(Thanks to Hahukum Konn, Nameless271 and Percival Jones for your reviews! I thought I'd mention that until Tuesday I'll be updating this every day because I need to fit my timetable. Which means, by next week, this story will be finished! But I have got a clump of chapters to go.

In District 12, Onyx was staring shocked at the TV screen, at Lazuli's face, just after her declaration to the Capitol.

"Lazuli..." Onyx muttered. "What have you done?"

Onyx brushed her hair back, her thoughts whirring in her brain. First was the fact that Lazuli had opposed against the Capitol, but also that necklace... The camera had zoomed in when the necklace was received, and Onyx recognised it easily. That was the one that she and Lazuli made and gave to her mother. Does that mean...?

Onyx blinked before switching the TV off. She didn't want to watch any longer. She knew that the Capitol would do something bad to Lazuli now that she had done that. Despite not wanting to believe it, Onyx knew that Lazuli was all by dead.

"What have you done?" Onyx repeated again, before glancing at a photo on the bed stand. It seemed hundreds of years ago when she and Lazuli posed with her father and mother in the family picture. It was one of the most expensive and admired things in the household. They had to give up a week of food, but the meaning of the picture was worth it.

Onyx grabbed it and looked at Marcus and Raven, their faces smiling and reddened, Lazuli as a small girl, happily clinging onto Raven, and then herself, wearing one of the last real smiles she'd have on her face.

The door suddenly banged open, and Onyx whirled around, clutching the picture to her chest.

Nathan Skye stared at her panting and red faced. "Onyx, you need to get out of here right away."

"What... why?" Onyx asked, feeling confused about Nathan's look. It seemed as if it had run for a long time.

"That thing Lazuli said in the Games, that's gonna cause a hell of a lot of consequences. The Peace Keepers are on their way." Nathan panted, clutching his side. "I saw them, they had weapons... the look in their eyes... Onyx, you are not safe! They are going to break Lazuli's will by kill you, her beloved sister!"

Onyx was shocked, and couldn't fully comprehend the situation.

"Come on!" Nathan exclaimed, grabbing Onyx's arm. Onyx resisted and shook her head silently. "Onyx, I know it's hard, trust me, I know. She's your sibling, your sister, and you can't leave her, but if you don't, you are going to get slaughtered just to prove a point to Lazuli that there cannot be a rebellion. Onyx, please, I'm begging you... I can't let you die, I just can't. I've known you and Lazuli for a long time, I'm her best friend, come on, please..."

Onyx saw with surprise that Nathan's eyes was watery, and let him lead her onwards. Nathan opened the front door, and was suddenly kicked hard in the chest. Onyx gasped and bent down to him, when she saw boots in the doorway. She looked up and saw five peace-keepers, looking ferocious.

"Onyx Pyre." It wasn't a question, but Onyx still nodded dumbly. "You are to come with her."

"Like hell she is!"

The peace-keeper turned to get smashed in the face with a broom handle. The man barely moved, and glared down at Nathan, who was standing resilient.

"Stay out of my way boy." The peace-keeper said, and without warning smashed his gloved fist into Nathan's face, causing the boy to tumble down to the ground. The glove had opened a gash just above Nathan's eye, ad was starting to bleed.

"Nathan!" Onyx exclaimed, before standing up from her crouching position. "What do you want with me?"

"Your sister has made a declaration of rebellion against the Capitol. We are going to prove to her that rebelling will only result in misery and defeat, using you."

Onyx's eyes widened, and she clutched the family photo so hard it cracked. Tears started filling Onyx's eyes, this was just way too much.

Two of the peace-keepers stepped forward and roughly grabbed Onyx with the shoulders and attempted to guide her out of the door. But one of the peace-keepers grunted in pain as a loud smash was heard. Nathan had stood up, the remnants of some kind of pottery in his hands. Blood was running freely down his face, making him squint to see through the red.

The peace-keeper clutched his air, before cursing and pulling a pistol from his pocket.

Before Nathan could react the bullet shoot through his forehead, blood spraying against the wall. Nathan collapsed to the ground while the peace-keeper shook his head. "We told you to stay out of our way boy." The peace-keeper sneered, before grabbing Onyx on the arm. Onyx's face was pale, and she was shell shocked, staring at the body of her family friend.

Over the years, the punishment in District 12, and indeed in all Districts, had gotten much stricter, District 12 especially. It was common that every Sunday prisoners were hung on a set of gallows in the square, while in some special cases prisoners were blind folded and forced on their knees, before being shot in front of the crowd. Often to prove a point.

And this was exactly what Onyx was scared of. It wasn't the fact that she was going to die that scared her, but rather, exactly when. The thing with the District 12 executions was that they randomized the times. In the hangings Onyx had reluctantly watched, there had been one that was immediate after the rope was put around the neck, but then there was one after ten seconds. Onyx was scared that she might not be able to prepare herself.

The peace-keepers continued to drag Onyx up the streets, and solemn onlookers followed her. After all, everyone had heard Lazuli's declaration on the TV or radio or the main screens. They knew that there would be punishment, but for them, seeing that it was Onyx, it was hard.

As a young adult, Onyx had helped a lot of people and was willing to forgive. It seemed that everyone knew and liked Onyx, which was the reason why it was so hard.

After a small time, Onyx was in front of the square, staring at the crowd. It wasn't because of a grim desire to see someone die, but rather out of respect, to make sure they don't die all alone.

Onyx bit her lip, feeling sick. Her voice was lost from shock, from the image of Nathan being shot...

The peace-keeper holding her pushed her hard to her knees, and it was then Onyx knew what her punishment. When the blindfold went around her eyes, she had all but given up. The black fabric felt rough and itchy. Onyx didn't move, and thought of everyone watching.

'Lazuli... I'm so sorry... Win those Games... but don't die... please, Laz-"

The gunshot snapped sharply and a thud followed soon after.