THE next morning, Aella was one of the last Tributes to arrive to the training centre. She had spent her morning arguing with Flax about how he wanted to style her hair into three ponytails with braids and plaster her face in makeup. When Daniel left with Drew all the pair could hear was Aella, Flax and Clio arguing with one other loudly though it sounded like Aella was winning.

She was itching to get her fingers on a set of throwing knives and a machete to unleash some of her pent up anger but Flax was the only thing standing between her and those weapons. She was irritated and she snapped before getting up out of her chair and storming out of the apartment with her hair still down. Clio followed, shouting after her, but the elevator doors had closed before she could catch up in her outrageously high heels.

When the doors to the training centre slid open Aella walked out with her chin up and her back straight. She glanced around fleetingly to see the majority of her fellow tributes training, already occupied to notice her but up above where Plutarch Heavensbee and other rich Capitol benefactors stood, silence crept over them. Their eyes drew to her like a moth to a flame and she merely glanced up at them as they gathered with expensive drinks in their hands. They spoke to one another in hushed tones and whispers.

She recognised some of them. She had been forced to meet them at the last Presidential Party she'd attended the year Johanna won her Games. She remembered the way their eyes focused more on her body than they did on her face and her jaw clenched in sheer anger. President Snow had already sold her to them, without her ever knowing, but when she declined his offer they lost out on the opportunity to spend the night with one of the most desirable women in Panem.

Unfortunately for both her and President Snow, it only made Aella even more desirable than ever before.

Her eyes found Heavensbee's and she held his gaze long enough to see him tip her head toward her in greeting. He lifted his flute of expensive champagne with a knowing expression in his eyes. Aella nodded once in a way that was so subtle only Heavensbee recognised it. It was his way of asking if she was on board and her way of confirming that she was. She had no doubt Haymitch would inform the man of her conditions, they both knew what she'd do to him if he didn't.

A shudder overpowered her and her fists clenched tightly. Her shoulders and her neck were tense with anger and she tried to roll them out as she walked straight over to the simulation centre. Her heart created a drumming tune. She kept her breathing steady but the slight tremble of her right hand was enough to give her away. The rage was almost overwhelming but she forced herself to not become blinded by it. All she needed was to feel the weight of a balanced machete in her hands and she'd be sated.

She looked to the starting screen outside the glass doors and picked her weapon before she entered her difficultly to the highest setting. The simulation centre was entirely new to her but she doubted it would be hard to master. She needed a challenge, something to take her mind away from the prying eyes of the middle aged men devouring the way she moved above her.

She picked up a holster belt and equipped six throwing knives into the slots. She felt the way they laid against her waist and took a deep breath. The familiarity of it all punched her in the gut but she did well to ignore it. Instead, she reached out and grabbed a machete from the rack and held it lightly, examining the matte black weapon.

With a deep exhale she walked through the sliding glass doors and they closed behind her, blocking out the noise of heavy breathing and strenuous movements created by everyone else training. She was trapped inside and her body readjusted to it's new circumstances. Her eyes narrowed gently, ears attuned to hear the quietest of sounds and she readied herself.

She stood on the platform and waited. Waited, waited, waited. Bright orange strobe lights pounded down against the floor and they moved in unison as the floor to ceiling glass walls frosted to prevent her from seeing outside. She rocked on her feet, fingers readjusting their grip on the handle as she waited.

Footsteps echoed behind her and warned of an approaching attack, she turned to see an orange blocky hologram charging toward her with a trident. The irony of it brought a smirk to her lips as she pivoted to the side to avoid the flying object. She thrusted the blade of the machete forward through the hologram. There was small force as the machete connected with the hologram, simulating what it would be like to stab through human flesh.

She withdrew her weapon as the hologram disappeared around her feet and she saw another running toward her out of the corner of her eyes. She grabbed a throwing knife from her holster and threw it with precision, watching as it landed between the eyes.

Two approached her at the same time, both running from opposing sides of the room. One ran from up a height with two spears in its hands and the other charged directly toward her with an ax. They ran at different speeds but she calculated that they'd arrive to her at the same time.

