I'm sitting at a table with a disgruntled Kassi, an awkward Frank, a calculating Hazel and a twitchy Grover. None of this makes any sense, but it seems like we're all just going with it for whatever reason.

One thing I've learned is that I should really rethink my phrasing twice before I open my mouth. One minute I'm commenting positively on the fact that Grover can figure out in a second what can be made edible and what can't, the next he's glued to me under the impression that we're allies, prattling off about how useful he would be to me. And I'm the idiot that's too nice to burst his bubble. He looks stressed enough as it is. I'm also an idiot that seems to get easily attached to people, so there's that to consider as well.

I don't know why seeing me and Grover move from station to station gave the girl from One, Hazel, the impression that there was some grand plan she wasn't a part of. Hell, I think everyone was looking at us confusedly. It's most common for tributes from the same district to form an alliance, so this in itself was already weird with just Grover. Hazel approached me at the climbing station and demanded to be a part of "whatever was going on".

Answering honestly didn't seem to work with her, because according to several sources, I'm a Capitol favorite, so I must have leverage somehow. She was certain she could be of use to me, and spoke with so much confidence I couldn't say no. It's hard to believe that she's the same age as Kassi. Her aura feels older, more troubled.

I think Frank joined our nice little mismatched group against his will. I was actually scared of him at first, wary of his Career background, but he behaved like his being in the Games wasn't planned. Like he hadn't been training to kill the rest of us. I still don't know if that's an appropriate topic to bring up with the guy, so I've kept my mouth shut about it. He's part of our alliance mainly because of Kassi, who helped him with knot tying and somehow managed to convince him to join us. She seemed a little angry with me for having added Grover and Hazel to the mix, so she went and befriended a Career. Typical Kassi. I'm actually a little miffed myself. This behavior of hers is generally reserved for people at school giving her a hard time. We've been on good terms for so long, I actually forgot this side of her existed.

The rest of the tributes have been looking at us funny since we sat down for lunch. There are two other alliances I can spot, but they make a million times more sense than this one. Three of the seemingly emaciated tributes, both from Twelve and the male from Eleven, seem to have grouped together. Although they say birds of a feather flock together, I can't pinpoint exactly how their strategy will play out.

The third alliance is the one I'm worried about. It has the star-crossed lovers, the siblings and one of the most attractive tributes. Those are always audience favorites. I don't realize I'm touching my ear until I feel crusted blood. Annabeth is definitely dangerous. She managed to throw her knife with enough force for it to have caused damage when it only grazed past me. As for Luke, the male from Six, he seems to always have sadness and mischief in his eyes, which is a confusing blend. I saw him go through an obstacle course. He's surprisingly agile and quick on his feet. Let's not talk about the siblings from Five, Thalia and Jason. They are unbelievably unnerving, Thalia in a more obvious and brash way than Jason. In the middle of training she basically took a jab at the Gamemakers, like they wouldn't take it out on her or her family later. Or if they did, she didn't seem to care. I guess family isn't really on top of your priority list if you're volunteering to slaughter your own brother on screen.

I think I've made eye contact with Jason at least five times, and every time he gives a slight nod of his head, like we have a plan in action no one else knows about. I just nod back in response, because looking away in panic would make it even more awkward.

The girl with them is called Piper, I think. She looks a little sad but resolved. Her perfectly symmetrical face somehow makes it all work. The five of them seem to have a good dynamic and chemistry, which is what's worrying. They talk and laugh and are loud most of the time. It makes me uneasy. Our group has zero chemistry, and it feels suffocating to even sit together.

On the third day, I feel much more comfortable with both, my allies and my physical abilities. I've made sure to keep my skill with a trident hidden from the rest. The term "ally" means nothing when only one of us gets to live. Hazel and Kassi get along surprisingly well, and they've both been spending a lot of time together. I found out Frank is only sixteen and almost went into shock. He could pass for a twenty-five year-old, so I had just assumed he was eighteen. He assured me he only looks older as of recently, and that if he had any way to access old pictures, I'd see what he meant. He's is still a little awkward but I'm starting to attribute that to the possibility that he might have a thing for Hazel, which would be completely tragic. I don't plan on bringing it up. I just hope I'm wrong.

I realize that it doesn't even matter. It doesn't matter if Frank likes Hazel. Nothing matters at all at this point. By this time next year, only one of us will still be alive, and if things go my way, that person will be Kassi. At least I won't have to live with the guilt of killing anyone since I'll be dead myself.

They call the girl from Three, Nyssa, 've taken all the tributes from districts One to Three for their private sessions with the Gamemakers. I'm next. We're all sitting in the dining room, each of us trying to hide how nerve-wracking this is for us. I don't know why but I glance at the the "Golden Alliance", as it's being referred to. Annabeth and I lock eyes and I don't look away. I just give her a small nod and keep looking around. I can't tell why she unnerves me so much. I don't have much time to mull over it as they call my name.

