So, I'm home sick with a cold today. The weather in Cali has been AWFUL. I hate missing out at school, but at least that gives me a chance to update both "Always" and "My Commentary On My Immortal." So this is in Oriane's POV, and the next chapter will be back in Violet's POV. So I hope you enjoy and I'm sorry for the wait! I've been super busy with the new semester beginning, Homecoming Week, and I'm already picking out classes for senior year. Scary... Anyway here we go!

Chapter 28

Oriane Crane POV

"WOO-HOO! I'm ready for action! Who's ready? Huh? Huh?"

I rub my temples. "Perhaps I shouldn't have given Blackie that coffee," I mutter to Rose.

Rose studies her notes. "Well, that bet was bad thinking on your part," she replies without looking up. "You know Blackie has an addiction to coffee."

"I believe addiction is a bit of an understatement," Cindy Kyler, a woman with green skin and red eyes adds. "This is his fourth coffee today."

"Come on!" Blackie shouts at the screen. "I want to see some action!"

"I agree with Blackie. Nothing has happened yet, and we are halfway through Day 12. I say we send in the Mutts," Marnie Grim suggests.

"I agree. I'm bored," Daze Strauss complains. "And we don't want President Snow to be bored."

"And I think Blackie's getting on everyone's nerves," Rose says.

"You think?" Marnie asks.

"Well," I begin. "I guess we have to-"

"HEY!"

"What, Blackie?"

"Look! The boy from Six is hunting down the girl from Seven! And he's near her camp!"

"Where?" Marnie scoots up closer to the screen.

"There!" We all watch in anticipation.

Heath Lakeland is quite the underdog of the tributes. Both parents are morphling addicts and he takes care of them. He was reaped, but in the interview he said he would win to be able to afford treatment for his parents.

Heath edges closer and closer to Violet James' camp.

"He's getting warmer!" Blackie narrates. "Warmer, warmer- No! Now he's cold! Turn around, idiot! There you go-he's back! Warmer, warmer- oh, now he's hot! He's hot!"

"Shut up!" Cindy hisses.

Blackie leaps to his feet and jumps on the table, knocking down Marnie's coffee. Marnie glares at him. "Blackie!"

"He's on fire!" Blackie roars, ignoring Marnie.

I watch in horror as Heath runs up behind Violet, his spear raised. Violet turns around and I'm stunned. Her eyes are filled with determination and hatred-something I haven't seen in her before.

"Oooh! She's still pissed!" Blackie yells gleefully. "This is gonna be-"

"Hush!" Marnie scolds, his eyes still glued to the screen.

Heath tries to knock out Violet by swing his spear at her. But Violet ducks and Heath jabs his spear at her again. When she's low to the ground, Heath swings again, trying to trip her. Violet jumps over and kicks Heath right in the nuts. Heath groans.

Marnie winces. "That was a cheap shot."

"But it worked!" Daze adds.

Violet takes the spear from Heath and stabs him in the stomach. Heath collapses.

"Oh, this is it!" Blackie yells.

Swinging her axe, Violet chops off Heath Lakeland's head.

Well, he's definitely dead. "Cannon," I say. Rose sets it off.

Violet straightens and sighs, looking down at her handiwork. Then she leaves.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Marnie says appreciatively.

"Wow, did you see the way she looked when she turned around?" Daze asks. "She's definitely still mad about Bethany's death."

I try not to smirk when she says "death."

"Final two! Vera vs. Violet," Cindy says wistfully.

"Plus, it will be revenge for Violet if she wins. I can't wait!" Marnie says excitedly.

"So tomorrow is Day 13. We need something exciting for it." Rose adds.

"WOO! That was so intense! Violet's inferno!" Blackie exclaims.

"Thank you, Blackie. Do you mind getting off the table now?" I ask.

"And do you mind getting me another coffee?" Marnie grumbles.

"In a minute, Marnie. I have an idea for tomorrow," I say as Blackie jumps off the table.

"Do tell," Cindy says, leaning forward.

"I drew it on a diagram of the arena in my notebook," I explain, turning the pages. When I get to the right one, I show it to Marnie.

He skims over the page. His eyes light up. "Oriane, this is your best idea yet! Here, look," he says, passing it to Cindy. Cindy agrees, then hands it to Daze.

My notebook makes its way around the table. I earn enthusiastic responses and a worried glance from Rose.

"Well, should we do this?" I ask.

"Yeah, we should!" Blackie shouts. And for once, nobody told him to shut up.

"How could we not?" Daze exclaims.

"Then it's settled," I say.

"Great! Now, Blackie, get me that damn coffee!" Marnie says.

"On it!" Blackie darts out the room.

The Gamemakers buzz excitedly. I smile. Part 2 of the plan is complete.

Little do they know that this will destroy the arena.

Later

After we finish for the day, I stay behind in the Gamemakers' room, cleaning up the coffee Blackie had spilled about a couple hours earlier. I'm the only one in the room.

When I finish, I feel someone tap me on the shoulder. I turn and come face-to-face with an Avox.

"Hello! What's this?"

The Avox holds out a phone.

"What? Is there someone who wants to talk to me?"

The Avox nods and I take the phone. "Thank you, you may go now." He leaves, shutting the door behind him.

"Hello?" I say into the phone.

"Oriane? It's Mitzey."

"Ah, Miss Mason, how are you?" I ask pleasantly.

"Do not call me that. I hate it!"

"I'm only calling you that so people won't get suspicious. I'm still in the Gamemakers' room."

"What? Are they still there?"

"No, it's just me. An Avox was here a minute ago."

"We're talking about an Avox, here. They can't talk."

"Well, just in case..."

"You're so paranoid," Mitzey comments in an annoyed tone.

"You have to be with stuff like this," I say. "Now why did you call me?"

"I called to tell you that District Seven is now in the rebellion."

"Good."

"And one more thing."

"What?"

"Bethany Crow woke up this morning. She's in stable condition."

She's alive! I'm working on the next chapter! It might be a while, but hang on! I promise it will be up as soon as possible!

BY the way, did anyone catch the Green Day reference in this chapter?

Song for Chapter: "Christian's Inferno" by Green Day

~LDD