A/N: Next chapter is the final chapter of Radioactive! *sniffles* But, the time for sentimentality is not yet. Next chapter…

I sit in the teal office of President Augustus and look around the room nervously. I have no idea why I've been summoned here.

"Congratulations, Nate," he says, walking down and sitting down with a cup of tea. "Your performance in the Arena was wonderful. Quite a good show, wasn't it?"

I blink, remembering Platinum saying those same words to me earlier.

"Yes, I suppose. Why am I here?"

"A very valid question, Nate. Very valid, indeed."

"Right. Why?"

"Because, you are the favorite person in the Capitol, currently. Above Platinum, even. The first ever volunteer for his Games. And you were wonderful every single step of the way, Nate, and didn't even know it."

"Uh, thanks…" This is going better than I expected, which is either really great or really horrifying.

"People love you. Everything about you. Nate, you're everywhere. Magazines, billboards, posters… Knockoffs from your Games are in every single store. And I see the reason why, really. You're a young man in your prime, attractive, charming, funny, innocent…"

"You surely didn't bring me all the way here, to the Presidential Mansion in the Capitol, just to praise me."

He looks over, the corner of his mouth coming up in a crooked smile. "You're clever, as well."

"So I've been told."

"I brought you here to enlighten you on some confidential information. But it is very secret. You can't tell a single soul, understand?"

"Y-yeah, sure," I stammer.

"Good," he says, resting his chin on his elbows.

"The overall economy of the Capitol is decreasing at alarming rates, Nate. And as the economy of the Capitol falls, the entire nation of Panem will be sent into an overwhelming depression. Do you understand that?"

I nod, "Yes. I've heard about that kind of thing."

"You might not feel it as much considering you are a Victor. But, everyone else in the Districts will feel it. And when the Capitol-provided food goes away from your District, surely everyone you know will be wondering where their next meal will come from. Conditions will be even worse for the lower Districts. Think of those little Archer children, Nate."

"Wow… Alright…" It's a powerful thought. People will die, in large masses, soon.

"And the ability to save it lies on your shoulders, Nate.

I squeak, "Mine!? With all due respect, President Augustus, I am just a teenage boy! I-I can't-"

"Nate, I promise it will all work out. Please, won't you listen to what I have to say?"

I blink and nod, "Yes sir."

He smiles, "You're a good boy, Nate."

"Mmhmm…"

"I'm glad, because I think this will go very smoothly. Nate, as you're probably aware, the Capitol contains many people with a surplus of money, that only hold on to it. The economy would be stimulated if some of that money would come toward the government."

"So taxes, right?"

"No. See, we have to be clever with how we get this money. Can't just go around getting taxes from everyone, surely they'll have a fit. We have to give them something in return for their money."

"Is…Is that where I come in?" I ask.

"You are clever, Nate. Yes, that's exactly where you get in. For the benefit of not only us here, but of everyone you'll ever know in the Districts, surely you'll be willing to help us out."

"Sure. What do I have to do? Pose for pictures? Sign lots of stuff?"

"This is going to sound bizarre, but trust me. We want to auction out evenings spent with you, in the flesh."

"Evenings?" I blink.

"That's right."

"Like what, a date?"

"You could say, yes."

"How long would I stay?"

"From the end of the auction, I'd say around seven at night, until the next morning at-"

"The next morning!? Like, I'd stay the night? President Augustus, again with all due respect, but are you FUCKING OUT OF YOUR MIND!?"

"Nate, calm down. You said you'd be willing to help."

"I'm fourteen!" I protest. I'm much too young for this.

"You're close to fifteen, aren't you?"

"That's not the point!"

"Please. You could be the hero of this entire nation. Think about all the people you saw on your Victory Tour. They may very well be dead, because of you."

"I…I can't… I'm too scared. I don't want to have sex. For a very long time. At least ten years."

"Has fear ever won over you before, Nate?"

I blink, knowing that he has a point. "No, it hasn't. But that was all in the moment kind of things. This is just insane. Who knows who could be buying me!? It could be some creepy old woman! Or…" I swallow hard, "Man…" I shiver.

"But you let Platinum touch you."

"What? Ew! Why the hell would you think that?"

"Well you did dance with him. Remember? It would be hard to forget, I would assume."

"That was a one-time thing, and besides, it was dancing! I'm not gonna fuck 'im or anything!"

"True, I'll give you that. But, back on topic, you could be a hero, Nate. Wouldn't you like to make up for the death you caused in the Arena? Especially for your blonde, green-eyed friend. Do you think his parents could really earn money? Think. You're a clever boy, Nate, but now's the time to be smart."

"I…I just can't. I won't! I'm a Victor, this was never in any kind of deal that I ever saw! No. No can do. Find some other way to save the government, just don't use me!"

I get up and start on my merry way, and he says, "Nate, wait."

I turn back around, confused. He says, "Nate, I just want you to know that those were fighting words. And you will regret what you said just now. When you change your mind, please do give us a call."

"I won't." I inform him.

"Whatever you say," he says, smiling at me. I exit and I hear him chuckle,

"Oh… You stupid boy."

I arrive back home to District Two, convincing the conductor to stop and pick up Platinum on the way. I have to tell him about this.

As soon as he sits across from me, everything comes pouring out about my conversation with President Augustus. Apparently he didn't get this talk at all, because he looks shocked throughout the entire story and looks horrified when I tell him the end.

"What do you think?" I ask him.

"He's bluffing," Platinum says, "He's certainly done it before."

"I dunno, Cupcake, he seemed serious."

