Chapter 31: Sink or Swim


Sera's bottom lip was a little bruised and had been that way for a week or two, much to Mica's annoyance. The make-up artist had fussed and complained about her appearance a lot lately. He almost cursed when he noticed the circular bruise-like marks dotted around her neck. He did his hardest to conceal the bruises with lip paints and concealer and it really showed because no one, not even Scarus could tell the difference.

On the other hand, Eos and Emilia had shared a terrified look. At first, the two panicked but when they looked at her calm, almost blissful face, they immediately stopped. Emilia was itching to know. Harp was the only one who didn't really make a fuss about it all, she seemed to sense Sera's true emotions just at a glance.

Not that Sera cared about their reactions.

She was happy.

She hadn't felt so happy in a while and she was almost scared about it. Still, she wanted to enjoy it as long as she could even if it was for a fleeting moment. She knew soon it would've time to grieve—her aunt's health had taken another turn for the worse and this time she was sure she wouldn't make it. Despite telling Finnick, she'd let her aunt go back to District 5, she still hadn't found the time to sign the discharge papers, already knowing her siblings and cousin would be furious with her decision. Maybe Ramiel would understand but Nox wouldn't, aunt Dahlia was his mother after all.

"Stop making this a big deal, Mica." Sera ran her fingers over her concealed neck. Eos had even chosen black floral lace dress that covered her neck. "I look fine and besides, it's not like I have any real events to attend."

Mica glared at her. "You're still going to be in front of people."

"Other victors." Sera corrected, getting up from her chair. Mica didn't argue and could only begrudgingly agree. Other victors didn't care about appearances around each other and there were no cameras.

She sighed remembering what her day was going to be like. She had to observe the games for a tribute whose names she couldn't even recall. She did watch reapings and observed some of the training sessions yet she just didn't get around to learning his name or his partner's. It wasn't done on purpose, she was just so busy spending her days at the clinic and then her nights at her apartment with—

"You okay?" Huxley, her former mentor and brother-in-law asked. He met her outside of the observation rooms.

She actually liked her mentor duties, of course, she didn't like sending her tributes to their untimely deaths, she did like the fact that it was one of the few things she had that Scarus was absent from. Instead she got to spend time with her brother-in-law. Quiet he was, she actually enjoyed his calm company.

"I'm fine." She replied, trying to make sure her cheeks weren't as red as before. "Shall we?" He nodded and went in before her.

She had only been to the observation rooms thrice the previous year, the 70th was definitely the most she had visited them. She didn't really hate it, she just thought it was too…clinical.

A large simple room, filled with screens everywhere and there was even a giant one in the center. Walls were painted a bluish-white shade with white metal columns and metal beams on the ceiling. Seats sprawled around the room for all the victors turned mentors and some Peacekeepers at the back watching over the victors.

The Peacekeepers nodded at her and Huxley in greeting as they took their seats. She spotted some familiar faces like Finnick in the corner alone with Mags hovering around him. Both were too focused on Four's remaining tribute to even notice the newcomers. She understood and wasn't really bitter about it. She had met one of Four's tribute and the meeting was…memorable, she couldn't forget it even if she tried.

Annie Cresta.

A familiar face, so familiar to one she had personally sent off during her own games. She remembered her and Annie's meeting too well as if it was just moments ago when really weeks had passed since then.

"Seraphine Reza?" A small nervous voice had called out from behind while she was observing her tribute.

Sera, at the mention of her name had paused in her steps and turned around to face the stranger. There, a girl slightly taller than Sera waited for her attention while she fiddled with her fiery bright coral hair.

A small nervous smile was painted on her lips as she stared at Sera. "I'm Annie Cresta, District 4 tribute." She introduced herself, taking a step forward. Sera nodded, showing she was listening. Seeing this, Annie continued. "You might not remember but my sister—"

Sera had cut her off. "Jenny Cresta, District 4 tribute for the 68th Hunger Games." She recited from her memory.