She waited until the very last second until she moved. The one in front of her stepped up on to the platform, it's ax swinging toward her face but she stepped towards her right in a pivot before she sliced through the side of the hologram. The swing of her blade carried into the second hologram and it sliced through the stomach of it. They both fell apart by her feet.

She twisted the machete in her hand and thrusted it backwards behind her in the space between her arm and her side and she felt the rebound of connection. She stabbed the next hologram from behind and struck where the heart would be. The orange blocks disappeared as they fell around her.

One ran across the ledge towards her, a bow in its hands and she reached for a dagger in her holster. She threw it as it stopped to equip an arrow to shoot her. It hit through the chest and orange blocks spilled over the ledge and on to the floor before disappearing.

Another charged toward her with little to no warning and she raised her machete to block the attack. The two weapons collided in the air and she stepped back before thrusting forward. The tip of the machete impaled the figure through the abdomen and followed through to poke out the other side. She withdrew and saw a second figure coming in on her left. It also held a trident and it aimed for her chest.

She dropped to her knees, pivoting in a half spin and she sliced behind the knee. The figure fell but it didn't disintegrate. Instead, she raised to her feet and with two hands on the handle she pushed the machete through its back.

The orange strobe lights disappeared and she stood still, her chest heaving rapidly. The sand and abandoned buildings disappeared from her vision and she realised where she was. The dark setting engulfed her. She wasn't in the arena. She was in a training simulation and it was over.

The frosted glass lightened enough for her to catch various figures watching her. Her fingers were shaking slightly by her side and she used her hand to push them through her untamed hair, moving it out of her face. The doors slid open and she walked out, her footsteps echoing in her ears. Her head lifted slightly and her eyes found an oceanic colour that settled her immediately.

He was waiting for her by the weapons rack and he watched as she put the machete back and undid the holster around her waist. She set it on the table and withdrew the four remaining throwing knives before putting them away.

"That was impressive." He remarked, arms crossed tightly across his broad chest.

She shook her head to herself, barely meeting his gaze and said, "Shut up, Fin."

"No, I'm being serious." He responded though she detected a smug tone to his voice. She didn't need to look up to know his lips had curved into his usual smirk, "My favourite part was when you killed two with one hit. I wonder where you learned that."

She met his gaze properly and saw as he tapped his lip in thought though she knew he was joking. Sort of. People around the room watched as they interacted, two out of the three of the Deadly Trio messing around as if they weren't young adults with the wicked ability to murder.

Aella shoved him lightly by his shoulder as they walked away from the simulation centre and she tried to suppress the grin on her lips, "You want me to credit you? Fine. You're credited. I couldn't possibly of learned to murder people effectively if it weren't for you."

When she said it he grabbed her wrist and he tugged her closer to him. His eyes narrowed fractionally as he looked around, "Shh." He warned her with a small shake of his head.

Her heart fell into the depths of her stomach then and she joined him in searching for anyone who could've overheard her. She and Finnick would've both been killed if anyone ever did find out that he had helped her all those years ago. It was essentially cheating though the pair had opted for using the term 'bending the system' instead.

"Right," Aella mumbled quietly once she was sure no one heard her, "Sorry."

Finnick shook his head, his eyes still flickering around the room casually and they swept over Gloss and Cashmere. They were both staring intensely into the back of Aella's skull, hardened glares on their face. It didn't sit right with him but he knew he didn't have the liberty to put his arm around her waist and protect her. The hairs on the back of his neck rose when he saw Drew approach them and they turned into a trio starting at her with deadly intent.

Aella frowned up at him, blissfully unaware of what he was staring at over her head, "Fin?"

He tried to meet her gaze quickly but he wasn't fast enough. Aella managed to follow his gaze and she looked over her shoulder and her back straightened. Her eyes met Cashmere's specifically and she narrowed her eyes at her while her face hardened.

Aella watched as her brother tugged at her wrist but it wasn't enough to divert her attention from her. She looked ready to pounce and it was Finnick who was the one to intervene. He stepped in front of Aella, forcing their stare to break and he captured her attention by saying, "You were right by the way," He said and she looked at him with a confused frown but it wasn't long before he said, "Cashmere is a type of fabric. Usually used to make sweaters."