'Good luck,' Kassi says as she gives me a small smile.

I walk into the gymnasium and look around. They've added a large array of weapons made of materials I probably didn't even know existed. I spot the tridents near the bow and arrow display. The Gamemakers seem to have already grown bored of the task at hand. I'm grateful my district is not too far down the list or they wouldn't even glance at me. I have most of their attention, but they seem to be focused on getting drunk on their fancy wine as they watch me. I gulp and walk to the trident array. I pick a few up, testing their weight and balance in my hands. I settle for one and look around the gymnasium. There's a shooting range set up, so I decide to start with those. I target three of the dummies and hit them all in the heart. There's some applause from the Gamemakers, but I feel like I need to do more to prove myself to them. My strength is best seen when dealing with swimming and water, but I need to make do. I need to think fast.

I decide to try and incorporate knife throwing into my demonstration. I remember this was the technique Finnick used during his Games, and I pray I can pull it off. I grab a handful of knives and stand at the edge of the line of dummies. I throw one of the knives at the first one and am relieved when its barely an inch away from the heart mark. I shoulder-roll forward and get back onto my feet quickly as I attempt a technique I've been practicing. I throw two knives simultaneously with both hands and they both hit two separate dummies right in the heart. I'm about to pick up the trident and target the boxing sandbag, but I feel it to be too underwhelming still. I aim at a light fixture hanging off the ceiling instead. I expect it to only send a shower of sparks in order to make me stand out a little more, but what happens instead is the entire place goes pitch black. I breathe heavily as all I can hear are the Gamemakers murmuring amongst themselves. The gymnasium is suddenly lit in red.

'Emergency lights,' one of the Gamemakers says, the distaste clear on his face. He whispers something to an Avox who nods and scuttles away.

'Percy Jackson,' another Gamemaker addresses me, 'Thank you. You are now dismissed.'

I'm blushing profusely as I rush out the exit. Thankfully, it seems like my stunt only affected the gymnasium. I hear rumbling and whirring for a few seconds and hope that the lights that have come back on. What was I thinking? I brush past the shocked Avoxes guarding the elevators and press the number four. The elevator zips upward to the fourth floor. My heart is racing at the possibility of my behavior being perceived as some form of rebellion. This is just as bad if not worse than what the Five female tribute pulled in the middle of practice. I rush past the others in the sitting room and bolt the door to my quarters. I press my back against it and slide down to the floor. What happens to me now? Will I be arrested? Executed? Turned into an Avox? Would they take this so personally they would target my family back home? I imagine Peacekeepers tearing the door to our little house down, yelling and violently thrashing my family around for punishment. Would they send my mother and my aunt to prison and take Tyson, Lance and Lily to the community home? What if they straight up killed them all and left their bodies in a pile at the doorstep for a few days to set an example? I shudder at the thought. Why didn't I stay apologize? Why did I just freeze there like a complete idiot? At least I didn't say anything disrespectful. Maybe they'll show some leniency and dismiss it as an accident.

'Percy,' Finnick knocks on my door, 'Percy, what happened?'

I don't trust Finnick one bit, but he is my mentor after all, so I stand up and unlock the door. He walks in and sits on one of the plush chairs in the seating corner. I join him.

'Tell me what happens,' he says, so I comply.

'I- I thought I would make them remember me, so I tried throwing knives at the dummies. Even did it with both hands.'

Finnick looks at me expectantly.

'That's not something to be upset about,' he says matter-of-factly.

'That's not it,' I say, ' I wanted to stand out so I sent a knife flying at one of the light fixtures for dramatic effect and instead, all the lights went out. Now they either think I have horrible aim or I was trying to pull some rebellious stunt. They- they won't hurt my family right? Or are they simply going to kill me?'

'They won't do anything. Trust me. They still need a male tribute from Four, right? And you didn't do anything to directly attack them, and it wasn't even public. They don't need to target your family to prove a point to the public,' he says pensively, 'However, what they do with your score, that all depends on how they process what happened.'

Since the only audience for the training is the Gamemakers, they announce a score for each tribute to set a starting line for the betting that happens throughout the Games. The score ranges from one to twelve, with one being the worst score and twelve being the best. This gives the audience an idea of the potential each tribute holds. The main thing the scores affect is our standing with the sponsors. I was hoping to get between an eight and a ten, seeing as I passed for a tribute and I knew I was good with a trident. Now, I didn't know what to expect.

Finnick seems to think the conversation is over as he gets up and leaves. I know I have a while before dinner. I didn't realize it, but the past three days if training took a toll on me. I'm exhausted. And if the Games are starting in a couple of days, might as well get some sleep now. I take a quick shower and get into bed. I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. I don't know how long it is before I can hear Kylie knocking at my door to call me to dinner. I don't even want to move. At this point, I wish I could die in my sleep. No. Of course I don't want to actually die. I just wish I could stop existing all together. I groan loudly into my pillow, hoping some of my frustration will go away. it doesn't help. I wipe the drool off my face with the back of my hand, go to wash my face and go to join everyone for dinner. I know they'll be televising the scores tonight, and I want to see how badly I've messed up my chances at survival.

