User blog:Pippycat/The 998th Hunger Games - The Illusion

Hey, so the first 998th HG were a fail so here. :3

Introduction
President Rain took his spot on the balcony overlooking the huge Capitol audience, as his daughter, Evaline, walked up beside him in her frilly blue dress. She smiled at him warmly as she picked up a small wooden box, nervously scanning the area with her eyes.

"We're live..." President Rain whispered to her, then he started his speech. "Welcome, Panem! As you all know, each year, we celebrate the peace that we have maintained for years. For 997 years, that is. And, as you also know, it is time for the 998th Hunger Games in just a few days. But, it is also close to the 1,000th Hunger Games. The 1,000th Hunger Games are not just another 100 year mark... this will be 1,000 years. So, instead of having a twist only on the 1,000th Hunger Games, there will also be twists leading up to the big finale in the 1,000th Hunger Games, as long as twice as many tributes to celebrate."

The audience hooted and hollered, while the districts probably sat frozen in shock and fear.

He turned to Evaline, who opened the box, which contained 3 slips of paper. He carefully opened the one marked "998" and read aloud...

"...the twist for the 998th Games, is not so much of a twist, as it is a reminder to all of Panem, that they were the ones who decided to turn a peaceful paradise into a chaotic nightmare during the first and second rebellions. To show this, the arena will be specifically designed."

Rules

 * No fighting, complaining, ect. Be a nice person or expect your tributes to be killed off!
 * Stay active!
 * Please don't be sending advice constantly, as most of this will probably be written a little ways in advance. The only times you should send advice is when I ask users to send advice.
 * Please follow the template below
 * Please don't get upset if your tribute dies. All but one of them will!
 * Have fun. That's an order.
 * Please answer any polls at the bottom of the page
 * The tribute limit is five per person at the moment; this may change
 * First come, first serve!
 * Reservations last 4 days
 * Wikia Contributors can join in you have a name to go by
 * No Troll Tributes or joke tributes please. They'll be declined

Tribute Template
Name: First and last, middle and nickname are optional

Age: 12-18

District: C-13 (no District 0)

Gender: M or F

Weapons: Provide at least 1, maximum of 3

Appearance: Please use this avatar maker to make one for your tribute. Thank you!

Personality: More than a few words, and preferrably a clear description. If it is short, please don't be mad if I portray them unlike you thought that they would be.

Skills: Provide 3

Weaknesses: Provide 3

Backstory: Try and make it interesting, and preferrably longer than a small paragraph.

Alliance: It can be specific tributes, Careers, Anti-Careers, ect.

Token:

Fears:

Reasons to Win:

Family Members:

Anything else? Remember, the more detailed the better, and the more likely they are to win. If I can see that you have put lots of effort into your tribute(s), the better. I will be more likely to choose unique tributes who I can tell have had a lot of effort/thought put into them.

Alliances
Bold: Leader

Italics: Co-leader

Careers:  Cassius Luppe(Cap) ,  Ajax Orbit(1), Thamos Keeper(2), Emilia Oswald(2), Jaclyn Brooken(2), Chasodie Melon(4), Leon Aslan(4), London Ashcraft(4) , Jason Bark(5), Ivanka Nyomi(5), Niels Warner(13)

The District 1 Alliance: Ryan Duke(1), Audrey Lancaster(1), Ashlynn Mountell(1)

Anti-Careers: Dennis Rystentia(3), Allium Arcson(3), Thesil Jacobs(8), Hazel Maize(9) , Gamma Fission(13), Artemis Moonsliver(13)

The Girls Alliance: Janine Taylor(3), Mona Redwood(6), Rosita Peletier(7), Delila "Lila" Greenwood(8), Wendy Shrullex(8), Kasha Rye(9), Reeva Olympia(11), Cassidy "Cassie" Mason(12)

The 5 and 11 Duo: Drake Lesley(5), Lacey Zale(11)

The Wolfgirl Alliance: Luna Isis(6), Amy Light(6), Wheeler Light(6), Harvest Cropper(9)

The Grace Siblings: Emil Grace(Cap), Aurora Grace(Cap), Amity Grace(Cap)

Euia: Euan Lorelle(7), Xia Rose(10)

The 10 and 12 Alliance: Irene Watson(10), Jamieson Erie(10), Blossom Breeze(12)

District 6 and 8 Alliance: Saerin Vrox(6), Caleb Viika(8)

Loners:  Cameron Vice(2), Akumai "Tenshin" Kubaya(3), Manta Li(4), Melina Woods(7), Terrence Birch(7), Jamie Flip(9), Jakub Kunnson(10), Tobias Drew(11), George Grain(11), Clive Nightshadow(12), Juniper Twist(12), Radiant Tayz(13)

Gallery
Capitol

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Training Scores
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE READING TRAINING SCORES: I tried to look at the tributes more like a Gamemaker would, so Careers will generally have better scores than those from poorer districts, and young tributes might have lower scores than older tributes.

12 is the best training score as always, 1 is the worst. 0 is impossibru ;3

1-1 is the best odds (but also imposible, so technically 3-1 would be best), the lower, the worse.

Predicted placings kinda speak for themselves...

The Arena
The Arena 

The arena this year will be in a glorious mountain range. There will be four or five mountains in it, each with waterfalls and beautiful scenery; blooming flowers of all kinds, green grass, streams and rivers, tall trees with leaves flowing in the breeze. The cornucopia will be on top of one of the mountains. There will be a few gamemaker-made traps, but not very many. A few of these might be mutts, and natural disasters, but I can’t give too much away!

Cornucopia 

The cornucopia this year will be very different, though. It will be diamond-shaped, with entrances on four sides, which means the pedestals will be in a full circle. The cornucopia will look like a shimmering, clear jewel, catching sunlight and bouncing it back off towards the tributes. The cornucopia will be surrounded by a small, shallow circle of water. Inside the cornucopia will be supplies and weapons, and to get away from the cornucopia, tributes will have to get down from the mountain – but don’t fall… and watch out for the rocks.

