More of Haymitch in the games! Please leave a review on your way out; it really helps me gauge how you, the readers, are liking the story!

Chapter Eight

Effie couldn't tear her eyes from the screen, even though most of the tributes were tucked away and sleeping. Effie watched as Haymitch slept in the hallowed out tree trunk. She could tell he wasn't getting a good sleep since he kept moving his head form side to side and opening and closing his eyes. Now she really felt guilty for talking to him until five in the morning.

"Isn't this just thrilling? Maybe now since there are double the amount of tributes, the Games will last even longer?" Aria said as she waved an Avox over to refill her drink. "Simply thrilling."

Effie watched her with disgust. This is thrilling?

"Doesn't this ever get to you?" she asked Aria.

Aria shook her head, the green curls of her wig bobbling with her head. "This is what we do. This is what we are all about."

Effie turned back to the screen to see two tributes from three make their ways deeper into the woods. She hoped they would overlook Haymitch in the tree.

"Effie, darling," Aria spoke in a low voice. "You can never get attached to the tributes. Yes, it is sad they are children. Yes, it is sad the fight, get hurt and kill one another. But that's just how it is." Effie cringed as Aria spoke in harsher words, her voice growing lower and lower. "It has always been this way and it always will. There is nothing you, me or anyone else can do to change this."

And just like that, she got up from the couch and made her way to the table and perused through the foods. She picked up a plate, turned to Effie and spoke in her high-pitched voice, "Would you like anything to eat, dear?"

Effie shook her head and went back to watching the screen. Haymitch was out of the tree log and running up the hillside. What happened? What did I miss? Effie's conversation with Aria distracted her; something must have happened to have Haymitch running. Then Effie saw the tributes from District Three.

They were chasing Haymitch up the hill. They weren't far from him; it was clear to Effie speed was not one of Haymitch's skills. She saw him duck behind a boulder on top of the hill.

"Do something," she whispered to the TV. "Haymitch! Don't just sit there!"

"Does that boulder seem to be moving?" Effie heard the voice of Caesar Flickerman. A small square popped up in the lower left hand corner of the screen, showing Caesar Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith.

"Yes, it does seem to be shaking," Claudius agreed.

The camera panned to another shot of Haymitch. His back was pressed against the boulder, urging it back.

"He's going to make it roll down the hill," Caesar gathered. "He's going to take out the District Three tributes."

Effie's jaw dropped. She watched Haymitch inch the boulder closer and closer to the edge. While he may not have had speed or endurance on his side, Haymitch certainly had strength. That was very much evident.

Within seconds, the boulder rolled back and made its way down the hill. Trees snapped in half as if they were twigs as the object continued on its path. The two tributes didn't even know what happened; they didn't even have time to move out of the way.

And just like that, the tributes from District Three were gone.

The cannon sounded twice as Haymitch took off running. Nearby tributes would have heard the rumble and cracking from the boulder and would soon be in the area.

"Hm, he may have some potential," Aria laughed. "If I could bet, I should have bet on him."

Effie looked at her, shocked.

"Relax, darling," Aria shrugged her off. "Just enjoy the show."