The next ten minutes are frantic, despite Merrick and Chiffon's slow trek through the swampland. They, too, have noticed the sound of running water, and are following its movement to its source … right where Annie has made her camp. The closer they get, the louder the din of the water, which would conceal the sound of their steps. My brain is racing with every possible scenario as I run through my mental list of what Annie has been sent and if any of it could be used to defend herself against these two. I can't help the sinking feeling in my gut that perhaps it's futile. Merrick, Chiffon: they're killers. District partner or not, I have no doubt Merrick would not hesitate to take Annie down.

I send Annie what I think would be the most familiar to her: a fisherman's knife. It is small, weaker than the weapons Merrick and his friend carry, but it carries the benefit of her knowing how to use it. If I sent her something unwieldy, she would be too confused in her panic to use it. Still, I can't help but feel it is inadequate.

I try and tell myself, moving from the sponsor booth to District Four's control centre once more, that perhaps the two barbarians won't find Annie after all. Maybe she will hear them in just enough time to hide, or escape. But this is naive of me. I know that the Gamemakers are waiting with baited breath for the ensuing fight.

"That's what you've sent her?" Johanna scoffs as Annie pulls the knife from the parachute's metal container. But my warning seems to have worked. She immediately begins pulling up her net, tying it to the belt of her clothes. Detrimental to her speed, I think, but better than leaving it behind.

"She knows how to use it," I hiss in return. I am sitting at the edge of my seat. "Better that than sending her something she wouldn't know how to wield."

Johanna rolls her eyes. I know by this gesture she understands, even agrees. If I weren't focusing entirely on Annie, Merrick and Chiffon, I may have smiled.

Annie is using her foot to scuff out any marks in the muddy bank when Merrick and Chiffon's dots on the screen burst through the thick undergrowth to the very same thin shore. For a moment, they stand on opposite sides of the water - Annie, tense and wide-eyed, and the other two Careers.

Merrick claps once and spreads his arms wide. "Anastasia Cresta!" he announces, beaming. My knuckles are white on the armrests of the chair. I know every camera in the area is focused on them.

"... Merrick," Annie says softly in return. Her gaze flickers frantically from him to Chiffon, repeatedly.

"I was wondering how you were getting on. Surprised to not see your picture in the sky." Merrick is taking steps into the water, casually. "Nice camp you have here."

Annie presses her lips together and says nothing. She looks as though she could flee at any moment, but she seems to be weighing her options. The two of them together would have no trouble catching her if she tried to run, and so would she fight?

"Is that a net? How the hell did you end up with that?" Merrick is in the middle of the stream, and for now, he has stopped moving closer. Annie's hand reaches instinctively for the net at her side, and she tangles her fingers in it.

Behind Merrick, I see Chiffon bracing herself. She has the machete in her hand, and her fingers curl and uncurl around it. She seems unable to make out what is going on, exactly, and I wonder how much Merrick has informed her on concerning his District partner.

"Look," Merrick continues, and his tone has changed, slightly annoyed by the lack of answers. "Why don't you just come with us for a bit? You got things we need, and we can protect you. Yeah?"

Merrick takes a step forward, and Annie takes a step back. It's then that Chiffon starts moving into the river as well.

That seems to be all the motivation Annie needs to turn and bolt. Immediately, the other two are after her - longer-limbed but weaker, and unable to dodge the underbrush as quickly as their prey. Annie is gripping the knife in her free hand, and as Merrick makes a dive for her, she thrusts it backwards into his shoulder as they collapse to the ground together.

For a moment, the cameras cannot focus on the movement. Merrick is shouting obscenities at Annie, yelling for Chiffon to hurry up. Annie has yanked the bloody knife from Merrick's shoulder and looks aghast at what she has done, but is struggling to free herself of his grasp. He has her pinned to the dirt, and vines slink towards them without their noticing. My teeth will be ground to dust soon.

Chiffon's boot is on Merrick's back to help keep the two of them still, and she raises the machete. Merrick is leaning out of the way, his hands on Annie's shoulders.

Johanna puts her hand on mine.

As Chiffon swings the knife down, there's a sudden blur - Anastasia Cresta's knee makes contact with Merrick's stomach.

He recoils. Chiffon misses.

Merrick's head is hanging from the skin of his neck over Annie's chest, covering her in his blood. She barely has time to shove his limp body off of her before Chiffon brings the knife down a second time.