Hi! First of all, I'd like to give a big thank you to @estheiquecommunity for helping me critique the beginning chapters of this story! I'm so truly grateful to be a part of a community as great as this one. The feedback that I have been able to get has helped me grow and expand on my writing skills and capacities. 

To all the readers that have been so very patient with me, I truly appreciate you. I hope that you have enjoyed this book so far and will continue to enjoy it until the very end. 

To anyone who takes the time to comment, I will take the time to read them and respond to them :) 

Kindly remember to vote if you are enjoying!

Take care and stay safe! ~CANGEL

***

Scarlet Wolfe

     Scarlet left the breakroom the moment the Careers did, tossing her food away just seconds before them and slipping out of the door in front of them. No more following behind the Careers or laying low. Scarlet would be bold and in their face for the remainder of today.

     She was hyperaware of the annoyance and distaste pouring out of them, despite her pretending otherwise.

     Only a fool would actively bait them with no real care in the world of reprisal. While she didn't think they were dumb enough to risk their own success in the Arena to cause her harm, she wasn't naïve enough to think that there were no other ways for her to get injured.

      Scarlet grabbed a few daggers from the weapons area, intending to use them to practice close combat. Her attention, however, was pulled, when she saw everyone else's going to the doors of the Training Center. She turned to see what they were looking at.

      A group of twenty men and women in fancy suites and outlandish sleek looking dresses, were escorted into the room.

     Gamemaker's?

     She glanced around, seeing the other tributes turn back to their activities, but Scarlet couldn't help but look at the men and women now watching, pointing out what the things they saw. Scarlet thought that the Gamemaker's wouldn't be present until tomorrow when each Tribute was assessed individually. Was that one of the things the tributes were told by their mentors? Had Penelope known?

     She looked over at Crimson, who was still with the Careers. Currently they were throwing spears and daggers. Crimson was laughing and joking with them as if he was one of them. Even Roe and Loach seemed just a touch more comfortable than before.

     As Scarlet glanced back at the new arrivals, she saw them studying the tributes, some even carried notebooks and pens with them. Was this replacing the individual assessment? Or just a part of it.

      She flipped the small blade in her hand as she reconsidered her next move. Now it wasn't only the Careers and District 4 that she had to worry about. It was about showing the Gamemaker's that she was worth paying attention to as well.

     Scarlet's size and age would be an issue that they'd not easily be swayed to ignore. Her assumed lack of skill and training would be another issue.

     Her daggers would have to be the solution. Neither the Careers nor the Gamemaker's would be expecting it.

     She watched as the majority of the Gamemaker's circled around the Training Center, heading in the direction of the Careers at the weapons area. Urban threw a spear at a moving target from twenty feet away, hitting it dead center.

     Augustus hacked into a dummy with a wicked looking flat blade. Elixia shot three arrows from a bow, hitting three objects in the air, one after another. And Ambrosia threw several daggers into the middle of her target.

     A flicker of doubt wormed its way inside her brain. She was purposefully making herself that target. One false move, and Scarlet would find herself impaled, stabbed, gutted, and left bleeding out in the Arena.

     Scarlet pushed the doubt away. There was no going back now. She was already a target. The Careers and District 4 seemed closer than ever with Crimson's help.

Alright, enough.

     She looked around the room once more, this time, ignoring the Gamemaker's and the other tributes, searching for the right place to make a grand display. One that no one could ignore.

     Her eyes caught on the ropes that hardly anyone had touched, and a plan started to formulate in her mind.

     Her lips curled.

***

     As Scarlet stared down at the ground from where she hung from above, unease filled her.

     She had climbed the rope with ease—a lot easier than she had expected, especially after listening to the instructor for two minutes. Once she had reached the top of the rope, she was expected to go back down.

     However, Scarlet hadn't done that. She had reached above the thick rope and gripped the cold metal chain that connected the rope to the ceiling braces. Scarlet had pulled herself higher and higher until she reached the metal bracings, all the while holding the blade between her teeth.

