120 seconds.

That was going to be the difference between success and failure. Success, now in such a different form than he'd once seen it. Bonnie Bunsen always valued success. His father, an extremely intelligent and popular politician. His only living brother, a neuroscientist ward for one of the most renowned families in the Capitol.

He was on the path to being like them too.

But this was going to change everything.

Because some things were more important than honor. Some things were more important than wealth, status, popularity.

Kin, his baby brother.

The friends he'd made - and lost.

Lester.

He was hopefully well on his way to safety now. But there was one thing that Bonnie had to do before he could leave here.

He had to right what he wronged.

And he had 120 seconds to do it once Crimson cut off that camera feed. He was confident he could do it. He needed 110 but put in 10 extra seconds just in case for an even 120. This had to be enough. Now, failure meant certain death. And while he knew deserved death for what he did… For some reason, he was still alive. For some reason he was still here, while Kin was gone. It wasn't fair. There was no reason for him to be the one that lived, when Lizzie was nowhere to be found to the point where they'd presumed her dead and were now searching for a body. Fuck. Why couldn't it have been him?

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"

Bonnie looked up at the familiar voice, carrying two cups of coffee as always. When he saw Crimson, his heart started to pound a little faster. There was no going back. Soon, the clock would be ticking. And he would meet his fate.

"Morning," he said quietly. It was just barely morning, still dark outside, but it was morning.

"See ya tomorrow," the redhead said to the other guard in the room who was already packing up his bag and gave a nod of acknowledgement before he walked out of the room and Crimson sat in his spot beside Bonnie, giving him a look over his mug. "So. You're really gonna do this." He didn't even ask it like a question. He could see the look in those blue eyes, bloodshot from a night of no sleep and the tears he'd cried over the past twenty-four hours.

"They killed my baby brother," he croaked quietly, the warm liquid soothing his raw throat from all the yelling he'd done the day prior. "How can I forgive that?"

Crimson gave him a heavy smile at that. "Well," he said with a sigh. "My little brother is out there somewhere too. And if this is something that's important to him, after everything I've witnessed… Then I'm going to go with him. If you're sure."

"I've never been surer of anything in my life." He was always a decisive person. And he meant it.

"Well then," Crimson said, cracking his knuckles. "I'll stay here and watch over your big brother for you. And… Well, if you happen to find Agent Eig- I mean, Jun…" he sighed softly and took a sip of coffee. "Watch over him for me. Okay?"

Bonnie gently put a hand on his shoulder. "I will." He put down his mug, his stomach swirling in stress and worry. But he couldn't put it off anymore. It was time for him to be brave. He stood up. "Start the clock."

Crimson gave him a sad smile. "I hope we meet again someday, Bonnie."

Bonnie could feel his glasses misting up a little bit at that. "Me too," he said softly. He watched the screen until there was a small pop and the screen blacked out.

120 seconds.

Crimson gave him a smile. "Systems are down."

He knew the plan. He knew everything he spent all of last night tirelessly figuring out. He knew that to succeed, he had to follow it to a T. But… He couldn't help it. He threw his arms around Crimson, letting out a quiet sob into his shoulder. "Thank you so much." For protecting me from a beating. For bringing me ice. And coffee. For watching over Andy. For making me want my big brother back….

"The clock-"

"I have ten extra seconds," Bonnie said, confident that he was going to get it done with time to spare. "Please take care of Andy…"

"I will. You take care of yourself. Don't make him lose both of his little brothers."

Bonnie pushed the glasses up his nose with a deep breath of determination. "I won't," he said.

112 seconds.

He turned around and walked out of the room, heart pounding, but eyes focused on the goal. The corridors were dim and only a few guards lingered around the area. Bonnie made a quick detour to the break room, opening the drawer where he knew the interns stored their temp IDs and the laundry hamper was full. This would do. It had to. He just had to cross his fingers and hope for the best. As soon as he had them, he moved quickly towards the elevator, taking it up to the twelfth floor where he knew they were staying.

91 seconds.

