Fishcake

I'm on me feet, me furs on the floor before I even realise who it was that screamed.

Starin' madly around, I see Neiva cowerin' against the cave wall, a Clan man standin' over 'er.

With one of the flint knives in his 'and, wavin' it around, and stabbin' it forward as if ta cut 'er.

All around me, the rest of the cave is wakin' up, some slower than others, but all turn toward Neiva and the man and stare with horror.

Neiva's eyes find me. 'Help,' she shrieks. 'Please, help me.'

I step toward them, but someone grabs me back. Holds me in their arms so I can't move. I try to break free, but they're strong.

I watch as Gram walks over, and tries to push the man back away from Neiva.

And then I see the man's face.

I thought they were ugly before, but this one, his skin has turned grey and green, and something bulges under his cheeks. He opens his mouth to reveal bleeding gums, with teeth falling out.

He leans forward and bites Grim on the face.

On his cheek.

Blood pouring from his mouth, he spits out the flesh and then bares what's left of his teeth in a growl.

'No,' I hear one of them say, and glance over to see a Clan member running toward the two men.

He has some leather in his hand.

Jonayla runs out of the back cave, the Clan woman followin' her.

And another Clan man runs at them, a spear in his hand.

They both step out of the way.

'What is going on?' I scream, kicking my foot backward into the skin of the person who is holding me.

He lets me go and I run toward Neiva.

The blood covered man turns toward me, lurches forward, his head drooping to one side, but I weave passed his outreach arm and grab Neiva and drag her away from him.

Gram, ignoring his bleeding face, grabs the man, and drags him to the floor. Then the other man puts the leather over his face.

He struggles against it, but then is still.

I don't know whether he's just unconscious or if he's dead.

The man who'd tried to get Jonayla with a spear stumbles over to us. I can see that his foot is draggin' behind him but it is not stoppin' him from walkin' fast.

One of the other Clan members tackles him to the ground.

'We have to get out of here,' Neiva shouts. 'These people, they're Muts.'

'Muts? How are they Muts? They're not dogs.'

'No, not dogs, their Muts. Mutations. They said they were stabbed with thin knives, don't you understand?'

I shake me head.

'They were experimented on, the knives were hypodermic needs and what was injected into them, changed them, warped their DNA. They look like Clan still, but they're not, they think they are, but they've been changed.'

The second man stops strugglin' as the man puts the leather to his face.

'But it's under control now,' I say.

She shakes her head. 'Don't you understand, it will never be sorted. Not without medical treatment. They could turn at any time. We have to get out of here before…'

Gram screams and holds his 'ead in his 'ands. When he looks up, his eyes are bloodshot.

'We have to go now.'

'But what about Jonayla? And Janna?'

'Jonayla,' she screams. 'We have to go.'

'But Jonayla is backing away from the main cave, headin' back cave where she's been sleepin' so she keeps an eye on Janna.

'I won't leave her,' she says.

She disappears into the cave, the female Clan member followin' 'er.

I start forward, worried for my new friend.

'You can't help her,' Neiva says. 'You just 'ave to pray that she will be okay.' She turns and grabs our bags, and a basket of apples. 'We have to go, now,' she says, thrusting two bags at me.

Another scream, from another Clan member, and we are out of the cave, and running into the forest.

The snow has mostly all gone, and the ground is wet and muddy but as much as I slip and slide, I don't stop until I'm deep in the forest. I stand for a moment, panting, and feelin' scared and then turn to speak to Neiva.

And realise she isn't there.

Jonayla

Standing near the small tunnel that leads to the main cave, I can still hear them screaming.

'We need to go.'

'Where?'

'This way.' She indicates some shelving at the back of the cave that is too straight to have been made by the Clan. Even the Zelendonii does not have shelving like that.

They could only have been made by Neiva's people.

She sweeps them away and dumps them on the ground. Then she pushes a large stone backward to reveal a tunnel.

'I found this a couple of weeks after we were put in here,' she signs.

'But how did you move...'

'I do not think it is rock. I think the people of this place made it.'

I nod. I suppose it makes sense.

'We must hurry. You take Janna's feet, and I will carry her shoulders.'

I walk over to Janna.

'Faster.'

I grab Janna's feet, and together we pick her up.

'Where does it lead?'

She shrugs. 'That I do not know, but anywhere has got to be better than here.'

The screaming gets louder.

'Yeah, I agree,' I say. 'Come on, let us get going.'

Neiva

'No, no, no.'

I look all around me, spinning in a circle, run some of the way I've come, but there's no sign of Fishcake.

'Fishcake,' I say, standing there, my feet getting wet in the muddy undergrowth.

But I daren't shout him because the tributes might hear, or the Mut Clan.

And I haven't even got a weapon.

Just a basket of apples and a bag with the tent in. No knives, no bow and arrows, nothing. Not even Fishcake's slingshot.

'I am so dead,' I groan.

