Okay, so some characters are a little OOC -_-... Someone mentioned this in chapter 13 or 12 I think and more of them have seen this in 14. For me this is like a capital sin in non-parody or non-comedic fanfictions. I mean if I'm just going to make my characters OC then why did I write a fanfic in the first place? Why not just make an original?

So anyways, a lot of major repairs need to be done and I have to make it connect to the previous chapters. I have an idea for this, which you will probably notice in upcoming chapters and I hope it works but I'm honestly beginning to loose hope because I'm not even a good writer in the first place T_T

Amaryllis walked to the entrance of the training center; still unsure of what she's going to do. Her first plan was to just throw a few knives and show off her extensive knowledge on herbs; that way the gamemakers will know that she can defend herself against mutts and other tributes and can also survive in the wilderness. Bailey's little exhibition however, made her change her mind.

She asked her if she can also use the Rube Goldberg trick. Bailey allowed her but warned her that it might cause her more harm than good for she wasn't able to plan nor practice. Plus, precise aim and computation is needed for it to work. It was risky but so very tempting.

Deciding on her original plan; she walked towards the weapons rack and immediately grabbed hold of a small brown leather pouch. There were about five inside; which was enough for her to show off her skills. She walked towards her target, gripped a knife at the right angle and aimed the blade to the bulls-eye. She threw the blade and it landed an inch away from the center.

Unsatisfied with her first shot she took another knife hurled it towards the target and it landed squarely on the center. She looked at the gamemakers with a big grin on her face but this quickly turned into a frown for only a couple of them were actually paying any sort of attention to her. She was loosing her audience to a dead, spit-roasted, crisp-skinned yet juicy pig.

She looked around at the whole area. She must do the Goldberg trick, else she'll get a low score for sure. She eyeballed everything; there was no time for computation. She threw the knife towards the same button Bailey hit when she showed her the trick. It missed and the knife felt in a clink next to the machine.

The booming laughter of the head gamemaker was heard in the entire training center. She glared at him with instinctive contempt and she gripped a knife tightly with her sweaty palm. It was more of a reflex action than anything else. She hates being mocked and her short temper isn't really helping her cause.

She aimed the knife directly at his head. He didn't notice it for he was too distracted and was relatively surprised when the blade brushed against his hair; slicing a few strands before it lodged itself into the wall behind him.

He glared back at her with fury and it was then that she realized her horrible mistake. Of course her mother would be angry and her father might be too but there not here right now and who says they have to know. She decided to apologize but quickly changed her mind when she figured out that showing any "sign" of weakness would cause her score.

"That was just a demonstration with a live subject. I can do a better job with another tribute- you know, someone I'm actually allowed to kill." She smirked, returned her weapons to the shelf and walked away without uttering another word.

Seneca followed her with his eyes. It was quite obvious to him that the shot was done out of fury. He swears to himself that he would kill that bastard but Effie doesn't have to know that.

She remained quiet for the rest of the day. She only spoke when asked and she would answer in one word replies. Max and her parents tried their best to find out what was wrong with her but she refused to let them in. It was then that Haymitch and Max thought that she was merely worried about her score and didn't bother her any further. Effie on the other hand, remained concerned.

The screen flashed to life and the scores were announced, starting with the boy from district one who got a score of 9, while his partner got an 8. Both tributes from 2 got a score of 10. The boy from 3 got a 5 while his counterpart got a 6. The boy from 4 got an 8 and the girl got a 7.

Amaryllis didn't pay any attention to the next ones. Of course the careers got high scores but what about her? She'll most likely get a low score of 3 or maybe even a 2 from her exhibition.

The announcement for the score of 9 broke her away from her thoughts. "9, of course Bailey got a high score. The Goldberg trick was impressive if done correctly." she said to herself. Both tributes from 10 got a 5. The boy from 11 got an 8 while the girl, who was the same age as her got a 7. Max got an impressive score of 9.

She breathed heavily as her name was called... "and the last but not the least...Amaryllis Porter got a score of 12..."

She stared at the screen with her mouth agape. Her mother squealed with joy, Cinna and Maximillian exclaimed congratulations and her father gave her a pat on the back.

"So what did district 12's fearless warrior do?" Maximillian teased.

