Author's Note: So, sorry for the delay! I've been busy with school and stuff. The end is near, so please review!

Chapter 12: The Final Eight

Reed Pyrope, District 4, 17 yrs. old

I walk behind Alyssa as she leads the way across the forest floor. The numbers are dwindling down. Everything I do from here on will have to be careful. I have to be strategic, I have to calculate. It's the only way.

I already betrayed and killed two of my allies without arousing suspicion in my other partners. Well, at least I think so. You can never be sure with Alyssa. She's never shown very much emotion, and I wouldn't be surprised if she was already planning a way to take me out. That's why I've got to be really careful.

We make our way to a huge clearing. The biggest I've seen so far. I walk over to the center, my brain racking for ideas. Finally, I remember. The snare. The one Sophia made. I do my best to remember exactly how to make one. After I think I've got it, I turn to Alyssa, who's waiting patiently by a tree.

"Can you run back to the Cornucopia?" I ask her.

She raises an eyebrow.

"Go get a knife and a net," I tell her. "I'm making a snare."

I think she's wondering if it's a good idea. Maybe she thinks I'll betray her. I thought of that too, but decided against it. Maybe later in the game.

Finally, she turns and begins running, headed to the Cornucopia. I'm left alone in the clearing. It gives me some time to think. I wonder if what I'm doing is wrong. Murder. Betrayal. It's not right, that's for sure. But it's for my survival. It's what I need to do. I shake my head. In my mind, every one of my actions in this arena is justified.

Alyssa re-enters the clearing, a knife and a net in her hand. Well, that was quick.

She hands it to me and I get to work. I do my best to remember all the knots and cuts, all the twists and turns. The snare Sophia made was small, but effective. The one I'm making is a little bigger.

I know I'm wide open. I know Alyssa could stab me in the back at any time. But I don't worry. I know Alyssa won't betray me. She's too…good for that. She tries to act like a ruthless killer, like the rest of us, but the truth is, among the Careers, she's probably the least willing to do anything underhanded.

I stand up, admiring my work. It's a complicated snare, but I'm confident it'll do its job. I turn and begin heading out of the clearing, Alyssa behind me. I make my way back to the Cornucopia.

The games are nearing their finale, and in record time too. I'm pretty sure no other games have gone by this fast. I have no doubt all the viewers back in the Capitol are enjoying every second of it, too. Whoever wins these games will be well remembered years from now. I smirk. Good.

I'll make sure it's me.

Lukas Highwind, District 1, 18 yrs. old

I stare at the body lying at my feet. The blood seeping from his stomach stains my shoes. But I don't mind.

In fact, I smile. That was refreshing. This boy was certainly not a coward. He stood, and faced the challenge. He provided a good fight too. But in the end, he couldn't beat me. My only complaint was his final words.

Speaking to your brother? Really? I shake my head and begin to walk away. Why waste your final breaths on family? Families are useless. They pretend to be concerned, but in reality, they don't really care what happens. It annoys me. Oh well.

The boy from District 8 put up a good fight, but he's gone now. I put thoughts of him and his bloody body behind me. I need to focus on the next match. The next kill. How many are left? Not much. Only eight, I think. Such a shame that these games will be over soon. I've been having too much fun. Well, if this is the last stretch, then I have to make the most of it. I have to kill as many people as I can.

I begin to walk through the forest, my spear in hand. As always, I don't care how much noise I make. In fact, I make as much noise as possible. I want people to come to me. People that foolishly believe they have a chance at survival. At victory. I grin. How mistaken all these people are.

Unless they're like that boy from District 5. I sneer at his memory. The coward. It's people like him that annoy me the most. People like my father. Useless cowards, never able to do any work themselves. I growl at the thought of them.

Preferably, the person will be like that boy I just slaughtered. Someone with guts. Someone who can give a good fight. But not someone who talks about their family. Hell no. I don't think I could stand that. People who believe in love, friendship. I sneer. Fairytales for children.

No, if you want to make it in this world, you can never depend on others, especially not your family. You need to rely on yourself. Alliances and friendships are mirages. They disguise the fact that any person in an alliance will only ever do what is beneficial for him. It's the truth. Anyone who can't see that must be stupid.

Damn, where are they? I'm getting tired of waiting. No, not tired. I've never been one easily tired. No, I'm bored. Bored, bored, bored. Bored of this silence. Of this lack of blood. I need to satisfy my boredom. Again.

I need to kill something.

Odessa Leijon, District 7, 16 yrs. old

We keep moving. Gray is leading the way, while Lyra walks behind me. We walk in strange silence. No one says a word. It's weird. During my short conversations with Lyra, it felt like life was…somewhat normal again. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I always knew that life could never be normal again. I guess, I just wanted to pretend. To escape away from the arena, in a little way.

Talking to Lyra made me believe. Made me believe that somehow, someway, life could be the same again. But now, with silence filling the air, it's all too clear. Life can never be the same again.

I begin to wonder. Can I actually win this? I mean, I've always been one for optimism, but even I thought that when I was reaped, I was done for. But now, the day's getting brighter. There are only, how many left? Nine? Eight? I definitely have a chance.

I know, if I'm gonna win this thing, that means two things, two things I'm not sure I'm ready for. First, Gray and Lyra will have to die. Both of them have been so important to me, I don't think I could stand it. And, secondly, I'll have to kill. I don't know if I can do that. It might be…too much.

Now that I think about it, maybe it's better if I don't win. Maybe Gray or Lyra deserve it more. I think about the past victors, shuddering. I don't want to become like them, hollow shells haunted by nightmares. Maybe, Gray or Lyra should win.

A sudden thought enters my head.

"Gray?" I ask him.

"Yeah?"

"What if," I begin. "What if we're the last two? What do we do?"

"Odessa," Gray says. "Let's not think about that for now, okay?"

"Fine," I say, quieting up again.

We walk in silence for a bit more until we reach a large clearing.

"Let's rest for a while," Lyra calls from the back.

"Okay!" I answer.

"By the way," Gray says, his voice dropping to a whisper. "About your question…"

"Yeah?" I ask.

"You know I'd do anything for you, right?"

I don't know what to say. It certainly wasn't the answer I was expecting. I just continue walking.

The next thing that happens is something I don't expect either. Before I can understand what's going on, I'm lifted up into the air, suspended by a large net. Gray gets lifted up right beside me. His knife falls to the ground, out of reach.

It doesn't hurt, but it surprises me too much.

"Aaahhh!" I shriek.

"Lyra!" Gray whispers. Lyra is at the edge of the clearing, too shocked to say or do anything.

"Lyra!" Gray calls again. He's beginning to panic, and so am I. "Get us down from here!"

Before Lyra registers what we're saying, we hear some rustling from the trees at the edge of the clearing. Lyra's eyes grow in surprise and she drops out of view. A second later, three figures appear.

The careers.

TRIBUTE LIST

District 1:

-Lukas Highwind

-Alyssa Rainheart

District 2:

-Zell Zantas

District 4:

-Reed Pyrope

District 7:

-Gray Norton

-Odessa Leijon

District 8:

-Lyra Riles

District 11:

-Dolph Jewklin