His ID card made a quiet beep as the door slid open for him. He saw the lights off in the main room, but the kitchen had a dim light on. When the boy saw him, his eyes widened. "Stay away from me! Hear me?! Don't come any closer."

"I'm here to get you out of here," he said, putting up his hands as Freddy had a defensive position. "I know, I've made mistakes. You don't have to forgive me or even like me. But you do have to trust me right now. Please."

Freddy stared at him. "How can you say that after all the hell I went through because of you?! Where is Lizzie, huh?! Where?!"

Bonnie felt a tear break out of his eye as he put down his head in shame. "I don't know," he said quietly. He wished he did. But he had a bad feeling they were never going to see their keyboardist again. She was innocent, she didn't deserve this… And if she truly was dead, her blood was on his hands and he knew it. His voice broke at that thought. "I'm sorry Freddy." For everything. He was so sorry. "But I need you to just trust me right now and come with me."

"How can I trust you?! I loved you, you were my brother!" Freddy's eyes filled with angry tears as he punched the counter a little bit and Bonnie jumped back from him. "And look where that got me! Here! Imprisoned, away from my friends, forced to be a spokesperson for something I don't even believe in! All because of you!"

Bonnie closed his eyes and couldn't even look at him as the shame poured over him. "I know," he said quietly. That was all he could say to him.

"It's all your fault!" Freddy shouted at him through a sob. "Why would I go anywhere with you?!"

"Because if you don't trust me right now, then we're all three going to die. Or worse."

At the mention of three, Freddy's head snapped towards the bedroom door which was closed. His eyes narrowed at him as they were still full of tears. "I'm not doing this for you. But… Tell me what to do."

Bonnie breathed a sigh of relief as he threw the first jumpsuit and helmet at him. "Get changed," he said, "And turn on the shower and close the bathroom door and curtains. That's one place we don't watch you."

Freddy gave him one last betrayed look as Bonnie quickly hurried into the bedroom.

57 seconds.

Bonnie went into the bedroom quickly, suddenly worried that his plan wasn't going to work. Worried that he didn't have enough time. He turned on the light quickly, and gave the girl in bed who was sitting awake rocking back and forth a sad look.

He came over and sat on the foot of the bed. "It's okay," he said softly when she gave him a scared look, her cheeks stained with tears. He gently reached over to wipe her tears. "I'm going to get you out of here, Lissy Lis."

She let out a quiet sob at the nickname and he quickly patted her cheeks again. "Shhh. You have to stop crying and get it together for this to work, okay? Freddy's already getting changed and he's going to come with us and make sure nothing bad ever happens to you. We're going to get you back home and keep you safe somehow." He passed her a glass of water which she took from the nightstand.

"I try not to cry in front of him so much," she confessed quietly as she sipped the water slowly. "I hate making him worry…"

"It's okay, soon you'll be safe to cry as much as you need to," he promised her, giving her a sad look. "Wipe your eyes and then get changed. You have a little time if you need to go pee first."

Lis just nodded.

45 seconds.

Bonnie left her as he heard the shower turn on in the bathroom and Freddy emerged, wearing the jumpsuit and wearing a face of disgust as he held the helmet under his arm.

"This stinks like hell."

"I know. I did what I could do. Just wear it until I say, please. You have to trust me now. I know, I did nothing to earn it. But I don't want you to get hurt."

Freddy scoffed at that as they heard the toilet flush and Lis emerged, her hair all over the place and brown eyes still sleepy as she was wearing the jumpsuit, which was a little too big on her. As soon as he saw her, Freddy hurried over to her, putting an arm around her protectively.

"I got you," he said.

Bonnie checked his watch and nodded. "Alright, helmets on, you two. Act casual and follow my lead." He handed both of them their fake IDs.

Three seconds.

All set.

And he had three seconds to spare.

Bonnie let out a sigh of relief as they all three went out the door, wandering the halls when the camera feed came back on as they headed to the elevator.

Crimson smiled with pride as he watched Bonnie walk the two Peacekeepers past the guard at the door, who scanned their cards and opened the airlock to let them out.

