A/N: Hey, guys. Sorry again for taking so long to update. I had finals week, and really didn't have time to get on my computer.

This chapter's a bit shorter, just because I wanted to stop at a certain point. Anyways, enjoy!

"So, are you gonna help me with that?" Finnick asks me seductively. I contemplate it for a second – having sex is out of the question. Would I blow him off on publicly broadcasted television? I think of my mother and Prim. No. I don't even have to decline his offer, because he smiles and laughs. "I'm joking, Katniss."

I take off my damp shirt, and hang it on a tree branch. Finnick nods, approvingly. I roll my eyes. "Sorry, that wasn't for you." I joke, sticking my tongue out at him. He takes my hand and we walk back into our well-hidden shelter in the jungle. Beetee is snoring softly. Johanna is thrashing and panting. She must be having a nightmare. There's enough room for both of us to be arm's length away from each other, which is good since it's very hot and humid here. I don't think I'll ever feel dry here. I tie my hair up in a terribly messy bun (my prep team would kill me if they saw it), to try to dry the beads of sweat sticking to my neck. Regardless, Finnick and I cuddle up next to each other. He lazily traces a pattern on my bare back, and I use his chest as a pillow. I'm asleep before I know it, but like most good things, it doesn't last long.

I wake up panting from a nightmare where Snow slowly kills everyone I care about – Prim and Rory, my mother, Madge, Johanna, Gloss, Annie (who I wasn't expecting), Haymitch, and Finnick. It's like the jabberjays, but so much worse. It's still the middle of the night, but my eyes adjust easily to the pitch-black lighting. I see Johanna curled up in a ball, rocking. That doesn't look good. It reminds me of Annie's episodes, when she has flashbacks to her games. "Johanna," I whisper loudly, "are you okay?"

It takes a minute for her to respond. "Yeah. I'm fine. Go back to bed, Katniss." So, I do. I get a few more hours of sleep, which really makes a difference. I'm hot and sticky with sweat, but at least I'm with (part of) my family and (the majority of my living) friends. I haven't decided what would be worse – coming out of this alive, and not having any of my friends or Finnick with me, or dying and having one of them come to the same fate. I wish there was some other alternative option. I would circle none of the above, if I could. But I can't. So I think I'll choose death.

I feel a sharp pain in my lower abdomen. I think of yesterday's events. Could I be pregnant? Surely, there's a fraction of a chance. The shots and condoms – they're not foolproof. The odds are in my favor for that, if nothing else. But the pieces would fit together. As childish as it seems, I decide to not worry about it. I'll deal with it on the rare occasion that I actually make it out alive.

I wake up with the sunrise, so around seven. Welcome to Day 3. If we keep losing people at the rate we have been, the Games will be over tonight. That has to be some kind of record. Beetee must be keeping watch, since Johanna and Gloss are curled up. It's not romantic, it just looks like they're gripping onto the other for dear life. Then, I realize I can't move. Finnick has his arm around my waist, and his leg casually thrown over mine. I can't sit up, so I just curl into his body. There's no rush, really. I have nowhere to go, nothing to do anyways. I could lie here all day. Sadly, I can't.

Johanna stirs, and finally wakes up. She pushes Gloss off her (in a friendly, but very Johanna-ish way), and goes outside, says something incomprehensible to me, assumably to Beetee, and comes back in. "Wake up. This isn't summer vacation, or a weekend. It's the Hunger fucking Games."

Finnick, groggy from sleep pulls his leg off me and rubs his eyes. "Actually, it's Sunday. That's part of the weekend. Sorry to burst your bubble, hun." He turns to me and kisses my cheek. "Morning beautiful." He croons. I kiss his forehead, and curl into him. I never want to leave the safety of his arms. I do, however, sit up.

"Holy fuck. What'd you guys do last night?" Gloss asks, amused. I look at him in confusion, and then turn to Finnick. My breasts are popping out of my bra, and my underwear is very revealing. Finnick's just in his boxers. It really looks like we had sex or something. I shake my head at myself. You knew they would make these assumptions. I have to remind myself that it really doesn't matter.

