Final 8! I didn't even know there were eight people left until I checked last night. That came out of nowhere! Haha.

This is the Future

Kaylee Darknight – District 7

Sleeping in a tree is not a good decision. I haven't done it in a while and I forgot how uncomfortable it is if you don't have any kind of blanket. When I look down at the ground I see the water is gone. I blink just to make sure I'm not still sleeping. Yesterday I stayed up in my tree trying to escape the rushing water and now it's just…gone. I jump down from my tree and my feet land on dry dirt. Not even moist.

I brush my hand over the thin layer of mossy foliage on the ground and it makes me almost believe that the flood was some sort of dream. I scan the jungle and see some sort of erosion leading towards the cornucopia. I follow the patterns for hours until I see a bright shimmering light ahead of me. This is not what I remember the desert looking like…

When I break through the trees I stand on a thin stretch of sand. Just a few feet from me lies and endless body of water stretching toward the horizon. This is different.

I wonder who is still alive, last night I didn't see any faces in the sky but somehow we've all been forced together. It won't be long until I see someone. The whole time in the arena I've only been with Tawlen, Aria and Harley, it's hard to remember whose still out there. I count on my fingers… 8. 8? Is that really right? I guess that means the interviews will be starting soon…

Camorissa Vernard – Final 8 interviewer

It really is a shame only one career is left this year; they're my favorite families to interview. Many of the homes in their districts are so clean and well decorated, in a quaint way. The families usually have a lot to say about their kids achievements and hopes and dreams, it's entirely refreshing. The other districts are terrible, grubby and unprepared for a celebrity like myself.

I step off the train and flip my blond hair behind my shoulder. Soon my camera crew scuffles into place behind me and follow and a close distance as I search for the Chryssler home. The ocean breeze messes up my hair as I walk; I prefer my ocean scented candles back at home, they don't mess up my look.

We work our way to the Victor's Village nestled near the beach and I knock on the 10th home in. I turn to my camera crew and raise my microphone, "We're here in district 4 at the lovely home of Flame Chryssler." The door opens and Flame stands in the doorway. He is very cute, if only he wasn't so young. "May we come in to ask you about your brother?"

"Yea! We can sit in the family room." He turns and my camera crew takes time squeezing through the door after me. My makeup artist fixes my hair and makeup and I sit across from Flame. I see the red light on a camera go on and I get to business.

"So Flame, are you excited to see your brother come so far? After all you are a victor yourself."

"It's amazing! He's been training for so long I would be surprised if he didn't make it this far. I couldn't be more proud."

"Great, it has been noted that your brother is following your game strategy, how do you feel about that?"

"Well it made me victor, I'm sure it'll work for him!" He gives a chuckle but I already have the next question lined up, something the capitol has been dying to know.

"Speaking of your strategy, that Ayla girl from district 2 seemed to think Hail shouldn't follow your lead. What is your view on Miss Ayla Flavious?"

"Well she didn't think it would work for Hail, but she's not in the final 8 is she?" I smile and turn to the camera.

"Well there you have it! Next stop district 7!" I hurry out of Flame's house and rush to the train station; I want these next interviews over as soon as possible.

District 7 is by far worse than district 4. The entire landscape is trees, houses made out of trees and lumberjacks. I'm glad there are only regulated parks in the capitol so I don't overdose on trees, like now. With my camera crew hovering behind me I approach the mayor's house. At least this year's tribute will have a nice house.

"Here we are at the house of Kaylee Darknight, from district 7!" I knock and a tall blond girl answers. I remember her from a few years ago, she was vicious. "Oh Miss Katie Darknight! What a pleasure to see you again."

"And you too Camorissa." Katie moves to the side and motions us to sit at a kitchen table.

"So Katie, are you and your sister close?" Katie beams, I guess we have our answer.

"Yes, we're so close! I've been helping to train her for years, you know ever since I won." Katie winks at the camera and turns back to me. "We've grown closer than ever since!"

"Aw well I'm happy you two are so close. Tell me, what do you think are Kaylee's best strengths?"

"Well she's fabulous at everything! Weapons, camouflage, and plants too."

"Plants really? It's funny you say that considering the way her partner died so tragically." That's a slap in the face but the audience will love the mention of a dead tribute.

Katie frowns slightly before answering, "Yes, well she is more familiar with the plants in our area, and I'm sure she won't slip up again."

