A/N Okay lovelies... here comes all the blood and guts and goodies. I'm thinking that the final Arena scene will either be next chapter or at MOST the chapter after! I'm trying to pump these out as fast as I can, and I don't have anyone editing them so I am sorry if there are any grammatical, factual, spelling, etc, errors! If something really bothers you PLEASE let me know! I will fix it! Alright, back to writing I go! yours, Alise

Finnick's POV

I decide to try and take sometime to myself. I know nothing huge is going to happen. Clearly everyone is just waiting for the "feast". I know Cash is waiting desperately for her girl to get something for her leg - Adley messed it up pretty badly. The pair from 10 were pretty roughed up - I imagine they are in need of medical attention thanks to the Careers. I just assume that the remainders from seven and eight need something. I'm thankful that Adley doesn't seem to be in dire need of anything at the moment, but in all honesty if she did, I would just buy it. Have to put the sponsors to some sort of use.

I head outside, to the spot on the balcony where we can see the ocean. Max is already there. She's leaning against the wooden fence and staring off at our home. I walk up behind her, startling her when I lean up next to her.

"Hey" I offer. I can't tell what her mood is. Today was our first day back, it must have been rough.

"Hi", she mumbled back, letting her head fall onto her folded arms on the fence. I place my hand on her back, moving it in slow circles. She moans a little bit, I turn behind her and reach my hands out toward her shoulders, but as soon as I touch them she winces and ducks away. I quickly pull my hands back.

"I'm sorry." I say quietly. We go back to staring. Time seems to pass slowly when we're out here. It's almost like everything inside on those screens, everything… out there, doesn't exist. But deep down we both know it does. That this short time of respite is just that, short.

Still staring forward I quietly whisper, "Who."

"Finnick…" She opens her mouth as if to say more, but then shuts it, tensing her jaw, and looking away. I know she's not being rude. She'll tell me if she wants to, when she wants to. After a little while longer she turns to me. I had pulled out a cigarette and was about to light it when she said, "We should probably head in"

"You sure this isn't just one of your ploys to get me to quit?" I joke, waggin the cigarette in front of her. She grabs it from me and throws it over the balcony and tsks at me.

"Those things will kill you." She said pointedly.

"What won't?"

Adley's POV

The sun slowly creeps into my log fortress. For the first time since the games started I'm feeling the hunger. I realize it's been almost three days since I've really eaten. I pull myself out of my log and go through my pack. I find some dried fruit and munch on it as I head off into the woods.

After a mile or so of wandering around, a booming voice fills the arena. I had heard this speech a dozen time through the mandatory viewings back home, I knew the drill. This was the feast, basically a way for the gamemakers to kill more of us off… what a thrill. I racked my brain for possibilities of what they might have for me. I couldn't think of anything. I had weapons, I had food, I had water, I didn't have any serious injuries or illness'. I wouldn't mind having some bandages or creams to stop infections, but other than that I couldn't think of anything.

But I knew someone who would need something. Teeg. I hit her pretty hard with that knife, there is no way she's walking with that cut in her leg. I know that if there is any chance of me turning the Careers against each other is to incopacitate one of them, force them to kill her. It has to be her, she's their weakness. Her only hope in recovery is no doubt at the feast, and if she can't get that… The Careers don't do dead weight. Either you're on their level, or you're, very literally, dead to them.

I know this is what I have to do. I make my way over to the cornucopia, and stalk my way around the perimeter. I hear nothing, I'm the first one here, but I know I can't be the first one to make a move. In the middle of the field there are six bags, all varying in size. I find a nice tree and climb up, station myself in a spot where I could see all around the field with the cornucopia. I wait.

I can't make the first move, I would lose everything. I desperately wait for an idiot from 7,8, or 10 to come barrelling out from the trees for their prize. If they do that, then hopefully the Careers will attack, then if I'm good enough I can try and get to Teegs medicine, before they do. I just have to wait for the bait, so that I can catch the fish. The analogy makes me laugh, reminds me of home for a few moments. I close my eyes as I wait and I think of the salty air of district four, of the times I've spent on the boats, standing over the water with a spear, waiting for the precise moments when I can hurl my spear down and…

She's running. She's running like a mad woman. For her life, literally. The girl from seven is limping, but she's still going fast. She grabs the bag from her table, then reaches for the bag on table eight. Before she can grab it, an arrow shoots out from nowhere and hit her, knocking her forward. I can tell from here she's still alive, but not for long.

A strangled cry comes from the edge of the woods and soon the boy from eight runs into the open field. They must be, or have been, allies. I'm starting to revel in my decision to act alone. It hurts less when you have no one to care about.

Finally, my trap is set. The two that are out there are soon joined by the Careers, well all of them except Teeg. No doubt she'd unable to do much other than agonize over her leg. I smirk at myself, before quickly shaking it off. I shouldn't feel pride in hurting her, no matter the circumstances.

The fighting begins. Well, it's not much of a fight. Before long Taupe reaches the girl on the ground and makes sure Satin's work is completed. Satin and Ben stalk around the poor boy from eight, and I watch as Dars grabs the bag from our table.

I wonder what he needs. I almost fear for him, for just one moment, before reminding myself that I can't. It's better he die by their hands than by mine. I watch as he goes over to grab the bag from ten. I realize he's doing what I'm doing. Eliminating the competition. Shit.

Lucky for me, the pair from ten run out and tackle dars to the ground. It's a mess of sweat, blood, and tears, as the pair from ten, and the boy from eight fight against the four Careers. I take my opportunity to slip down from where I'm perched and circle around to the other side of the action. I know running into the mess isn't an option, it would be seven against me. I have to get the bag from one.

No. I don't have to take it. I have to destroy it. I remember that it's not about me having the bag, it's simply about Teeg never getting it's contents. I don't know what's inside but I know I have to destroy it. I take a gamble and lift a knife.

The seven others are too busy fighting, they don't even notice my knife sailing toward the bags until it sticks into the first bag toppling it to the ground. The fighting stills. Ben throws the girl from tens lifeless body to the ground and stares off toward where my knife came from. I was quick though. I knew they'd look that way. I was already halfway around the cornucopia when Satin ran towards where I just was.

Dars and Taupe continued fighting the boys from ten and eight, as Ben ran to examine the contents of his bag. I quickly climbed up into a tree, to try and get a better view of the area. I watch as Ben lifts the bag, examining the crushed contents. He holds the bag upside down and I smile to myself as shards of glass and spilt medication leak from the insides. He curses loudly then rejoins his companions.

I watch as Satin returns to the group and the four of them devour the two boys.

I quickly climb down from my perch and run as fast as I can. They have nobody else to target except themselves… and me.