Images whirl by me as my brain struggles to keep up. My instincts tell me to run away, save myself, but I stand still. Xavier is stabbed in the chest, and dragged away by a burly tribute that outweighs me by at least fifty pounds. His sudden appearance doesn't faze me. The muscular tribute gives me hope that I live another day, even though he might decide to get rid of two competitors instead of just one.

"Get out of here!" he screamed. My mind slowly begins to process, alerting me that the voice belongs to the assailant. I remember his name from the interviews; Sten. He was the boy who had trained his whole life to be in the Games. The idea of him letting me go is unheard of. If he so desperately wants to win, why am I able to leave?

Xavier cries out from behind the desert brush. His copper eyes lock on mine. I choke on the bile rising up my throat from the sight of him. Sten didn't leave an inch of Xavier unmarred. He pleads, begging me to save him. I shake my head in response. The boy I knew is gone, replaced by a monster as cold and callous as I am. There is no feeling of regret inside me as Sten makes the final blow. He isn't Xavier.

The cannon blasts. I am relieved. I don't understand why Sten is allowing me to survive, but I don't question it. The threat has passed, as of now. It's strange to think that Xavier was never an ally, and that my cynicism actually helped for once. If I had trusted him, I would have ended up exactly the way Selah wanted me to.

"Still here, District 3?" Sten asked. I nod. "Braver than I thought. Follow me," I shake my head, at loss of words. "I won't hurt you, we're allies."

"Why would I be your ally? You're a Career," I snapped.

"I'm not the typical Career. Just because I'm in District 2 doesn't mean anything. Xavier, for example. Are you like him because you're from the same district?" He interjected before I can reply. "No, you're not. I have trained my whole life to be in the Games, because that's what I have to do. My escort forced me to say that, to get more sponsors."

"You want to be my ally," I stated, hoping to get definite answers. "Even though I killed Aura, and I let Brynn die."

He frowned. "Brynn was a great kid, she had courage and smarts. I know it wasn't your fault. Aura was sent to spy on you," he sighed. "She had other things in mind, however. Aura had always dreamed of being the victor, and was willing to do anything to become that."

"One more question. Why did you kill Xavier?"

Sten shrugged. "He was going to kill you. I wanted to be your ally, so I attacked him. The real reason why he was so twisted is because of Aura. He was in love with her, infatuated, really. She told him about her plan, and he decided to honor Aura's memory by finishing the job," Xavier was in love. Love compelled him to attempt to murder me. Aura never felt the same way; she used him in hopes of winning the Quarter Quell. How despicable.

Sten leads me to the Career camp, closer to the juniper tree than I suspected. The Careers, always the favorites, have an enormous pile of supplies next to two tents. My family could never even afford one tent in District 3. It must have been no easy feat obtaining the equipment from the Cornucopia bloodbath.

Surrounding the campfire are two boys and one girl. Sten introduces the girl as Mira, from his own district. The scars on her face suggest that she is tougher than she looks. The auburn-haired boy is Jai, who spent his childhood in District 4. Briar is from District 1, and refuses to speak. He hasn't said a word since Aura's death, according to Sten. He was Aura's twin brother.

"The real reason you're here," Sten whispered. "Is to join the rebellion," I gasped. "Brynn was actually part of the rebellion; she fixed the vote to be in the Games. She became your ally when I pointed out that you would be an asset. Brynn was supposed to bring you here eventually, but something happened to her. I can't imagine how she died. Nobody knew about the rebellion."

"Until now," I corrected.

"So, will you join us?" he asked.

"What is the point? We will all die in the end, except for one." I want to destroy the Capitol, but nothing matters now. We can't make a difference stuck inside the arena. That much, I know.

"One will survive. We will stick together until only two remain, whoever they may be. If the victor is a rebel, he or she can start an uprising during the Victory Tour." This plan was obviously well thought out. I admire their effort.

"Okay. I'll join, for my brother." I said.