District 1's POV
Mercy Breen
I lay in bed restless. How can I sleep when I need to be prepared for fighting tomorrow? I am ready, don't get me wrong, but I just feel that I need to be preparing instead of lying around not even getting any sleep. Bluebelle did say to get plenty of rest, but I'm not really am I? So what's really the point? I pull my duvet off me and slowly creep towards the door. I open it and walk out into the hallway, trying to shut it quietly behind me. I pad into the kitchen, and make myself some tea, and then I walk into the living area. To my surprise, Loki is sitting on the sofa, also drinking some tea. He seems lost in thought and hasn't even noticed I have arrived in the room.
"Loki?" I whisper. He is knocked out of his train of thought and looks over at me.
"Oh you scared me… can't sleep?" He asks, rubbing his own eyes tiredly.
"You could say that, you?" He nods in reply and I go over and sit on the other side of the sofa.
"Why can't you sleep?" I ask.
"I have… stuff on my mind…"
He goes back into a slight daze, just staring at the turned off television. Its not really like him, he's normally so full of himself, right now he should be saying how amazing he is going to be in the games. Maybe he is slightly worried too?
Loki Braveheart
I don't know what to think anymore. I can't be distracted like this, but there is always that little note in the back of my find that keeps making me think about it. I'm supposed to be a Career, a fighter, I need to win this! I can't let little distractions take over me. I want to win, and get back for Nari, she needs me, and she's only thirteen after all. I just want to get home overall… but maybe that's not an option anymore. Especially if it means…
"Loki…hello?" Mercy waves her hands in front of my face and I am yet again snapped out my day dream.
"Yes Mercy?"
"I said, I am going to bed now, do you even know what time it is?" She walks off and into her room. I look at the time and see an hour has passed; time seems to be going very quickly while I have been here. I head into my own room, and turn off the lights so I am in complete darkness. I lie under the covers, and squeeze my eyes shut trying to fall asleep quickly. But I can't get that same face out of my mind. That beautiful face that if I want to win, they will have to die. I can't get the name out of my mind and as I finally drift off to sleep, I am left with it engraved there.
Savannah.
District 2's POV
Micah Flay
I am ready. I have never been so ready in all of my life. I haven't been training, constantly and pushed to be the best for nothing… I want to get home to my siblings and Father. I want to prove to my step Mother I am worth something and her children are not the only great ones. I want to see her smug face drop, when she sees me return to the District and go to my house in the Victors Village. I want having to kill people to be worth something, not just for the fun of it. But most of all I want to win this. I need to win this. More for myself than anyone else.
Araluen Osman
I pace back and forth in my room, my mind whirring with different thoughts. In less than a day's time, I will be fighting to the death. This time tomorrow I could either be killing someone, fighting for my life or even in a coffin myself, being sent home to my family. I can't let them see me like that, my little brother and sister would have to see there older brother, the one they loved and cared for, cold and lifeless lying in a coffin. That's a terrible thing for an eight year old to see. I've been so lonely since I have been here, and I would give anything to see them again. I should be thinking of tac-tics, like how I will find my alliance. I am glad I have joint the careers, it will help me greatly. I decide I need my rest, seeing as I probably won't be getting to much in the arena, and I crawl under my covers and close my eyes, wishing I would wake up in my bed back at home.
District 3's POV
Kadence Smith
Walking out of my room, I make my way to the kitchen and open the fridge to see what I can find. I see some leftover ice cream from this evening's desert, and take it in one hand, closing the door with the other. I let out a small scream though, as I see my district partner Lin appear from behind there.
"Lin you scared me!" I say laughing slightly. I don't want to be horrible to him, and I would like someone to talk to on the last night.
"Sorry…" he says looking down, but sniggering to himself too.
"Don't laugh! Here take this…" I say shoving the ice cream in his hands and wandering off to grab two spoons.
We walk into the living area and sit on the sofa, eating the ice cream. I take my time, savouring each mouthful as I probably won't get it in a while. I suddenly hear a small whimper and look at Lin who has a small tear running down his cheek.