     Currently, she sat along the brace, twenty feet above the ground just over the weapons training area. It was too late to turn back now. She refused to go back down without making some kind of impression.

     Scarlet watched for a moment, as Roe grabbed a set of throwing blades off the wall, walking up to the range. Roe gives Crimson a nod to start the machines to get the targets moving once more. Scarlet lets out a breath as she lowers herself from the ceiling braces until she was hanging upside down with only her legs locked on the beam, keeping her from falling to her death.

     Maybe Scarlet was a fool.

     But it was too late to turn back now.

     Scarlet focused on Roe and the target she was aiming for.

     Roe threw the first blade. Scarlet didn't wait for the blade to land before she threw her own blade. She assumed that it would hit the target with some degree of accuracy if Roe was willing to do this in front of the Gamemaker's.

     As expected, Roe's blade hit the center of the moving target, but so did Scarlet's. A few inches down from the center, but there was no mistaking the second blade's sudden appearance in the target.

     Everyone on the weapons platform turned, wondering where the second blade had come from. Scarlet let out a practiced whistle, drawing their attention.

     From where she stood, she saw the whites of their eyes as they looked between her and the target, a few of them making notes.

     To prove that it wasn't a one off of luck, she pulled the two additional knives from her waist. The metal was beginning to cut off the circulation in her legs and she knew she couldn't hang from here for much longer.

     Scarlet lined up each throw before releasing the blades. Both blades sunk into the target, one after another. She looked at Roe's flushed face. Even from here, Scarlet could see that Roe was embarrassed by being upstaged by a twelve-year-old girl from District 14.

     She blew a kiss at all of them and waved at the observing Gamemaker's.

     Perhaps she had just succeeded in her goal. Because under her watchful eyes, she saw the Careers walk away from the station, leaving Roe and Loach behind.

     Crimson looked up at Scarlet, and for the first time in a very long time, there was no trace of the smile that always seemed to be there.

     Instead, his eyes radiated fury and every muscle in his body was tightened with tension.

     Since they had been reaped, Crimson and Scarlet knew that they wouldn't be allies, working together. Still, there had always been a line in the sand that neither of them had crossed. They had not actively worked against each other to stop their strategies from being successful. It would happen in the Arena. But neither of them had crossed it here and now.

     Until now.

     Scarlet had crossed that line.

     And now there was no going back.

***

Crimson Wolfe

     Crimson clenched his jaw as he watched Scarlet's audacious display, unable to do anything to stop the trainwreck from occurring.

     With one interaction, Scarlet had brought his alliance together.

     And with one action, Scarlet had destroyed it.

     "Even the little girl from 14 is better than you." Augustus mocked Roe.

     "And you think you have any business being here with us?" Elixia added with an upturned nose.

      Roe hadn't been able to respond, probably couldn't. What could she say? That Scarlet had been lucky? The three blades she had sunk into the target had removed that from the realm of possibility. And it wasn't like Roe could tell them that if they had been throwing weapons at that time, then Scarlet would have out shown them as well. However true that was, insulting the Careers was not going to help the situation.

     As Crimson watched the Careers walk away from Loach and Roe, he knew that they would never accept District 4. Even if they were willing, he knew it would be an alliance fraught with tension and underhanded remarks. Roe and Loach would never be able to put up with that treatment. The alliance would be lucky to make it out of the bloodbath intact.

     No, Crimson would have to move on from his ideal seven-member alliance to a five-member alliance with a three-member alliance as his back up. Instead of being part of the large alliance, he would be caught in the middle of two. If he played his cards right, he could still keep his place within the Career Pack.

     Crimson was well aware of the fact that if he messed up...he could very easily end up with no alliance.

     He glanced over at Roe and Loach, aware that if he stayed here any longer, the Careers would lump him in with them, and Crimson would be excluded from their alliance regardless of his actions.

     "I'll find you later. Don't do anything stupid." Crimson murmured to them, eyeing Roe before turning and walking away in the direction that the Careers went. She was the most reactive and the most likely to react rashly. He couldn't afford any more reckless decisions being made, especially when they were likely to cause more harm than good.

