A/N: I apologise for the lateness of this update, it's GCSE time here in England and my exam timetable is therefore very crowded, so I haven't had much time to write. An easy ten points for anyone who can tell me why Blake isn't wearing a shirt (Clue: It's not just because he's a showoff)

The Arena of...

The Ninety-Fourth Hunger Games

Day 2

Scratch lies low, keeping close to the tree line as he edges further from the Cornucopia, his mind aching with different thoughts and feelings.

Zus Ryaov.

That had been it hadn't it? He'd shot him. He'd left him on the ground to die. Scratch grits his teeth as he pushes a branch out the way and stumbles over it, clutching his stomach with his hand as a stabbing pain like a scythe cutting into barley shoots through it.

"Can't... let him... go." Scratch splutters as he pulls himself over another log, tripping and landing painfully on his face. Zus had hurt him. He'd hurt him bad. And Scratch knew that his family needed him alive. Killing him would be sentencing his family to death. Therefore hurting him was like hurting his family. And no one hurt Scratch's family and got away alive.

But Zus wasn't the only problem here. Scratch sniffs the air like a dog and hefts himself up on a nearby tree. Lenox is still out there. Still alive. And that is where the problem starts. Scratch gasps in pain as his stomach wound complains again and throws himself back down against the tree, slumping his shoulders and gripping his stomach.

"It's just not fair." Scratch grumbles to himself, "Lenox is my friend. I don't want to kill her."

"Well you should have thought about that before you were forced to participate in a deadly games show against your will, shouldn't you?" Claudius comments dryly, "Cheek."

Scratch stretches his hands up infront of him and sighs loudly, stretching the bandages around his stomach and wincing. Lenox is his friend. He can't kill her.

But she is keeping him from his family. Keeping him from the people who need him. And anyway, she's a volunteer. She knows what she's getting herself into. And that just makes Scratch sick. Because she hasn't realised that she's in far over her head. She doesn't understand how very selfish she's being. Every second she's alive is another second he's kept from his family.

"She can't handle this anyway." Scratch confusedly reassures himself as he lifts himself to his feet. "I'll be helping her out. I'll try to make sure it doesn't hurt too much. Not like that damn Zus." He clutches his side and lifts himself to his feet, skulking forwards through the trees as he hears the sound of cracking twigs and branches coming from somewhere close to him, spinning the small flint rock, which he has been using as a knife, in his hands. Through the layer of trees he can see a few Fish, scuttling away from what looks like some unfortunate Dino Mutt, lying limp on its back as the Fish tear bits off and disperse into the trees.

"Is Fish really the best name for them now?" Caesar asks Claudius as the two narrate from on high.

"Good point," Claudius shrugs, "They do kinda look more like monkeys now. All furry and thumby and teethy."

Scratch moves his hand up as he skulks closer, swiping away a leaf which is tickling his nose as he pushes through the clearing. No sooner has his hand moved away from his nose however, when he splutters in disgust and covers his nose again, the stench of blood overpowering his nostrils and distracting him from controlling his emotions. giving Fear ample time to waltz nonchalantly into his brain, shoot something and demand to be 'taken to the leader'.

Scratch shivers as he edges closer to the beast, well aware that Mutts could burst into the clearing at any moment. But he is well aware that the best of the food he had managed to catch had been given to Lenox (back when he still thought he could save her) or had been eaten by him. He couldn't find any plants in here that were edible either, but then again, the trees are so tightly packed it is impossible to tell. He steps closer to the Mutt. It looks pretty edible. Maybe the Mutts have left some food on it, he thinks, as cold sweat trickles down his spine and his eyes flick around the tree line, searching. Just as long as he wasn't the main course, he might just get a good meal. He groans as he kneels down next to the body and touches its skin. Blood comes away on his fingers and he quickly draws his hand away, unfamiliar with blood as, inside his head, Fear is commandeering the central workings of his brain and using it to play Pong with his insides. His heart thumps in his chest as he turns over the blood stained hand and looks at the clump of gory, stuck together red hair that sticks to his hand. He stumbles to his feet and steps around the body, finally recognising the half-eaten, battered and blood stained form which lies at his feet.

Teagan Cooper.