"She threw a few knifes..." she smirked.

"Knife throwing? That got a 12? What did you do? Split a knife lodged in the bulls-eye in half?"

"Well no... Listen, it's been a really long day and I just wanna rest. I'll be in my room, okay?" She said as she walked away from the others.

"Wait! don't you want any dinner? We should celebrate and have some chocolate-covered strawberries!" Called out Effie.

"No thanks, I'm not hungry..." she said as she closed the door shut.

It was then at that instant did Haymitch figure out that his daughter is not telling them something so once all of the excitement has passed a little he knocked at her door.

"Anything wrong, sweetheart?" he asked...

"No, everything's fine..." she answered.

"Then will you open the door."

"I want some privacy!"

"Tell me what's wrong. I won't get angry, I promise..."

"I'd rather not..."

His patience was wearing thin and he knows that they are getting to nowhere so he called out once again only this time there was a hint of anger in his voice that he didn't really expect to come out. "Darn it Maryl! Open this door! I just want to help!"

A few seconds later she opened the door and looked at her father with sorrowful eyes. "You said you wouldn't get angry..."

"I'm sorry... Now can you tell me what's wrong?" he said with concern in his voice.

Amaryllis immediately closed the door and signaled her father to sit on the edge of the bed. She sat next to him and she sighed heavily.

"So what happened in there?" he asked.

She paused momentarily before giving her reply "That's not my only issue, dad..."

"Then, what's wrong?"

"Well, first of all I aimed my knife at the head gamemaker's head."

She expected him to be mad and disappointed at her and she prepared herself for a good scolding but the exact opposite happened. He snickered and gave her a pat on the back.

"Well done sweetheart, like a true Abernathy..." he smiled.

"Thanks dad!"

"So how'd they react when you hurled the knife at the jerk's head."

"Well, the guy with the weird beard looked at me with loathing but the others had their eyes open as wide as saucers and their mouths were open. Like this..." She said as she started to replicate the reaction that she saw.

Haymitch laughed louder. "R-really! Oh man, I wish I could've seen it... Brilliant! Brilliant."

After a few moments of praise, Haymitch's tone became more serious and he asked her if there was something wrong. She of course told him the truth and how she doubts that the ratings will actually help her in the games.

"You see sweetheart, those ratings are for sponsors and sponsors can help you win." he stated matter-of-factly.

"But what if I don't even make it through the bloodbath?"

"That's why you need to get out of there immediately. They'll go after you like a bone thrown to a bunch of dogs."

"Dad, do you really think I can win?"

Haymitch paused for a while. He knows well that her chances of getting out of there alive is one in a million. No twelve-year old has ever won the games and he doubts that she'll be the first. He recalled his own games- 48 tributes and only one comes out alive. He spend a full two weeks in that arena; two weeks of enough pain and suffering to drive one to insanity. He's sure that she won't be able to survive the 74th if the current games would be similar to his.

"Do you really want to know the truth?" he asked.

She merely nodded in reply.

"No, I don't think you can win. I barely won mine... I doubt you can even survive the first day." he told her.

"Oh, but maybe with your help-"

"I'm trying but it won't guarantee you a win..." He wanted to say that he can and that he will but he cannot lie to her. It would be better for her to know the truth anyways.

He really wished that he could but what can he do? He's just a useless drunk. He doesn't even deserve to be loved. He doesn't even know how Effie could have ever loved him but he's too selfish to let her go and he's even selfish enough to get her pregnant. No, he doesn't deserve to have a daughter and he doesn't deserve to be loved. This was all a mistake and he would keep on blaming on himself for it.

He refuse to show all of his self-loathing to Amaryllis though. He never faked a smile before but he's willing to do it for his daughter. He doesn't want her to be upset or for her to feel sorry for him. He needs no pity.

He does try though, to be a better person. He wasn't really doing it for himself but he was doing it for Amaryllis and Effie for he knows that they're both counting on him and they deserve someone better.

Amaryllis didn't speak a single word. She just looked up to him with bloodshot eyes. She smiled a sad smile before hugging him tight and strangely for once, Haymitch felt like a good father.

It was after dinner when Effie got another video call from Seneca. He smiled at her deviously and she tried to look unfazed.

"So, will you be Mrs. Seneca Crane or what?" he asked.