When the doors closed behind the three of them, his expression of pride soon turned to one of deep worry.

Freddy Smith, Vasilisa Castle, and Bonnie Bunsen were officially fugitives.

~.~.

Over the runaways flew a hovercraft, silently gliding through the bright summer sky.

On the hovercraft, twenty-two exhausted human beings.

Most hadn't felt this way since they themselves were in the Arena. Tired, hungry, thirsty. Keeping watches at night and constantly on-edge during the day. Trying to keep Kelly from crying aloud, knowing that many of them had PTSD that was triggered by the constant paranoia. Tim would have jumped at the opportunity to help his co-mentor, but this time, he was hiding with her, the memories of the children he watched die flashing before his eyes, replaced by his wife, his son. They could all see how Ant was looking around the room, at each of them, stuck in a defensive position with worry that someone was going to attack him, even after all those years since he was in the Games. Some things just never left. Some nightmares never ended.

The District Three mentors were both trying to distract themselves observing and practicing using the technology. They talked to each other quietly about the greatness of discovery, but neither knew what they were saying. It was all a rouse, to try and pretend they were okay.

Three Career mentors were on the craft, only three. The others, and few of the escorts and even less of the other mentors, ran away in the middle of the night. Some said the goal was to reach District Two. For shelter, perhaps, or to sell out the rest of them… It was hard to say. Cartier knew that he once wanted to be part of the Games. But upon growing older, he realized how disgusting the whole system was. He needed to put it to an end, so that other kids weren't fooled like he was fooled. Forced to live how he was forced to live. He had helped as much as he could, but all of this was way beyond him. So he just kept his place and tried to be out of the way.

"Water," said another Career mentor quietly, whispered words flowing out of broken lips. Broken. The Games left Michael broken, unable to walk, or surf, or swim on his own, a shell of himself because of what he'd volunteered for. He always considered it his fault. But now he realized that it never was his fault. He was only acting how he was told to act. He was only doing what he was told to do. Like a dog. He just… Couldn't let this continue anymore. What else did he have left to lose? "Please."

"Of course." Cartier went to find a thermos for him and walked past the third Career mentor that stayed with them. This one, much less of a surprise, considering who she was dating and the District she was mentoring for.

"I'm getting water for Michael. Do you need any?"

Miracle looked up from where she was gently rubbing Chervil's hair, who was fast asleep and snoring quietly on her lap. He could see how tenderly she was touching him, softly rubbing his cheek where he had a shadow from so many sleepless nights. She just smiled at her mentor and, more importantly, her very good friend. He'd seen her through so much as a young person transitioning and never gave up on her. "No, thank you," she said softly, her voice with a tone as if she was cooing.

The man in her lap made a quiet, "Mmph," and rolled over. Miracle smiled and placed a soft kiss on his temple.

"Sh," she said quietly. "Go back to sleep." Her voice was desperate as it had been so long since any of them had a good night of sleep. Hearing her voice, he released a quiet sigh, pressing his face into her as his breaths slowed once more.

Cartier just smiled a little bit at both of them. It had been a long process. But they needed each other. And now they had each other.

Cartier was still smiling a little bit when he let the two of them be. But that good feeling soon fizzled when he saw Arthur pacing in a small circle, grabbing his cheeks. Two tributes he loved, two husbands, two small children. All of them could be in the line of fire depending on where they were. And as a parent that had adopted twice, he surely wasn't taking the news about the orphanage well at all… And yet his face was set in stone. Not a single tear shed from his eye since the events took place. How long was he going to last?

"I'm worried about Arthur." Braelynn looked over to him. And yet she knew there was nothing she could have done to help him. Not when she felt like she was once again fifteen and just trying to survive. She just had to remind herself that this wasn't the Arena. They were all there to help each other now. But it was just so hard to overcome. At least she was there with her team.

