"3…"

Bend knees.

"2…"

Lean forward.

"1."

Run.

The first backpack I saw was the one I grabbed, slinging it over my shoulder and continuing to sprint towards the mayhem. I could see Hazen grab a sword and within two seconds he had impaled the girl from District Three with it, she was the first to go. I couldn't stop for even a millisecond longer, I had to get something. There was no trident, but there were spears I could use and a bow – Ivy would need that bow. I dodged a knife that flew my way, tumbling onto the ground and as I looked up, the familiar blonde head of hair came into my vision; holding a bow with a quiver on her back. I took her hand as she held it out to me, both of us beginning to sprint North to the mountains. But suddenly I felt myself fall again and as I closed my eyes for impact, I felt something, someone catch me.

The person set me on my feet again and I felt myself panic as I saw who it was. Lutz loomed over me, blood smeared on his face, hunger in his eyes; the worst kind of hunger. I closed my eyes once again, waiting for him to end me without a second thought. I knew it, I knew I wouldn't make it out but I thought I would at least get through the bloodbath. Moments passed and I cracked my eyes open, seeing him in front of me still, but he didn't look like he was going to kill me.

"MARI!"

We both turned in the direction of Ivy and I felt Lutz grab my arm, stopping me from running to her as she stood there, her bow aimed. He dragged me backwards and I decided that both of us didn't have to die.

"GO!" I screamed, "RUN!"

I tried to dig my heels into the ground but it was no use, he was too strong. Ivy let go of the arrow but it only grazed the boy from One's shoulder – he barely flinched- and did as I said and as she sprinted away, I faced the career again, this time looking him in the eye. I then gazed confusedly down to my hand as I felt a cool metal being placed in it – a spear.

"Welcome to the careers Four."

And that was it, he ran off and began to fight with the boy from Nine. Quickly, I came to my senses as I heard a scream from behind me, Livia was fighting with the girl from Seven who had a tight grip on her neck, her arm not being long enough to reach for her knife as it fell to the ground. It happened in seconds. I raised my arm like I had done time and time again in training, letting the spear fly from my hand and hit it's target – the girl from Seven's head. I killed her. I didn't even hesitate.

XX

I didn't know exactly when the bloodbath ended, but it was near enough when the boy from Nine ran into the forest with a knife in his arm. I looked around at who was left, both from One and Two, me and the girl from Eight. I should have just taken the spear and ran, why did I stay with them? I was a career now. I was a murderer. I jumped as cannons began to go off, counting eight in total. There were sixteen of us left, including Ivy and Coy. Ivy was in the mountains and Coy was somewhere, hopefully safe. Who was I kidding, he wasn't safe here. I wasn't safe here. No one was.

"That leaves sixteen." Lutz called, "Get everything in the Cornucopia and we'll head out, Livia and Cyra on watch."

"Why us?" Cyra spat as we all began to pick up the left over crates and move them towards the centre of the horn.

"Because I want those two with me." I kept my head down, knowing he was talking about me and the girl from Eight.

XX

I let out a grunt as I piled one crate of food on top of another, wiping my forehead. We'd been moving stuff around non-stop for just over an hour and it was pretty much me and the boys who were doing all the work.

"Hey," I turned to see the girl from Eight carrying a box of medical supplies next to me, "I'm Caggie."

I nodded, taking the hand she held out to me once she'd put the box down, "Mari."

"Oh I know," She breathed, chuckling, making me look at her in confusion, "They call you a Goddess."

I snorted, leaning against the boxes I had just stacked, "I'm nothing like a Goddess, that's just the Capitol's nickname."

"The Capitol? You think it's just them?" I raised my eyebrows at Caggie, not understanding what she was saying, "Mari, the Capitol people came up with the name, but you secured it. You got a ten, you never missed a target in training and you're gonna get so many sponsors. Why else do you think they wanted you in this alliance?"

I looked over at the four careers; Lutz and Hazen lugging boxes and Cyra and Livia packing away weapons or going through backpacks. I thought about it, why would they want me in their alliance? I was a threat, but also a safety net. A few minutes of silence had passed when a shout brought both of our attention to Hazen as he gestured for us to follow him and Lutz. Grabbing a spear and a couple of daggers I began to walk off, noticing Caggie picked up a machete and a backpack. As we made our way into the grassy area I started to panic, what if they were only taking us off so they could make sure we were dead? But then I rationalized my thoughts, they could have done it already, they wouldn't have let us take weapons and they wouldn't be laying out the plan to us and walking side by side. Either way, I made sure they never got behind me and that I kept a firm grip on the spear I was holding. I grimaced as we trekked past the dead bodies of the girls from Six and Nine – both of whom Livia had killed. The bodies would be collected while we were away and while Cyra and Livia got water from the nearby pool on the East.

"What was that?" Hazen asked, holding his sword out as a rustling noise came from above of us.

I stepped forward, poking the leaves that clouded my vision of the branches and jumping back as a bird flew out at me. As I ducked, I looked down at the mud and noticed the imprint of at least two sets of feet going the opposite direction to us.

