(Age 23, The 75th Hunger Games- Quarter Quell )

We'd slowed down to more of a walk now. For Peeta's sake because of his amputated leg. I was aware of all of them. Katniss with her bow always raised, the way she'd grip the string just that extra bit tighter whenever she felt I got too close to Peeta.

Finnick, whose trident was never not pointed directly behind my back. Even Mags, with her tiny pike had it pointed slightly higher whenever I'd take a step too close.

I have decided that the only way to get myself out of this is to smother Mags in her sleep and steal her pike. Sadly she's the easiest target. If I can manage it, I'll steal my machete from Peeta and flee. I know he's strong so I'm not taking any chances. If I have to I'll make due to with just the pike. This is the only way after eliminating all other options in which I can escape without losing my own life. The one scenario in which I can win.

Finnick, in the short amount of time I'd spend with him today has shown me he's both smart and cunning. I knew his brain hadn't been conditioned like mine but I could tell he was going through multiple scenarios in his head too. None of which probably involved me not going after my own weapon. It felt for now I had the upper hand.

"Mags! Spit that out!"

I turned to Mags who was chewing on some nuts while Katniss stared at her in horror. She can't go now, I need her. She can only die when I want her too!

I felt myself grabbing her shoulders in panic before turning her around to face me. I indicated to the palm I was holding out. "Spit. That. Out. Now!."

She pointed the pike at me before starring me down. I stared back angrily into her aged grey eyes that were weary of my entire being. She winked at me and I saw her throat bulge. Why that little shit!

Finnick chuckled at us. "I guess we'll just have to find out".

I let go of her shoulder wih a huff before I started walking as if that'd never even happened. I could feel Katniss looking at me questionably every two seconds but I chose to ignore it. I guess it was confusing behaviour since just an hour ago I attempted to killed Mags.

I hadn't even bothered to look at Finnick, I just hoped he wouldn't catch on. Death by trident was not how I wanted to go.

We'd been walking for another twenty minutes. I heard the swing of my machete and rose my head in alarm. What the hell Peeta?

I heard myself gasp. "What are you doing? I told you it'll make the blade go blunt!"

Everyone stopped and turned to me. I could feel myself getting angrier the more time I spend with them. First Mags, now this?

Peeta shrugged. "There's too much vegetagion and we've got to get through somehow, right?"

I held my tongue. Of course its at the expense of my signiture!. I heard Finnick chuckle behind me and I snapped my head to him with a glare.

I faltered slightly before composing my glare. He was only smiling at me? What's going on his head right now?. I huffed. "It's the only machete in the arena".

I know I sounded like a whiney child. But I would be scared every second for the rest of these games knowing there isn't a machete in here with me. More than I currently am with all these tributes who hate me, only tolerating me because of Finnick who also hates me. Anyways, I'd be so scared to the point I'd be in a constant state of panic. Like, can't focus on anything kind of panic. Panic that can get you killed.

Finnick gave me an encouging smile. "Well then it's a good thing your talented with Knifes, isn't that right Katniss?"

I bit my lip and looked at Katniss. She looked at me before sharing a look with Finnick. "Would've thought knifes would be the first thing you'd grab".

They were comforting me? Me?...and I'd given them an oppitunity to. God, my District would feel so ashamed. I looked down at the ring on finger before looking around me in distain. "Pity me again, and I'll show you all that I don't need a weapon to kill you".

I contunied walking. Katniss and Finnick now holding up their weapons at me as I did so. Funny, I hadn't even realised that for the past twenty minutes they'd lowered them. Peeta continued to cut the vines and nobody brought up what'd just happened.

Another half an hour of walking and I felt like I could just pass out. I needed water, I knew enough survival to know that much. The sweat was never ending and I couldn't remember the last time I had enough saliva in my mouth to swallow. I'd stopped panting like a dog and I know thats not a good sign!

Finnick was carrying Mags on his back. Trident still pointed at me. Katniss didn't have an arrow drawn, confident at least for now I wouldn't run. I was thinking about water. Lakes, ponds maybe even a puddle. Anything we-

"Peeta, No!"

I was suddenly flung in the air and I groaned when my back connected with a tree. Fuck that hurt.

I slowly lifted my head only to drop it in pain. Maybe I can just res-

Dirt was instantly sprayed in my face.

I gagged before whipping my head up and coughing the dirt out of my mouth. Katniss' body was nearly touching me and she pulled out an arrow before she instantly dropped it. I looked up to see Finnick doing chest compressions. So he'd pushed her out of the way...still sucks I got a face full of dirt though.

She ignored me as I contniued to spit and wipe my tongue with my hand beside her. Instead she watched on in shock at Finnick performing CPR on Peeta.

She instantly crawled towards Peeta. "Peeta?!"

Insert my gagging behind her.

She gasped or maybe it was a sob? "Peeta!?"

