Aaron Iris-17(D10M)

I can't believe how fast everything went to bad, one minute we're on the precipice of finishing off the careers and the next the remnants of my alliance is being torn asunder because the girls are too afraid to take a chance. They have to see the situation, how do they expect to win if all they do is hunker down and hope for the best? I guess some people are just afraid of taking chances even if doing so is the only way to have a real chance at victory.

That's not to say I don't understand why they feel that way, hell in their shoes I might take the same approach but I'm not and I can't, not if I want people to take the Sentinels seriously. Next year, my sister is intent on volunteering and the only chance she'll have of building an alliance is if I make serious noise in my games. It's not about winning for me so much as it's about making a strong enough mark that she has a chance next year, hell that's half the reason I went before her to make sure she has a real chance to win.

I push the thoughts of my family and my potential legacy away and turn my attention to the problem at hand and that's finding someplace I can sleep and if I'm lucky I might find a water source while I'm at it. Shelter remains the most important thing because in an emergency I could always use the one Ruby, Laci, and I were using before we split up, the only reason I'd prefer to find another one is I'd rather not chance having to fight them so soon after we split, I might have to kill them eventually, but I'd rather put it off for as long as I possibly can.

"Well this is a fine mess I've managed to get myself into, I mean really Aaron why couldn't you wait until morning to leave?"

I don't know why I felt the need to vocalize that, I mean really all that can possibly come out of it is attracting the attention of another tribute or a mutt, and while I might welcome a fight normally now is simply not the time for one especially when I can barely keep my eyes open as it is.

I manage to push on for who knows how long before I run across a small booth with the words 'MILK CAN TOSS' etched on the sign above it. Taking a chance, I swing myself over the edge and drop down into its confines while doing my best to keep my staff accessible. I'm relieved when nothing jumps out and tries to rip my throat out and ecstatic to discover this in the first place. It's small but tucked far enough off the main path that it should serve nicely for my new base of operations.

I take a few minutes to set up and before long I have the little booth looking like a home away from home, or as homey as a booth in the arena can look anyway. Satisfied with the setup I slump down against the far wall and hunker down behind a stack of milk cans and try to relax, and for the first time since the bloodbath I do.

For the first time since the reaping I'm truly on my own and for some reason that brings me greater comfort than I thought possible, especially since my entire plan was predicated on my alliance taking down the careers. I can't really place why but there's just something so refreshing about not having anyone really counting on me, about not having to rely on others to get things done, it's liberating to know that my chances hinge solely on me and my performance, for the first time in a while I'm truly at ease with my situation.

"Well Aaron we did it, now we're finally free to do what we should have done in the first place. We've played our hand and now we let the fates decide who deserves to be left standing."

Again I find myself talking to the wind but this time it feels different, it almost feels right. For some reason me letting go of my hang-ups has made me feel more comfortable than I really should, and while I can't afford to let my guard slip too far my new-found freedom does have some advantages, and the biggest one is freedom.

For the first time, I'm truly free to do what I know needs to be done to win and for the first time I'm not afraid to do it. I think I've finally come to terms with the fact that I'm not getting out of here but I can at least make a hell of a statement with how I go out and when all's said and done that might be a better end for my goals then winning ever could. If I win I'm the capable outer tribute who won despite the odds but if I take out the careers and that leads to someone like Laci or Ruby winning then I get the best of both worlds, in the end this is my chance to show everyone that outer district tributes don't have to fear the careers, that they can die just as easy as the rest of us.

With my thoughts firmly focused on the future and with visions of victory dancing in my head I find myself slipping into what I'm sure will be a very short but exceedingly restful sleep. Pulling my staff closer for safety I finally let myself slip into the loving embrace of the void and drift away and into a deep and dreamless slumber.