He forced a grin to her lips and she shook her head in amusement. The anger had disappeared and for a while, Aella was back. He smiled when he saw her grin. It was genuine and filled with happiness and it knocked all the air out of her chest. At that angle he was angelic. His dirty blond tresses fell messily down his forehead and his eyes shone more of an ocean blue colour, the shimmer in them bright. His lips stretched into a bright smile, perfect white teeth shining at her and she had to force herself to swallow as her heart fluttered in all the ways it shouldn't.

She clawed her way out of his captivating stare and forced her eyes away from his, "That's why she hates me." She remarked.

Finnick shrugged nonchalantly, "Probably."

She met his gaze with a cheeky grin, "Definitely."

He pulled his lip between his teeth while he watched her but her attention was elsewhere. She looked around, trying to control the pounding of her heart and her eyes lingered on the heavy mats set up in the centre of the room. They were unoccupied but not for much longer. It had been far too long since she had properly sparred with someone and she looked at Finnick with an arched brow, "Spar with me?"

"With you?" He scoffed as if she ever had to ask and he nodded, "Always."

Her lips curved again but this time it was a soft smirk that rose to her face as opposed to a grin. They walked over to the mats together and as they passed Aella noticed Peeta walking around watching. He met her gaze for a small second and she nodded in greeting toward him, "Peeta."

"Aella." He responded but she was whisked away before he could even think to say something to her.

Finnick and Aella stood opposite one another on the mats, ready to go and it was him who initiated their fight. It was a show for both their fellow Tributes and the sponsors sitting up above watching but to them, it was a way to be close without raising suspicion.

They moved with skill and precision, showcasing their talents effectively. Aella was quick to move her body and her feet were fast, it showed when she dodged one of Finnick's attempts to tackle her by pivoting to the side. She thrusted her elbow into his back, winding him, and he stumbled forward some few steps.

He turned to her with a hazed glare but he found her grinning in satisfaction, rubbing salt further into the wound she'd created in his ego. He surged forward with such power it was intimidating to the likes of Peeta who stood by and observed. Aella was quick to dive away, using quick steps, but Finnick swiped his leg and kicked her knees from behind. They buckled and she fell with a wince as he picked on her weak spot. She moved to crawl away but he grabbed leg, pulling her back before he grabbed her shoulder and forced her on to her back with such force it knocked the air out of her.

He displayed his strength in the way he pinned her to the floor but her arms moved quickly to try and knock him off. She hit his arm away from hers and aimed for his face but he caught her wrist easily, leaving himself open. She didn't stop. She picked away at him and he her until eventually he held his fist intimidatingly close to her throat, mimicking a knife in his hand with a smug grin on his face. She pushed his arm away with both of hers and in a quick move, hooked her legs in his before using her upper body strength to flip them over.

Their position was new to them both and it was powerfully intimate. It knocked them both off guard and Aella was more than aware of his hand placed on her hip, his fingers slipping under the tight material of her shirt and digging into her exposed flesh in a pleasurable way. Finnick seemed to notice it, too, because he stared at her with wide eyes and his breath caught in his throat. He recovered fast—quicker than Aella—and he continued sparring with her but his mind was occupied by the fire raging in his heart and the way his fingertips tingled as they caressed her skin.

They continued fighting until they were bored. There was no winner—as usual—as every time one of them came remotely close the other took the upper hand.

Aella stood, her heart pounding furiously against her chest while she used her forearm to wipe away the sweat that had gathered on the brow of her forehead. She exhaled deeply and extended her hand to help Finnick up.

He anchored himself up but he'd lost her attention to Cashmere and Gloss again as they watched from afar. Aella didn't hold their stare like he expected her to and instead she turned her back to them and said to him in a quiet murmur, "They're staring again."

He nodded once, "Because we're a threat, Ella. They want to kill you. They won't show you mercy." He said to her in a low whisper.

She nodded, remembering the night he told her that and she met his gaze head on and recited, "Kill them if you can."

His eyes left hers, flickering down her face and lingering on her lips for a few short seconds but it was enough for her to know he was starting at them. Absentmindedly, she ran her tongue against her bottom lip gently before she turned her head away and saw Johanna watching them from afar with a smirk on her face.