I watched on, dirt and wet hand forgotten. I couldn't not tear my eyes away from Finnick. Why the fuck would you save someone in the hunger games!?

I could feel my eyebrows crease in confusion. What I am seeing right now? Literally Why?.

But he didn't stop , as if his whole life rested on Peeta waking up, Finnick didn't stop. "Come on, come on!"

I could feel my head tilt in confusion. What's your game here? Make us all trust you and then kill us when we least expect it?.

Katniss was getting more and more hysterical and all I did was watch on in bewilderment. "Please wake up. No."

More compressions from Finnick and more sobs from Katniss. What the hell is happening?

"Please wake up."

"Come on, come on!". Finnick seemed almost desperate now. "Come on, Peeta!"

He suddenly gasped, causing Katniss to gasp back. Finnick slumped beside them in defeated relief. I watched on as she started crying while cupping his cheek.

She looked like a complete utter mess. "Oh my god."

Peeta breathed out a smile. "Be careful there's a force field up there".

She laughed out a sob, with snot and tears on full display. They kissed and it hit me. She loved him. Katniss Everdeen actually loves Peeta Mallark. I suddenly felt the need to cry. Her punishment for her rebellion is marrying a boy she's in love with... It's not even a punishment!

My whole family was slaughtered! I had to fuck the people of the Capitol against my own will! That was my punishment...it wasn't fair. I didn't even know if I was capable of love, I had no one left that loved me. But Katniss? she still has everyone.

I felt eyes on me and rose my head to meet a pair of sea green eyes staring back at me. I quickly lowered my head and brushed away any fallen tears with the sleeve of my wetsuit.

Whatever. As soon as it's night I'll steal whatever I can get my hands on and run.

"...do you want to stand up?"

I rose my head up to see Katniss holding Peeta in a tight embrace. In that instant I hated my life. I didn't have anything to fight for but my petty hate of Finnick. That's it, that's all I have. Killing Finnick Odair. But they have everything because they had each other. Something I thought justified me killing them when really it showed again that I was no different from anyone else in my district. I looked down at my ring, twirling it around my finger. Materialistic, vain, selfish...what am even I fighting for?...

I looked away from my ring and towards the pike on the ground by my feet. I could do it now, afterall Finnick might be cruel and have runied my life. But in this moment, he just showed everyone he's a better person than I am. Then I ever could be.

Question is do I go for the wrist or the neck? I quickly grabbed the pike. Katniss and Peeta completely unaware. Just I placed the cool tip to my neck I felt it being snatched from hand. Finnick was glaring down at me. He looked livid, an emotion between panic and fear clouding his eyes.

He sighed before handing the pike to Mags with pointed look in her direction. A warning to not let me get too close to it again. She looked like she her self was about to cry and she nodded. I thought she was sad because of the look Finnick had given her but based off how her eyes lingered on me I knew it was in sympathy.

Finnick stood and stabbed his trident in the dirt, avioding eye contact with me. I hung my head in shame. Finnick Odair had been kind and saved my life, What's becoming of the world?

He cleared his throat causing the happy couple to look our way. "We should keep moving. How'd you know about the force field?"

I'd forgotten completly about that. Katniss knew just before Peeta hit it. This is what I mean, he's switched on and smart. Something I never noticed about him. Or maybe I chose to overlook it. It wasn't hard to see why he was crowned the youngest victor ever at fourteen. Smart, beautiful and deadly. All without being trained in an academy as child like I was.

She tipped her head in consideration. Her eyes darting down to me on the ground before meeting his expecting eyes. "I think... from after my games when they'd repaired my ear. I just heard it. Like... now!."

We all listened and I saw Finnick's hansome features falter slightly. "I don't hear anything".

She shook her head at him. "It's a faint buzzing. Just listen it's soft but it's there".

We listened again but still I heard nothing. I huffed. "Well I don't hear a damn thing! But if you do then lead the way so I don't have to see you fawning over Peeta again".

I saw a blush rise up her neck. "I wasn't fawning over him!"

Finnick smirked and shrugged. "It's alright it's just the hormones".

She scoffed. "It's not the hormones I'm not eve-

"It can happen staright away! The hormones...they release at implantation". I didn't know I just covered for her blunder. Katniss looked down at me in curiosity.

I heard Finnick chuckle above me but I didn't look away from Katniss' calculating gaze. Hot and cold. I bet I was the biggest mystery to her. And definetly in her eyes not to be trusted.

So we'd continued on. Katniss now in the lead, Peeta with my machete, me, and Finnick with Mags on his back. Finnick hid the pike where Peeta hit the force field...a good thirty minute walk away now. He had his trident in hand but it wasn't pointed at me.