"She can win without your help!" she exclaimed.

"Is that your final answer? Well, it's wrong. You know well that she can't live without my assistance. I mean, without this deal she would've gotten a score of 2 thanks to her little performance." there was harshness in his tone. He tried to hide it but she sensed it still.

"2? How?" she asked.

"That little bastard messed up her trick and decided to take it out on me. I almost lost my head!" he growled with fury.

"Why give her a 12 then?"

"That score was just a sample of what I can do... Anyways, we'll get married during the games, to make sure you won't back out, your daughter will win and everyone's happy. What do you say, dollface? Do we have a deal?"

"Wait? How am I so sure that you won't betray me?" she asked with suspicion.

"Effie, I'm hurt... Just because I'm a gamemaker... Really! Why would I-" he faked a disappointed sigh before looking at her through the screen with sad eyes.

Amaryllis' 'kitten-like trust in humanity' was something that she got from her mother so as expected, she believed in Seneca's bad acting. Effie knows that it was more of a choice of life and the will to live than anything else. Yes, of course she'll choose her daughter's life over her freedom. She can't let her die, it doesn't matter if she would hate her. All that matters is that her daughter lives and that would be enough for her.

She was just about to open her mouth to reply when she heard the door creak. She glanced towards the door and saw the peering eyes of Maximillian.

"Wha-what was that!?" Seneca asked. It was then that she noticed that he didn't see Maximillian peeking through the crack of the door, which is a good thing.

"Oh sometimes the door just creaks open. I'll get an avox to fix it right away. Just wait a second..." She walked towards the door, got out of the room and closed the door shut. She looked at him with suspicion and exclaimed "That's bad manners! You shouldn't be listening in a private conversation. How much did you hear anyways?"

"I heard every word, even from your little chat with him last night but I haven't told anyone, not yet anyways..." he said in reply.

"Good, who knows what Seneca could do if he finds out someone else knows... Wait, do you intend on telling them about this!?" she replied in in an obviously scared tone.

"I won't as long as you don't agree to this!"

"I don't really have much of a choice..." she said in reply.

"Yes you do. Don't you trust me? Don't you trust Haymitch? And don't you trust her? We can get her out of there alive. I swear she'll win..." Maximillian was lying. He'll try but there's really no assurance that Amaryllis will win and even he himself would sometimes believe that the poor girl will suffer the same fate as his little sister but he can't tell that to Effie. He can't let her sell herself like this. Also, he questions if she should even trust a gamemaker.

"Max, I'm tired of false promises and you don't have any control over the arena and neither does Haymitch... As for Amaryllis, she's just twelve... If there's anyone who can save her-"

"Miracles can happened... Please, don't do this to yourself... Maryl will hate herself if she founds out about this... You don't want that do you?"

"I don't but who says she has to know?"

"She's a smart girl. She'll found out eventually. Just please, don't do this..."

"I-I-"

"Please... don't..."

"But I have to..."

"You don't have to... She'll live, I promise..."

She paused for a moment. She knows that he is determined to get Amaryllis out of the arena. How could she? How could she even think of questioning his ability and dedication?

"Alright... I'll go tell Seneca..."

She walked back into her room and sat in front of her video caller. Seneca was impatiently waiting for her in the other line. Effie noticed the impatience written in his face and this made her even more nervous.

"Took you a while... Got that door fixed?"

"Yes..." she lied.

"So, have you decided yet. My patience is wearing thin..."

"Well you see, she may be quite young but she's very skilled and she has trained a lot-"

"Just get to the point! Will I let your bastard live or not!?"

"Sir, I don't think we'll be in need of your services..."

"Wait, your little bastard escaped training. I let that pass and you and your drunk lover even sneaked her out of the building. Do you think I won't know about that? I let that pass and this is how you thank me!" the fury was notable in his eyes and Effie found herself unable to reply.

"I'm giving you another chance to change your mind. I'll meet up with you during the interviews. Think about it, okay?"

It was then that Effie started questioning her decision. Maybe she should sell her happiness. Everyone will get hurt, even Amaryllis in a way but then again...

We hurt the ones we love the most...

Sorry it took a while but meh, since when did I update early? Anyways, please review when you have time. Thanks...