She didn't look back at him as she said, "I'm going to see Johanna."

She left him in the dust, the tether between them pulling so taught each step became painful. She could've stayed forever, staring into his beautiful ocean eyes. She could've listened to him speak, watch him train...

Finnick was barely collected but no one could see for his smug smirk. He made it seem like a game to them but Aella knew how he worked and it flustered her in all the ways it shouldn't. He distracted her to an extent where she couldn't think of anyone but him and when they were less than four days away from heading into an arena only one was destined to leave it was hard. Even with Haymitch's promise lingering in the back of her mind it was hard for her to think of anything else. She wanted so badly to spend every waking moment she could with him. She wanted to be able to tell him freely how she felt without fearing for their lives.

He was her weakness no matter how hard she tried to tell herself otherwise.

When she reached Johanna the smirk on her friends face had grown almost twice in size and it made Aella roll her eyes. Of everyone that could've known about her feelings towards Finnick it had to be her. Aella and Johanna hadn't seen eye to eye after the latter emerged as Victor but one fateful Presidential Party later they formed a friendship. Ironically enough it was Finnick who brought them all together and thus the Deadly Trio was formed.

"Why are you smirking, Johanna?" Aella grumbled.

Johanna chuckled heartily and she dropped her ax to the ground to draw her arms around Aella's back. The two women embraced for mere seconds before pulling away but they stayed close. They hadn't had the chance to catch up following the Tribute Parade. Aella was late and Johanna left almost immediately after the event had finished. It had been well over a year since they'd seen each other last but their bond remained strong. It seemed that they still knew exactly what was going on in one another's lives.

She shook her head in obvious amusement, "It's just so obvious—"

"Shut up now before you get either of us into trouble." Aella snapped, her eyes narrowed dangerously.

Johanna rolled her eyes. Aella's threatening stare washed straight over her head as always. She knew she wouldn't do anything, perhaps punch her in the face if anything but it wasn't nothing she couldn't handle. The opportunity to tease her only two friends was just too much to pass up on, "I just wish you'd just kiss on television and get it over and done with."

"Oh you'd love that." Aella responded, shoving her shoulder gently.

The woman nodded her head, "I would," She replied truthfully, "I'd love to see you two finally come clean together and say a big 'fuck you' to Snow."

Aella shook her head and looked away, her eyes darting over the rest of the tributes to see what they were up to. She saw Finnick talking with Peeta but the intimidation in the younger man's eyes shone despite how he tried to hold himself. She couldn't blame him, Finnick intimidated her at the best of times but for an entirely different reason.

Katniss was occupied with Mags outside the archery simulation, she conversed with the older woman quietly and offered a bow to her but Mags only shook her head and urged Katniss forward. Aella pursed her lips and turned her back to them both, crossing her arms over her chest.

She trusted Johanna and she knew her well enough to know that Haymitch would have approached her or if not he would be within the next few days. What she didn't trust, however, was the people and the cameras around her and so she positioned her body so that her face was concealed and when she was sure it was safe she said,

"Did you talk to Abernathy?"

Johanna's eyes flickered upward for a few fleeting seconds and Aella thought she was looking at Heavensbee. Her companion nodded once silently in response to her question and Aella's jaw clenched. Her eyes swept over the room again and she released a controlled exhale. Comfort washed over her in the next breath.

Haymitch's plan was more than just words on paper it seemed. It was genuine and her worries about it being ill-thought out started to dissipate. Johanna of all people would've agreed to the rebellion. She and Aella were startlingly similar. No immediate family to worry about no thanks to President Snow and an overwhelming thirst to see said man dead with a knife lodged into any lethal part of his body.

The two women were in it together and while Johanna had absolutely nothing to lose, Aella had Finnick, Clio and Daniel, she had Sal, Natalia and Sam to think about. Though deep down, there was a large part of her that was willing to die for the rebellion if it meant President Snow would meet his demise also.

"Hell of a deal." Johanna mumbled quietly. Aella hummed in response and Johanna meet her gaze again and asked, "You agree?"

She nodded her head, "With conditions."

Johanna scoffed and nodded, "Naturally."

Aella scowled at her, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're not the only one who had conditions."

