Ten

After their interviews, the tributes were called into the training room one final time for some an announcement. To make life easier, Elizabeth was handcuffed to a wall and had six security guards armed with dart guns trained on her.

Mr Fowler and Mr Patman had arrived to make the final announcements. On catching sight of her father, Lila squeaked "Daddy!" and got a vague smile and a nod in response.

Once they had the room's attention, Mr Patman spoke. "Now children, for many of you this will be your last night alive. Because some of you are likely to panic, we plan to sedate you all so you can sleep tonight, once you are sedated, you will have your trackers implanted. One of you will be more used to being sedated than others," he said with a pointed look in Elizabeth's direction.

"While you are asleep we will transport you to the arena, and you will awake each in a separate room underneath it. You will have time to get up, washed and changed before you are required to get into your pod to be raised up onto your stand for the official start of the Hunger Games"

Mr Fowler took over for the next part. "We have to make it very clear to you that you may not jump off your stand before the timer has counted down to zero and the games officially begin. If you step off even half a second early, the bomb beneath it will detonate and tiny bloody bits of you will be scattered all over the arena – leaving nothing large enough to bury. Think of your parents, they want a nice funeral."

Mr Patman took over, with a pointed look at his son. "If you decide to sleep through the games, and not get into your pod, the room will explode and kill you."

"If you stay on it for longer than thirty seconds after the official start of the Hunger Games, then again, the bomb will detonate. Again, think of your parents," Mr Fowler said. "Immediately after each death, a cannon will sound. The trackers are send signals to the main control room, so we will know of your death as soon as it happens."

Elizabeth's free hand shot up. "Mr Fowler, what happens if I beat someone's brains against the stands? Will it explode?"

Everyone shuffled further away from Elizabeth, but Lois perked up her ears for the answer.

Messrs Patman and Fowler conferred for a moment before Mr Fowler replied. "To be honest, we don't know, so if you want to risk it, go ahead."

Even Elizabeth paused at that idea.

"There will be a cornucopia, a large metal horn-like structure filled with weapons," Mr Patman said. "It will be up to you whether you want to go in there."

Elizabeth grinned and nodded at this. Subtly, Winston met Lois' eyes and gave a very small nod.

"Mr Fowler and I have spent some time engineering disasters in the arena – so if you don't start killing each other, the arena will start killing you."

This time Lois raised her hand. "What kind of things can we expect in the arena?"

Mr Patman chuckled and wagged a finger at her. "Now, fat girl, that would be cheating. And it's not like you're going to win."

"I beat your son at the bike-a-thon earlier this year," Lois pointed out. "Didn't he tell you?"

Both Bruce and his father flushed in shame, and Mr Patman moved on quickly. "Once in the arena, your job is to kill each other. Or die, depending on your aspirations. When we have one sole victor, we will air lift them out of the arena, and we will have a big party to celebrate."

Every single Unicorn put their hand in the air. "Will there be new dresses?" Jessica called out, not waiting to be picked.

"Of course. Or tuxes for the boys," Mr Fowler said.

"I bet not in my size," Lois said.

"Well, no. You're not going to win. We can't have a fat victor," Mr Patman said. "But the odds are in our favour – as long as you, or the gangly boy with the red ears and the stupid questions, don't win, all is well."

"Now, unless there are any more questions, we're going to administer the sedatives, and tomorrow you will wake up under the arena."

Before falling asleep, Jessica's last thought was, "I really thought there'd be more parties and flirting."

Sandra thought, "I really am clever for coming up with the Hunger Games."

Winston thought, "I hope I can trust Team Life tomorrow."

Lila thought, "I really hope Melissa comes through for me."

Lois thought, "They can and will have a fat victor."

Elizabeth thought, "I can't wait to start killing."