°•°

ARYA'S MIND WAS GOING AT A FAST PACE, her eyes on Matthew as the tube closed shut. She could see the fear in his eyes but she didn't know whether that was for her or for the entirety of the games and what may happen. Arya was more trying to figure out what he had meant. Her blood would be on his hands? Matthew hadn't really pushed her to be in an alliance until the last second.

Maybe something changed, maybe someone spoke to him. But it wasn't really in her best interest to be confused right when she was going up in the arena. It probably wasn't his intent but it didn't end up changing her mind anyways. She would still with Wesley for portion of the games, but Arya would leave him sooner rather than later.

Arya wasn't going to attack katniss for Snow. Well, she was. But it was because she knew that if she didn't, Matthew would be in danger. If she eliminated Katniss, no matter what happened to her in the end, Matthew would be safe. Arya didn't believe Snow would ever let her go. Her life was his to control, it didn't matter which way you looked at it. No body ever won the games and no life was their own.

Matthew disappears from her view slowly as she feels the tube moving. She presses her hand against the glass. Arya wanted to live, she wanted to get out of the games and continue on. But there was never going to be a way out. Her first games, she was just so angry and that's what won it for her. But with these ones, she wasn't motivated to leave them alive. Maybe if it were under other circumstances, maybe if she had more to live for. But Matthew had his family to look out for and she couldn't keep messing that up for him.

She had already made Snow angry by saying Lucy Gray's name. But Arya wasn't going to let her memory die out. Most of the districts didn't even know her and most of the Capitol forgot about her. But not Arya. She had grown up with the Legacy of Lucy Gray and Snow deserved to be haunted by that legacy for as long as he lived. And if she risked her life because of it, so be it.

Arya knew she was going to be killed the moment Katniss dropped. Her alliance would make sure she didn't get out alive. That's why she was trying to think of her best plan.  She could just go when there was a window of opportunity, attack when its right. She could gain their trust which would ultimately be the hardest. Or she could use some time to piss Snow off and then kill Katniss near the end.

There were pros and cons to both so she had to think logistically and be realistic. Either way, Finnick was going to be a problem. If there was a whole group, it would be hard to isolate her and even attack her in general. So, when the bloodbath happened when it first started, that could be her only opportunity.

Arya didn't believe that they would trust her even if she tried. Even if she showed the gold bracelet that Matthew had given her. There wasn't much trust built between them and with the way threats were exchanged, it was safe to say that the 'alliance' option was out order. She knew Lucy Gray's songs were being kept alive in District twelve. Now, did katniss know where the songs originated from? Most likely not. But Snow has definitely heard her and he most likely made the connection.

So, if things didn't go her way, at least Arya would know that Snow could never erase his mind of the memories. He could never forget what he did to her, what he did to his supposed friends, his family. But Snow had always been this way. Nothing drastically changed him into being a cruel man. He made decisions and he chose evil every single time. He single handedly made the Hunger Games last these past 65 years and that's what pissed Arya off the most.

She just hoped that one day, all the lives that had been lost in these meaningless games would be avenged. Her eyes try to adjust to the bright light of the sun as she comes up in the arena. As she glances around, she notices that it was nothing like how her past games were. Instead of a field, she was in the middle of a lake and the cornucopia was in the center of it all. If someone didn't know how to swim, it would suck for them.

Arya moves her eyes to look at who was beside her. She could see Johanna and Wesley, also the man from district 8. But no Katniss. She was most likely on the other side which was unfortunate. But as she searched some more, her gaze landed on the other half of her duo. Peeta. It seemed he noticed her too since he was already frantically searching for Katniss as well.

A smirk forms on her lips as she looks toward the numbers that were counting down. It wasn't a mystery that everyone here was talented in combat. Well, a majority at least. But she hoped that her reputation stopped people from just going for her, or at least made them a bit hesitant. She didn't need a group of tributes attacking her while she tried to go for Katniss.

