People reading who haven't seen the original stories, that's no problem as this doesn't follow the main plot, but here's a quick list of common terminology that'll just make things less confusing (ignore this if you're familiar with the hunger games)

Districts: the country is split into 12 districts that each specialise in a certain skill, there's 2 tributes from each

Capitol: The major city in which the games are held

Cornucopia: a large shelter full of supplies and weapons, in the games this is the first thing the tributes see.

Gamemakers: people working for the Capitol that control the games, are able to manipulate the hunger games arena and send things into it such as gifts or animals.

Chapter 11

We all head back to our rooms quickly, there isn't time to talk to anybody else, and knowing I'll have to fight most of them tomorrow, this is probably best. Me and Claire are stood beside the sink in the main bathroom trying to get the makeup off of her face. She'd been in here a while before hand and had no luck, I don't really want to sleep just yet so I'm perfectly fine with this. Claire takes some water and splashes it onto her face, gazing into the mirror.

"It's weird that we'll be in the games tomorrow. It's just…" she trails off, rubbing at her eyes.

"Horrible." I answer slowly. She purses her lips,

"I thought that something would happen, some way to delay them or stop them altogether. I've been wracking my head for plans all week, but there's just …nothing." Claire grips onto the side of the sink and exhales. She talks quickly, this has obviously been on her mind for quite a while. But I know there isn't a chance of us getting out, the Capitol would never allow it.

"It's impossible to stop this. We just need to try our hardest and make it through." She lowers her face and her voice cracks slightly as she speaks.

" I know I can't do this. What's even the point of trying to?" I can't tell if she's crying or if it's just leftover water running down her cheek, but I place a hand on her shoulder either way.

"Come on, don't talk like that. Everyone here has a chance in the games; we just don't know what'll happen." She rubs under her eyes, trailing mascara across her cheek before turning to look at me.

"But if I don't try and win I'll die straight away, but if try and win then I'll end up having to fight all the people I care about. I don't want us to fight each other."

"We won't have to." I don't care what happens. I'm not going to fight anyone.

"We will if we want to win. So I don't… I don't want to win." I hate seeing her looking upset, so rub her shoulder. She goes one step further and moves towards me pulling me into a hug. "I don't know what to do Hershel. " I place a hand on her back, slightly shocked by the sudden closeness.

"Neither do I. But we're gonna get through these games together." I pull out of the hug and take her hand, leading her gaze towards the mirror. I look over the two of us, noting the qualities. "Look, you see what we've got here?" She looks up and grins.

"A girl with makeup across her nose and a boy with a bad haircut who really needs some sleep?" I stare at my reflection, noticing the dark circles under my eyes. I swat her arm.

"I was going to be me motivational and you've ruined it." She laughs, I'm happy to see her cheering up.

"I'm joking, you look very smart" She breathes deeply. "I'm sorry for freaking out… I guess I'm just scared. We could be dead tomorrow."

"Well let's aim to get further than that." I find myself yawning. She raises an eyebrow at me.

"Well you're not gonna manage that if you're half asleep, go to bed." She seems much happier, but I'm still concerned.

"Are you sure you're alright?" She takes hold of my other hand and looks back up at me.

"I'm fine now. Thank you Hershel you're… you're a good friend." Leaving her, I head over into my room. I consider showering, but there's really no point if we're about to go into the arena. Besides, the stylists did my hair and covered me in perfume earlier. Pulling on the Capitol issued Pyjamas, I get ready to sleep.It's only when I'm lying in bed that I realise; despite how much I've told Claire it'll be fine.

I'm terrified

I'm only noticing now how much my hands are shaking, overthinking every part of my training. I got a 6 in training, so many tributes got higher than that.

There have been years before when the arenas were completely unpredictable. During one a few years ago, they only things at the cornucopia were explosives. Every person ran to get one and the games barely lasted an hour. My skills are based on sword fighting, and if they don't have any at the cornucopia.

I don't stand a chance.

I'm going to die.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I end up not getting much sleep due to panicking, a fact that I luckily manage to hide from Claire. If she knew I'd been worried then my words to her would mean nothing . In the morning, all the tributes are led to jet, referred to by the pilot as the 'Targent airship'. We're placed in rows facing across from each other. Randall pulls a face at me as I sit opposite him, I roll my eyes in response. Two game makers pass by the seats, injecting each person's forearm.

"What's this for?" Claire whispers as he's about to set up hers.

"A tracker." What would they need to track us for? Surely they'd know where we are from the video feeds.

Unless of course, the trackers are so that they know when to set the cannons off.

I decide not to think into it too much. When he injects mine, we make eye contact for longer than I'd have liked. It's the same game maker from the training, still wearing his sunglasses. He seems to be quite important.

The ship lands in a hangar, and I take one last look at the retreating tributes, taking note of where my allies are headed. Claire and I are taken to the middle room. Schrader and Dahlia are already there waiting for us, two small lifts are behind them.

"Only a few more minutes." States Dahlia. She's dressed more casually than she usually is, and seems more nervous. Schrader doesn't look as if he got much sleep either.

"Hershel, I've got this for you." He takes the small hint coin out of his pocket and attaches it to the lapel of my jacket. "And Claire, your pocket watch; I figured putting it on a strap would be safer in the arena. He ties it round her arm. "Remember. First things first, find water and shelter. Make allies but don't get too attached, you can't all make it. Run from the Cornucopia." We both thank him; Claire quickly sets her watch to the correct time. As an announcement goes off above ground, Claire flings herself at me, enveloping me in a tight hug that I happily return. We remain this way until Schrader tells us to enter the lifts. A voice rings out as the lifts descend upwards and the mentors disappear from view.

I give Claire one last glance before she too is gone. I'm alone in the lift now, a few seconds away from entering the arena.

"Get ready, for this year's MIRACLE GAMES"