All right, now that I've created anxiety from all sides, I'm dedicating this chapter to Mazie and the President. It's assassination time! Yes, yes, quiet down happy, screaming crowd.

*Mazie's POV*

I fit in perfectly in the crowd in my crazy color-changing outfit. As I predicted, many people were also dressed in the simple clothes that the tributes had worn into the arena. Pleased, I sipped champagne and nibbled cakes as I watched people swirl about the dance floor, and the huge screen attached to the ceiling that magnified the tributes' voices so that we could hear them above the music. Ah, to be part of the Capitol.

I knew that, as Nich, I would be expected to make a debut on stage, but I waited for now, because all eyes were on the ceiling. The Careers were breaking their alliance. I watched as Elvatrorix beheaded Carrie, then spat on her dead body. Part of me was cringing in terror and disgust, but I managed to keep my elegant stance. Nich had grown up all her life watching such scenes, and I had too. But Nich, unlike me, had never averted her eyes – Nich watched them all year round, while I only once a year. Nich was used to the Games – they were part of her.

I called a servant over. "Go to the sponsoring center. I am sponsoring Mazie Skiprose," it still felt weird to say that I was sponsoring myself. "I want to send her two loaves of bread." The servant, of course being an Avox, nodded, bowed, and hurried away.

I turned my eyes to the ceiling as the silver package floated onto Nich's lap. She sat up, looked at the loaf, and then fixed her eyes on an empty spot. The camera quickly zoomed in on that spot, so that it looked as though Nich was looking you straight in the eye.

"Thank you," she said.

I put down my champagne and cake. Now was the time – I knew it. I walked slowly through the people, threading my way carefully, and nodding to each of them politely in turn. When I had made my way to the stage, an Avox stopped me.

"I am Nich Snow," I said proudly, loudly, and importantly. "I am to speak on this stage tonight. Let me through immediately."

The Avox nodded immediately, and bowed, letting me onto the stage. I picked up the mike with all of Nich's attitude I could muster, then I said into the mike.

"HELLO, GOOD PEOPLE OF THE CAPTIOL!" not. Since I was being so loud, they had made the volume on the television go louder, too. I thought that everyone in the room would need new eardrums tomorrow – but they could easily afford it, so it wasn't a real problem. "HOW ARE YOU TONIGHT?" there was a loud yell in response, but I knew Nich wouldn't have been satisfied with it. "I SAID, 'HOW ARE YOU TONIGHT'?" I got an even louder yell this time, and my ears were popping. I ignored them.

"Do you want to know a secret?" I asked, a bit quieter this time. Everyone in the audience giggled and nodded nervously.

"All right," I said, looking around as if I was scared of someone hearing. "but you can't tell anyone." The crowd giggled again and pressed their fingers to their lips. "Shhhh!" they cried. I giggled. I knew that they would spread this news – which was what I wanted.

"Before she went into the arena," I said slowly, quietly, dramatically into the microphone. "Mazie Skiprose and I had a little discussion." Lots of excited murmurs. This technically wasn't allowed, but I was Nich Snow, daughter of the President. I could get away with anything.

"And she told me a secret," I continued. Many people yelled, "WHAT SECRET?" I giggled again – something I never did, but I knew they'd eat it up.

"I told her I'd sponsor her, and she told me she wanted me to send her something – towards the end of the Games. Now." Lots of excited yelling from the crowd, demanding to know what. "Oh, it was nothing really." Angry yelling. "Just . . . a small bottle." The crowd demanding to know what was in it. "A bottle of poison."

It took a moment for the crowd to understand what I was saying. Then people began screaming, fainting, some even crying. Oh, please. None of them even knew her – these people were so dramatic.

Of course, I knew what was really in the bottle I planned to send – it would be labeled, 'Poison,' with the skull and crossbones, but inside would really be a powerful sleeping concoction. Once Nich drank it, she would appear to be dead – not asleep. They would cart her off home, where she would be put at her house until it was time for the burial. I, still disguised as Nich would be 'attending the burial,' and would visit the house, where I would wake up Nich was a different concoction. Then we would both drink another concoction that made ourselves look like ourselves again. At this point, we would put a wax figurine of myself, Mazie, into the coffin. Then I would hide in the woods until the burial was over.

After the burial was over, I would say goodbye to my mother and sister, Wallie, forever. This was the hardest part in the plan – never seeing them again. But I knew it was for the best. After I said my goodbyes, Nich would smuggle me onto the train, and bring me to the Capitol. My face would still be a popular fashion choice, so no one would look at me twice. Then Nich would give me a fake identity, and I'd live my life in the Capitol.