The countdown gets to the last three seconds. It was the longest seconds of the world. It wasn't like you blinked and it was already time to fight, it seemed to be dragging itself out. But when you were waiting for those final seconds, they seem to never come when you need them to. But it seemed like everyone one on the edge of their toes waiting along with her.

Arya could see a spear and two daggers directly in front of her eyes on the cornucopia. She just had to make it there and maybe she would be able to find Katniss before Peeta did. Hopefully another tribute took care of him so she didn't really have to worry. Her eyes glance just for a millisecond over in Peeta's direction. She couldn't tell if he was just worried or if he was pleading silently toward her. But either way, just because he may supposedly love Katniss, didn't mean Arya was going to spare her.

As the last second goes away, Arya dives into the water. Her world went silent as she casted her way through the waves. The only thing with swimming was, you couldn't really be aware of your surroundings. She just had to hope she was faster than everyone else getting to the rock pathway that lead to the middle. Arya loved swimming, it was one of her favourite things to do. But this was for survival, she couldn't dally, she couldn't waste a single second.

Getting to the rocks, she climbs onto it, quickly taking a look of who was around her. She noticed Wesley already running to the Cornucopia. But when she looked in Peetas direction, he was still in the water. Arya took off down the rocks, heading straight for the weapons. She didn't need anything else. She was honestly betting that Snow would have the game maker wipe her out the moment katniss was dead.

Now, should this deter her from killing katniss right away? Most likely. But she didn't care about waiting, she didn't care about lasting in these games. She had a mission and she was going to complete it. No matter the cost. Because the cost was so little. Her life didn't really mean anything to anyone. Arya couldn't think of one person other than Matthew mourning her death. So, maybe it was better this way. She would simply just fade into nothing.

Arya placed her hand on the dagger, noticing the man running up behind her. She spun around, throwing it in his direction, hitting him square in the chest. The man, who she now recognized from district nine, dropped to his knees before hitting the ground. She narrows her eyes, trying to find where Wesley had run off to but he didn't seem to be anywhere that she looked.

Deciding to focus on her task, Arya ran to the other side of the island. As predicted, she saw Katniss with her bow and arrow. But she also saw Finnick. That halted her movements for a moment. She could still attack but she would have to get past him, and she knew she would end up spending so long trying to get by him, that Katniss would most likely get away.

So, she decided to wait for a moment to see what would happen as she pressed herself next to the metal. "Good thing we're allies, right?" Arya could hear finnicks voice and without even looking, she could feel the smirk that he did.

"Whered you get that?" Katniss asks him, clearly suspicious of him still as she kept her bow armed. Finnick just stares back at her, his arm extended with the bracelet from Haymitch.

"Where do you think?" He retorts, his eyes moving to something behind her. "Duck." Finnick tells her, lifting the trident in his hand. As Katniss ducks, he throws it past her, hitting the tribute that was running up to attack. Katniss was visibly shocked as Finnick moved over to the now dead tribute.

Arya kept herself out of sight, not needing Finnick to see her right now. "Don't trust one and two. I'll take this side, you hold them off." Finnick says and she nods her head, readying her bow again. "And katniss." He catches her attention once more. "Watch out for Arya." He tells her. Arya rolls her eyes, shaking her head. If katniss hadnt been looking out for her before he said anything,  then she was an idiot.

"I'll go find Peeta." Finnick shouts as he jogs toward the other side of the island. Arya honestly didn't know how Finnick hadn't seen her. He had passed right by her but he was also near the edge where as she was pressed against the metal.

As Arya glances back toward Katniss, she starts to slowly move in her direction. Katniss aimed her bow at the career tribute that was moving closer. Arya steadies her dagger in her hand as Katniss fires the arrow. But she didn't make it that far as she heard footsteps behind her. Quickly moving into the small center, she ducked down just as Finnick passed her.

"Katniss, Mags found him, he's over here!" Finnick calls out. Katniss turns, immediately following after him. Arya just groans as she stands up, clenching her jaw. She surveys the area, making eye contact with Cashmere. It seemed she was hesitant and ultimately moved past her. No one was dumb enough to attack Arya, at least not while she was facing them.