Arena Outfits 

The arena outfits this year will be similar for both boys and girls. The outfit will consist of a cream-colored shirt with a white, thin jacket to go over it with the tribute’s district number printed in black on both sleeves. Tributes will be wearing grey jeans, and have black boots to finish off the outfit. Girls will have light, silver and/or black makeup on. The idea behind this outfit is that as the arena twist starts to take effect, tributes’ outfits will reflect the dying and dirty arena around them.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Twist 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">The twist this year was said to be lying inside the arena plan. Which of course, it is. The twist is that each time a tribute dies, and after each day that passes, the arena will slowly die and wither away. Trees with shrivel and die, flowers will lose their petals, the exotic animals will all die while the mutts thrive, streams, rivers, and waterfalls will dry up, the grass will disappear and reveal the dirt ground. While everything in the arena dies, the place will become more dangerous for tributes. When trees die, they might grow thorns sharp enough to kill, dead animals can spread diseases. The only way to escape the dying arena is to emerge as one of the victors. In other words, the sort of “paradise” the tributes think that the arena is will in fact prove to be an illusion.

Twist 1
See "arena".

Twist 2
TBA

Twist 3
TBA

Rules

 * Each day (in real life), you can pledge up to three tributes, only up to two of your own
 * Those tributes will then recieve $50 (because I only have $ signs on my keyboard XD)
 * Each tribute starts out with $100

Death Chart
Updated a while after each update so you actually have to read the POVs, smart-alek.

Day 1 - The Bloodbath
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Saerin Vrox – District 6 – Launch Room 

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">60 seconds, until launch. ''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I fold my hands and set them in my lap, looking at the floor of the launch room. The baby blue color, if you stare at it too long, can melt into a murky white, and I have been staring at it for too long.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">My mentor has gone off to see Wheeler(6) leave, since he is definitely the favorite from District 6. With his sister, and his odd condition, he’s the favorite. But me… who would ever love a weirdo like me? I’m just stuck with my stylist, who is sitting next to me in silence, not helping at all. A single, hot tear falls from my eye and onto my lap. I sniff back more tears, at the thought of death coming upon me today. I can’t… “I can’t do this.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Yes you can.” My stylist says quietly. She looks at me, her curly green wig bobbing back and forth. “You’ve always been my favorite.” She gives me a kiss on the forehead, and I can feel my face heat up.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“You… really believe in me?” I squeak.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">She nods, her wig jerking to the side.

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">10 seconds, until launch. ''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The monotone voice comes over the speaker, and I start to shiver, moving in jerking movements as I stand up and pace around the launch room. I can almost hear the Capitol crowds cheering from here; cheering for the careers, cheering for death, cheering for the Hunger Games. The Games that I will take part of.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">As I step into the launch tube, the countdown starts to go. 5, 4… 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">As the glass closes around me, I hug myself, starting to cry. I really can’t do this… my stylist is saying something to me, but I can’t hear her. I shake my head, and she smiles at me, a warm smile that somehow melts through the misery I feel right now. As the launch tube rises into the arena, and the burning sun fills my vision, a sinking feeling fills my whole body. The bright sun may as well be the last thing I ever see.

<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Emil Grace – Capitol – The Countdown 

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls…! Let the 998th Hunger Games… begin!” ''

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">60… 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I look around desperately for my sisters, shielding my eyes from the burning sun. The arena is breathtakingly beautiful… I remember living in District 4, and in the Capitol, where the city lights and shining ocean are said to be pretty, but this… this is amazing! The cornucopia is surrounded by a small pond, and the cornucopia itself looks like a diamond, reflecting sunlight, and blinding us all. Birds are chirping, flying through the air, and perching on top of trees. The leaves may as well be cotton candy, the trees lollipops, and the cornucopia rock candy. But this is no heaven.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">40… 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I take a deep breath, readying myself for what is about to unfold. Jaclyn(2) is on the podium next to me, and she keeps shooting bloodthirsty glances at me and the girl next to her, Rosita(7). Rosita looks very scared, but I try to keep my cool. Amity(Cap) is straight across the cornucopia from me, and she keeps giving me nervous glances. Aurora(Cap) is positioned between Dennis(3) and London(4), so she isn’t in much danger… unless London is capable of more than I think.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">There, at one of the four entrances of the cornucopia – the one closest to me – is a trident. If I can just get that, then find Aurora and Amity, and maybe get a backpack, and then we can all leave this horrid place.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">30… 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">All the tributes look either scared, about to burst into tears, or psychotically happy. The countdown continues as we all sit in silence, for what feels like the longest minute of our lives…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">20… 

<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Irene Watson – District 10 – The First Bloodshed 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">10… 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">This is it, this is what might be the biggest moment of the games. The beautiful scenery does nothing to help the situation, except district a few tributes. One of which is my own stupid district partner, Xia(10). At least she’s safe from falling off her platform, she’s glued to her spot…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">5… 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Take a deep breath…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">4… 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Calm down…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">3… 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Find your allies…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">2… 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Get supplies…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">1… 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Live.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">GONG! GONG! GONG!

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I rush to the cornucopia, not wasting any time. The nearest entrance for me is crowded with tributes, some of which are careers, so I steer away and go to another. There, I run into one of the girls from 5. Luna, I think. I shove her out of the way, and she makes some weird growling noise before attempting to knee me in the stomach. I dodge, falling to the ground, but quickly regain myself. She throws a punch at me, and I raise my foot straight into her no-no zone, and she curls over from the pain. I rush in to the cornucopia, and grab the backpack, then duck behind a crate, hoping other tributes won’t be able to see my reflection from the glistening wall of the cornucopia.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I peek out and see Blossom(12) crouching along the outskirts of the cornucopia, and then hear a familiar voice, begging for mercy. Right as it dawns on me who it is, cruel laughter rings out, and then a body hits the ground right in front of. I scream, frozen to my spot.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">The first blood of the games is my own ally, Jamieson(10).

<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Chasodie Melon – District 4 – The Bloodbath 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I yank my trident out of the District 10 boy’s stomach, and turn to my allies.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Nice one, Chas.” Jaclyn(2) says, grinning.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I giggle. My allies are paying a lot of attention to me! I love it! And, I got the first kill of the games… I could care less who did, but that is sure to gain me Capitol favoritism. I think.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Did you hear that?” Emilia(2) asks.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Hear what?” I ask.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“That scream.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I look down to where Jamieson fell, just in time to see Irene(10) running off with her little ally from 12, one of them with a dagger and one with a backpack. There’s no point in going after them now.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I turn to my fellow Careers. The cornucopia is very big this year, with lots of supplies, either in backpacks or crates. There isn’t food lying around, like loaves of bread, so I’m guessing that they are in the backpacks. There are also lots of weapons, and they look shinier and sharper this year… it’s perfect. I smile, and grip my trident. The Careers are forming some sort of circle around the cornucopia, so I stay inside to greet anyone who wants to try and go for a certain pile of backpacks. There are five backpacks, so I might as well take one…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">My ally Cassius(Cap) seems to have the same idea about staying inside the cornucopia, and so does London(4). I look around, as tributes dart in and out of the cornucopia. There goes Emil(Cap), grabbing a backpack and a trident quickly, while his sister, Amity(Cap) I think – or Aurora? Whatever, the older sister – darts in quickly and grabs another backpack before the two run off with their little sister. They’re not much of a threat right now. Anyone who runs away from the cornucopia that quickly isn’t worth wasting time on.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Cassius standing, and then from the outside of the cornucopia, a blonde girl drawing her bow back, aiming straight at Cassius. “Cassius!” I gasp, “look out!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">He turns just in time, and the blonde girl shoots the arrow, hitting Cassius right in the neck. He falls to the ground, gasping for air. London(4) rushes over, but her expression is unreadable. “See if you can help him.” I tell her.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">That girl who shot Cassius was the one from District 1, Ashlynn. She didn’t ally with the Careers. What a traitor! I take a nearby knife as she darts in to the cornucopia and picks up a bag of apples, and I throw the knife at her. It grazes her neck, and a few strands of a hair fall to the ground before she runs off. I shake my head, then look to Cassius and London.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“He’s dead.” London bounces up to her feet again.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">London sure is weird…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I take my spot again, and shrug it off. One more ally dead is one less enemy in the end… right?

<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Artemis Moonsliver – District 13 – The Bloodbath 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Anti-careers are meeting up near the outskirts of the cornucopia, hidden behind some bushes. I duck behind, and join my allies.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Is it time to strike yet?” Hazel(9) asks curiously.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">We don’t have an official leader, so we’re all quiet for a while, waiting for someone to answer. Finally, Allium(3) answers. “We should. Before the Careers get too confident in themselves. There’s less of us, but that doesn’t me we can’t take them.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Dennis(3) shrugs, and I look to my alliance members. I nod, a determined look on my face. “Let’s go. Which entrance should we use?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Thesil(8) points to one entrance, where one tribute is. It’s Cameron Vice(2), the young boy from Two who didn’t ally with the careers. He’s the only one there, currently.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I nod. “Once we get inside, get supplies and run?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Yes.” Allium replies. She counts off, and then we all run to the cornucopia. Thesil(8) goes inside the cornucopia and hides behind a crate, taking a small dagger. Allium(3) and Dennis(3) run for backpacks, and I stay beside Hazel(9). Cameron sees us two coming, and takes out a bow and arrow. Hazel ducks, and I dive out of the way as one arrows pegs itself into the ground behind us. Cameron fires another arrow, and this one hits me in the arm. I scream out, and fall to the ground, just barely holding on. Hazel glances at me pitifully, and nods. I curl up on the ground, and try to take the arrow out of my arm. I can hear a scream from where Hazel ran, and turn to see Cameron lying on the ground, Hazel stabbing him with one of his own arrows. I smile at Hazel weakly, before closing my eyes, and trying to regain myself. I hear footsteps, and turn over to look and see not Hazel, but one of the boys from District One. He has a dagger in his hand, and doesn’t hesitate before bringing it down towards me. I barely have time to scream before pain erupts in my neck, and bursts of black fill my vision… the pain continues, until almost everything has gone black, and I can barely hear Hazel yelling my name…

<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Ryan Duke – District 1 – The Bloodbath 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Artemis(13) curls up on the ground, and I watch her. A shiver comes over me as I take my dagger out of her neck, the blood pooling up around her. Hazel(9), one of the other Antis, is running at me. I gasp before throwing my dagger at her. It hits her in the shoulder, and she gasps in pain. I run at her, kicking her to the ground, taking my dagger and then stabbing her near the neck over and over again.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I finally stop, gasping for air, and then start to shake. My allies… they must need me… I can’t… have I really killed two tributes… Artemis is curled up into a tiny, motionless ball some ways away from me, but Hazel is still breathing. I step back, putting my dagger into my belt.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Hazel!” Dennis(3) looks from Hazel to Artemis to me, and then his eyes fix on me, filling with tears. I run to the cornucopia, back to my allies. The antis are huddled around Hazel, until Allium(3) stands up and leads then away, Dennis still covering his eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Thesil(8), also one of the antis, is still trying to get out of the cornucopia. Leon(4), possibly the best out of the career alliance, walks up to him slowly before putting his hands around Thesil’s neck, then twisting it, giving Thesil a quick death.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Drake(5) darts in to the cornucopia, and I want to attack him, but can’t bring myself to it, so I just watch as he grabs a backpack and a small pack of throwing knives. His ally Lacey(11) manages to get a small bag, that looks like might be filled with fruit.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I stay close to my allies, but stay near London(4). She seems nice, and she hasn’t done much attacking so far. We stand next to each other in silence, as she holds her trident, and I drop my dagger for a decently sized scythe.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The small alliance made up of Xia(10) and Euan(7) approaches the cornucopia, and Xia is shaking, while Eaun is trying to look brave. He darts in to the cornucopia, staying low, so that no one will see him. I pretend not to, but London knows better. She runs towards Eaun, thrusting the trident towards him. The trident misses by about an inch, and Eaun gets up, running for the nearest weapon, which happens to be an axe. Being from District Seven, he must be dangerous with it. He swings it at London, and she tries to dive out of the way, so it grazes her stomach, making a red gash appear on her white clothes. She clutches her stomach, and I run for Eaun, pushing him to the ground, swinging my sickle at him. He runs off with his axe, picking up a backpack and a knife on the way, and meeting up with Xia, still on the outskirts of the cornucopia.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">I bend down to London, who starts to moan. “I’ll help you.” I whisper, and look around for a first aid kit, for something…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“What’s going on?” Ivanka(5) and Niels(13) come up to us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Take our spots.” I say. “I’m taking London somewhere safer… I’m going to try and heal her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Ivanka tosses me a box, and I open it to see that it’s full of medical supplies. “Thank you.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Ivanka nods. “Good luck.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">I pick up London and rush to a hiding spot in the bushes, opening the box. I might not have much experience, but I need to save London.

<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Amy Light – District 6 – The Bloodbath <span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Wheeler(6), Harvest(9) and I watch as Luna(5) approaches the cornucopia. Since she is apparently a trained assassin, she insisted that she take on the cornucopia. She disappears into the cornucopia, and Wheeler gasps.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“She’ll be fine.” Harvest says, but even he sounds worried.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">When Luna comes out with two backpacks, a sword, and a mace, unscathed, we all smile.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Luna keeps a backpack, hands one to me, and the other to Wheeler. She hands Harvest the mace, since he’s pretty much the only one who can hold it, and keeps the sword for herself.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Let’s go.” I say quickly, and we all walk away from the cornucopia, Harvest keeping guard from behind, and Wheeler and me leading the way. We’re walking casually, when suddenly, Wheeler screams.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“What is it?!” I ask. Panic washes over me. Is he getting sick this month… oh no, please not now!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">But when I look down, I can see what was the big deal. It’s a cliff.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Could we go somewhere else?” Wheeler asks quietly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Wheeler is a horrible climber, so I don’t want him to have to go through this. I look around, but other tributes are escaping down other sides of the giant mountain that we are apparently on. “We’ll run into tributes if we go any other way.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“I can do it.” Wheeler takes a deep breath, before the four of us start to climb down the mountain.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Luna climbs down the mountain almost like a spider; quickly and efficiently. It’s almost scary. Harvest is bigger than the rest of us, so it takes him a little longer, but eventually, he makes it down. I stay with Wheeler, and we make our way slowly down the mountain.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Put your foot there.” I tell him, and he does so. “Now lower your hand…” The mountain is getting steeper, and there are less things to hold on to. Even I am getting scared. Wheeler lets out a whimper, and then yelps when his foot slips, but regains himself. “You’re getting it!” I tell him encouragingly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">He looks down, and that is when panic sets in. It hits me like one of the high-speed Capitol trains that we used to help build back in District Six, and that moment freezes for what seems like forever. For when Wheeler looks down, he falls.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Wheeler!” I scream, tears springing up in my eyes. I climb down as quickly as I can, but we’re still so high up. Wheeler falls onto a tree that’s sticking out of the side of the mountain, and I gasp as he hits another tree, then another, until he’s almost out of sight.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">I start to cry, and make my way down the mountain as fast as I can. When I reach Luna and Harvest, I start bawling. “Where d-did he l-land?!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Luna shakes her head and tells me to sit down. It’s clear that he landed somewhere far away from us… somewhere where no one should land. He probably died from the fall… “Kill me now. I want to be with him.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Amy?” Harvest asks quietly, putting a hand around my shoulder. The bright green grass feels unnaturally soft under my feet, and it feels like I could sink into the ground it’s so soft. This arena… it feels like it is mocking me. I lost my brother to this beautiful place… now I want to lose myself to it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Kill me.” I beg Luna, “just do it. It’s just one more number to your list of victims.” A Cheshire grin creeps up on my face, framed by my tears and blushed cheeks. “Come on, then I can be with my brother again! That’s all I want!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“No!” Luna pushes me away from her. “I won’t let you die! Do you think Wheeler would want you to just give up like this?! I won’t let you. You need to win. For him.” <h3 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Rosita Peletier - District 7 - The Bloodbath <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The girls alliance has gathered, and we are all deciding what to do right now. The careers are still guarding the cornucopia, but by the looks of it, they’re not very good at it… a lot of tributes have gotten past them. I am small and agile, so my alliance agreed that I should go first. My stomach feels empty as I approach the cornucopia, taking small, soft footsteps. Everyone seems so distracted by what they are already doing to pay attention to me. Melina(7), George(11), and Jamie(9) seem to be in a fight as I approach one of the entrances. I gasp as Jamie is flung to the ground, clutching his arm, and then runs off with a backpack. Melina and George fight for a while, George with a sickle, Melina with her axe, and Melina retreates when George slashes her leg with his sickle, giving her a deep gash. My heart beats even louder, as I watch George run off with his sickle.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Finally, I dash in to the cornucopia, and peek out to where my alliance is hiding. I give them the signal, and they split off. We’re all invading from different entrances, hopefully we will get some backpacks and weapons. I find a dagger on the floor and stuff it into my belt, then dart for a backpack, but run into someone on my way. As I fall to the ground, the wind gets knocked out of me, and when I open my eyes, I see Tobias(11).

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">He is the one that was acting menacing in training, and I never wanted to get into a fight with him. He has a flail in his hands, and raises it to swing it around in the air. Too scared to move, I sit there, frozen. That’s when he falls to the ground, and Delila(8), my own ally, is standing behind him. Her face is drained of color as she yanks her axe out of the back of Tobias’ head. I rush to her and give her a suffocating hug.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“I was worried about you, Rosita.” Delila says, and then drags me out of the cornucopia. “That place is too dangerous for you. You’re so young and I don’t want you to get hu—“

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“I can fight.” I say, but even I doubt it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Delila squeezes my hand, and then points off into the distance. “Do you see that small forest down there? Go there. We’ll meet up with you later.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">I nod, with tears in my eyes. “What if… what if someone finds me?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">“They won’t.” Delila gives me one last hug before running back to the cornucopia, to fight with our allies. A sinking feeling fills me, and for a moment, I feel lightheaded. I turn to where Delila pointed. Down a steep hill, there is the small forest she pointed to. Near it is a glistening waterfall, with crystal-clear water. Suddenly, I feel very thirsty. I look down the hill. Grass. I smile, getting ready to roll down the hill, just for fun. I steady myself, making sure my dagger is in a safe position so it won’t hurt me, but right as I start to roll down the hill and giggle, a scream rings out from back at the cornucopia.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">When I reach the bottom of the hill, I sit up, dizzy, and walk towards the forest. I was told to meet my allies in the forest, but it won’t hurt to go to the waterfall… will it?

<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">End of the Bloodbath – 3rd Person POV 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">As Kasha Rye(9) fell to the ground with a spear in her neck, her ally Mona(6) begged for mercy from the careers. Ivanka(5) raised her axe with a malicious grin, swinging it into Mona’s side.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Careers celebrated the small victory against two members of the girls alliance, as the rest ran off with some backpacks and some weapons. Akumai runs from the cornucopia, with a sword in his hands, and as Radiant leaves, he picks up Tobias’ flail, running down the hill side of the mountain. Clive(12) leaves, sadly, with nothing, down the steeper, cliff side of the cornucopia mountain, and Juniper(12) manages to escape with a stray arrow and a ripped backpack. As the other tributes disperse, the careers are left alone.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Careers decide to move into a different part of the arena. The beautiful landscape is luring tributes in to other parts of the arena. London(4) is carried along with her allies, as all careers choose a weapon and take any leftover backpacks, and move down the least steep part of the mountain, as the hovercraft comes to pick up the fallen and lifeless.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Just as the Careers vanish off of the mountain and into a meadow at the base of the mountain, the first cannon echoes throughout the arena.

<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Blossom Breeze – District 12 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Irene(10) and I finally stop running when a cannon booms throughout the arena. I jump, clutching my dagger close, as we both stop in our tracks. We found a stone staircase leading up to a waterfall, and thought it might be a good place to stay for the night, looking out on the arena and trying to see where others are.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">BOOM!

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Two. ''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">I start to count in my head.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“That means ten dead tributes.” I whisper.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Irene just nods and keeps walking up the staircase, until we find a small alcove, with a rock ceiling. It’s very well hidden, I have to say. We both squeeze in, and Irene opens her backpack. Inside is a flashlight, which we turn on, so that we can see in the small, rocky “cave” we’re sitting in. A sleeping bag, some pain killers… the real surprise, though, is three candy bars. The wrappers read: “Hershey’s”.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Irene squeals, and immediately tries to bite into one.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“STOP!” I yell, and she drops the flashlight. I pick it up after it rolls across the ground, sending light beams in every direction. “It might… the Capitol might have poisoned it!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Irene laughs, and says, “stop being so paranoid!” When she bites into it, her face lights up with joy. I take out a candy bar myself, and have the same reaction. After pigging out on our chocolate bars, we save the last one to share later.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Irene curls up in her sleeping bag, and I curl into a ball, rubbing my arms and trying to stay warm. “You know what, Irene?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“What?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“I’ve never actually had a Hershay candy in my life.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Irene giggles. “It’s pronounced ''Hershey. ''And that’s the brand of candy. It’s actually chocolate. I thought you said you were rich back in District Twelve?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Still, candy can be hard to come by.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">We’re silent for a moment, and I’m still savoring the taste of my chocolate, trying to keep it in my memory for as long as possible, when the muffled anthem comes on. We peek out of our hiding place to see who are among the fallen:

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Day 1 – The Fallen 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center">

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Capitol 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Cassius Luppe

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">District 2 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Cameron Vice

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">District 6 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Wheeler Light

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Mona Redwood

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">District 8 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Thesil Jacobs

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">District 9 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Kasha Rye

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Hazel Maize

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">District 10 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Jamieson Erie

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">District 11 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Tobias Drew

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">District 13 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Artemis Moonsliver

Oddly enough, not a single District Twelve tribute is in the sky. Usually, we lose one or both on the first day, and the other dies soon after. Hopefully we’re luckier this year, and one of us gets to survive longer. Or maybe even win.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Melina Woods – District 7 – Early Morning
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I wake up with the sound of chirping birds filling my ears, and it takes me a second to realize where I am. At least, I remember when the pain shoots through my arm.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I gasp, and look down. Sure enough, I’m still in the tree I climbed last night. It was hard with an injured arm like I have, so I didn’t make it far, but it was far enough upwards to get out of sight of anyone who might be below me.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I slowly climb down, and almost fall to the ground. I look at the big gash on my arm, still oozing blood. The blood from last night is dried up on my sleeve, which I had ripped up to wrap around the wound. A small river is near the bottom of the cornucopia mountain, where I am, so I had put some water on it. Normally, I would worry about the water not being safe, but it was so clear, and there was barely any dirt in it, so I even drank some of the water.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I sigh and look around me. The land around this mountain looks almost like a peaceful meadow, with the mountains all around it, and flowers blooming. I go to one pretty, white flower, and put it in my hair, just because. Still being in nature helps me feel more comfortable, since nature is where I’ve always lived.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I walk along with my axe, looking around. This place is pretty, almost too pretty… almost distracting…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">A searing pain strikes my arm, and I fall to the ground, with tears in my eyes. I can’t do this… my arm needs to be healed. I look up to where the cornucopia is, on the tallest mountain. If there are medical kits up there… I could try getting up from the side of the mountain that’s not as steep, as climbing isn’t a very good idea right now.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">The pain pulses through my arm again, and I sit down in the flowers, closing my eyes. If only I hadn’t gotten into that fight… if only I could have run away from the cornucopia… I’m a failure to my district…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">BOOM!

<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Audrey Lancaster – District 1 – Early Morning 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">The color drains from my face, as I stare at London’s(4) glazed over eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">All I can hear is my own heartbeat, as I turn to Ryan(1), who looks as shocked as I feel.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I had woken up early to help Ryan take care of London. I don’t know why it was me who was helping, out of all people in this alliance; I barely know anything about medicine and healing.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">London was still asleep when we started, but then, she started crying from the pain. It was clear Ryan doesn’t know much about healing, either. We had wrapped up London in some thick bandages, to try and stop the bleeding and we had given her some pain killers, but whoever made this medical kit was not very generous. Basically, there are a few band aids (which would only be good for a small cut when you don’t want an infection), the thick bandages we’ve wrapped London with (which are completely blood-soaked), a small bottle of pain killers…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">And then there was a syringe with liquid in it. Ryan had thought we shouldn’t have tried to use it, but I wanted to saved London so badly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Now, I see that was the worst decision ever. London is motionless, and that cannon could only mean one thing. As I slowly take the syringe out of London’s flesh, I realize, I’ve just accidentally killed my own ally.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Ryan seems scared, too. Now the careers will think we’re traitors. Ryan gets his scythe, my backpack and my axe, and gives me my stuff. “What are we doing?” I whisper hurriedly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Oooooooh, lookie here!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Both Ryan and I turn to see Ivanka(5) has woken up, observing the scene. Her eyes flicker from London, to Ryan, to me, and then to the syringe in my hand. “Did you kill the little girl?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Tears start to fill my eyes. I would never want to kill one of my own allies, and now I’m the bad guy, who accidentally fell for the Capitol’s little medical kit trick with the syringe.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Ivanka gets her axe, and smiles at us. “I’ll save the rest of this alliance from you two traitors!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">At that, some of our other allies wake up. Ajax(1) is one of those tributes, and he looks at us, not even asking what’s going on. He gets his sword and runs at Ryan and me. I can’t believe this! My own district partner is trying to kill me! Anger starts to boil up inside of me, and as he swings his sword, I block it with my axe. I yell for Ryan to come and help. Ajax slashes the air with his sword, and I block it as many times as I can, but it’s hard to maneuver with an axe.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Something red flies at me, and I shield my eyes with my hand,  holding my axe out in front of me. A warm liquid drips down my arms, and when I open my eyes, I see that it is actually blood. Ajax’s(1) forehead has been slashed open, and Ryan is battling him with his scythe.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Ivanka runs at me, giggling. I block her axe with my own, and kick her to the ground. She’s not the threat right now, Ajax is. Just as Ryan aims his scythe at Ajax’s neck, I bring my axe back and aim for his side.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">At the same time, our blows hit Ajax, and he falls to the ground, the blood pooling up around him. My own clothes and Ryan’s are bloodstained.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">A few seconds later, a cannon shakes the arena, and a few dead leaves fall off of the trees near us.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I don’t even bother to look back at our allies, I start to run. Ryan is running with me, clutching Ajax’s sword, dropping his scythe on our way. When we’re far from our old alliance, we stop to catch our breath.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Just when I think I’m safe, Ryan punches me in the gut, and I double over. “W-what was that for?” I gasp.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“I was supposed to stay loyal to our alliance!” He hisses at me.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“I’m sorry…” I say, tears stinging my eyes. “I never meant to kill London(4), and I never wanted to hurt Ajax(1). I’m the worst District One tribute ever.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Ryan helps me up, blushing. “Sorry I did that to you. On the bright side, I have a sword now.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I laugh half-heartedly. “Where should we go?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Ryan looks around. “Well, not to our old alliance. We’re somewhere between all of the mountains right now. Let’s go there.” Ryan points somewhere beyond a blooming flower field, to where a small mountain is.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Sure, let’s go.” I say. Right now, I want to be anywhere except near my old allies. I look back, though, and can see the hovercraft coming to pick up the newly fallen. All because of me.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Euan Lorelle – District 7 – Morning
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">The sound of the hovercraft is what wakes me up. I look down to see that the careers below seem to have been devastated. Two bodies are picked up, then the hovercraft disappears. The fun thing about being on top of the second mountain, is that there are beautiful cherry blossom trees, and no one knows we’re up here. It was hard to get Xia to come up the mountain, as she was scared of climbing it for some reason, but now we’re here.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Xia(10) is snoring some ways away from me, and I smile. It’s a good thing no one knows we’re here, because Xia’s snoring would give us away. She’s sleeping in her sleeping bag, on her side, facing away from me. She mumbles something and turns over to face up.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I decide to make “breakfast”, by cutting the loaf of bread I have in two. I then decide to save some bread, so I cut one half again and tuck the other one away in my backpack. I look around on top of the mountain, and find a bush of berries. They’re edible; I’ve seen them before in District Seven. I put some on each part of the bread, and then go back over to Xia.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Psst.” I whisper in her ear, “rise and shine.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">She keeps snoring, so I shake her arm a bit. “Xia? Come on, wake up!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Aah!” She opens her eyes and then sees me, and squeals. “You scared me!” She looks around and paws frantically for her glasses, and when she finds them, she puts them on, and then sees the food I made.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Is that for me?” Her whole face turns a bright red. I’m guessing she hasn’t talked to boys much. Wouldn’t it be funny to mess with her… just a bit?

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Yep, it’s for you.” I smile and sit next to her, and she turns even more red.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Uh… uh, thanks.” She says quietly, and eats her food quickly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“You’re funny.” I say, giggling a bit.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“What do you mean?!” Xia squeals, her mouth still full with the bread I gave her. “Aw woo tryin to trick meh?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I laugh a bit, and Xia swallows her food, joining in with some awkward giggling. She stands up and takes the hair-tie out of her hair. The Capitol had put it up in a very messy bun, which just adds to her awkwardness.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“It looks better up.” I tell her, crossing my arms, a playful smile on my face.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Xia makes some annoyed noises at me, before trying to put it back in a bun, but just tangles up some of her hair. I go over to her and put it in a nice ponytail for her.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“How are you so good at doing hair?” She asks, a crooked grin on her face.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Now it’s my turn to blush. “I used to try and do my little sister’s hair, but… she’s cocky and stubborn, and no matter how many times I tried to do her hair for her, she always took it out and did it herself.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Xia smiles at me, and for the first time, she isn’t blushing when she’s near me.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Xia is definitely the perfect ally. She’s smart, funny, and awkward, which makes her fun to be around. And with her hair up in a neat ponytail and a smile on her face, she’s actually kind of… cute.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“What should we do today?” I ask, banishing all thoughts of cute girls from my head. Xia is just my ally, nothing more.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Xia shrugs and then suggests, “we could spy on other alliances? The careers are down there, and we have a birds-eye view of the tributes down below.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I look over the edge of the mountain, and can see little specks down in the arena below. “Come see this Xia, it’s amazing!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I look back to Xia. “Come on, there are waterfalls, forests, flower fields…”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Xia just shakes her head, her face turning red again. “I can’t, I might fall!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Xia sure has something with heights and climbing. I sigh and sit next to her. “Then what are we going to do?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Pick berries.” Xia gets up quickly and I follow her, packing up our things. We pick the berries for a while, and I see Xia sneaking a few as we pick. I pretend not to notice it, since it’s funny, and she’s really bad at hiding it. I just smile to myself and let her keep doing that. Somehow, soon, I’m going to break Xia out of her shy, nerdy shell. Somehow.

<h3 class="MsoNormal"> Rosita Peletier - District 7 - Afternoon <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">As I approach the waterfall, I smile. It is so pretty!

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">A pool of water lies where the waterfall meets the ground, with dirt surrounding it. I bend down to the water and look at it. It’s so clear that I can almost see all the way through it to the dirt below, just like it’s glass. The waterfall seems to be coming from the second mountain, and I know tributes are there.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I look around, before pulling down my sleeves to take a drink of the water. Something deep inside tells me to stop. Water isn’t supposed to be this pretty, this clear, this serene, it just isn’t. Everything beautiful is a trap. But the rest of me just listens to the chirping birds, the gushing of the crystalline waterfall.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I dip my hands into the water, and immediately take them out. An odd sensation stings and bites at my hands, but I can’t decide exactly what it is… it feels like… burning. My hands start to turn red, and it feels like they’ve been set on fire. I search somewhere for something to help, to stop this burning sensation, as it keeps hurting more and more each second. I whimper, and start to cry. The only thing I can think of that would help would be water, but isn’t that what caused this?

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Panic starts to take control of me. Suddenly, this beautiful, serene world melts into a nightmare. I dip my hands in the water again, and scream when the burning feels worse.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“ROSITA!” A voice from the woods calls for me, but I’m blinding by tears and pain. The water must be dangerous in some way. The chirping birds flutter down from the trees around me and sit in the grass near me, giving me questioning looks. I shake my head, wanting to yell at the them to leave.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">There has to be safe water somewhere! Something that can help. The Gamemakers set this cruel trap for us. Everything beautiful is dangerous.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I whip around, and scream out for my alliance. Something falls out of my belt, and I turn to see, though clouded by my tears, a dagger. A shiny, beautiful dagger.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I pick it up with my shaking, burning hands, because I can only see one escape from this pain. I stagger backwards, and drop the dagger. No… I’m too weak, too cowardly to do it.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Something comes crashing through the trees, and I can see one of my allies yelling out for me. I yelp and stagger backwards even farther, before my foot slips on something, and slowly, I get another sensation.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Falling.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Slowly, I can feel the ground slipping out from under me, before I fall into something wet. Instantly, the burning starts all over, and I shut my eyes and close my mouth so that it won’t get into those places, but I hurt beyond words.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I push myself up towards the surface of the water, struggling to move. When my head pops up, a few of my alliance members cry out for me or scream. What do I look like?! What do they think is happening?!

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I open my eyes just in time to see Reeva(11) pull back her bow, and with tears in her eyes, let the string go. It’s for the best, isn’t it? I’m out of my misery.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">As the arrow finds it mark near my heart, I fall, slowly this time, as I go numb all over, letting the water pull me in…

<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Cassidy “Cassie” Charm – District 12 – Afternoon  <span style="font-family:'TimesNewRoman',serif;font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;">Reeva(11) slowly lets go of her bow, with shaking hands. I put my hand on her shoulder, seeing the tears form in her eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“What happened…” Janine(3) starts, sniffing. “What happened to Rosita?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">We all watch as Rosita’s body floats to the top of the water, her face turned down. I shiver, but carefully make my way towards the water. Picking up a stick on the way, I bend down and poke the water with the stick. A strange sizzling sound can be heard, and bubbles come up from the water where the stick is. I take it out, and the end has seemingly almost “melted” off.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">My allies all look to each other, with horrified looks on their faces.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Rosita…” Reeva starts, sniffing.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I give Reeva a soft hug. “It was for the best. She would have suffered if you didn’t.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“We better go.” Wendy(8) says, and we all head off into the woods. We’re all deathly quiet, until we set up camp. Reeva goes off with her bow and arrow to go hunt, and brings back some squirrels. We roast them over the fire, before it can get too dark outside, so no one will notice that we are here.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">We’re all still hungry, but instead, I look up to the sky. The sun is going down, leaving the sky tinted orange, pink, and a bit of the bright blue still shines through.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">We all go to sleep eventually, but I can’t sleep. Oddly, in training, and for the time when I was in the Capitol, I had such peaceful dreams. But now that I’m here, I keep dreaming that one of us is getting killed by the Careers, or that it was me instead of Rosita. I stay up, and keep guard of my alliance, since anything is better than my nightmares.

<p class="MsoNormal">'''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Ashlynn Mountell – District 1 – Nighttime '''

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">The sky is getting dark, and I walk along through the flower field, looking up at the sky every once in a while, expecting the anthem to come on at any moment. The Gamemakers must be waiting for something, because it’s very dark out now, and usually they would have shown the fallen images by now.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">The tiny scratch on my neck from the bloodbath is just about healed by now, so I’m not injured. However, with only 6 candied apples – which are good for a boost of energy since they are sugar, but not very nourishing – and a bow and arrow, I might need some more supplies.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I sigh and sit down among the flowers, watching them sway back and forth in the breeze, when I hear footsteps. I get up quickly and look around, getting an arrow ready in my bow.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">There, are two of my district partners! They must be coming for me since I didn’t ally with them and the other Careers. It’s clear that the careers hate me. I raise my bow and quickly shoot an arrow, but the girl dodges it, and screams out for me to stop.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I keep my bow up, as they both start talking.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Umm, do you remember our names?” The boy asks.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Ryan and Audrey, right?” I ask through gritted teeth. I don’t want to trust them.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Audrey picks up my arrow, which has pegged itself into the ground near her, and walks slowly up to me, before giving it back. “We want to ally.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Why aren’t your own allies with you?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">They both hastily explain their story, and I’m still wondering whether or not to trust them. But we’re both Career split-offs, so we both kind of are in the same situation. I agree, and we all sit down and talk for a while.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“What do you want to do tomorrow?” Ryan asks.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“I was going to go tribute hunting.” I answer, “but it will probably be better with three of us than one. I’m not sure who to go after, since this arena is so big and I have almost no idea who’s near me and who’s not.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“We can look tomorrow.” Audrey says, yawning.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Ryan and Audrey seem nice, but I’m still ready for them to turn on me at any moment. We all curl up to sleep, and oddly enough, even though I want to stay up, I think I’m the first to drift off…

<p class="MsoNormal">'''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Caleb Viika – District 8 – Nighttime '''

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I stare up at the sky, looking at all the different patterns in the stars. Somehow, both Saerin(6) and I have survived another day in the arena. Oddly, I’ve noticed that trees are starting to lose leaves, and some leaves are looking a little brown and withered away. The trees seem to be dying, and in the stream near us, there’s been a little more dirt than usual. But just when I think the arena is about to die, I blink my eyes and everything looks beautiful again.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Saerin(6) is fast asleep, barely making a noise. You’d think he was dead with how quiet he is… she is? I still mean to ask Saerin that question, but since he was reaped as a boy tribute, I think I’ll just call him male for now. Saerin is nice, but very quiet and shy, so it’s hard to make conversation.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I close my eyes, and am almost ready to drift off, too, when I hear the grass rustling near me. I open my eyes and look up at the stars and the trees above, and whisper Saerin’s name.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“What?” Saerin asks quietly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Is that noise you?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“No.” Saerin answers, then adds self-consciously, “at least, I don’t think so.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I sit up and look around. My heart starts to race when I see it. A tribute, picking up my backpack, and reaching for Saerin’s. I clutch my knife (which I keep by my side at all times), and shout out for Saerin.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Saerin wakes up and reaches for his hatchet. I run at the mystery tribute, and tackle them. They punch me in the face, hitting me right across the nose, and immediately blood pours out. I cover my nose and kick the tribute in the stomach while they try to get up and run away. I throw my knife at them, and it hits them in the right arm.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Saerin comes up and swings his hatchet, but his attack just falls short and the axe buries itself into the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I run up take my knife out of the enemy’s arm, and kick them to the ground again, my heart racing as I plunge the knife into their throat multiple times, blood spraying up out of the wounds.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">A few moments later, a lone cannon goes off. I shakily get up and wipe the blood from my knife onto the grass, and look at the tribute that I’ve just managed to kill. I don’t even know who it is, until the hovercraft comes to pick him up after I’ve gotten the backpacks from his cold, limp hands. It’s the boy from 12, Clive. He had no weapons or supplies, only ours. I wish we could have negotiated with him and become allies, but instead I was stupid and chose to attack.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“You’re wounded.” Saerin says quietly. He gets his backpack from me, which used to hold his sleeping bag, but now has his other items in it. A small packet of cotton swabs, two rolls of bread. He takes two cotton swabs to me and I try to only use one, but my nose is bleeding so much I end up using two, anyway.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Thank you.” I say. On the inside I feel drained. I killed another tribute when I could have allied, or done something… but that’s what this is all about, isn’t it? The heartless killing that the Capitol wants, the manipulation and the death.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">The anthem comes on, and I try not to think of anything as the fallen images appear in the sky.

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center">'''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Day 2 – The Fallen '''

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center">'''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">District 1 '''

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Ajax Orbit

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center">'''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">District 4 '''

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">London Ashcraft

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center">'''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">District 7 '''

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Rosita Peletier

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center">'''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">District 12 '''

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Clive Nightshadow

<p class="MsoNormal">