Peeta has been digging for what seems like an eternity. His breathing is fast and shallow in his chest and his head is swimming, but the hole he is digging doesn't seem to be getting any deeper. The ground that just a minute ago pulled him in now resist his advance. And there's no sign of Daine. How long has she been underground? How long before finding her won't save her?

His hands slow as the truth becomes impossible to ignore. Daine is gone. Daine is dead.

All at once, the fight goes out of him and he slumps, palms flat against the ground, head bowed. He doesn't feel the tears on his face, the blood welling around his fingernails. It's over.

Then he hears Daine call his name.

"Daine!" His eyes rove the ground in front of him. He can't see her, but he can hear her. He begins digging with renewed fervor. "DAINE!"