Two days later, a test had been scheduled at the academy. This tests was made to look like that of the Hunger Games and would test each students' strength, endurance, skill and wit. Each student is delegated to either a black flag team or a gold flag team. The highest scorers of this test, gets to be in the running for the student of the year; even though it was more than likely to be Cato's year again.


Cato was getting ready for the test along with the other students when Clove came up to him.

"Hey." Clove said, "You ready for the test?"

Cato merely nodded as he continued stretching. Clove stretched her arms and wasn't looking at anything in particular when she spotted Delilah Akerbyrnes.

"Well, well, well…" Clove said, "Looks like Akerbyrnes is taking part in the test this time."

Once Cato heard that name, he stopped stretching to look at Delilah. Standing there with her blond hair in a ponytail and dressed in the academy's uniform was Delilah, stretching and laughing with her friends.

"Look at her laughing." Clove said, "If it weren't for her stupid mother, Jasmine have a scratch on her face."

Cato started to feel anger rising within him when he remembered the moment he spotted the injury on Jasmine's face. His fists slowly turned into a ball and tightened. Clove could feel Cato's gaze on Delilah slowly turning into one of a lion targeting its prey.

She grinned, "Whatever you're thinking, I want in on it."

Cato looked at Clove, "Are you sure?"

"Of course I am." Clove said, "Akerbyrnes should have a taste of what its like to be in the real Hunger Games, shouldn't she?"

Cato smiled and looked back at Delilah just as the head of the academy made the announcement for the test to begin.


Jasmine was getting ready to head to the academy to support Cato for his test. Her mother had agreed to accompany her even though she was a little reluctant at first.

"Mom… Are you ready yet?" Jasmine asked
"Yes, yes… I'm ready now." Jazline replied

Jasmine looked at her mother and laughed as she spotted the basket in her hands.

"Did you make snacks?" Jasmine asked

Her mother smiled, "Well, I had to. Your best friend and your boyfriend are both going to feel hungry after the test."

Jasmine merely chuckled as she headed out the door with her mother following behind. Just as she was about to continue walking, her mother held onto her hand. Jasmine turned around and her mother lightly cupped her face.

"Mom… It's healed." Jasmine said

"I know, I know…" Jazline said, "I just want to make sure it's not going to leave a scar."

Jasmine laughed a little, "It's just her nails…"

Her mother looked at her, "It could still leave a scar."

Jasmine kept quiet and watched as her mother lightly ran her the side of her fingers across her cheek.

"Okay." Jazline said, "You're all good."

She picked up the basket that she put on the ground and held her daughter's hand, "Let's go."


Jasmine and Jazline both arrived at the academy, about 20 minutes after the test began. They were hurrying into the spectators' area when Jasmine stopped in her tracks. Her mother stopped next to her and looked at where her daughter was looking.

Coming out from the arena with a stretcher were the medics along with a very frightened and worried Mrs Akerbyrnes. Jasmine squinted and was shocked to see a motionless Delilah in the stretcher.

Jasmine covered her mouth in horror and Jazline hurriedly pulled her daughter away. She didn't know if Delilah was merely unconscious or worse but she didn't want to have her daughter continue watching the scene unfold.

They arrived at the spectators' area just as they were replaying what happened earlier.

Delilah was wearing a black flag around her waist and running through a forest setting when all of a sudden, she turned around to see Clove and Cato behind her. They were both wearing golden flags around their waist. When she saw the two of them, Delilah registered fright on her face. She kept running with her head turning every few seconds. A loud horn sounded and before she knew it, Cato and Clove both disappeared. Just as she turned her head back to look in front, a robotic mutt appeared and using it's huge paw, swiped Delilah off her feet. She landed on the right side of the setting motionless, instantly getting disqualified.

Jasmine sat down on the benches next to her mother, slightly horrified by what she just saw. She didn't want to think that Cato and Clove had something to do with it but seeing what happened earlier, she wasn't sure what to believe.

She looked at her mother, who was looking at her with concern.

"Are you okay?" Her mother asked

Jasmine shook her head, "I'm not sure…"

"This is a test, honey… Things happen." Her mother said, "I'm sure Delilah's fine."

"I hope so…" Jasmine said
"But you're thinking about something else." Jazline said

She looked at her mother, "What if Cato and Clove had something to do with this?"

"With what happened to Delilah?" Jazline asked

Jasmine nodded.

"It's not possible." Jazline said, "This is a test that is much like the real Hunger Games setting. Whatever happens during the test would happen in the Hunger Games. Cato and Clove wouldn't be able to alter anything."

"I know." Jasmine said, "But I keep thinking that Cato and Clove frightened Delilah into that area."

Jazline pat her daughter's hand, "Don't think the worse. It's a test and it's like a competition. Even if they did frighten Delilah, it's all fair."

Jasmine sighed and looked ahead of her as she watched her best friend, Clove, tackle a male black flag wearer to the ground while Cato stood over a slightly injured boy, holding a black flag in his hand.

Seeing two of the people who matter to her, she knew that the only way she could find out the truth was to wait for the test to be over.