Kelvin Williams-18(D7M)

I don't know how I've lasted this long, I'd all but given up hope after seeing Angelia's face in the sky after the bloodbath but somehow I'm still alive, and that's just something I'm going to have to deal with. I'm also going to have to face the reality of Angelia death and the fact that she'd be disgusted with me if she saw me like this, how could someone she'd seen as so strong and sure of himself fall into such a deep pit, how could I let myself give up when she made me promise not to?

I force myself to sit up and take stock of what I have left and to my surprise I still have a little water and my ax but not much else. All the food I had I've eaten and with my performance so far I'm not likely to get much in the way of sponsor support so I'm going to have to find something to sustain me all on my own, lucky for me I'm not that bad a hunter so I should be ok if I can find something.

"Well, no sense waiting around here anymore."

I grab my bag and throw my empty water bottles inside and take a small swallow out of the last one before it too joins the others in the bag. I gingerly throw the bag on my back before bending down to pick up my ax and heading back out into the arena. I force the door I'd jammed shut open and step out into the calming and gentle embrace of the cool night air, a soft breeze fluttering against my face that ruffle my grimy and matted hair in a charmingly gentle way.

I take a moment to breathe deep for the first time since I shut myself inside that ride and I'm stunned by how terrible I smell in comparison to the rest of the arena, and as that realization starts to sink in I realize just how bad I'd really gotten before I pulled myself out, how close I'd been to just giving up and waiting to die like a wounded animal, but I can't let that happen, I can't go out like that, Angelia wouldn't want me to. In the end she's the one I'm really fighting for I owe it to her to fight on and at least try to live the life we'd talked about wanting to have, she deserves that much from me at least.

Checking my supplies and insuring what little water I have isn't leaking out as I go, satisfied that it's secure I pick a direction and head off toward what looks like some sort of wall in the distance. I walk for a little while enjoying the calming sounds of the night and the enchanting brightness of the artificial stars and before long I've reached the outskirts of what appears to be a large wooden wall decorated with carvings of animals that seem to dance in the moonlight and people in clothes that remind me of District Tens parade outfits from a few years ago.

Taking a look around the area I notice a large wooden tower jutting up from the center of the enclosure and that the wall is surrounded by a ditch with sharp wooden spikes jutting out from the base. Moving toward the unpitted and spiked opening in the middle I notice a giant wooden sign that reads 'WILD WEST LAND' in raised lettering that look an awful lot like logs nailed to a large wooden board. Shouldering my remaining supplies and grabbing my ax I push into the area and am astonished to find an entire town inside between the high walls.

Taking a moment to get my bearings I move toward the tower in the center and am greeted by a plethora of signs advertizing things like 'old west photos' and 'the toughest shooting game in the west' along with several directing me toward something called 'FRONTIER MUSEUM and GIFT SHOP'.

"Hmm, I wonder if they'd leave anything of value in there? Well, I guess there's only one way to find out."

I turn and follow the signs and within a few minutes I'm standing in front of a magnificent wooden hall decorated much the same way the outer wall had been. I move toward the door and push it open but as I do I get the strange feeling that someone or something is watching me as I go. Tightening the grip on my ax, I spin around and bring it up in a defensive posture only to discover there's nothing there.

"Jeez I'm getting jumpy."

I turn back toward the door only to be greeted by a large wooden bear staring me in the eyes it's paw raised up as if to strike. I drop back and take a swing and as expected the wooden paw splinters and shatters into a million splinters while the bear continues to stare back at me. I instinctively tighten my grip while adjusting my pack to a more comfortable position I move up and take a look at the mangled remnants of the claw and confirm beyond a doubt that it is indeed wood.

"Man I really need to get a grip, I'm swiping at ghosts."

I move into the building and almost immediately I hear the faint patter of water somewhere inside the darkened hall. It takes me a little while and I manage to crash into something more than once but I finally manage to find the source, a small fountain in the back of what I assume is the museum. I cup my hands and collect a little that I cautiously sniff before risking a small sip.

I wait for a few minutes to insure the water isn't poisoned before setting my bag down and filling up my empty bottles. After the empties are full I down the last few gulps of my original supply before refilling and safely depositing the last bottle and re-slinging my bag.