Arya heads in the same direction that Katniss and Finnick went. She saw the woman standing on the rocks as finnick swam toward someone. Arya immediately knew it was Peeta. As she looked around, she noticed that no one else was around except for Mags who was next to katniss. This would be the easiest chance she would have. Because if she didn't take it, she would have to navigate around Peeta and Finnick in order to get to her.

"He's all right." Finnick assures Katniss as he grabs a hold of Peeta who was still reeling from his fight. He coughs up water a few times, trying to calm his lungs down. Peeta was just glad that Katniss was safe.

"Kat--" He goes to say, turning his head to where she was. But she lets out a scream as she was tackled to the rocks by Arya. Katniss turns her head, narrowly missing the dagger that Arya had slammed down. Katniss tried to push her off but it was hard. Arya brings her other hand down but Katniss catches it. They fight with each other, Katniss screaming as she saw the dagger getting ever so closer to her face.

Arya brought her now free hand to the woman's neck, grabbing a hold of it tightly. Katniss glares up at her, trying to move her legs up so she could kick her away. Arya could feel Katniss's grip loosen but she was able to create the smallest bit of momentum to push her back. Arya lands back on the rocks but it doesn't phase her. She instantly gets back up, swinging the dagger at Katniss. Katniss tried to avoid it but grimaced when it came into contact with her arm.

They could both hear Peeta shouting for Katniss but they were both too focused on what they were doing. Katniss knew her bow wasn't going to help her in this situation. She could barely even grab it before Arya was on top of her again. She was very dedicated, Katniss didn't think she slowed down once. The dagger came inches to Katniss's throat but Katniss twisted Aryas arm. The woman groans as she was thrown back against the rocks.

But this time, she didn't get up straight away. Because by the time Katniss and her had spent fighting, Finnick had made his way onto the rocks as well. Arya lifts her head slowly, seeing the man in front of her. He was holding his trident tightly, staring down at her. Arya didn't know if he was hesitating because he had just gotten up, or if it was because he didn't want to attack her.

But Arya couldn't think of a reason why he would willingly let her live. She was a threat to his alliance, she was a threat to Katniss. The best move was to take her out right then and there. But she Katniss was holding her bleeding arm and Finnick had been reluctant to make a move, Arya had jumped into the water. Finnick rushes to where she just was, but she was already swimming toward the shore.

Peeta had made his way to Katniss, bending down beside her and immediately analyzing her injury. Her eyes move up to Finnick, a slight angered expression on her face. "Why didn't you attack her?" Katniss asks him. He hadn't even moved and made an effort to take her down which allowed Arya to get away. She was just confused why he hesitated since he didn't with the other tributes.

Finnick clears his throat as he moves his trident behind him. "She would have already been gone by the time I made a move." He points out with a shrug of his shoulders. He could see that Katniss wasn't fully believing him but didn't really push the fact.

It wasn't like Finnick wouldn't have attacked her. He was just waiting for her to make the first move. Because Haymitch did talk to her, and she was always able to join their alliance. He didn't want to take her out unless he had to. Because he believed that she should make it out with them. But if it came down to it, and she ended up attacking again. He may have no choice to fight her.

"We should go." Peeta suggests as he could see the careers looking over at them. The others agree, not wanting to stay near the shore longer than they needed. Finnick helps Mags as they start to make their way toward the trees.

Wandering through the woods, Arya kept on the outskirts so that she could try and catch a glimpse of the direction that Katniss and the others went. If she lost them, it would be a while before she found them again. It wasn't like she couldn't wait, she would just rather not have to go through a couple of days in here.

Hearing a branch snap behind her, Arya quickly turns, pushing the intruder against the tree and bringing her dagger to their throat. "Woah, woah." Wesley raises his arms in defense, staring at the woman who was leant against him. "Allies, remember?" He states, nudging the knife slightly with his finger. Arya just scoffs, shaking her head.

