"They're dropping really quickly, do you think that this will be the fastest Hunger Games ever?" Katniss asked Haymitch who smiled grimly. His own Games didn't last too long, double the tributes meant that things did move quicker.
"The addition of guns are making the kills more brutal and quick," Haymitch replied, "I don't think that it's going to be an issue though. Snow had to know that this would make the games end quicker." Katniss nodded, she could go back to the Penthouse if she wanted with Lace being dead but she remained for Azura. Stealing a glance at where Gloss and Cashmere were sitting she could see Gloss looking more anxious than usual. Like herself he didn't need to be here as his tribute, Atlas, had been killed in the cornucopia. It would have been unusual however with the tributes all being from the career districts it made sense that some would die. There was a listing showing the images and names of all of the tributes, the ones dead were gray and not lit up like the ones alive. Lace and Atlas from One, Xiahou, a male tribute from Two, Guericke, a male from Three, Joule and Paloya, two females from Three. Then there was those from Four who had the most amount of tributes killed and Fennick looked pretty upset about it. There were only one boy and one girl left alive from his group. Sidion, killed by Azura himself and Strabo were two males and the females who were Siren and Huriat. Johanna was trying to comfort him as they both had one tribute left alive. Mags had gone to lay down after her tribute, Siren, was killed.
"Where are they now?" Katniss said returning her eyes to the main map.
"Still in the general store, but it looks like they'll be moving soon. It's too close to the rink and Brutus seems to have taken over the cornucopia. It's not like there's any water in there or anything. Lightning, the district five female victor came over to sit with Katniss and Haymitch, when they asked she shrugged and pointed out that their tributes were in an alliance. A few seconds later Enobaria and Cashmere joined them while Gloss remained behind looking like a child having a tantrum.
"We were thinking about sending them something that points to these apartment buildings over here. A gamesmaker let it slip to us during the pre-party that there's a source of water there but we don't know how. Any suggestions?" As they thought about it Haymitch noticed the other group of an alliance gathering as well. Woof, Brutus, Cecelia and the two victors from Eleven, Grain and Maize. Beete joined Johanna and Fennick as their tributes were off on their own.
"Do any of them live in apartments?" Katniss asked not really understanding how other districts lived.
"We do in Two," Enobaria said with a shrug, as long as Servilia was alive and in their group she'd support the tribute. She was also unhappy with Brutus, both victor and tribute, when they agreed to shoot her victor.
"What would tell Servilia to go home?" Enobaria went to the listing of gifts.
"Send bread, make sure it's hot and fresh with some meat inside. It's something that we cook at home."
Bread with meat inside of it, Katniss thought that sounded delicious and wondered why she never thought to ask the Mellarks if it could be done when she traded meat for bread. Paying for the gift it would land just outside the store front and they hoped it would be seen.
Back in the arena the small group finished looking over the store, the gamemakers had cleared it out before they were sent in. Azura had discovered two cans of soup which they shared, thankful for the broth which would be a substitute for water, but not for long. Taff pointed out the parachute outside and as Topaz covered her brought it inside. Opening the gift Servilia smiled seeing the warm bread.
"Thank you Enobaria," she said, "It's bread from my district. So warm it reminds me of when my mom would bake bread at home." She sort of drifted off for a moment. "Home, she wants me to go home."
"Duh," Taff said, "Win and go home." Servilia peeked out and surveyed the area seeing the tops of the apartment buildings down the road.
"No the apartment buildings over there, there must be something important in there. We live in those in Two."
Azura smiled and squeezed Servilia's good shoulder.
"That's our plan then, let's go now since it's quiet." They gathered their things, Topaz took lead while Azura helped Servilia and Taff took up the rear. Leaving the store they made their way down towards the buildings passing by some more abandoned stores and empty stalls. Topaz stopped at the end of the street, the apartments were just across the way but she wasn't moving.
"What's wrong?" Taff called ahead.
"I hear something but I don't know what it is." Everyone listened as they could also hear a whirling sound. Suddenly Crantor came running across the street, not towards the apartments or them but the other direction. As he ran he turned and fired off a round in the air, then they saw what was chasing him. There were these flying things going after him, robotic and returning fire. They collectively gasped as one of the drones tore through Crantor killing him on the spot. The drones wavered in the air before turning around and flying away. They went two blocks down and into the old police station. They landed in front of Gauss from district Three, who had discovered a remote controller for one of the drones and worked to increase the signal capturing three of them. Looking over one that Crantor had shot at and deactivated it to use the spare parts to fix the others.