I've not even got clothes that are suitable for this weather. Just the clothes I was given before I entered the arena.

I sigh and start to walk, munching an apple as I do.

'What am I going to do?' I mutter to myself. 'I can't survive out here, not without a weapon.'

And what about Fishcake? He's got a sleeping bag, and the arena map that I've been filling in over the last couple of days.

Has he got my knives, or the bow and arrows. Has he got his slingshot?

'Okay,' I try to calm myself. 'I have to think sensibly. What should I do?'

There are five tributes out there, Naylor, the two tributes representing District Five, a male tribute from District Four, and the female from Eight.

But will they be working together?

The District Five tributes are, the boy from District Eleven was killed by them, but as to the others, they are probably alone, hiding out somewhere in the arena, or wandering around trying to find the others. Most probably, with the weather recently, with the amount of snow, they are holed up somewhere.

So I head to the cornucopia, hoping that I will find some things there that will help me to survive.

And really hoping that the thing I found is not my death.

Fishcake

'Neiva. Where are ya?' I shout, puttin' me hands to me mouth ta make me voice go further.

I run through the trees, dry wood breakin' noisily under me feet.

'Neiva.'

I didn't like bein' on me own out 'ere before I found Jonayla, it was strange, so different to all I am used to. Nature, I 'ate it, and I don't wanna be out 'ere on me own.

'Neiva,' I scream at the top of me voice. 'Where are ya?'

'She's neither here or there,' a voice says.

I turn.

'But I'm here, I will keep you company little boy.'

And this boy, far bigger than me, he comes crashin' through the bushes toward me, a spear in his 'and, and a snarl on his face.

I back away.

'So you know Nieva do you?' he asks. 'Hmm, that's very interesting. You want to find her, I'd like to find her too.'

He reaches me, smacks me in the face, and then turns me around and grabs me arm and twists it behind me back.

'Where is she?'

I shake me head.

He pushes me arm up higher.

'Stop it,' I scream.

'Tell me where she is then.'

'I don't know.'

'Not good enough.' He pushes me arm a bit more. 'Tell me.'

'I don't know,' I shriek. 'She was with me, and then she was gone. I lost her.'

'Maybe she didn't like your company.' He leans forward and whispers in me ear. 'And if she didn't like your company, then you are no good to me.'

'She's me friend.'

'Is she indeed?'

I nod.

'So why did she run off?'

'She didn't. We were runnin' and got separated. She'll probably be lookin' for me now.'

'You think?'

'I…' Sighing, I shake me head. 'She won't be wanderin' around this forest.'

'I agree. So where would she go.'

'I don't know.'

'I think you do.'

I bite my lip as he pushes me arm up at bit more and twists it too.

'Tell me.'

'She was headin' to the place where we started, the cornipia place when I met her, said that was the only place she could get what she needed. I think she'd go there coz I don't think she's got any weapons.'

'She hasn't? Hmm, yes, that is good to know.'

He lets me arm go and I pull it around and rub it.

All the while hoping that Neiva would forgive me for my betrayal.

He grabs me arm again. And the other one. Drags them behind me back, but doesn't push them up, just ties them together.

'If you are her friend, and she is going to the cornucopia, then that is where we should go too. I'm sure she would be glad to be reunited with you. And I will be glad to see her too.'

'What are ya goin' ta do to her?'

'What do you think I'm going to do idiot,' he spits. 'I'm going to kill her. And you are going to help me.'

Jonayla

The Clan woman pushes the stone and it closes the gap, plunges into the dark. We stumble along, carrying Janna, stubbing my bare toes on the walls.

Where does this lead? I cannot ask her because she cannot see me so would not know what I was saying. So I just let her lead the way.

The floor starts to slope but it is dry so I do not mind. Soon my eyes grow accustomed to the dark, and I can just about make out the shape of the woman in front of me.

'Jayla,' she suddenly grunts, and at the same moment stops walking.

I stop too.

I feel her starting to put Janna down so I gently put her feet on the ground.

And stand and wait in the dark.

I hear a groaning noise, rock on rock, and then notice that I can see the Clan woman's face.

She points at Janna, and then waves her arm to tell me to start walking again.

We come out into another cave, daylight pouring through the mouth of the cave in a curve as if there is a stone blocking the sunlight.

I put Janna down and step toward the mouth of the cave, look outside and see a stone, a big stone, the stone we saw.

This is the cave we tried to get to.

The one behind the force field.

'Jayla,' she grunts. And then shows the sign for stop. 'You must not go out of the cave or you will go…' And she makes a sound, just like meat frying on a hot stone.

She means the force field will burn me.

'Come,' she shows, waving at me so I look toward the back of the cave.

There is another tunnel.

Neiva

I'm being careful, I really am. Not making too much noise as I walk through the forest, trying to keep to the shadows, making sure those shadows don't hide tributes or anything else.