"Sneaking up on people is how you get killed." She points out, letting the man go. Wesley brushes himself off for a moment.

"I'll remember that." He responds as she turns away from him. "Did you kill her?" Wesley asks her even though he saw what happened. But he knew that if she figured out he hadn't helped her, she would think he wasn't actually her ally. But he didn't want her dead.

"She's fiestier than I thought she would be." Arya admits as she shrugs her shoulders. She shouldve known that Haymitch would train her and Peeta more this year. Especially because of the competitors they had. "If finnick wasn't there, it wouldn't have been hard." She adds. If Finnick hadn't shown up, she could have focused on actually stabbing katniss. But she hesitated because she noticed Finnick and having her back to him wouldn't have been the smartest move.

"Can't you take him on?" Wesley asks her, furrowing his eyebrows. He would've though taking on multiple people at a time was easy for her. She clearly had no trouble during training. But then again, it wasn't the same in a real life scenario.

"I could." Arya states, not wanting him to think she was weak to take on finnick. She could handle him, it just wasn't logical. "But it just wasn't practical in that moment. We would've probably landed in the water and I know he would've beaten me that way." She explains, knowing Finnick was an expert at combat, especially in the water.

"You'll get another chance."

"Mhm." She hums, leaning against the trees behind her. Wesley watches her closely, seeing that she was thinking of something as her eyes moved around the area.

He clears his throat, taking the bag off of his back. "I uh, grabbed us a few supplies." Wesley tells her, opening the bag so that she could see. Arya peers inside for a second, looking at what it had.

There were a few first aid supplies, some rope, some fishing net, a thermal blanket and a compass. "Not bad, I guess." Arya mutters as she moves back. Wesley raises his eyebrows as he closes the backpack, putting it on again.

"I think the term you're looking for is, you're welcome." Wesley tells her with a laugh, taking a step closer to her. Arya bluntly stares back at him, not budging from her previous statement.

"I don't think so." Arya replies, looking down at her dagger. Wesley rolls his eyes in a playful way.

"Did you want to set up camp?" Wesley asks her as he glances around the area. It was always safe to be aware of your surroundings since anyone could sneak up on you at any time. Arya shakes her head, biting the inside of her cheek.

"No, let's wander for a bit." She denies as  she flips the dagger in her hand. Wesley just places a hand on his hip, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Let me guess. In the direction that katniss went?" He suggests with a slight smirk. Wesley didn't want her to kill Katniss, but he would stay with Arya until that time came. When it did, he didn't know what he would do to stop her.

Arya turns to look at him, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "I could easily dagger you right now." Arya points out as she points it in his direction. He wasn't phased though.

"You can try but I did win too, you know." Wesley points out, crossing his arms against his chest. Arya just simply rolls her eyes and begins to trek through the forest. She could hear Wesley laugh behind her and his footsteps following after her.

Honestly, if she couldn't win this, she would want Wesley to. At least he could tell Matthew of her choice to stay in the arena. Well, she'd have to tell Wesley in order to do that but with the way this was going, it would end up coming out right before she killed katniss. No doubt would she have weapons pointed in her direction.

Did she have a slight vengeance with Katniss? It was mostly with Snow. But she did resent the woman for how she won. How they both won. That's what stuck with her this whole time. It was the reason why she had decided to do what Snow said. Yes, it was because she had no choice but it was also because she felt that it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that they both had won.

Maybe she was thinking like Snow, maybe she was hateful or arrogant. But every other year, there had only been one winner. And suddenly they were the special exception. It wasn't okay to leave all the other tributes who had died in the dust. Just because they needed a victor.

But the games would always need a vicror. It was one if the solid reasons that were keeping them going. Giving the Capitol citizens a reason to watch because they were betting on the one they wanted to live. And that's what kept Arya from thinking these were ever ending.

Because as long as there were children to sacrifice, the games would continue on forever.