Aella's eyes narrowed in confusion as she looked at Johanna. Her curiosity peaked and she wondered who it was she was talking about. It brought her to think about just how many tributes had signed up to this rebellion, to this deal to protect Katniss and Peeta in exchange for refuge in District Thirteen.

Aella didn't even know where District Thirteen was. It was decimated long ago during the First War—or at least that's what everyone thought. How did Plutarch even know about District Thirteen? It was a grey area within the conditions of the agreement but she didn't try to think about it.

"Who else agreed?" She asked curiously, turning her back again to look at the tributes around them. The majority had gathered around the archery range to watch Katniss shoot, "When I left last night Beetee had just arrived.... He and Wiress?"

Johanna nodded once, "There's a few of us," she said, "Me and Blight. The Morphlings—"

Aella's brows rose, "The Morphlings are in on it?"

Johanna nodded and laughed comically, "I don't know how they're going to help but, yes, they agreed."

She shook her head, "Wow."

Johanna hummed in agreement before she said, "Finnick signed the deal for he and Mags, too."

Aella's shoulders tensed and she met Johanna's knowing gaze, "Finnick?"

"Of course." She nodded, "He of all people would agree to the rebellion. We both know the power Snow holds over him."

Rage flashed before Aella once again and the hairs on the back of her neck rose. Finnick was one of the unlucky ones. He accepted Snow's deal when he turned of age, fearful of losing the ones he loved. To those who didn't know him, he came across as someone who didn't care about anyone but himself but deep down he cared too much—it was his weakness. He hid it well but Snow had a knack for exploiting his Victors and their weaknesses.

Aella couldn't see any of them aside from Finnick having conditions and she wondered what it was that he'd proposed.

She met Johanna's gaze again and asked, "Finnick has conditions?"

Johanna nodded her head gently but she never elaborated. If she knew she didn't tell Aella and that irritated her. Of course, she had no right to know what his conditions were but she wanted to know. It was like a burning desire but she had a feeling she'd never find out.

Her counterpart left her standing in confusion and she walked over to the archery simulator, joining the crowd to observe how Katniss Everdeen worked a bow and arrow. She didn't call back to Aella, she left her to think through her thoughts and like she had expected the woman followed her over less than a minute later. She stood between Johanna and Finnick, arms crossed over her chest as they watched Katniss but she didn't pay much attention. She was too busy trying to figure out Finnick's conditions and wondering if it was too late to make amendments to hers.

•   •   •

The holding area that crammed in all twenty-four tributes was hot and humid. The small box space wasn't big enough to hold them and their personalities and the air was thick with tension. It was enough to intimidate and Aella tried to keep a clear mind. She sat on the left hand side of the room with District's One through Six and Seven through Twelve were seated on the opposite side.

The chairs they were given weren't even chairs rather small cages upside down, metal in nature and uncomfortable to sit on. They were in rows of four and she was against the back wall next to Drew and the male morphling she didn't even know the name of. She forced herself not to fidget, Clio's warning words echoed through her mind so she sat forward and rested her elbows against her legs instead. Her fingers interlocked and she cracked her knuckles lightly but the pops that echoed through the silent room were loud. Only Johanna and Finnick knew who it was that was creating that sound and their stomachs churned listening to her.

Finnick's back was to her as he talked quietly to Mags but he glanced fleetingly over to her, brows furrowing as he caught her staring straight ahead. Her face was entirely blank and there was nothing behind her eyes. He couldn't decipher a single thought or emotion. All he could see was the way she frowned softly, her brows drawn together in a way that indicated her mind was working in overtime. He itched to try and catch her attention but before he could Claudius Templesmith's voice echoed around them.

"District Four. Finnick Odair. Report for individual assessment."

She froze hearing them call his name and she looked up, shoulders tense. It was the first time she'd looked up from the ground since she sat down and Finnick rose to his feet slowly. Everyone in the room watched him and he gave Mags a small smile, his hand on her shoulder to which she placed her own over the top. His eyes swiped over the room casually though it was all a ploy to meet her gaze.

He didn't do anything except look into her eyes but a wave of comfort washed over her. The way he looked at her settled her, the way his eyes had softened in a caring nature before he looked away and left through the double doors.