Even trying to breath as quietly as I can.

When I reach the edge of the trees and look out at the grasslands, toward the far distant cornucopia, I see no movement.

But I'm still careful.

I creep out of the forest into the long grass, and crawl through it, making sure that the long strands don't move too much.

Hoping that anyone who is looking will think that it is just the wind that causes them to gently sway as I go through them.

It takes me ages to travel this way, slowly, slowly, like the tortoise in the old tale, slwly, slowly, taking my time, making sure that everything is right.

I'm not the hare, I'm the tortoise.

And I'm going to get to the cornucopia and find what I want.

Eventually.

But then I hear a noise.

The swishing of the long grass as someone, no two people move through it.

I hunker even lower down.

If that is possible.

I see two pairs of feet, one with heavy foots on, with steel toecaps and studs in the soul and heels, and the other, are bare.

I can see their toes.

Bare.

Like my own.

'I hope she is your friend,' I hear someone saying, as they walk passed. 'For your sake.'

I stay still, don't move.

I am not the tortoise anymore, I am a statue.

Like the statues that my grandfather put up around the city.

A statue.

Made of stone.

That no one hurts.

Because they think there is nothing really there.

Just stone.

I am a statue.

But when they have passed, when they are gone, when their voices are distant. That is when I look over the top of the grass.

And see a boy.

A big boy.

Dressed in the same clothes as I am wearing, but that is where the similarities end.

Big, mean and vicious.

That's Naylor for you.

And I can see that he has Fishcake with him.

Fishcake

He drags me along, me arms still tied behind me back. When we get to the cornipia place, he thrusts me on me knees.

'Neiva,' he shouts. 'Are you there Neiva? I've got someone here that you know.'

He's smirkin.'

'She won't come,' I say. 'She's not stupid.'

'Ha!' He glances down at me, and then grabs a handful of me hair and pulled it so me head twists ta one side.

His breath stinks as he says to me. 'A little girl like that, she can hardly be out of nappies, of course she is stupid. Just like her old granddad who got us into this situation. I intend to make sure she pays for all that has been done to me because of him.'

'I don't understand,' I say, pushing meself away from him as much as I can.

'Well let me explain then.' He spits in me face as he speaks. 'That little friend of yours, her granddad used to be in charge of Panem, kept us Capitol elite entertained with the suffering of the dog children of the Districts. But he was weak, and a fool. He let himself be brought down by a little girl only a few years older than that one out there. He ruined Panem. I were never meant to be in this games, but the rebels took our freedom away as a punishment for what Neiva's granddad did.'

'But…'

'She's a sweet girl isn't she? She seems like that anyway, but she's a product of her granddad. She enjoyed the District Games as much as any other Capitol citizen. In fact, probably more than anyone else, because she was always afforded the prime positions, and seats, alongside her elite family, alongside her old granddad. She need to pay for the supposed sins of her granddad. And I intend to be the one who makes her pay.'

He lets me go and stands up.

Cups his hands in front of his face. 'Neiva. I've got your friend. Aren't you going to come out and play with us?' He sniggers and then turns back to me. 'If she don't come, then it proves that she isn't your friend after all,' he says. And will also prove that she is just like her granddad and only thinks about herself.'

'And if she does come?'

He grins, and takes a long knife from his back pocket. 'Then I kill her.'

'No, I won't let ya.' I shake me head. 'Neiva, he's gonna try ta kill ya,' I shout.

Naylor puts his dirty hand over me mouth.

'Shut up,' he spits. 'Either she comes out and I kill her or she doesn't and I just kill you.'

I gulp.

'Which would you prefer?'

'I would rather neither of us die,' I mumble and then bite his hand.

'Ow, you little…' he drags his hand away from my now bloody teeth and then pushes the side of me 'ead with his uninjured fist. 'You're going to pay for that brat,' he spits. 'You and your little friend.' He laughs. 'I'm going to take great pleasure over this.'

He puts his knife to my neck and pushes down. I feel pain rush through it, and a dribble of something wet rolls down my neck.

Which has to be blood.

'Please,' I beg. 'Don't.'

He moves the knife, and smirks down at me.

And then puts it to me cheek and cuts.

It hurts so much that I can't help but scream.

But that just makes him push heavier on the blade.

'You or her,' he whispers.

Suddenly the knife flies out of his hand, and he is pushed away from me as someone jumps on his back.

I put me hand to me bleedin' face, tryin' to stop the blood that is pourin' out of my long wound and over me fingers.

I 'ear fightin' but I'm not really interested.

I just don't want to bleed to death.

But then someone is beside me, cuttin' the ropes that tie me 'ands together and pressin' something soft to me cheek. I look up and see Neiva.

'What happened ta…'

'Naylor?' she grins. 'I hit him on the head with a tree branch. He's a bit, unconscious right now.'

I glance over to where I heard the fighting, and see the body slumped on the ground.

