The last few chapters weren't exactly eventful and were only filled with conversations, really, so I'm hoping that the next few will be more action-y.

Disclaimer: I do not the Hunger Games or Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Percy's POV

Everyone is quiet for moment, taking in what just happened. Even though it was probably only a minute give or take, it felt like the silence lasted an eternity. We only heard our deep breaths and the rustling of branches in the distance. It was unnerving.

Nico was the first to speak. "We don't have to go. None of us are hurt and we're fine with food. I vote that we stay back."

"Why?" Annabeth say almost before Nico could finish speaking, "What good would that do? This could be our chance to get rid of Luke. Wasn't that the plan?"

"This wasn't in the plan, Annabeth," Nico says, "We planned to go the center, find Luke, and kill him. That was the plan. Not this let's-go-to-the-Cornucopia-for-supplies-and-hope-Luke's-there bullshit. We might as well kill one of our own." I hadn't actually seen Nico snap like that before, and it scares me. The arena forced him to snap, not Annabeth. The arena has made Nico unable to control what he says. It's beginning to crack his sanity.

"We have to think about moving forward, Nico," Katniss says, looking sternly at the son of Hades, "The only way to win the 'Games is by killing people. Like it or not, but that's the way it is. Sitting around is not an option. Yeah, going to the Cornucopia risks our safety, but it's a risk we've got to take to survive. Welcome to the Hunger Games."

Nico looks straight ahead of him, into the forest, almost as if he saw something everyone else didn't. "Fine," He says after a moment, "We'd better get going, then."

Annabeth's POV

We walked for a long time. I hadn't realized, when I was alone and lost in the woods at the beginning of the 'Games, just how far I was from the Cornucopia. And on top of the seemingly endless walk ahead of me, nobody was talking to each other. Even though that's been happening a lot lately, the silence is awkward. Thalia and Nico were glancing at each other when the other person wasn't looking, and Peeta would look at Katniss every so often and she would just shake her head and motion forward with her chin. Percy and I were holding hands, but I felt like he was a million miles away, out of reach. Everything was just awkward and it didn't seem like that was changing anytime soon.

As I walk, I feel like I hear a voice in the distance, calling my name. Having read about some of the tricks the Gamemakers have up their sleeves, I ignore it and continue walking. I ignore it a second time, knowing that the voice could be trying to trick me.

When I hear it a third time, I stop. Percy stops too and looks at me strangely. I put a finger to lips and point in the distance. When the voice repeats itself, I ask Percy, "Did you hear that?"

He nods and looks behind us. When his eyes widen in shock, I follow his gaze and I feel my eyes widen, too. The others were gone, most likely following the scream.

"We have to follow them—," Percy begins but is interrupted by the scream, which is much louder this time.

"Help! Annabeth, Percy, help!" The voice is Nico's, screaming desperately for help.

Percy and I simultaneously burst into a run, following the voice. We scream Nico's name over and over again, so many times that our throats hurt and our voices become rough. We hardly avoid tripping over logs and smacking into trees, never stopping for a break or slowing down our pace. We know what could happen to Nico if we did.

"Come on, I think he's a little north of here!" I shout to Percy over the noise of our feet hitting the ground. "We've got to go faster!"

Percy nods and increases his pace, me doing the same after a second. I ignore the throbbing pain in my legs and ribs, only focusing on getting to Nico. We're not too late. We can't be.

All of a sudden, Percy shouts, "There! I think I see him!" I try to see what Percy sees but I can't. My vision's getting blurry and my knife wound is starting to become excruciating. All I want to do is just fall and die, but I can't. I have to save Nico.

When I finally see Nico, the sight almost stops me right in my tracks. Katniss, Peeta, and Thalia are at Nico's side, trying to get Nico to remove his hands from his bloody leg. Nico's hands are bloody and covering a wound on his leg. Nico's breathing quickly and evenly, which isn't helping the situation.

I crouch down next to Nico, my hands on his, hoping to calm him down. I speak as clearly and calmly as I can, "Nico, you've got to show me the wound. I can't do anything to help you if you don't. I know it hurts, I really do, but the pain won't get any better if you don't allow me to help."

Nico looks hesitant, but he removes his hands anyway. For a second, I almost wish he didn't. A gash, not large but still severe, is gushing blood from his leg. I don't think the cut reached the bone, but if I don't do anything, Nico's going to die from blood loss. Luckily, back at camp, Chiron taught me how to stop excessive bleeding.

"Percy, take off your shirt," I command, holding my hand out but not looking at him. After a second, I feel him place his shirt in my hand. I rip a long and wide strip of cloth off his shirt and tie it around Nico's leg. It doesn't take long for the white fabric to become soaked in Nico's blood. I push down on Nico's wound to try to contain the bleeding, and Nico cries out.

"Stop!" He screams, his hands forming into fists out of pain. He grits his teeth and closes his eyes.

"I've got to do this, Nico! I know it hurts, but I've got to!" I say, quickly, still pushing down on the wound. I quickly rip off another strip of Percy's shirt and tie it around Nico's leg. The blood has stopped a little, but it's still bad. I tie the last of the shirt around the wound and hope that it'll contain the bleeding. It does, but I don't know for how long it'll last. By the looks of it, not long.

"We're going to have to wait on killing Luke. We have to get Nico medicine and bandages at the Cornucopia tomorrow. Nico, do you think you can walk?" I ask, standing up. Without waiting for an answer, I wrap my arm around Nico's waist and lift him up. He makes a pained noise, but doesn't fall down. I remove my arm and Nico begins to limp, slow, but moving.

Thalia gets up and stands next to Nico. "If you get tired, you can lean on me." Nico gives her a confused look, as if to say, after everything I've done to you, you still want to help me? Why? But his expression quickly turns into one of gratitude and appreciation. He wraps Thalia in a hug, burying his face in her neck. He whispers something to her, but I don't catch what he says.

Katniss and Peeta look at each other, their expressions shocked. They must be confused why we cared so much about saving Nico. Hopefully this experience will change their minds about betraying us. I overheard them talking earlier and they were already planning on leaving us after a few more tributes die. I'm not worried though- after we get medicine for Nico, I'm going to begin making the mixture that'll fake our deaths.

Percy wraps his arm around my waist and smirks at me, "Good job, Doctor Chase."