"Well thank you so much Katie Darknight! I hope to see you mentoring next year." We are led to the door and I walk away without waving goodbye. 6 more families, oh joy…

Fallon Delros – District 10

It's almost noon now but I still can't bring myself to getting out of this tree. The jungle around me looks totally normal as if nothing happened at all yesterday. I didn't hear Eplis's cannon yesterday so maybe the water didn't stop until early this morning. I can't imagine her living through any of that. I move my stiff body up and I jump from the tree with my back pack drooping slightly on my shoulders.

Eplis's had our other bag with our weapons in it, so now I have nothing. I search through my damp bag and come up with one of Marzipan's knives, the same one she used in the cornucopia. I cut down one of the braches from a tree near me and sit down.

I've seen other tributes make their own spears before so I might as well try it; after all I have all day. My first attempt fails and I almost cut off my finger in the process but once I get the hang of it my second spears isn't that bad. I make another just in case and I practice throwing them. Perfect.

Camorissa Vernard – Capitol interviewer

District 8 is bleak so I hurry to the Skye home as quickly as possible. I had to ask 4 different people for directions because I kept getting lost. Finally I spot the small little house at the end of a road I think should be called an alley. I approach the door and give my usual intro. I knock and wait. Nothing. Hmmm. I knock again.

"Come in…" A faint voice says from the other side. I open the creaking door and step inside the one room house. Near one wall, in a single bed, lies Aria's father. He's pale and skinny and nowhere near healthy. I approach carefully, as if walking to loud will shatter him to pieces.

"Hello sir, I'm Camorissa Vernard. I'm here to ask you about your daughter." He nods so I proceed. "Sir, what do you think is Aria's greatest strength?"

He clears is throat before looking at me with his yellowed eyes. "My Aria is talented in everything she puts her mind too, I couldn't ask for more," he says with a soft creaking voice. It's not much of an answer but coming from him it's kind of sad.

"Well, she must be to have come this far. Are you and her close?"

He looks at his bed sheets, "I wish. She's been caring for me for so long it's been a while since I've returned the favor." I'm done with all of this, he's so sad. Two questions are enough.

"Thank you sir, we'll leave you, best of luck to Aria." He nods and as we leave I see his eyes close.

District 9 should be interesting, with two tributes still left from here. I head for the Night house first and knock lightly. A small girl answers the door and stands with a shocked look on her face. "Hello there miss, we're here about Luna." She beams and grabs my hand dragging me into her dingy kitchen.

"I'm May, Luna's sister."

"Oh yes I remember you. Your sister volunteered for you." May looks down and plays with her hands just as two toddlers waddle into the room, their hands filled with purple flowers. "So, are your parents here?"

"Oh no… mom is at work and dad is… dead."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." May picks up her little sister and places her on her knee. "Does Luna take care of you then?"

"Yea," May smiles slightly, "She does everything for us, she acts more like a mom, I mean a second mom."

"Are you surprised your sister has gotten so far?"

"No, she's smart and she's got that one boy with her, they'll do ok." It's hard talking to children so I quickly say my goodbyes and wish their sister luck. I walk back through town and locate the Lankis house. It's quite a large house really for district 9 with even a garden in front. When we approach a tall dark haired woman looks up from the flowers and smiles. She thrusts her hand out and shakes mine enthusiastically.

"What a pleasure! Please come inside." She rushes inside and starts moving out chairs for us to sit in.

"Are you Aric's mother?" Mrs. Lankis sets a small plate of bread on the table and I politely take one and nibble the edge.

"Yes, his proud mother." She beams again and I beam too, not wanting to seem grouchy compared to this peppy woman.

"Splendid…" I draw out the word sounding a bit more ticked off than actually pleased. "So, tell me about his token."

"Oh yes! I gave it to him before the reaping hoping it would give him luck, I guess it has! Look how far he's gotten!"

"You didn't give it to him." A cold voice comes from behind me and I turn to see a handsome man I can only assume is Aric's father. "I gave it to him."

"Well, either way it's a family idem." I smile hoping they'll cool off. "So, this Luna girl, how do you feel about her?"

Aric's mom chimes in instantly, "I'm actually surprised he's even talking to her! He's always been so shy around the girls!" She giggles slightly like not all of Panem will know feel embarrassed for Aric.

"Well, they seem to get along." I signal and the cameras shut off. Outside I pull my editor aside. "We'll be able to cut the dad right?"

"Yea, shouldn't be a problem."

"Good, let's move on." I pull out my hand mirror and inspect my face, I'm so glad I got the 3rd nose job, my career requires perfection.