'I need to tie him up before he comes around,' she says, grabbin' me hand and presses it to the cloth at me cheek. 'You hold onto this,' she says. 'I will be back in a minute or two.'

I watch as she grabs the rope that she cut from me hands, it is still long. She goes over to Naylor and pushes him over so he's on his belly and ties his arms behind his back. Then she empties the contents of his bag over the ground and picking up another rope, ties his legs and feet together. Finally she ties the ropes together so that his feet reach toward his hands behind his back.

'That should keep him out of our way,' she says, grabbing Naylor's belongin's and stuffin' them back into his bag. 'Do you think you can walk?'

'I think so.'

She helps me up, and then grabs me bags and Naylors, stoopin' ta pick up his knife. 'I want ta go to the cornucopia,' she says. 'To see if there's anything there we can use.'

'We should get away from here.'

She nods. 'I agree, and we will, soon, I promise. But being here, it is too good a chance to get what we need to survive to miss it because we're scared. Come on, it won't take long. We might be able to find some medicinal supplies to help treat that face of yours.'

'Is it bad?'

'I've seen worse.'

'But it is still bad isn't it?'

She nods. 'It's not good either.'

Jonayla

'Where does the tunnel go?' I ask with my hands.

She shrugs. 'I do not know,' she signs. 'I was too afraid to look any further.' She shudders. 'I was going to leave the exploring to Gram but never got the chance to tell him about what I had found. The day I found it, and came this far before returning, was the day that you and your friends arrived. And then I was so busy helping you look after Janna that I forgot until...'

'Until what happened.'

She nods her head.

It was so good to have females, especially one who could communicate that I forgot about the tunnel.'

'And you have no idea what is down there?'

'No. But I have heard noises. Strange clanking sounds and sometimes voices.'

I walk over to the tunnel and look down it.

The Clan woman's hands start to fly as she communicates. 'You cannot go down there.'

'And yet, that is exactly where I am going. You could stay here with Janna.'

'Okay.'

'Right then. I will go and have a look. I will be back in a little while.'

And then I walk into the tunnel.

Jonayla

The tunnel is dark, and I almost immediately am seized by the feeling that I am being watched.

I try to ignore it, or imagine that it is spider or mouse eyes' that watch me, but really, I have no idea what these people of the fture are capable off.

They might have some way of watching me.

Maybe without even actually being here.

I continue walking down the tunnel, one hand on a wall, the other stretched out in front of me. I do not want to miss a tunnel and I really do not like the idea of walking into a rock wall.

But though it remains dark, the rock under my hand turns cold and smooth.

Because it is not rock any more, it is some sort of hard material created by the people of the time.

I come to a fork in the tunnel and turn left.

And see light up ahead.

The sort of light that does not come from outside, from the sun shining down on our planet, but from artificial means.

A light bulb?

I think that is what they call it.

I step closer, and realise that the light is on one side of the tunnel, bleeding through a straight panel of something that looks, sort of at least, like the substance my people would find at the river's edge after a storm with lightning. Something we call glass.

I look through it and am shocked to see Bluebell.

And Gale.

And they seem to be arguing.

But I cannot hear what they are saying, the glass seems to block out their words.

So I creep along the tunnel until I reach a hole in the wall through which I can hear them.

But should I do this? My people never eavesdrop, but knowing that I have no choice.

I cannot just reveal myself, and if by listening to them, I learn a bit more about what is going on, and maybe find a way to help those in the arena, then it cannot be as shameful as I think it is.

At least on this occasion.

I lean forward a little and listen to them.

'Something has to be done,' Bluebell is saying. 'What we have done to those Neanderthals, well it's horrible.'

'They are just animals.'

I take a deep breath, silently, and blow it through my teeth.

I would like to punch Gale on the nose.

He deserves it.

'They are not animals; you can tell that from the way they communicate with Jonayla.'

'They're just mimicking her.'

'No they're not. Why can't you accept that they are intelligent beings and what we are doing to them, that it is wrong?'

'Because they're not human.' He snorts. 'President Snow wouldn't have bothered. He would have treated them much less humanly that we have. What you have to understand Bluebell, is that they are not sentient beings, they can't think for themselves, they just copy what they have already seen.'

'But injecting them.'

He shrugs. 'Animals have been mutated before.'

'But they are not…'

'Yeah, yeah, I know. I know what you think, but understand this Bluebell, you are the only one who thinks they are not animals. Everyone else thinks the same as I do. They are just animals and we can do what we want with them.'

Bluebell looks really angry now, and when Gale pushes passed her, heading to his desk, she starts to shout. 'What do you think Katniss would say? I think she would agree with me.'

He turns back to look at her.

His face looks like a thousand angry bees.

'Don't you dare say her name.'

'Why? Upset that she didn't want you. Didn't forgive you for killing her little sister?' She snorts. 'You know as well as I do, that Katniss would fight for the Neanderthal humans. She would fight alongside me.'

