Sam looked up when he heard movement in the room and saw Blaine standing nearby with his sword raised. He looked exhausted and a little bit unsteady, but Sam knew he didn't stand a chance. He was unarmed and still struggling to catch his breath. Sam almost laughed when an unbidden thought popped into his head. He had spent most of his time in the arena trying to catch his breath. Not wanting to die on his hands and knees, Sam dragged himself to his feet and turned to face his attacker.

But Blaine didn't attack. He was frozen, his weapon raised and ready to strike, but his thoughts from the last few hours were still weighing on his conscience. What about Sam's family and friends back home? Did they deserve to lose someone they loved just because Blaine had entered the Games with Kurt? Blaine's arm was shaking as he struggled with his choices. The Games were an instrument of the Capitol. He had to play within their rules.

Sam had finally managed to get his breathing back under control, but he hadn't made a move to escape. He knew Blaine was just as fast as he was so running was pointless, but the other boy hadn't struck yet. Sam recognized the hesitation. He'd felt it the day before when he first came across the tributes he'd killed. It was one thing to attack someone who was actively trying to kill you, but when facing unarmed tributes, it required a little more ruthlessness. Blaine and Sam had already let each other walk away once, and Blaine seemed to be struggling with the fact that the stakes were much higher this time. This late in the Games, there was less and less chance that someone else would take out the other tribute, so they had no choice but to get their hands dirty. But Blaine still hesitated. While Blaine and Sam stood in a silent stalemate, Kurt rounded the corner, unnerved by the quiet coming from inside the room.

Seeing Kurt walk into the room seemed to bring Sam and Blaine out of their stupor. Sam watched the other two tributes exchange a sad, confused look and knew that neither of them took any pleasure in the kill. Knowing this encounter had never been in his favor, and feeling that Kurt and Blaine deserved to make it home more than he did, Sam made an unprecedented decision.

“It's okay Blaine.” He wanted the other boy to know that there were no debts between them and Sam didn't harbor any ill will toward either of them. “There's nothing waiting for me back in 6. Do what you came here for. Get him home.” He gestured at Kurt with a nod.

“Sam, I…” Blaine couldn't believe what the other boy was saying. He knew he had the advantage right now. Sam was unarmed and Blaine was blocking the only way out of the room. But he hadn't expected the other boy to surrender so easily. And it wasn't just that he didn't have the will to fight. He was actually giving Blaine permission to kill him. Two days ago Sam had saved Blaine's life at the cornucopia, and now this. He felt himself shaking. “I can't.”

Kurt was proud of his boyfriend, but he wondered what the audience in the Capitol thought of this development. He couldn't remember ever seeing a tribute hesitate to kill before. If they did, their enemy usually wasn't so noble. Blaine still hadn't lowered his sword, but he hadn't made a move to use it since entering the room. Kurt moved closer to Blaine and wrapped his hand around Blaine's other wrist, careful of his injured hands.

Burt didn't know what to make of the current situation. He knew from personal experience that it was a daily struggle to live with the blood of other tributes on your hands, but he didn't know how to express that to the Capitol audience who were rendered speechless by the turn of events. Everyone had assumed Blaine would be ruthless in his quest to keep Kurt alive. But Burt knew that Blaine wore his heart on his sleeve. He'd probably felt indebted to the boy from 6 ever since they escaped the cornucopia. Add that to his protective instinct and it wasn't surprising that Blaine would be reluctant to kill the unarmed boy. Burt held his breath as the stalemate continued between Sam and Blaine, hoping the Gamemakers didn't feel the need just yet to intervene and force the boys' hands.

Seeing Blaine's hesitation, Sam felt even more sure that he was the better person out of the two of them. They both had blood on their hands, but Blaine had been in the middle of an adrenaline-fueled fight against the career pack when he killed Quinn. Sam murdered three unarmed tributes including a girl with a clear mental handicap. He felt remorse over his actions, but he never once considered that their lives meant more than his own. At least Blaine had something worth fighting for. Something greater than his own survival.

“I'm serious Blaine. We promised all bets are off next time we meet. You've got me cornered without a weapon.” Knowing that argument wasn't going to work, he paused for a few seconds before continuing. “I've already started having nightmares.” Judging by the sad look on Blaine's face Sam knew he didn't have to elaborate. “You and I both know he's the only one who deserves to go home from here.” He pointed at Kurt who remained silent, knowing this was between his boyfriend and the other boy. Kurt couldn't stop the feeling of guilt that came from the knowledge that it was his fault Blaine was here in the first place. Blaine was already weighed down by the life he'd taken, and he'd done it for Kurt. It certainly didn't feel like he deserved to win.

Blaine looked over at Kurt and knew Sam was right. They were both part of a neverending cycle of violence. He swallowed the lump in his throat and took a shaky step toward the other boy. Kurt held tight to his wrist, not wanting his boyfriend to have to do this. Sam nodded, urging Blaine to continue. As terrified as he was to die, he knew this was the right thing to do. At least in death he'd be free of the nightmares. He didn't care how cowardly it was to die rather than face his demons. He just wanted it to be over.

“Just make it quick.” Sam's voice was barely above a whisper. Blaine pulled his wrist out of Kurt's grasp and nodded, moving closer to Sam. His tears were warm on his cheeks as he raised his sword and thrust it quickly through Sam's chest. The blonde boy crumpled to the ground as Blaine whispered a quiet apology. His legs were shaking so bad he fell to his knees next to Sam's body. Blaine started coughing and retching violently as his stomach churned. Kurt knelt beside Blaine and pulled him into his arms. Kurt took Blaine's hand in his and rubbed his knuckles, making him relax his grip on his sword. Both boys flinched violently when the cannon fired.

Burt still couldnt believe what had just happened. He thought the audience would have quickly turned against them when Blaine hesitated to kill the other tribute. The only rule in the Games was that only one tribute could survive. It was completely unheard of for a tribute to show remorse over killing one of their competitors. And what was even more puzzling was the other boy's reaction. Instead of taking advantage of Blaine's weakness, he'd simply accepted his own death and encouraged Blaine to finish it. And still the audience seemed to identify with Blaine. It wasn't the first time the Capitol looked at the Games through the eyes of a tribute. Usually, however, the top tributes entered the arena with a thirst for violence, and the audience followed their lead. This year Blaine had the audience wound around his finger so tightly that his actions had finally forced them to see the Games in a new light. Burt watched as the atmosphere in the Capitol changed. Emotions were raw and charged as people reacted to the situation. Blaine was their hero. He was charming, romantic, merciful, and compassionate. It wasn't just a matter of quality entertainment anymore. Burt realized with a smile that the audience had taken on Blaine's cause as their own.