"Hey… what's wrong?" I say smiling, wiping the tear from his cheek. He in someway reminds me of my brother Thomas, and I feel a slight sisterly instinct towards him at the moment.
"I'm just… worried you know? Every time I think about the games I feel sick…" I look down at him and he stares up at me with his big brown eyes, and I can't help but feel angry at the fact that he is only twelve, and he also has to fight to the death, and I realise now, how this situation is in some ways worse for other tributes than it is for me.
Lin Jacobs
I look up at Kadence for some sort of advice… anything. I need my mind to be taken off of the games. I don't want to think about it… if I'm up against a stronger tribute, or even an older one, I am a goner. That's the problem with me I guess, I think too logically. Yes that could be a good thing in the games, but now for example, I am constantly contradicting myself on my plan for the games. If I should grab something or just run as far as possible away from it all.
"Lin… don't worry about it… you're a smart kid, I believe in you," She smiles kindly at me and pulls me in for a hug. I let myself relax, and appreciate it; I won't be getting any hugs in the games; that's for sure. She then moves away and leaves the living room, saying a small goodbye before she leaves. I put the ice cream I have been eating back in the kitchen, and walk into my own room. I collapse onto the bed and curl up in a ball, wishing this was all just a horrible dream.
District 4's POV
Aria Oreota
1, 2, 1, 2… I punch my pillow again and again, trying to gain some training from the little time I have left before the games. I am interrupted though by a small knock at my bedroom door. I walk over and open it slightly to see Poe standing outside, his eyes dark and tired.
"Can I come in? I can't sleep and I heard you move around so I guessed you were awake…" I nod to him and move to the side so he can walk in.
"Why can't you sleep?" I ask. I should really be sleeping myself, but I wanted to get some extra training, I find that is more important. I'm not nervous for the games either, so that wouldn't stop me from sleeping…
"I just keep thinking about the games, don't get me wrong I am far from nervous, I just keep wondering about what the arena is going to be like, don't you?"
To be honest, I haven't thought about it. I don't what I want it to be like; I just hope it is more in my favour than others. I shake my head from side to side in response and he looks slightly shocked.
"I would have thought you would be thinking about everything… do you have any target people?" I shrug at this; I don't want to give anything away.
I have joint the careers, which I am not sure was a good thing. I know that I can't kill Poe, for one he is my Ally, and two I kind of owe him. He saved my life after all… and I do believe in owing people and paying back your dues. It could cause some problems for me in the games, but then again, I can always change my mind.
Poseidon Hensworth
I sit in Aria's room talking to her. It literally is me talking to her, she barely says a word. I decide after a while that she obviously doesn't want to talk, and I kind of feel tired anyway. Truth is, I have been thinking a lot about the games. I've been deciding what I should do, how I should act with my alliance. Joining the careers was a great choice, but I feel like I have to prove myself to stay with them. Some of them have trained before after all, including Aria. I want to get home, I want to win this. It's truly just a game to me, and with all games you have to be in it to win it. So I will do my best, even if I have to kill others which won't be the easiest thing, but I will because I have to win this thing.
District 5's POV
Flair Rhodes
I can't sleep. However hard I try I really can't. It could be nerves, but I also want to slightly get into the arena already. Not that I want to fight to the death, but I want to get tomorrow over and done with, after all every day means one step closer to home. There's nothing more I want, than getting home. To see my family and especially Brynn, I miss her the most. We've spent all our lives being there for each other and I don't know how I have coped without her. I guess I have someone else to be there for me now. I am in an alliance with Savannah, and I'm really happy about it. I don't think I could have stayed alone in the arena, I need someone to talk to and someone who I can help and they help me. It's nice to have someone watching your back, and maybe until I get home, I can watch Savannah's back and she can watch mine, just how Brynn and I would.
Jackal West
I sit in my room, alone as usual. I like being alone, I think I would like someone to talk to, but people don't really like me because I am a bit too… honest. Being alone gives you time to think though, and I have been thinking about the arena and what I am going to do. I have decided I will try to get some good weapons and supplies and then take out as many people as possible; maybe that big alliance that has been formed. I could beat them with my eyes closed. They think they are great, but they haven't seen me fight, so they should watch their backs. I can't wait to win, and live in a big house with my Mother and Cloha. It will be great, I will have enough money to live on and my entire District will be jealous of my life. Everyone should watch out, because Jackal West is here and he is on his way to victory.