Little drips of water wash the blood off his hand as the tall tributes eyes and nose stream with silent tears. Salty water seeps down his face and into his mouth, but he barely notices as he turns and flees in the other direction, Fear having taken up residence in his brain eaten everything and jumped on all the beds, before getting bored and gone for a long shower.

Kayton groans and covers her eyes as she steps out into the receding light of the evening, checking behind her to see that the other two, the tall dark haired demon and the little white haired ghost, are still behind her. She wants to make sure that they stay close to her. Close enough for her to see. It's not that she trusts them, she realises with a start, no, she certainly doesn't trust them. Both of them are bad news. The tall boy who still whispers orders into her ear, and the little girl who keeps nearly disappearing into the shadows. The one who keeps looking at her funnily. And in a way that's what she's afraid of. There's no hostility in the girls eyes. Well, there was. But there isn't anymore. It has all burnt out, eaten itself away out of pure hate. Leaving nothing. Nothing to see at least is left in the girl's eyes. They're just dead shells now. Giving nothing away. And Kayton knows that she looks exactly the same. As did the small, dead form she had found in the Cornucopia. As had Alylla Stone when she fled the Cornucopia. And so did Splinter and Johannah and all of District Seven's Victors. As had everyone, except for Careers and Pyro. Their stares held something worse, she knew, even though she could not see them. They still had their heads. Well, what little heads they had had when they entered the Arena. They didn't care that people were dying. They were happy.

"We camp here..." Trent mutters as he plonks down on the ground, swinging the only Mutt that had managed to follow them off of his shoulders and cutting its lifeless form open on the dark stone ground. "It's hard to get to... Easy to get off..." Kayton looks down at him, suspicious. She can't see his eyes. It's not right to not be able to see someone's eyes. It makes them look dead. And Trent already looks pale with all that black hair and dark bags. If he looked any more dead she would have mistaken him for a zombie. And the worst part. She could tell he meant to do that. He knew that she and Georia were curious and against each other. Because he could see their eyes. But they couldn't see his. How could they ever tell what he was thinking. She wanders over to him, crouching down next to him and smiling, but the tall boy doesn't respond. She looks down at what he's doing. Skinning the carcass, removing the giblets and the innards, she gulps and looks away and he flashes her a smile. It's just another job for him. Just another day at work with the animals. The only thing that's different is that he's slicing a Mutt not a cow. Kayton pulls her eyes back to him. It's kind of like cutting down a tree is for her. Capitol kids would call it skill. They wouldn't know where to start. They'd probably end up getting crushed by a falling tree, she thinks, smiling at the thought of Capitol kids trying to cut down a tree. She'd just do it, wouldn't think twice about it. That was what Trent was doing now. What he'd been taught.

"You OK?" She asks him, finally finding words to try and strike up a conversation.

"We lost Hype..." He mutters, "We're all dead..." He tosses his hair and turns away, and for one second Georia, who has been hiding in the shadows at the back, catches sight of his eyes. Sparkling blue pits, filled with plans and deceit. The only bit of him that looks alive. The exact opposite of everyone else. Georia gulps and grips the rock behind which she hides tighter. Trent is bad news, she can tell just by looking into those savage, twinkling, eyes. He killed Alew and now he'll kill her. Her mouth runs dry as she watches Kayton sitting next to Trent, saying something she is too far away to hear. She has already decided that these two are in it together. They're planning to win by lulling her into a false sense of security. So that they can run her through as she sleeps and then make good their escape. But she isn't going to let them do that. She isn't going to be tricked by them like Hype or Alew were. She's going to keep her head, she's going to stop them from killing her. She smiles to herself. She knows all the answers now. Everything they can possibly use to trick her. Just one question remains and whatever her answer it will have to be done tonight. She can't wait any longer unless they strike. But it's such an important question, and one that she doesn't know whether to answer. Give in to fear or be a good person? Run away, or kill them tonight?

"Where is she now." Demis growls as he leads the troop of four through the dark jungle canopy.

"Just to the North sir!" Jakob whistles, eyes bright as he stares at the rapidly bleeping monitor.

