Hi again! This is the last time I'll ever post a chapter of The Manipulation Games. Honestly, I feel like I could cry. I've been working on this story since May of last year. I don't want to get all sappy, but I think it's necessary for such an occasion as finishing my first Hunger Games story. Looking back on not only the first chapter, but also old fanfictions that I've long since taken off the site, I've gotten so much better at writing. I'm actually proud of something I wrote for once.

I'd like to thank everyone who has followed, favorited, and/or reviewed. It means a lot to me to know that other people like my story.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games or anything else I may mention.

Without further ado, here's the bonus chapter I promised!

The Manipulation Games: Bonus Chapter (Maple's POV)

It almost never rains in District 7. Not during the summer, anyways. Or maybe it does, and I'm just not attentive enough to notice it. Quite frankly, I don't give a crap. Well, I wouldn't give a crap, if it wasn't so darn rainy right now. Rain is depressing, and it's not like I didn't have enough depressing crap going on right now.

"Maple, sweetheart, you need to get some sleep," my aunt Deidra says. I look up at her as if she's crazy.

"Dei, we're at the final two," I scoff. "I'm staying up. Hanna would too if it were me in there instead. Besides, it's 1 pm. How can I sleep when it's 1 freaking pm?"

Deidra's brown eyes soften. "Okay Maple, you can stay up."

I nod my head. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Deidra smiles, tousling my hair. I try to ignore it, which is nearly impossible when she knocks my trademark sunglasses off my head. She leaves and I re-adjust them on my head. It's an ugly pair, if I'm being honest. My mother wore them all the freaking time, and I always called her out on it because they look so tacky. But after she died nearly three years ago, they were one of the few pieces of her left that meant anything to me.

The frown on my lips digs itself further into my face. Frowning is almost natural for me. I think I frown more than I smile, and that suits me fine.

I focus my attention back on the TV. My heart leaps as it shows my best friend. Dark eyes, brown hair tied into a ponytail, slightly tan skin from working in the forests, it's definitely her. The other competitor Lumiose, or Lumi for short, looks nothing like Johanna, with her strawberry blonde hair, emerald eyes, and porcelain skin typical of District 1. However, despite Lumi's Career tribute advantage, the odds aren't in her favor at all.

Over the past couple of days, Lumi has lost an insane amount of blood. When Ollie's little brother was killed in the bloodbath, the Career Pack used up their precious few bandages trying to heal him. I have to admit, I did feel a little hopeful when I saw that they were trying. Even though Oleander's my ex, I hate to see him get as upset as he's been since Grover died. I bet Lumi would've preferred that they didn't try, though, because for some reason her wounds haven't scabbed over yet. I think it has to do with the mutts that maimed her. The same mutts that Johanna has encountered not once, but twice if you don't count them right now.

Yeah, that's right. Both of the girls are being chased by the mutts as of right now.

Oh wait, correction: both of the girls have been chased by the mutts to the Cornucopia.

I bite my nails in anticipation. Come on Lumi, you need to die! I hate myself for thinking like that, but it's not like I didn't hate myself to begin with. I have a reason to hate myself too, and it's 'cuz I make terrible decisions.

My 2 year old cousin, Avalon, toddles into the room. "Maple?" she shrieks.

"Over here kid," I yell, before realizing that it might not be the best idea to let her in here while the Hunger Games are on. Ava tries to push herself onto the chair with me, so I pick her up and set her onto my lap.

"Red stuff?" Ava says, obviously confused.

"What red stu- oh," I say, seeing all the blood on TV. "Ava, that's called blood. It's supposed to stay inside your body," I groan.

"What?" Ava asks, ever the curious kid.

"Nothing, let me pay attention," I snap.

"And that's what we did, wasn't it. We killed people. That's just what Snow wanted, wasn't it?" Lumi laughs. "You know, at first I thought this was about bringing pride to my district, but it's just not! It's just not!"

"Lumi…"

"So what are you waiting for? Huh? Just kill me now!"

I put my hand over Ava's eyes. "Hey!" she whimpers. I ignore her.

"Promise me one thing, when you get home."

And then the screen goes black. I take my hand off of Ava's eyes.

"Hanna?" Ava asks, pointing to the screen.

"The Capitol decided that Johanna can't be on TV anymore," I laugh.

"Why?"

"Because, Ave, Johanna's going to change the world someday," I say.

And despite myself, I smile.

I think this is a given, but the sequel's up now! Go check it out!

Final quote of the day!

"Wait, if you're called the H.I.V.E Five, how come there are six of you?" -Teen Titans, Kid Flash

Iku ze, may titan clan light your path and the odds be ever in your favor,

Spectrobes Princess