BELOW IS ANOTHER PARAGRAPH OF MY BABBLE THAT YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO SKIP (I'D PREFER IF YOU READ IT THOUGH). SUZANNE COLLINS DOESN'T DO THESE. BUT WE'RE NOT THE AMAZING CREATOR OF THE HUNGER GAMES. WHICH MEANS WE DON'T OWN IT. CONSIDER THIS OUR DISCLAIMER. A POINTLESSLY LONG ONE, BUT A DISCLAIMER NONETHELESS!

Hey!

Ok, we were really excited about all the reviews we got, so we decided to put the next chapter up earlier. But then the internet messed up and instead of saving it once I pressed save, the internet gave me a "The Page Could Not Load" and when I clicked on back, my editing was gone! So we had to re-write this chapter, and I really don't think it turned out as good as it did the first time. And so much for getting it up earlier..

But all that matters is that we have overcome the forces working against us, and present to you the third chapter of the Final Six. They're now the final five, but you get my drift..

Love,

The MockingJayzz

Chapter Three: Betrayed

I walk for what seems like ages with millions of thoughts running through my head. I wonder if I'm right to be suspicious. Maybe I just have trust issues, and there really isn't anything going on. Okay, I definitely have trust issues. But I have a feeling that Foxface is up to something, and I'm glad I came – I can't afford to take any chances.

With every step that I take, I'm further away from the cave. I feel nervous when I think about the fact that I've left Peeta alone, especially when there's a chance I might not return. But the tracks keep going, and I have no choice but to follow them.

I'm about fifty metres away from reaching the lake, when I finally hear a voice. I don't dare to go any closer than I already am. At first, I can't make out any words, but then the voice starts yelling.

"It was you? YOU killed her?" It takes a moment for me to register Cato's voice.

I climb up the nearest tree, quietly, and as fast as I can. When I'm safely sitting on a branch just above a thick cluster of leaves, I sneak a look down. Cato is standing beside a bush, a couple of metres away from my tree. He continues yelling – he hasn't seen me.

"When I saw her up in the sky, I swore I would inflict as much pain on those two as possible. And now I find out it was YOU! This wasn't part of the plan – what were you thinking? I wish I killed you when I had the chance."

"No! Please, listen to me…" It's Foxface. I'm not as surprised to hear Foxface's voice as I should be. Somehow, I was expecting something like this. But I'm shocked to hear that it's a voice filled with fear – completely different to her usual tone of sarcasm.

"I was just doing what you told me!" She was arguing now. "You wanted someone on the inside – wasn't that the plan? Let me tell you what happened before you jump to conclusions. Clove was…"

"Let me guess. She was in the way? You thought that you might as well kill off another competitor? Thought you could outsmart us? Huh?"

"No! She got angry and lunged at the girl. She was ruining the plan, so I had to change it. I managed to gain their trust, just like you told me to! Let me go now, so I can finish the job. If you don't, they could win this."

After Foxface has pleaded her case, there is what feels like an extremely long silence. All I can hear are Cato's feet as he paces back and forth. I'm careful not to make any noise myself.

Finally, Cato sighs. "Alright, fine then. You get one last chance. Tonight's the deadline. If I don't see their faces up in the sky, then everyone else will see yours. You got that?" Cato's voice is more menacing than I've ever heard before, and Foxface is truly scared.

"Y-yes," she stutters. "I'll do it. I'll kill them tonight. You'll see them … i- in the sky."

"You better hope so. And one more thing - when you're done, you better stay as far away from me as you can. Once the lovers are gone, it'll be you, me and the freak from eleven. Every tribute for themselves, got it? If I find you – I'll kill you. Now go!"

Foxface obliges, wanting to get away from there as fast as she can. I suddenly realise that I need to get back to the cave before her. But if I climb down now, either she or Cato will see me. There has to be another way.

I turn to the tree behind mine, observing that the nearest branch is only about a metre away. I remember watching in awe as Rue leapt from one tree to the next, distances over three times this length. I know I can do it.

Before fear can stop me, I take a step back, run up and leap. For a split second, I close my eyes, but I realise this isn't a good idea. I open them again, just in time to reach out and grab the branch closest to me, wrapping my body around it. I know I won't fall.