"We didn't do anything. Believe me, if we had done anything, you would have heard it. Hell, the whole arena would've heard it." Finnick rebuts, as if it was the most obvious thing. Finnick Odair, world-renounced sex god, doesn't have quiet sex. He just doesn't. I nod in agreement, and kiss him softly and quickly. Gloss gags. I pull away and stick my tongue out at him.

I stand up, and leave the tent in search of my shirt. I can't find it. I do, however, find Beetee playing with that dumb wire again. I sit down in the sand next to him. He looks at my state of undress, blushes and goes back to his wire. "Morning." I smile at him. "What are you gonna do with that thing? I ask him.

"That's an excellent question." Beetee calls everyone over. "I've decided what we're going to do. It's complicated, but the lightning tree is no ordinary tree. Johanna, if lightning hits a tree, the tree should break, correct?" He asks her. She nods. "Well, this tree appears to be in perfect condition, so it must be artificial. I plan on using the wire and wrapping around the trees in the area, to kill anyone who's in contact with them. We'll all split up to pass the wire around, and that way we won't have to worry about it just being the five of us left. Does anyone object?"

"I do." I say, standing up. "I don't wanna leave you guys." I feel like if we say goodbye to do this, I'll never see any of them again. I don't want to die alone, especially when my loved ones are so close.

Finnick pulls me back down. "We'll split up into two groups then. Katniss, Jo, and me will stick together. And I guess you and Gloss are the other group?" We all nod. "So, how do we do this?"

Beetee lays out a detailed plan. We plan to spread the wire around, so the lighting hits it at midnight. We don't have to start until three or four in the afternoon, so we spend our last afternoon together just relaxing and remembering all the fun we had. We get buckets of water, and sip it, while eating more of the District 3 bread (why twenty-four rolls, every time?) and fish that Finn caught easily using Gloss' spear and a net he wove out of the moss. Of course, Finnick can make a net out of anything.

We tell jokes about some of our favorite interactions with each other. Johanna goes first, talking about when she met Finnick. "Well, I kind of hated him. I thought he was an arrogant asshole. But then again, that's the way he comes off to everyone, no offense Finn. We started to talk a little, and I realized he's not that bad of a guy. I still had the overwhelming feeling that he wanted to get into my pants. But no, he's just being a nice guy. He calmed me down when I had nightmares, and was only a phone call away when I needed him. He helped me out so much after I lost everything, and with Finn's help, I was able to rebuild my life. If I had to spend my last days with anyone, I'd pick you guys."

Finnick goes next, talking about the first time he met me. "I was blown away. Most of the girls from 12 look like they're on Death's Door by the time they're of reaping age. The district is so impoverished, it's depressing. It makes 4 look like the Capitol. Anyways, you volunteered for your sister, which was – holy shit, unheard of. Non-career districts almost never have volunteers. And you looked healthy, strong. On top of that, you were beautiful, even though I was what, seven years older? That's really not a difference at all, but at our age it feels ridiculous. You're captivating. Haymitch told me all about how you were a trouble maker, but you had spirit. And when they set you on fire, twice. I knew I just had to have a conversation with you, even if it was just for a little. You were- are fascinating. And when you got an eleven, I knew that you were special. These guys were used to me fawning over district girls, but it was different with you."

"Get on with it." Johanna yawns, bored. "As much as I'd love to have you continue your lovely story forever, it's been going on for about ten years. Get to the point?"

Finnick scowls at her, but continues. "Anyways, so you win by yourself, and Haymitch and I assume the worse for you, which sadly was nothing short of accurate. I argued with your mentor for at least two hours, it just wasn't fair. The least I could do is act as a mentor or teacher. And yeah, the public wanted us to get together, but I wanted us to get together. I fell in love with you. And we've been together for a year and a half. But no amount of time with you will ever be enough. I love you, Katniss."

"I love you too." I smile, kissing him softly. I lie down in his lap, ignoring the sand sticking to the backs of my thighs. I have an overwhelming feeling of sadness. For the first time, the magnitude of my situation hits me like a ton of coal. I grab Finn's wrist, needing to hold onto something. I can tell that I'm in my last days.

A few years ago, I would have assumed that I would probably just end up marrying Gale, and dying in my fifties or sixties like everyone else in District 12. There really are no grandparents, unless everyone has kids earlier. I probably wouldn't make it past thirty.

After I won, I imagined I'd live until maybe even eighty, marry another victor (before I met Finnick, he didn't even seem like an option. He's too beautiful and too wanted for me. I'm plain and I don't stand out, despite the whole Girl on Fire thing). I thought life would be okay. Then came prostitution. But it seemed alright, it was bearable. I kept my family safe, and that's what really mattered in the end. And then I fell in love. I wasn't planning on that, but it wasn't unwelcome at all. Of course, all good things don't last. Now my death is inevitable. And there's a good possibility I'm pregnant. No, don't think like that. I tell myself. Don't get yourself worked up like that, it's not worth it. You'll be dead, and it won't matter at all.

"I didn't think I'd really miss you guys." Johanna admits. "That sounds bad, I know. But after I lost everything, I began to shut people out, and you were the first people that I really trusted, and I could be myself around. That really means a lot to me. I love you guys, seriously. I'm really thankful for the time we had. In a perfect world I'd get a lot longer, but sending teenagers to the slaughter is not ideal, so who am I kidding. Anyways, you're all the best friends a crazy bitch like me could have." It seems we're all being sentimental today.

Gloss goes next. "Wow. So, um I guess we're doing this, aren't we? Finn, you're a pretty cool guy. It's really weird, since I guess we all had these opinions about you, and we were proven wrong. You helped me cope when Cash was reaped, and that really means a lot, especially since you had your own kids to look out for. You showed me how to... be positive in the bad situations that some victors face. Jo, you're hilarious, and while sometimes you're a bitch, it's never without good reason. I knew you were really chill, but I'll always out-drink you. Katniss, damn. You're really hot. I'd be down if you and Finnick ever break up. You're also such a selfless person, it's amazing. You put everyone before you, and I think that's so admirable."

"We're not breaking up any time soon." Finnick says quietly. I squeeze his hand. At one point, only one of us is gonna be alive.

We feast on our meal, drink all our water, grab our supplies, and when it's time, we say our final goodbyes. It's seven o'clock, and we need to get going. In a few hours, Gloss and Beetee will become my enemies. I give Beetee a pat on the back, and Gloss a lingering in hug. "It was so nice being your friend, even if it was only for a little. I'll miss you." I tell him.

Gloss smiles sadly, something hidden in his expression that I can't place. "Don't worry, alright. And take care of yourself." He kisses my cheek, and pulls me in for another hug. My eyes are misty with unshed tears. He pulls me in, and whispers quietly so nobody can hear. "Hey, I'll see you soon, okay?" I nod, and Finnick and Johanna say their goodbyes. I try to think about what Gloss said. It's quite sentimental, actually. When we're dead, we'll all be together. That lifts my spirits a little, and now I think I'll be able to keep it together.

Johanna, Finnick and I take turns uncoiling the wire, wrapping it around trees going clockwise. It takes a while to go through all the sections, and by the time we get to the four to five section, the ten o'clock wave has stricken the arena. I hear a canon go off, and see the face of the tribute from 9 reflected in the night sky. That leaves us and Gale. Great. I focus on the task at hand. There's at least three miles of wire left. I wrap it around another section of tree, and suddenly, it becomes a lot heaver. I look at my feet, and someone has cut the wire. In the tree I was just wrapping, Gale sits with a knife. "Hello." He says curtly, jumping down from the tree. He does not treat me like a love interest, or even like a friend. He treats me like an enemy. I guess that's what he is now. He doesn't have time to attack me, since Finnick shouts now!, and tackles Gale out of nowhere.

Johanna takes the metal cylinder that the wire was coiled around and smashes it over my head. My knees buckle and collapse, causing me to fall to the ground. What the hell? I tilt my head at her, seeing stars. "What the fuck, Jo?" I ask her, confused and angry. Finnick throws Gale's knife at Jo, and she catches it. She takes the knife, and stabs my wrist, digging around. Is she trying to kill me?