The train ride is short, we should finish all of these today. Good, I'm done with these run down districts. I head to Fallon Delros house first. A knock and some woman yells behind the door. I throw a reassuring smile to the camera and just as I'm about to knock the door opens. "Hey, I'm Cydil." A twelve year old steps out into the road and behind I see a very large, and quite cute boy approach.

"Hey, sorry about the wait. I'm Eplis's brother."

"Oh, well we weren't expecting you here."

He waves his hand and his short curly hair shifts on his head. "Well I'm watching Cydil and Velma for Fallon. I'm Edson."

"Oh, you're his friend are you?"

"Yep, ever since grade school. Um… do you mind if we do the interview out here? Fallon's mom is… feeling under the weather."

"Sure no problem, this makes my job much easier anyway." It really doesn't make my job easier but I can tell the inside of the house isn't in the best condition to have camera's roaming around. "So how did you react to the flood yesterday?"

"Well," He puts his hand behind his head and looks at the ground, "I wish Eplis held on. I don't blame Fallon at all but I just wish my sister didn't feel the need to put everyone before herself you know? She's always doing that. Hey, do you know anything about how Eplis's is doing? They haven't showed her lately but they still say she's alive, do you know anything?"

This boy is really rambling but the camera loves him. "No I haven't heard anything, sorry."

"Oh…"

"So, your sister got a 7 in training, that's pretty high and Fallon right behind her at a 6. What do you think they did?"

"I'm not surprised, Eplis's and Fallon are… or were a great team and-"

"HEY!" From the doorway a woman in a short robe calls to us. Her hair is a disaster and I want to shave it off. "Is Fallon dead? I love the kid but, damn, he's getting SKINNY!"

Edson rushes over to help the woman, "Mrs. Delros-"

"Ms. Delros! Mr. Delros is DEAD!" Over all the commotion I step forward but my heel gets stuck in the mud. As the two argue I try to scrape my shoe clean. Then a bottle flies past my ear and shatters behind me.

"Hey now! I'm leaving thank you for your time!" I run from district mumbling to myself. They better give me a raise.

Aric Lankis – District 9

Finale 8. I hope they don't run screaming from my family, but I bet they will. Luna dangles her legs from the tree and mumbles to herself. Below us some sort of marshy bayou has taken form over night. God only knows what kind of creatures live in the murky water. Luna twirls a vine near her and sends the water below into small waves.

She smiles slightly and wraps the vine around her finger making larger waves and I can't help but chuckle. She looks up like she forgot I was there and gives an embarrassed smile. She releases her finger and slings her one leg over the branch so she's facing me. "You worrying about the interviews?" How did she know?

"Yea… my family isn't exactly stable."

Luna laughs and I can't help but smile more. "I understand that." She nods and looks back out through the swamp. "It's actually kinda nice here," she looks back at me smiling, "plus I like the change in scenery." She turns back to the swamp again; it's always nice to see the bright side of things. After all, I'm here with Luna.

Camorissa Vernard – Capitol Interviewer

Last one, last one. The roads of district 11 wind around the many fields and some harvesters look up to see our sleek car zoom past them. We approach one of the small clusters of houses surrounded by fields and I step out. I head to the McCormac's and knock. A tall young woman answers and gives a small smile. "Oh, hi. You must be here for interviews," she says in a soft voice.

"Yes. May we come in?" She moves aside and shifts some boxes to serve as chairs. The crew lay down a cloth on my box and I sit gracefully. "So your Blaze's…."

"Sister."

"Yes, that was my first guess." She smiles and lightly bites her lower lip. "Are you surprised Blaze has made it so far?"

"No he's a great kid, he deserves every accomplishment he's achieved."

"Yes, you're right. So how do you feel about that Rosalina Crest from district 1?"

"Oh… well she was a nice girl, I'm sorry it ended so badly. I hope Blaze can find another girl…if he gets home." She looks down a bit but she's just being reasonable.

"Well, Blaze is one of our most controversial tributes this year, with the romance and the… Zia incident; do you approve of his choices?"

"Well, it's gotten him to this point…" She trails off, she must be a little disappointed about that Zia girl.

"Well thank you so much for your time. I think we'll get going now though." I stand and she shows me to the door. When I get into the dimly lit car I finally get to relax. I'm glad the interviews are done, this traveling is exhausting.

"Wake up on your own
And look around you cause you're not alone
Release your high hopes and they'll survive
Cause this is the future and you are alive"

So I'm going to be gone this weekend sorry :( don't expect an update until like tuesday or wednesday. I have a question though! 1 point if you answer.

What do you think has been the most memorable death so far?