The plan's simple.

Survive the bloodbath.

Join the Careers.

Re-activate the mines.

Protect the supplies of the most dangerous people in the games.

Lie to stop them killing me.

Put the mines in their tents, activate them.

Survive, win the games and go live a long, happy life.

There are so many things that can go wrong though.

Now probably isn't the best time to question the plan though.

3…2…1…0

And everyone starts running.

Except me.

I stand still, watching a fight between the fire-girl and the boy from 9.

The boy loses the fight. I can't see how, as a Career runs past my line of sight, but I see him fall, and the girl begin to sprint off.

Murderers are already forming.

I glare at her as I make my way towards the battle, staying on the edge, waiting for it to calm down somewhat, while picking up a bloodied pack.

I am just standing up when a girl with pigtails slams into me, and in terror, I push her away.

I can't die yet! I have a plan!

She lies on the floor, weaponless, when a shadow looms over me.

I run for my life, as a large boy spears the pigtail-girl.

I can see her breathing.

I run towards the forest's edge, and hide in the bushes, thinking of my plan.

Should I go through with it? Or should I just stop now, run towards the safety of the trees?

As the Careers regroup, I watch the pigtail-girl move her hand towards the ground, where a dirtied bracelet lies on the floor.

Her token.

I look away, as she stops moving.

Dead.

And now's my time to act.

Fighting the instinct to just run away, I step out of the trees, into the sight of the murderers.

"Listen" I say, surprising myself at how calm I sound "I can hel-"

I duck as a knife flies by my head, taking some of my hair with it. The knife is followed by a person, who slams me to the floor.

Oh god, the plan didn't work

The girl looks demented

"A nice… working toy" she breathes "Tell me why I shouldn't make your last few seconds unbearable?"

I stutter the net few words "I can re-activate the mines."

They accepted me. I didn't expect it. I expected to die like pigtail-girl.

True, it was mostly to do with the boy from 12, arguing my case for me.

I am watching him guard while the others prepare to 'hunt' for others.

I just sit with the mines, fiddling.

I glance over at pigtail-girl; the hovercraft hasn't come yet, as the cannons only started a minute ago.

I look at her hand, touching her token.

She wanted it

I steal a look at the boy from 12, and then sidle over to the body, and I close her cold hand around the bracelet.

How can we be humans without our humanity?