Trigger warnings: Mentions of a death

Just in case I'm being watched, I head down the corridor and into the bathroom. Then I go on my search to find Finch.

In the room that Gwen left me in, the food tables have been moved slightly to the side so that more people can dance. On a makeshift stage, musicians are dressed as cats. One is playing what seems to be a large, deeper violin which is as tall as the musician, whilst others are blowing into wooden and metallic instruments as they prance around. Capitol people sway to the music, laughing, clapping and cheering. I scan the room for Finch but there's no sign of her.

The next room has a floor which is flashing in a series of different lights. Wolves are on the stage, blowing into golden round instruments whilst a woman in front plays some kind of stringed instruments and screams into the microphone. It's loud- unbearably so- and there's so many more people in this room that the last one.

A woman nearby me is gripping a tall drink and shouting along to the singer. It takes me a moment to realise that it's in fact Gwen- but she's lost her brown wig, revealing short, greying blond hair.

"Gwen!" I shout.

She looks over at me, beaming, "Oh Glimmer! Come and join us, dear!" She gestures to a group of men and women behind her dressed as various plants, "It's my favourite band- The Red Pack! Aren't they good?"

"Gwen, I think I'm going to go!"

She cups an ear, "What?"

"I'm going to leave!"

"Oh, okay dear," She looks disappointed, "See you later!"

I head back to the set of doors leading to the first room. My last vision of Gwen is her throwing her head back and forth, her drink splashing in her hand. I force my way back through the throngs of people in the first room, and then make my way to the room on the left where soft violin music filters through.

Moving in the room, I see that couples are dancing in a circle. Cakes, pastries and bottles of alcohol line the tables along the walls. To a room further to the left, I can see a large table with ornate chairs. Likely the Dining Room where President Snow is.

"May I have this dance?"

I turn to see a young woman, dressed in a badger costume, curls of brown hair peeking out from her wig of black and white hair. She smiles at me shyly, extending a gloved hand.

"Uh....I....uh..."

An arm suddenly wraps around me, making me jump. There's a flash of orange, and a voice says close to my ear, "Sorry, she's with me. Isn't that right, Princess?"

"Right," I say hurriedly, "Sorry."

The badger-woman looks like she might object, but Finch leads me by the arm and out of the room.

"I found it," She hisses, "Let's go."

It takes me a moment to realise what she means and why I brought her along in the first place. The Gamemaker's room? It was in the President's Mansion, like Arion said?

"Wait," I say, "You found-"

"I'll tell you when we're back in your room," She interrupts quietly, "It was pretty easy to access. What have you been doing all this time? Flirting?"

My cheeks redden but I don't respond. We head through the entrance hall and out into the Capitol street. It's colder and dark now, but still packed full of people, singing and drinking. We head to the Tribute Centre and pass two guards, who are playing with a pack of cards.

Just before we head down the corridor towards my room, Finch holds up a hand for me to stop. I don't hear or see anything but I copy her movements and press myself against the wall. Seconds pass, and then I hear footsteps getting louder coming down the corridor. They're accompanied by severely off-key singing, and after a moment, Gloss passes in daffodil yellow pyjamas, warbling into a toothbrush.

Finch waits for the footsteps to die away and then she taps my arm, and scurries silently to my room. I close the door quietly shut behind us once we're inside, and turn towards her inquiringly.

She holds out a hand, "Paper and pen."

I move over to the intercom in my room and minutes later, an A4 sheet of paper appears and a blue pen. Finch snatches them from my palm and places the paper onto my bedroom floor. Then, tongue sticking out of her mouth, she crouches down and begins to draw.

At first, I don't understand what she's doing. She draws a large wobbly circle, and then adds a smaller one in the middle. But then she starts to add small lines with swirls coming off them and tiny lines joined together. Somehow, trees and grass comes to mind, and it just clicks.

"The arena!" I blurt excitedly, "You found a picture of the arena!"

"A hologram," She corrects, "It was in the centre of the room, and a couple of Gamemakers were gesturing to various bits."

"They didn't see you?"

She rolls her eyes, "You said it yourself. I'm a good thief. I wouldn't be alive if I wasn't."

"But you're in a bright orange dress."

"And one of them was dressed as a rose bush. Your point?"

"You're incredible. That's all. So, what have they got in the arena?" I ask, crouching down to join her.

"Woods," She shrugs, "A wheat field."

"They had it labelled?"

"Can't read. But I know what I saw."

"And this is right?"

She glares at me, "I have a good memory. Have some trust in me."

"I do," I murmur, "I told you where the Gamemakers are. I told you that the party was happening tonight, and got you that dress."

She holds my gaze, head tilted slightly, "So you did." She murmurs.

Her eyes drop back down to the paper. She scratches with the pen on it some more and then taps her makeshift map twice, "Ok, so look," She gestures at the small circle, "Here's the Cornucopia. It's flat ground aside form the lake. But," She moves her pen to the right, "Here they have a forest. There's some streams and lakes and later on, caves. On the other side, they have a wheat field with lots of tunnels going underground."

I glance it over. Her drawing's not the clearest but I can tell what's what. I touch the ring that's the Cornucopia with my forefinger.

"Cato hasn't been the most upfront with his plans, but my guess is that the Careers and I will probably set up base here where the food is. If you stay nearby," I tap the forest, "I'll be able to give you easy access to our supply. In return, if there are any poisonous foods in the forest, you can bring them to me."

"And you'll use it to kill the other Careers."

I nod, "All in the same night."

Silence falls between us as we both study the map.

"Of course, you could betray me to the Careers," She notes.

"And you could use the poisons to kill me and the other Careers yourself," I add, "But it's kind of nice having an ally, isn't it?"

There's another pause and I glance her way. Her face is inscrutable as she studies the map. For all I know, this in itself could be a ruse. But I need her. And, as good a thief as she is, stealing food from the Careers isn't entirely without it's risk. What choice do I have but to take the chance and ally with her?

She rises, silent, to her feet. Giving the map one last look, she says, "See you tomorrow." She frowns, and then eyes darting to me, mutters, "And thanks."

"Likewise," I murmur.

There's a click as my door opens and closes, and then she's gone.

I take the map and stare at it, trying to commit it to memory. Then I take the paper in both hands and rip it into several pieces. They flutter to the ground and I scoop them up, shoving them into my pillow. If anyone should find them and put the pieces together, I should hopefully be already in the arena.

I awake the next morning, smiling. Humming to one of the songs they play in the Rising Phoenix, I dress in my training gear and brush out the knots from my hair. I know what the arena will look like. I have an ally- though, of course, not one I trust completely- in Finch. And I have upheld my vow to my family. All in one night.

I pick up the suit I have left lying on the floor, and carefully take out my golden hairpin and tuck it into my training trousers.

I smile, and roll back my head, weightless. All that's left is to hope the poison had enough affect on Snow. And if not, if the Games continue as normal, then I'll just have to try and shoot accurately enough for the Gamemakers and secure a good enough score to get sponsors and keep my allies.

I step lightly out of my room and walk into the Dining Room. It looks brighter than it was yesterday. I'll have a hot chocolate, and at least two of those buns and rolls. Maybe I'll even dip them in and see what that tastes like.

Gwen is alone in the Dining Room, hunched over a steaming mug.

"Morning Gwen," I beam, as I flounce into the seat beside her.

Then I see her reddened eyes, the tears running down her cheeks, the tissues gripped in her left hand.

"Gwen," I say, my voice hushed, "What's wrong?"

She speaks the words dully into her drink: "It's Minerva Snow, the President's daughter...she's dead."