District 6's POV
Tess Hardy
I loosen my light blue ribbon which is my token out of my hair, and tie it in a pretty bow around my wrist. I won't be able to wear it in my hair in the arena, I doubt my hair is going to be nice and clean after one day. I feel sick at the thought of everything that will cover my skin and be in my hair – mud, leaves, twigs, dirt; maybe even dried blood. I hate to think that in a day's time I could look like that, someone who my parents won't even recognise as their quiet daughter who loves to sit and read books all day long. Then again, I think they would rather see me like that then in a coffin. I begin to feel sick thinking about me lying in a coffin, and I run to the bathroom to throw up the contents of my last meal. Once I am finished and I feel slightly better, I crawl under my covers and close my eyes tightly, wishing that I wasn't going into the Hunger Games tomorrow.
Kyran Flint
After quietly creeping out of my room and down the hallway, I finally make it to the main lift. The doors slide open and I walk in, pressing down on the 'R' button for roof. I wait a few minutes and once I reach the top I walk out, opening a door which leads me to the top of the building. You can see the bright lights of the Capitol city gleaming and some noise from them too. They really do like to party. I spot Reina, her red hair blowing wildly in the wind like flickering flames. I sneak up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist from behind. She flinches at first but then realises it is me and relaxes.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" she whispers sweetly, looking at me with her pale blue eyes.
"Yeah it is… shame it's filled with terrible people though…" I am sure there are cameras up here, listening in on our conversation, but when I came up here the previous night, I found out that the wind is so fierce you can hardly hear anything, so I don't need to worry.
"Are you scared Kyran… for tomorrow?" she looks at me with worry, and I can tell she is scared herself.
"I guess who wouldn't be?" She nods, feeling slightly better that she is not the only one. I turn her round and pull her closer towards me, wrapping her in my arms.
We stand for a while like this, and I finally break the silence.
"Can I tell you something?" She nods and I continue, "I don't think I could have coped… if I didn't have you with me here... I mean, I obviously don't want you to be in this situation… but we would of never have met otherwise and…"
She stops my nervous ranting and takes my face in her hands. She smiles and stands on her tip-toes, quickly pressing her soft lips against mine. I return the kiss, but she soon pulls away smiling shyly.
"Sorry… I just wanted too… you know because…"
I pull her back close and kiss her again not letting her finish her sentence either.
District 7's POV
Iliad 'Lili' Quarmen
I roll around in bed restlessly, not being able to get any sleep. I really need to; I doubt I will get much in the arena, you never know who is going to stab you in the back; literally. Don't get me wrong, I am incredibly glad I have made an alliance, and especially as there is three of us now. Of what I know, we are the next biggest alliance after the careers; that's got to be in our favour somehow. Three against two is definitely better than one against two. The only downside is that if I want to live, they have to die; but I have tried not to think about it too much. It will definitely be the hardest game I have ever played, its not just physical strength after all, you have to be mentally ready. You have to know what you are going to do next and how you are going to do it, but also, you have to deal with the consequences. No one, is going to be completely fine after killing someone, and you will have to have killed someone if you win, or want to, it would be basically impossible to not. I have tried to process in my mind, the thought of myself killing someone, and sometimes I can deal with it, others not. But I will have to, like I said, you will have to have killed someone if you want to win.
Itzel Minx
What will have happened in three days time…? Would the games be over? Would I even be alive? I'm sure I would be… I hope I would be. I can't even think of how my Mother would be, if she saw me lying in a dark coffin. She would see so many people lying in that coffin, my Father, my Brother and my Uncle. She has been through enough as it is, and adding to that pain would kill her inside, and I'd hate to think how she would probably end her own life. She doesn't deserve that pain, she has never done anything wrong, and she has always been kind and helpful to others. The Capitol has done this to her and me, bringing pain down on us in different ways. I want to avenge them, my lost family members, my Mother; but most of all I want to avenge myself. For the pain and troubles they will bring me the next couple of days, so I can show them that they can't break me like they will break others.
