Adley's POV

I feel numb. I don't know what I expected to feel after killing two people but it wasn't numb. I don't even feel remorse and that is what scares me. What is a person who doesn't feel remorse for killing? A psychopath. No. That's not me. The ones who put me, no all of us, here are the psychopaths. The Capitol. Snow.

I spit on the ground, pretending it's Snow's face. There is a bitter metallic taste in my mouth, probably from the blood bath. I grab my canteen and spare a little water to swish around in my mouth, I don't want to risk getting an infection here. I can hear the empty clank as I put the canteen back. I know my next step is going to be to find water.

I know I have lost all concept of time at this point. I've heard two more cannons, but I still don't know how many were lost in the bloodbath. There are at least four gone. The gamemakers won't be too happy with that.

I stalk around the forest, trying to find a source of water. My common sense says that there has to be a source somewhere, I've seen small animals and these plants have to get water somehow. But, I know that common sense plays little role in the arena. For all I know, the animals are mutts that don't need water to survive.

There has to be water though. The gamemakers wouldn't make an arena where all of the tributes die of dehydration, no that would be too caring. The capitol wants blood.

After hours of pacing around, I hear a giggle. A giggle? I walk toward the source of the sound and I hear a splash - Water. I tiptoe toward the sound, watching every step I take, not wanting to give away my location. Sure enough, past a blockade of trees there is a large river. The duo from nine wade in it, basking in the coolness. I reach my belt and grab a hand of knives. I need to be precise.

I need to take the boy out first. He's a lot larger, and if I went in and killed the little girl, he would retaliate, no doubt. I find an opening in the trees big enough to see and throw through. He stands right in between two trees. I think of the train ride. Finnick gave me the knife, hit right in between the paintings. That's what this was. Hitting in between the paintings.

I take large gulp of air, reach my hand out, and close one eye. I flick my wrist and the knife goes sailing towards the two. Both their backs are turned so the girl doesn't even see the knife until it embeds itself in her partner's back. He falls into the river, and I watch as the river turns dark with his blood. A cannon sounds, and the girl lets out an agonizing scream. She tries to run through the water to get to the shore, but the rapids slow her down. I stalk her from behind the cover of trees. I quickly run out from the trees and I am in the river.

The cool water licks my warm skin, the suddenness of it giving me a jolt of energy. I feel at home in the water. The girl watches me as I pick up some of the water in my hands then splash it on my face. I wade over to where her district partner is floating, and I pull the knife out from his back. I stare the girl in the eyes as I wipe the blade clean.

Her face is ridden with sheer panic. Her instincts take over and she runs. The water does nothing to slow me down, I am used to how the currents move. I move with them, and we both reach the shore at the same time.

The girl picks up a pile of sand and throws it toward me, attempting to slow me down. I laugh.

"Really?" I smirk sarcastically, "You think a handful of sand will keep me away?" I choose a knife and flick it toward her. The girl dodges, but the knife plants itself deep into her leg, she falls to the ground with a sharp scream.

I walk over to her, she looks up at me with the same fear that the girl from twelve did. But this time as my knife slides across her throat I feel no sympathy. I feel no regret. I feel nothing.

I'm a monster.

Finnick's POV

Ten down. In two days, ten innocent children have died.

I stand at the balcony outside of the observation room. I pull out a cigarette and lighter and light one. A couple other mentors are out here, getting fresh air, or just trying to escape the games for a few short moments. I try to come out here whenever I get the chance.

I take a drag from my cigarette and look out on the Capitol. It has to be close to midnight, but the Capitol is still lit up with a billion colors. If I look far enough I can see a small area of nothing on the horizon. A place where there aren't any lights or buildings. The Capitolians wouldn't know about it, but anyone from District Four would easily recognize it as the sea.

I stare at it longingly. As much as I miss being near the sea, I can't help but resent it at times. The sea is a constant reminder that escape from this awful society is possible. But I can't. If anyone tries to leave, they pay in the worst way possible. Loss of a loved one. I could easily get on a boat and just… leave. But the games would still be happening. People would still be starving. I would be free, but I would be a coward.

I guess I must've been out for a while, because Max comes to check on me.

She doesn't say anything. We both just stand there. We both lean on the balcony, no doubt she is also looking at that spot that is the sea. We all do - it's a district four thing.

"Two days is up." I say quietly. I look at Max. She has a pained expression in her eyes. The games are already painful. Painful to experience, and painful to watch and mentor. But the Capitol as no sense for pain tolerance, or maybe they do, but Snow doesn't care.

Max just nods her head, accepting the fact. I offer her a light, but she just shakes her head. Max is one of the only victors I know who hasn't turned to some sort of substance to help her get through. Yet, she seems to remain level headed. She's a better person that any of the other victors are, including myself.

"Have you gotten a letter yet?" I ask her. She shakes her head.

"You?" She asks.

"Four tomorrow." I say, staring off to where District four would be. She just looks at me with sad eyes. I can't stand it.

We turn around when we hear some shouts in the observation room. We rush inside.

On the screens the boy from One, Ben, has the Girl from five in a choke-hold. The girl manages to pull her elbow down hard into his gut. Suddenly the boy from six comes up behind Ben and pulls him by the head backwards and off of the girl. The rest of the Careers spring into action.

Satin, the girl from Two, cues an arrow and readies herself for any shot she has to make. Ben gets up from the ground as Taupe, the boy from Two comes up behind the girl from five. She manages to get her hands on a knife and slashes at Taupe, hitting him hard in the arm. He howls in pain and drops her. The girl tries to runaway, but Teeg, the girl from one grabs her arm and snaps her back toward the rest of the careers.

I hear a sickening crack, and I know her shoulder must've dislocated. She grabs her arm and screams in pain. Then, out of nowhere, there is a knife in her chest.

The whole room goes silent. None of the mentors know who's behind this.

The rest of the careers stand up and look to each other. The boy from six takes the opportunity to make a mad dash, but Satin immediately shoots him down with her bow. The Careers continue looking around, circling the area. Another knife flies out and catches Teeg in the leg. The careers immediately charge off in the direction of the knife.

As soon as the site quiets down a small girl creeps out from inside of a log. She goes up to the girl from five. The girl from five is shaking now, the wound she received clearly not enough to send her off. The other girl pulls the knife from her chest and holds it to her throat. She slides it across, quickly and cleanly. Seconds later a cannon goes off. The girl walks over to the boy from six's stilling body. She grabs the arrow from his back and pulls it harshly out, ripping it through his skin. His cannon goes. The girl turns around, finally facing a camera, as she wipes the blood off of the arrow and the knife.

I would recognize that long straight black hair anywhere.

Adley.

A/N: Thank you for those of you still reading! I am so sorry it has been so long. Like I said, It's been crazy lately and It's been hard to find time to read, let alone write. So I hope these last two chapters tide you over while I work on more material! Please review, and if you have questions, concerns, or ideas please feel free to message me!