     Even though he'd only arrived only a few seconds after the Careers, getting started on more close combat, Ambrosia's narrowed eyes landed on him. "Having trouble choosing between those fish and us?"

     With her words, the other three looked up to him.

     "No." Crimson answered, keeping his voice even and his eyes steady on hers. "They want me to pick them. I told them if there's a choice, I'm here."

     "I'm sure you did." Ambrosia smirked, though her eyes held a keenness that Crimson didn't like. Out of the four Careers, she was the one most likely to catch him playing both sides. Though Ambrosia played so smart, often keeping her mouth shut and letting the other Career tributes take the lead in making comments and decisions, when she did speak up, the others listened.

     If she rejected him, there would be no changing her opinion and there would be no Career Pack alliance.

     "Just remember, any sign of betray, and you're done."

     He nodded. "Understood. I'm not planning on betraying you. I want this alliance with the four of you."

     As they continued to work their weapons skills, Crimson turned to head over to the survival stations. Now, he didn't have to worry about staying near them all, so he could afford to take more time to hone his survival skills.

     "Where are you going?" Urban asked, before Crimson could take two steps.

     He turned back, offering the District 2 tribute a self-deprecating grin. "I'm not like all of you. Trained since birth to survive in the Arena. I was going to check out some more of the survival skill stations."

     Augustus laughed, his hand coming down on Crimson's shoulder with more force than necessary as he pulled Crimson back toward the weapons. "You're one of us, right?"

     Crimson hated being backed into a corner, but right now, he couldn't afford to go against any of them. He was standing on thin ice. "Right." He confirmed.

     "Then you don't need to worry about that. We take the Cornucopia and it's all a breeze from there on out. All you have to worry about, is how to kill. So, pick a weapon. And practice."

     "Hey, if he wants to go, let him go." Urban said, shoving Augustus off him. "It's only better for us to have someone with the practical know how in our Pack—even if we have the cornucopia."

     Agustus shoved Urban back, letting go of Crimson in favor of pulling Urban into a headlock. Crimson couldn't tell if they were teasing each other or about to start a full-on fight. Annoyance flickered in him at the sight. The last thing he needed was for the fucking Careers to be divided after losing District 4.

     "Come on, guys, break it up." Ambrosia said after a few seconds, as she stepped between them, pulling them off each other with little effort.

     "No fun, Ambra." Augustus commented as he rolled his eyes.

     "Stay focused." She countered. "And don't call me that." Ambrosia turned toward Crimson, and he felt his back stiffen under her gaze. "You, go learn the skills you want." At Augustus' attempted complaint, she raised a hand, silencing him immediately. "If anything, it'll be helpful when we go out hunting."

     With permission granted, Crimson wasted no time in heading to the survival skills to add to his knowledge on how to keep himself alive. Now more than ever, it was important for him to be able to stand by himself. If things went to shit, he needed to be prepared.

***

     As the Careers headed out of the Training Center early, Crimson chose to stay behind, reiterating his need to take as much time as he could to gain skills that he was lacking. Not one of them protested or questioned him, not even Augustus gave him flak.

     Once they had disappeared, Crimson hadn't wasted anytime in heading over to Roe and Loach where they remained in a room just off the training center that housed a pool full of water.

     Why the District 4 tributes would be in there, when it was highly doubtful that it was a skill they lacked, was beyond Crimson. Especially considering they wouldn't have the advantage of being in the Cornucopia this year.

     It was hard to imagine that they placed that much trust in Crimson and his words yesterday, but that was the only plausible explanation. They truly expected and trusted that Crimson would keep his word and attack the Careers with them during the bloodbath. And that they would succeed and take the Cornucopia.

     Perhaps the Careers were right to cut them out. There was cocky and confident, and then there was reckless endangerment.

     Still, as Crimson walked into the humid room, the sound of waves filled his ears and the smell of chemical laden waters filling his nose, he caught sight of the two tributes from District 4 alone.

