I apologize so much for my absence! My life has been so hectic lately. However, it seems to be calming down. I will update in the next couple of weeks, though next week I will be busy. So expect an update not this upcoming Monday but the one after that, okay? Either that Monday or Tuesday. Again, this is edited. The arena is different and the people are more developed. I really hope you like how I'm writing this. :)

When I woke up, I forgot where I was. It was almost like home for me. For a minute, I believed I was back in District Twelve. My family would be sitting around at the table, waiting for me to wake up. I believed it until I saw Effie Trinket with a sincere smile on her blue lips. Her blue hair was adorned with jewels and she wore a blue dress with the occasional jewel on it. Sighing, I stand up out of bed, stretching for a moment. I'm not back home. Today is the day I have to fight for my life. For Castor's life.

I am handed a pair of cargo pants and a white tank top. The pants are loose but the tank top clings to my skin. By the time Hestia is done with my hair, I had decided to take a glance in the mirror. I almost didn't recognize me. I saw a girl with sleek red hair, pulled into a ponytail on the back of her head. Bangs hung low across her cheek. Bright emerald green eyes shone like gems back at me. The girl in front of me was pale, had scars already. But she also looked fierce. Her eyes had fire in them, otherwise she was cold and emotionless. This Violet just didn't look like she cared, she looked like a Career. And that scared me just a little bit.

I made my way into the rest of the floor, seeing my team before me. There were the mentors, Enobaria and Cato, eating breakfast and chatting about who-knows-what. The prep teams and the two stylists sat discussing no doubt the costumes this year. Hestia was motioning dramatically with her hands, in depth and passionate about the conversation at hand. Castor, my District Partner, sat at the table barely eating anything. He looked so pale and scared, like he was about to vomit at any moment. He was dressed in an outfit similar to mine, cargo pants and a white v-neck t-shirt.

I sit down beside him, not looking at anybody and just focusing on the food. I grabbed a piece of bread, a roll that was still warm. I took a bite, closing my eyes and savoring the taste. My senses seemed heightened, and I loved it right now. The roll tasted like the best thing I'd ever had, even though I'd had one every morning since I left District Twelve. I stare down at the plate in front of me, watching as small crumbs fall onto the shiny white surface of it. But soon enough, I'm out of bread and it's time to leave the Training Center.

Everyone stands up, each going to different places. The Prep Teams leave, the Stylists go down an elevator. They'll meet Castor and I in the catacombs, I know that one for sure. Enobaria steps over to Castor, to give him some advice, and Cato steps over to me. We stand in silence for what seems like ages, when it's really only been seconds. We just look at each other. Until finally Cato speaks up. "Don't do anything stupid, Violet," He tells me. I nod and he pulls me close, in an almost hug. Hi lips are right beside my ear when he whispers, "Stay with the Careers. It's your best chance at protecting Castor and protecting yourself."

Before I can reply, he's already gone over to Castor and stepped into an elevator. Enobaria drags me over to a different elevator, pressing a button to go to the ground floor. We ride in silence for seconds before Enobaria keeps talking. "Remember what I told you before. You're good, but not that good. Don't fight in the Bloodbath, you'll get killed for sure," She tells me in a stern tone of voice. But I don't pay attention, because I know I'll have to disobey her. I'm with the Careers, I have to fight.

The elevator doors open and I'm greeted with a landing platform and a type of hovercraft on it. Two Peacekeepers stand at the exit of the elevator, no doubt waiting for me. Enobaria nods and says, "I'll see you soon." I nod in return and step out of the elevator, stepping towards the hovercraft. The Peacekeepers walk on either side of me, probably making sure I don't try to run. I board the hovercraft and sit down in one of the seats.

I see Clovis. We make eye contact, and hold it for a few seconds before I look away. A woman in a lab coat was injecting something into the other's arms. I hear Mazie asking what it was. "Your tracker," Was the only explanation she got. The woman grabs my arm, and I wince as she injects the needle into me. I can see a tiny bump where she had put the needle in, the tracker. The woman moves on and I touch the bump not too carefully. It hurt, and I can see a vague bruise already beginning to form.

