I tune into the games just as the announcement of a feast is taking place. It sure perks up Katniss' ears a little. She knows that if she doesn't get medicine to Peeta soon then he'll die. It's simple. His leg is infected and slightly blood poisoned. If she doesn't get the drugs he'll be dead in days. He won't let her though. I don't blame him either. She'll have nobody to cover her and will be easier to pick off than ever. She's gonna have to come up with something though because there's no way he'll hang on without it.
Thresh is certain to go. I'm not sure what he'll receive but I'm sure he's thirsty for a fight by now. He hasn't crossed anyone the whole games.
Two are revved up at the ready though and I can only imagine there backpack will contain one thing- armoury. They get it every year because its the only thing someone that strong would need. Something to make them in invincible of all around them.
I'm not sure what my clone will do though. She's in need of food, that I know for sure. Since the other day at the interview she now definitely looks frailer. She may need a weapon too because she won't get much further without one.
I'm sat in the Hub watching because I'm so sick of being around prep teams or Gaia or even Silver at the moment. Haymitch sits by my side eyes focused on the screen. He's worried sick. There's no way he wants Katniss to go tonight but he knows she will. Even he isn't cruel enough to tell her not to. Especially not when they both have a chance of coming home. It'd be different if only one could return.
"She's gonna have to figure something out soon. There's no way he'll let her leave." Haymitch mutters from my side. He really is backing this girl. More than I've ever seen him back someone before.
"She will. She's smart." I assure him fixing my eyes on the screen too.
It takes her a good few hours though and for the first time I have to commend her for her knowledge. I would have never thought of it. She's found a patch of berries that drug you out. Not forever but for enough time. It's unforgivable what she's going to do really but it's smart. If she gets them berries into that boy then she's sorted.
"Well Johanna not said this many times before but I think that tops our intelligence." Haymitch smirks. I smile back too.
"Pf." I sigh in disagreement. "Well I wouldn't have got myself into such a tacky alliance in the first place." I mutter. Haymitch smirks a little.
"Alliances are overrated in your eyes aren't they sweetheart?" He says. I shake my head in disagreement.
"A ally that's going to be of help to you is worth it. Not one you're pretending to be in love with." I say. His eyebrows raise but he holds up his finger to his lips.
"I'm not the only one to see through her Haymitch." I whisper looking around at all the intelligent Victors. They know their game.
"Well it sure fooled the sponsors. I don't care what they do once the games are over. I don't care if they never speak again as long as they get out." He tells me sitting back in his chair.
"You think it'll be that easy? Haymitch you know Snow as well as I do. He won't leave your tacky little lovers alone after this." I put him in the picture.
He's going to constantly want more from them. He's going to wan public weddings, births, christenings the lot! All to please the Capitol.
"That's if he gets to them." He says. I eye him suspiciously. So Haymitch knows.
"Why you so obsessed with getting this girl out anyway?" I ask him a little while later when she's making the trek to the Cornucopia. She's got a smug smile on her face glad to know that Peeta's safe and in no way capable to stop her.
"About time you spoke to Plutarch on that one Sweetheart." He tells me as we sit up right ready for the feast.
They're all there now. Lined up around the sides. Lurking in bushes. District Two have the biggest advantage of all. They have someone to watch their backs at all time. I look at Katniss stood on her own- at least she had the sense to take Peeta's jacket.
The table eventually arrives and the Hub falls silent in concentration. Marian- District 5's only mentor- is smiling smugly.
Finch is well hidden already even her bright red hair is camouflaged in the trees. But then, she bounces to her feet and sprints quicker than I've ever seen anyone sprint before to the table. She snatches her backpack and darts to the trees before anyone can react or catch her. Her intelligence in my eyes has just tripled. One smart girl. She knew if she left any later they'd have her and she knew if she'd taken anyone else's bag they'd hunt her.
"Smart girl." Haymitch compliments her. I nod.
The camera pulls to Katniss who's cursing herself as we speak. She's got the right too as well since if she'd have had that strategy she'd be out by now. She has to get to that table next.
"It wouldn't have worked for her. 2 would be on her like a magnet. She's their biggest competition." Haymitch says.
Just as his words trail off, Katniss begins sprinting for the table. She's quick but just like Haymitch said- 2 want her dead.
A knife goes whizzing past the side of her head. She's quick to react and sends an arrow straight into the throwers arm. Clove snags it out whilst Katniss manages to scoop the bag up in her palms.
She turns around ready to shoot again when a knife grazes her forehead.
"Damn it." Haymitch sighs but I shake my head. It'll be fine. It'll give her a nice headache but it's not fatal. She staggers about a little shooting her arrow way off target. She's had it now.
Clove slams her to the floor pressing her knees to her shoulder blades. She must have spent her time in combat at training. I beginning to hope for Haymitch's sake Clove makes it quick but it's District two and if she's anything like Viola it'll be long and deadly.
