Is anyone still out there? Hello? Anyone still reading? *readers wave their hands* Oh hey there, glad you're still reading. I think I lost a few readers though, with the whole 'saving the final 8 and sending in 8 new ones.'

Also, sorry for flooding your emails, FF seriously can't get their act together, and wouldn't upload the darn chapter.

To Always Remember

Lute's stomach lurched as the chariot jolted forward, sending her body to the front. Lute almost, but not quite, lost her balance. After all, almost only counted in hand grenades and horseshoes.

Her fingers ran her fingers through her hair and twirled a strand of her long blonde hair around her pointer finger. Just to make sure that it was still there. She knew that a lot of stylists liked to chop off long locks, and was glad that her own stylist hadn't. Lute had spent all of her life growing out her golden locks, and it would be such a waste to watch them fall in circle at her feet.

The first chariot was being admired now. The single girl in the cart was smiling broadly at them. With only eight tributes, Lute knew all of their names. And Anika looked absolutely stunning with diamonds pasted onto her skin and silk wrapped strategically around her body. The men of Panem were sure going crazy over Anika. Now by herself, Anika wasn't the prettiest of girls, she was average, nothing special, but under all that glamour and glitz, she was smoking. It was amazing what make up could do.

The cute little gold bangle on Anika's wrist jangled musically as she waved adoringly at the audience.

Lute pushed her glasses up her nose, she hated how they always slid down her slender nose. And she could never find a frame that would fit her face. Her glasses always made her look intelligent, and she didn't mind that look. Lute was even more average looking then Anika was, and so Lute had learned to use her intelligence to her advantage.

For the second time that month, Angelo's chariot entered the limelight, but this time, there was no Diana standing next to him. Angelo looked worn and drained. Lute actually felt bad for him. For about five seconds. Because Angelo had demonstrated himself to be a killer, and Lute knew that she would be next on his hit list. But still, he had also shown that he could fall in love with a plain, ever optimistic girl of eight.

The audience held up signs and shouted things to Angelo. He was well loved, he had a major advantage because Panem already knew who he was. There were signs riddled throughout the crowd, We Love You Angelo, and, You And Janie Were Meant To Be. Lute twisted back to the District 8 chariot where Jace's face was screwed up in everlasting anger. Figuring out feelings of others came easy to her, but judging that same person for his or her morals was more difficult. Lute wasn't the best judge of character. It was probably because she liked to see the best in people. Even after everything she had seen, she still believed that people were good. She would have gotten along well with Janie and Annabel.

It was a horrible love triangle, made even worse by the fact that the girl of their affection was dead. Lute felt bad for all of them. And by that, she meant every single tribute that had ever seen the face of the arena.

Angelo's moment was over and it was Lute's turn. She wished that she had someone next to her to go through this with. Lute hated being alone, everyone had their own fear, hers was being by herself. She wondered who she would be able to befriend, she needed someone to be with her while in the arena. People were her nightlight to see in the dark.

But instead of crying like she really wanted to, Lute held up her head and smiled out at Panem.

XXX

Ethen Hawk should have seen this coming. He should have known that he would be reaped for the Games. It was like a curse that ran through his family or something. A once a generation thing. And he was the only one from this generation. It would end with him, since there would be no generation after he was gone.

District 3 was parading about the arena right now. The girl had thick glasses and long blonde hair, she also looked like she was about to cry. Ethen had the strongest urge to comfort her. Girls should never be allowed to have anything to cry over. He wanted to protect her, he had always wanted to protect those of the female variety. It was probably because he had lost his mother when he was only a year old, and had never been able to protect her. Well, he didn't really lose her, she had been taken away from him. Kali had only been seventeen when she had Ethen, and was only able to love him unconditionally for a year before she was reaped. Kali died at eighteen during the bloodbath, the third tribute to die. Leaving Ethen to be raised by his heartbroken but loving father.

District 4 was rolling into the arena. The only chariot with two tributes. The chariot itself looked like the ocean, it was painted blue and covered in coral and seaweed. The two tributes had oyster costumes on them, as if they were going to a Halloween party and had gotten to the party store late, leaving only the crappy costumes. Both of them looked dangerous though, even as oysters. Ethen studied the girl, he wanted the girl, no, NEEDED, the girl. After all, it had been the district four girl who had killed his own other when he wasn't even old enough to remember her face. He was actually surprised that his mother had been killed by another girl. Ethen lacked faith in the female sex. He thought that they were weak, that they belonged in the kitchen and needed to be protected by their significant other.

There was no district 5, or 6 or even 7. It jumped from 4 to 8. And only one person was from 8. Jace Michael's, boyfriend to the late Janie Swartzchild and declared nemesis of Angelo Braxus.

Jace had been dressed as a knight. A knight in shining armor to be exact. Too bad his damsel in distress had already died. He had been too late to save her.

Ethen thought about his best friend, Ileza. The only girl he really got on with. And that wasn't the best way to describe their friendship, since they were always fighting. Since had had been raised by just his dad, Ethen didn't have the best role model for how to get along with girls. Ethen adored his dad though. And would do anything to make Taimen proud.

