It's the last day of the Quarter Quell! Enjoy!

Chapter 26

The nine o'clock section had been illuminated for a while now but Katniss still laid naked in Gale's arms. She noticed that the heat reflecting blanket covered them now. Gale must have done that after she had fallen asleep. She turned her body to face him and found him sleeping peacefully. She placed her hand on the back of his neck, stroking it gently. Gale's eyes remained closed but she saw a smile spread on his face. She felt his arm wrap tighter around her waist, pulling her even closer to him.

"Wake up sleepyhead." she said gently.

"I am awake." he said with his eyes still closed.

"It's time to get up."

"What time is it?" Gale asked. Katniss looked at the sun's position in the sky.

"Probably around 3."

"I slept that long? You really must have worn me out." he said playfully before he drew her closer for a kiss. As they continued, she felt him roll her over to her back as he hovered over her. He moved his mouth to her neck, planting a trail of kisses to her collarbone.

"Again?" she said raising her eyebrow.

"I can't help myself." he said, he voice full of desire. She was about to protest but she realized she didn't have much time left with him. Based her predictions, the Games would be ending soon. She had two days tops with him and that is if something didn't happen to her first. She reached her hand under the blanket to see if he was ready for her. She took his already hard shaft and gave it a few strokes. Gale moaned in response. She then opened her legs and guided him inside her. She gasped for breath as he connected completely with her. She caught his gaze as they laid their motionless. He gave her short, soft kiss before he began to grind into her. She felt more aware now then she had been the first time. In the dark, she was so worried and afraid that everything was a whirlwind around her. Now she could feel the moist soil beneath her body, and the humidity in the air around them. It wasn't the most comfortable place to be having sex.

"What are you thinking?" Gale said as he stopped his movements.

"I'm thinking about how gross I feel." she said scrunching up her face. "It's so hot and dirty."

"I thought that how you liked it." he whispered in her ear.

"Very funny." she said with a smirk. She guessed she had set him up for that.

"So you don't want to?" he asked.

"No, I do, just not here." she said bothered. He rolled them around so that she on top of him. She thought he was done so she was surprised when he sat up. He told her to hold unto her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, unsure of what was next. He then somehow managed to stand up.

"Gale what are you doing?" she asked. He smiled as he carried her and rested her back against the smooth bark of a nearby tree. Once he had her pinned to its trunk, she relaxed the grip of her legs around him. He resumed his thrusting, sending a new wave of pleasure running though her. With each motion, she felt him slightly withdraw from her before plunging deep inside her. She closed her eyes as she felt her back slide up and down the trunk of the tree and the friction between her thighs. She heard Gale's moans mix with hers, although his were much louder.

"Shh, not so loud." she warned him. He nodded before burying his head into her neck as he moved his lips up and down, sucking on her delicate skin. Katniss let out a loud moan in response of the feelings she was having.

"Shh, not so loud." he said mimicking her. She guessed neither of them could help themselves, now that they were so close to the edge. She could feel his movements quicken causing her to come shortly after. She felt Gale's lips press to hers, letting out a prolonged moan as he came as well. They looked wildly in each other eyes as he held her against the tree.

"I'm going to miss this." Gale said stroking her face.

"Me too."

"Here, why don't we get you cleaned up." he said as he carefully put her down on the ground. He walked over to her quiver to retrieve the spile. He made a hole higher up the tree and stuck the spile into it, creating a shower. The warm water cascaded down their bodies as they helped wipe the dirt off of each other. When they were finished, they walked over to their clothes and dressed.

The spent the rest of the day spending time with each other, talking and hunting. They didn't finding anything yet again during their hunt. Katniss was convinced that the Gamemakers left animals, apart from the mutts, out of the Games this year because they knew about his and her hunting skills. That night, the sky revealed two more dead Victors, Wiress and Brutus. Brutus probably killed her, but they wondered how he had died. He was a strong competitor in the Games. Maybe Finnick and Johanna took care of him after he murdered Wiress. The remaining Victors appeared in the sky. It was down to Beetee, Finnick, Johanna, Gale and her. She was worried about what would happen if she ran into Finnick and Johanna. They would try to take Gale and her out for sure. That night they followed their usual routine. They waited in the 3 o'clock section until midnight and then went to the 10 o'clock section to sleep.

The next morning, they woke up, packed their things and moved to a safe section. As they sat underneath a tree, Katniss could hear her stomach growling loudly. She realized she hadn't eaten a speck of food in the past two days. The rumbling must have been loud enough for the cameras to pick up because a minute later Haymitch sent them a package. It was another loaf of bread from District 12. Gale looked begrudgingly at her as she forced him to eat the bread. She wasn't about to let him starve because of some stupid grudge against Peeta Mellark.

That afternoon, they alternated between talking, hunting, kissing, having sex, and napping. It was quite enjoyable actually. It almost felt like they were back in the woods in District 12. In fact, for most of the day Katniss forgot there were even other Victors hunting them down. If this was their last day, she was glad she got to spend it like that.

