I stalked into the Victor's Lounge, eyes heavy from slumber and hair probably derranged. I cursed myself silently for sleeping in late. Melinda came running up to me. "I was just about to come get you!" She exclaims.

I blink, then rub my eyes. "Why? What's going on?"

"Well, since you've left ten more tributes have gone. Including Avery's last, which would explain Wave and her's heated argument, since it was Tiara's doings." She said, peering at the Twelve station where Wave and Avery were indeed screaming at each other.

"-I can't control her actions, Avery, I'm her mentor not her!" Wave shouted.

"She was thirteen years old, Wave! I thought you said she was kind."

"Oh get over it!"

"Your tribute killed mine, yay!"

"That's not funny."

"Do you see me laughing?"

SPLASH!

Both of them turned around, soaking wet, water drippinng from their faces. "What the hell was that for?" Avery screeched at Chaff, who was holding the empty glass, wiping herself from the water.

"I thought you two could use some cooling off." Chaff said smirking. "Melinda's tribute-"

"-Leave me out of this-"

"-Killed my tribute and you don't see me screaming at her." He turned to Avery, who looked slightly guilty. "Or scream back." He looked at Wave this time.

"Anways," Melinda continued. "There was just an earthquake in the arena, Beetee thinks that the mountains are a volcanic chain but the Careers disagree, even Wave and Mags."

I pulled my hair into a ponty tail. "Well?" I asked. "What do you think? Wave might be an expert at math and science, but he's still an idiot."

Melinda shifted uncomfortably on her legs. "Serenity, my tribute is at the base of the earthquake. I really don't want it to be volcanoes. She's doing so well." She glanced at her screen with uncertainty.

"But..."

"Beetee is the smartest person in this room and he is good friends with a Gamemaker. Besides, it is a brilliant plan, because it can and most likely would wipe out most of the Careers, who have been winning these games for three years in a row, not counting Wave. Not to mention we have the majoraty of the victors." Melinda finished.

"Point to Beetee." I murmured.

"Are you keeping score?" Melinda asked incredulously.

I nodded my head enthusiastically. "So far the non-Careers are winning." I said sarcastically.

"When don't they?"

There was the sound of a cannon. I thought of shouting, 'Who died' but that seemed insensitive and harsh, especially if it was Maysilee or Haymitch, which I doubt because someone would have told me by now.

I watched the map instead of the huge television next to it. Slowly a purple dot vanished, and it was the only purple dot left. "Who's purple?" I whispered to her, even though I could faintly hear a shriek of anger from somebody.

"Six." Melinda said. "They're joining Three, Five, and Seven with no tributes left."

I heard a rumble from the tv. "Shit!" Carleson shrieked. Everyone turned to her, not quite understanding what was so wrong. It was another earthquake, yeah, but no one seemed to be hurt. "What the hell?" Someone shouted, I swear it wasn't me.

"Oh shit..." I murmured, I think I saw what she was talking about. On the map, several dots were near the mountain, which as Beetee stated, was indeed a volcano. How do I know? Lava was bursting out of it and towards the Careers and other tributes.

"Look out!" Someone screamed from the television screen. Molten rock/lava spewed everywhere and before they got the chance to run. Then they got splattered.

BOOM!

Everyone looked around to see who it was but before we even got the chance we heard more.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! (Insert terrified screams here) [AN: Lol, if you read Max Ride, you understand]

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"Did they just wipe out the Careers?" Jette asks Avra and Carleson, who were both lept to big screen immediately. Both of them had an identical look of horror on their faces. At the same time, which I admit is pretty scary, their lips curling up in a sneer at the elder veteran because Jette was clearly overjoyed at the idea of the Careers that vanquished her tribute were dead.

"Insensitive much, Jette?" J.T. raised an eyebrow.

"Revenge, James, no offense to your tribute because by the looks of it, he's dead too." Jette cried gleefully. No one really called J.T. by his real name except the older victors and his mother.

Avra gave a sigh of relief, knowing hers was the last in the running. I slowly crept towards her, tapped her on the shoulder, to gain a huge jump from her. "What?" She snapped.

"I don't want to seem like Jette, because Four lost two as well, but you owe me a thousand and five hundred. I prefer cash but check works as well...I guess."

If looks could kill, I swear Avra just murdered me.

In the continuation of another four days we were down to the final eight, and surprisingly Maysilee and Haymitch made was a third of that six. Well, not so surprisingly...OK maybe on Maysilee's part but she was smart enought to get a dartgun and dip the darts into poisonous residue from plants.