"I'm worried about all of us." Angelina had to speak the truth. She was worried for them. She was worried for her sister. And most of all she was worried about Piccolo. Gone in a flash, no idea where the interviewer went. It was for their safety. But she was still worried sick that something was going to happen to someone she loved. But she felt strong. Because he was there beside her. She for once allowed herself to feel afraid and be comforted, make herself small in his strong arms, just for a fleeting moment. And Bates was there. Holding her. Making her feel like nothing bad could ever happen to them because he was there.

"Yeah." He had to hold it together, for her. He was going to be strong. She had been strong for him through the entire process of the Games, working with the tributes they had and trying to do his best for them. He was so happy to have her on his team, by his side, more than anyone else, even Braelynn. Now it was his turn, to do the same for her, and he wasn't going to let her down. But he looked up when he heard a few of the Victors speaking together while they were patting their legs and clapping their hands to make a steady beat.

"Biiiiiiig… Booty big booty big booty! Oh yeah! Big booty!"

He creased his eyebrows as June started. "Big booty number one."

Riggs quickly looked around. "Number one number four!"

Prentice quickly responded. "Number four big booty," and June responded in turn.

"Big booty number three!"

A few beats went by in silence before the small group started laughing.

"That was you, Babe," Riggs said, poking Gian's arm. "So then you respond with your number and then you say someone else."

"Ooooh," Gian said, looking around at the circle. "I get it now."

"I wanna be big booty now!" Prentice said quickly. "Come oooon!"

"Noooo that was barely even a round!" June complained back, making a small surprised noise when Prentice leaned forward to give her a quick peck and blushing a little bit despite herself.

"Okay okay, I get it now, let's go again," Gian said, leaning heavily into Riggs's side. Some of the others gave the group dirty looks. But what else were they supposed to do? It was a shitty situation they were in and everyone knew it. But they couldn't change it. So they were going to keep their minds off of it. He knew that he was luckier than most, to be in this shitty situation by the sides of his three best friends. Together they were an awesome team. He had his love by his side and with Riggs, Gian really felt like he could do anything. "Everyone ready?"

Riggs put an arm around him, not caring that it would keep him from making the steady beat. He needed his fiancé by his side right now. After everything they'd been through together, losing another young and happy soul that he was mentoring… It wasn't easy. This was all he could do to keep from crying himself to sleep and never waking up. Hold the love of his life close to him and just… Try to be strong. And get his mind off of it with something happy done with his friends. At this point, distractions were like food and water – necessary for survival. And yet he couldn't help but tell Gian, since he had him right there. "I love you." Another necessity, hearing those words from him.

"I love you too Babe," Gian said softly.

Helen smiled a little bit but her eyes were not on the group. She was looking towards the helm of the hovercraft, where the rest of her team was. She tried to relax like they told her to and have fun with her friends – and she really did want to. But at the same time… She was so worried about them all on their own over there. She needed to trust that they had this under control – and she did, she truly did. But she just wanted to keep both of them safe. Her fiancé and her best friend…

But they told her to just stay here. So that was what she did.

"I'm ready."

"Okay," June said, getting ready to pat her legs once more and the entire rest of the group joined in with them once more.

Helen was glad for the distraction, but she couldn't help but look to the door where the rest of her team was.

Four of them were in the helm, watching the clouds fly past them.

"I just don't understand why," Ambrose said, trying to talk through it. "Why would the Capitol bomb it's own orphanage and blame the rebels? All those lives lost…"

"It's just what they do," Ceru said quietly as they drove through a cloud which passed over them like a feather. "This is the entity that sent twenty-three children to their deaths year after year. To believe that they value the life of a child would be a foolish mistake, even one of their own." He gave a silent look over to the other side of the room as proof of his point then put up his hands to sign. When will he stop trying to get him to talk?

Ambrose looked over to them and just sighed a little bit. They were still learning ASL so they just mouthed the word instead. 'Never.'

Ceru just sighed a little bit, but he'd now spent two years with Anakyn and knew that they were right. No matter how hopeless it seemed, he wouldn't give up. But he didn't blame his friend for leaving Helen ignorant to the state that their escort was in. Bound, and yet still struggling. Refusing to talk to anyone, only communicating in strained whimpers and the occasional phrase in ASL, if that. It was like Em had completely shut down. He hadn't been Avoxed, he just… Refused to communicate at all.

