A/N- Well here's the next chapter! Thankyou all so much for your feedback, I try to take it all into account. (Oh, and the review sent from my account is one of my friends, just in case you thought I was being big-headed :D) Again, feedback would be much appreciated. Much love guys! xx

The three of us begin tearing through the greenery towards the smoke. We find a fire- or what's left of one, but it's deserted. We whip around to see more thick smoke rising above the trees a few hundred yards away from us.

"I smell a trap." I mutter.

"I don't care. Whoever they are they've messed with the wrong pack of Careers." Cato growls.

"Pack? There's three of us left Cato! Glimmer's dead and I couldn't help her! She's gone!" Marvel yells at us. I look at him and see that there are tears running down his face, making tracks in the streaks of dirt.

"Marvel, you simpering idiot. Get a grip! It had to happen at some point didn't it? You knew that." Cato retaliates angrily. "Get out of here Marvel. We don't need people like you here."

I'm overwhelmed by a strange feeling. It's the feeling of sorrow. I want to tell Cato to stop. That I know how Marvel feels, but the words catch in my throat. This alliance had to be broken off sometime. It's better to do it now.

"Bye Marvel." I say, with as much hostility as I can gather. But my voice comes out sounding small and wounded, like a five year old who has had her lollipop stolen.

Cato turns to face me. "Clove." he begins. He's using a soft, agonized tone. Something I never, ever hear from him. I brace myself for what's coming next. "We can't fight together any longer." He takes my hands in his. "You're fast. You're smart and strong. And you can win. You're going to win. You will be the one that goes home." He says more fiercely. "And just remember, I lo-" He doesn't finish. Doesn't have to. I'm glad really. It would only make this harder.

I don't know what to do.I knew this was coming, but I wasn't prepared for deep his words would cut me. I want to go to him and bury my face in his shirt. To lean against his strong, muscular chest that has been my only sense of security for so long. I want to kiss him like I've never been kissed before. But more than anything I want to tell him I love him. His eyes shine with unshed tears and he turns away from me. I still haven't said anything.

I wait for him to do something more. To come back and hold me, for him to kiss me. Something. Anything. But he doesn't. "Bye Clove." He whispers.

"Goodbye Cato." I choke out.

A little way off from us. Near where our camp was, there's an explosion the makes the floor shudder. It can't be too far away because I can clearly hear Cato yelling. A loud snap. A cannon. District 3's face in the sky moments after.

A little more to the left of where I'm standing, I hear an agonized yell. Marvel. Two more cannons. Two? Marvel's face appears above me along with the Capitol seal. Rue, the little girl from District 11 comes next. Three dead in under five minutes. So fast. So unnecessary.

And for the first time, I suddenly hate the Capitol. I hate them for this brutal, savage way of keeping us in order. And I hate them for the way they've turned me into a monster.

I turn on my heel and run hard deeper into the forest. I crash onto the carpet of pine needles with my back up against the tree. I press my face into my hands and sob. I realise that I can't even do this in private. The frustration makes me want to rip the tracker out of my flesh and throw myself against-or off- something.

I cry and scream so much that I throw up in a nearby bush. Eventually I curl up into a ball on the sweet smelling pine needles and fall asleep.

...

The warm, hazy dawn light and birdsong wakes me. I'd feel almost happy if I was anywhere else. My first thought is 'how many of us are left?' Me. Cato. The foxfaced girl from 5. Thresh from 11. Lover Boy. Katniss. Six. I could be five people away from District 2. But I won't ever be going home. Because Cato will be this years victor.

I decide to head towards the lake. If I'm going to die, it won't be from something as pathetic as thirst. Just as I'm packing up my stuff, a fanfare starts somewhere above me. Claudius Templesmith's voice follows.

"Congratulations remaining six tributes! There has been a rule change. If the final two tributes are both from the same District, they may both be crowned victors. That is all."

I sit motionless for a moment as I take this in. Cato and I can both win! I get up and race towards the lake, where I'm sure I'll find him.

When I get to the open field where the Cornucopia is held, I see Cato staggering towards me from the other side of the field. There's something strange about the way he's moving. Something almost weak.

I run towards him, and as I reach out to him, he collapses at my feet.

A cannon sounds.