Hello fanfiction friends! This is the second last chapter! Things are coming to a close.

To unwisepea: Too bad. I'm not going to say if it's a cliffhanger or not :P

To hungergamesfangirl100: Of course I'll send him back home...in pieces. KIDDING! (MUAHAHAHA!)

To Matt: You're right! Next week will be the last update!

To ritzdestinfangirl307: Nope no sequel. This is a stand alone story.

Thanks again for all the compliments, as well as those who review, follow, and faved this story! I never thought I'd be able to finish this.

Enjoy!

Percy

"Move." Said a rough voice, which belonged to a bulky man dressed in white. "We can't afford to be late."

Three men stumbled into his 'cell'. Each of them were armed with lethal guns, and Percy knew it would be unwise to anger them. Even the slight movement of his hands to his jeans pocket to get his pen out, would probably lead to disastrous events. No, he couldn't risk it. Before doing anything, even to protect himself, he had to first ensure that Katniss and Peeta were out of the arena. For now, he had to look as though he had given up on living. For now, he had to obey the Capitol.

The metal restraints were unclasped from his wrists and his ankles. Percy didn't try to sit up. He just lay on the metal plank, staring hopelessly at the ceiling.

Two guards pulled him to his feet, supporting him under the armpits. The third guard stood behind Percy, prodding his back with the nozzle of the gun, just in case he tried any stunts.

The guards made Percy walk out of his room, down the corridor, and up many flights of staircase. This capitol building was like Daedalus' labyrinth, except that it had been dipped into white paint.

Finally, the guards threw open a white door at the end of a corridor, and led Percy into the interior of the room. There was metal chair in the centre of the room, with a video recorder at the other end of the room. A blinking red light on the side of the recorder, told Percy he was being filmed right this moment. He was being broadcasted to all of Panem, including the twelve districts.

The guards dragged him over to the chair, and pushed Percy down, forcing him to take a seat directly in front of the camera. His wrists were bound tightly on the armrests of the chair, and his feet were strapped securely to the two front legs of the chair.

President Snow stepped into the room soon after, and sat out of view from the camera's line of vision.

"Where's Thalia and Nico?" Percy asked immediately.

The President nodded, not saying a word. At his signal, the left side of the wall turned translucent, and Percy could see Thalia and Nico in the adjoining room. They looked unharmed, and there were guards all around the perimeter of the room, holding rifles. Thalia and Nico looked at him for instructions, but Percy gave a slight shake of his head, telling them not to resist the Capitol.

Percy looked back at Snow, who asked aloud.

"Percy Jackson, you are brought here because you cheated in the Hunger Games. Your allies Thalia Grace and Nico di Angelo has also been accused for violating the rules. This is a fair trial, where you will get to deny, or accept what you have done."

President Snow stressed on the word 'fair'. Percy gritted his teeth, knowing that he shouldn't let his anger get the better of him.

"Mr Jackson, you have been accused of cheating in the games. Will you admit to your actions, and plead guilty?" the president asked, holding his gaze.

When Percy didn't answer for some time, President Snow raised his eyebrows.

Percy glanced at Thalia and Nico, before replying, "I plead guilty for my actions. I also bear the accusations pointed at Thalia and Nico, as I forced them, against their will, to breaking the rules."

Thalia pressed herself against the translucent wall, trying to catch his attention. But Percy turned his back on her, warning her not to do anything.

Behind the camera, President Snow smiled. Percy knew he had to keep his promise now that Percy had confessed.

"You plead guilty, then. And as such, the punishment for violating the rules of the Hunger Games, and your disobedience towards the Capitol, results in death by hanging." The president concluded, "However, because you admit take the blame for Miss Grace and Mr di Angelo, the Capitol has decided to spare them. In exactly half an hour, you will be brought out, and hung in the city centre, until you are dead. Your death will serve as a warning to other future tributes, who may try to disobey the Capitol."

The president pressed the button on the recorder, and the blinking red light stopped flashing. Then, he swept out of the room.

Half an hour? That was all he's got to find Katniss, make sure she is out of the arena, send a last message broadcasted to all of Panem, start the rebellion, and get himself, as well as Thalia and Nico, out of this sticky situation.

If he failed, Percy would have to spend the rest of his life in this sadistic, cruel future, running away from the capitol citizens. He would probably be a fugitive and on the run. Being demigods, they probably wouldn't die at the hands of mortals, but to keep running would be tiring and painful. There was one more huge downfall about getting stuck in the future: He would not see Annabeth's face again.