She climbs on top of me, and sits on my stomach. "Sh!" She shushes me. "Stay down." Stay down? Stay down? My closest female friend is trying to kill me. Black spots cover my eyes, and I tear up. I stand up shakily. "This was a ploy, all of this. You never were my friends, you just were going along with it! Finnick, did you even love me? I don't even know what to believe anymore. I can't believe I trusted you guys in the first places, but I really can't believe I trusted you enough to let you guys in. I'm done." I walk away, feeling empty. Finnick tries to stop me, but I just keep walking. I raise my arm to grab some moss to wrap my gash in. I might end up bleeding to death at this rate. I get hit in the face with blood spurting out of my arm. I press a makeshift bandage to my wrist, but it bleeds through in a matter of minutes. I'm dying. I'm going to die. Very soon.

I lean over, and throw up everything I've eaten all day – the bread, the fish, the seafood, all of it. I will die alone. I stumble in the trees blindly, black spots making me virtually blind. I get my foot wrapped in something shiny. Finnick's nets! He's in on this too. I feel hollow, and don't even bother to try to free myself. Of course, Finnick will kill me. It only makes sense – he took my first time, my first love, and I'm possibly pregnant with his child. He might as well take away my life along with everything else. I loved him with every part of me, but he was playing me the whole time. The pain has stopped. Either my senses are dulling as I'm guided out of this world, or my emptiness has made me numb.

I open my eyes. I'm not in Finnick's net. I'm in Beetee's wire. Shit. I need to get as far away from that as I can. The insects are clicking. We're in between eleven and twelve o'clock now. I hear footsteps behind me, and whip myself around. Too quick. The whole world shifts again. It's Gale, with his hands up. He isn't injured at all. "Katniss. Please, don't interrupt. I'm sorry, so so sorry for everything, really. I don't wanna die not being on good terms with you."

I just hug him and sob, not caring that I'm soaking his jumpsuit with tears and blood. "It's okay, really. I forgive you. Just come with me." I tell him, holding his hand with my good one. I feel dizzy from blood loss. We walk and walk. The pincers of the insects are getting louder and louder. I see Beetee lying on the forest floor, moaning. Gale helps him up. What was he trying to do? He's holding a knife, and his hair seems to be seared. He tried to stab the forcefield. But why? And why are we helping him? Now, he's the enemy.

Something Haymitch said three days ago resurfaces in my memory. Before I got on the hovercraft to the arena, he gave me one last word of advice: Hey, Katniss. While you're in the arena – just, don't forget who the enemy is. Who is the enemy? That's an easy question, and the answer is not a forty year old man with glasses. It's them. The ones who make us go through these terrible games every year, who cause starvation and poverty. The Capitol is the enemy. "Take him to the beach. Stay away from the wire." I tell Gale, who's dragged an unconscious Beetee out of my sight.

I try to piece everything together, with not much luck. Why did Johanna cut me? Why did Beetee try to stab the forcefield? What did Gloss say he'd see me soon? Why is nobody that upset, besides myself? Why was Cashmere talking about District 13? Why was Johanna making comments about a country-wide rebellion? Suddenly, I have a collective answer to all my questions. They were trying to take the tracker out of my arm. Jo and Finnick don't hate me. This must have been what they weren't telling me. We're breaking out of the arena. I'm not sure if I should be excited or angry. Why didn't they tell me? There will be time for questions later, if I make it out alive.

I feel weak. I'll be a goner soon. But now, I have the will to live. I don't want to die, like I did just ten minutes ago. I hear the clicking get progressively louder, until it's practically ear-splitting. I know what I have to do. I take my last arrow, and wrap the tip in the loose end of the wire. I notice the wavy patch in the forcefield, the chink in the armor. The one I saw in the training center, and on the roof of the building. That's where I must shoot, and if I miss, we all die. Suddenly, the clicking stops.

I hear the first boing, boing, bong. Four, Five, Six. Seven, Eight, Nine. Here goes nothing. I mutter a final goodbye, before letting go of the arrow.

Ten, eleven, twelve-

My hair stand on end, and the lighting strikes the tree. There's a flash of white, and the dome bursts into blue lights. I'm thrown to the round on impact. I can't move.

Right before the explosions begin, I find a star in the exposed night sky.

A/N: How was that? Be honest, I appreciate all feedback. Review if you liked reading it!