It would work well.

"So?" I asked the crowd "Should I send it to her?" There was another 15 minutes of screaming, and the crowd never seemed to tire of it. When I, however, did, I left the stage. They kept screaming for almost half an hour, but I didn't stick around. I went to the sponsoring center, taking out the bottle.

"I need this in the arena now." I told my mentor (now, that felt weird), who nodded and pressed a button that wrapped the bottle in silver wrapping, and shot it into the arena. We watched a screen as the bottle landed in Nich's lap. She nodded once and quickly pocketed it.

I thanked my mentor and headed back to the party.

*Snow Jr.'s POV*

My sister had certainly dropped a bomb on that party. Everyone yelled and yelled and yelled – me included. It was such a shocker. And when Mazie received that bottle, and she pocketed it, we lost it. Completely.

I waited for her to return, by the door. When she did, I greeted her warmly.

"So . . ." I said "When exactly did you speak to Mazie?"

She grinned. "After I saw her training score – that night. Naturally, she was thrilled to see me."

I grinned back at my sister. I loved her so much. She was all I had besides Father. "Oh, Nich," I laughed loudly. "You are something else."

She laughed too, and glanced towards the stage. "So, has Father showed up yet?" she asked.

I narrowed my eyes slightly at Nich – she didn't normally care about Father. "Yes – he's about to go give his speech."

"Oh?" Nich raised an eyebrow. "I see, I see." Then she turned to me. "I love your outfit."

I was in a dark blue outfit with little dots about it – I was the night sky. "Thanks," I told her. "I like yours too. Where'd you get the idea?"

She shrugged. "Just thinking about colorful things."

I smiled back at her – she was so easy to talk to! "Shall I go grab us some champagne?"

"That would be lovely," she said.

"I'll be right back," I promised, and I made my way towards the food tables.

*Mazie's POV*

I watched Snow go, and I felt a stab of guilt at ditching him like this – I was beginning to feel a friendship towards him. But I let the feeling go as I headed towards the stage, careful to stay away from the food tables. Another Avox stopped me at the stage.

"Nich Snow," I said. The Avox narrowed her eyes at me, as if to say, 'You've already spoken,' so I told her : "I'm here to say good luck to my father." The Avox nodded and let me pass.

I knew that the President would be further down the hallway, waiting to go onto the stage. I slipped into a powder room (bathroom) and took off my color-changing outfit so that I was in the outfit the tributes had worn into the arena. As I glanced at myself in the mirror, I thought that this outfit marked those who were against the Capitol.

It felt right to be wearing it.

*The President's POV*

I was about to walk onto the stage. I was surrounded by my suit-and-tie bodyguards. I laughed and joked with them. I knew a few had had too much champagne, but most of us (myself included) were somber. While I appeared to be at ease, I was tense as usual, looking around for signs of danger.

But the hallway seemed pleasant and normal enough. Me and my bodyguards were at the end of it, Avoxs lined the halls in case we needed something. A few important people came by to greet me with small talk. Lights came out of some of the powder room doors.

All was fine.

All was well.

So why did I feel uneasy?

*Mazie's POV*

I walked down the hallway with ease, feeling that I would fit in. The President glanced at me, and smiled. I was unrecognizable in this outfit, but he would greet me all the same.

"Bonjour, Monsieur President," I said, smiling at him, faking an accent I had heard in the Capitol several times.

"Hello," he grinned at me. "And who do I have the honor to address?"

"Celiucianna Belloux," I answered immediately – it was a popular name in the Capitol. "After me mother." I held out my hand, and bright red lips kissed it gently. I shivered internally and brought my hand back.

"Well, Miss Celiucianna Bellux," he said "I am afraid I have to excuse myself." He gestered towards the stage, and I nodded, bowing my head slightly.

"I vunderstand – completely." I answered, and he and his bodyguards went onto the stage. As one went, I grabbed his hand, stopping him. He turned, eyebrow raised.

We were in the shadows – the Avoxs couldn't see us. I knew this one was wasted. So wasted, in fact, that he didn't notice that I slipped my knife between his ribs. He began to fall to the floor. I caught him and placed him there gently, turning my attention to the stage.

The bodyguard's missing presence was not noticed. He was supposed to stand behind the president. His missing spot gave me a perfect aim. I raised the knife. I had one shot. One shot.

I closed my eyes, thinking of Nich and pitying her. What a horrid life.

I opened my eyes and pitied the President. What a horrible life. May his be better later. I took a deep breath, and threw the knife.