'You are kidding yourself.'

She shakes her head. 'I don't think so. If she knew what was going on, then she would be marching to the labs right now, to demand the cure to what you and your colleagues have done to the Neanderthals. And if she was refused, like I am refuse, then she would just take it.'

My hand grips the wall, as I think about the fact that these people have a cure to the suffering of the Clan, but apart from Bluebell, they are not willing to use it.

But then, why am I surprised? Any people who would force children into an arena to fight each other to the death until one child is left, are not going to care about the Clan.

But I am determined that I will help them.

Because I care.

Neiva

There's loads in the cornucopia. I think Naylor must have been hoarding it up. Though I doubt he was working alone. I can't see that the tributes representing District Five would give it up without a fight.

So the chances are, they are near, and we need to hurry.

Fishcake sits on a chair, the cloth turning redder with every moment.

But I ignore him, for the moment, because I know that if I don't get the things that we need, that we will be dead.

I root through the bags, and other things. Finding a first aid kit, I hang it around my neck. I also find a jar of salve that will hopefully heal Fishcake's face which I put in my pocket. I stuff a couple of sleeping bags into a bag. I find a packet of dried meat and some bottles of fruit juice too, even some chocolate. I stick them into another bag, and tie two big water containers to the outside.

'We should hurry,' Fishcake says.

'Yes,' I agree. 'Soon.'

I find some packs with clothes in them which I stuff in the bag with the sleeping bags. Then I look for weapons. I find an unopened packet of knives, and a bow and arrow, and a short tube, with a leather strap, which has a long thin spear in it. Writing on its unopened wrapping says atlati. I decide to take it as well.

I am just about to leave when I notice a black bag placed near the entrance. I upzip it, see that it contains matches and a packet smoke gone granules.

I remember my grandfather used to use smoke gone granules when we went camping. Put on a fire, it burns without smoke.

Which given where we are, will be very useful.

We will be able to have a fire, and not worry that someone is going to see the smoke.

I put it in one of the bags I've got and then go over to Fishcake.

Help him to get up.

'Are you finished?'

I nod. 'We'll find somewhere safe to hide, and then I'll try to sort out your face.

'That would be good.'

'We leave the cornucopia, see Naylor still struggling on the ground.

And hear him. Shouting.

'I should have gagged him,' I say. 'It was stupid not to.'

It was stupid to not gag him, to allow him the ability to shout, because running out of the forest, right now, are the tributes representing District Five.

And they don't look happy.

'Can you run?' I ask Fishcake.

'I'm gonna 'ave ta,' he says. 'But we can't run ta the forest, that would take us nearer them. We have ta run the other way.'

The other way.

An area I've not noticed before.

Because I wasn't facing it when I was on the podium. I didn't see it.

A hill. And what's on the other side, I do not know.

But I guess, we are about to find out.

With our bags, new and old, on our backs, and the basket of apples on my arm. With the atlati in my hand, and a bow and arrow slung over my shoulder, we run. The first aid kit hitting my back as we speed through the long grass.

I hope we can get away.

Fishcake

Me 'eart's beatin' ten to the dozen, and I'm havin' trouble holdin' the cloth to me bleedin' cheek. I can feel blood drippin' down me neck.

But I've not got time ta think about it.

We just 'ave ta get away from the mad boy and girl behind us.

The long grass whips against me sides, and crunches under me bare feet. I stumble because the ground's bumpy, not like the smooth metal floors of the Traction cities.

Neiva runs ahead of me a bit, and stops to shout me to hurry up. Then she starts climbin' a hill.

Me foot twists a bit when I start climbin' it but I ignore it, and continue to run.

At the top of the hill, I quickly look at the scene before me, a smaller forest of trees, a rocky cliff and what looks like an old style city.

Filled with fallen down houses, narrow streets and a stone circle to one side.

And behind it is a lake.

We run taward the new forest.

Jonayla

A loud noise makes me jump and I back into the tunnel. The same notes repeat over and over again.

I hear running feet.

I need to hide but where?

If I was in the arena, then I could climb a tree or hide behind some bushes but in this strange place, I have no idea where to go. The smooth floor, so unlike anything I know, the featureless walls which are broken every so often by a strange looking barrier.

But I remember that Bluebell called them doors and that they open and close.

I creep to the nearest one and scrabble my fingers in the gap between the door and wall.

But it is impossible. The door will not open.

And then I see the shiny think halfway down on one side.

I put my hand on it and push it down just like I had seen Bluebell do.

In shat seems like a long time ago.

The door opens and I slip into the storage place, it's filled with boxes of containers like Fishcake had for his water but I step over them and then click the door carefully shut.

Almost immediately I hear someone outside. I lean closer to the door so I can once again eavesdrop.

'Some of the trackers has gone offline.' I hear someone say.

'Whose?' Bluebell asks.