The image of a frail young woman with a willowy silhouette appeared in front of Sera's eyes, visible only to her. Her wispy light copper curls bounced as she laughed at Sera, reminding her of her guilt. She waved at her while standing behind her younger sister and grinned at Sera.

Remember.

The image of her mocked her for forgetting. Sera blinked and the image of 'Jenny' flickered in front of her eyes. Then she disappeared.

"Annie, what are you—" Finnick hurried over to his tribute and tried to pull her away but Annie gently pushed him away and took a few more steps towards Sera. He nervously looked around for any signs of Scarus or Snow's men but luckily he found none.

Despite this, he still wanted to separate the two girls. Sera had told him previously to stay away from her.

At first, he took it as a challenge and joke but later he realized why she said so. But it was too late for him to let go of the victor from District 5 now. He was in too deep. While she fidgeted with her hands, Finnick tried to catch her silver eyes that he found lovely.

Like he knew she would, Sera looked up and flashed a painted smile that looked genuine to most people. She looked serene and calm, radiating comfort to all those present but beneath the facade, Finnick could tell she was faking it. He too did the same when playing his part as the Capitol's heartthrob.

However, Annie didn't know or care about the true nature of the smile. The tribute from District 4 was simply happy that someone remembered her older sister. Her only sibling that was snatched away from her too soon.

Annie beamed brightly at the mention of her sister, ignorant to emotional turmoil inside Sera's mind. "You remember." She laughed gently. "I didn't think you'd remember." She continued. "It was two years ago but there were so many tributes over those years…"

"Forty-eight. There were forty-eight tributes." Sera corrected, she tried to keep her tone pleasant but the way Finnick reacted told her everything.

Finnick stared between the two girls with a puzzled look on his face. For once he had no idea what was going on and he didn't like it.

He flashed a smile at his tribute and with a gentle but coercing tone, he asked. "What are you girls talking about?" He masked his concern to Annie but not to Sera, she could always tell.

"My sister, Jenny. She was a tribute during Seraphine's games and I didn't think she remembered."

"Oh." Finnick's face fell but he quickly composed himself, not daring to let Annie see him like this.

Of course, Sera remembered. He knew why. Every single victor. even if they didn't know their names, they remembered the faces of the tributes they faced. He tried to smile but he couldn't. Instead he simply nodded.

Sera was different.

Unlike Finnick who was quick to empathize, she was quick to suppress her emotions and put on a mask. She was soft on the outside and hard on the inside while he acted as if didn't care at all in front of everyone when really he cared too much. She would always show pity towards others while hardening herself. At times, he wondered how she had adapted this fast to her new role, then he remembered his own role.

The two were opposite.

She flashed a kind smile at the younger girl much to Finnick's annoyance, he hated it when she did that but he did nothing to bring attention to her bad habit.

Instead he looked away.

That was the only thing he could do. Sera refused his or anyone's help. She liked being alone and doing things her own way despite being one of the few victors with a lot of loved ones. Finnick knew it was rare for a victor to have two or more loved ones.

Sera was the exception. She had an aunt, a younger cousin, two older siblings and a fellow victor for a brother in law but she didn't rely on any of them. He envied her at times but then he remembered her words. She would often say that because she had more than others, it only meant she had more to lose—it was nothing to envy but if anything it was a fear.

He turned back to look at the girls, his focus on Sera.

"Of course I remember." Sera smiled brighter but her silver eyes darkened.

The girl with bright wispy strawberry blonde hair reappeared in front of her eyes. 'Jenny' smiled innocently as she flickered closer to Sera's field of vision, unseen by anyone. She mouthed 'murderer' with a bright smile and vacant dull seaweed-green eyes while Sera smiled on and chatted happily with her sister, reminiscing of more innocent times.

But even those innocent times weren't completely innocent. She remembered how she held onto Jenny as she desperately tried to reverse what she had done. How she had taken her last breaths with her gaze fixed on her. How she came up with the idea to put her on the makeshift raft and set her down the half-frozen river—a burial tradition of District 4, she'd overheard Ripley and her talking about during training.

