AN: Dang, I've gotta stop doing these things!
Anyway, before the End Trials officialy start, I want everyone to know that there has, in fact, been 2 weeks since the last 2 chapters occured. I am not going to have the training scores or anything because, in this story, they don't happen. Next, soon I'm going to put up the ally list on my profile, so keep an eye out. Last, I'm hoping to make this story into a trilogy, like The Hunger Games. No idea what the next two books will be called, but I'll keep you posted on that. So I have a question: should I add the characters from The Hunger Games in here, or not? Should I have the Victors, whoever they may be, travel to Panem and meet Katniss and Peeta and their family? Either PM me or put it in your review!
And now...:
"Happy End Trials! And may the odds be ever in your favor!" (Yeah, I'm not very original.)


Chapter 6: Let It Begin


No POV

This is it. It's finally here. The End Trials will begin in just over one minute. The 24 Tributes stand on their curcular disks that are rising up, up, up into the First Arena. Almost all have their eyes closed. They don't want to know what the Arean looks like. They do not want to be doing this. But they will. All on the hope of making it home.

The disks reach ground level, and the Tributes open their eyes.

The Arena is huge, bigger than it's ever seemed on TV. They can see a huge cornfield right in front of them. But that's not what gets them.

To the right is a giant building. It looks like a house, but much bigger. They wrack their brains for a word. Mansion? Yes, that seems right. It's a mansion. They haven't ever seen one before in my life, not even a picture, but they remember hearing something about them. This one does not look homey. But it is very beautiful, even if it does look abandoned.

They only wonder what it's doing here.


Amaranth Briars

I am not very happy. But then again, who is? No one, that's who. Maybe some people, but not many. Not many at all.

Suddenly, I hear the gong go off. At once, it's chaos. Everyone is rushing towards the side yard of the huge mansion, where there is an open shed filled with backpacks and camping equipment. I start running.

I reach the shed and dive into the mix if people. There are some fights going on (hand-to-hand combat, of course), but mostly everyone is trying to get supplies and find their allies.

I manage to snag a backpack full of dehydrated food and some water bottles; a canteen, and a compass. I hope it will be enough until I can find some knives.

It's very clever of the Rulemakers to hide the weapons around the Arenas. After all, what fun would it be if 12 Tributes died right away? They want each Round to last as long as possible. It's more enjoyable that way. To them, anyway.

Since I can't climb, and there aren't many trees to climb anyway, I make my way into the cornfield. The corn stalks are tall and make my skin itch, but I press on, trying to find a hiding place. I finally stop to get a drink of water and eat some food. I'm pretty sure I'm safe enough for now. I'm a pretty good runner. I'm sure I've put everyone behind me by now.

But then what's that rustling sound?


Synora Nightsong

Great. Five minutes in that stupid shed and all I've got to show for it is a sleeping bag. Just perfect. I noticed most people heading into the mansion, so I went to the cornfield instead.

Now I hear rustling. I move, trying to scare whoever it is, but they don't leave. So I lift my right fist, ready to punch the person using my viper ring, and leap out of the stalks.

I see one of the Sector 2 Tributes, the girl, standing frozen, her hand in a bag of peanuts. My mouth waters at the sight of the food. I didn't eat much at breakfast. Hardly anything, seeing as I threw up after only a bite.

The girl unfreezes, looks at the packet in her hand, and holds it out.

"Want it?" she asks. "I don't really eat peanuts. I was just hungry."

I don't eat peanuts either, but I'm not complaining. I grab the bag and start chowing down, shells and all. They taste like sawdust, but hey, might as well get used to crappy food.

After I finish, I drop the bag and drink from the water bottle I'm offered.

"Thanks," I finally say.

"No problem." She hesitates. "You're Synora, right? The girl from 3?"

"Yeah," I say warily.

She holds out a hand. "Amaranth, Sector 2. I saw you fighting with that weird whip during training. You're pretty good."

"Thanks." I shake her hand. "And it's called a Kadriel. It's got a blade on it. Two weapons in one. I'm surprised I even found a Kadriel; they're not that popular."

Amaranth sits down and opens a half-empty water bottle. I sit next to her. I know I never planned on having an alliance, but hey, who can it hurt? Amaranth is only a year older than me. And she's got food!

Ranth reaches under her scoop-neck tee and pulls out a thin silver chain. Hanging from it is a silver locket with roses engraved around the edges. She opens the locket and looks at the picture. I see a little girl with chocolate brown hair and icy blue eyes. She looks just like Ranth.

"Who's that?" I ask.

Ranth smiles slightly. "Her name is Hope. She's my daughter. This picture was taken a few weeks ago, when she turned 11 months."

"That's cool. I've just got this ring. It doesn't look like much, but it's really special to me."

"Why's that?"

