Ariel's POV

I've been awake for a while now. I was going to follow Mako, but once I saw how low my oxygen level was, I had no choice but to stay and wait out the Feast. The drip drop of the cave is somewhat comforting, but it's also eerie in a way. And once a canon goes off, I panic.

"He's not dead," I keep telling myself. "He's not dead. Not dead. Not, not, not dead."

I must sound hysterical to the audience, but then again, why would they be watching me? I'm not exciting. The Feast is what really has their attention. I'm merely curled up against the cave wall with my knees tucked up under my chin. My lips are so dry from the salt that it hurts and my hair falls stiff around my face. I wonder if the blue streaks are still there. A few minutes later, a second canon echoes off the walls.

"That wasn't him," I whisper, shutting my eyes tightly. The thought of Mako against Garnet, or even Aid… It sends shivers up my spine. Garnet is a death machine with those huge survival knives and machetes. And after Aid took up her brother's knives instead of that bulky spear, she's been twice as deadly since she can fight with both of her hands now, and she has flippers so she's fast.

I don't know how good Cinna and Rue are with our weapons, but I wouldn't trust Rue if my life depended on it. Cinna seems like someone who I could get along with back in District 4. He's pretty handsome too, and Rue is beautiful with her long blonde hair, but she would stab me in the back in a second. I know it.

If Mako survives this, he's going to win. He's a fighter, I know he is. I've never been a contender in these Games. I'm weak. I've been relying on someone through this entire… week? Two weeks? How long have I been here?

I haven't heard another canon for a while, so only two people are dead. It's not too much to hope that Cinna and/or Rue are already dead right? That way we won't have to kill them later. I rest my forehead to my knees for a moment and then raise my face towards the ceiling.

"Is it too much to ask for Chap Stick?" I say quietly, hoping someone can hear me; after a few minutes I say, "I suppose so."

My voice echoes for a short moment, then all falls silent again. I think about the little boy that Mako allied with, Scurry. I fight back tears when his freckled face flashes through my head. He was nine, nine! I bet he had toys he played with, like toy trucks and boats, relating to their district.

Now, those toys will never be played with again. I can't get over his age, the youngest tribute in Games history. A new hatred for President Snow II bubbles in my blood as I curl and uncurl my fist over and over, a habit I have when I get really angry.

Suddenly, bubbles break the surface of the water. I grip the knife at my belt out of impulse. If it's not Mako, if it's a Career, I can't hold back any more.

After all, it's not just self defense anymore.

It's almost reckless how quickly I throw the knife to the side and pull Mako from the shallows once I see him pull his mask off.

"Hey, Ariel," he says weakly, hauling another oxygen tank onto the shore. I ignore the thing that could possibly be the difference between my life and death and throw my arms around Mako's neck. Shakily, he holds me to his body by my waist, but I hug him so hard that he falls backwards, taking me with him. My stiff hair falls around our faces as we stare at each other.

"I'm alive," he says, smiling crookedly. I laugh, and then lean down and kiss him deeply. It seems like forever since I last kissed him like this, even though it's been about a week… I think.

"I was so worried," I breathe out. Mako laughs softly and places his hand on my cheek. He suddenly frowns.

"Cinna and Aid are dead," he whispers. My jaw drops and my elbows start to weaken, but Mako pulls me up as he sits upright.

"Do I want to know how?" I ask slowly. For a moment, he just silently combs his fingers through my hair, frequently hitting a knot. He looks as if whatever it is that killed either Cinna or Rue, I don't want to know.

"Garnet killed Cinna from behind. A cheap shot," he says. "And…I-I killed Aid."

I feel my body go rigid and stiffen up as I meet Mako's eyes. They aren't the usual icy blue. This happens every time he is really sad. The azure color almost seems to drain, leaving a grey tint against his bloodshot whites. I don't say anything else on the subject. I don't want to know anymore.

"4 of us are left," Mako whispers. "I was thinking about what might happen is we both survive until the end."

"Me too," I say. "I like District 12's idea." I pause. "Poor Rue."

The sound of a canon makes both Mako and I jump. Mako holds my hand and says, "Wonder what the odds are that that was Garnet."

Annie's POV

Cashmere and Gloss are in our suite to watch the Games with Finnick and me. Right now it is showing Garnet as he silently emerges from the surface of the water into a cave. Then is an over-the-shoulder shot of him overlooking a tiny figure in the corner of the cave, their back turned to the camera. Next, we see Garnet's lips curl in a smile.

"Why hello," he says cheerfully.

