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Luce rubbed at her arm where her tracker was injected. The sting of it alleviating after a minute as she watched Finnick take his without expressing any emotions. They were only in the air for a short time, a surprising thought thinking back to her first games and how that first flight felt like forever. After feeling the soft bump from landing, she unbuckled herself and stood.

Immediately she was by Finnick's side, and would stay there for as long as she could before being separated to go up in their separate stations. The hatch opened with a slight hiss of air, the ramp touching the ground gently. Each step off feeling heavier than the next. She knew they'd have to say goodbye, and she wasn't ready.

Finnick glanced down at her before wrapping his arms around her tightly. In that moment Luce never wanted to let go as she clung to him, her breath shaky as she thought of the fighting soon to come. They had both worked so hard the first time to guarantee their return home, and now it seemed it was all for nothing. She felt as if everything was going to start crumbling down around her and none of it was going to end well. Even for the victor who manages to come out on top.

She began to tremble slightly as the fear began to creep further to the forefront of her mind. Thinking of all the things that could and probably would go wrong in the next few hours. Finnick squeezed her even tighter before letting go and leaning down to be eye level with her, whispering so only she could hear him.

"Hey, it's ok. It'll only be a short time until we're together again. I promise I will do everything I can to keep you alive. Do you trust me Lucetta?"

She gazed into his eyes not once breaking eye contact and gave a firm nod. He knew he needed her to trust in him and truly believe his words, hence the use of her full name. And she did. She would always trust the one who was like a brother to her and grew up being so. They were family, and she knew he didn't need to use her full name every single time to express that. She would always trust him.

He pressed a long and loving kiss to the top of her head before they had to let go and part ways to their station where they'd each be sent up into the arena. Mags chose to go with Finnick, and Zachariah went with Luce. It was a silent walk into the tunnels that led to her prep room and the lift that would send her up. Luce paced as she waited, her fears downgrading back into nerves. Waiting was always the hardest part.

"Lucetta.." Zachariah started, causing her to pause and look toward him. He fumbled for the right words before composing himself and speaking up again.

"I know I've never said this before, and it's probably a long time coming. But I wanted to say I have faith in you." He stepped forward a few steps until he was in front of her and continued his small speech.

"You are one of the youngest to survive and make it out on top. And I believe you can do it again. Your still the youngest, yes..But I know you'll do even better than them because your smart. Plus I have no doubt you'll have Finnick by your side the entire time."

Luce smiled and mouthed a 'thank you' to him. They even shared a short hug which was more compassion and friendliness the two ever had toward each other. He returned a smile of his own before a voice was heard over the speaker, announcing all victors to step inside their lift.

Taking a deep breath she stepped inside, the door closing behind her. After a few seconds it began it's ascent, she gave one last wave goodbye to Zachariah, wondering if she would ever see him again after this.

Looking upward she could see the distant light at the top, getting brighter and closer as she moved upward. She reminded herself to keep breathing as she got to the top, Finnick's voice in her head that she had to trust it would be ok. Everything came into view as her eyes adjusted and she was able to look around.

The first thing she noticed were the trees that surrounded them, the closest ones looking like palm tress, while further back they became more tall and jungle-like. Then looking toward the middle was the newly designed Cornucopia, as well as the water that surrounded it as well as them on their platforms.

All the other tributes took a moment themselves to recognize their surroundings before eyeing the Cornucopia, the countdown showing above it. She cleared her thoughts of nothing else as it made it's way to zero, and in that moment everyone dived into the water.

Luce followed suit and jumped in feet first, but made no move toward the middle just yet. She let herself float a moment and watch as everyone else raced their way to the center and grab what they could. Slowly she climbed out of the water and onto the rocky path that led to the center, watching closely as one tripped and another getting shot in the leg by Katniss as she was one of the first there and grabbed her bow and arrows.

Watching all of the chaos unfold she realized she had lost sight of Finnick and quickly grew worried. Taking a few steps forward she continued looking around until she spotted him and let out a breath of relief. He had grouped up with Katniss who currently had an arrow pointed right at him.

Luce was ready to run forward and protect him, but stopped in confusion when he said something causing her to duck and for Finnick to throw his spear over her, making contact with a tribute that had tried sneaking up on them.

The rest of the tributes had grabbed their weapons and were making their way to shore, going straight into the jungle. Luce started making her way to Finnick, noticing along the way two tributes still fighting each other in the water and struggling to keep themselves afloat. Looking closer she noticed one of them was Peeta. Glancing back she whistled over to Finnick and Katniss, waving them over to her.

They were quick to her side, and after a fast assessment of what was happening, Finnick didn't hesitate to jump into the water to try and help Peeta. He swam as fast as he could but once he had reached them the fighting pair had gone under. Almost a minute had passed and no one had resurfaced yet causing Katniss to grow worried, her eyes showing she was ready to leap in herself as she searched the water.

That's when the cannon went off, and a body rose to the surface floating motionless. Finnick was quick to the body and was about to turn them over when Peeta surfaced with a gasp, revealing that he was ok and it was the other tribute who had been unlucky.

After making sure Peeta was okay, they all made sure they had weapons and were equipped properly before heading toward the beach and into the jungle themselves, hoping the others were long gone and deeper into the arena.

Peeta and Katniss took the front while Luce and Finnick stayed toward the rear to make sure they weren't being followed. Their pace mixed between walking and jogging as they didn't stop until Finnick called for them to wait.

Luce sat to catch her breath, Finnick kneeling down beside her and handing her some extra knives he found to add to the ones she was already carrying. She nodded in thanks as she took them.

"God it's hot, we gotta find fresh water." Peeta said as he brought up a hand to his face, wiping away the sweat that had formed on his forehead. They all looked to each other in agreement as they surveyed their surroundings before stopping, the sound of the cannon going off multiple times. Signaling the number of tributes that were now dead.

"Well I guess we're not holding hands anymore." Finnick quipped making Luce whack him on the shoulder.

Katniss looked at him with a serious face, "You think that's funny?" Her tone showing she found it quite the opposite.

"Everytime that cannon goes off, is music to my ears." He replied in the same seriousness, "I don't care about any of them.."

Luce couldn't help but admit that he was right. The more cannons they heard, the closer they were to it all being over. Looking down in guilt she chose to keep herself out of the conversation. There were words about Haymitch but she just tuned it out and stopped listening.

"We should keep moving." Peeta suggested as he stood up, the rest following his lead. Finnick offered his hand helping Luce stand, which she gladly took and held onto even as they started walking again and making their way further into the jungle. She was especially grateful as he helped her navigate the uneven terrain which made it difficult at times to keep up as they made their trek upwards.

Peeta took up the lead as he held a machete and started to cut at some of the vines and branches that hung in their way. The silence around them only made Luce grow nervous and found herself occasionally looking around for any sign that someone was following or watching them. Any sudden sound causing her to turn at the ready. Everyone else doing the same time to time.

As she glanced behind them once more, all she heard was "PEETA NO" and whipped back around just in time to see Peeta get struck by something and get blown backward, falling into her and knocking her over. They both fell to the ground and all Luce could do was get herself to sit up and watch in confusion as she tried to figure out what happened within the few seconds she was looking away.

Finnick ran over to make sure she was okay while Katniss ran to Peeta, calling his name and trying to wake him up. Luce assured him she was alright as she shook off the shock of what happened then looked over at a frantic Katniss.

"He's not breathing..He's not breathing. He's not breathing!" Katniss cried out igniting the first round of chaos. As Luce watched all she could think was,

The 75th Hunger Games has officially begun.