"Didn't expect to see you so early." I muttered, yawning widely and ending my sentence.

"I couldn't sleep, after what happened to Irene..." she muttered.

"Well I'm pretty sure you've got my morphine, your welcome to use it." I offered, which, in my case, was like sharing part of my soul, but instead of being thankful that I was sharing with her she looked appalled at the thought.

"No, but thank you?" she sighed.

"Did you sleep at all?" I asked, sitting on the couch opposite and watching the TV. The lava girl was once again stirring, and I was able to guess that John and she were the only non-Careers alive, or so they've been the only few I've seen in a while.

"No." she admitted.

"Me neither." I sighed.

"I can tell you've been thinking about what John said right?" she guessed.

"Of course."

"Are you happy about it?" she asked.

"Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?" I defended, kind of insulted that she's think otherwise.

"Well I just thought that you'd be all sad about what could've been you know?" she asked.

"I only want him to be happy, and if he's decided he shares those feelings then that's fantastic." I pointed out. "It's nice to know that I am able to connect to another human."

"Well, I think it is brilliant that you actually found someone that you like, and it's no surprise that he likes you back." Molly said with a smile.

"You're talking." I pointed out.

"Sherlock you just shut up about that! I do not fancy you!" she defended, but there was a smile on her face and I think I saw a bit of a blush in her cheeks.

"Hey, I can't blame you, I'm irresistible." I said with a sarcastic smile.

"You're the biggest jerk I know, but once you get over that you've got a good heart." She assured. I tried to look annoyed with her, but I just couldn't. That was an actual complement, and I was actually feeling something other than dread in my life. Maybe John's influence had made me an all-around better person.

"But are you okay though? I know that it can be rough." Molly asked.

"I'm fine, for now." I shrugged. She nodded and I looked back at the TV. It was John again; poking his head suspiciously out of the bushes to make sure no one was around. He looked like a curious ground hog and I couldn't help laughing to myself. Once he decided the coast was clear he took a bite of the bread and a sip of water and then was off to where ever he was headed. I thought, since he was so far away from the nearest tribute, that he should stay put. If he wandered too close to the barrier the Capital would push him back and it wouldn't be pretty. The screen changed to the Careers, but this time Irene wasn't there, it was the old gang but they looked more uneasy, as if they knew someone could go psycho at any moment and start killing. I felt like I should say something comforting to Molly about Irene, but I didn't know what. She's in a better place? That was pretty pathetic, there was nothing you can really say to that and not sound like an idiot.

"Good morning lovelies." Mrs. Hudson said happily, shuffling over to the armchair.

"Good morning Mrs. Hudson, sleep well?" Molly asked politely, which made me cringe. Too much politeness, tainting my irritability.

"Afraid not, I never really sleep much after a death like that, especially when it's one of our own." She sighed.

"I guess we all could've had a slumber party out here then." I muttered, even though the very idea made me want to jump through the window.

"Did you have a rough night too dear?" she asked Molly, who nodded. Ugh, this compassion thing was getting to be too much, sentiment, kills me.

"Sherlock you don't have to look so bitter, come on, I know there's a smile in there." Mrs. Hudson insisted, and I just smiled. I didn't respond, or even make any notice that I had heard her. Molly and her had some mental conversation, I could tell when they did that, and neither of them spoke for a little while. The Avoxes came in shortly after, bringing us our food silently. I guessed that the Avoxes would be good to talk to, tell secrets and crap because their tongues were cut out by the government. I doubted they'd interrupt me much. Mrs. Hudson thanked them as they left, but they just nodded their heads in reply, walking back off to who knows where. I honestly have no idea how they get in and out of here, maybe a servants elevator or something, but I don't recall seeing one and they don't use the main elevator. It's like they just zap here or something. We sat at the table, once again I ignored the food, even the bacon didn't look appetizing at the moment. Both of them seemed a little bit apprehensive about eating also; Irene's death had shaken us all up apparently. It was weird to be at the  other end of sadness, in my little world I only saw myself as someone who would stop eating and stay up all night, I was the only one effected by this cruel world and everything negative that happened only happened to me. Obviously there was something wrong with that, other people suffer just as much as me, but somehow they learned to control themselves, which, to me, seemed completely impossible. They snapped back when I was just spiraling more and more out of control.

"Oh no." Molly muttered, snapping me out of my mind and turning to the TV, where I saw John still walking.

"What, what's wrong?" I asked suddenly.

"He's getting too close to the border, way too close, he needs to turn around." Molly insisted. I ran to the TV, not bothering to stop when my chair fell hard to the hardwood floor. John was indeed walking too close, Caesar Flickerman was commenting on that, but my heart was about to stop. I knew what the capital did to turn them around, fires, floods; swarms of insects, anything to chase them away, this would not end up well.

"Turn around!" I yelled loudly, as if he would hear me, as if he would actually turn around and walk the other way. He had to know he was getting too close, he's watched the Games; he knows how this turns out. Maybe he was too paranoid of the Careers to stop and really think about what he was doing, but it concerns me.