There's twelve of us. That would mean the other twelve are on a different hovercraft, the one Castor and Rye are on. The one Bellona and Gem are on. The ride is short, it is, and the windows were blacked so we couldn't see anything. I have no clue where we went but all I know is that when the doors opened, we were in the catacombs.

I'm escorted by two new Peacekeepers into a room. I'll be the only person to ever use this room, ever. That unsettles me for some reason, but I can't point out why.

Sure enough, Hestia is standing there with a sad smile on her face. She bounds over to me, surprising me by how fast she can move in high heels. She gives me a tight hug, one I barely return. However, that one embrace gives me strength, helps me straighten out. I rub my fingers across the black ribbon tied around my forearm. It's giving me the strength to fight.

"You'll do great. I just know it. You've done wonderful so far, this is only the test you've been training for," Hestia begins to tell me. I watch her, vaguely hearing the warning for thirty seconds. "Just remember who you are. Don't forget what you're fighting for."

I nod and step over to the metal plate on the floor. And soon enough, a clear tube begins engulfs me. I stand, arms crossed, weight resting on my left leg. Hestia soon tosses me a pair of black glove-like things. I raise an eyebrow and she mouths, 'uniform', as the tube engulfs me completely. I slip them on, seeing how they mold to my hands. The gloves are thin and feel like rubber almost, latex. There are holes where the back of my hand is, and then more material around my wrist. I begin to wonder what they're for, but before I can light blinds me and shakes away my thoughts.

When I can see again, I notice a very bright sun. It makes me squint my eyes so I can see the arena. The Cornucopia is metal, and shines brightly, almost blinding me because of the light. Sand is all around me, brushing up onto the plate to rest on my black booted feet. The sand can't get into my boots, as they mold against my feet and legs, up to around mid-calf.

"Let the seventy-fifth Hunger Games begin!" A voice shouts. Claudius Templesmith. I balance out my weight, dropping my hands to my sides. I take a look around me, scanning the competitors. I recognize the black haired girl beside me to be Ariel, who had gotten a nine in training. On my left is Sable, a thirteen year old with dark skin and hair. She looks like she's trying to be brave, but Ariel is ruining it with the sneer she's giving Sable. I spot Castor a few plates to my right, and Clovis across from me. Bellona is beside Sable, and Sapphire three down from me on the right. I can't see Gem and Sapphire, they must be hidden by the Cornucopia.

By the time I take note of this, the timer says there is thirty seconds left. I poise to run, right at the Cornucopia. Fight, turn brain off, no mercy, I think to myself. I can't see what's in the Cornucopia, as the wind is picking up quickly, bringing sand with it. Twenty seconds.

The sand gets into my eyes, burning as I try to focus. This is not helping at all, though I suppose that's the point. Ten seconds.

It begins to die down, the wind. The sand begins falling back down to the ground, something I'm thankful for. Eight seconds.

I focus once more on the Cornucopia, feeling the sunlight warm up the back of my neck.

5...

4...

3...

2..

One.

I take off sprinting towards the metal horn. I get there quickly, though Bellona beats me there. I search and quickly find a sickle, picking it up and swinging it at the nearest person to me. I watch as a girl who couldn't be older than fifteen falls dead, blood spurting from her neck. I grab a belt with a few knives, quickly attaching it around the belt loops of my pants. I grab a sword in it's sheath, attaching that as well.

I look around with a cool demeanor, glad to not see Castor anywhere. Either he's dead or he never ran in in the first place. I'm hoping dearly it's the latter.