"Stay here then." The tall Career barks, galavanting off through the trees in search of the girl. Jakob watches the man with interest as he disappears through the trees, Demis is smiling thinly and marches on, vaulting over logs and crashing through bushes like an engine of war, clenching and unclenching his fists as he anticipates the claws, that Alylla holds, in his own hands. Jakob grins widely to himself as he trots behind the larger tribute. He stops as a hand rests on his head, and spins on his heels to see Blake Kaitz standing behind him, his tanned hand resting on the younger boy's head and a soft smile playing on his lips.

"Jakob." He whispers, all sound of a lisp or stutter vanishing to reveal the voice of a casual actor. "How's it going?"

"Could be better." Jakob admits, scratching his head in thought, "I mean, I'd be a lot happier if I wasn't in imminent danger of dying every second. Blake laughs and pats Jakob on the back, eyes sparkling as he steps closer to Jakob to whisper in his ear.

"So. How would you like to be in the final eight, Jake?" He asks, fixing his eyes on Jakob's as he tries to spot an sign of hope. None come.

"Like that's gonna happen." Jakob laughs, but Blake smiles and puts a hand on his shoulder.

"It could. We're both bright guys, right? And I know that you want to keep alive for as long as possible..."

"Guilty as charged!" Blake glares at the boy. He doesn't like being interrupted by anyone, especially not some little know it all.

"... Well, anyway. How'd you like a truce? We could get rid of Demis right here and now if we put our minds to it, and I doubt you'd need Kate if I were around, but you never know I might let you keep her. If you need her that bad. After all I've been there. The rest of the tributes would be easy pickings and, right at the end. well, we could have a proper one on one to decide who lives."

"Tempting..." Jakob muses, his voice low and contemplative as he takes his finger off of the record button on his recorder, "So let me ask something. Why me?"

"You're clever and you're a kid. I have a heart you know..."

"That's debatable!"

"... I don't want to have to kill a kid." Blake mutters, literally lying through his teeth. He hears a click and stares down at Jakob, who appears to be tapping his screen. Blake growls again, and is about to swipe the machine off him when Jakob pipes up again.

"So, you don't want to kill a kid? So where's Jules?"

"I let her run." Blake shrugs, "Told that idiot of a Career infront of us," he points at Demis, "That she went crazy. Heh. Retard believed every word. Really I never expected anything of her. Just a kid. She's probably dead by now. So, what do you say, partner?" Jakob screws up his face in mock frustration as he thinks, before grinning widely at Blake and delivering his verdict.

"No."

"What did you say?" Blake growls, his fingers tightening on Jakob's shoulder and the muscles on his chest rippling as he pulls back, stopping the boy dead in his tracks.

"No." Jakob repeats, Blake glares at him and his grip increases, causing Jakob to wince as his shoulders bruise.

"Are you sure?" Blake hisses, licking his lips like a snake, his muscular body rigid with anger, "I can be very persuasive."

"Pretty sure." Jakob shrugs, before beginning his speech, changing voices constantly as he goes "Let's look at the facts OK. I am holding all the cards. I've got something Mr Boss Man from District Two needs, so he's gonna want to keep me around. Hell, if Mutts attack he might even protect me. Imagine, little old me, the loser from three being protected by you big, strong, macho boy Career types. I'd say that's a pretty good position. Soon as you kill Demis that's out the window. So seems like I'm in a pretty good position. Secondly, Kate isn't what you think she is to me. I'm not some manipulative jerk, OK, I keep her around because I need someone to see how very clever I am, not for the sick reasons you think. I mean God! What the hell is with you!" Jakob stops, panting for breath, as Blake stares disdainfully down at him, before quickly finishing his speech, "Oh yeah and I guess I've got this monitor thing to... So yeah, I don't think I'll be taking that offer of an alliance anytime soon."

Blake looks down at him and grins widely.

"Oh really? Heh. We'll just see about that now, won't we?" Blake laughs, going to step away from Jakob, but the younger boys hand shoots out and grabs his wrist. Blake turns back, smirking.

"Fair warning." Jakob begins, "Your plans won't work on me. I'm far too clever for you. Whatever trap or trick you set up, I can dismantle it in literal nanoseconds." Blake grins, throwing back his head and laughing. Jakob stares at him in interest, and is on the floor in a second. He had been concentrating to much on Blake's face. He'd completely ignored Blake's leg, which had spun up into Jakob's side, and was followed by a quick chop to the boy's shoulder, forcing him to let go of Blake's hand and sending him into the ground. Kate, who has been milling over by the side of the path, inspecting a plant that looks like it might be made of wire and lights, rushes over to Jakob's side, pulling Jakob to his feet and glaring at Blake.