And after what he did, the state of mind he was in… Ceru couldn't blame him. If it were him in the situation, and he had his memories changed and did anything to someone he loved… Especially Clair… God. He would rather just die at that point. It was a fate worse than death and sometimes when he sat awake at night he wondered if the more merciful option would have been to put a bullet in him rather than bind him and force him here.

But he could just see that Anakyn couldn't do that to his good friend. Not even after witnessing him shoot and kill his fiancé…

"You're safe now, Em," Ani repeated over and over again. "You're here with your friends. Ceru and Helen, your mentors. And it's me, Anakyn. Remember all the times we would hit the town together? I'd have to stop you from getting a new piercing or a stupid tattoo. Every time there was a street performer we would stop and watch them together." Em was at least watching him. But he gave no response. He was just watching with wide eyes as Anakyn kept listing off memories, trying to find just one that broke through. "Our friend Allegra? Remember her shitface boyfriend? When we beat his ass at the first ever party and you got us out of trouble? And your sister's ex-fiancé, that guy sucked all the ass, remember how we would stay up and complain about him? And that good old-fashioned ass whooping?"

He gave a small whimper at that, but nothing more.

"Let's go," Ceru said quietly, with a sigh as he went over to them both. "Come on, you have to check our course."

"I know we're on track."

"Anakyn, please," Ceru said. It was so hard to watch this. "It's not really Em there right now."

"It's still him, somewhere he's still there," Anakyn said coldly as he balled his fists in frustration that he still hadn't been able to reach his friend. He felt like a fucking failure for preventing this from happening. All this on top of losing Numitor. Fucking hell, Numi. Was a kid he barely fucking knew worth his life?! Obviously, years later and after going through so much, Numi really thought so. Why did he think so!? Why did he do that? Why did he make his two younger siblings lose their older brother after everything they'd lost?!

Why did he make Ani live here without him?

"I'll take a shift. Just… Go check the course. Please."

Anakyn just let out a sigh at that and shook his head a little at him before he got up and went to the main controls, where Ambrose was standing.

"I think it's admirable what you're trying to do," they told him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Don't be too hard on yourself. You have no idea what those evil people did to him. Obviously, if it was enough to get him to kill Ben…" Then… It had to be… More than a human brain could handle. After how scared they were for Thor after last year's party… They just couldn't imagine doing anything like that to him, and just the thought of it made their blood run cold.

Anakyn just silently checked their course, making sure everything was on track, before turning to face them. "I already lost Numi. We already lost Ben. We already lost Phil." His voice broke a little bit thinking of his friend and Ambrose's eyes immediately filled with tears. "I don't want to lose him too."

Ambrose looked over to where Ceru was sitting there, signing to Em and not saying anything, and let out a heavy, sad sigh. That man wasn't Emmet Mitchell. They already had lost him. But they couldn't say that out loud to him now. "One thing at a time," they said finally. "Baby steps here. At least he's eating and drinking now. Take that victory."

Anakyn looked out at the sky, the clouds flying past them. "They were always out to get us."

"Us?" Ambrose asked. "Who, the band fam? I wouldn't be surprised if that was true."

"No, Ambrose," Anakyn said, his eyes flickering to the doorway. "You and me. Us."

Ambrose followed his gaze and their brows furrowed in confusion. "How so?"

"Phil was many things, innocent being the top of the list. They could have made any statement they wanted, killed anyone. They chose him. A District boy dating a Capitolite. Maybe that was part of the statement they wanted to make. Then, Numi has to go die for a District boy too, fucking idiot." He hit his fist on a blank counter for a moment. "I'm just saying. Maybe… Maybe there's just something about a Capitolite and a District citizen dating."