That caused weird feelings to stir inside me. Pity, I hated pity but I think it showed he had no real plan to kill me. In fact, it showed he wouldn't kill me and would fight someone if they tried. Even if that someone was myself. My only question is why? Why make me a prositute like himself and hate me? Then get the ultimate chance to legally kill me and not take it? And save my life?

...it didn't add up. All my years of training couldn't help me see through the mystery that is Finnick Odair.

Katniss kept throwing nuts at the force field and Mags would instantly pick up the charred nut and eat it. I found amusment in watching them anyways.

Katniss suddenly haltered. "Hand on". She swang her bow over her arm and started climbing the nearest tree. I sighed and picked up one of the nuts, feeling that if Mags hadn't dropped dead by now then it's safe. I found it hard to swallow with no saliva though. Not worth it, I just felt more dehydrated.

Katniss suddenly landed in front of me causing me to jump silently. Finnick's trident pointed at Katniss while his other arm draged me behind him. "What's going on down there, Katniss? Have they all joined hands? Taken a vow of non-violence? Tossed their weapons into the sea in defiance of the Capitol?"

She let out a breath. "No."

I found myself smirking. So she'd seen what remains of the blood bath. I remembered in my own games I was the first career to suggest we move out because I couldn't take the sight of the bodies.

I knew Finnick must've been smirking at her too. "No?, Because whatever happened in the past is in the past. And no one in this arena was a victor by chance". His head turned to Peeta with a chuckle. "Except maybe Peeta".

They stood staring eachother down before Finnick finally broke the silence. "So, how many dead?"

I could see the annoyance grow on Katniss' face. "Hard to say, at least six, I think. And they're still fighting."

That caused me to snort slightly. Katniss whipped her head to me. The career from District One amused that people after so long were still fighting in a never ending bloodbath. I could see she hated me after what she just saw up there.

She held my amused stare now. "What's so funny, Velvet?".

I smirked. "You."

Finnick cleared his throat casually. Even though he was in infront of me I got the feeling he was giving Katniss a warning look not to push me. "It's getting dark soon. We'll be safe with our backs protected. We should set up camp, take turns sleeping. I can take first watch."

She scoffed. "Not a chance".

I took a step back from him even futher as Finnick dug his trident into the dirt in offence. "Honey, that thing I did back there for Peeta, that was called saving his life. If I wanted to kill any of you I would've done it by now."

I picked up on the fact he called her honey and not love. The thought again entered my mind that the poem could've been for me. I hated that thought...I hate him. Just because he saved everyones life today doesn't suddenly make him a good person. Damn it! He's already gotten inside my head.

He picked up his trident out of the dirt and walked over to Mags. I felt the urge to follow before I stopped my movements. I just stood there unsure of what to do. I don't even belong in this group. Technically I'm on team Finnick becuase I'm his one condtion right? his to kill at will?

Katniss wants to kill me, knows its a liability keeping me alive yet doesn't have her bow raised at me. There were divsions in this alliance. Divisons between Finnick and Katniss. Mags and Peeta were fine just following the leader. But the other two? Katniss was in and out with this alliance, she knows she needs us but doesn't trust us as far as she can throw us. And Finnick is going round saving everyone which is confusing the hell out of not only me but Katniss too. Plus, Finnick has taken up the leadership role of this alliance without even realising it.

I started chuckling to myself. They haven't been taught on what makes a strong alliance, its the key to winning most games. Their dis-trust in each other could be their downfall. Although Finnick is probably going to be mine. I must confess he's confused me so much today, saving eveyone including myself. If he suddenly stabbed me with his trident tonight then I'd at least be a tiny bit surprised...and that scared the crap outta me.

I turned towards a tree my back facing Katniss and Finnick. Mags had kindly weaved me a mat for me to sleep on and I felt oddly touched. She made one for everyone but I still felt appreciated by it. Which is weird because I literally have the world and its a few leaves that I see as a prized posession...go figure.

I wasn't going to smother her now, theres no point without her pike. I had to wait for Finnick and Katniss to sleep. I'm going to try steal my machete from Peeta in his sleep but if I can't then I'll run away from them weaponless. Something very stupid but I didn't trust anyone here. I feared even the careers might not take me back now. Would they see it as a betrayal even though it wasn't my fault? I knew Enobaria would. She'd have no choice now but to team up with Brutus meaning Gloss isn't safe. I had to warn him somehow...if he isn't already dead.

I tried to see the different types of bark on the surrounding trees. From watching last years games I knew that you can eat tree bark. Well Katniss had, but I didn't know if the bark was different on these tree compared to the ones in her games. We'd all just eaten and I could tell they all found it funny I was forced to eat rat. I felt sick, I've never had to cook and source my own food literally from scratch.

But I think it was fact that I'd eaten a rat that had me feeling sick. "How's Peeta?"

I was far away enough that they'd assume I couldn't hear but was still in earshot. It was quiet before I heard her sigh. "Okay I think, just deyhydrated like the rest of us".