Then Haymitch. Lovely, lovely Haymitch. He was right, he would take off his shirt during the games at least twice. And to make it worse, he had a good reason until last night when he just did it to tease me. I only know that because he winked at the camera.

I really do hate him.

"Serenity, I think this might be the end for your little tribute. Maybe I can get some of my money back from you after all." Avra called from the end.

I was so focused on watching Maysilee, I had no idea what she was talking about. "You push the limits of confusing for me, Avra." I called back.

"Your pathetic male tribute is rounded by Kai and your two buddie's tributes." Avra sneered, apparently referring to Melinda and Wave. "This shall be good for all those who lost their tribute to the volcanic accident." She shouted to the whole room, which gained their attention. And sure enough they were playing the scene on the big screen.

And yes, Kai, Tiara, and Zane were closing in on Haymitch. Suddenly, I was praying he's as good as I gave him credit for. That and Seneca will keep his promise.

"Ready to die?" Zane taunted him.

"If I wanted to die, then trust me I wouldn't have waited for you three to do the honors." Haymitch snorted, there wasn't even a trace of fear on his face. Either he's a really good actor or he dead serious, and quite frankly I'm not sure which one I want to believe.

"Was that supposed to be funny?" Tiara sneered.

"Did you find it funny?" Haymitch raised an eyebrow.

"Tiara, shut up." Kai ordered. "I want the games to end today and you having a pleasant conversation with every tribute doesn't make things go any faster." He snapped.

"Sounds like it's someone's time of the month." Haymitch announced.

"Funny." Tiara said sarcastically, but she was fighting down a giggle.

"I am. But, I'm just a man of many talents." Haymitch shrugged nonchalantly.

"Man?" Kai snorted. "You're hardly a man."

"And you are? Going around and killing everyone you can lay your hands on, that makes you a man? I can abide by those rules." Haymitch said, slowly taking the knife from his belt, probably hoping that no one would notice.

But Kai did, and he immediately dived for Haymitch, and it was almost funny how easily he stepped asied and Kai flew right by him. Kneeling on all fours, Kai managed to dig his knife into the ground. Quick as can be, Haymitch swivelled his position and plunged his own dagger into Kai's back.

Kai's breaths heaved and for a second I thought he was as good as dead unntil he tried to take the knife out. Haymitch then kicked the knife harder until the cannon sounded. He swopped down to pick up his weapon.

And next we have Zane, jabbing his sword towards Haymitch. It sliced his arm, and destroyed his shirt. While they fought Tiara made her way closer to behind Haymitch, without him knowing, raising her own knife to his neck. The cannon sounded in the perfect time for him to turn and see Tiara.

But with a swift move she had Haymith in a headlock, pressing the six inch blade dangerously close to his flesh, almost taunting it. "How's that for a pleasant conversation?"

There went the fear in Haymitch's eye. He glanced down at the knife and forced out a chuckle. "You call this pleasant."

She traced the tip around his cheeks and neck. "For you? Never." she shook her head even though he couldn't see. "But this is rather enjoyable for me. Not as satisfactory as your little district partner but I bet if I try hard enough, I can make you scream as well."

"Allison didn't seem like the screaming type, more like the cry like a baby." Haymitch was trying to inch his weapon closer.

"I can probably do that too but I think I'd rather you do both." Tiara said. "Where's your little girlfriend? I wish she was here to see this. Maybe I'll go for her next, so she can join you faster."

"Maysilee?" He sounded geniunly confused. "She's not my-"

BOOM!

Tiara dropped to the floor, releasing Haymitch. He turned immediately to see what happened. "Glad to see me?" There Maysilee stood, still holding her gun outward. She circled it around her finger and slid it into her pocket.

"Point to Serenity!" I screamed at Avra, who was red with anger. "I believe that will be five hundred and fifty, since the killing was indeed Haymitch's." My grin stretched ear to ear.

When I turned back to the screen Haymitch and Maysilee were shaking hands. "Allies." Maysilee confirmed.

"I was thinking of going to the end of the arena." Haymitch said.

"Huh?"

"Well, it can't go one forever. Besides, no one will bother going that far." He explained, already walking ahead.

She agreed skeptically. After two days they were both near a cave, sitting next to each other by an empty wall. For each day they were there another tribute had died. That means Haymitch, Maysilee and the remaining girl from one were left.

Maysilee turned to Haymitch uncertainly. "I think we should get back, these games aren't going to end if we continuously hide from Arabel."

"Maybe the Gamemakers will just kill her off." Haymitch sounded bored.