She could never forget.

Annie laughed brightly in joy of someone remembering her sister. It wasn't uncommon for tributes' names to be forgotten, only to be replaced by the number of their game and their district.

For even a victor to remember her sister, Annie was satisfied. Her sister was sickly from birth and her dying moments far from home haunted her. She remembered bawling and screaming at the screen a few years back when her sister took her last breaths in the cold forsaken arena.

Annie lost her mother the year after. She only had her father. The memories of her mother and sister was the only thing that kept her going. Her father, how his heart broke when her name was called out. She had to go back.

Sera wasn't the only one who remembered Jenny.

Finnick remembered Jenny too. The sickly tribute whose own allies nearly abandoned her. She and Sera were alike but unlike her, Sera proved her worth to her allies, gained their trust and took the lead.

Sera wasn't proud of what she had done but at least she survived. Jenny's death was one of the most vivid ones that haunted her. Along with Thyme, Eugene and Gaius. She had two recorded kills but if she were to be honest to everyone, she had more than two. Probably over thirteen or fourteen or maybe ten if she was kind to herself.

In fact, she almost had the most kills in the history of the games. But no one but Sera would know what she had done. How she slowly poisoned her allies and drove them to the brink of insanity before letting them go. Even the gamemakers never found out what she had done.

Murderer.

She heard that voice yet again, almost flinching this time.

Without a warning, Annie grabbed Sera's hands in hers. Sera shook a little, her hands trembled slightly at the sudden touch. She wanted to push Annie off of her but paused when Jenny's face appeared next to hers.

"Thank you." Annie breathed out quietly, looking away. Sera stared at her, confused. Seeing this, Annie jumped to clarify her thoughts. "For giving my sister a send off before they came to collect her—" she never finished her words but Sera knew what she meant.

The image of Jenny Cresta's willowy figure floating on the makeshift raft was fresh on her mind. It was Sera's work based on something Ripley, Jenny's fellow tribute had commented on in a passing manner to Jenny before the games began during one of their training sessions and Sera just happened to hear it. She was good at remembering things and it wasn't hard to remember that.

Back then, she didn't realize her little act of kindness would be enough to grant her this treatment. She had really only done it to relieve some of her guilt.

Sera swallowed the guilt and smiled wider. "It was nothing. It was only the right thing to do." She stopped, trying to think of an excuse that would seem innocent and not shatter the image she had kept up for the past two years. She knew Snow's little birds were watching this and they didn't take too kindly with victors or tributes playing them for a fool. "...I didn't want the mutts to get to her body before the hovercraft came to get her back—back—to you—to her family."

Liar.

Her mind hissed out at her but she didn't listen.

Liar.

Murderer.

Her own mind betrayed her and the ghosts of her past allies started shooting a barrage of abuse at her. But she didn't dare show it on her face. One wrong move and everything she had built so far would crumble in an instant. Jenny's death was an accident and she knew that.

It wasn't her sickness but rather Sera's own mistake. Well everyone in the Capitol and the districts thought it was. However, Sera knew differently. She 'accidently' gave her allies a plant. The same plant even her opponents started eating.

It wasn't until Jenny started coughing up blood, did everyone realize Sera's mistake. She tried to fix it by curing her allies but by then it was too late for Jenny. She was far weaker in health than Sera and passed in her sleep. A peaceful death in a bloody game of survival.

Perhaps Sera's actions were born out of mercy not desperation. That was something her supporters, people that adored her would always argue. It was also where the nickname 'Angel of Mercy' had truly gained traction.

People considered the way Jenny died to be the most peaceful death and Sera's hand in it was never forgotten, to her surprise, even her allies were somewhat pleased with the way Jenny died without suffering.

It was enviable for them.

No pain, no suffering.

Sera's treatment had accidentally weakened her and killed her, that was what she believed but in the eyes of spectators and her allies it was a mercy that none would ever be granted.

