Recommended Listening: Barracuda by Heart

Korea Im, District 12

The gong bangs, and I start running towards the Cornucopia. Halfway to the horn is a nice-looking fighting staff, and that's what I'm going for.

The tribute on the other side of the line of goods doesn't go towards them, so I have no worries. I grab the wooden staff and get back moving, sand spewing out from behind my shoes as they turn.

Haha! I knew this would be easy! After all, sprinting originated in Korea!

I end up stooping down as I run to scoop up a lone bottle of water in my path. As I draw closer to the jungle, a pair of sandals comes across my path. They aren't that useful, so I bypass them without a second thought.

Then something digs into the back of my neck.

I squawk and pick up the pace, but the attacker grabs my arm, and I trip. Before I can fall, I'm whipped around, and the sword swings towards the front of my neck.

"Hah!" I flip the staff into the way, and the sword doesn't have enough momentum to get through and make any more progress than a cut on my chin. I don't have enough strength in the one arm holding the staff to push Osso's sword away, so he withdraws it on his own and jabs it into my stomach. I make a gagging noise but manage to pull myself out of his grip.

With another yell, I spin the staff around to hit him in the shoulder. He doesn't drop his weapon but instead drives it back into my stomach. I struggle to hit him again with the staff, but the wood just bounces off him, and for the first time I start to suspect staff fighting did not originate in Korea.

I turn to run, but Osso wrenches my arm around to keep me from escaping and immediately drives his sword through my throat.

I fall to the ground choking and only get a second to writhe around frantically before my vision goes out.

Wy Micra, District 5

Though the shiny, black mini-torch a little bit in front of me is tempting, I turn and bolt for the trees once the gong sounds.

This is no time to appreciate the view. I have to get out of here as fast as possible.

It's a little hard to run on the sand, but at least I'm wearing shin-high boots that the sand can't enter. I'm aware this isn't quite the fastest I can run, but I'll pick up the pace once I'm running on solid ground.

I don't get that far.

My toes barely dig into the sandy shore of sorts when something penetrates my neck with a thump. Reflexes make me cough, but the blade isn't going to leave my throat, and I'm not making much progress getting the blood out, either.

I keep running, though it's unconscious as I know I'm not going to survive this. More and more blood blocks out more and more air until I stumble and fall, scraping the side of my head on one of the trees. I can't see any more of the scene as I finally hit the ground.

I don't even have time to cry for the life I've lost before I drown in utter black.

Saki Beebul, District 7

I take off like a bullet when the gong sounds. I've done more running than these Careers could dream of, so if anyone can make it out of the Cornucopia before they even get there, it's me.

I'm not getting anything heavy, so no weapons. Just food and water. Light food and water.

I get to the golden horn's mouth, as I suspected, before any Careers. Especially since most of them are otherwise occupied. I snatch the closest morsels, a small box of granola bars and a large jug of water, and turn.

The girl from 1 has gotten here, but I'm off before she can pull her axe out of the pile.

Another Career is running this way, but he's unarmed, and I can easily swerve to avoid him.

Ha! You guys can't kill me if you can't even catch me!

I get to the grass in just a second, and I'm between a pair of trees shortly thereafter.

A pain crops up in my side, but I don't stop running.

That's weird. I don't usually have my sides start hurting until...

The little sting suddenly flares, and I realise blood is running down my side. Without stopping, I look down to see an arrow straight through my torso.

I look back up and see I'm about to run straight into a tree. I swerve and suddenly lose my balance, landing on the side that took the arrow. Hissing, I struggle back to my feet with the help of a low branch. I take a few running steps before falling back over.

This hurts... This hurts...

I force myself back to my feet, but I don't even get the few steps in this time. I just fall right back over.

Swearing sharply, I drop my supplies and wrap my hands, shaking from pain, around the shaft. I rip the thing out with a stifled yell.

I don't notice the blade right over my head until it's too late.

Bell Gique, District 6

I'm indecisive about whether or not I'll go for the near by length of rope when the gong bangs. Without mentally deciding, I end up running towards the coil. The tribute next to me isn't running towards it, so I grab up the thing pretty easily before changing course and running away from the Cornucopia.

I take a path straight towards my plate, and I jump on it and back off fluidly. The slippery sand finally gives way to the grass, and I gratefully take a microsecond to adjust to safer footing.

I trample the ferns mercilessly as the trees draw closer.

Something pokes me from behind.

I yelp and stumble to a halt as Sheen swings around to face me. He brings his sword around towards my abdomen, and I jump back to dodge, but he jabs. My left hand is impaled and driven into a tree.

I scream and try to pull my hand away, but Sheen, realising I'm stuck as long as if he doesn't move his sword, resorts to punching me in the head hard.

I drop the rope and grab a branch with my right hand, and I swiftly bring my knees up to my stomach and kick out. I hit Sheen square in the stomach, and he can't stop himself from tumbling to the ground. With a grunt, he pushes himself up with his hands, but he's facing away from me.

Then he pauses.

I struggle to pull the sword out of the wood as Sheen stares for another moment. Then he takes off running, leaving me alone.

My pulse still racing, I tug and tug at the sword, building up several layers of splinters in my hand, before finally freeing myself. A quick sweep of the area shows me no one else has come up, but that doesn't mean no one will.

I allow myself one last loud cry of pain before picking up the rope and running off into the jungle.

Feli Vargas, District 3

I don't even try to get any supplies. I just run.

No one comes after me, even though I keep checking frantically over my shoulder. I'm in the jungle pretty quickly, and now I have to worry about running straight into the trees. My pace slows a little bit, but I can't make myself slow down very much.

Something comes crashing out of the brush towards me.

With a shriek, I pick up the pace, though I end up not quite swerving to get around some of the trees. I manage to not do any damage but some scraping of my jacket and hands. I don't look back to see what's come after me.

"Feli! Wait!" I recognise the Career's voice.

"No!" I wail, picking up the pace.

"Feli!" He grabs my jacket.

I wail, running harder, but he won't let go. I take a look at the trees around us and manage to swerve towards a shorter one. I duck under one of the branches. Sheen doesn't.

He lets go, and I keep running for my life.