'The savage girl, the one everyone has said is a bully and the female Nenderthal.'

'She isn't a savage,' I hear Bluebell say.

I hear someone snort.

Gale.

'So where are they?' he asks.

'We don't know sir. Theylast tracked to the Neanderthals' ave but then something happened, and all the trackers there stopped working. We think there was a fault but one by one, they all, except for those three, came back online. The trackers of President Snow's granddaughter first and then that boy from the rolling city. And the rest of the Nenderthals.'

'So the three trackers could just be offline still.'

'Maybe but they've been like that for at least an hour. They have never malfunctioned like that before.'

'There's always a first time.'

'Is it possible that they aren't malfuctioning?' Gale asks. 'If they've managed to get passed the forcefield...'

Bluebell laughs. 'They can't have got passed it.'

'Actually, they could. One of the arena access points to this facility is in the Clan cave.'

'Don't be stupid,' Gale says. 'One girl's in a coma and the other is a savage and too backward to work out there's a secret tunnel. And as to the animal...' He laughs. 'No, mark my words. Those trackers will come online soon. They're designed to send out a tracking signal until the tribute is dead and picked up by the hovercraft. Now, you should get back to work.'

'Yes sir.'

'I'm going to go to the canteen and eat. Are you going to come with me Bluebell?'

'No, I have work to do.'

'Fine. You do your work and I'll go and get a burger.'

I hear footsteps walking away.

But after a few moment, I hear Bluebell's voice. 'Jonayla,' she hisses. 'Are you there?'

Neiva

We're nearly there, nearly at the line of the forest. Soon we will be able to run through the trees, hide ourselves in them. Shimmy up a tree, hide within its leaves.

They won't be able to find us.

Or reach us.

We will be save.

But we have to get there first.

I glance around to see where the District Five tributes are, and that is when I see the girl throw a knife at us, obviously in a last ditch attempt to stop us reaching safety.

'Fishcake, watch out,' I scream as I duck down.

The knife flies over my head and…

And…

Bounces back toward me, smoke coming from the blade.

I see another knife hit into something invisible.

The force field.

The forest is behind the force field.

We can't reach the forest.

'To the right Fishcake,' I scream. 'There's another force field.'

I start running along where I think the force field is, hoping that it doesn't jut out at any time, because I don't fancy running into electricity.

Fishcake runs behind me.

He looks terrified.

And the tributes have changed their direction and are pacing right to us.

'Neiva,' the boy shouts. 'President Snow's granddaughter. We're going to carve you a pretty smile on that ugly face of yours. Not that it will make others like you more, because we'll slit your throat then.'

'And the little boy's throat too,' the female tribute laughs.

And then they are in front of us. I fumble in my pocket for a knife but don't pull one out quick enough to throw before the girl has thrown another knife.

It hits a rock at my feet.

They're playing with us.

'I want her to dance,' the girl says, sticking out her bottom lip. 'She should dance before she dies.' She throws another knife and I step out of the way.

'Nah, let's just kill her,' the boy says.

And he throws his weapon at us.

An axe.

I duck down again, remember how my mentor had won his Hunger Games so long ago, and wait for it to hit the force field and fly back at them.

It hits the boy right between the eyes. Embeds itself in his brain.

The girl's smirking face instantly changes to horror as she bends down to where he's fallen.

'Run,' I whisper to Fishcake.

We start to run again.

I twist my head to see if the girl is following us, but she's got the boy's body in her arms, blood pouring from his wound onto her hands.

And then the cannon booms.

The male tribute representing District Five is dead.

The girl turns around, and her eyes meet mine.

I see grief, horror, shock, and also anger.

'I'm going to rip your head from your scrawny neck for that,' she yells.

And runs after us, throwing another knife.

'You killed my boyfriend.'

We keep running.

'How dare you? You're going to die for what you've done.'

I have no idea where we're going to hide, the city is in front of us, but it's old, built a long time ago, maybe before Panem was Panem. I've heard about those place. They say that the ground crackles with germs, and radiation that will kill you before you've hardly stepped into the place.

And if it doesn't, then the unstable ground, and the falling buildings will get you.

But we have no choice.

It is the only place that we might find a hiding place.

It is our only hope for safety now.

'You are going to die,' the girl shouts.

I feel a knife embed itself in my bag and another skims past my leg, cutting it.

'You're a witch, Neiva,' she shouts. 'I thought I was going to enjoy killing you but after what you've just done, I'm going to revel in it.'

'Hurry Fishcake,' I shout.

I glance at him. He's keeping up with me okay, but his face looks pale.

Too pale.

He needs to stop running, and get treatment for his still bleeding face.

But we can't stop.

Not until we're safe.

We have to keep on running.

But I don't think he's capable. He's already stumbled a couple of times.

He needs to stop running now and rest.

I have to stop and face the mad girl. Try to fight her, though I have never killed anyone in my life before.