Everyone is gathered around the table. Kylie is mid-conversation with Aphrodite and Krios, and all three burst out in controlled laughter at something she says. It's like they'll implode if they allow themselves to really laugh. Finnick, Kassi and Alaina are having a separate, more serious conversation on the side. I sit between Finnick and Kassi and accidentally make eye contact with Aphrodite. She winks at me and I blush. I bask in both embarrassment and guilt. I hope no one is focusing on me. I wish the stylists weren't here. I feel like I've just ruined all their hard work with a simple mistake. I sip at the orange soup set before me. I think it's pumpkin. I've only ever had pumpkin once in my life so I could be wrong. Kassi seems to be in a better mood. She's still cold with me and won't meet my eyes. I listen to the drone of the conversation around me. Something about the weather and how it's being regulated.

'Percy, Kassi... How did you do today, darlings?' Kylie says

Kassi shrugs. 'I think I did okay. I wasn't very impressive. I... don't really want to go into much detail.'

She casts a furtive glance at me then looks away quickly. 'I asked to be coached separately for a reason.'

Everyone at the table exchanges looks of discomfort.

This hurts. This hurts me so much I actually choke on the stupid soup and have to gulp down water frantically but discreetly. I try to do it in the most natural way possible though. Wouldn't want Kassi to think she has some sort of upper hand here. I don't know what's gotten into her. It feels like we're bickering like I've seen all siblings do, which is perfectly natural, but our lives are at stake here. Does she suddenly care about the Games? Does she actually think she has a shot at winning? A dark and twisted part of me wants her to get hurt. For the first time in my life, I feel loathing towards my cousin. I think back to aunt Julia's goodbye in the Justice Building. She was thanking me for trying to bring her daughter home safely. I wanted to put my life on the line for her, and I made that decision in a heartbeat. And I'd do it again given the chance. I know that if it came down to it, I would still try and protect her even if she didn't like it. The only silver lining to the entire situation is that Tyson could've been here instead of me. Instead he's starving safely at home. God bless the actual Careers for not wanting their five seconds of fame this year round.

Finnick starts up a conversation again to break the tension. I'm glad no one follows up and asks me how I did. I glance at Kassi for a second. She won't even look at me, her face set in a focused and stony expression as she eats her dessert of sweet rice pudding and dried fruit. I'm sad, angry, frustrated and tired, but at least dessert is good. I have three bowls of it. It's more comforting to feel painfully full then achingly hungry.

After dinner, we all move to the sitting room to watch the scores announced on television. First they show a photo of the tribute, then flash their score below it. I watch as the District 1 tributes, Hazel and Octavian, both earn an eight. No clue what Octavian could possibly have as skills to earn him an eight, but I decide that avoiding him is a good idea. Frank earns a ten, Clarisse a whopping eleven. I can feel my heart racing as we get closer to our scores. The District 3 Tributes earn high scores as well. Then it's my turn. I'm expecting the worst. I envision the number four flashing below my picture. But it's not a four. It's not a four. It's an eleven. The room erupts in cheers. Finnick pats me on the back. Aphrodite kisses both my cheeks and congratulates me. Nothing feels real. The presenters are commenting on each tribute. I don't hear what they say about me. Kassi's picture shows up on the screen and we're all quiet. She comes up with a seven, which is impressive for her size. I'm smiling against my will, but when I glance at her, tears are on the verge of running down her face as everyone congratulates her too. She suddenly storms off. They all call out for her to come back, but they're all still glued to the screen. I instinctively get up to follow her, but stop halfway and head to my room instead. I just lie down on the bed and stare at the ceiling for a good while. I can't think. I need time to process everything that's happened. I need... fresh air. Ideally, I'd take a long walk on the beach to clear my head.

That's when it hits me. The building has a roof, and there has to be a way to access it. The elevator floors end at twelve, but maybe I could get there using stairs. I leave my room and look around for a staircase. It seems like I was zoned out long enough for the program to end and everyone to retire to their quarters. A few Avoxes lurk here and there, tidying up and preparing everything for tomorrow. I doubt any of them would pay much attention to what I do. I find the door to the stairway near the elevator. It's unlocked. I go up and up and up. All nine flights to the rooftop. I find myself in a dome-shaped room with a door to the outside. I step outside and breathe in deeply as the cool evening air hits my face. I should be distracted by the view of the twinkling Capitol at nighttime, but I can hear a sniffling sound over the faint whistling of the wind. I follow it around the corner. It's the female tribute from Six.