°•°

AFTER FOLLOWING THE SO CALLED ALLIANCE FOR A FEW KILOMETERS, Arya and Wesley decided to take a small break to rejuvenate. They hadnt found fresh water yet so wasting their energy wouldn't work out for them in the long run. Arya knew that without water, they wouldn't last very long. She wanted this over with but she had to be patient somewhat. She just knew Snow was watching her so she had to be careful. Not that she wouldn't taunt him a bit because she wasn't going to go out without a fight.

Wesley had been glancing over at her for quite some time, trying to find the right moment to speak. But he didn't want to come across the wrong way. But then again, she wasn't a person you could easily talk to. Whatever you said in whatever way, she would most likely see the way you intended for it to be said.

She had noticed that he had been wanting to say something so Arya only turns her head in his direction, raising an eyebrow. Wesley sees this, a bit embarrassed to have been caught. But he finally decides to talk. "So, why haven't you gone on a full on frenzy yet?" He asks her curiously. Arya just stares back at him, not really knowing what he meant. "I mean, by this time in your games, you had three quarters of the tributes dead." Wesley points out.

Arya felt her blood go cold for a second. She hadn't expected him to ask such a intrusive question. She knew how her games went, and she knew how ruthless she was. He would be naturally curious as to why this wouldn't be the same, most people would. But she didn't really want to be asked why she hadn't killed more people.

"This is different." She simply responds. Arya didn't really know what to say. She wasn't as angry as she was when she went into the 69th hunger games. Yes, she was angry but in another way. And most of her anger was contained to either target Katniss or Snow.

Wesley nods his head slowly, but that wasnt really the answer he was asking for. He wasnt trying to make her look bad but, it was just a bit strange how she had only taken out one tribute. "Can I ask you something?" He asks her. Arya sighs, keeping her eyes in front of her.

"You just did."

"Is there a reason why you're so heartless?" Wesley questions. Arya lifts her eyes for a moment. She was a bit taken aback by what he said. Mainly because she didn't think she came off that way.

Sure, she kept to herself, was a bit rude sometimes and stood her ground, but she didn't think she came off heartless. Did people really think that she felt nothing? Arya hadn't meant to be that way, but it was hard to trust people when all you've known is people leaving and dying.

"I'm not heartless." She denies and he could see a hint of a frown on her lips. Wesley didn't mean to offend her, that's just how he and most of their district perceived her.

"You don't really seem to show your emotions." He points out. But Arya just lets out a scoff. If that was his reasoning, then it was an idiotic one.

"That's being smart." Arya retorts, crossing her arms against her chest.

"No, but really." Wesley says, wanting to get a better understanding. Clearly she believed the games were gonna go on until one of them was dead. Haymitch said she hadn't agreed to the alliance. "Is it because of what happened to your family?" He asks her, knowing half of her family was reaped while the other half experienced tragic deaths.

Aryas gaze snaps over to him and he could see the rage in her eyes. "Don't talk about them." She sneers, not thinking that he had any right to bring this up to her. He was a stranger. "You didn't know them, you don't get to talk about them." Arya states sharply. Wesley understood why she was defensive over the subject, that gave him a better picture.

"All right, I'm sorry." He apologizes, not meaning to step on any stone or create bad blood. God knows he didn't need it. "I just wanted to get a better understanding." Wesley admits with a shrug. She was his ally and his fellow district five member. He wanted to know more about the girl who had become the princess of the Capitol.

"Of why I went crazy?" Arya asks with a scoff, narrowing her eyes. She knew what people in their district thought. And it wouldn't surprise her if he also believed that she went crazy, or was just a complete psycho for murdering so many people.

"I don't think you're crazy." Wesley denies, shaking his head. Arya rolls her eyes, not believing him.

"Right."

"I think you went through multiple things that changed the way you viewed the world and others."  Wesley admits as he stares at her. Having your mother and little brother reaped was not exactly a pleasant way to see the world you grew up in, especially the government. Arya clenches her jaw, not understanding whether he was being sincere or saying this to prove a different point.

"But you called me heartless." She points out, bringing up his previous statement.

"Well, do you love anyone?" Wesley asks her, raising an eyebrow at the woman.

