Chapter Nineteen

A/N: No reviewers.

The group trampled through the mossy banks of the lake that surrounded the Cornucopia, glad of the soft covering to hide their heavy footsteps as they began to run. They did not want to stay exposed out in the open for longer than necessary, not when their only remaining competition was the Careers.

The five of them had made a mutual decision to seek out and fight against the other team in the Arena, in the hope that a surprise attack would allow them to defeat the group with minimal deaths on their part. Or that was what they told themselves at least; they all knew it was a lie.

Truthfully, it was not so much the Careers' deaths that they were hoping for. It was their own. After all, at least if they fought and fell in the battle to come, it would make it easier and quicker for one of them to win the competition, meaning that they could bring to light the selection of an under-age Tribute who should not have even been entered into the Reaping and perhaps put an end to the Games once and for all. After all, it was better to die at the sword of an enemy than the hand of a friend, and if their death could put an end to the horrors of the Hunger Games, then surely it would be worth it in the end.

Their plan had remained unspoken; no one wanted to speak of the ambush which would likely leave the majority of them floating dead on the surface of the lake, hopefully alongside the Careers. They silently agreed that they must prevent the worst, the survival of the Careers and death of their own, from happening. But they each silently knew that the worst case scenario would be the reverse.

The Arena seemed quiet, for once in their lives, but the absence of sound was more unnerving than comforting. If the Careers were as silent as they were, then they were plotting to ambush the children of the rebellion just as those very same children came for them. Now it was just a waiting game, to see which group would strike first.

By the time the sun had begun to fall, the 'rebels', as the Careers had dubbed them, finally decided to make their move. It was more daunting now, the task of attacking their rivals even if they were almost certain the group of seasoned warriors knew they were coming, but it would have to be done. Even if their enemies were ready and prepared to meet them, it was a better option than sitting against the wall of their cave, waiting for the others to come and slit their throats as they slept.

They moved quickly, like shadows caused by candlelight, one moment visible and the next moment disappeared, pressing themselves right up against the rocky walls surrounding the Cornucopia, as if staying out of sight would keep them safe. Another lie they did not truly believe in.

It was only once they began to climb that the nerves set in. Once their hands were gripping the rock face, they would not be able to defend themselves against attack from their enemies. As soon as they took their first steps, they were vulnerable.

Abby's hands were so numb when she began to climb that she almost fell down. She could see the crescents on her palms where she had dug her nails into them, trying to calm herself enough so that she could successfully make the ascent without tumbling to her death. It seemed so far that her plan had been ineffective, as both Alex and Harry had to catch her by the arms to stop her from doing just that.

Eventually, after what seemed like hours, they were the ledge that they knew as their target. There must have been twenty ledges along the way, but the group did not stop at any of them, not wanting to give the Careers an opportunity to carry out a quick cull while they were resting. Now, they were panting with exhaustion, hair windswept and fingers numb, but they were assembled, ready for the final battle.

It was only then that the true meaning of what she would have to do dawned on Abby. When they entered that cave, they would have to fight for their lives against a group of five skilled warriors who wanted nothing more than to see them dead on the ground. That part would be easy, killing to survive. But she had never asked herself; what if they were sleeping? Could she really slaughter five children who could not defend themselves?

'They would do the same to me.' she reassured herself, but somehow it was not quite enough. Career Tributes were conditioned from childhood to be cruel, calculating and bloodthirsty, with a hunger for victory that could only match their hunger for violence. But she had not been raised in a Career District, nor had she volunteered. Abby had been brought up in District Twelve, newly rebuilt but still remaining the poorest District of all. Her parents had never wanted to be in the Games and they still regretted the things they had done to win it. Could she really cope with the nightmares her mother had suffered all her life? 'Would I really want to?'

Abby had asked herself so many questions, but none were answered, as she was brought from her reverie by a blood-curdling scream. She spun quickly towards the Cornucopia and saw poor Costa-Ruanne, broken and bleeding beside it. She was whimpering and crying and begging for her mother, and then a cannon boomed.

Abby turned once again, to see Coda and his companions stood beside the place where she had fallen from, a twisted grin illuminating all their faces in the darkness. Abby could feel her anger rising and reached with deft skill for the bow at her back.

A single arrow and the final battle had begun.

A/N: Please review; we're almost done!