District 8's POV
Jazzy Kaede
Chase and I sit together on the living room sofa. My head is rested comfortably on his shoulder and I am curled up next to him. We've been talking about things like our homes and our families… well my family… he doesn't seem to like talking about his; I still haven't got to asking him about that, but in his interview he did say his situation wasn't very good, so maybe its best not to. Its weird thinking we met the day of the reaping, and if neither of us had been reaped I doubt we would have seen each other again. Its weird how this situation has brought us together, and how I can picture us in 5 years time, happy back in our district most likely dating still, and I would be so happy. But that can't happen, both of us can't win, and that's the terrible part. I really like him… and maybe even… Anyway, I guess if he wins, I would want him to find someone else… I expect he could, he's probably had a lot of girlfriends before; he is very handsome after all.
"Jazzy… I need to tell you something…" he says, sitting up on the sofa and facing me. I sit up too and face him, what could he need to tell me?
Chase Sedesky
I stare into Jazzy's eyes, my stomach is in my knots and I am rather nervous, but I need to tell her, I might not get to after this. I've never dated anyone before… if you could call this dating… so I've never experienced any of this.
"I…I… I think I… I think I love you," I blurt out the last bit of the sentence, and she just stares at me with slight shock. I don't know what to do, so I lean in and kiss her. She is shocked at first and I think she is going to pull away, but then she kisses me back. We finally pull away and she bites her lip shyly.
"I think I love you too," she says giggling. We both begin to laugh and I wrap her in my arms tightly not wanting to let her go. "I really hate this… the situation we are in…" she mumbles into my shirt.
"I know… but I will protect you don't worry…"
"What?" she says looking up at me.
"I'll help you… I'll kill other tributes if I have to… just to keep you safe…" she smiles sweetly at me and presses her lips against mine again.
We sit for a while, in silence, just thinking, and as I begin to fall asleep with Jazzy wrapped in my arms, I whisper in her ear, "I promise Jazzy, I will."
District 9's POV
Reina Luckmere
I sit next to Kyran on the roof, and we just stare out at the bright lights and vast buildings. I can't help but wonder, if I had lived in the Capitol how my life would be different. I wouldn't be in this situation, I would be rich, I would have probably not been abused, and I would have a good life. I wouldn't have met Kyran though, and that would be the down side. I wished we lived in the same District, and maybe we would have met before all of this and it could be different in some ways. I believe that things happen in your life by the different choices you make, but then again we didn't choose to get reaped and be sent to our deaths. And we didn't get a choice in where we were born or grew up.
I decide its time to leave; I need to sleep if I want to live after all. I kiss Kyran on the cheek and make my way to the lift. I press the nine button and let the lift take me down to my floor. I make my way to my room and climb in bed, and suddenly tears begin to fill my eyes. I don't want to cry, I try not to because I want to be strong, but sometimes being strong just isn't enough.
Caleb York
I'm so scared. I'm so scared. I'm going to die… I don't want to die. I shake in my bed, tears flowing down my face. I am having a complete break down at the moment, and I don't care. Anyone should have a breakdown if they are being sent off to their deaths. I should be worried; if I am up against them strong careers I am dead. All I can do is hide, so I will. I will run as fast as I can and hide in a group of trees somewhere. I have hid for years now; I think I can do it for a few more days. If I can just get away from the beginning fight, I could maybe survive. I finally begin to calm down and my eyes flutter shut to a world where I don't have to hide.
District 10's POV
Savannah King
It's been a tiring few days, all the training and then the interviews. I should be falling asleep instantly, but I can't. It's worrying that's what it is. My mind is over thinking things, trying to figure out what I should do. The problem is, no one knows what to expect in the arena, we are the first to experience all of this. We can't get any advice from people, because what would anyone else know that we don't already. I hope for the next group of tributes after us, and the ones after them and so on, get help from the winners. I hate seeing the little kids here, they haven't even grown up yet, they haven't experienced things that they should have. Neither have I to be honest, if I don't win, I will never get married; I will never have children, I will never get to do what other people will. I know our lives are restricted at the moment as it is, but I hope that changes too one day. But I will win. I want all these things so I will try my hardest and I will win this. I want a lot of things to change and happen, but winning this game is my main priority at the moment.