I smile slightly at the memory, but don't say anything except, "Someone very important gave it to me. Someone who means a lot." I know the cameras are most likely focused on our conversation. I'm not letting anything slip out.

Don't worry, Griffin. I won't give you away.


Wulfie Moonblossom

"Hey, over here! I found a bow!"

"I found some arrows!"

"Wulfie? What about you?"

I'm jerked back into reality by Eima's voice. Since she's the oldest of the three of us, she's kind of the natural leader, even if she denies it.

"Huh?" I ask.

Alex stares at me.

"Did you find any weapons? Anything we can use?"

Oh. That's right. We're looking for weapons. I quickly check the tree I'm up in and shake my head at them before dropping to the ground. I land in a crouch and pull some leaves out of my hair.

"What is up with you? You totally just zoned out. If you keep it up, you'll get killed. You'll get us all killed." Alex doesn't sound happy. My guess is that she's stressed.

"Sorry. It's just... I can't stop thinking about..." I have to stop because I feel tears coming to my eyes and I can't blink them back.

"What?" Alex insists. I can't believe she doesn't already know. That she doesn't get it.

"Robin," is all I say. "Gone."

And then I sit down at the base of the tree and start to cry.

I don't even notice when Alex stalks off.

Or when Eima runs after her.

I'm not really here.


Zoe Reid

"Where the heck is Callie?" I mutter, looking around.

Being from the same Sector, Joshuwa and I had disks right next to each other. But Callie is from Sector 6, and we'd lost her in the crowd and now couldn't find her. She'd probably gone into the mansion. No matter what anyone else thought, that thing was as good as evil. You couldn't pay me all the money in Africana to go in there.

So now Joshuwa and I are heading toward the small clump of trees, the only trees in the entire Arena. We need to find weapons, and then we can find Callie. Hopefully she's well hidden in the cornfield. I'd go after her, but I'd be hopelessly lost.

Joshuwa nudges me with his elbow. I turn to him.

I hear crying, he signs.

I stop walking and listen. There it is. Not soft crying, either, but loud, uncontrolled sobs. I wonder who it is.

I hear it, too, I sign back. Should we see who it is?

Joshuwa hesitates, then nods and we head off to the trees. We follow the sounds to a really tall tree on the other side of the clump.

And freeze in surprise.


Joshuwa Hart

I don't know who I expected to find. Maybe Calista, crying because she can't find us. Or one of the 12 year olds, homesick and ready to give up already. Possibly someone mourning a death, although that is unlikely, seeing as no cannon has gone off.

But I know I didn't expect to see the 13 year old from Sector 5 on the ground, tears streaming down her face and red gashes on her right wrist.

Zoe is the first to unfreeze. She runs to the girl- what's her name?- and drops to her knees.

"Oh my gosh! What are you doing?" she exclaims.

The girl can hardly choke out the words. "I don't... deserve... to live... Robin... is dead... and it's my fault." Then she collapses into a new round of sobs.

"What do you mean?" The girl starts having trouble breathing. "Okay, calm down, sweetie. Deep breaths. Here's some water. Drink slowly."

After the water and many more soothing words from Zoe, the girl stops crying and sits up. She sees the bleeding marks on her wrist and winces. There is a thick blue ribbon in her hair. She yanks it out and wraps it around the many cuts. Lying on the ground next to her is a bloody stick.

"Alright, let's start over," Zoe says finally. "I'm Zoe and this is Joshuwa. We're from Sector 11. He's 14 and I'm 16. How about you?"

"Wulfie, Sector 5. I'm 13." The voice is very soft.

"What's going on, Wulfie?" Zoe continues.

"My little sister Robin died from cancer the first day of training," she explains. "I should have been there with her. There were so many things she needed to know, she shouldn't have been alone. And now I can't be with my dad Aaron or Robin's twin Raven and I just want out of here!"

I sit next to Wulfie and gently rub her back. I've done this so many times before, back at the group home. There were usually several meltdowns per day.

Then I get an idea.

It might kill us, but it's worth a shot.

Zoe, I sign. What if we bring her with us? Zoe wouldn't know the sign name for Wulfie. I'm not sure I know. Probably the sign for wolf.

Zoe nods and turns to the girl, who's watching with interest.

"Joshuwa says you should come with us. We have one other ally, but we don't know where she's at."

"But I have two allies. They left, but I'm sure they'll be back."

"Well, you can't stay here alone, especially not with your injuries. Come with us. We'll help you."

Wulfie considers. Then she holds out her hand to me and I help her up.

"Sure." She smiles. Zoe grins back and puts an arm around Wulfie's shoulders.

I guess we have a new ally.

I hope this isn't a dumb idea.


AN: So whadya think? Please answer the question(s) at the top! I want your opinions! You are the readers! I'm just here to write my heart out and entertain you!
So yeah, that pretty much says it all for now. Until next time!

Peace, love, happiness, WRITING.

-Bree