She had vowed verbally to her other allies after Jenny's death that she was not only sorry but she would test those plants on herself before giving them to the rest of them. It was a lie but not an obvious one because she really did test any new plants she or her allies found on herself. Before she finally settled on the snow cotton, insanity was a slow death and she wouldn't have to feel bad for their deaths when they did lose their minds.

But she still did.

Looking back, she remembered several of her allies being unhappy with her choice and being scared that she would poison herself by accident.

Luckily she never did.

Of course, she never did because she only consumed the safe parts. She later on found an alternative to the root in her much-used snow cotton that she initially used at the start of the games but stopped when they relocated her campsite to the woods. She was fortunate that it was Ember from District 12 that suggested the snow cotton after Thyme mentioned eating it around the start.

Jenny's death led to a lot of things happening. For one, it was her vow and then it was the anti-career pack which was still talked about to this day. She wasn't ashamed of the alliance which was a result of the careers destroying their supplies.

Perhaps exacerbating the death of Jenny as it was later found that Sera didn't accidentally kill Jenny after all.

It was Amethyst who had used a poison tipped arrow during a stand-off against them that one time. Jenny was never completely cured of that poison.

Though her allies would never know and that news was only released after the games were over and before the victory tour began. It was clear the autopsy did not find her in the wrong.

With the release of those results, she remembered all the chatter.

How everyone felt pity for the young victor who had wrongly blamed herself and even subjected herself to harsh tests as penance.

She didn't pay them any mind.

What mattered was that no one would ever know what she had done.

Annie made a noise, bringing Sera back to her senses. "Oh. You didn't know." Annie's smile dropped slightly but now there was a small hint of sadness to it.

The little hope she had for Sera knowing what she had truly done vanished. She had thought that perhaps Sera's act of kindness was a sign of respect to District 4 but no, it was an act to preserve her sister's body. Annie did appreciate the action but there was a part of her that couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Seeing this Finnick, step forward. "Of course she wouldn't know! Sera's from Five, Annie. How'd she know our customs." He rationalized while throwing a secret look to his fellow victor. He needed to, no, he wanted to talk to her.

Since Sera's games, Jenny's makeshift last rites occupied his thoughts. He always wondered, how? How did a girl from 4 know the tradition of another district? At first, he chalked it up to the fact that they were neighboring districts but the more he talked to her, the more he discovered that she was not as simple as he had once thought.

He always prided himself as observant and intelligent yet whenever he was in her presence, he could never figure her out. At times, she was kind and calm just like her public image but then sometimes, she was distant and detached while other times, he found her to be angry and remorseful of nothing and everything.

However, it seemed those faces of hers were only shown to him. At least that's what he wanted to believe. He knew that she was different around her family. He wanted to see the difference too but knowing Sera, she would never allow him to meet her family not with his growing reputation.

Although Sera had once assured him that his false reputation meant nothing to her, she would still carry on their friendship even with her distancing herself from him. Still she never introduced him to her family. He knew why but a childish part of him wanted to know them too as they were a part of her life. It was like she was drawing a line between the two. He snuck a glance at the calm and serene victor and gazed at her.

He wished she would stop drawing lines in their relationship.

Wishes were wishes for a reason.

He knew why she drew the lines, it was to protect herself but most importantly her family. Even though she had blurred the lines once, he knew it wouldn't happen again. His reputation may not have bothered her, it would hurt her in the future if they were seen to be closer than what his clients and Snow thought them to be now. The danger was obvious.

If he wasn't as careful as Sera, his growing affections for her could land her in the same line of work as him, he couldn't have that. He snuck another glance at his friend.

She looked more frail than the last time he had seen her. Finnick wanted to reach out to her and touch her but stopped himself when she turned to give him a look. He stopped mid-action and instead ruffled his short bronze curls while looking away. He didn't know what had gotten into him at that moment.

Annie nodded understandingly as she let go of Sera.