And don't want to.

But I know I have to.

I'm just about to twist my body to face her, a knife in my hand when over my head, but not coming from the girl, flies two stones.

They hit the girl on the side of the head, and she falls to her knees.

And then forward. Her face hits the ground.

And I turn and see Jonayla.

At least for a moment, I think it is Jonayla, but then I realise it's not her.

It's someone older.

A woman who looks like her.

Except her eyes are bluey grey, not bright blue.

But she holds a sling similar to Jonayla's one.

She wraps it around her head, holding back her greying blonde hair and steps towards us.

'I am looking for my daughter Jonayla,' she says. 'My name is Ayla.'

Fishcake

'Is she dead?' I point at the girl on the ground.

Jonayla's mother, Ayla she calls hereself, walks over ta the girl and touches her neck. She shakes her head. 'She is unconscious only, I did not intend to kill her. Only stop her, she was throwing weapons at you.'

'The cannon hasn't sounded so she can't be dead,' Neiva says.

I nod. And then look at Ayla. 'Thank you.'

'So have you seen Jonayla?'

'Yes but not since this morning,' Neiva says. 'We were staying with the Neanderthals but things turned nasty and we were separated. But the cannon has only boomed once today, for the boy tribute for fifteen. She must be all right. 'So your Jonayla's mother?'

'Yes, could you lead me to where you last saw her?'

'I aint gonna go back there,' I shake me 'ead. 'Those Clan people are mad.'

'The Clan? They are here?'

'Yeah and they're crazy. They were actin' like zombies in a horror film on the goggle box.'

Ayla shakes her head. 'I do not understand. You are speaking as if the Clan are monsters but they are good people.'

'These one's aint. Well, they were at first but then they change and tried ta kill us.'

'Maybe they are more like Broud than Brun,' I hear her mutter. She looks at me. 'So did you get separated from my daughter before or after you got away from the Clan.'

I look ar me dirty feet. 'It was before I'm sorry to say. We tried to get her to run but she refused.'

'Because of stupid Janna,' Neiva adds.

'Janna?'

'This girl who's a bully. She got injured by a sabre toothed tiger and Jonayla sewed her wounds up.'

Ayla smiles. 'That sounds like my daughter.'

I nod. 'I like her.'

'Look,' Neiva say 'I don't mean to be rude but the District Five tribute could come round at any time, we really need to move, find somewhere safe when Fishcake's face can be treated.'

'Fishcake?'

'That's me. I'm Fishcake,' I say.

'You are injured? I am a medicine woman. Let us go into the forest and I will treat you while you tell me where I am and what is going on?'

'We can't go into the forest as...'.

I see Neiva scratch her head. 'I'm not happy about it but we will have to go into the ruined city. It's our only chance.'

Jonayla

'Jonayla, are you there? I won't hurt you,' Bluebell says as she walks down the corridor.

I stay hiding. I do not know what to do. What actions will be for the best? Can I trust her? Surely she cannot be on my side. Not against her own people.

But she had argued for the Clan. Told that Gale that they were not animals.

And she had been so kind to me before I entered these games. She had even argued that I should not go.

Gale had the last word and I had gone.

I would love to know why he is so exceptionally bitter.

I hear Bluebell coming back and as she is passing the storage area I am in, I open the door and whisper her name.

She turns around immediately, pushes me back into the storage area and joins me

Puts her finger against her lips.

I nod and stay silent.

A moment later, the heavy sound of this future time boots echoes along the tunnel.

'Bluebell, where are you?' I hear the voice of Gale outside the door. 'Bluebell? Great! In an emergency, Bluebell disappears. Stupid girl.'

I feel Bluebell stiffen against me.

'Well, wherever she is, it doesn't matter. I will find the little savage and get the glory. I will be paid well when I stop that twerp showing up the new government and make her pay. But where is she? Is it possible that she found the way in to the secret corridor? Hmmm, I doubt it. A savage like that would be too stupid but I suppose if she did, then she could be in the first cave behind the force field. Ready and waiting for me to find her and end her silly life. I should just check the cave to make sure.'

His feet start to stomp in the direction of the cave where I left Janna and the Clan woman.

Bluebell moves slightly. 'Doesn't he know that the first sign of madness is talking to yourself?' She snorts. 'He's a fool. He's going to find nothing in that cave because you're with me.'

I shake my head. 'He will not find nothing there,' I say. 'The Clan woman and Janna are waiting for me there.'

Bluebell's eyes widen.

'Will he kill them?'

She does not answer but she does not need to. The answer to my question is clearly written across her face in the way her eyes have clouded and she is biting her lip.

She takes my hand in hers and gently squeezes it.

She opens her mouth to say something but closes it again when we hear hurried steps stamping down the tunnel coming from the cave.

'Help me,' Gale screams.

And then I hear screaming, so similar to the screaming the Clan men had done but different too.