I did it. I'm safe. I allow a feeling of victory to wash over me, and then remember the circumstance that I'm in. I need to get to the cave as fast as I can. I climb down and stop. Where do I go? I can't take the route I used to get here – I'll come face-to-face with Foxface. I decide on a longer path. Foxface will only be walking. If I run, there's a good chance I'll be at the cave before her. I speed up.

As I'm running, I think about what I just witnessed. It seems that Cato and Foxface are working together. Or were. I know from the way they were acting that this is no alliance – Cato has complete control. And what did he mean when he told Foxface that he should have killed her when he had the chance?

I try not to think about this as I run faster – I need to work out a plan. I'm almost there, and there's no sign of Foxface, so I slow down, catching my breath. By the time I reach the cave entrance, I'm breathing properly. There's no sign that I just ran across almost half of the arena.

I walk in slowly and take a seat next to Peeta, who's still sleeping. I'm in a panic, but Foxface can't know that anything is out of the ordinary. I slip a knife into my belt and place my bow and arrows beside me. I take a minute to relax.

I suddenly realise that Peeta doesn't even know I followed Foxface, let alone anything that I found out. If I don't tell him now, he will be in a lot of danger. Just as I'm about to wake him, I hear the faint sound of leaves crunching outside the cave. Foxface is coming. It's too late now – I'll just have to keep him safe myself.

Foxface walks into the cave with no hint of the fear I saw before. "I'm back," she announces. "You've been keeping watch, have you?"

"Yeah, I thought Peeta should get some sleep. I haven't had a very eventful time. I suppose the same goes for you." I give my reply as calmly as I can.

"Yes, nothing much happened," she replies, quickly. Then her face becomes puzzled. "Wait – what do you mean?" I can tell she's panicking.

"I mean you went hunting, but came back empty-handed. I thought you said you were good with a knife?"

"Yeah I am, but no luck today. Don't worry; I'll get a chance to use my knife soon." A hint of a smile is playing at her lips. It's a determined smile, not a cruel one. "Anyway, you should sleep – I'll keep watch."

Well, she certainly isn't wasting her time. "I'm not tired at all. Lately, all I've done is sleep. You need rest more than me," I reply, innocently.

"No, I really think you should sleep," she says, a little harsher this time. She's gritting her teeth. "You need to recover from your injuries."

"Do what you want," I tell her. "But I can't go to sleep anyway, so I'm staying awake."

"Fine," she says. Her eyes move down towards her belt, where she has the knife that Clove was using on me. I realise that my injuries make me vulnerable whether I'm asleep or not, and Foxface knows that. Killing me in my sleep would be easier, but not necessary. I know she'll be making an attempt at my life very soon, but I'm also aware that she doesn't know the full extent of my recovery.

We're both sitting in silence, on either side of the sleeping Peeta. I find myself wondering if this is what it was like between Foxface and Peeta when I was asleep after the Cornucopia incident. Every few seconds, she looks at me, then at Peeta, probably wondering how she can kill both of us at the same time.

She wraps her hand around her knife – she isn't aware of the fact that I've noticed. Making the most of this, I go for my weapon too, but before I can, Foxface jumps at me. I don't know how I manage to dodge her, but I do. I look at her again, and she looks towards Peeta, still sleeping.

Peeta! I rush towards him and shout his name. He doesn't wake – he's a deep sleeper.

"Peeta!" I scream again. I get nothing. Finally, I kick him. His eyes open immediately.

"Katniss, are you ok? What hap -"

I keep my eyes on Foxface and shake my head. Peeta follows my gaze. His jaw tightens and he quickly crawls out of the sleeping bag. Foxface is smiling at us now, from the other side of the cave.

"You actually think you can kill us?" I say, fake confidence making my voice sound taunting. I hand the knife to Peeta and get an arrow ready.

"No, Katniss. I don't think. I know. Two injured little lovers stand no chance at all against a big, scary fox!" And then she runs towards Peeta.

Before either of us can comprehend what she's doing, Foxface has already pushed him into the cave wall, head first. He falls to the ground immediately.

"Peeta!" I screech. Blood is flowing out of his head. His knife lies next to him, unused.

"Katniss ... Katniss …" Peeta keeps repeating my name. Suddenly, he stops moaning and he goes limp. I stare at his still body, dumbfounded.

Foxface turns to me with a grin, and before I can form any thoughts or actions, she lunges at me.

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