Luka Kingston Jeredi
Pacing back and forth in my room, my mind spins with so many thoughts. This whole thing is a joke, the way everyone is probably wide awake and can't sleep because they are so nervous about this whole thing. I believe I can win this; I have the skills to, especially when I am… not myself. I don't think the other tributes truly know what I am like, so if I don't let them find out till we are in the actual games, I will have the advantage. I want to get home to Claude, he's done so much for me and I don't want to leave him alone. I have no allies to bring me down, I have no attachments to anyone in the games, and so as long as I keep my guard up, I can do this. I finally stop pacing and climb into my bed, tired from the days of training. I close my eyes and fall into a calm sleep, with no worry in my mind.
District 11's POV
Ashley Blake
Many people don't know me back in my district. Obviously they know me, having seen me around the orchards, but no-one actually knows who I am. I am only thirteen; I should have my whole life ahead of me, but right now I am not worrying about that and the only thing I am concentrating on is the Hunger Games. I want to win this… I need to win this. My life shouldn't be over yet, I don't want it to be either. I gained a good training score, which means I could get sponsors, I would appreciate them greatly. Who knows what the arena will be like… it could be an ice landscape and the only thing I need to survive is warmth, I won't be able to find that anywhere in ice. It's all about where we are put and what it is like. And then after that it is based on instinct. I feel everyone just thinks you have to be strong and skilled, but there is always a chance, that you will need brains as well; and that's where others will fall.
Brock Stern
I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the wall. It feels like how I was back at home, just sitting there. I've had an interesting past few days… but my interview just topped it. You could say… some people didn't really like my interview… I was too… rebellious for them. I don't care. Why should I care about what they think about me? They have killed everyone I love, leaving me with nothing. They have their fancy clothes, and rich houses and I have nothing. Why should I show them respect and tell them about me, when all I can tell them is that they are all murderers. Overall, I don't care what I do anymore. I have nothing to lose, so why bother caring?
District 12's POV
Annalisa Soleil
I lay in bed, trying to block out the worry for tomorrow. I don't want it to happen; I would rather do more interviews and training for the rest of my life then be sent into the games. Everything is filling my mind now, what I should do, where should I go. I can't really determine anything until I know what the arena is like… but I still don't know whether I should run or not. Could I really beat one of the careers? Or even another tribute? I haven't made an alliance, but watching others in training I have noticed a few have. I have a sort of strategy I guess… so I have somewhat planned. But it is not like we have any idea what it will be like because of previous games… seeing as we are the first ones! I just hope that I can understand quickly… because I am guessing we won't have long to get ready…
Oliver Istas
Less than a day. I have less than a day before I go into the Hunger Games. It's only hit me now, how worried I actually am. How can you plan for something like this? I doubt anyone has said 'I'm going to make a complete fool proof plan that will help me win the fight to the death I am being sent into,' no that's ridiculous. I think it would have been easier in years to come, when you have an idea of what the games are like. But we have no help at all… not even a clue about what it is about. These gamemakers really want to watch us suffer don't they? No-one knows how things will pan out tomorrow… how could they? Not even the gamemakers know who will die, but I guess that is the exciting part for them. It's the terrible part for us, not knowing if we are going to be alive or dead tomorrow. But that's what's so fun about these games for them. They will always win.
Next chapter is the games! 'whose excited?' *puts hands in the air*. This is actually the longest chapter I have wrote so far, which explains why it took longer to update. I am so excited for the next few chapters and I will try to update as soon as possible! Also, after the bloodbath I am making a poll on my profile, to see who your favourites are etc. It could help decide who lives... so look out for that soon.
Anyway thank you so much for reading and reviewing! -DeepInTheMeadowIWriteStories
