Mercifully, the next couple days training passed by quickly. I didn't interact much with Katniss or Peeta. Just a couple of smiles here and there. But they were busy, after Katniss's display of archery there was a line of fellow victors wanting to spend time with her and Peeta. Even Jem asked Jane to talk to Haymitch about an alliance between Twelve and Nine. Katniss didn't to trust Nine yet. She seemed to really enjoy the company of Beetee, Wiress, Mags, and Cecelia. I couldn't try for an alliance on them especially now that Haymitch let it slip that Katniss didn't want any of us. Finnick continued to attempt to bond with Katniss through Mags and that would be his smartest chance. I stuck with Cecelia. We'd never been very close, but Cecelia is a mother of three and very sweet. And when I saw Johanna last she told that my ticket into an alliance would be through Cecelia. We would have a formal alliance with Eight.

On the final day of training at lunch, Waylon came up to me.

Waylon Smith was Victor of the Sixty-Ninth Hunger Games from District Ten and probably one of the worst victors not to come from a career district. He constantly looked for ways to undermine me in front of the Capitol, Finnick, and my district. We were supposed to be sister districts alongside district Eleven, but he thought he so much better than me and the rest of the outliers.

"Oh my goodness," Waylon mocked me, loudly so everyone could hear. "Look, it's the Grim Reaper. Here to deliver us to our deaths."

He sat down next to me as the sister from One was called for assessment. "Waylon," I tried to keep my tone even, but I was ready to break one of the few rules of training: fighting another tribute. I had been sitting alone, after Finnick left to join Mags and Jem joined Chaff and Woof.

"Hey, Reaper," he got far too close to me. I thought right then, I disliked him more than Johanna and that was saying something. "Guess who's going to be my first kill in the games?" He reached for my apple and took a bite

I wasn't going to play this game with him, now or ever. I slapped the apple away from his hands and he took hold of my wrist. "Listen, Pig Boy, if you try to threaten me again, you won't even see the arena. Got it?"

I ripped my wrist free and Waylon smirked and left me alone. I hadn't relished in killing many tributes besides Seven, but Waylon would be the first I looked forward to. I looked around and many of the tributes were pretending like they hadn't seen the small dispute. Finnick looked me in the eye and I shook my head. I was fine, I would be fine. He gave me a shrug, asking if he could come and comfort me, but it would be too much of a risk. I looked down at my plate. Then another person came to join me: Johanna.

I groaned out loud. "If you're here to start something, too, I swear –"

"Calm down, Reaper," Johanna waved her hand at me and took a bite of her sandwich. "You know you're really not helping that nickname with this attitude."

I sighed and pushed my plate away, "Shut up, Johanna. I can't be the only one on edge today."

"Oh, please," she laughed at me. "You are like the least important person that's stressed. You're just doing a terrible job of maintaining yourself. It's kind of pathetic."

I glared at her and moved to leave. "Screw you." I went to go join Jem who was now alone.

Finnick's name was called soon. I wanted to lock myself in the bathroom, but that wouldn't help. I just got to get through this small task…

I managed to make it through my session as well as I could. I threw knives with moderate accuracy, I showed off medical training on a hologram, trapping, and my new found agility. Maybe some of the tributes weren't taking this seriously, but I deserved a career score for all the hard work I had put in since the end of the 74th games. I wanted to feel accomplished in my work.

When the scores were released, I watched with only moderate interest. Cashmere, Gloss, Enobaria, and Brutus got a range of eights and tens. Wiress got a four and Beetee: a six, almost like their mechanical and technological skills meant nothing, typical. Mags received a two which was expected at her age, Finnick got a ten and I smiled. Good for my boy. Johanna got a seven, which wouldn't surprise me after seeing her games, but still low for her. I got an eight which felt nice and I smiled, Waylon might not want to go after me with his five. I couldn't even recall how he survived his. How, after all the drinking and drugs he had done the past six years, had he thought that he was the one to beat this time?

Before the program ended, we get the biggest shock ever. District Twelve received the first twelves in hunger games history.

Snow wanted them as targets. So in other words, he made our job a lot harder. Jane and Blaze looked over at me worried written all over their faces. Many victors didn't know about the escape plan. Only the tributes of Three, Four, Seven, and myself had any clue. However a large number had knowledge about the rebellion and how important Katniss was to uprising. But no matter how much we wanted freedom from the Capitol none of my district wanted to see me die either.

"How the hell did they get perfect scores?!" Jem exclaimed and immediately strode off to his room. He had no idea about the plan, he was playing to win and that would have irritated anyone in this games. I was pretty mad, but I knew this would never easy. I might even die regardless of a plan and large alliance. God this was hard. I needed Finnick.

