One Lucky Winner

Chapter 57 ~ Tony

Day 5
11:09 PM

It's completely dark out; I'm guessing it's almost midnight. It's time for our plan to take action.

I look at Cap. "Should we get the fire going?" I ask him. He nods, and we both stand up and start to walk in the cave.

"Remember. Once you're in the cave alone with Peeta, don't hesitate to kill him. The quicker the better," I tell Cap.

"I know, Tony," he replies, somewhat annoyed. I run the plan over in my head.

Step 1: Convince them to build a fire
Step 2: Convince Katniss to collect firewood with me
Step 3: Go out in woods
Step 4: Kill Katniss
Step 5: Wait for the cannon (Wait for Cap to kill Peeta)
Step 6: Meet Cap back at the cave

Simple.

"Pretty chilly out there tonight," I say once I get in the cave. Katniss and Peeta are sitting next to each other by the wall. Katniss looks like she just woke up. Ha.

"Feels like it," Peeta says, nodding and looking outside.

"How about we build a fire?" I say as causally as I can.

Peeta looks at me skeptically. "You guys can. We were just about to go to bed."

"Well, Cap and I just thought of a plan. A way we can eliminate a few people. Speed this thing up a little," I lie, making this up as I go. "We're gonna run it by you. Let's build a fire with it. It's going to take a while."

Peeta and Katniss exchange a glance for a while. I desperately pray that they'll agree. It would be so pathetic for our plan to fail on step one.

Then Peeta looks at me and says "Sure. Let's do it."

Step 1: Check.

They both stand up. Katniss looks really moody. Oh boy, this might be hard.

"You two clear out a spot for the fire," I say to Steve and Peeta. I look at Katniss. "Let's go get some firewood."

There's a heartbeat of silence, then Peeta speaks up. "Um, what?" He looks pissed off.

I look at Peeta, annoyed, hoping this plan works. "I asked her to collect firewood with me," I say, trying to make this as causal and calm as I can.

"No," Katniss says sternly.

I'm a bit shocked. I thought she'd go with the flow. "No?" I say, disgusted, still in shock. Why does she think she can say that to me?

"I'm staying here. My legs hurt. I walked a lot today."

Well, that was the lousiest excuse I ever heard.

"Wow. Didn't think you were that lazy," I tell her.

"I'm not-"

"Why can't you and Steve go?" Peeta interrupts Katniss. "You guys are the heavy lifters."

"Well, why don't you want her to go?" Cap speaks up, looking at Peeta. "Is there a problem?"

"Yeah. I don't want him to take her," Peeta says, looking at me.

"They're collecting firewood. What else would he do to her?" Cap says rudely.