Ambrose was quiet for a moment before they spoke. "You really think Junius was that smart?" they asked, before elbowing him a little bit. "At this point, they all want both of us dead anyways. Don't think too hard about it. Otherwise you'll kill yourself with worry. Helen is here with you. You're lucky for that." They just hoped Thor would be okay. They twisted the engagement ring around their finger nervously. It was beautiful. And he chose it all on his own, so that made it even more special.

"You're right," Ani said, but it was obvious he was still stressed. He just gave them a smile. "Thanks Ambrose."

Ambrose just pat his shoulder softly and watched the sky. "It's all going to be okay." They said it just to try to believe it.

But… After all they'd seen, and witnessed, all of them knew one thing was true.

This was only the beginning.

~.~.

-Ruthie Mercras, 13, District 6-

They were all going to die out here.

She was sure of it.

Right now, it was like they were in an Arena – hungry, no, starving. Tired. One of them injured. Exhausted from staying awake during the long nights. But this time, there was no Capitol watching over them, no one to keep them alive for any reason, not even for entertainment's sake. They were in the middle of fucking nowhere, and worse, they had no idea where they even were. If they did, perhaps they would know which direction to start towards to find someone that would help them. But they didn't. And the measly food and water supply wasn't going to last forever.

It was already almost entirely depleted and it had been… God, three days? Four days? She honestly didn't know, some of the days went by in such a blur that they all started to blend together. She was trying to take care of herself as well as three others. Thankfully Keelan seemed to have half an idea what he was doing and took over as the leader of their group. And of course, Kaoru was with them. And he really was doing much better now. They were back in motion, moving towards a patch of green pastures hoping that it would bring them to water.

But each and every one of them had their limitations. And the longer time went by, the crankier everyone got and the more fatigued the group was.

Ruthie looked over to the two boys, curled in on each other to preserve heat in the chilly summer night. She wasn't always convinced that Keelan was sleeping, but in the slight light of the coming dawn, it was clear that he was out cold. They were only human. They all had their limits, and they were quickly reaching them. And Ruthie was worried for the moment that the Career hit his. And realized he was lugging around three liabilities. She didn't trust that the Career instinct to kill them all had totally gone away. And yet, when he slept curled up with Kaoru, he looked… Friendly. Non-threatening. Human.

Ruthie looked over when Vyka started talking quietly to herself. "She felt so lost without him near. Her only solace, the fact that they were sharing the same moon, the same sun that shone on her skin was caressing his person, lighting the way for him to find her. He was the only reason her heart beat every day. Every breath she took was him. Every thought she had. Every step she took, she found the strength knowing that he was out there, searching for her…"

It wasn't the first time she'd started talking like this. Vyka did this every time she was on watch, like a broken record. Muttering the words to herself rhythmically, as if doing that would keep her from forgetting them. Over and over again. Sometimes a word would change here or there, but it was always the same soliloquy.

Something about it today, though. If she heard Vyka run through this bullshit romance novel stuff, she was going to lose it. That was not what they needed right now. She felt a stab of irritability towards the other girl that she tried to rationalize, but couldn't. "Why do you keep doing that?!" she asked, wincing at how she snapped a little bit. It was going to drive her insane.

Vyka stopped suddenly, freezing in place at the question and slowly closing her mouth. "Sorry," she grumbled, crossing her arms. "I'm just trying to take the situation we're in and make something out of it. But usually I write down all of my musings and inspiration in my journal, which I don't have."

Ruthie just sighed at that and shook her head. How anyone would make anything out of this, she had no idea. But she wasn't going to rain on Vyka's parade now of all times. They needed all four of them to get out of this. And even then, she really wasn't sure how they were going to all four get out of this. Each day it became more and more hopeless for them. But if Vyka was talking about other stuff at least she wasn't mumbling to herself like a crazy person. "You write? For real?"

"I would never lie about my career of choice!" she said, tapping her fingers on the ground. "All of this is going to give me inspiration to write an amazing story. It's going to get put on the big screen and I'm going to be the star. And then my co-star? Mr. Right." She let out a dreamy sigh.