That was the last she saw of her being so bright and so full of light. The girl on the screen looked lifeless. Who wouldn't be after what she witnessed? Her own partner, a friend perhaps being decapitated right in front of her eyes. The games were brutal and for those with weak minds like Annie, it was a hellish experience.

There was no way for someone like her to win.

"The dam!" Huxley leaned forward in his seat and pulled the screen attached to his seat close to him. Sera leaned closer to him, almost huddling. "It's not gonna hold." He muttered.

"Shit." Sera murmured. She could only hope her tribute that year knew how to swim. "He needs to get to high ground before the dam breaks or else he's screwed and your tribute needs to stop holding him back. Maybe the dam won't break."

"Don't hold your breath." He wasn't so optimistic. He never was. "We can only hope, he knows how to swim. He is from her district, it'd be strange if he didn't."

Their worst fears came true.

The dam cracked.

On the screen, Annie was put on focus. She seemed to be the first one to notice the large crack in the dam. The girl started to run and prepare herself as if she already knew what was going to happen. Another loud crack was heard, this time, everyone in the arena heard and it even got the attention of the watchers in the observation rooms.

Augustus sat down and leaned close to his screen. Till that moment, he wasn't really focusing on the game. Everyone's eyes were glued onto the screen, waiting.

The dam cracked again before water burst forth from the dam. Pieces of concrete went flying, burying a few remaining tributes, effectively killing them off. A few booms of cannons echoed in the room as the lights for District 7, 9 and 3 went off instantly. All tributes from those districts were dead.

Hand over her mouth, Sera gasped out in shock as the remaining tributes were washed away. Some tried to outrun it, get to higher ground or tried to ride the wave—everyone was consumed by the rolling waves.

Silence covered the room like a thick blanket. Nobody spoke a single word. Nobody dared to. What happened was unprecedented, nothing like what had happened had ever happened in the past. Despite thinking so little of the new Head Gamemaker during their initial meeting, Decima Dolittle had caught everyone's attention with one simple move. Sera was sure, the entire nation had fallen silent, glued to their screens.

A single head popped out of the murky waters. Brown-red tresses that were drenched and a pale face. The camera zoomed in on her and she heard a loud sigh of relief from Finnick's corner.

It was Annie.

She was still alive.

Finnick must've been elated after all the two, from what she remembered, were family friends.

On the other hand, none of the other mentors were so happy. Even Sera could only stay quiet. Her own tribute was still lost to the murky waters. She balled up her fists, digging her nails into her skin, something gone unmissed by Huxley. He only tapped her hand once and she loosened them again before she could draw blood.

Another two heads popped out from the water. Some boy from District 1 and her tribute. Sera let out a breath of relief as she watched him attempt to swim against the rising tides while dodging debris coming his way. More and more heads popped out yet there were some that never rose. Sounds of cannon were heard and more lights went off.

The waiting game began.

"He'll make it." Huxley assured his fellow mentor and sister-in-law. He knew Sera's tribute this year was someone capable, someone who could stand on his own two feet.

The boy whose name Huxley didn't bother to remember had quickly shown that he was quick on his feet and a quick thicker. Unlike his own tribute, the boy had a chance of survival. His own tribute was pretty but she was naive, she tried too hard to either be a Porter or Seraphine or even an Estelle. He had to step in then.

Estelle Weathers was not someone who should be imitated, it was an unspoken rule for all District 5 tributes. The cold, detached and ambitious victor of the 49th games was the wife of the current mayor of District 5. She was famous in District 5 for marrying her childhood sweetheart who she later helped become the mayor.

Despite her stunning beauty with rare violet-blue eyes, it was no secret that Estelle was quite unpopular. She was too openly ambitious and cold to be liked by anyone. During her games, she received no sponsors even with high scores. The people of the Capitol resented her for her cold interview and the resentment grew when she got her district partner, the more popular tribute from Five and her older brother killed.