"Aw. Jakey's wittle girlfwiends come to help him?" Blake simpers, Kate glares at him and swipes her hand across, meaning to slap him, Blake just smirks, grabbing her hand and twisting it round, throwing her to the floor. "I don't need any plan to kill you Jake. I can just break your neck." He turns and walks away, his lisp and stammer phasing back in as he senses Demis return, "Shleep well kidsh!"

On cue Demis bursts through the trees, eyes dark as he lifts Jakob of his feet.

"There wasn't anyone there kid!" He growls, "Not one stinking fly."

"She's moved over." Jakob smiles, although the smile is slightly more hesitant this time. "People walk around you know?" Demis growls and lets him drop, turning and marching over to Blake, throwing something that looks like a watermelon sized apple at his feet.

"That's tonight's dinner." He barks, "Get cooking. We camp here tonight." Blake bows low, still somewhat aggrieved by the weak and whimpering facade he has had to play. It doesn't really work with his muscular body, he has decided, and really takes some getting used to. Meanwhile Kate helps Jakob to his feet, noticing almost immediately that he's grazed his side. He winces when she touches it and she rolls her eyes. What a baby.

"Looks like your plans screwed." She mutters to him.

"Oh you don't say." He snipes back, sarcastically, "I thought everything was going just swimmingly. You know I particularly enjoyed getting smacked around by that pretty boy!"

"You sure do complain." Kate grimaces, opening the boy's back pack and taking out a roll of bandages, "It's hardly even a scratch!"

The tall, dark skinned figure glares down at the four figures as they make camp. So the jerk offs from District Three were with the Careers now? Fine. They came from the right district after all. Low numbers and all that. He'd wait till they split up, the tall figure thought. It wouldn't take long and he knew that Demis would be able to kill the other three in a matter of seconds. Good job to, because he doesn't like the look of the bow that girl was carrying. It looks like she might actually be an OK shot, and the tall man doesn't want to run the risk that someone might shoot back. That was why he hadn't followed the Career girl. But anyway. It wouldn't take long. All he had to do was wait for the big dope from Two to kill off the other three. And then?

"It'll only take one arrow." The man growls as he fingers his bow, "One ******* arrow."

The Dead:

24: Alew Ferove (D8)- Killed by Demis, skull shattered

23: Quentin Rapido (D5)- Killed by Zus, shot

22: Essence Craymaker (D1)- Killed by Alylla, beheaded

21: Arixo Varsity (D12)- Killed by Irre, stabbed

20: April Conolly (D10)- Killed by Mutts, eaten

19: Hype Tarick (D12)- Killed by Mutts, crushed

District 12 OUT

18: Phillip Sutton (D6)- Killed by Jules, stabbed

17: Jules Radcliffe (D4)- Killed by Phillip, poisoned

16: Teagan Cooper (D5)- Killed by Mutts, shot

District 5 OUT

Left: 15 tributes; 8 male, 7 female

Arcticmist: 25

A type of Wallflower: 35 +small pack

SilverDagger: 10

Freedom of Thought: 50

Haley: 10

dudleyson: 10

akatrixie: 80 + medium pack, 3 bandages & 10 arrows

Ereader64: 20 + small basket of food

Son of X: 30

Fuzzybubny: 10

booksarecool: 10

Meiveva Sirenice: 105 + small knife

Ginny Weasley23: 130 + small axe

Narcissa Weasly: 95 + large pack & slingshot

HelloPoppet123: 60 + longbow

MySoulToReap: 75 + large axe, large knife, claws & large pack

Beware of the Nargles: 80

.with.: 20

skgirl4ever: 40 + medium pack (Scratch) +small knife (Verain)

wildone97: 30 +Large pack & Capitol Medicine (deep cuts)

pianoette: 30

MyRedPheonix: 70

CoolOw: 10

J.F x Kalieoki: 40

kuhse: 70

JayceeSue44227: 10

The Other Packman: 10

Next chapter should be on Sunday. If not check back on Tuesday for a possible update.