Because the person screaming and running after Gale. The one who, when I open the storage room door a little, bites down on his arm, it is female.

The Clan female.

It seems what ever made the Clan men act like they had, also infected the Clan woman.

And now she is changed, into something that wants to eat that pompous Gale.

Neiva

We find an old broken track that must have once been a road, but isn't any longer. Little bits of bright yellow lines the side of the track, which is cracked and covered in trailing weeds. And sometimes metal posts stick out of the grassy sides.

We even find the old shells of vehicles along the way, rusted to brown, just chunks of warped weak metal now.

I look at the buildings either side of the track, tumbled down houses, and bigger buildings.

What were the people like who lived here?

We pass a sign, old, warped, the paint nearly peeled away, but embossed is the words you are now entering Hope, North Dakota.

Is that what this city was called? Hope? It seems like a joke that such a place, long forgotten as it is, and offering no hope, should be called it.

We keep on walking.

How long has it been since anyone lived here? A long time? It must have been destroyed before Panem started.

And it must be outside of Panem itself, in the wilds far above the Districts, that's where they always hold the Hunger Games, that way they can keep them secret, prepare them for years. I wonder how long ago this place has been being prepared. Before the revolution maybe?

We walk along the track, passed more houses, their roofs long since rotted away, and a big open area, stone ground filled with weeds and metal shapes poles angled to join together with rusted chain hanging from a top one. More poles entwine to almost makes steps to climb up on. A ladder with a long curved and rusted sheet of metal going from the top of the ladder to the ground. A round platform raised off the ground with a metal pole with hand holds attached. All of them are covered in trailing weeds.

We keep on walking and come to a large one level building, with a big metal cross on the only wall that is whole. Inside, there are small statues. I walk over the long grass and peer into the building, and see a white statue of a woman holding a child.

I wonder who they were

We keep walking, and soon the houses look newer, some still tumbledown, but others are whole. We stop in front of a small collection of houses that particularly look new. They're further away from the road, and almost looks like the District houses.

'I wonder if the workers who created this arena lived here?'

'Who knows?' Fishcake says. 'But they look good, can we stop here? My cheek is really hurting.'

I nod and look at Ayla.

Who is looking around our surroundings with awe. 'I once had a dream,' she says. 'Well more of a vision, it involved…'

Fishcake

We walk to the nearest house and Neiva opens the door.

I hear Ayla sayin' somethin' but her voice sounds very far away and small.

I just wanna sit down and rest. Sort out the throbbin' in me cheek but instead I find meself wobblin' in a doorway, holdin' onto its frame coz I feel like I'm gonna keel over.

Neiva and Ayla seem to be arguin' about who checks the house out, Neiva thinkin' coz she's been in places like it before that she should go whereas Ayla says she is older and stronger in a fight.

I stand there tremblin' but then can't stand it any longer and I step inta the house meself and look for a seat.

I hear them still arguin' for a few moments before they realise what I've done.

But by then, I'm sat down on a stained sofa with me legs up on a crate.

'Are you mad?' Neiva demands, puttin' her hands on her hips. 'Anyone could have been in here.'

I shrug. 'I think yours two arguin' will have frightened them away if there was.'

She glares at me.

I sigh. 'Look I'm sorry but I couldn't stand out there anymore. Now will ya please sort out me face? It hurts.'

She nods her head, lookin' embarrassed as she dumps thw bags on her back on the floor. She starts to root through one.

Ayla comes inta the room. 'This place is empty. There is no one here.'

'Good,' Neiva says as she pulls a box from the bag. It has a large redcross on it.

'How is your face?' Ayla asks. She puts a dead animal on the table me feet are on, and flips its head back.

I blink.

'That's an interestin'... Um, interestin' bag you've got there Ayla.'

'It is my otterskin bag. I am a medicine woman taught by the best, Iza, and a healer, trained by another good healer, Zelendonii. I will help you.'

'I've got all he needs here,' Neiva says. She opens the lid and stares at the content. Then she looks up at me. Her wyes are huge as she shows me the stones that are in the otherwise empty and dirty case.

'You are going to sort his wounds out with stones?' Ayla asks.

'No, I...'. She slams the lid down again. 'Why didn't I look inside? I am so stupid. I thought there would be medicinal supplies in here but now we just have a jar of salve.' She looks at me. 'I'm sorry Fishcake.'

Ayla puts her hand on Neiva's arm. 'My otterskin bag has enough to treat him. Do not worry.'

'Yes but,' she blows her breath out through her teeth. 'Who puts stones in a first aid kit? I mean, it's just plain crazy.'

'Someone who likes stones,' I say, grinnin' coz I feel a bit better from not bein' on me feet anymore.

She shakes her head.

'I will need hot water,' Ayla says. 'Where can I build a fire?'. She looks around the room.

Neiva grins. 'I think we can do better than a fire,' she says. 'This place is sure to have a cooker and a kettle.'