It annoyed him that his tribute tried to imitate someone like the infamous Estelle. His tribute cared too much for her image rather than her skills. Huxley didn't even have to pretend to care as anyone could see that his own tribute didn't care at all. But he didn't envy Sera. He knew the more skilled and promise, a tribute showed, the bigger the disappointment was when they died. Though she got lucky the year before with Zephyr.

"He's good at swimming." He added as an afterthought.

Sera shook her head. She kept her eyes on the big screen in front of her, trained on her own tribute. "Swimming in lakes and rivers is different from this." She mumbled under her breath, quiet enough for only Huxley to hear.

From the corner of her eyes, she could see Finnick leaned over the screen in front of him. The District 4 victor's brows were scrunched up as he anxiously fiddled with his hands. He really wanted that Annie-girl to win.

A part of Sera was jealous of how much he cared for the redhead while the rational part reminded her that she was his tribute and family friend, of course he could care for her. She also wanted Annie to win but only if her tribute didn't make it. She turned back to her own screen and watched in silence. Her tribute looked at ease at first, going against the tides but then his arms started to tire.

"Maybe I could send a—"

Before Sera could get up, Huxley grabbed her arm and shook his head. It was too late. The dam broke an hour ago and the tributes from their district had survived this far when only eight tributes were left. A little more and they could make it. But he knew better.

Boom!

The familiar sound of cannon echoed through the observation room as the girl from District 1 stopped struggling against the tides. She was near Huxley's tribute and had made one last attempt on her life by trying to grab onto Annie.

She failed.

Her last light of life left her when another tide washed over her, submerging her under and spitting her onto the surface of the water. Huxley watched as the body of the girl from District 1 was washed away with the tide. Behind Huxley and Sera, they heard a loud crack.

Everyone turned to look at the source of the noise. It was Augustus. Sera threw a look of pity and understanding to her fellow victor and friend who nodded with a bitter smile, accepting the sentiment.

The District 1 mentor stood up and quietly apologized to the other mentors before walking out of the room in a somber mood. Sera watched him go and didn't dare to stop him. She knew better not to.

Augustus was an emotional fool who may have pretended to be strong but deep down he was just as scarred as the rest of them.

"Too late for any of them." Huxley muttered to his fellow mentor, bringing Sera's attention back to the screens.

Boom!

Another sound of the cannon pounded as now the boy from seven went down. There were six tributes remaining. Sera could clearly see her own tribute getting tired from swimming.

Come on.

Sera thought, biting her lips in anticipation.

She gestured to the screen to come closer and it moved to where she sat. Huxley came down and sat next to her. Both their tributes were side by side now. His tribute held on to his district partner for dear life as they both tried to paddle against the rising tide.

Come on.

The girl from Five, Huxley's tribute, kicked her feet and dragged her partner up. Sera almost cheered at this action. It wasn't over yet. The two tributes from five grabbed onto a branch nearby and held on.

Boom!

The sound of the cannon echoed in the arena once again. This time, the name and image of the female tribute from 11 was shown on the screen. Another booming sound of the cannon echoed as the male tribute from 8 was flashed on the screen.

There were now four tributes remaining.

The two mentors from 5 sat back down as their colleagues who just lost their tributes left the room. Some were clearly angry while others like Cecelia from District 8 were upset. She left the room immediately as tears rolled down her face. Sera just watched her leave and made no motion to go comfort her, she couldn't. Not when her own tribute was still in the game.

"So we have Annie in the lead, with that boy from 1 and our tributes. Seems simple enough." Sera stated out-loud. She tried to be optimistic about her own tribute and the games, overall. Even if it was futile.

Huxley didn't respond at all. He had a grim look upon his face. He didn't say anything and waited.

The girl from her district couldn't hold anymore and she let go. The tides swept her away and she impaled on a sharp tree branch. Her blood dyed the rushing currents a bright crimson before the dye faded into a light pink.

Boom!

Her face, frozen in haughty smirk with her perfect dark blonde hair was projected onto the 'sky' inside the arena.