     They looked up as he approached, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

     Roe was the first to speak. "What are you doing here, Crimson?" She looked away from him. "Thought you'd be with your new best friends." Bitterness coated her words and Crimson let out a laugh.

     "Only a fool would want to be friends with the Careers. I told you what we'd do if they turned you out, and I meant it." Crimson lied easily.

     "Well, if you meant it, then why are you acting so buddy-buddy with them?"

     "Look," he said sharply. "It's the Careers that we are discussing, not some other district with no training! We can't just attack them and expect to work miracles." He slams his hand against his chest. "I don't know about you, but I wasn't exactly trained to survive in the Arena like they were."

     Loach's eyes lowered to the water that they were currently treading. "What's the plan then, Crimson?"

     "I'm going to play to their side. As long as they think I'm a part of their alliance, they won't be expecting our attack once we get inside of the Arena."

     "How do we know that we can trust you?" Roe asked. Her first smart question since he'd arrived.

     "I don't see that you have many choices left." He said quietly.

     "Thanks to your sister! How do we know you didn't plan the whole thing from the start?!"

     "Because I'm not allying with her!" Crimson shouted back, frustration edging his words. How many times must he be questioned about his loyalty to her. He refused to ally with her from the start to prevent this very situation. "Because I wanted you to be in the alliance with the Careers and she ruined it! Do you think the situation I'm in now is better than before?"

     To his words, they had nothing to say. Crimson pinches the bridge of his nose, taking a breath in an attempt to calm himself and clear his mind. He didn't want to push District 4 away, but the pointless questions and the endless doubt was wearing on him. The Careers could turn their back on him, and he needed District 4 there as a backup.

     "In the interviews," he started, lowering his clenched hand to his side. "In the interviews, I'll reveal something about her. A weakness that will hurt her once she's in the Arena."

     "What kind of weakness?"

     Crimson met Roe's gaze with steady eyes. "A game-changing weakness. One that will ruin her chances of winning completely." He paused, giving his words time to sink in. "But you can't ruin this. It doesn't matter if you antagonize the Careers or steer clear—I don't care about that. But if you implicate me in this, we're done. Our chance of success goes to zero."

     He watched as they looked at each other, silently considering their options. Loach nodded his head and Roe turned back to Crimson. "We understand."

***

     As they parted ways for the night, Crimson allowed them to leave first. He needed a moment to himself. The guilt that had managed to surface that the lies he had been spewing toward them was easy to ignore, but the stress of being found out was harder to ignore.

     He sat at the edge of the pool, staring into the shimmering water. His reflection rippled and distorted in the small waves of the water, much like the fragile web of deceit he had woven together. Every lie he told, every promise he made, brought him closer to the brink of exposure. One wrong move, and everything would come crashing down.

     He rubbed his face with his hand, trying to clear his mind. It was too late to turn back now. He couldn't afford to let doubt creep in now. He had to stay focused on the task at hand.

     Crimson would do as promised. After all, Scarlet betrayed him first by causing this unrepairable rift between the Careers and District 4. It was only fair that he returned the favor and crippled her chances of success in return.

     With a sigh, Crimson began to stand, ready to leave the Training Center and head back to his floor when an arm wrapped around his throat and a handheld his head in a twisted angle.

     He could barely breathe, let alone expel a shout for help.

     "Who the hell do you think you are playing, little kid?" A voice whispered. Crimson recognized the voice—Ambrosia. Her words dripped with the threat of death as her breath slithered across the shell of his ear.

     "No one—" Her arm tightened around his throat, cutting off the rest of his reply. Hidden in the shadows of the empty room, she could easily kill him or without reprisal. Crimson might just end up dead before he even reached the Arena.

     "Think very carefully before you respond next, Crimson Wolfe. Killing you first in the Arena might just be moved to the top of my 'to do' list." Well, at least she didn't plan to kill him here.

     He nodded his head, his fingers clawing at her arm as his lungs burned with a desperation to take in oxygen. Just as black spots began to form in his vision, her arm slackened, still pressed up against his throat, but allowing him to pull in some much-needed air.

