I'm sorry for not updating sooner, but I'm back on track. Please review :)

The Dirt Queen

I crept out of bed silently, trying not to wake up Theo. I didn't understand what was going on with him and I. I was so confused. Last night was probably one of the happiest nights of my life, but I know it is only bittersweet. It was almost as though a romance had sparked between us, and it felt awkward knowing the whole nation was watching us. Would we be the first lovers in the games, doomed from the start? Or had I got the completely wrong signals? Perhaps Theo was only using me to gain sponsors, and weaken a formidable opponent.

Or was it all real?

Ignoring the thoughts sending my mind into turmoil I turn my thoughts back to survival. I scout out the house and surrounding area for any dangers, although thankfully none was present.

And then a thought occurred to me.

"THEO!" I scream into his ear, and immediately the boy shoots up like a bullet. However, he doesn't return down to the ground, and continues to glare at me from the ceiling.

"What was that for? I was sleeping!"

I rolled my eyes. "How long was I out of it? And on the day I passed out someone's cannon went off, whose death was it? Has there been any more?"

"You were out of it for 5 days." Theo said, nibbling on his lip. This shocked me, why would he put up with a comatose body for 5 whole days? And that also means that the games have been active for a total of 8 days, and already 12 out of 24 were dead. 50%. These games were going slow. "And only Felicity died." He continued. "I visited Iowan and Clio about 2 days ago. While you were still conscious and fine and we were scouting out the houses, Clio saw Felicity run from all the shops and tried to get onto the field. She was being chased by the little vampire. But Oscar caught her and ripped out her throat with his teeth. Clio sent a huge gust and blew him off her and he crashed through a building, but the girl was already dead. Clio was upset, but only because it wasn't one of her kills. Unfortunately Oscar didn't die."

I nod in agreement. Oscar definitely has turned into a little bloodthirsty psycho.

"We need to be back on our feet now. I've recovered mostly, and I need to throw myself back into the game. Same goes to you if you wanna survive."

Theo looks at the ground and bites his lip. I raise a razor sharp eyebrow questioningly. In response he shakes his head and smiles. "Let's pack up and go hunting."

The rest of the morning was a blur of organisation and we both studiously ignored the events of what occurred last night. I knew that if he brought it up, I would end up wanting to stab him with a knife.

I looked so weak. I had sobbed when I thought I was going to die. I had giggled with Theo. I had said I thought his wings were beautiful. How stupid am I? This is the last place I am going to find romance. He will die. He has to. Or I do. I will not sacrifice everything I have worked for, will not let May's death be for nothing. I will not die. And this boy will be the death of me.

Theo brings out the packs I had organised for the two of us the night Clio ordered us out hunting. I changed into a different outfit; tight stretchy black jeans, a grey crop thin jumper and I kept my boots. All my pent up energy and anticipation to get back out there shows in the mood of my hair, still in its movement but tightly curling and uncurling itself. My eyes are a scary pale blue this morning, and my scales on my back have started to expand onto my shoulders.

I am not disgusted I realise, I am finally accepting who I am. I hope that once the games are over and if I have won, I will still keep the abilities and the freaky appearance. However, in the introduction packs, it was clear that they would be removed.

Once when we're ready to leave we discuss where we're going to go looking for the tributes. After a long debate we decide on the street at the very back of the arena, with replica homes of the tributes'. He offers to fly us both over there.

"No!" I snarl sharply, giving him a glare. He seems taken aback by the sudden hostility, but I give him a fake, sarcastic grin which resulted in a confused expression from him. Now was the time to show the world how cruel and ruthless I could be. I would not show Theo any kind side of me again. I would rather win and live than have a week of happiness and die. Nothing was more important.

Or that's what my training had told me.

We set off at a brisk pace, and after a few attempts at conversation from Theo, and at my stony silence in response, Theo takes to the sky and disappears from view. Probably will meet up with me later.

"Fucking idiot." I growl slightly to myself. For some reason I think he's being incredibly annoying. But, then again, it's not like that feeling has ever disappeared since the moment I met him.

For the rest of the day I walk in solitude, and never see a glimpse of Theo in the sky. I am left alone with my thoughts. Thank God.

Ponderously I contemplate what will actually happen after I leave the arena. I had never thought up past my winning, but with 10 more to die it is becoming a more stark reality. Will I continue to train in the Agoge as so many have before me? Will I choose to mentor every year? Or just live a life of leisure?

Mentoring one year after your games is compulsory for every victor so I know that if I win I will be in the Capitol the same time next year.

And what on earth will my 'talent' be? The only thing I have ever been good at is killing, which, is an enjoyable hobby, but not something that you can fully show to the rest of Panem as a cheerful hobby. Even Alexandria plays the violin or something gay like that.