This time before the guards took him out of the room, they cuffed his hands behind his back. Percy couldn't reach Riptide in this state. Yet, even if he could reach his sword, he couldn't use it unless he knew Katniss was out of the arena.

Before he was led out of the room, Percy glanced back at Thalia and Nico, who had panicked expressions on their face. Percy gave them a smile, trying to convey the message that he would be fine. Nico nodded back at him.

Time went by quickly, as though desperate to see Percy to his death. He was taken down an elevator to the ground floor, and right outside the building, was the city centre.

A wooden, structure was built on a platform. Above the platform, hung a strong rope, tied to form a noose. On the floor of the wooden platform was a trapdoor, designed to open at the touch of a button, which would send the criminal falling to the ground, only to be suspended by the rope.

Percy walked slowly, trying to buy himself some time. Looking upwards, back at the building, he saw Thalia and Nico looking out of the window at him.

Just as Percy stepped out of the building, a stylist came rushing to him. Percy recognized him. It was Cinna, District twelve's stylist. Cinna stood in front of Percy, blocking his path, forcing the guards to stop walking.

Cinna looked at the guards and said, "The victor wishes to pass on a message to Mr Jackson."

The guard on Percy's right nodded, but stayed where he was, gripping Percy's shoulders firmly.

Percy's mind reeled. The victor? Did that mean Katniss and Peeta were out of the arena?

"Katniss wants to tell you that Peeta and herself are out of the arena." Cinna said, confirming his suspicions and looking at Percy directly in the eyes.

Percy nodded with a slight smile. "Thanks for passing her message."

Cinna jerked his head in acknowledgement and stepped aside, allowing Percy to pass.

So Katniss was free. Now all he had to do was to take out the mini microphone gift from Leo, and make a public announcement to the whole of Panem, and complete his quest.

Things were going well, except for one small problem: The microphone was in his pocket, and Percy's hands were firmly cuffed together behind his back. There was no way he could reach in this trouser pocket to take out the device.

Somehow, Percy had to find a way to free the microphone.

At the foot of the wooden structure, there were a few crooked steps, leading to the raised platform. The guards gave him a rough shove, and pushed him up the stairs.

That gave Percy and idea.

He purposely took his time, slowly walking up each stair. Nearing the last step, the guards became impatient, and gave him a hard shove on his back.

Percy took that opportunity, and did a good show of misbalancing, tripping on the last step. As he tipped over, the planked, wooden floor came rushing up to meet him. To soften the impact of crashing face first on the floor, Percy tilted to one side, his shoulder and knee cushioning his fall.

Unseen to everyone else but Percy, a black, plastic device fell out of his pocket, and tumbled onto the wooden floor, lodging into a small crack between the planks, a few feet away, directly under the hangman's noose.

Perfect.

The guards hauled Percy to his feet, cursing at him. They half dragged him to the noose, and stood on either sides of him.

"Can I have a last word to my friends? Please? I'm going to die anyway." Percy said, sounding pitiful. He made his voice small, like a child begging for blue ice-cream.

The guard on the left growled. But the one on the right said gruffly, "Fine. Just two minutes. You can shout to them from here."

Percy nodded in thanks, and looked to the building where Thalia and Nico were staring desperately back at him from an open window.

With his foot, Percy stepped gently on the microphone, activating it.

"Listen to me! Why should the Capitol be bathed in the riches that you districts produce with your hard work? Why obey the Capitol and get your friends, relatives, and family killed every year in the Hunger Games? Why kill the tributes from other districts, when before the war, all of you lived harmoniously?" Percy shouted.

From every speaker around the city circle, his voice blared out. Percy was sure this was also happening in every district, all around Panem. It was his job to stir anger from the district citizens, and direct it at the Capitol.

A shout was heard from behind Percy, and he spun around.

The president was standing at a balcony on the second level of the building, waving his hands, and yelling orders at soldiers. His face was contorted with fury, and he was pointing at Percy.

"Stop him! I give you permission to kill him!" Snow thundered.

About ten men, clothed in white, army uniforms, drew batons and guns. They marched towards Percy, loading their guns as they approached.

Percy couldn't run. Leo's microphone was wedged between two wooden planks, and his hands were cuffed behind his back, preventing him from picking up the device. He had to defend himself, and at the same time, stay put.

Whew! Well, I've got nothing else to say except PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks!