Hey everyone! Thank you to those who read and to those who reviewed! If it wasn't for you and my beta I wouldn't be here writing the next chapter. I'm hoping you all enjoy it and review to tell me what you think!

And I would like to answer where I came up with the name Sela, it was my grandma's name and I always liked it . And now I'd like to thank my wonderful beta who spends her free time reading and fixing my mistakes! I also don't own the Hunger Games.

The Dying Game

Chapter one part two

BAM!

I could hear whoever it was beating on the door. It didn't matter now that I was peacefully sleeping, even if I was on the floor. Tears flooded my eyes as I opened them. The room was filled with light, from candles, lamps, and various light sources placed evenly around the room. There is a bed over in the corner that looks nice and soft, it's larger than both mine and Xili's bed's combined. The walls are a soft yellow color that seems to resemble sunshine.

The constant knocking, or well banging, on the door aggravated me as I pushed my tired and sore body off the floor. My limbs seem to be working twice as hard as I moved the six steps to the door. Before the rude guest could cause another loud explosion to fill the room, I flung the door open. Tribute one and two smirked at me as they pushed their way into the room.

"Can I help you?" I asked more than slightly annoyed that they were in my room. As I turned to face them I began to work my fingers through the tangled knots in my hair. Both tributes made themselves comfortable on the bed I had yet to occupy.

"We just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page," the taller one smirked as he kicked his shoes off, and made himself more comfortable on the bed.

"Speak for yourself Neco," the second one growled as he pushed Neco off the bed. Neco shook his hair out as he glared up at the second boy.

"What page are we on exactly?" I asked as I closed the door and moved more into the room. I didn't feel comfortable with both boys in my room, since I hadn't met them before, even though we were from the same district. I glanced down at my smallish feet, they looked out of place in my shoes, and yes, I was stalling.

"The page we try to stay alive for long as possible despite your personal family history involving the games." Second tribute smirked contentedly. The world seemed too move in slow motion as I advanced towards him. My body came in contact with the bed before I was able to get ahold of the second tribute. I felt the tears burning in my eyes as I tried to get to him. Once I felt his skin I latched on. Our bodies moved around fighting each other, I was somewhat wear as he dug his elbow into my ribcage. I didn't bother saying anything as he pushed me off him, my dress wrapped itself around my waist showing my under clothes to them both.

"Mace," Neco snapped as he pulled me away from him. He picked me up like it wasn't a care in the world, and when he sat me down I sort of fell forward, but luckily he still had a hold of me. "What the hell is your problem?" he snapped as he loosened his grip on me. His arm still draped around my waist, his arm felt warm against my back.

Mace laughed as he crawled off the bed. His derisive attitude tone flooded the room in such a manner that it was hard to breathe. "What's my problem?" his condescending laugh caused my stomach to do summersaults. It seemed to turn a hundred miles a second. I threw Neco's arm off as Mace licked his lips. "It's god-awful enough that I have to deal with you two, let alone keep the two of you alive. HA! Better luck next time. Maybe find someone who cares." He smirked as he dramatically fell back on the bed.

Neco's vibe radiated off of him. I glanced at him against my better judgment. His jaw locked, his fists balled into fists, he was ready to fight, and I was pretty sure I didn't have the strength to stop him.

"Look," I started stepping between Neco and the bed. The air around me seemed to thicken as it became harder to breathe as the trapped feeling settled in around me. I forced myself to take several deep breaths before I continued. "We have to be civil, at least until the games start." I peered at both of them before I got on with my speech. "Then once were in the arena," I paused slightly as I peered intently at Mace, "You can let bygones be bygones." Mace's brown eyes held mine as I moved around to the other side of the bed to the dresser. I pulled open the first drawer and pulled out underclothes.

Once I shuffled threw the remanding doors looking for clean clothes I turned back to the boys. Both had their eyes on me, only causing the awkward tension in the air thicken.

"I think I'll shower before dinner." I sated obsequiously. Neco nodded as he yanked Mace up and out of my bed. I smiled at him appreciatively, and patted behind them as they felt the room. I swung the door closed quickly and let out the air that was suffocating my lungs. The room seemed to be draining all the tension the boys held around them. I glanced over my shoulder to the rustled sheets and blankets on top of the bed. It was screaming at me to crawl inside and let the world disappear around me.

I brushed off the thought as I made my way to what I was hoping a bathroom. Glad that it was I stepped in and started the long process of cleansing myself. Stripping my body I stood in front of the complex and confusing shower, or at least I hoped it was a shower. After much consideration I stepped into the shower. I quickly pressed six buttons and waited. Everything worked out fine and I was out and dressed in no time.

Sighing I made my way out into the hallway, leaving the door open behind me. I headed the opposite way I came in. Soon I could smell different foods, or was it incense? I couldn't tell all I know is that my nose is in heaven, maybe I am too.

No this is the calm before the storm…

Calm before the storm… Were those Xili's last words? They seem familiar- shaking the thought away as I entered the dining room. Both Neco and Mace sat stuffing their faces with different soups and breads. Akara sat looking appalled and shaking her head. Our mentor sat facing me, his bright blue eyes shinned as I took the only available set. He looked like he could have stepped out of the Capitol. His smile was bright and dimples surrounded his lips. He looked like Klaus, the man my sister was in love with, the man I couldn't stop thinking about when he hung around the house when I was fourteen.

"Oh good another girl at the table! I was about to go crazy with all the testosterone flowing through the air." Akara sighed as she turned to face me. Her paint caked face cracked as she smiled at me. I forced a smile back at her as I picked up one of the many bread bowls. And Avox placed a bowl of orange soup in front of me. I nodded at them but didn't make any indications of touching it.

"Yeah, thank you for letting me nap by the way." Akara smiled at me as she waved my thank you off. Her bright eyes seemed to glow as she reached over and manipulated my hair around her fingers. She seemed to be transfixed with the long ashen hair. My first instinct was to snatch my body away from her long bony fingers and wrap my arms around the Klaus look alike.

"Akara let the girl eat." Klaus look alike snapped as he shoved another spoonful of soup into his mouth. Almost at once her hand fell to her side, releasing me from the smothering feeling. Klaus look alike surveyed each of us as we ate in silence for the next ten minutes. He would open his mouth as if he was going to say something, but then snap it shut like a turtle would around a piece of lettuce. Finally he snatched his water class up and downed it. I was in the middle of picking at my third roll when he finally started talking.

"Look," he started and he leaned forward bracing himself on the table with his elbows. His blue eyes locking with mine in such an intense manner I had to quickly pick my water glass up, and pretend to drink it. "This year's Game is the Quarter Quell, the hundredth at that. That means the Capitol has thrown in elements that have never been seen before." He paused as he peaked over at Akara who was smiling and nodding her head. I sat my water glass down and slid my hands up underneath my thighs, afraid that Klaus look alike would see me shaking.

"Not only have they added twelve more players, but they've also disregarded gender-"

"Why?" Mace mumbled threw a mouth full of food. I cringed as food flew out of his mouth. I secretly hated Mace, and well I hated myself too. Mostly because I could see parts of myself reflecting in back at me when I looked at him.

Klaus look alike shook his head causing his dark hair to fan around him. "I was getting to that," he shot mace a look that caused Neco to chuckle under his breath. "As I was saying, the Quarter Quell has removed the gender restrictions to generalize the districts even more. The Capitol felt that the districts were beginning to feel safe for their children after their child's gender was called."

"This was to reinstate it?" I asked nibbling on my bottom lip. I tried to place how I felt; I wanted to understand the sinking feeling that filled my whole body, or well what I could feel of it. I continued to focus on finding a word the described how I felt that I nearly missed Klaus look a like's head nod.

"Yeah," he quickly scooped up another spoon full of soup and plopped it in his mouth. I studied his lips as they moved. "Now back to what I was saying. The Capitol has built an never before seen arena with all kinds of new elements that I don't even know about." Look alike shook his head as he licked his lips, "They're wanting to add more drama and more skills to the game, apparently the Capitol was growing bored with what they've had for the last hundred years." His mocking voice earned him a smack from Akara who narrowed her eyes at him.

"I'll take it from here Klaus," she snapped, also clarifying who our escort was. Klaus was always the brother she never had. He'd take care of her forever and always. But when he failed to keep her sister alive, she grew to hate him. Although now, looking at him she realized she could never hate him. it wasn't his fault that her sister was dead.

"Now they've also changed, added, and removed rules. One of the rules removed is the initial supplies battle. Instead supplies are hidden in the different parts of the arena. Also they've added a team aspect to the game, of course there have always been teams but now it's more oh official I guess. "Akara talked so fast I had to focus fully on her mouth to keep up. Her words mixed together and she wasn't making a lot of sense but I managed to keep up well enough I guess. I caught the gist of what she was saying at the very least.

"Now to explain the bracelets." She smiled as she pulled out three very small boxes. One was light blue with black strips printed across it; the second one was bright green, the third had this gold-ish pinkish tone to it, the silver spots sparkled as the light touched it. She pushed the blue one to Neco, the green to Mace, and the gold-ish one to me. As if we had been practicing we all opened our boxes at the same time. Inside mine sat three bracelets. Each bracelet looked identical, with their gold and pink strands twisted together forming braids threw the thick strands of thread was a single silver sparkly strand that seemed to twist and turn forming weird shapes in the threads.

I picked up one bracelet and felt a sharp stab. I yelped and dropped the bracelet. Akara smiled at me as she grabbed all three obviously not feeling the sharp pricks on the inside. She grabbed my wrist and held it out for all to see. I could feel four pairs of eyes on me as Akara unclipped the bracelet and placed it around my wrist. I felt the sharp metal pieces pierce my skin. I wanted to scream out as she snapped the next two in place.

"Why is it digging into my skin?" I asked ripping my arm away from her. She frowned and stuck her bottom lip out slightly.

"The bracelets enter their hosts." She smiled as I looked at her dumbly. She patted my head slightly as she turned to Mace next. She snapped his on and then moved to Neco. "To form a team you must have at least three of the same bracelets on as your teammates. You may steal other tributes bracelets, but the only thing is if you have on the same bracelet you can't kill them."

"What if we do kill someone with the same bracelets as us on?" Neco asked glancing over at Mace. Mace was too busy poking his angry looking wrist to pay much attention to what was going on around him. My stomach began to twist up in knots as I stood. I quickly exited the room not wanting to hear any more of what Akara or Klaus had to say. This game felt even harsher than any of the games before. I heard a click, feeling confused and slightly curios I lifted my wrist. I glanced down at it, in the middle of the bracelet, something I hadn't noticed before, sat a glowing green screen. The screen read my name and held a number. Each bracelet seemed to be powered from my blood.

Feeling rotten and unsettled I quickly snapped my arm back down to my side. I glanced back over my shoulder just to make sure no one was following me. I don't think I could deal with anyone anymore. It was becoming such a hassle dealing with all of them. Mace and Neco being the hardest. How in the hell am I supposed to win this game if I have to worry about two other people? How am I supposed to pick my teammates if district twelve is expecting us all to come home? Dread floods threw me as I think about what all I have to do, not only do I have to figure out some plan to make sure I don't have Neco or Mace in the game with me, I also have to keep myself alive in this never before seen arena.

I quickly made my way back to my room, hoping for some peace and quiet and some time to think.

TDGTDGTDGTDGTDGTDG(time break)

"This year's going to be different," Neco stated as he reopened my door. I was currently sitting in the bathroom staring at myself in the mirror.

"Whatever gave you that idea?" I asked with a playful smile on my face, I sat the brush down and began to twist my hair into a bun. Neco laughed as he leaned against the counter next to me. His blue eyes intently watched me as I maneuvered my hair up.

"Everything Klaus said at dinner, everything I know about the Capitol." Neco shook his head causing his hair to dance around him. I titled my head slightly as I looked at him.

"What are you planning on doing about it?" I demanded as I stood up. Our bodies were close but nothing was here. I could tell it would be easy to do what I was planning on.

"I've already talked to Mace," I gave him a quizzical look as he placed his hand on my shoulder. "He's willing to give us each one of his team bracelets, and he doesn't want ours." I need to take a step away from him. I need to put as much distance as I could between us as I frantically shook my head.

"You can't do that Neco," I hissed slightly discussed by the words coming out of his mouth. "You're willing to let the whole district HATE you?" I inquired crossing my arms over my chest. "I mean what are you supposed to tell his parents when you return without him?" screaming at him I took another step away from him. "What if I demanded a bracelet from both of you and refused to give you one of mine?"

His face hardened as I asked him, his eyes darkened as he took a step closer, his tall body loomed over mine. His arms found their way on either side of my head pressed forcefully up against the wall behind me. "What. Are. You. Saying?" I closed my eyes as his warm breath brush across my face.

"I'm saying I don't want the limitations that come with having a team already picked out for me," I told him honestly. I didn't see a point in lying to him.

I watched his body go rigid as he leaned even closer to me if that was possible, I could smell bread on his breath we were so close. "Sela," He started sliding an arm down to my hip, "Don't think you can win this game by yourself," Neco stated sardonically. I gulped as I lifted m y arms up and pushed against his chest, hard.

"Get out," I screamed pushing him again, "Get out! Get out!" my eyes stung with the threat of tears as we reached the door into my room. He quickly captured my arms before I could push him again. I pulled against him roughly. When I glanced at him I noticed he was rolling his eyes. I stopped moving to really look at him, bad choice. He pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me.

"Sela," He started his voice calmer and soothing, "You have to trust me." I wanted to tell him that I couldn't, that I wouldn't, that there was no point in trying. I would do whatever it took to win, and if he and Mace make it to the last three, well then it works out in their favor. I couldn't waste my time getting to know him. It won't matter in the game.

"I don't know if I can," I stated pressing my face into his chest. Even if I couldn't trust him, it didn't mean I didn't need the comfort.

"You have to try, because I have a plan." He seemed so sure of himself; I just couldn't tell him I had one too. One that didn't include him; it could though, if it needed to.

"What if it's not enough?" I inquired as I pulled just far enough away to look at him, "What if whatever you're planning isn't enough? Then what?" I shook my head as I stepped out of his arms. It was crazy for me to think that I could take comfort in someone I didn't even like, and wasn't sure if he would even survive the games. I shouldn't get attached.

"Think about it?" he asked as he turned to leave, "Think about what I said, think about how your family can't lose you, and think about your dead sister." Neco shut the door behind him.

I hate him, hate and resent him. He came in here and tried to gain my friendship, my trust. Tears filling my eyes as I crawled into the very large, very soft, and very cold bed, I stuck my feet and then my whole body underneath the covers. I didn't want to think about Neco and all the things he said to me, I didn't want to think about the three bracelets that were using my blood to power themselves. I didn't want to think about the fact that sometime tomorrow I'll be in the Capitol in the same position my sister was a year ago.

I gripped the sheets as my body rippled. It felt like the blankets were smothering me. I was normally able to hold in the agony and the confusion that surrounded my sister's death. The confusion that would could come with my death, and with what could come with the games swarmed me. I've always tried to stay optimistic when it comes to life, but everything, and everyone is making it so damn hard to stay true to that. The past two days have been the hardest days I've had to live through in a very long time.

I rolled over and ripped the blanket off my head. I instantly felt better as air filled my lugs. I knew what I needed to do, I needed to win. Was I able to do it? Was I able to play every person that was involved with the games into thinking the one thing I wasn't? Was I going to be able to tell both Neco and Mace I didn't want their help? When they seemed so desperate to give it to me.

Giving up on figuring anything out tonight I rolled over and tried to get some sleep.

Sleep didn't come as fast as I would of liked it too. Well, truthfully it didn't come at all. I pushed my tired body up and into a sitting position about one and then decide to take a bath. That's how I got here, in the bathtub, water up to my chin. The warm water felt nice and relaxing against my sore and somewhat bruised skin. I brushed my fingers along the bruise on my knee, I tried to recall how I got it, but I couldn't think of it. It didn't matter anyways. I closed my eyes and sunk lower into the water. The smell of vanilla filled my nose as the water brushed up in it. I wanted to just sink into the water and never come out. That wasn't an option though.

I glanced over at my wrist and frowned. Three gold, pink, and silver bracelets sat glowing at me. I lifted my hand and dropped it beneath the water. I stared at it hoping it would go dark, instead I felt it pull more blood into the power strip and the glow grew brighter. I growled and ripped my arm back out of the water. I noticed the brushing just underneath the bracelet. Tracing one of them I noticed that they were made of the softest fabric I had ever experienced. It felt so nice against my fingers I wanted to rub it against my face.

"Sela?" Akara called opening the door. She smiled when she saw me in the bath. "Oh good, we're in the Capitol so hurry up and finish so you can eat and then get to your stylists. Oh, don't bother dressing." I smiled and thanked her as I began to pull my tired body out of the water. I wrapped a towel around my body. I didn't bother dressing just like Akara asked, before I left my room; instead I just went and sat down in the same seat as last night.

Klaus smiled at me without really looking, I didn't bother smiling back as I picked around the meat on my plate, and I wasn't in the mood to deal with the guilty feeling of eating a defenseless animal. Both Neco and Mace showed up at the same time in some sort of argument that nearly caused Mace to punch Neco in the face. I kind of whished Klaus let it go a little longer, because Neco deserved to be punched.

"Good morning Tributes!" Akara sang as she plopped down in her seat. Akara's eyes are bright and a colorful pink color, a different color from the night before. I forced a small smile and placed a piece of toast in my mouth. I was trying to train my stomach to go with what little it could. I couldn't die of starvation in the games.

"Good Morning Akara,' Klaus stated with a lazy smile, his eyes caught mine and he smirked and glanced down at the white towel I was sporting this morning. "Not wearing clothes today huh Sela?" he asked his smirk still playing on his lips.

"It's a statement," I told him and picked up my cup. It was filled with a sweet and citrusy juice. It was so good I quickly downed it and asked for another. "And I was hungry," I smiled as Akara grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the seat.

The train began to slow and light flooded in from the windows, filling the room with much needed light. I shook Akara lose and ran to the window. I was glad the towel still clung to my body as I pressed my face up against the window. People dressed, and colored even crazier than Akara pointed and smiled at the train. I watched them watch me. It was a weird experience, seeing those who would enjoy watching the games more than anyone in all of Panem.

The buildings were so bright and colorful it seemed like rainbows glistened off them, it was such a dizzying sight I had to turn away from the window. Mace and Neco stood just behind me watching the Capitol go by. Mace's bright smile scares me as he watched out the window. His eyes seemed to hold some hidden meaning as Akara pulled me away from the window. I clutched the towel tighter around my body as I felt it start to slip.

"He's hoping to make a lasting impression," she shook her head in disgust; "He's already strategizing." My lips opened forming an 'o' as I turned to glance back at them. The games and the possibility of dying felt so real at this very moment, I nearly cried out.

TDGTDGTDGTDGTDGTDGTDG

I stood in front of at least six people wrapped in my towel. Their eyes scanned my body over and over again as they circled around me. I felt even uglier standing in front of these brightly colored and dressed people.

"We have a lot to work with this year," One of the men stated as he started for me, "All though Zlotta told us not to touch her too much," The others mumbled their agreement as they all charged on me. One ripped the towel away and began to rub a hot liquid on my legs, another began to pick through the tangled curls on my head, another started painting my toes a bright sparkly coal color, and another worked the same color on my finger nails. One worked on my face and eyebrows and another worked around the other five handing them the many tools they needed.

After they poked, ripped, and painted they stood back and looked at me. "You're extremely pretty for a district girl," the blue headed one stated with a smile on her face. Her skin was three shades lighter than her hair and she seemed to be taking the whole blue thing a little too far. I smiled not quite believing her, and not quite sure if it was a complement or an insult. I stood there shivering while the man who first spoke up walked over to me and began to spray something all over. When he was done I held out my arm, it was covered in black glitter, not a whole lot, but just enough to make my skin glisten in the light.

"It's a good thing she's so pale," The six people rushed out as another woman stepped in. Her skin wasn't anything like the others; it was soft white color that stretched across her whole body. Her hair is the darkest black color I had ever seen, and her eyes the brightest green.

"I'm Zlotta," she stated as she circled around me, "And you must be Sela?" she asked as she handed me a towel. I nodded my head as she grabbed my arm gently. She then guided me out of the room and to another one. Three girls sat patiently waiting for us. They looked very similar to Zlotta, I sighed in relief as they all started talking.

"Her hair is so soft, and it's already so curly. All I'm going to have to do it pin it up and spray sparkles in it," she pouted as she turned and pulled out several black shinny clips.

"Look at her face, already so pretty much like her sister," she shook her head, "And grey eyes? How lucky could we get Zlotta?" Zlotta chuckled as the third woman cried out.

"She's like a little doll," I wanted to tell them that everything they were saying was nice and all but they didn't have to lie to me. I could handle the truth. But instead of saying anything I just let them work. When they were done they quickly stepped away and Zlotta stepped closer. In her hands were a white lace shirt and the darkest coal black shorts. She pulled the shirt over my head and let me brace myself on her shoulders as we worked to get the tight shorts on. She then sat a pair of black coal miner boots. She smiled as she added a few accessories.

"You're not going to be set on fire or sent out their naked, but you do look slightly plain," she stated with a sigh, "And it's not you it's the outfit," she shook her head as she walked back over to the garment bags hanging on the wall. "I knew I should have gone crazier." She stated as she unzipped a bag reveling a full body see through lace suit. She tossed the suit on the floor and walked over to the makeup counter, she grabbed a large jar of black powder.

"Its coal dust," I was going to have to trust her.

Standing in front of the chariot with Neco dressed in head to toe in nothing but coal dust and a pair of pants holding a torch with red fire. Mace is on the other side of me in a full body black suit with a torch that was light with blue fire. I stood in the middle of them in my bright white/blue swirl lace bodysuit, sparkling and wearing this tiara that holds two places for fire, one on Mace's side the other on Neco's, the middle spot was holding a solid block of sparkling ice. Zlotta, Sparkor, and Szettie opened the chariot door and we stepped in. Zlotta instructed me to kneel in the middle of both boys, she then told the boys once the camera was on us to light my head. She told me not to worry for if they caught my hair on fire it wouldn't burn, she made sure it was a synthetic fire.

Soon the doors where shut and it started moving forwards. My whole body seemed to be glowing as we entered the screaming crowed. I guess the cameras were on us because Mace and Neco light my tiara on fire and the bodysuit I was wearing turned to ice as I stood up. We were fire and ice. The crowed screamed and cheered as the boys lit the chariot on fire, something I wasn't told was going to happen, or maybe I was. I wasn't sure of anything but the fact that a whole Capitol was staring at me, and it felt like only me.

As they continued to stare I felt something flicker threw my mind, I could use this. I could play it cold to both Mace and Neco and get the capitol on my side. But the thought quickly disappeared as they grabbed my hand. Maybe they didn't really think that I needed them, maybe they thought they needed me. I smiled even brighter as I intertwined our fingers together. There was no point in killing their hope, at least not yet.

Remembering what I said to them the first time they barged into my room, "Once in the arena let bygones be bygones."

Please review! Tell me what you think. I'm looking for about 15 to 20 reviews on this chapter alone before I update.