The next day we were supposed to be working on our interviewing skills and prepping, but I didn't need help and neither did Finnick. We had special plans for today. Today we were just going to be together. There was no point in hiding it anymore, Snow had known for a while now and the public wouldn't be able to in the tribute center, any victors would probably be dead or part of the rebellion in a matter of weeks. I was through with hiding and relying on small moments alone.

The elevator opened to the fourth floor and Skylar stood there waiting for me.

"And I thought you were different," she laughed. She still thought I was one of the many women in his life, I didn't bother with telling her the truth. I didn't know if she was rebel and Finnick never mentioned it either. "Finnick is waiting for you in his room, probably naked."

I blushed and walked past her, "Thanks Sky, you truly are a blessing." I turned back around, I didn't know which way his room was. Their floor was much different than ours, but they were a career district and as expected were treated better than most.

She smiled and then I felt his arms around.

"Don't worry I'll show you," he whispered in my ear.

I smiled and turned around, kissing him. I was giddy for the time alone with him.

"Okay," Skylar tried to get our attention. "I'm taking Mags and Dominic to go have tea with District Nine, Finnick. And Alec is with District Two."

Finnick had thought of everything. I smiled through our kiss and he pulled away. "This is going to be our perfect day, okay?"

I giggled, "Honey, it already is." I wanted nothing more than him right now. He pulled me towards his room.

"Okay, but first the picnic," he said and I laughed again.

Later as I put on my dress I started to feel nervous. My hands shook as I tried to do up the buttons and I felt beads of sweat on my neck. I could lose him while protecting the Mockingjay. "Finn?" I couldn't look at him because I was about to cry again. "I just want you know that whatever happens, I'm going to be okay."

"Hey, don't say things like that," he pulled at my waist and I looked over at him. "You don't know how things could turn out."

"I know, I know," I wiped away my tears. "But we both have jobs to do, just no matter what stick to the plan."

He hugged me close. We were in a way saying goodbye, just in case. I didn't know what would happen. "On the second day, we meet at the tallest point. You with Cecelia, me with Mags and Twelve."

"I know," I whispered and kissed his shoulder. "Haymitch will help you."

And I left with a heavy heart. Please don't let this be the last time I kiss him. I need more years with him.

Four years ago (Two weeks into the Seventy-First Hunger Games)…

I couldn't remember a time Seb wasn't in my life. He had been there when my parents died when I was seven, he had been there before that. I never thought I would ever know a life without him. I didn't want to, but now I had to.

I just saw my fiancé die on national television. The female tribute from District Seven had fooled us all. She cried all the time, never stood out in the parade, training, her interview, or even the first weeks of the games. But now that the playing field was down to the final eight and the career pack had broken up and formed into strictly district alliances and she decided to start playing to win. I hated her for that. She was deadly was an axe and tracked down District Two. They never stood a chance; it was a massacre. Seb wasn't her main target, but he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and I guessed only one of them was going home anyway.

He didn't even put up a fight.

Finnick was at my side the second his cannon sounded. I didn't cry though. We had said our goodbyes too many times and I knew this was my fault.

"Em?" I let out the breath I had been holding. Finnick was nervous, he probably didn't know what I was like usually when the unthinkable happened. I was stronger now. He hugged me, but I stood still. I didn't deserve comfort.

"I knew he was never going to make it. It was only a matter of time." I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. "Victors are never meant to be happy, right?" I laughed without humor.

"Emmer," Jem cautioned me. He didn't have to pay attention to the games anymore. Both our tributes – my first to die – were long gone.

"No it's fine, what else can he do to me?" I had nothing left that mattered.

"Emmer Buckwheat." A Peacekeeper came up to me and grabbed my arm. Shit, I spoke too soon. "President Snow has requested an audience."

Finnick looked at me terrified, but I waved away his concern. I didn't care anymore, Snow wasn't going to kill me it would be too suspicious.

I was escorted to a waiting car, it was black and meant to look very official. Hundreds of Capitolites tried to talk to and interview me, but I had official business to attend to so I could ignore them finally. We made our way from the Victor's Pub to the Presidential Mansion. I didn't care. I just didn't care anymore. Being engaged hadn't saved me, being a victor with other usual, valuable skills hadn't saved me. Nothing was stopping Snow from prostituting me now.

The next day…

Katniss was wearing a wedding dress for interviews. She was told Snow had insisted and he probably wanted her humiliation broadcasted on national television. These games were her fault.

The other tributes were gathered offstage and were mingling, unlike previous years, but the arrival from District Twelve stopped all conversation in its tracks.

