I want to start off by thanking everyone so much for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting this! I'm planning on starting the games in the next chapter and I can't wait to continue forward. Thank you once again!

Ramsey sighed, dragging herself towards the door of the District 10 apartment. It had only been hours since she had verbally attacked Katniss in the training center, though she couldn't say that she felt bad. Ramsey would be putting her life in danger in just a few days' time in order to save Katniss, the girl would owe her her whole life. Yelling at her would be the sweetest thing she could do in her in this situation.

"Miss Ramsey, hello!"

Finnick Odair's gleaming smile lit up the doorway, his eyes shining down at the small blonde. She smirked, the corners of her mouth curling up. It was her signature.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?"

He chuckled, she was far too enchanting.

"Can I come in?" His eyes flittered around the apartment, and back to the elevator behind him, bringing his hopeful eyes back to her. She pursed her lips and sighed, allowing him entrance.

The apartment was empty, the remainder of the District 10 clan wandering through the Capitol. Ramsey wasn't too fond of it there, she knew what it all signified. The Capitol was full of evil.

Finnick wandered in, taking in the decor. He plopped himself onto the couch, Ramsey following suit. It felt strange to have another victor with her. Typically they all avoided her, even during the Games. Even as they were all crammed into a single room to watch each other's tributes kill one another, not a single victor had once given her the time of day.

They were all afraid of her and she knew it.

It wasn't something she was proud of, she hardly remembered most of her own games. She had watched them over and over again. She knew what they all thought of her.

"Why have we never spoken?"

She broke from her trance and looked up to him, her eyes boring into his own for a moment. Typically someone would have looked away, but not Finnick- he stared right back.

"Conversation isn't really the first thing people think of when they see me." She smiled bitterly and averted her eyes, releasing a dry chuckle.

Finnick stared at her, mesmerized by the strange creature in front of him. He couldn't figure her out. He was determined to, though.

"Well, I figure, since we're all working towards the same goal," he began, his voice hesitant as he knew the apartment was bugged, "you and I might as well keep close."

She looked to him, eyebrow raised. He knew? He was a part of the rebellion?

"Oh, you're, uhm, you're in this to-"

"To remember who the real enemy is."

She smiled, he was in on it.

She couldn't say that she minded having such a handsome admirer alongside her during the rebellion. With both him and Johanna, maybe this would be more bearable than she had originally imagined.

"So, Miss Ramsey. I'd like to know what goes on inside that pretty little mind of yours." He spoke more casually now, more like himself. An eyebrow cocked and a faint grin threatening to spread across his lips.

She smiled, a small glimmer in her eye.

She loved games like this.

"Who's to say it's pretty?"

He was left without words.

Her smile held no devil though her eyes were a different story. A storm of gray, holding more secrets than he could ever imagine. More secrets than the entire Capitol pooled together. Her eyes held no regret, only mystery. An evil little mystery. Though he couldn't believe that it was all evil. There was something else, there absolutely had to be.

Ramsey Clyde may have done evil things. She may have thought evil thoughts. But she was not an evil human being. She couldn't be.

He only stayed for a while longer, making only casual conversation.

Ramsey was very reserved, she wanted no part of deep talks. She kept her thoughts to herself. No one was to know what actually went on inside her head.

Finnick was determined though. He promised himself that he would figure out what she was all about.

The following day at training, Katniss worked her hardest to avoid Ramsey. She was going against her gut instinct and was choosing to listen to Haymitch: lay low and stay out of Ramsey's eyesight. At least until she had cooled down. Who knew what she might do next? She was unpredictable, volatile, and completely bizarre.

Ramsey wandered the training center, wavering at each station at least once. It hadn't been long since she was in there the first time. She was positive she would never be there again. That was the deal. Win the Games, be free from their cruelty.

Her fingers grazed the pointed tip of a spear, the sharpened end threatening to puncture her soft fingertips.

"You've never thrown one, have you? I watched your games last night, you didn't throw one once."

Finnick's voice broke her trance and she stared at him, her curiosity growing.

Why was he hellbent on being around her? No one had ever wanted to before. The others only glared to her, averting their eyes upon her discovery of their stares.

"Spears are not my weapon of choice, no."

She brought her eyes back to it, her small fingers clasping around the shaft of the weapon, her mind begging her to use it.

"Here, I'll show you."

Finnick's hand was around hers in an instant, grasping the spear and yanking it from its holder.

"Alright, take it like this."

His hands were on her as if it was as easy as breathing, placing the spear in her hand and positioning her body as he saw fit. She went rigid under his touch, realizing it had been a very long time since the last human contact she had received.

His was nice, though, she had to admit. Despite her discomfort with something that close to her, leaving herself vulnerable, his touch was gentle and guiding- by no means any threat at the moment.

She was alarmed at her calmness with him. She hadn't let anyone that close, ever.

Her mind was racing for the first time in years, and suddenly she didn't know what to do. She always had answers, the responses came naturally and that was how she had survived and thrived in the way that she had.

"...and just flick your wrist when you release."

The spear went soaring through the air, piercing the dummy in the lower stomach. Not exactly close to the bullseye, but a deadly enough blow.

She watched it for a moment, a sick feeling rising up. She couldn't do this, she couldn't.

Her small body wriggled from his grasp and she was fleeing from the spear station before Finnick even registered she had moved.

She was fast.

And then she was colliding with another body, only slightly bigger than her own.

"Woah there girly, don't take me out, we aren't even in the games yet." Johanna winked to her and she exhaled deeply. She was okay.

"That is morbid, Johanna, don't even joke like that!"

Johanna could only laugh in response, playfully shoving Ramsey's shoulder.

Training passed by those four days and soon enough each victor was being prepped for their interviews. She couldn't help but notice that she had been allowing Finnick to grow closer to her.

