So here's the next chapter. Peeta is going into the arena and now I will be doing his point of view as well as Cinna's. Enjoy and please review afterward.

Chapter 8

I woke Peeta early the following morning, knowing this would be the last chance to talk to him.

"I know you have a lot of fears in your mind and I can't blame you. But if you are able to clear your thoughts for even a second I want you to try to use your head in the arena. Remember what Haymitch told you and use common sense, that is what will keep you alive. Don't doubt yourself either."

"Why not? What do I have that is anything compared to the others?"

I took Peeta's hands in my own and locked eyes with him, "you have strength where it counts. You have a strong heart and a strong spirit. Don't doubt yourself. You have the ability to find courage, all you have to do is look for it inside you, because it's there. Do you understand?"

"Yes" Peeta replied, gratitude in his eyes, "thank you."

"Now I should go, Portia will be here soon. If nothing else remember me, remember what you are fighting for and that might give you the strength you need."

I gave him a long passionate kiss, taking my time. Somewhere in the back of my mind was the thought that this could very well be the last one so I put everything into it.

"I love you" he said when we finally broke the kiss.

"I love you too. And I'm always going to, no matter what will try to come between us, I will always love you."

We shared another long kiss before there was a knock on the door and Haymitch telling us it was time to go.

"Stay close to me?" Peeta asked and I gave a nod that I would.

After Portia led Peeta away I headed to the room Katniss was in. When I entered she stood up and looked at me, the same fear and panic was in her eyes that I saw in Peeta's. I opened my arms to her and she ran into them, allowing me to give her a comforting hug. I now understood why an old friend of mine was no longer a stylist for the games. He had told me it was just too heart breaking to fix up all those tributes and make them look amazing right before they have to walk to their deaths, I feared the same fate might be in store for Katniss. When she pulled back I gave her a reassuring look and nodded over to the clothes.

"Let's get you ready" I said softly and she nodded.

I felt her nervousness as I got her dressed so I explained the clothing she was wearing to try to get her mind to focus on something else. Her outfit was just about finished when I brought out the pin and pinned it to her shirt.

"There, you're all set. Move around. Make sure everything feels comfortable" I said.

Once she stated that everything was fine there was nothing we could do, but wait for the call.

We sat in silence for a moment and I could see the nerves starting to return to her so I asked gently, "do you want to talk, Katniss?"

She shook her head, but after a moment she extended her hand to me and I quickly took it in both of mine, knowing she just needed something to hold on to now. When the announcement came I walked over to the plate with her.

"Remember what Haymitch said. Run, find water. The rest will follow" I said and she nodded. I could see the fear really starting to build in her so I offered something that I knew was only half true, "and remember this. I'm not allowed to bet, but if I could, my money would be on you."

"Truly?"

"Truly" I said as I leaned down to kiss her forehead, "good luck, girl on fire."

The cylinder closed and she rose up, making that the last I would see of her.

Peeta's POV

Terror, absolute terror. That's what I was feeling now as I gazed around the arena at the tributes that I could see. I happened to notice Katniss, standing about five tributes from me, deep in thought. I followed her gaze and I realized that she was staring at the bow and arrows in the pile of supplies. She suddenly met my eyes and I quickly shook my head for her not to go for it. She may be my enemy now, but that didn't mean I couldn't help her out at least once. I didn't want to see her die in the first day blood bath.

That's when the gong sounded. I didn't even give the supplies a second thought as I sprinted for the woods, the opposite direction of all the other tributes. I could hear the fighting break out behind me but I kept running. I finally stopped when I tripped over a root and came crashing to the ground with a loud thud.

I groaned, my face a little red in embarrassment as I slowly rose to my feet again. "Brilliant Peeta, way to be stealthy" I mumbled to myself.

I scanned the area surrounding me to see if I had caught anyone's attention, but the forest seemed to remain silent. I continued my journey into the forest to find a water source like Haymitch had instructed.

The sun was starting to beat down and I was growing tired. I decided to take some time to rest, but it had to be a quick one. I picked a nice shady tree and plopped down on the ground. I leaned my head back on the trunk and closed my eyes for a moment. That was when I hear the cannons. I counted each shot, eleven in all. So many gone so soon.

I tried not to think about that as I got to my feet, all the tiredness draining from me. Now that I knew the killers responsible for so many deaths were in the forest it wasn't a good idea to linger anywhere for long. As I walked along I was able to think about some things. I thought about Katniss and how she had run to the Cornucopia even though I advised against it. I wondered if she was among the eleven now dead.

Then I thought about Cinna. I gazed up at the artificial sky as I thought to myself, "are you watching Cinna? I'm still alive."

And I planned to stay that way, for his sake. Unfortunately for me though the rest of my day didn't go so smoothly. I had heard the voices and the rustling, but I wasn't able to get away fast enough and soon I was caught by the Careers. These were the people I had been trying to avoid, but sadly they found me.

"Well, well if it isn't lover boy" Cato said, smugly smiling at me, "I think this will make twelve for today."

I knew I had to come up with some reason on why I should live and the idea came to me almost immediately, "I know information about Katniss."

Cato paused in his strike that would have killed me and slightly lowered his weapon as I continued, "she's a threat to you and you want to get rid of her as soon as possible right?"

There was a few moments of silence as Cato considered my words, "so you want us to spare your life and you will give us information on your girlfriend?"

I nodded, hoping this was enough to spare me for the time being. Cato nodded to the two Careers that held me captive and I was released.

"Alright lover boy, deal. But if you try anything funny or try to help your girl escape when we get her you're done for understand?" Cato hissed, holding up his knife to my throat.

I nodded and he lowered it again, "alright then lets get going, see if we can catch anyone else today."

I got to my feet and was shoved by one of the girl tributes from behind me. I knew that this alliance wouldn't last long as soon as the numbers started to shrink they would turn on each other and I would most likely be caught in the cross fire unless I was able to escape before then. My thoughts turned to Cinna again and I knew that I had to try to survive, the hope of seeing him again was what would keep me alive now.