Rue whirls around and squeals at the sight of a Career in her cave. She lunges for the harpoon gun, but Garnet is there first. Just as Rue reaches for the gun, Garnet kicks it out of her reach and then thrusts Sapphire's trident straight through Rue's hand. Her loud shriek of pain is unbearable, but she doesn't give up.

With her left hand, she reaches around to her belt and pulls out a decent sized dagger. She quickly slices a cut in Garnet's leg, who curses and staggers back, yanking the trident from Rue's hand. Rue stands up and holds her injured hand in around her stomach and flips the dagger around for a better grip.

Garnet thrusts the trident towards Rue, but she grabs it. The metal is still slick with salt water and her blood, so she easily yanks it from Garnet's grip and casts it aside.

"Wow," says Finnick. "District 12 is a fighter, wouldn't you say Gloss?"

Gloss shrugs casually and sips more of his drink from the crystal class. His lips are coated with something shiny that rub off on the glass. I don't think Finnick has ever liked Gloss.

"Garnet is just playing with her," says Cashmere. "He's trying to give the audience a good show."

"Well, it's working," says Finnick who wraps his arm around me and pulls me closer.

Back on the television, Garnet has pulled out one of his machetes and charges Rue. He hits her with such a huge force that she is knocked onto her back, gasping for air. She still clutches the dagger and tries to get up, but Garnet steps on her chest and pushes her back down.

Now her grey eyes are filled with fear and then she starts to hyperventilate as Garnet kicks the dagger from her hand. She screams again as Garnet steps on her skewered hand.

"Oh, God," Rue whimpers, tears spilling over her cheeks as she struggles to fight back against Garnet's huge foot. Garnet then kneels down and lowers his face extremely close to hers.

"Want to hear a secret?" he whispers, causing Rue to suck in her breath at his voice. "I killed your brother with this very trident." He reaches for it and pulls it back, holding it close to Rue's face.

"Oh God, please," Rue cries. "No no no!"

Garnet sneers and shoves the trident into Rue's right forearm. She screams even louder and starts to thrash around as Garnet twists the trident around in her arm.

I hear a cry come from the hallway outside our suite.

"Stop!" Rue shrieks. "Make it stop! Plea- ah! STOP!"

Garnet chuckles and says, "As you wish."

It happens too fast for me to turn my head as I relive my worst nightmare.

Garnet brings his machete over, raises it above his head, and brings it down hard on Rue's throat. Blood spurts everywhere, but there is no canon, only the pain filled choking screams of Rue realizing she's not dead yet. I hear another scream coming from outside the hall again. I cover my ears and mutter, "Shut up!"

Finnick tries to hold me, but I stand up and stumble out of the room. My shoulder hits the other wall of the hallway and I run down the hall until I come to another open door. I hear a canon shot from the television in my suite and know Rue must be dead.

I stop at the door way of the other room. Katniss Mellark is crumpled on the floor, hysterically screaming and crying, "My baby! My baby! That monster!"

Peeta Mellark, who was previously on the couch, chucks a glass at the television, shattering its screen. I wince at the sound. Both Mellarks are on the floor, sobbing and clinging to each other.

"Rue!" Katniss cries. "Cinna!"

Peeta is behind her, burying his face in her jet black hair, muffling whatever he may be saying through is tears.

"I'm sorry!" I blurt out suddenly. They both look up at me, tears streak their face, running down from their bloodshot eyes. None of say a word for a minute, maybe it's because I start twitching occasionally.

Finally, Peeta shakily rises and slowly approaches me, the mechanics of his artificial leg clicking with each step. He raises hand, and after a long pause to ponder his thoughts, places it on my skinny shoulder. He is still crying, but he has enough voice to say, "Thank you… for the gift for- for our children."

"I-I." What do I say? "This might not help, but I kind of know how you feel."

"Shut up!" cries Katniss, her eyes wild with pain and anger. "Damn it, get out of here! Leave us alone!"

"Katniss, stop, it's- hey wait!"

I flee from the room before Peeta can turn back to me. I suddenly run in to Finnick, who traps me in his muscular embrace. I randomly break out into tears and cry into his shirt.

"I do know how they feel!" I cry, clinging to Finnick. "I do, I do!"

Finnick strokes my hair and whispers, "I know Annie. I know."

I'm sure he doesn't. He's just saying that to calm me down. Then again, he might also know what I'm talking about. Katniss and Peeta just lost both of their children. Finnick and I lost a baby once too.

She hadn't even been born yet too.

A/N: That might have been the msot gruesome death I've ever written... I'm starting to get messed up and twisted. But the Quarter Quell is getting close to the end! For those who have made predictions on the winner, still have the same answer?