"He's tricking you. Trying to get the guilt to eat away at you and the fear, that you give in."

"I'll never give in."

"Good boy. And you never should."

"Thanks Cupcake. You always know what to say." I smile and he smiles back, "Sure thing, Cupcake."

We arrive back home and I get out of the train first, him following. I'm greeted by Talon waving and asking lots of questions that I'm not allowed to answer before Platinum whisks me off to my house in the Victor's Village.

"Do you think I can tell Cassia?" I ask him. I trust my sister more than I trust him, and I know she'll be able to tell me what to do.

"I think you should tell her the most important parts of the story, but not the details. We don't need to worry her."

It's good advice. When I go to unlock the door, I notice that it's already unlocked. That's a terrifying thought, because Cassia's never left the door unlocked in her life. My heart rate picks up and I don't want to open that door, but I feel Platinum put his hands on my shoulders from behind. "Cool it, Cupcake. You're being paranoid."

I provide a small nod.

"She's just fine, alright? They wouldn't hurt her."

"Alright." I open the door and walk inside.

They would hurt her.

Platinum stumbles backward and hits the door with a thump, shocked and horrified. I freeze.

They would hurt her.

My whole body starts to shake and I feel weak, collapsing by her body. Her freckles stand out now that her skin is pale, and blood is dried to the side of her mouth, where it must have been trickling out from. I can't believe they did this.

"Why the hell did you lie to me!?" I ask, voice uncontrollably quivering with fear and rage and grief. "Why. The. Hell. Did. You. Lie. To. Me!?" I turn to face him and he looks shocked and horrified.

"Nate… I'm so sorry… I-I didn't know…" he says, voice almost worse than mine.

I turn to the body, sprawled out unnaturally on the floor, and notice a piece of paper on her chest, sealed with the blood-red seal of the Capitol. I take it with shaking hands and read the words that are written very neatly on it.

Yes, Nate, this is entirely your fault.

I feel numb. This is like Elijah all over again, but so much worse. She was my sister, and she did so much for me just to die by one of my stupid mistakes. "How the hell could they DO THIS?!" I burst into teary shouting, beginning to cry hysterically again. "HOW COULD THEY DO THIS TO ME?! I'M FOURTEEN!"

I rip the paper into shreds in a fit of rage and collapse, feeling light-headed and burying my face in my knees. Platinum picks me up and hugs me tightly, and I bury my face in his chest and let everything out. It's a miserable series of noises: shouting, crying, quavering, whispering… Platinum scoops me up and I keep my face buried as he sits on the couch, stroking my hair and holding me on his lap. I sob until the whole world goes black and I fall asleep.

My dream that night is haunting. I'm walking through District Two on a dark day. Winds are picking up, a storm is coming. I pull my jacket over my head and run through the wind toward the Victor's Village.

Suddenly someone grabs me and pulls me backwards. When I look over, his fist makes contact with my face.

"How the hell could you do this?!" Green eyes glare at me and he clenches his teeth, holding up a fist, "How!?"

"Brandt, what are you talking about?!"

"You haven't seen!? You haven't seen what you've caused!?"

"What!?"

We're suddenly not outside, anymore. We're upstairs, in the guest bedroom. Talon is laying on the bed where he sometimes spends the nights. "What?"

He shoves me forward and I stumble to the foot of the bed, where Talon lays perfectly straight. Then I notice the trickle of blood down his lips, onto the bed, and the note that was placed by his head that says the same thing Cassia's did.

"He was twelve," Brandt hisses, taking me by my shirt. I break down, in tears, "Brandt, please! Please, I just need you right now, please!"

"He had nobody left but you, and you let him down!" Brandt screams, slamming me against the wall. I run out of air and wheeze, breaking down, "I need support, Brandt, please, I didn't mean to!"

"You didn't mean to? You still did!"

"I'm sorry!"

"That doesn't do anything for you anymore!"

"Platinum!" I shout, hoping that he's near and can hear me, though I know he can't.

"He's gone, too, Nate!" We're suddenly in his house, in his living room. He's sprawled out on the couch, and I see the blood and the note on him, too. Insanity fills my brain. I can't take this.

"NO! NO! PLATINUM, PLEASE!" I break out of Brandt's grasp and run to him, screaming Platinum's name and shaking him. His eyes are limp and lifeless and they roll back and the eyelids fall over them again. "PLATINUM!" I break down and collapse on my knees, burying my face, "How could they do this to me!?"

"You could you do this to EVERYONE?!" Brandt challenges me. "You have nobody left, Nate, except for me! And I'm next!"

"Valentina! Trevor, Nick!"

"You killed them all!" The images flash before my eyes of each of them: the pale, lying still, the trickling blood, the note. "I'm scared, Brandt! I'm terrified!"

"It doesn't matter anymore! This Game isn't about you anymore, Nate! It's about all of us!"

And in that moment, I realize that he's right.

I scream and jolt awake, screaming in real life.

"Sh…" Platinum whispers, "It's alright… Just a dream…"

I look up at him and see that he's alive. I throw my arms around his neck and cry into his shoulder, glad that he's alive.

He strokes my hair, "It's alright, I'm here. Right here. I won't be leaving soon. Sh…"

I cry quietly into his shoulder before I realize what I have to do, before anyone else is killed. I sniffle and wipe my eyes, reaching for the phone.

"Cupcake..." Platinum says warningly, "What are you doing?"

I look over, feeling defeated and hurt, but having no other option. "This Game isn't about me. It's about them. I'm sorry, Cupcake… I'm giving in."

And I dial President Augustus's number.