That night, instead on staying in the 3 o'clock section until midnight, they went to the 1 o'clock section instead. They knew that Finnick's team would be on the beach part of that section and they didn't want to take the chance of running into them. Once midnight struck they could go to the other side of the arena. As soon as 11 o'clock came, she heard the loud clicking of insects coming from that part of the arena. She was glad she hadn't experienced that part. She hated bugs. As they waited, Katniss grew bored. She picked up a stick and started drawing in the dirt. Gale came over to see what she was doing.

"Katniss Hawthorne?" he questioned her. That is what she had written.

"I just wanted to see how it looked…in writing."

"I think it looks perfect." he said with a smile before giving her a brief kiss.

"Don't stop." she told him. She welcomed his kisses at the moment. It would be a nice way to pass the time. Gale reconnected with her, kissing her with more fervor this time. As he kissed her, she sensed they weren't alone. Maybe it was from all her years of hunting and knowing her surrounding at all times. She gently pushed him away and whispered in his ear.

"I don't think we're alone." she whispered. He slowly looked around the area. She wasn't sure if he could sense something as well. Suddenly, she saw Finnick and Johanna rush towards them. They quickly sprung to their feet and ran in the opposite direction.

"Come back. We won't hurt you." Johanna shouted. Like she would ever believe that. She knew that Johanna had no intention of keeping them safe. Not after what they tried with Finnick.

"Katniss, we should split up."

"No." she said. She didn't want to be separated from him.

"I think it might help. It might throw them off track since it's not something they'd think we'd do." he said. Maybe he had a point.

"Ok." she said.

"I'll meet you in the 10 o'clock section." he said. He grabbed her hand and stopped her from running, long enough to give her one last kiss. They then ran off in separate directions. Katniss looked behind her as she saw Johanna following her. Finnick had chased Gale. Katniss ran into the 12 o'clock section. Maybe she could get to the 11 o'clock section before the lightning started. She looked straight ahead as she sprinted through the forest. When she looked back to see where Johanna was, she tripped over a log. At least that's what she thought it was until she heard a groan. She looked over to see Beetee lying on the ground, his arm bleeding profusely. Johanna rushed over her and put her foot on Katniss' chest, preventing her from standing.

"I was starting to think we'd never find you." she said with a wicked grin. "You've caused a lot of trouble, running away like that."

"I know what you were doing. You were planning on killing us. You were just waiting for the right time." Katniss said as she struggled to break free. Johanna pressed down harder on her chest. Then she straddled Katniss to make sure she wouldn't get away.

"Oh is that what you think. We did have a plan for you. We still do. It's just changed a little since what you did to Finnick."

"It's not like I wanted to hurt him." Katniss shouted at her.

"But you did. All to take care of that precious husband of yours. Don't worry, we plan on taking care of him too." she said with a smirk.

"Leave him alone!" Katniss begged.

"Maybe I will. Or maybe I'll keep him around for a little longer. He is nice to look at." Katniss trashed around, trying to do something to inflict pain on Johanna. Katniss felt Johanna's shoes press again her arm so hard that it felt like she was cutting off her circulation. She use her other hand to hold her left arm to the ground. Johanna pulled out a knife from the back of her shorts and dug it into Katniss' arm. Katniss shrieked in pain as Johanna twisted the knife, digging deeper into her skin.

"Stop, please stop." Katniss begged her. She didn't listen. Johanna kept digging until she was interrupted.

"Johanna, I can't find him." Finnick said running up to her. He didn't even looked alarmed at what was happening to her. This must have been the new part of the plan; to let her bleed out slowly until she died. Johanna got off of her.

"If we hurry, we might still be able to catch him." she said.

The pair left her, bleeding out next to Beetee. He looked worse off then her. He was really pale and barely conscious. Lying next to him, Katniss saw a bow and one arrow. It must have been from the extra set they left when they ran away. She reached for it, thinking that she could kill Johanna when she returned. Then Gale or Finnick could win. When she picked up the arrow, she saw a thin wire attached to it. She tried to break it off but it wouldn't work. She guessed it didn't matter anyway. She felt Beetee clutch her arm. As she looked over at him, she saw him pointing to the sky. She heard him mutter, "Chink, midnight." before he passed out. Katniss was confused about this due to his broken words and the amount of blood she lost. She propped herself against Beetee's side as she looked for the chink in the armor that he talked about. She could faintly see it. She readied the bow and arrow as she waited for midnight to strike.

Shortly after, the clock sound started to gong. She raise her bow, aiming at the chink. On the twelfth gong, she released the arrow. She watched as the lighting struck the tree, igniting the wire. The sky in front of her exploded, lighting up the whole arena. She did it. She wasn't sure exactly what it was that she did, but she did it. She collapsed next to Beetee, waiting for something to happen. She wasn't sure what the Gamemakers would do to them. Out of nowhere the hovercraft appeared. As the claw of the plane was lifting her, she felt herself slowly slipping into unconsciousness. The last thing she thought about was Gale and how much she loved him.

So what did you think of the end of the Games? I decided to keep the breakout the same.

There is one more chapter in this story to wrap it up. I will post that tomorrow. Also don't forget to add me to your Author Alert so you won't miss the new story!

Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this story!