanished into. She reached out and clasped Peeta's hands in hers. Both of them had his dried blood covering them. Okay…now, Katniss thought. They need to come now, but nothing was happening. If they waited much longer, Peeta would be dead. "Hey!" Katniss called out. "What's going on? Why aren't they doing anything?"

"Maybe we have to move away from his body?" Peeta questioned.

"Do you think you can make it to the lake?" Katniss didn't think he could. She could barely stand, so how Peeta got up and walked was beyond her belief.

"I think I better try."

They made their way back to the lake and Katniss bent down to wash his blood off of her hands. "Put your hands out." She bent down and scooped water up and rinsed his until almost all of the blood was gone, then held some up to his lips for him to drink.

They both lifted their eyes up when the hovercraft appeared out of thin air and lifted Cato's corpse into it. They waited for the announcement proclaiming them as the Victors, but none came and the hovercraft disappeared.

"What are they waiting for?" Peeta looked to Katniss.

"I don't know." Katniss saw the blood dripping from Peeta's leg and walked into the distance for a stick to tie his up his tourniquet, but found the arrow that had bounced off of Cato's body armor just a few feet away. She headed back to Peeta but before she reached him she heard static. At the sound of Claudius Templesmith's voice Katniss instinctively raised her bow and last arrow.

Katniss' heart sank. They had been played. The Gamemakers wanted to guarantee the best battle for the end. The mutts weren't the finale. She and Peeta were. From the moment they announced two winners the Gamemakers had been planning on this and Katniss knew it. She cursed herself for walking straight into their trap.

"If you think about it, it's not that surprising." Peeta gave Katniss a disheartening look. Had he really expected them both to walk out of the Games as victors, he asked himself. Peeta had entered the Games intending on sacrificing his life for Katniss, so this newest deception didn't seem to shock him. The Gamemakers wanted to make sure he had something to live for while he was in the arena and making them believe that both he and Katniss could win, gave them both enough drive to reach the final battle. He took the knife out of his belt and threw it into the lake. It was time to give the viewing audience…the Capitol what they wanted. "Go on. Do it," Peeta encouraged Katniss to use the last arrow on him.

"I can't," Katniss looked at him as though he were insane. "I won't." She dropped to her knees in front of him and began putting his leg back into the tourniquet, but he pulled it away from her and ripped off the remainder of the bandage.

"Fine. I'll go first anyway."

She was furious. Not with Peeta but with the Capitol. She shoved the bow and arrow into Peeta's hand and screamed, "Then you do it! You shoot me and go home and live with it!"

"You know I can't do that," there was pain crying out in Peeta's voice. "Please, Katniss?" He tried to force the weapon back into her hands. "It's what I want."

"You said you wouldn't leave me," she was shaking.

"Do you think I want to leave you here? That's the last thing I want." He reached his hand out and lifted her chin so she could face him. "We both know they have to have their victor."

Katniss couldn't move. She couldn't breathe. If Peeta died she'd want to die too. She was tempted to take the arrow and stab it through her heart, but she couldn't leave Peeta with that kind of guilt so she followed Peeta's lead and threw the weapon in the lake.

"No, Katniss." Peeta said to her. He hung his head down and lifted his eyes to hers. "I'll bleed to death anyway. They have to have their victor, Katniss."

She lifted herself and stood in front of him. "No. They don't." she refused to leave the arena without Peeta. The Capitol wanted to play games…fine, she thought. Let them play mine and Peeta's Game now. She put her hand in her pocket and pulled out the deadly berries. "Why should they?"

Peeta gripped her wrist, "No. I won't let you."

Katniss leaned into him, her free hand stroked the back of his head as she whispered into his ear, "We're more than a piece in their Games. I would rather die than live without you." She turned his palm upright and poured half of the berries into it.

Peeta looked down at his hand and stared at the berries. She was asking him to die…to let her die. To show up the Capitol? Because she couldn't live without him? He didn't know. He searched her eyes for the answer and found it. Living as residents of the Seam, Town or as Victors didn't matter unless they could live their lives together. He nodded once then said, "Together?"

"Together," her voice was soft and tender.

"Hold them up. I want everyone to see," Peeta told her. The Capitol wouldn't get their victor after all. It was either both of them or neither one of them. Either way, Katniss and Peeta were both secure in their decision.

Katniss held the berries high into the sky so the cameras could focus on them. She was leaving the arena with Peeta by her side. Dead or alive, they'd end the Games as they started them…as a team…as one.

…..

The dark berries glistened in the palm of Katniss' hand and across the nation no one spoke a word. Strangers, friends…family, all of them held their breath as Katniss and Peeta stood staring at one another. Preparing to eat the deadly fruit.

Gale stared up at the large screen in District 12. Every muscle in his body was frozen in place as the combination of pain, fury and love rushed through him. Don't, Catnip, he thought. Please don't. You can still win this. Let Peeta die. Come home to me. I love you, but Gale knew she'd never be able to allow the baker's son to sacrifice himself for her.

Cinna raised his chin with pride as a tear rolled down his face. It has been my honor knowing you both, he thought. You have moved a nation and showed us all that each of us can make a difference if we believe in what we're fighting for.

Portia licked her dry lips and wished Katniss and Peeta an eternity of love and happiness. You two deserve a world in which you can live, laugh and love. You deserve better than this country could ever provide.

Effie felt shame coursing through her. I'm sorry, she thought. So sorry I ever called your name…your sister's name. Sorry for being a part of these Games for so long and not realizing the consequences they had on people. Effie was sorry that geography dictated the course of all of their lives. She remembered what Peeta and Katniss had done after eating their picnic. She could see Peeta lifting up the plate and licking it, saying that they missed her. I miss you too, Effie thought. I'll miss you both more than you'll ever know. Thank you for showing me all that I had been missing in my life.

This was why, Haymitch thought to himself. This was why Katniss and Peeta entered his world. They had the power to change a nation…to change him. Somehow you two wormed your way into my heart, he thought. You're more than just a couple of kids from District 12. More than tributes. More than victors and I'll always be honored to have been considered your mentor.

Peeta and Katniss stood toe to toe.

"On three," Peeta said quietly. His voice rang through a stunned nation.

Katniss lips were trembling as she pressed them against Peeta's. "I love you," her lips moved, but no sound came out.

"I love you," Peeta words were silent, but spoke volumes.

"One," Katniss placed her hand over Peeta's beating heart.

"Two," Peeta's fingers trailed down her silky braid.

"Three," their hands lifted the berries to their lips.

"Stop! Stop!" Katniss and Peeta froze as a frantic Claudius Templesmith spoke. "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you the winners of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark! The tributes of District 12."