Ruthie just nodded. She really believed that? After all of this? The more likely option was that they were all four going to die out here. Kaoru first, he would do anything for them, even injured like that. It wasn't fair but that was who he was. Always sacrificing himself for others. For his sister, and now for Ruthie, just because she reminded him of her… Thank God they didn't have to kill each other.

But that would make it even harder to lose him later.

"Together, with my story and all the others I've collected through the years, I'm going to create the best romance story ever. Heartbreak, drama, sex, love, everything all in one place."

"How did you collect stories?" Ruthie asked, finding that talking was helping to keep her awake. And the last thing she needed was to fall asleep and let Keelan run off with the pack of water. Or a wild animal taking it. Or… Peacekeepers… Like two scrappy girls could do anything against Peacekeepers.

"Oh, I rode along in the pink taxi…" Vyka let out a loud sob and put her face in her hands. It was as if a dam broke when she mentioned the pink taxi. Ruthie's mouth fell open a little bit as she started violently sobbing with her face in her hands, her body shaking with how violently the cries were coming out of her.

"Sh," Ruthie said quickly, not wanting anyone to hear them right now. Or worse, the boys to wake up to this… "Never mind. I'm sorry. Back to the story. The sun?"

"I miss my Moms," Vyka sobbed into her legs as she rubbed at her cheeks to try and stop it, but it wasn't working. "I miss the pink taxi. I miss my notebook, and my story, and my friends. I miss when life was easy," she sobbed some more as she took a few more gasps of air. "I'm hungry and tired and thirsty and I'm scared," she sobbed quietly.

Ruthie sighed sadly at that as her eyes filled with frustrated tears. She felt all of those things too. Vyka wasn't special in that regard. They were all hungry, they were all thirsty, and they were all fucking terrified. "Yeah, well, join the club," she said, rubbing her eyes. She wanted to go back to when her life was easy too. "You think I don't want to go back too?! You think Kaoru doesn't want to go back before he was shot?! I would much rather be home in the comfort of my own room fixing things and doing what I loved. But we're not."

"You think I can't see that?!" Vyka snapped at her through her tears. "Or that I don't know?! Come on Ruthie, I'm soft, but I'm not stupid."

"What's going on?" Keelan asked, rubbing at his eyes and sitting up, as Kaoru did the same with a bleary-eyed look and a yawn when he realized the sun hadn't yet risen.

"I never said you were stupid," Ruthie said, her fists tightening with the frustration of all of this.

"Hold on," Kaoru said, putting up a hand. "I don't know what started this. But we absolutely cannot afford to fracture now, after everything we've already been through. Everyone is just a little bit on-edge now, that's all. Just let it go and breathe it out."

"I want to go home!" Vyka sobbed, her tears renewed as Ruthie's eyes prickled with that frustratingly warm feeling. But she wasn't going to shed them, not when water was already so fucking scarce between them all.

"So do the rest of us," Keelan said with a sigh. "But we can't. It's frustrating, it's upsetting, it's not fair. But if we ever want a shot at getting home, we have to do it together." He moved from Kaoru's side to gently rub Vyka's shoulder. "I know it's hard. I know you're scared. But you have to find it in you to be brave."

Brave.

"Surely you've met some brave women in the pink taxi." Vyka looked up when she said that, her eyes glassy as she tried to figure out how to respond. "Think of those women. You say they're the inspiration for your story? Use them as inspiration now."

Vyka bit her lip, obviously really trying to get it together and stop crying. At that point, it was the best she could do and Ruthie was frustrated but at least she was trying. Kaoru tried to sit up on his own, but Ruthie could see the pain on his face so she quickly got up to be by his side, putting herself under his shoulder to help lift him up. He didn't even try to deny that he needed her help.

"Thanks," he said quietly.

Ruthie didn't move from under his arm. "How are we going to survive?" she asked him softly. As smart and creative as she was… Ruthie just didn't have an answer to her question. Usually she loved a challenge, but now… Well, all of their lives were on the line and she still didn't have an answer for them.