When I win, will I finally allow myself to find someone? Will I fall in love?

I shake off the thoughts angrily. My mind selfishly wanders to the thought that Theo never was reaped. That I won the games with ease. And we meet at home and actually have a chance to be something more.

It could never happen. I was being a stupid schoolgirl. And the sooner I accepted reality the better. I'm a fucking fucktard.

It was night by the time Theo re-joined me on the ground. The colourful houses had gotten sparser and sparser the further through the town we had gotten, and the colours of the homes seemed more washed out and dreary. I had come across a few cars, and had tried to no avail to get them started. I did find some raspberry chewing gum in one of them though.

"Hey." Theo said as he landed beside me with a whoosh onto the ground. I sigh audibly and continue marching on.

For another hour or so we walk into the darkness. It was about 12 am until someone spoke again.

"We should probably find a house to rest." Theo said, almost timidly.

"No."

"It's late and you've been walking all day. A few hours maybe?"

"No. The sooner I win the games the better."

"You'll run yourself to death."

I whirl around to look at him, a glare on my face. "Listen, Theo. I am holding back with everything not to kill you right now. We are going to walk until we reach the edge of town. We are going to kill every tribute there. We are going to kill until there are 8 of us left, and then we are going to split up. We are going to camp when I say so, got it? If you have a problem with that, leave. Or kill me. Your choice." I raise an eyebrow at him, waiting for a response.

His head was hung, black shaggy hair covering his face. His wings were drooped and brushing the floor with the tips. I waited for what seemed like a while. His back started shaking, and for a surprised moment I thought he was crying.

He looked up at me, and there were tears in his eyes.

Tears of laughter.

He was shaking with supressed giggles, and the look of murderous rage on my face seemed to tip him over the edge. He let loose a huge booming laugh that sent tears streaming from his eyes and his hands to clutch at his sides.

With an angry yell I stomped off and continued on the road, his laughter echoing behind me.

He rejoined me quickly though, using his wings to propel him closer to me. His face was still red from laughing, a smug smile painted on his face like a clown. Almost as a reflex I raised my hand and slapped him, the sound echoing like lightening on the empty street.

He seemed shocked at first, his body reeling more with surprise than pain.

And then the laughter started up again.

I shouted with anger.

And that was when she was upon us.

No warning like I thought the next attack would be. No time to prepare.

The earth cracked open 20 feet in front of us like a boiled egg, spilling earth onto the pristine concrete. The ground growled and groaned with the effort, and slowly, painstakingly slowly, Cinder rose out from the ground. The petite blonde was caked in mud, but even through all the filth and under the dim light of the streetlamp I could see how frightened her big blue eyes were. She stepped out of the hole and onto the street. The minute her feet hit the tarmac she began running towards us. Her blonde hair twisted in a sudden breeze, and her face froze in horror as she put on an extra burst of speed.

Theo just stood there dumb founded, his hands hanging loosely by his sides. He was completely useless it seems. I reached into my belt and drew out two knives, one for each hand. I stood poised for attack; however, I was not sure that she was even running to kill.

In fact, she seemed to be running from something.

All too soon she was upon us. The distance complimented her. She seemed thin and badly scratched, a small wound on her hip bled through her white shift dress. Despite the circumstances I feel a twinge of hatred; she's wearing the most ridiculous outfit.

Breathless, the stupid girl gasps: "Run! We – have – to – run. India. House. Theo – fly us. Now!"

This snapped Theo out of his trance and he flung into action. Without a word he scooped up both Cinder and I like we were nothing, in addition to our two heavy packs. With a whoosh of his wings we were up in the sky, and Theo headed straight towards the shopping area. I was too surprised to bother to intervene, somehow trusting his instinct. We flew in silence, Cinder slowly recovering. I rolled my eyes. She suddenly decides to throw her lot in with us, after she let all of her friends torture Theo. He should drop her from the sky right now. Be a stupid mud pancake on the ground.

But, my logic told me, I need to discover how much of a threat India is. And then I kill her.

After a while of flying the dull thrum of Theo's wings and the cool air on my face sent me into a sweet, dreamless sleep.

When I awoke I was laid on a bed, tucked in like when I was a little girl. Pre-trials. The room was dark, but I could tell it was a showroom for furniture. Two more beds had been pushed into the alcove and sat up in both of them was Theo and Cinder. I kept my eyes closed to keep up the pretence of being asleep. They were speaking in hushed voices, but even trying to whisper Cinder's voice rose with tears. Her voice broke.

"I'm going to die here." She hiccupped. Theo remained silent. What was there to say? Death was for everyone but one. Her chances were slim. Especially if she was blubbering about it. Idiot. She didn't deserve the power of the earth element.

But, ive started to realise, the water isn't so bad either.