Finally Finnick said, "I can't believe Cinna put you in that thing."

"Yeah, really a wedding dress?" Emmer laughed a little breathless.

"He didn't have any choice. President Snow made him," Katniss said, somewhat defensively. She didn't want anyone criticizing Cinna.

Emmer laughed again and then under her breath murmured, "And I thought there was an ulterior motive." Her district partner, Jem, gave her a stern look after that rebellious comment, but said nothing.

Cashmere tossed her blonde hair back and spit out, "Well, you look ridiculous!" She grabbed her brother's hand and pulled him into place to lead their procession onto the stage. The other tributes began to line up as well.

Katniss was confused because, while they all were angry, some give her and Peeta sympathetic pats on the shoulder. Emmer kissed them both on the cheeks and Katniss didn't recoil this time.

Johanna Mason actually stopped to straighten Katniss's pearl necklace and said, "Make him pay for it, okay?"

Katniss nodded, not knowing what she meant. But once she sat down that was when she realized the depth of betrayal felt among the victors and the rage that accompanied it. But they were smart, so wonderfully smart about how they played it, because it all came back to reflect on the government and President Snow in particular. Not everyone, but there were enough victors who still have the wits and the nerve to go out fighting.

Cashmere started the ball rolling with a speech about how she can't stop crying when she thinks of how much the people in the Capitol must be suffering because they would lose the victors. Gloss reflected on the kindness shown to him and his sister and how much he would miss them should he not return. Even Enobaria said that she thought it was strange to make them all fight again and said it wouldn't be a fair fight for some. Completely unexpected for a District Two tribute and victor no less. Beetee questioned the legality of the Quell in his nervous, twitchy way, wondering if it had been fully examined by experts of late.

The audience was distraught by the time of Finnick's interview. He was one of the biggest fan favorites to win, but the favorites rarely to win. He recited a poem he wrote for his one true love and about a hundred people fainted thinking he meant them. Katniss glanced around noticed that Emmer seemed to be hanging on to his every word. Strange. He looked toward her after he made his way back to his seat. Katniss wondered if she was his true love and if she was, why was he with so many women all the time and not solely her?

Not long after Johanna cursed out the Capitol for throwing her into the games, it was Emmer's turn.

Katniss took in Emmer's full outfit and it's just as she guessed: another black dress. This woman was going to get herself into even more trouble. This dress was a lot more ornate that her reaping dress, it was floor-length and bejeweled with a very provocative neckline. But she was wearing lots of black makeup, no glasses, and she was smiling and waving, much different from her reaping. Then it hit Katniss: she must be dressed as a highly feminine version of the Grim Reaper. The Capitol probably loved that.

Caesar introduced her, "Emmer Buckwheat, better known as Emmer the Reaper, of District Nine."

She practically tackled Caesar with a hug and he seemed to reciprocate. "Oh my goodness, Caesar getting up here on stage with you," she laughed breathlessly. She was just so perfect, too perfect as a victor, but she looked melancholy right away. "It almost makes this hunger games worth it."

Caesar paused just for a moment, confused that Emmer didn't seem excited to go back in. "Reaper you flatter me," he recovered quickly and got back to their usual banter. "This girl, ever the adoring fan."

She didn't laugh that time, determined to change the direction of the conservation. Even the Grim Reaper didn't want to pay this game. Katniss raised her eyebrows and looked over at Peeta who was just as confused. He squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"You know it's true Caesar," Emmer didn't want him to dominate the conversation and took control, "you have always been a role model for me growing up and then I was lucky enough to get chosen for my games, but this time I don't feel so lucky."

The audience gasped. The victor they knew and loved as the Reaper didn't want this games to happen. Surely it wasn't a good idea then.

"Reaper, my dove, what do you mean?" Caesar leaned forward and took her hand.

"Well Caesar, I've finally fallen in love again," she sighed wistfully.

"My dear, that's wonderful, what's the matter with that? Don't you think you stand a chance at winning and going home to your beloved?"

She laughed quickly, but with no humor this time, "Are you kidding? I could never decide my life was more precious than some of these other contestants. I know how much they mean to Panem and you in the Capitol. But of course if I do go, I'll try to look good while doing it."

Caesar tried to make light of her rebellious declaration, "Of course she always does," the buzzer sounded, "Emmer Buckwheat, everyone." Katniss thought Caesar had completely missed the point there.

I hope I made everyone happy with this chapter! I will be covering the aftermath of Emmer's declarations, her thoughts on Finnick's and District Twelve's interviews as well as the bloodbath from Katniss's prospective next time.