I heard Finnick humm back as a response. A loud melody played and I rolled over to stare at the sky where a giant Capitol symbol stared down at me.

I bit my lip hoping that Gloss had made it. The closet thing I have to a friend beside Cashmere of course. She was my only friend and I hers...

As soon as it changed to the male from District five I felt instant relief. He's okay. I know that to win he'd have to die but I wanted him to live as long as possible before then. I tuned the rest out. I didn't know them and had never really gotten to know them. Most blew me off because I'm a career from District One. The district doted on by the Capitol while they had that whole rising up from the ashes bullshit to bond over. Maybe if they'd asked then they'd find out we're people too.

That's being a bit bitter. I sighed and stared up at the woman from Ten. At the end of the day these are my people. People who were trapped and forced to kill as children just like me. I should atleast watch their picture in the sky, we owed eachother that much, didn't we?

It ended with Seeders face and once the music cut out the air felt heavy. I turned back to staring at the bark of the tree. Not bothering to check how everyone else reacted to seeing the fallen. A wind chime broke the heavy silence and I turned over to see a parachute land in the middle of our makeshift camp.

Katniss looked at Finnick. "Whose do you suppose it is?"

Finnick shrugged. "No telling". He indicated to Peeta with a smirk. "Why don't we let Peeta claim it since he died today?"

Peeta opened it and... it's a spile. I heard Katniss murmer what is it under her breath.

They passed it around but Katniss skipped me in the circle. I gave her a pointed look ."I know what it is!".

Get this, She ignored me.

Peta blew on it and I looked up at the sky in disgust. Lord, Give me strength. We all have to put our lips at something Peeta just slobbered on to drink from. I huffed. "Just, give it here"

Instead Finnick takes it off Peeta and inspects it for a few muintes while I continue to be over looked. I huffed. "Whatever you're trying to do Finnick, that's not it"

He smirked so he knew I was getting frustrated now. He put his finger in it to see if it was a weapon and I growled out my frustration.

Katniss then had it and put it up to Mags. "Can we fish with it, Mags?"

Screw it. I walked to the pair of them, ignoring Finnick's smirk. I roughly snatched it from Katniss before walking up to my tree. All of them looking at me in suprise and curiosity. I need a hole...I heard Katniss aiming an arrow at me. Perfect!. I handed out my free hand behind me at the archer "Quick Katniss, give me one of your arrows".

From the silence I'm guessing it wasn't the reaction anyone expected from me. Yet I still held my hand out behind me, waiting ever so paitently.

I heard Finnick sigh before grabbing an arrow and walking up beside me. From the warning look it's clear he doesn't trust me with any weapons at all. I sighed in frustration, fine. "Start digging a small circular whole into this tree".

He bit his lip in confusion but does it none the less. I heard Katniss walk up to us. She had on a hostile look. "What is it?"

I scoffed. "It's a spile obviously. Theres maple trees at the acedemy. If we hit all our targets in the summer months then we get maple syrp. Well...if you're below the age of nine anyways. They like to cut out fun at early age to make us stronger".

That stopped everything. I didn't take any notice though. While yes Finnick had stopped carving and looked up at me with some weird emotion like Katniss, I saw the hole was big enough. I fitted in the spile and waited for half minute before I giggled at the stream of water. "See, I told you! Just like home".

I pretended to sleep through the gongs and lightning like Peeta and Mags, never once moving from my position.

I heard Katniss sigh "I counted twelve".

"Midnight?"

"Number of dirstricts".

They were silent again. "I don't trust her".

I heard Finnick chuckle. "She doesn't trust you either".

She sighed. "And you do? I thought you two hated eachother. Isn't that all anyone ever talks about in the Capitol?"

It was silent for a really long time until Finnick broke it. Maybe they'd been staring eachother down again? He sighed deeply. "She killed my best friend in her games. Annie Cresta, she'd been reaped because of something I did and...Well, District One or Two always wins right?" he was bitter by the end of his sentence. That's good he still hates me, but for a reason that had just blown my mind.

The mad girl. I'd never gotten her name but I'd never forget her. The blood, the screams...So that's why Finnick hates me! It all made sense.

If someone killed Cashmere the only friend I had then I'd probably make their life hell too. Now I was really confused why he saved my life. You can't just get over that in a day. Last week he'd vowed to kill me at the chariot ride. Then he just turns around on the day of the games and thinks, you know what'd be good? If I let go of five years of hate towards Velvet for killing my only friend. No! We don't do that. We're Victors and it's Finnick!

I couldn't get the name out of my head. Annie. Annie Cresta. No longer was she the girl from Four, a mad girl I'd killed. Now she had an identity. Now I actually wished I was asleep. I reckon I could've gone what little time I have left in this place without ever having access to that information.