"Just a bird you idiot." Lutz grumbled and continued to stalk forward, but I held my spear across his chest, "What are you-"

"There are tracks there." I stated, pointing down.

"Well done Four," He smirked at me once he'd seen the footprints, "This way it is."

We trekked for about twenty minutes, following the tracks that slowly seemed to diminish as we went on, before we found any other source of life. A small cloud of smoke was beginning to float towards us and there was moisture in the air, meaning there was a source of water nearby – the perfect place for someone to camp. It disgusted me, how quickly I had sold out the people who had run this way, but I realised that if I didn't, I wouldn't be trusted by the careers and I didn't want to die yet – I needed to find Ivy or Coy.

"Wait." Hazen hissed as we hid behind a large tree, trying to get a glimpse of who it was, "Four, go round with Lutz, I'll take Eight."

I nodded, following the larger career around the edge of the clearing. We waited opposite Caggie and Hazen while they assessed the best way to go about things and I myself assessed them. Hazen was tall, but he was skinny, meaning there wasn't much muscle on him apart from on the arms – since he used a sword. His blonde hair was the only thing that could make him noticeable, so he'd pulled the hood of his jacket up. Lutz however was stockier than his District Two counterpart, he looked like he would be able to fight someone unarmed and still win, but he wasn't really much but good looking, his jawbone being sharper than his reflexes. I had to give him credit for being able to wield a scythe – though his new weapon of choice was a machete.

"Come on." He whispered and I came to my senses, a feeling of dread washing over me as we tip-toed towards the two sitting over a small fire.

"Well, well, well." Hazen boomed, making the tributes look up, terrified, "You should really conceal your tracks better."

My mouth was dry, was this it? They were going to tease them and then ruthlessly murder them. I looked the two over as Hazen and Lutz kept talking. Both tributes from Eleven, the girl was skinny and gaunt, the boy well-built but young. I caught his eye as he turned frantically, looking for a way to escape and I could physically see him give up; his eyes becoming hollow. I closed my eyes, willing the tears not to fall and wiped my face discreetly and fast before standing upright and staring at Caggie. She was fixated on the scene before her, eyes wide and filled with terror.

And then it happened. Two cannons rang as both tributes slumped to the floor, blood rushing and eyes frozen open. I willed myself to move, but my feet were determined to stay there, so I would look at the innocent children who were just murdered in front of me. And what did I do? Nothing. What could I have done?

"It's almost dark. We should be heading back." I forced myself to nod at the boy from One's words, my heart telling me to run, my mind telling me I couldn't make it on my own.

In the end I sighed, adjusting my grip on the spear and taking one last look at the tributes form Eleven before disappearing into the forest.

XX

I watched as the Capitol symbol shined in the sky and the anthem played. Once we'd gotten back to the Cornucopia, we had a drink and some dried food before setting up for the night. Conversations were simple, mostly planning for the days ahead but sometimes there were little 'everyone good?' or 'you okay with what you got there?' moments that went as quick as they came and before you knew it we were watching the faces of the dead. District Three girl, District Five boy, both from Six, District Seven girl, District Eight boy, the girl from Nine and Ten and both from Eleven. I breathed a sigh of relief when I confirmed that neither Ivy or Coy were dead, I had to find at least one of them before the games were over for me.

"I'm going to sleep, Livia, Eight and Four take watch and we'll switch in a few hours." Hazen ordered and we all complied, I wasn't going to argue.

Caggie and I sat together, a spear in my hand and a machete in hers and Livia was on the other side of the horn. I hated the silence, but I would have hated the petty attempts at talking even more so I put up with it, counting the blades of grass in front of me or watching the water flow from the upmost North mountain. As a light breeze blew, I felt something lightly pat against my chest and moved to zip up my jacket, thinking it was the collar but stopped when I realised what it actually was. I rolled the pearl over in my hand and closed my eyes, thinking about what Finnick said. What was he thinking right then? About my decision to stay with the careers?

XX

What was she doing? What the hell was she doing? I'd agreed to the girl from Twelve but the Careers? Why would she think that was a good idea? I was going out of my mind, the first day in the games and she was already making me near to a breakdown. I jumped as a hand touched my shoulder, pulling my own away from my face and looking up at who it was.

"Haymitch." I sighed, gesturing for him to sit with me, even though I knew he would have anyway.

"She's okay at least. Yeah the careers may not have been the best choice, but she was scared. You know what it feels like Odair; don't be hypocritical." At my questioning look he continued, "I may drink a lot, but that doesn't mean I'm not observant. Plus my asked a few weird questions about mentor - tribute relationships."

Nodding, I faced one of the many screens again, the one focused on the Cornucopia. She was sitting with the girl from Eight – Caggie I think her name was – on watch. I closed my eyes as she closed her own and held the pearl necklace in her hand, foolishly hoping that somehow she would be able to know what I was thinking. I should have told her before she got on the hovercraft. I should have told her how I fell for her, how I fell so stupidly and relentlessly in love with her. But I was too much of a coward. I told her I would do anything to get her out of there but even I knew that I couldn't make sure she won the games. I just tried to give her hope; give myself hope. Hope that we could be together in the end.