Her partner didn't cry, only bowing his head down in respect. If he cried, he'd grow even weaker and the last thing he wanted was to meet the same fate she did. He tried to swim against the tide instead, trying to follow Annie who was flowing with the tide as if she was the one in control.

Sera wouldn't lie and say she wasn't even a little impressed with Annie's swimming skills. The girl so far had been mundane to watch. Little to no skills, always so timid but she was kind and pretty. People liked kind tributes, even more so if they were pretty. The girl did show some talents wielding a trident though a little clumsier than her mentor. Sera still thought she was a little boring…that was until the dam broke.

When the dam shattered, Annie was the quickest to adapt. Like a fish to the sea, she was in her natural environment. She seemed stronger in the fast currents than on land, faster too. Sera was in awe, watching the girl cling on to dear life—no, she wasn't even clinging on. She was trying to outswim and outlast her competitors. She had a good shot at winning a bloodless game, something Sera envied her for.

The boy from One, Agate was also equally skilled, both on land and water. He was the threat both Annie and Sera's own tribute needed to watch out for. He wasn't under Augustus, he was mentored by some older tribute from One—Laelia who was very calm in the horrifying situation. Her cold jade eyes were trained on the monitor, she kept her eyes trained on her tribute while on her lap was a notepad.

"She's taking notes." Sera murmured, observing Laelia. It was impressive. Sera was also taking notes but in her mind and she didn't think other victors did that.

"Laelia?" Huxley questioned and Sera nodded. "She's like that. Most people don't like that. They think she's too cold for it."

"They're wrong." Taking notes would help future tributes well, it was a shame that Laelia's habits weren't the norm.

She shifted her attention back to the screen and her heart dropped. Agate had stopped swimming against the tide and instead allowed himself to drift back. He was still in control but it seemed he had other plans. Ignoring Annie, he floated behind Sera's tribute. The boy from Five was none the wiser, he let his guard down and Agate took advantage of that.

On the edge of her seat, she could only watch wide-eyed with horror as Agate slit her tribute's throat in an instant. Blood spewed out of his wound as he struggled to breathe. He lost his fight and drifted against the tides. His blood dyed the waters crimson like his partner's did an hour or two ago and he floated, drowning first in his own blood and then in the rushing waters.

Boom!

Sera drew a sharp breath, attracting the attention of a few victors nearby. Finnick almost went to her but stopped, remembering Annie was still in the game. Huxley was beside her still, he reached for her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. She returned the gesture. He too had lost a tribute and he actually knew her for longer.

The boy she had known for only two weeks had been swept by the tide, buried under the flowing currents, submerged into a watery temporary grave.

She leaned back, too stunned to move or react. Yet she didn't really feel a thing. Still she had to pretend she did. He did die young despite his efforts, his death was beyond his control. At least, Annie had a better shot at winning. If anyone had to win, she'd prefer Annie to win.

Silence enveloped the room again but this time Sera had no idea why. Momentarily she had taken her eyes off the screen to give a second to mourn her fallen tribute. When she did look back, both remaining tributes had gone still.

Laelia and Finnick glanced over at each other for an explanation while the other mentors scrambled to find an answer to what just happened. Sera turned her back to the chaos and stared deeply into the screen. One thing she could tell was that both tributes were alive but the game was over.

The screens all turned to black throwing the room into chaos.

A loud static screeched, deafening them all and stopping the chaos temporarily before a dull voice coughed into the speakers. "This is an announcement for Laelia Hastings and Finnick Odair, please report to the Control Room in ten minutes." Laelia scrunched up her face in confusion, she didn't know what was going on and neither did Finnick.

Both hurriedly left the room, Finnick barely sparing Sera a glance and she could only try to give him a reassuring smile while Laelia had all but ran out of the room.

Everyone was so unsure of what was going to happen but one thing they were all sure about was that they would never allow two tributes to win so it meant one thing only. Annie or Agate were going to die.

Whether they were going to die inside or outside the arena—was a question Sera didn't want to think about.