Aella exhaled deeply as the doors echoed shut and she sat back, drawing her knees up to her chest. She fought to keep herself together and instead of focusing on her growing nerves she thought about her anger. She reminded herself of the reason she was sat in that stupid room in the first place, of the reason why her family were dead. It kept her going.

Minutes flew by and before she knew it, Mags was called next for her individual assessment. She had no idea what the older woman planned on doing but she didn't think she'd be long. The thought caused a thick layer of sweat to coat her palms and she placed her hands on her knees.

Aella ran through her options for her individual assessment. Daniel had warned her yesterday to think of something to showcase and she had spent all that time wracking her brain to figure something out. She was proficient with just about any weapon aside from a bow and arrow but her natural talent laid within throwing knives.

Her skill was precise and she had never once missed a target but she wanted to make a statement. She didn't want to blend in with the rest of the tributes especially when both Cashmere, Gloss and Enobaria would've already demonstrated their skills in handling knives. It became boring after a while seeing the same thing over and over and Aella was everything but boring.

"District Five. Drew Lopez. Report for individual assessment."

Drew stood up beside Aella and he glanced down at her, expecting her to say something but she didn't. She didn't even look up at him and instead he walked away. She closed her eyes and rested her head back against the cool wall as her mind drew a blank. She couldn't think of what to do, everything had evaded her mind in an stress-induced panic. At this point she couldn't even remember what her chosen skill was in her original Games.

Prove a point, she thought to herself. Prove a point, prove a point, prove a point.

She couldn't think of anything that could help her make a statement besides throwing knives up at the new force field that had been installed on the balcony, keeping the Gamemakers in and the tributes out. Her mind was entirely blank and the minutes ticked by quickly, even more so when Drew was showcasing nothing spectacular next door. She should have anticipated the time between her and Finnick's individual assessments would be short.

Drew was proficient with a spear but he didn't win his Games by fighting. He won on a whim, hiding until the majority had died and when the final five were pushed back to the Cornucopia by mutts and pods two of them died. He watched as the male from District Two and the female from District Eight fought, injuring and maiming one another in all the critical places and when the District Two male finally killed the female from Eight he swept in and threw his spear from behind, piercing Two's heart and finishing him off.

There was only so much skill a person could show with a spear and even if Drew was the most skilled person within the Games—which he wasn't—he was hated by many.

"District Five. Aella Barnes. Report for individual assessment."

Aella froze once she heard her name—once she was summoned—and the double doors opened for her but she didn't move. The remaining tributes in the room turned to look at her, waiting for her to move but all she did was purse her lips. If she wanted to prove a point she may as well of started by showing up late.

Johanna smirked to herself when she realised what she was doing and she turned to Aella and nodded, "Nice one, Aella."

Aella met her satisfied eyes with a knowing glance and they shared the same twisted, amused, grin.

Claudius Templesmith's voice echoed over the tannoy again for the first time in the seventy-five year history of the Hunger Games, "District Five. Aella Barnes. Report for individual assessment immediately."

Her brows rose as she listened to his passive aggressive tone and stood, chuckling to herself under her breath. She took her time in walking to the assessment area. The doors were already open for her and Drew had long since disappeared. The room was empty save for the Gamemakers, rich socialites and Plutarch Heavensbee who sat comfortably behind the force field.

She walked in but before her eyes could even glance over the weapons display they found a large bouquet of white roses on a pillar next to the door. They were right there, so close that the putent stench nauseated her. It knocked her entirely and the rage that consumed her body almost blinded her. Quicker than a flash she was walking through the kitchen of her house, tears streaming down her face as she beheld her mother laid face down in the white roses that littered the wooden floor in front of her. She followed that trail through to the drawing room...

All she could think about was how desperate she was put an end to President Snow and she was once again reminded of why she agreed to join the rebellion.

She clenched her fists at her side, jaw set firmly and she looked up at the Gamemakers, at the elite members of society, and finally at Plutarch Heavensbee.

"Miss Barnes," He said formally though even from across the room she could see the glimmer of amusement in his eyes, "Nice of you to join us. You have ten minutes to present your chosen skill."

Ten minutes.