I spot a boy running at me, Calico. "You killed my District Partner!" He screams. However, he is scrawny and doesn't stand a chance. He had to be around the same age as the girl, who I remember now as Lacey. A sweep my blade and it slices deep across his chest. I feel a pain in my left shoulder, a burning pain. A yell out and turn around, face to face with a girl my height. She's largely built, which makes me believe she's from Seven.

I swing my sickle and she dodges, ducking so it doesn't land in her head. She swings an axe, the blade aiming for my head. I move, but it slices across my cheek. I don't let it faze me, instead fueling my need to win. I whack the axe with my sickle, knocking it away. The girl grabs a sword from the pile in the Cornucopia, swinging it at me. I dodge and swing my blade at her chest. It scrapes her, but just barely.

Now I'm getting a bit worried, she's a good fighter. But I won't give up, I won't let her kill me. The girl gets the blade in my right arm, up near my shoulder. I cry out as she yanks it back out, losing my footing and falling. She jumps on top of me, and I throw a punch at her jaw. We scramble like that on the ground for what seems like hours, when it was probably barely a minute or two. She pins me, sword at my throat. I've done this before in the training in Two.

I grab the blade, wincing as she puts pressure on it. I can see blood sprouting from it, but I ignore the scarlet liquid. Instead I push up until I can sit up and hold the blade against her own neck. I can see the sudden fear in her eyes, but I don't hesitate. I push the blade and it goes right through the girl's neck. I stand up, leaving the sword there.

When I stand up, I see the fight is nearly over. I witness Bellona killing a boy, and then it's over. Dead bodies litter the ground, but the Careers just step right over them to meet up. I spit blood out of my mouth from the fight, shaking my head. My left hand holds my sickle limply. We all take note of each other. I think Gem and I are the worst off.

It takes us a long time, probably an hour or two, to move all of the supplies out of the Cornucopia, just right out beside the entrance. We decide that will be our camp. It's hot, and the Cornucopia will offer us shade. Bellona finds first aid kits and we all sit around, helping each other.

Clovis steps over to help me out, I'm bleeding pretty bad. "Saw your fight," He grumbles, grabbing some of the bandages to press against my shoulder and arm.

"Yeah?" I say in a low voice, working on my own hands. They're badly cut from the blade, but I just wrap them up and I'm all right. I'll live. I take inspection of myself. I've got a few cuts across my abdomen, arms, and legs. I can feel some on my face. My left eye burns, and I'm pretty sure there'll be a black eye there. But I'm all right.

When Clovis is done, I decide to help with his wounds. The worst he has is a long cut around the right side of his face. It looked pretty bad until I cleaned it up a bit. I pressed a large bandage across his cheek, and then he's good.

After that, everyone is wrapped up and tended to. I lean against the side of the Cornucopia, shutting my eyes. I keep them shut, even when I hear the cannons begin. Eleven. Eleven people are dead. "How many are yours?" Bellona asks everyone. "I got three."

"Same," I mutter, not opening my eyes just yet. The sun had hurt, and the adrenaline is working it's way out of my veins. I'm beginning to feel the affects of that fight.

"Four," Clovis said, and I can just imagine the arrogant look plastered on his face.

"One," Gem muttered. He was not proud, I can tell. That was when Sapphire exploded.

"I got none! I was chasing after Electra-whatever and Triton just came up and kill her!" She shrieks, obviously upset. I hear a bang in the metal, and open my eyes. She had slammed her mace against the Cornucopia, putting a dent in the horn.

"Calm down. You'll get a kill. Promise," I mutter, a headache forming around my left temple. It throbbed, and the shrieking wasn't doing anything to help it. I just needed her to calm down, and if promising her something like that helped, then so be it.

Gem was staring outside, something that made me confused. He was a bit wide eyed, as if intrigued by something. "Guys, it's dark. Not so hot out anymore. I think we should go hunting," He said.

Agreeing, Clovis stood up, grabbing his sword and spear. I saw an axe at his belt and another sword. He was all set. Bellona was carrying around a mace and a throwing axe, along with a couple knives. Sapphire had a mace, and a bow and sheath of arrows. Gem had a couple spears, it was the only weapon he'd use. I had my weapons. We were ready.