"Where's your boyfriend, District Twelve? Still hanging on?" she asks. I shudder. It's like a reminder of Phoebe trapped under Violas grasp all over again. I get ready for a repeat of last year.
"He's out there now. Hunting Cato," she snarls back at her. Then she screams at the top of my lungs. "Peeta!"
"That isn't going to help her now." Haymitch mutters to himself hiding his face.
Clove rams her fist into her windpipe cutting off her scream. She looks around for a few seconds before turning back to her.
"Liar," she says with a grin. "He's nearly dead. Cato knows where he cut him. You've probably got him strapped up in some tree while you try to keep his heart going. What's in the pretty little backpack? That medicine for Lover Boy? Too bad he'll never get it."
She opens up her jacket which is lined with various different blades.
"I promised Cato if he let me have you, I'd give the audience a good show." She says tauntingly fingering one of her blades. I hear Haymitch swallow from my side. His girl in fire has had it now.
"Forget it, District Twelve. We're going to kill you. Just like we did your pathetic little ally. what was her name? The one who hopped around in the trees? Rue? Well, first Rue, then you, and then I think we'll just let nature take care of Lover Boy. How does that sound?" Clove asks. "Now, where to start?" She says in thought. Everything about this monstrous girl reminds me of Viola. Born and bred in 2.
Katniss attempts to bite her but she slams her head back to the ground. "I think. " she almost purrs. "I think we'll start with your mouth." Katniss clamps her teeth together as she teasingly traces the outline of her lips with the tip of the blade.
"Yes, I don't think you'll have much use for your lips anymore. Want to blow Lover Boy one last kiss?" she asks. Katniss showers her face with blood. "All right then. Let's get started."
But just as she is about to pierce her skin, the what now seems pathetic under such a steel grip Clove, is yanked to her feet.
Thresh holds her by her collar his face smothered in anger. "What'd you do to that little girl? You kill her?" He screams. His scream vibrates the room.
Clove is scrambling about, too shocked or scared to even call for Cato. "No! No, it wasn't me!"
"You said her name. I heard you. You kill her?" He demands. "You cut her up like you were going to cut up this girl here?" He screams in her face. Katniss is hovered on the floor with blood dripping down her frantic face.
"No! No, I - " she then sees the stone in Thresh's hand and loses it. "Cato!" she squeals. "Cato!"
I hear him scream her name back but we all know he's too far away.
Thresh brings the stone down into her temple knocking a dent into her head. No blood needed. She'll be dead in a matter of minutes. Her chest rises and moans escape her lips but she knows she's a goner.
But then Thresh swings around to look at Katniss with his stone poised at the ready. "What'd she mean? About Rue being your ally?" He demands from her.
"I - I - we teamed up. Blew up the supplies. I tried to save her, I did. But he got there first. District One," she stumbles out.
"And you killed him?" He demands.
Tears swarm Katniss' brown eyes when she replies: "Yes I killed him. Then buried her in flowers and I sang her to sleep." She tells him. I know that must feel like a stab in the chest but she should not be crying right now. Not when this could mean her death.
"To sleep?" He asks more softly now.
"To death. I sang until she died," she says. "Your district. they sent me bread." Her hand reaches up to wipe her nose. "Do it fast, okay, Thresh?" She begs from him. She knows she's about to die then. This has to be the worst way to die. With your last memory being a girl laid less than a metre away from you with a caved in skull moaning for her District partner.
Thresh, to everyone in the Hubs surprise, lowers the rock.
"Just this one time, I let you go. For the little girl. You and me, we're even then. No more owed. You understand?" He demands from her. Haymitch breathes out in relief. Perhaps his girl on fire will make it out after all.
That's when we hear Cato scream for Clove. He's much nearer now so she better get out quick.
"You better run now, Fire Girl," says Thresh. She doesn't need telling twice not after she's almost met her death twice in a space of such a short time.
"I don't know how she does it. Little dime." Haymitch smiles in satisfaction.
Thresh grabs his and Cato's backpack and sprints as quick as he can to the wheat field. Cato is now sprinting from the forest linking over to where Clove lays. There's barely any life left inside of her now.
He kneels down by her side in turmoil. He should have never left her and he knows it.
"Clove..." He stutters. She leans forward clutching hold of his hand. He pulls it under his chin. "I'm...sorry..I let her..go." She gets out and I know times ticking on how long she has left now.
"Sshh it's ok. I'll find them Clo. I'll make sure I kill that girl and Thresh." He promises her. She smiles but it's a disorientated one so only half her lips come up.
"Make...sure..you win. For me..and for Glimmer." She gets out just as her last breath escapes her lips. Her cannon fires and the unstable Cato is left alone for the first time yet. Now the feast is over the real competition starts. The girl on fire and lover boy will be hunted by Cato who is continuing to thrive on their deaths.