Ten minutes to make a statement.

Ten minutes to leave her parting gift to President Snow.

Ten minutes...

Plutarch nodded his head fractionally in Aella's direction as she stood there unmoving and she understood the meaning behind it. He was being the voice of encouragement she needed. He gave her the final push and she forgot everything she knew and lost all her inhibitions. She knew how deep routed Clio and Daniel's hate was for President Snow but if they ever found out what she was about to do she was sure they would absolutely tear through her.

She was sure it was classed as some form of treason. If not it was most certainly an assassination threat...but that was exactly what she was going for.

She walked toward the tables with intent, grabbed the one closest to her and swiped it clean. The objects clattered to the floor heavily creating a loud echo that ricocheted through the large room. If the Gamemakers weren't watching before they certainly were now but she paid them no heed, instead she charged over to where the sparring dummies were and grabbed one. She dragged it over to the table and hoisted it up on top before walking over to where the assortment of paints sat. She took the white and red colours, picking them up and carrying them over to the table with the dummy.

She jogged over to the weapons rack as the Gamemakers and Capitol socialites conversed in confusion while watching her with furrowed brows. She reached for two daggers, taking them both and walking back over to the table with them, lying them down for the time being until she needed them.

She tried to keep track of the minutes ticking by but her mind was too unfocused to even make a guess at how long had passed. She was moving quickly and with fierce intent and when she walked away from the table again the whispers grew to quiet chatter. Her final journey took her over to the selection of rope and she grabbed the first one she saw, slinging it over her shoulder before she walked toward the doors she'd just come through minutes ago.

Just when everyone thought she was leaving she stopped before the extravagant bouquet and picked a rose from the middle. She hissed when a thorn pierced her skin. A small trickle of blood ran down her thumb into the palm of her hand and it stained the rose and Aella couldn't help but look at the tarnished petals and smirk. A smell so putent to cancel out that of blood...it was the perfect addition she never thought of.

By the time she had made it back to the table her blood on the white rose had stained but it was still visibly a rose. She laid it carefully on the table and got to work on the dummy. She picked up the white paint and drew his beard well and then swapped the colour for red. The rich colour mixed with her blood as she smeared it around the mouth of the dummy before tracing a splatter down the left side of its chest around where the heart would sit.

As quick as she'd used them, she discarded the paints and wiped her fingers clean on her leggings before reaching for the rose. She placed it perfectly over the heart, grabbed a knife and thrusted it viciously through the plastic of the dummy. She stood back and admired her work, watching as the blade held the rose perfectly and she reached for the rope.

By then, everyone had risen to their feet to get a better view of what she was doing but they still couldn't make it out. They had to sit and watch in sheer confusion as she unraveled the rope and tossed it over the beam above her. She created a noose on the other end, fixing it over the neck of the dummy and she pulled on the rope, anchoring the dummy into the air for them all to see.

The insinuation was very much clear and audible gasps of horror echoed around the room as Aella tied off the dummy to the table though in between them all Plutarch stood with a satisfied smirk on his face.

Aella picked up the second dagger she'd retrieved and walked to the other end of the room before turned back on herself and threw the dagger from a far distance with malicious intent. Everyone—including her—watched with bated breath as the knife soared through the air before finding home in the exact spot she had intended for it to.

It dug into the point between the eyes, angling deep in a manner that would be hard to remove—especially in plastic. She released a breath when it collided and with a murderous gleam in her eyes she cleared her throat as she looked at the Capitol's finest and the Gamemakers. They cowered in fear seeing the way her eyes stared straight through their souls—icy and hard.

She lifted her hand to her head to salute them but twisted her hand and she flipped her middle finger up, holding it to them as she took a few steps back.

She left them in complete shock and she turned her back on them for the final time. A deadly smirk rose to her lips as she walked out on her own terms without being dismissed. Before she left, however, her eyes lingered on both bouquets of roses sitting on their pillars and she pushed both of the vases over, listening as the ceramic shattered into tiny pieces over the floor and the roses fell symbolically.

Game on President Snow, she mused, Game on.

•   •   •

A;N; Some Aella and Finnick for you plus Aella being a complete baddie threatening Snow... next update Monday!