     "Okay... Okay... I didn't turn my back on District 4 when you did like I said." He admitted, still struggling to pull in air.

     "Why?" She growled, "are you planning on betraying us?"

     He shook his head. Her arm tightened once again, but he forced out a rushed response. "I'm only keeping them close in case you exclude me from your alliance."

     Ambrosia's hold loosened around his neck, but the threat lingered in the air between them. "Keep talking."

     "After my sister's show completely fucked the image you all had of District 4, I knew that would be excluded. But I also knew that your hatred of my sister would have grown. I was worried that you would point that hatred toward me and exclude me from your alliance. Keeping District 4 in my pocket was just a backup."

     "And the part about you helping them kill us in the bloodbath?"

     Shit, she heard everything. Fuck. Crimson pulled in a deep breath as his mind spun with how to get himself out of this mess. Ambrosia was smart. She was logical. She was cold and deadly and strategic. Just like him. Maybe the truth was the answer he was looking for.

     "Do you really think Roe and Loach and I could take the four of you?" He asked. "I don't. But they believe it and they hate you all for rejecting them. So, it's an easy plan to fuel and keeps them focused and out of my way."

     "Well, you've really got it all figured out, don't you?" Crimson closed his eyes briefly. Of course, now she would see him as a strategic threat. Maybe there was no way to win.

     There was no good response to her question, because the truth was, Crimson had been playing the Careers as much as he had District 4. The only difference was Crimson wanted the alliance with the Careers.

     Instead of saying any of that, Crimson focused on what he knew Ambrosia wanted. On what Crimson could still do for her and the Careers.

     "I meant what I said, Ambrosia." Crimson said. "I will help you track down Scarlet in the Arena. I won't betray you."

     "I don't think we need you." She murmured into his ear.

     "If you think you can find Scarlet without me, then go ahead. You'd be mistaken, but I can't stop you." He said, emphasizing the fact that she had all the power and control. "And even if you find her, you've already met her. You've seen what she can do. Scarlet is a Wolfe. Whether you like her or not, she's smart. Far smarter than me, and she's playing to win. At least with me on your side, you'll know how she thinks."

     Ambrosia didn't respond right away. Crimson hoped it was because she was actually considering his words and not because she was making sure no one was around so she could gut him.

     "I don't have a problem with you keeping your options open. In fact, I like a clever person every now and again. So, I'll allow you to be a part of the Career Pack, officially."

     "Than—"

     "But you need to be ready to make a choice, Crimson Wolfe. If either of the District 4 tributes make it out of the blood bath alive, you will die in their stead. You can play both sides out here, but in there—you make a choice—or I'll make one for you."

     "I'm with you." He repeated, keeping his voice as level as possible with her hand pressed against his throat.

     Her finger trailed down his carotid and Crimson stilled. Her lips grazed the shell of his ear. "Just one more thing..."

     Crimson's heart pounded in his chest. Fear and adrenaline coursing through his veins at the threat behind him.

     "What?" he asked, his voice shaky despite his best effort to keep it steady.

     "You better make damn sure that whatever you reveal about Scarlet in the interviews is enough to cripple her in the Arena. If you fail to deliver what you promised, I will tell District 4 about all your little schemes, and we'll pull them in and leave you out in the cold all alone."

     He swallowed hard. "Understood." 

     The pressure of her arm against his throat was a constant reminder of how close to death he was and how deadly the person he was entering the Games with was.

     Now that Ambrosia knew everything, he was entirely dependent on maintaining her favor. She held complete control over his future—for now. Crimson had teetered on the edge of the cliff he'd found himself on. Ambrosia held his hand, keeping him from falling, but just as easily as she kept him on the cliff, she could decide to let go.

     Everything rested on her.

-----------------------------

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I expanded on what I had previously written and gave you a new scene from Crimson's perspective. I really wanted to give more insight into how everything lines up, leading up to the Arena. 

I hope that you are not disappointed. :)

Kindly remember to vote if you have enjoyed! Like, comment, and share your thoughts and opinions!

Take care and stay safe! ~CANGEL