All around the Capitol, bets are made, livings are staked, and money changes hands. The final two. The girl, many have said, is a shoo-in. Gorgeous, intelligent, strong—she is the ideal victor. But others point out that the boy made it to the final two for a reason. And so the people of the Capitol nibble their perfectly manicured nails and play with their neon hair and watch the Games unfold.

Fourteen years ago, Mags was in the very same position that her boy is in now. She remembers the terror fading away, replaced by the cold knowledge that she was going to win. She has sent her last gift in a desperate hope that her boy will know what to do. His win would mean the world for District 4. In her booth watching the last heartbeats of the Games, she folds her hands together so tight her nails dig red half-moons into her palms.

Thomas Thistledare watches the son of his enemy as he scrambles away from the girl's deadly bullets. In his Games, brute strength triumphed over intelligence. These Games are so very different. He wanted Adriana to win to spite his district and punish Mayor Maris. And he wants the boy to die now, tantalizingly close to life. Mags is hunched over from the tension, but Thomas is ramrod straight. He understands now why Old Lady Harbinger cursed the people of District 4.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final showdown of the First Quarter Quell!"