THE 54th ANNUAL HUNGER GAMES:

The Games:

The days of bloodbaths, endless killings and slaughter are over. The six remaining must battle it out in a final fight to decide who will be crowned. The four Careers are still split, searching the four corners of the arena for stray, easy kills. Those stray tributes are still doing their best to survive in the ever-changing 54th Annual Hunger Games! The Games should be over in the next few chapters. Enjoy!


Garth Vander, District 1:

They'll be doing the interviews now. On our families. How they think we are doing. How worried or proud they are to be our parents.

I think over this as I sit at the Cornucopia, knowing that the final few tributes won't be in the woods. I've checked every single millimetre, strained my neck up every tree. They're not anywhere.

I returned with all my supplies. I was barely gone a day, so the food and water wasn't needed. I've been here since dawn, waiting for my fellow Careers to return, hopefully with news of their killings.

Then I realise. This is about the point where the Careers begin to turn on each other. Fight it out until a lone one remains, who kills the last few tributes and wins. I'm skilled in most combat areas, so this should be a breeze.

Ellie is the first to return. She sprints back from the mountain range, panting from the endless running.

"I *pant* killed Isabelle *pant* from 11." She then lets herself fall onto the pile of bags.

This is it. She stands again and begins to walk into the mouth of the horn. I sneak up behind her, place both hands on her head and twist.

Johansen Smith, District 2:

The cannon fires as I'm still trekking back through the jungle. Another Career with another kill.

As I reach the Cornucopia, I see the worst. Ellie's body lies on the ground in front of the horn, her neck clearly snapped. Garth stands there, sword held menacingly in his hand. Waiting for me.

I drop my pack and engage him.

Garth Vander, District 1:

Johansen's a decent fighter. He can parry in a flash. He can stab and slash faster than anyone I've ever seen before. But I'm not intimidated. I push him backwards, bringing my sword down several times, attempting to reach his chest. But he's too fast. He dodges, blocks, parries, rolls, jumps.

Maybe I overestimated my chances of winning the Hunger Games.

Yasmin Intuler, District 10:

With only a few of us left, we decide to move our camp into the woods, where it's safer. We've been walking about an hour when the sound of metal clashing and grunting. There's a fight going on.

I look over into the distance. I wish I didn't.

The two fighters are Garth from One and Johansen from Two. Looks like the Careers are now competing to see who will be crowned. Just inside the mouth of the Cornucopia is a body. I can't tell who it is, but they are pretty messed up. I turn my head quickly away. I'm dead.

Ross Gadisno, District 4:

I finally have intercepted these two. I had to bury myself in sand, trying desperately not to suffocate, but now I stand in front of them, my knife raised.

I hit first. Alex's attempt of a block is pitiful. He falls. The cannon fires.

Yasmin slashes and hacks at me with her sword, but I'm more skilled with a blade. I grab her fighting wrist, sweep her legs from under her and flip her over. I then thrust my knife through her chest. Another cannon. I pick up her sword and begin to move back to the Cornucopia.

Johansen Smith, District 2:

My final blow sends Garth flying into the side of the horn. He slams into it. The cannon fires.

Then I realise. Only one more Career, and then another final kill, then I win.

Ross arrives at the Cornucopia with a sword, knife and his bag. He doesn't look at me as he sets it down. But as he stands up, I slice across his throat.

Michael Horrel, District 6:

The twenty-second cannon. That means there are only two of us left. Oh God.

The anthem plays. It's night time. First is Garth from 1. Johansen probably killed him. Then Ross and Ellie from 4. That means Johansen is left. Then both from 10.

I sprint as fast as I can towards the Cornucopia. Johansen, I'm ready for you.

This time, I'll take the opportunity to kill you.

Last time, I pitied you.

I don't want to be a killer.

Now I'll do it to win.

Johansen.

Bring it.