"Do you want to hear about what happened then? With India? And Barbie?" I head a rustle.

"No. That's the only thing keeping you alive right now. Once you have used up your usefulness… Olivia will kill you. She's on her way to kill me." He said with a slight laugh, and despite myself I quirked a smile.

"Then… why don't we just kill her now?" Cinder said suddenly in an urgent whisper. Softly, quietly, I shifted so I was grabbing the hilt of a knife on my belt. Any slight movement to show they would kill me, I would get there first. The silence afterward was long and severe, and I felt my heart hardening. Theo was considering this. Stabbing me in my sleep.

Coward.

I thought he had more respect for me than that.

I almost sat up and killed them both anyway when –

"No… Cinder we can't. If you try I will kill you. End of discussion." Theo said in the hardest voice that I had ever heard him use. "Sleep. I'll take first watch. I'll wake Olivia when it is the next shift. We move again at nightfall."

Another rustle and then silence. My grip released and I went to sleep again, pleased to know that Theo would have my back.

He chuckled low in his throat. "Liv, you don't need to keep pretending to sleep."

I sat up immediately, the covers gathering around my hips. I gave him a wry smile. "How did you know?"

"You're breathing. When you're asleep it's a lot slower." I gave him a weird look, and he hurriedly added, "I have super hearing remember!" I nod awkwardly.

"How long have I been sleeping?" I say into the silence.

"2 or 3 hours." I lay back down to sleep, snuggling into the blankets as if I was a child. "Wake me up when it's my turn for watch. And then its torture time." I say with a morbid sort of glee.

"Torture?!" Theo says urgently, his voice full of worry and desperation. "But, Cinder is going to give us the information willingly!"

I sigh and make a noise in the back of my throat. "Yes I know, but let's be honest. She tortured you, I'm just repaying the favour."

"She freed me!"

"After you were acting like a big baby calling for your mum."

"Need I remind you they tortured me so you would come?" His voice rising into a yell. "It was your fault. And you never came!" I am shocked into silence. He is breathing hard and I see a vein bulging on his neck. "Aren't you going to say anything?" He said, more quietly this time. I shrug. "Right, well go get some sleep."

A small voice peeped up. I had almost forgotten she was there. "Actually, Theodoros, we wanted you mostly. We knew you were coming, and India made us change plans. But if Olivia knew that anything was amiss… we knew she would come hunt us down. But we came to that realisation after we trapped you. I didn't agree with it so I let you go, but India was going to kill you and kill either Barbie or me, saying we killed Theo and that India took her revenge. You have no idea what I went through to save your ass. So if you even think of torturing me I swear to god I will haunt you for all of eternity." Cinder said, her pale creamy face becoming a mask of anger. And then suddenly frightened as she realised she just shouted at a pair of district 2 tributes she huddles in on herself, hugging her arms, which I notice are covered with bark on her shoulders and the arm above the elbow.

I couldn't hold it in. I began to laugh. A big booming, tears streaming laugh. I wasn't sure why. Maybe I had finally lost it. Theo was looking at me as if I had gone mad. Cinder looked terrified out of her wits. Good. When I had finally calmed down I became all business.

"So Cinder, tell me about the past few days when you saved bird boy's ass."

And so she launched into her story, sometimes looking at Theo for confidence. "We discovered that the plan was to be our allies until India had decided to become bloodthirsty when it came to Theo. After his escape she became so angry that she burned up Cotton's face. But Theo knows about the cream she had so she just kept burning and healing us, and burning us again. It was horrible. By the time it was daytime we were all delusional and half-mad from pain. The rest of the week we were just her puppets to torture… the audience loved it. She was showered with gifts. While she was sleeping I escaped."

"What the fuck? Why didn't you or Cotton or Snake face fight back? You bunch of pussies, she's just one girl." I said in disbelief. "Plus, why didn't she kill you?"

"Good point." Theo added, leaning forward in interest.

Cinder shrugged. "I don't know."

And after that all was silent. At some point I seemed to have fallen asleep, my mind filled with thoughts of India torturing her 3 allies for no reason. Of fire. And water extinguishing it. If I came across India, I would end her. For what she did to Theo. And for becoming a disgusting version of herself. She deserved to die. She couldn't live. She was what was bad with the games, even by day 1 she was driven by blood and death to win, especially with the power. She was driven mad by the games. And if I go out to hunt her, the gamemakers will aid me.

It's just like when they killed off the cannibal Titus.

I woke by Theo shaking me awake. He was covered in a sheen of sweat and already had the packs slung on his back. Looking outside it was night time, but my body clock told me I had slept through the whole day.

"Why didn't you wake me for watch Theo?" I ask blearily, but his expression told me a whole other story. Something was wrong.