"He'll be fine Sherlock, it'll be alright." Mrs. Hudson assured, but I knew she had doubts, just like I did. I groaned, covering my face with my hands as if that would somehow make all of this go away. When I opened my eyes back up he'll be fine, prancing along the rocks hundreds of feet away from the barrier and the Careers. But when I opened my eyes he was still walking the way he was, not seeming worried or aware that walking that way will face consequences. I stayed in the living room the rest of the day, I was terrified to watch, I didn't want to see him die, but I needed to make sure he was okay, still breathing, but still walking. The camera flipped on and off him, and every time it came back I was terrified that it was because it was about to happen. As he was walking I began to notice his hair start to fly around, not that I was focusing on his hair, not for long at least, but it meant the wind was picking up. Turn around you idiot, can you not see what is coming! Apparently his was going to a tornado or windstorm, and I really didn't want either for him. It was better than fire or big animals I guess. He started to take notice, as did Caesar, who was commenting on the new wind with excitement. He seemed to think that this was good, more people wanted to watch violent storms than walking around. Soon the wind was so strong that John was being pushed back, unable to walk, and then the funnels started to appear. Small, at first, picking up a few rocks, but John seemed to pick up on what was going on. The funnels were growing, throwing more and more pieces of rock and debris around like it was nothing. Soon John was covering his face but also running for his life the way he came, but I knew it was too late. He was wincing as small rocks and pebbles hit his retreating back, and I felt tears in my eyes as I saw him getting injured. He didn't deserve death, he didn't need one scratch. But the wind was picking up, the rocks were getting bigger, one fell at his feet that was almost the size of his head. John picked up the pace, strapping the chest strap of his backpack and practically sprinting. He looked behind him and ducked with a yelp as a chunk of rock went flying overtop, if he hadn't ducked it would've hit the back of his head. I heard him curse loudly, but it was bleeped out, apparently the Capital didn't want children hearing curse words of the dead people they watched bleed out. John was back on his feet, dodging as much as he could, but the wind funnels themselves were creeping up on him. Run John, for God's sake run. He was too slow, the funnel caught up to him and he was sucked up into it like a rag doll, I could hear his screams even though the tremendous wind and it broke my heart. He was being pounded with rocks and stones, his face getting cut up and bloody, and then he was spit out, like the funnel didn't like how he tasted, and went flying hundreds of feet, skidding to the ground with a sickening slide.

"John!" I screamed, as if he could hear me. I didn't realize that my hands were on the TV screen, my heart racing and my forehead sweating. I didn't hear a cannon but he wasn't getting up, his clothes were ripped and dirty, blood dripping into the rocky sand. "John get up!" I screamed again, almost shaking the TV. And then, by some miracle, his eyes opened and he fell into a coughing fit, crawling to his knees and spitting out anything that would come out, including small rocks, puke, and spit. He groaned and crawled to his feet, testing his weight on each foot to make sure they weren't injured. The wind storms had stopped and his backpack was still strapped to his back, but he had nasty cuts and scrapes all over. I breathed a sigh of relief; he was okay but in need of bandages and cream or something.

"Is he okay?" Molly asked nervously, covering her eyes with her hands as if scared to look.

"For now." I sighed.

"Oh thank god." Mrs. Hudson muttered. John was looking around, as if trying to see where the windstorms came from, where they went, and if tributes were around. His sword had ended up a couple of feet away, but with a bend in the blade so it looked crooked. And with a drink of water and another bite of bread, he started walking the other way, every so often looking back to see if he was in any danger. I got to my feet as well, trying to play it off as if I wasn't screaming at a TV. Molly and Mrs. Hudson were watching me nervously, as if I was about to start screaming and going insane, but I stayed calm.

"He's alright." I assured myself and them. So close, but he was alright. We spent the rest of the day watching the games, but nothing real exciting happened. Molly and I decided we'd go out looking for sponsors that night, we could use the wind storm to our advantage but we didn't exactly need sponsors. Breakfast was all but forgotten and lunch was eaten on the couch, another meal I totally ignored. After that scare my appetite had taken the Avox elevator out of here, somewhere I doubted I'll ever find it again. Molly and Mrs. Hudson were watching me nervously, but I really didn't feel unstable or anything, like I knew they thought I was. I wasn't about to attack them or have another scream confession like on the sidewalk after the bar. I felt like, for the first time in a while, that I had some control over myself and I was pretty much sober for now. At about four o'clock Molly and I went to get ready, my suit had been washed and ironed from someone, I didn't know who but I didn't necessarily care. I put it on, loosening the tie a little bit since it felt like I was hanging myself. I hated this thing but knew it was necessary, I knew they wouldn't give money to a druggie in pajama pants and a robe. I made sure my hair and teeth were brushed before walking out of the room. Molly was wearing some type of blue dress, which, if I weren't in love with a dude, might have been pretty.

"Ready?" she asked, holding her purse in both hands as if afraid one of us was going to mug her.

"I guess so." I agreed. Molly hugged Mrs. Hudson a hug but I just waved halfheartedly, waiting in the elevator for her to hurry up.

"So, what are we trying to fund?" she asked.

"John..." I said obviously, worried she might have forgotten.

"No, I mean what does he need?"

"Bandages, food, water, the volcano should be exploding any moment now, so maybe rope or something?" I shrugged.

"A good list I guess." She agreed. The elevator dinged open, letting us into the lobby. There were a lot of people wandering around, mentors, escorts, and some random people that I didn't recognize. Greg was talking to some dude I didn't recognize, I doubted it was for sponsorship since his tribute died in the bloodbath, but he was smiling and listening, which I thought was a shock. I guess he saw us because he waved, making the man he was talking to look with curiosity. I ignored both of them, not wanting any part of socialization right now.