Clovis stepped out first, and I could tell who would be the leader of this group. I remembered from last year that Cato had stepped up to take the lead, Clove being his right-hand man. Bellona would probably try to be that person this year, but I had to land that spot if I wanted to survive. When the numbers get low people will start betraying others and the Careers will make separate alliances. I want and need an alliance with Clovis. I need to get close to him.

I jog a bit to catch up, walking very quickly to keep up with his large strides. He glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. "I know what you want, Twelve. You're trying to get close to me, so you can kill me and protect your brother. Is that not it?" Clovis snapped, not taking his eyes off of me as we walked. Gem, Sapphire and Bellona were a bit behind us, not hearing our conversation.

"No. I would kill him if I saw him here. But I think we'd be a good pair, surviving together. You know at some point we'll all split up. Bellona will easily kill you. I wouldn't. Final three, we'll split up. Then it's fair game. Just think about it," I tell him. I was surprised by the tone in my voice. It was almost emotionless, cold. Like I had trained for this...for years. I didn't sound afraid, or weary. I sounded ready. I didn't sound anything like the girl who had left District Twelve. It both shocked and excited me. That would mean I sounded like a good ally to have.

Clovis was silent for the rest of the walk. I didn't mind, just letting him think about it. It left everyone to their own thoughts. Until Gem stopped. "Do you hear that?" He asked, a slight waver in his voice.

We all stopped, listening. Bellona shook her head, but my eyebrows raised. A growl. I heard Sapphire scream as a large wolf-like thing stood to the left of Gem. It bared its teeth and bit Gem's leg before he could run or fight back. He yelled out and I drew my weapon. I stabbed the creature in the neck with one of my knives, watching as it fell and released it's grip from Gem's leg. Gem laid in the sand, yelling about the pain. Bellona knelt beside him, inspecting the wound. It looked really bad, the creature had gotten him good.

"We need to get back to camp," Bellona told everyone. Then a growl to her right. And a growl behind me. I counted six of them. My eyes widened as I heard it, grabbing my sickle from it's sheath. Clovis made the first attack on one. He slashed at a black wolf creature. The others tried to attack us. I took on a brown creature, foam at it's mouth and razor sharp teeth bared. It's red eyes stared me down, its long claws poking through on its paws.

It pounced at me and I went to slash at it. We all were knocking these things down quickly, Bellona protecting Gem. However, they seemed to keep coming without an end. We all got worn out, it seemed. My slashes became weaker and weaker, less accurate as it went on. They began getting they're swipes in. They weren't bad, until I had to stop for breath.

A large black mutation slashed at my abdomen before I could lift my blade. I cried out and lost my balance, falling to the sandy ground. I was out of breath it seemed, and this would be the end. My heart raced as the mutation got closer to me, its teeth bared over my neck. It howled in what sounded like pain, and then dropped dead right on top of me. I cried out again at the pain, and black spots clouded my vision. I vaguely saw Clovis over me, grabbing his sword from the creature.

I glanced to my right and saw Sapphire and Bellona carrying an unconscious Gem. I saw another large bite in his arm. Clovis picked me up, not very gently, and I winced. The black spots were crowding my vision, not letting me see much. Clovis walked, and I leaned my head against his chest. I was so tired...

I gave in. I shut my eyes and let my mind shut down, at least for now. I sunk into the darkness none too slowly.

So, a pretty short chapter. It's full of blood, gore, and drama though so I hope that fact makes up for it. O.o Yeah, strange. Anyway, I would love to hear some comments, really! It's why I continue writing, in hopes someone will write a new review or more people will read. :) So thank you for reading and I'll see you soon with the next one!

Question of the Update: Who do you think will be the first Career dead? What do you think happened to Castor? What do you think Cato is making of Violet's little situation?!