Arya let's her eyes drop for a moment. She has loved a lot in her life. Although her mother wasn't someone she could grow to miss, she still loved her. Because she was the woman who gave birth to her. Her father always held a special place in her heart, so did her brother Jacob. They were taken too soon but they were never gone. Not from her at least.

But her brother Ash was different. He was her light, her spark. He was the reason she even got up in the morning. Because they would go to the very edge of the fence and see the sun rise perfectly over the building that blocked them. It was a precise moment, but they never missed it. Except for one singular time. It was a freak thing, but they hadn't seen it the day of the reaping for the 67th hunger games.

And maybe that should've been a sign. A sign that someone was going to go wrong. Because it had. And that day was forever in Aryas mind. She wished she had done more, said more. But all she did was stand and watch. Watch as her brother was taken to the capitol and put in an arena to die.

Since then, she hasn't loved much. Matthew was the only person in her life that she really trusted enough to even let him in. And most of the reason was because she knew him long before her family's peril. He had always been there for her and she for him. Arya loved him like a big brother and he treated her like a little sister. Both of them would kill for each other.

"Yes." Arya responds, bringing her eyes back to Wesley who had been waiting patiently for an answer. "You can't bring feelings into the arena though." She states with a shake of her head. If you felt anything in the arena, it would make you hesitate. And when you hesitate, you're dead.

"What if we just decided to not kill each other? What could Snow do to us?" Wesley asks with a scoff. Arya sighs, fiddling with her fingers. That had been a thought in people's minds in many of the games but ultimately, it wouldn't work.

"The game maker would just wipe us out." She mutters. It would never work. Just like if all the districts stopped working for the government. They would just kill and kill until they started up again. Eventually, the victims would give into the torment.

"They need a victor."

"Leave one alive."

"That would probably be you." Wesley states, bringing his eyes to his hands. Arya glances over at him, furrowing her eyebrows. It could be anyone in the arena. Well, Snow would never let Katniss win, or Peeta, but other than that, everyone had a fair shot.

"Why do you think that?" Arya asks him curiously. Wesley couldn't help but roll his eyes. It seemed obvious, especially to the other victors.

"Because Snow knows you're the most useful." He points out, clenching his jaw. Snow wouldn't kill the one who so clearly could only make him more powerful. But it seemed he didn't understand the significance of what she had said in her interview.

"I'm also a threat." Arya states bluntly.

"Why would you be a threat?"

"Because of what I said." Arya responds but she could see the pure confusion on Wesley's face. "Do you know the name Lucy Gray?" She asks him watching his expression to try and pinpoint what he was thinking. But Wesley only shakes his head, having never heard of the name before.

"I don't think so." He denies, not knowing what a name had to do with anything.

But it had to do with everything. Arya knew the risk she took when she said Lucy Gray's name. She knew what Snow would think and how he would treat her even if she did get out of the games alive. Arya had never mentioned the fact that she knew of the woman until her interview. Snow must've been shocked when she revealed it.

He would probably be questioning whether he let something slip up, or if she saw something. But in truth, it was neither. She had learned of Lucy Gray from her Grandmother. And from there, she kept it in her back pocket all these years for the right moment. The right time to make Snow aware that he was not the only one who knew of Lucy Gray. He was not the only one who knew what he had done in the past.

And that was the whole point. The other districts didn't know about her, simply Because he had tried to erase her. The games were not mandatory to watch for the districts back then but somehow, her songs had lived on. Arya heard Katniss singing them. Which would make sense since her family knew of Lucy Gray ad well.

But the fact that no one had seen or heard from the woman in over six decades, made it so the woman had never existed. Or more so, like a ghost. And that was the idea. Snow didn't know whether he had killed her or not, whether she escaped. Whether she was still alive and well.

And that was exactly the point.

°•°

I think around the jabberjays, I'm gonna do a chapter that flashes back to Ash being reaped for the hunger games. I may make a prequel of aryas games too, if that's something everyone would want <3