It's been a few days, sorry. My mum told me I couldn't use internet because she'd received an email saying we only had 1/3 of it left, but she had told me we'd 'almost run out'. I didn't actually know we still had a 1/3 left until yesterday, so I figured with 1/3 of our monthly internet in less than a week, I could at least go on social media and update fics. As usual I hope you enjoy, and please tell me what you think, you're reviews are so encouraging and are what keep me writing. Also I've decided to write like crazy for the next couple of days, so if I get 5 reviews on this chapter, there will be a double update either tomorrow or the next day, depending on how much homework I get tomorrow, so please it's really in your best interest to hit the review button.

Chapter 34

Bug's eyes fill with tears. I turn to the male tribute's family. They also seem upset, though slightly less so than Bug.

"Thank you for making it painless." His mum says. "I knew when his name was reaped the odds were, he wasn't coming back. I could only just deal with that. I wouldn't have been able to cope if you had done it slowly." I shrug.

"If I was going to die in the arena, I would want it to be quick. I think it's sick to drag it out so it's longer." I say.

"Well thank you." His dad gives me a weak watery smile.

Flux's POV

I can't wait for today to be over. Once it's over, I'm safe. Once it's over, I can no longer be reaped. I mean, even today the chance of me being reaped is pretty low. Both my parents and I work, so we have just enough food so I don't take tesserae. My name's only in 7 times, some 12 year olds have it in more times than that. I'm lucky, I know that. I feel sorry those who are reaped, but I hate it when they get emotional. At the end of the day, you're going to go into that arena so you might as well try to look as strong as possible to get sponsors. They're not just going to let you escape the games if you cry loads. You'll just look weak and be first on the career's hit list.

The odds are that I won't be reaped, but if I was I know what my strategy would be. Find a couple of good strong allies, no careers though, and grab essentials from the cornucopia and run. I wouldn't hunt any tributes, but if any strayed past me, of course I wouldn't let the opportunity go. If there weren't any tributes I wanted to ally with I'd just go on my own. I'd rather go on my own, and just depend on myself, than ally with someone I don't really know or trust and have them backstab me. I'm not really a people person anyway. I prefer my own company.

"Do you want me to cut you some bread?" I ask my parents as I pass their room on the way downstairs.

"That'd be lovely, thank you." Mum calls through the door. I go downstairs slowly, I've got ages until the reaping, there's no point in rushing to get ready. I get the half stale loaf of bread out and start slicing it. Then I get the butter out and spread it thinly onto the bread. I pick two of the three plates up and go upstairs.

"Here." I say, knocking on their door, while balancing the plates. I give one to each of them and go out. Just as I'm closing the door, Dad calls out.

"Flux?" I pop my head back around the door.

"Yeah?"

"Good luck, for later." I nod.

"Thanks." I head back down and nibble on my bread, curled up on the old cracked sofa in the living room. I shiver and pull the old threadbare blanket around me. It's a cold day, despite the sunlight streaming through the curtains. The mornings are getting brighter and warmer earlier, but I think today is just going to be a cold day.

I hate the cold. The way it seeps into your bones. The way your fingers get a whitish blue and you can't feel them, even when you bury them deep into your warm pocket, where the cold can't penetrate them. I hate the way goosebumps form and the way you sit there shivering. I can deal with heat much better than with the cold. If I was going into the arena, I'd hate it to be tundra. That'd be my worst nightmare.

I brush off the crumbs from the bread and butter and stand up, hopping around from the cold slate flooring. It's like ice on my bare feet. I decide to have a hot shower to warm myself up. I'm allowed one hot shower a week, all the other time I have to have a lukewarm one.

I turn the nozzle in the shower and step under, forgetting it takes a few seconds to warm up.

"Argh!" I scream, as cold water drizzles down my back. I leap out and skid on the wet floor. I end up getting even colder than before because by this point the water's gone all over the floor. Typical I try to warm myself up, but just end up even colder. I soon warm up under the hot shower though. Steam starts to whirl across the bathroom, and soon I can barely see through it. I know I'll have to get out soon, but the hot streams of water is so nice. As soon as I get out, I immediately feel cooler, and have to grab a worn thick towel to dry myself.

After I'm dressed, I just stay inside and do some homework until the reaping. Most people spend time with their friends and family before the reaping, but my family know there's nothing we can do about it and I don't really talk to people much. I'm a bit of an outsider.

After I've signed in at the reaping, I stand amongst a load of boys my age We're all shifting anxiously. Lots of them will be in a the reaping a lot of times because they've had to take tesserae. After what seems like an age, they finally start.

"Now for the females." I don't have anyone to root for in that bowl. I just hope it's someone with half a chance.

"Bug Carlin." I don't know who she is. She starts to walk up, but someone starts shouting.

"No!" A girl from near where she came out yelled "Bug no." Everyone has turned to look in her direction, even Bug turns her head and stops. "I volunteer." She pushes her way to Bug, they both look the same age. They must be really close friends for her to actually volunteer for her.

"It's okay." Bug says, almost inaudibly from where I'm standing.

"It's not." The other girl says quietly, and as she passes Bug, she stops and hugs her.

"And what's your name?" The escort asks.

"Lanni." She says dully. I don't think she's got much chance in the games. She's not that young, she just doesn't look like she's got it in her to kill.

"Now for the male." She walks to the other reaping bowl. It shouldn't be me. The odds say it won't be. Reason says it shouldn't be. "Flux Rymortos." She says. I guess fate doesn't want to listen to reason. I go up. I just hope I can survive. I'm strong. I could kill. If it came down to it. I'm sure of it.

I grab a pack and a sword and run. I head straight for the river. I want to swim across it while everyone at the cornucopia is still distracted. I attach the sword to my belt, and my pack is slung loosely over one shoulder. The water is freezing. It's getting through my layers of clothing, making it bulge and harder to swim. When I am almost half way across, I feel a sharp pain in my back. It drains all my strength. I go under. I try to scream. Muddy water fills my mouth. The water starts to turn a murky red. I can't see in front of me. I'm trapped. My back feels like it's on fire. I think it's a throwing knife. I just know I'm not going to survive. I'm drowning. Why did I have to go this way? In a cold river. I hate the cold. Especially cold water. Blood covers my vision. My oxygen runs out.