The walk to the house was relatively uneventful, to Pascal's surprise.

There were a few times where he and Raine had to duck down behind some bushes to avoid being seen by the girl tribute from seven. She had a lot to live up to, last year's victor was a female from 7, Johanna Mason. She played the innocent little girl act and then wound up being a ruthless killer and 7's only living female victor. This year's girl was 15 and much bigger physically, but she lacked prowess with a weapon and intelligence. She was a hulking figure with wildly curly brown hair tied into a bun. She had physical strength going for her, but she was too noisy for anyone to be dumb enough to cross paths with her. She was an even louder walker than Pascal, and he thought that was a feat in itself.

Pascal placed Raine at the very edge of the tree line, so she could make a quick getaway if she needed to, and did a careful round of the house before deciding it was safe to enter. He waved to Raine who darted over to him. Opening a window would be too risky, what if they got stuck halfway in? Pascal decided to just try the door. It opened. Raine was about to slip inside, when a figure materialized in front of them.

"Freeze," said a voice, before a knife was held to Raine's neck. Raine froze in fear, but Pascal shoved her back and behind him.

"Easy there, pal. We don't want to hurt you." Pascal said, holding his hands up. The figure belonged to the little boy from 11. He was around Raine's age.

"Why should I trust you?"

"We're unarmed. We just wanted some place to stay tonight."

"Prove it," urged the boy, directing the knife to Pascal.

"Can it, Amos. They ain't gonna hurt no one. Look at 'em. Impressed they made it this far."

Pascal looked up to see the male tribute from 10. He was taller, stronger than Pascal, but there was a softness in his green eyes that was visible even in the dim light. Pascal remembered him from training. He had hair that fell in dirty blonde curls over his forehead.

Raine peeked out around Pascal.

"You're the girl from 12, ain't you little one?" Asked the boy from 10. What was his name? Mark? Matt? No, Maverick.

Raine didn't answer and hide behind Pascal again.

"Yes, she is." Pascal responded.

"We've been looking' for ya. Us outer kids oughta stay together." Maverick replied, as if Raine had been the one to confirm her identity. The girls from 10 and 11 were long dead.

"Yeah, why're you with him?" Amos asked Raine, glaring at Pascal.

"3 ain't a career district, you fool. He's about as prepared as you or I. Probably less, they do computers, no outside work for the likes of him."

"Still rich though," Amos sneered.

3 was wealthier than the outer districts, but they didn't compare to 1, 2, and 4 in terms of wealth. Not really. Although compared to these boys, Pascal's average childhood made him appear to live like a king.

Maverick smacked Amos upside the head. "Ah, let up on him. He kept the little one safe all this time. We oughta give him a fair chance."

"Nothing about this is fair." Was Amos' reply.

"When you're right, you're right." Maverick shrugged. "I still say we let 'em in."

Amos sighed and plopped down to the ground.

"Gimme the knife, kid." Maverick demanded of Amos, who groaned, but did as he was told. Maverick waved Pascal and Raine in. "Allies?"

Pascal stuck his hand out and shook on it. Raine did too, shyly, before nervously clutching Pascal's hand.

What had he done? He had promised himself he'd do this alone, and then he took in Raine, and now they were allied with these boys. Pascal didn't trust Amos as far as he could throw him, which wasn't far considering Pascal had, as his brother said, the upper arm strength of a baby. Maverick seemed alright, but there could only be one winner. Odds were that all four of their families would have to watch them die. But at least he and Raine were safe for the minute.

Maverick fished apples out of his pack and handed one to Raine and one to Pascal before handing one to Amos and keeping one for himself. Pascal sat on the floor and Raine sat beside him. Amos glared at Pascal over his apple. Raine tucked herself into his side.

The two of them were getting out of here as soon as they could, he didn't know how or when, but they were.

"How did I get here?"

Pascal looked over at Rowena. This wasn't a question he could answer, especially because he knew very little about the situation.

"I… just can't believe it."

They were laying beside each other on his bed- their heads where his feet went and their feet up on the wall above his pillow. They had done this since they were kids. It felt natural at this point.

After a few beats of silence, Pascal asked the question that had been nagging him since he learned she was pregnant earlier that day. "Are you going to keep it?"

She sighed. "It feels kinda wrong to bring a baby into this world… would I be selfish if I did anyway? Like, I don't want to have a kid only to maybe loose it in the Games. I don't know how our parents can live with that. But then again…" Rowena's hand brushed over her abdomen. She wasn't showing yet, there was no bump under her hand. "I… I kind of… I want to keep it."

"If that's what you want, Row, you do that."

"But how will I-?

"Hey, I'm here for you. I always will be. And you know my parents will be too. We love you. We'll support you no matter what. Especially me. I'll help you figure it out. Don't worry."

Rowena turned to face him, a faint smile on her lips. "I love you, Pascal."

"I love you too, Row. Always." He smiled as the familiar phrase came out of his mouth. They said they loved each other every day since they became friends at age five and it meant just as much as it did that day every time they said it.