"I don't know," Kaoru said softly, looking over to where Keelan was coaching Vyka through some deep breathing to help her tears slow. "But we can't give up."

"Don't intend on it," Ruthie said, closing her eyes. Every time Kaoru took a breath she felt his chest rise and fall. At least they were all still alive.

Keelan helped Vyka calm down and after each one got a tiny sip of water – the last drops they had – it was time to get moving for the day. The boys insisted that Vyka and Ruthie stay in front of them and in their line of vision as Kaoru insisted they try to move quickly despite the obvious pain in every step he took. They hadn't unwrapped his wound in a few days, and Ruthie was terrified for what they would find when they did. But they didn't have anything clean to wrap it in so they had to just… Try to make the right calls for each one of them.

"I hear something," Keelan said, pulling them to a stop as the girls stopped and turned to face him. He looked alert, squinting.

"Me too," Vyka said, and it didn't take long before all of them heard it. The roar of a motor.

"Fuck," Kaoru said, his face contorting with pain. "Go. You might be able to beat it. Go!"

"Are you crazy!? No way!" Ruthie said, grabbing his arm. "We go together."

"You're gonna get killed going with me!" he yelled, but Keelan was already hefting Kaoru up on his back to carry him. As soon as Keelan started moving, the girls took off after him.

But they were just a couple of near-starving kids. They couldn't outrun a fucking car.

The van sped beside them before blocking the path up ahead. The doors were pushed open as soon as they stopped and black-clad men with guns ran out of them – at least five, more than the group – and had them surrounded right away.

"Stop right there! Freeze and no one gets hurt!"

Keelan was the first to stop, keeping Kaoru up on his back as he observed the situation carefully – the guns that were pointed at them, the eyes that were just barely visible and unrecognizable through the uniforms.

They didn't have a choice.

They looked over when they heard a voice. Commanding, intelligent, pompous as hell and made Ruthie want to throw up in her mouth.

"We're on your side and don't want to hurt you. Come peacefully with us and you will be sheltered, fed, healed, and clothed." Fingers pointed at Kaoru's wound before wrapping around a charm on the necklace he was wearing and twirling it around a few times, crooked smile stretching and making his eye twitch just a little bit. "Stand down. Let our new friends come with us and we will have a feast."

Keelan didn't look trusting, but at this point, it was either go with them or starve and die out here in the woods. Ruthie didn't know about the rest of them, but she would rather not starve and die out here. "Let's go," she said, finally. When she spoke, Kaoru nodded, letting Keelan put him down and putting a hand on Ruthie's shoulder protectively. At least in all this mess, she had someone she could trust.

"We would much appreciate shelter and food," Keelan said.

"He's kind of cute," Vyka said under her breath which earned her a look from Kaoru and Ruthie.

"We need assistance direly," Kaoru said. "And appreciate your help." Hopefully it wouldn't get them all killed.

"Brilliant." The young man came over to them, pushing his hand through his hair in a nervous tic as he put his hand on Kaoru's shoulder, personally guiding them to the van and helping them in the back. The men all pulled down their hoods when they got back in, and the leader of them got in the driver's seat. He clicked the doors locked and adjusted the mirror so he could look back at all of them sitting in the seats, clutching each other with eyes wide as deer. "To District Seven with us. Welcome to the Falconers. We hope you enjoy your stay at our camp."

Then he spoke to the person sitting next to him in a voice so quiet that the other three tributes certainly missed.

But not Ruthie.

"Let's call Mr. Jansing."

His eye twitched a few times as he grinned at the group of them in the backseat.

"See if he's willing to bargain."

A/N: Back from the dead once more. Slowly gonna keep pushing my way through this. Hope you enjoyed the checkups on characters we haven't heard from in a while as well as an ongoing plot with the fugitives.

A map of important locations has been posted on the blog, it's one of the pages but you have to explore a little to find it because Blogger is real wonky.

While you're there, there are some new deleted scenes I've been working on but they were just to get me back in the mood to write this story so they're not super important or relevant.

Other than that hope you're well, see ya when I see ya for the next.