I decide to wait for light before exploring any more of the area so I head back toward the pale light of the outside but as I exit the building I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong, but before I have time to worry about it a crashing sound echos from behind me as the massive wooden bare from earlier comes crashing through the doors after me.

"WHAT THE SHIT!?"

I take off at a sprint and wind my way back through the maze of buildings the bear hot on my heals the whole way but lucky for me the damage I did to its paw earlier seems to be slowing it, which is probably the only reason it hasn't overtaken me yet.

As I continue to run I find myself back by the tower, which to my horror is surrounded by several more wooden mutts. Grasping at my only escape I grab the bottom rung of the tower's ladder and climb for my life and no sooner than I'd cleared the halfway point one of the mutts comes barreling into it snapping it a couple rungs below my feet. I hurry myself up to the top and slam the small door shut and throw the latch before I collapse on top of it in an exhausted heap.

Mikelis Lyon-15(D4M)

I can't believe I'm really doing this, I mean really what the hell am I thinking? If Precious or Anjelica catch me they'll skin me alive without a second thought but for some stupid reason I can't get Jinx out of my head, there's something about her that makes me want to go through with this crazy plan, so here I am risking everything for some stupid girl.

Gathering the supplies was easy Anjelica sleeps off in a corner and Precious was far too busy with Yuri to notice me ransacking our supplies, and by the time they do I'll be safely hidden away with Jinx, no the hard part was listening to Yuri scream while I waited for Anjelica to fall asleep. I think Yuri's begging kept her from drifting off, and while I can't say I blame her it forced me to wait longer then I'd have liked before making my move.

It's taken me a little work to get my bearings and longer than I'd care to admit, but I finally find the stupid meeting place, or should I say the location the note she left at our original meeting place directed me. Instead of the tunnel of love she had me trek out and find this little out of the way food stand in the middle of the area appropriately dubbed 'KIDDY LAND' as not a single thing in it has been big enough for anyone older than about 5.

"Didn't think you'd show handsome."

I drop into a crouch and bring my spear to bear on the general area the voice emanated from only to be greeted by a soft giggle as Jinx saunters out of the shadows.

"Well now someone's a little jittery tonight aren't they?"

"You caught me off guard is all, I'm not use to that."

"I'm sorry babe, allow me to apologize, appropriately of course."

She moves toward me with a graceful seductiveness and within a few seconds she's pulling me into a deep and passionate kiss, her lips radiating a kind of soft and embracing warmth that draws me deeper into her embrace as it spreads through my every orifice. She lingers close to me her hand absentmindedly running along my arm and occasionally up and under my shirt for her to trace the faint outline of my chest muscles. Finally, she pulls away and with a glossy look in her eyes she slowly drifts back a couple inches to reestablish her distance.

"How was that, did I make up for my naughty behaviour?"

"You more than made up for it, that was the most amazing kiss I've ever had."

"Well I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I hope to provide you with many more earth-shaking experiences before all is said and done. As long as you'll let me that is."

That's the key isn't it for all she's offering me I have to let her give it to me. All I have to do is say no, drive my spear through her gut and watch her die. Sure it might be hard to explain to the girls why I ran off with so much food in the middle of the night but I'm sure Anjelica would appreciate the genius of it, and if she did then Precious would come around eventually.

On the other hand she knows she has no chance of beating me so why would she risk everything if she wasn't sincere in wanting to please me? What could she possibly hope to gain from me other than a few extra days of life, and she has shown me a few amazing things I'd never even dreamed of experiencing. In the end what's the harm in keeping her around and having a little fun, it's not like she'll be much of a challenge to kill when I'm done with her anyway.

"Of course I will Jinx, after all how could I possibly refuse such an…. enchanting offer?"

She smiles and leans in for another kiss before picking up a pack of food motioning for me to follow. Grabbing and slinging the other bag over my shoulder I move to follow, at a respectable distance of course, which gives me a perfect view of her irresistible backside. I know one thing for sure, no matter how long this alliance of ours lasts I can tell I'm going to enjoy every second of it.

Zefram Cartwright(District 6 Mentor)

I can safely say this is the first time in a long while one of my tributes has managed to genuinely impress me with their strategy, and while this may come back to bite her in the ass Jinx is sure as hell going for broke with this. I hate to say it, but I didn't think she had it in her to survive the bloodbath but from the look of things right now she just might do a hell of a lot more then that.

"Well your girl put on quite a show there Zefram, was that her plan or yours?"

I turn my attention away from my breakfast to find Allure Ricks standing at the corner of my table, her sweatpants and baggy shirt doing nothing to hide the alluring curves that drove every Capitol man crazy during the 91st Hunger Games when her wit and sex appeal were almost as deadly as her blow gun. She gracefully slides into the seat across from me and before quickly ordering some eggs and a cup of coffee, once the waiter returns with her order she quickly thanks him before turning her accusing gaze back to me.

"So Zefram whose idea was it yours or hers?"

"I had no idea she was planning it if that's what you're asking. Honestly I spent most of my time and energy on her partner Shoddy, I honestly don't think we said more than 10 words to each other from the second we got on the train until the moment she left for the arena."

She doesn't look convinced and while she has no reason to believe me it's the truth, as sad as it may be I wrote her off the moment I saw her and spent every free second I had working with Shoddy, after all he seemed like the safer bet going in.

"Honestly Allure I wish I could take credit for it but I can't, whatever she's up to she's doing it without my knowledge."

"That's too bad, I was going to congratulate you on pulling out an old favorite of mine for the games."

"What?"

"Well, it's obvious she has no real talent or ability with a weapon, but one big advantage she has over her opponents is her body. Her sexuality can be a major weapon in the games and she managed to find the one male left that's naive enough to slip into her web."

"You think she's playing him?"

"I know she is Zefram, I know she is."

"Ok say you're right, one how do you know, two how could Mikelis fall for it, and three why aren't you upset about it."

"Well for starters I am upset, but that doesn't mean I can't admire a well-played con, and to me that's exactly what it is."

"That still doesn't answer my question."

"True enough. Well for starters it's easy for someone who's played the part before to pick up on the subtle nuances of someone who's running the same bit. Her body language, her facial expressions, even her movements relay the fact that she's use to playing this card with men, add in her excessive availability and eagerness to make contact with him and it's pretty clear she's playing him."

"Ok, but why would Mikelis fall for such an obvious ploy? I mean we haven't seen a lot of this recently but he has to know that female tributes use this trick, especially if it's there only real play."

"Hell why he's falling for it is easy, and the truth is he wants to fall for it."

"Why would he want to fall for it, and why would you let you tribute fall for it?"

"Well first off I warned him not to fall for things like this, but I specifically told him to watch Precious and Anjelica and once it became obvious neither of them were going to try it I think he let his guard down, couple that with his obvious discomfort in his previous alliance and he would believe just about anything to have an excuse to get out of it. Jinx provided the opportunity and an enticing reward to run away from Precious and Anjelica and he jumped at the chance."

Well it makes sense, especially with the excessive brutality Precious has displayed up to this point, even now it's the only thing anyone's talking about though the fact that it's the ONLY action in the arena right now might have something to do with it. Precious is currently front and center on the view screen here in the victors lounge carving her name into the shoulder-blade of that poor girl from Nine who appears to be screaming and writhing in pain at the mere touch of the blade.

"Well, if that's what he's been listening too since the games started I can't say I blame him, even if he is trading Precious's naked cruelty for Jinx's sensual betrayal."

Allure turns her attention to the screen and almost vomits at the sight, I for my part manage to avoid retching but it's a close enough call that what little appetite I have is quickly crushed as Precious hums a merry melody while her victim pleads for mercy.

Yuri Monroe-18(D9F)

"Please Precious, I'm begging you I don't know how much more I…..AHHHH!"

"Damn you Yuri your constant moving made me mess up again, lucky for me you still have plenty of untouched back for me to play with."

"Please don't, god please stop."

"Don't worry Yuri I won't stop until I get it perfect, after all I'd hate to mess up tomorrow when I'm working on your front side."

"You're going to cut there too?!"

"Of course I am silly, I told you I wasn't going to stop until I marked every inch of your body, and when I say every inch I mean EVERY INCH, from your cute toes to your delicate little nose."

This can't be happening, why won't she just kill me and move on, why does she have to take such pleasure in torturing me like this? The fact that she's not only calm but singing, singing makes it that much worse. I've seen some pretty messed up stuff in the Hunger Games but in all the years I've watched I've never seen someone take such pleasure in causing pain.

"Now what should we put down your spine, flowers, or maybe paw prints?"

"STOP!"

"Your right Yuri, Paw Prints it is."

Despite my thrashing and begging not to continue I feel the tip of the knife push into the flesh just above my spine in the middle of my pack and within seconds a searing pain shoots through me as she starts to twist and shape the pattern she wants to run along the length. It goes on for an eternity and she curses more than once as she struggles to get the design just right.

"Well Yuri it's not my best paw but it should suffice for our aims, now if you'll hold still I can probably finish you up before the machines start and drown out your delicious screams."

Without waiting for me to respond and without the slightest warning she slips the tip back into my flesh and begins to work on the second print. I do my best to remain still and stifle my cries of anguish in a vain hope that she'll get bored with me and finally give me the sweet release of death for refusing to entertain her, but she's so lost in her own world I doubt she even notices I'm silent. After a while, my back goes numb and I finally relax a little as the nerves all start to release the tension they'd been storing up during the recent hours of torture I've been subjected to.

Not to long after that the first machine roars to life and within moments an entire symphony of mechanical laughter fills the room.

"Well looks like we're out of time, but I managed to get most of it done."

I let out a small sigh of relief before she pulls me up into a sitting position and hauls me back into the corner and ties my arms and legs to the pipe jetting out from the wall her gentleness standing in stark contrast to the pain she'd been subjecting me to mere minutes earlier.

"Don't worry Yuri I think I got all the kinks out, so It should go much smoother tomorrow when I'm working on your chest. Be thinking of what kind of design you'd like to have cover your breasts would you?"

With that chilling thought, she heads out of the little closet where I'm held and back into the arena and after hours of trying to be strong I finally break down and cry.

A/N: Well that takes us to the end of day 2 and now the actions getting ready to pick back up majorly in the next 2 days so I hope you're all ready for the fun :D Now then on to questions.

1. What did you think of the chapter?

2. Favorite POV?

3. What did you think of the new Mutts?

4. Who's your favorite to win after the 2nd day?

5. Who do you think will be the next to die?

Other than that I hope you all enjoyed the chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it and as always please review and let me know what you think :) Other than that I hope to see you all at the next update :D

Death Order/Cause/Place

24- Corise Crawford- Killed by Precious

23- Freya Morgan- Killed by Anjelica

22- Day Amanak- Killed by Precious

21- Dela Yavli- Killed by Hematite

20- Leone Dander- Killed by Joyce

19- Acacia Fawn- Killed by Terr

18- Angelia Quixon- Killed by Jute

17- Jute Skyland- Killed by Kelvin

16- Shoddy Kerseymere- Killed by Aaron

15- Reno Shaber- Killed by Mikelis

14- Emorte Maydon- Attacked by Joyce/Hematite and finished off by Precious

13- Hematite Lucas- Bitten by Mutt and finished off by Joyce

12- Benton Circuit- Killed by Mutt

Kill Total

3- Precious

2- Joyce

1- Mikelis

1- Aaron

1- Kelvin

1- Jute

1- Terr

1- Hematite

1- Anjelica

1-Mutt