"Let's go," Azura said once the body was removed. They hurried across the street when another hail of bullets caused them to duck behind some short walls in front of the buildings. Down in front of the second apartments were two female districts from Two. Because he was assisting Servilia Azura took a bullet in his left leg. Once they were in cover Taff looked it over as Topaz returned fire. As Taff treated it she noted that there were two holes so the bullet went through it, instead of being inside. Coming back down Topaz reloaded.
"I noticed that there's a window above their position. It looks like there's sand pressing against it." Topaz said earning a nod from Azura. Servilia decided to also take a look when a round blew her head apart spraying the others with blood and brain causing them to cry out in horror. Angry Topaz rose and fired about the girls who saw that she had the shot and didn't take it. They both looked up and screamed as the window shattered and they were crushed by tons of sand. Grabbing their things Topaz, Azura and Taff hurried into the building. Once inside they took inventory of everything before breaking down, none of them being trained for being that close to a death in such a fashion. The building was taller than the training center, fifteen stories, and they made their way upstairs. On the roof, since there was only one door in, they made their base. Using a dry towel from the pack they started to clean Servilia off them when Taff discovered a tap that actually had water coming from it. They happily drank and cleaned themselves off. They watched the skies that night to see if any others had died, no one had but the two girls that killed Servilia had been part of Brutus' alliance so they were now even. Along with Adonis there were five others they needed to worry about and then they would have to fight among themselves and Azura wasn't too sure he could overwhelm Topaz now that he was wounded. That night he laid down with both girls at his side.
Back in the Pit Katniss was watching them with a frown on her face before sitting back.
"Sorry for your loss Enobaria," Haymitch said as she rose, shook her head and left for the training center. Katniss pulled Haymitch aside.
"Peeta was hurt in his left leg," she said as recaps of the first two days started to play, since it was moving so quickly they would be given time to rest and regroup. Laced within the recaps was Azura and the girls resting, Brutus getting upset that they were down to three and the single tributes trying to take care of themselves. Haymitch thought on it then nodded towards Fennick.
"You should check up on him, he's only got one tribute left from his entire group of tributes." Katniss nodded and went over to her friends to see how Finnick was holding on. The day after his final tribute was killed he was to report to Snow for a new client, allowing one day to get a hold of himself. While Katniss was away comforting him Haymitch went out towards the training center himself however he paused at the main entrance leaning against the side of the building as Portia came out. She was heading into the city for something pausing when she saw Haymitch there.
"How's our boy doing?" she asked.
"Still alive, took a bullet in his left leg but otherwise fine."
"I spoke with Plutarch a few hours ago at a post-launch gala. I wasn't sure how or when I was going to pass the information on but he knew that it would be easier for a stylist to reach you during the games." Haymitch remained silent but his eyes remained on her with laser focus. Portia looked around to make sure no one else was around, even then made sure they were a good distance from the center before speaking.
"Before the games Plutarch had drinks with Caesar Flickermann. While drunk he told Plutarch that Snow has a secret facility where certain experiments are run. One is to keep Caesar looking so young and during one of his detoxes he met Peeta. They kept him alive after the games and I guess brainwashed him. Azura is indeed Peeta." Haymitch didn't change his features but internally was surprised. In the end he had thought that Azura wasn't Peeta although he wished otherwise, especially the way he spoke towards Katniss. Thanking Portia he told her not to tell anyone and that he would inform the others if Azura won. No reason to have them lose Peeta twice if he didn't win.
Returning to the Pit he ordered a drink and grimaced at the taste. They could have any food or drink delivered to them but the alcohol was watered down so that they wouldn't become drunk while their tributes were alive. If Azura died then Haymitch could drink all he wanted however for the first time in a long time he really didn't want to get drunk. Looking over at Katniss he knew that he had to keep this from her for as long as possible. At least until they could get Peeta to remember his past, if that was possible. Maybe the Victory Tour would help, since one of Peeta's friends back home was the mayor's daughter. Pushing himself up he did something that he never considered doing and walked pass Katniss and the others to sit next to Gloss. The victor looked at him with disdain and surprise.
"What do you want Haymitch?"
"I want to bring Azura home more than anything. You were upset when I didn't reply about helping him. Come join us and your sister so we can figure out how to get him home." Gloss looked at Haymitch with suspicion before nodding and rising to follow him over to the others. Cashmere rose and gave her brother a hug, glad to see he was overcoming his childishness ways. Katniss soon rejoined them as they all waited to see what horrors the next day would bring.