"And what if they do, Haymitch? Then it's just us and then what are we going to do?" She sounded agrivated.

"I don't know, Maysilee!" Okay, they just sounded like a married couple. "Why don't we wait to see if that happens?"

"I refuse to just sit here and do nothing!"

"Oh yes, because fighting for your life is so much better."

Maysilee shot up. "That's it! I'm leaving, I cannot stand to be with you any longer!"

"Are you breaking up with me?" Haymitch teased harshly.

"You are so immature!" She stormed away, rolling her eyes.

He waited until she was gone to show his fustration. He took a rock and threw it full force at the empty wall. The rock dissapeared, only for it to bounce back up, seconds later into his hand. He forgot about what had just happened and he laughed.

He laughed like a madman. And he continued to laugh until a scream peirced the air. The big screen quickly averted to Maysilee, who was being attacked by Candy floss pink birds, with skewering beaks. They picked all over her body, swarming a wall around her. "HAYMITCH!" She screamed in dispair.

It quickly returned back to Haymitch. "Maysilee!" He shouted and immedaitely sprinted to the sound of her voice.

He arrived right when the cannon boomed. "Maysilee?" His voice was choked to see her on the ground, covered in blood from the many punctures. He took her hand in his and waited for the hovercraft to collect her.

"Well, finally she's gone." A voice said.

Arabel was standing right in front of him. "I wanted to wait." She continued. "Until one of you died, because I knew it would be easier on my part."

"This isn't Serenity's games, and you aren't a crazy genius from District Ten. I don't want to hear your plan any more than she wanted to hear his. So I suggested you get to the damned point." He snarled at her, grabbing his sword since that's what she had out.

"I want you dead."

"And there's the truth!" He said sarcastically.

They both went for each other with the swords. Unlike in my games they were furiously at each other, and had very good aim. She stabbed his stomach, he swiped her eye. He chopped off her arm and she got a good jab in his leg. That was only the half of it. Their swords got caught, Arabel tried to make him lose his, only to result both of the silver weapons flying past her head.

"Good thing I always kept another weapon handy." She heaved, pulling out an axe. She threw it past him but he was able to stagger away from it.

It was all matter of who could out last the other. Carleson and I were both at the edge of our seats in anticipation. Then, Haymitch starts laughing softly, tears are spilling from his eyes. I rotate the angle of the camera to make sure he isn't crying. "Has he gone mad?" I whispered to Wave. I look away, not being able to watch

Before he can answer I here a scream of delight as a cannon fires. I suck in a breath of sadness, knowing the girl from one won. But it wasn't Carleson that shrieked, "Yes!" It was Avery.

The next thing I know I hear Claudius Templesmith says:

"Ladies and gentlemen I give you the victor of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell, Haymitch Abernathy the tribute of District Twelve!"

Avery grabs my shoulder and I grab her. "We won?" I shout, disbelievingly at the same time she screams: "We won!"

"C'mon, we have to go to board the hovercraft to collect him!" Avery screams with joy as an overhead calls for us.

We both run out of the room, which was filled with silence. Before I leave the door I turn to Avra, "That'll be another thousand five hundred, and yes, I want cash this time." And I scurry away.

As we reach him he's gasping for air. A medic swoops and collects him, because he needs medical attention immediately. The guy lays him on a gurney.

He looks so broken from up close, and for once I feel bad, because I wasn't even a third as bad as he was when I won. "Do you want any water?" I ask softly.

"Serenity?" he gurgles, not opening his eyes.

"It's me. You won, sweetheart, you won."

Haymitch's POV

I feel pain in many parts of my body. I don't even want to get up, I'd rather just die right here. Damn, that hovercraft is taking forever. They better not have screwed up my win.

I feel someone scoop me up and suddenly my body feels like it's flying. He lays me across something stiff, I bet it's a table. I hear a gasp a few feet away, and then someone's breath is caught in their throat.

There's a short pause. "Do you want any water?" I hear a voice ask lightly. It's sound worried, it sounds familiar. I know that voice, even if I've been away for nearly two weeks, it's hard to forget that voice. Especially when you hate it's owner so damn much.

I'm having a hard time believing she came along on this trip. "Serenity?" My voice sounds choked. Great.

"It's me." She says, I can almost hear the smile in her voice which makes me feel uncomfortable. Why would she be happy? "You won, sweatheart." She said, probably thinks I'm dillusional. "You won."

"Fantastic." I mumble.

"Yeah, looks like we'll be seeing a lot more of each other." She says before I fade out.

Maybe she isn't that bad.