Ramsey was tied into a form fitting gold dress, the sequined material hugging her curves and flowing out to kiss the floor along the bottom. It was strapless and elegant. Her makeup adorned her pretty face, the golden eyeshadow illuminating her eyes and the faded pink lipgloss widening her eerie smile.

She grinned in the mirror at her reflection and realized then how much she would miss the pampering of the Capitol. This would be the last time she would ever be prepped by them.

Finnick was quick to find her as they waited for their interviews, his insides twisting in knots as his eyes fell on to the small beauty.

"Ramsey Clyde, you are truly ravishing."

She looked up at him, her lips curling into a smirk, "You are just full of compliments, aren't you?" She paused for a moment and watched as his smile widened, "I can't say I mind." She winked and Finnick felt his stomach in his throat.

How could a being so small bring forth such emotions? A being that drove fear into everyone who knew her story? Yet she brought no fear to him. The only thing that she brought to him was a lump in his throat and the undying desire to hold her. He didn't see a monster in her. He saw a victim of the Capitol who needed steady arms to fall in to.

The two stood side by side and watched as the interviews began, curious to see the turnout.

Each victor was grave, bitter about the fact that they were being sent back into the arena. Each of them felt the exact same way, and no one was keeping quiet about it.

"Well, I'm up. Best of luck to you, gorgeous." He threw a crooked grin over his shoulder as he waded towards the stage entrance. To any other female such an action would bring them to their knees. Ramsey was above that, though. Better than such actions. Why do something if it wasn't dignified?

Finnick ate up the attention of the Capitol. He belonged there.

Him and Caesar gave off a glow, Finnick so manly and glorious up on the stage that it was hard to believe that he was human.

It was no secret that the Capitol sold off Finnick's affection to its people in return for their love. Finnick had mentioned once that he preferred secrets over money in payment for his company. Ramsey had only giggled, her secrets were far more reserved.

She broke from her trance and looked up the screen to finish watching Finnick's interview.

"So tell us, Finnick. A dashing man like yourself, do you have any messages to a special someone out there?"

His words peaked an interest in Ramsey's mind, her eyebrow cocking upwards.

"You see, Caesar, it's a little more complicated than that."

More complicated? Couldn't he just make up some general comment for every woman out there?

"Is that so?" Caesar's eyebrows shot up, seeing an opportunity to please the crowd.

"I'm afraid so, Caesar. You see, she's not out there. She's right here. Backstage, actually. I can't say I've ever felt such feelings before, but, I only have one message: My love, please do remember who the real enemy is."

Backstage? Ramsey was baffled. Could he mean her? No, he couldn't. That would be preposterous. But that would mean that his sweet words over the last few days had meant nothing.

She was lost for words.

She stood and watched the following victors, her mind foggy with emotions. It was foggy on a good day. Now with Finnick's mysterious words, it was an even bigger mess.

Hearing Caesar announce her name, Ramsey quickly put on her Capitol smile and waltzed onto the stage.

The light was blinding and the sound of the crowd was deafening, though she had played this game before. She knew how to act.

"Ramsey Clyde, a pleasure to see you!" Caesar's voice boomed out and she smiled, the corners of her lips reaching ungodly lengths upwards.

"Oh Caesar!" she gushed, the crowd screeching with adoration.

"We have missed you very much, Miss Clyde."

"Well, Caesar, you'll be missing me much more once I'm dead." She giggled out.

Everyone fell silent. Johanna cackled with laughter from her position on the stage and Finnick suppressed laughter.

Caesar recovered quickly from his shock, how could she say something like that?

"Are you saying you don't think you'll be coming back to us?"

"It seems as if it's been assured that I won't." She flashed her eyebrows high and giggled once more, bringing her hand to her mouth in innocence.

The crowd was mortified. One of their most beloved victors was going to die? They hadn't been put this into consideration. Why was the Capitol doing this to them?

Caesar had to put an end to her speaking like that.

"Now Ramsey, the last time we had seen you in the arena you sure seemed to surprise us all. Can we expect such a show this year?"

A bitter taste rose in the back of her throat. She should've known they would bring that up.

"Hm, well, you never know what to expect in a place like that."

It seemed to please him.

Her interview was over soon after that. She rose to her fleet and blew a kiss to the crowd before taking her place on the stage beside her fellow victors.

The remainder of the victors came out and things went relatively smoothly. Until District 12 arrived.

Katniss wore a wedding dress. It was a bit cliche in Johanna's eyes and she found herself looking to Ramsey with distaste.

It was only when she rose her arms to the sky and morphed into a mockingjay that the room fell silent and Ramsey's eyes widened.

That was awfully bold for such a touchy subject.

Peeta came out next, making playful banter with Caesar as per usual.

"You know, Katniss and I... we've been... we've been luckier than most, and I wouldn't have any regrets at all, i-i-if it... if it weren't... if..."

Peeta was stringing Caesar and the crowd along, only after just claiming that him and Katniss were already married. Ramsey was enjoying it in all honesty. Almost every victor had made Caesar regret even trying to speak with them. It was comical in the eyes of someone who's favorite thing to do was play mind games.

"If it weren't... for what? What? What?"

"If it weren't for the baby."

The crowd threw themselves into an uproar, they were outraged.

Ramsey's mouth dropped into a perfect 'O' shape and even Finnick found his own eyes widening in shock.

Ramsey was expected to protect a pregnant girl in the arena? That was insane. It had to be impossible, right?

Peeta hopped towards his place beside Katniss, hugging her close and then taking her hand. Slowly each and every victor joined hands.

Those on either side of Ramsey hesitated on grasping her small hands. They were all still weary on the small victor, fearful of what she was capable of.

But they did. The victors united as one with their arms raised and the lights flashed out, leaving everyone in pitch darkness.