An odd, orangey glow emitted from the window. Without a word I sprung from the bed and joined Cinder at the window. She was staring across the square to the huge playing field with the cornucopia.

It was immersed with flames. The whole field was licked with flames 3, no 4 metres high, burning everything in sight apart from the cornucopia. The play set was nothing but a charred skeleton. Listening I could hear the deafening roar of the flames, the heat burned through the window and I was immediately coated in my weird sweat.

I look through the flames, and I see the reason why the cornucopia isn't melted. Stood at the mouth of the cornucopia stood India, her black hair whipping around in the heat of the flames. Huddled behind her was Cotton and Snake face. Even from this far away I could see their fear. At India's feet lay Clio, clearly unconscious. Iowan was no-where to be found.

A spike of fear shot through me, and I rose my hand to my mouth in horror. I could feel my water reserves leaving my body as the room became hotter and hotter. We would burn alive if we stayed here any longer.

I look over at Cinder, whose face was as white as a sheet.

"She's… after me." She says, horrified.

"Then let's go." Said Theo, in a tough voice. I turned and looked up at him. He was already looking at me, an expression on his face that I couldn't read.

I gave up. There were more pressing matters. We had to escape.

Looking down at the flames again, I saw that they were taking down a building at a time, and was slowly moving towards the shopping complex we were hiding in.

We moved quickly through the building, and the lower we got the more intense the heat became. The heat got more and more intense the further we went down and I knew that the fire had spread to this building. But we carried on. I felt as though we were in a large furnace, doomed to burn here alive.

I was sweating in my jeans and jumper, and Theo wasn't faring much better in his jeans and a sweatshirt. Cinder seemed to be dealing ok with the heat in her thin dirty dress, but her face was a mask of horror and despair. Totally uncharacteristic for me, I put my arm out and pulled her into a quick hug. Already the smoke was all around us, making our eyes water and cough.

"Don't think about it Cinder. We need to get out of here. Leave her behind us." I say as gently as I can despite the mounting panic rising in me. It took so much of my energy to say that sentence, and my lungs felt dry. My breathing was a hoarse wheeze and the others weren't faring any better. We were only halfway through the building and I could already sense the water evaporating in the air due to the heat. I could not save us. If we didn't leave we would be burnt to ash.

We had reached the second floor when we saw the first of the flames. They leaped up towards us in the stairwell as though it had sensed us. I knew we would catch up to it soon due to the heat, but despite myself I screamed and scrambled back, crashing into Theo and Cinder.

"RUN!" I scream breathlessly, my voice a grating painful gasp, the smoke clogging and getting into my eyes.

We ran as fast as we could up the stairs, the flames following at a slow pace, but the smoke trailed up after us relentlessly. We reached the door and we spilled out into the foyer. The terror had mounted inside me and I began a desperate cry. We looked around, completely trapped. There was nowhere to run. We would burn. I coughed into my hand and it came away sticky with blood. I showed it to Theo, knowing my fear was etched in every plane of my face.

And that was when Theo moved into action. He ripped off his shirt into strips, and despite the situation I couldn't help but stare at his chest. It was lightly muscled, but I knew the strength he possessed, and was extremely tanned. The wound on his side had completely healed, but left a big nasty scar. The pain in my wheezy chest brought me back to reality, and I began to feel lightheaded due to lack of oxygen. Black dots swum at the edges of my vision and I forced myself to stay conscious.

With the shirt scraps he handed them to Cinder and I, and we wrapped them around our mouths and noses, Theo doing the same. He ditched the packs and we made our way through the shopping complex, running as fast as we dared without passing out. Cinder lagged behind, her eyes rolling back into her skull. I yanked onto her arm and dragged her behind me, both of us stumbling after Theo's fading figure through the smoke. Where were we going? Were we just going to run until we died? There was no escape.

The flames burst through the door we left behind and before I could even think Theo scooped Cinder and I up and flew us straight through a window at the edge of the building, wrapping his wings around us in a protective cocoon.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. The flames were inches from us, reaching out to pull us into its fiery grasp. Glass rained all around us in a shower of sparkles, splashed with blood.

Despite the protection of Theo's wings the glass cut up my skin and I gasped at the sudden fresh air.

And then I realised something, Theo wasn't flying. I struggled to look up at him. He was unconscious, a piece of glass had scratched up his face from chin to forehead, going through his eye and shredding his forehead to ribbons. A gush of blood flowed down his face, splashing onto his chest. I didn't know if he was dead or alive. I heard no cannon over the roar of the fire or the blood pounding in my head. I had to hope.

We plummeted to the ground like a rock.

I screamed and screamed and screamed, not knowing where the air had even come from. I closed my eyes for the impact and grasped Theo's body as tightly as I could.

We slammed into the ground with bone breaking force.

Everything was black.