Only one more chariot before it was Ethen's turn. The girl from nine entered the arena. Ethen fiddled with the coal lumps that were crowded around his feet. Apparently he had been naughty that year. He was naughty every year though. He was used to coal, being from 12, and his father was a coal miner. Ethen had always thought that he would follow in Taimen's footsteps and become a miner as well. But now he probably wouldn't. Now he would probably just be a memory in a wooden box.

It was finally his turn to shine. His turn to fight for sponsors. Fat chance of that, twelves never got sponsors.

XXX

Whenever he closed his eyes, he saw her face. Her smiling face with her pretty eyes and her cute little kissable nose.

He would always regret not being there for her last moments, and he hated the fact that Angelo had been there for that. It practically killed him, knowing that Angelo had been the last face that she had seen.

If it was the last thing he did, the last face that Angelo saw, would be Jace's. Jace would show Angelo exactly what happened when one tried to move in on someone else's girlfriend. Janie had been perfectly clear from the start that she had a boyfriend, yet, it didn't matter to Angelo, he had gone after that innocent little girl anyway. And so now, Jace would go after Angelo.

The eight of them were sitting on the stage in a semi-circle around Caesar. It was just going to be one big massive interview, just like it had happened with the previous final eight who had gotten to go home. Well, at least, seven of them went home. The eighth was sitting only four chairs away from Jace.

Jace was glaring at Angelo. Angelo's neck was twitching and contorting in anger. It was kinda funny to watch actually.

"Hello Panem," Caesar boomed out for all to hear. All focus was on him as he introduced everyone. "We have a wonderful show planned for tonight, an exclusive interview with our eight newest contenders. They are, Anika Beldane from one, Angelo Braxus from two, Lute Ashby from three, Olive Seacrest and Marin Laize, both from four, Jace Michaels from eight, Belaquia Hexton from nine, and Ethen Hawk from twelve."

Claps could be heard as the audience cheered for their favorite tributes. Angelo got the biggest welcome. Jace glared out at them. How dare they root for that bastard. Angelo deserved to die. He had stolen what was rightfully Jace's. Jace hated thieves.

"Anika, how are you tonight darling? You look marvelous, and you totally stole the show tonight in those diamonds."

Anika flashed a smile out at the crowd. Jace could barely keep his attention on what was going on. He was too busy throwing daggers at Angelo and thinking of Janie. He half expected him to wake up and find out that it had all been a bad dream. He wanted to open his eyes and see Janie laughing at him and poking fun at his expense. Damn, he missed those days.

"I'm great Caesar, my mom is probably loving the dress, she's always trying to get me to dress up for her tea parties and such."

The audience laughed with her. Anika already had them wrapped around her fingers.

"And how do you feel about tea parties?"

"I'm not much of a tea person Caesar, I prefer something else." Anika winked at him and Caesar chuckled.

"You're sure full of spunk, your mom must have had her hands full raising you."

"That's why her hair is so gray," Anika replied, sending the audience into another fit of laughter.

"Angelo, Angelo, Angelo," Caesar said, moving onto the next tribute, Jace had to control his anger. He could practically hear Janie in his head, telling him to take a deep breath. He had always thought people were insane when they said they heard voices. But now Jace understood, because he kept hearing Janie's sugary voice, even though he knew she would never talk to him again. "It seems like I just talked to you. What else is new?"

"Oh you know Caesar, the usual, being reaped, riding on chariots, talking to idiots, dealing with stupidity, the like." Angelo's voice was rough, he was being serious, and maybe just a tinge sarcastic. Jace wondered if Angelo even knew how to tell a joke, how to laugh. It didn't seem like it. How on earth could Janie have liked Angelo? He wasn't her type. Janie couldn't have liked him, it had to have been all a trick. Angelo must have forced her into it or something. Janie wouldn't willingly break Jace's heart…right?

"Lute, tell me about yourself, what do you like to do in your free time?"

The girl called Lute nervously pushed back her glasses. They were thick rimmed, she must have horrible eyesight. Janie had always had perfect vision. There was nothing wrong with her, never had been. She had been perfect in every way. His sweet little Janie.

"I like to make clocks," Lute said shyly, as if it was a deep dark secret that she was sharing for the first time. As if it was something to be embarrassed about. But being from eight, Jace knew all about the secret hobbies of liking to tinker with machinery. Jace actually liked to play with engines. "I'm actually an apprentice toy maker."

"Really?" Caesar said, impressed, "do you think you can make me something?" Lute nodded and Caesar's face lit up like a little boy who had just been promised an ice cream cone before dinner.

Caesar turned to the next tribute, "Olive, and how are you tonight?"

"Well, I've been better, but I've been worse," Olive piped up. Jace was actually getting tired of listening to the other tributes talk. He just wanted to get into the arena so he could throw his hands around Angelo's neck and strangle him to death. "This oyster costume is very itchy," Olive admitted. The eight of them had gone right from chariots to the stage, so none of them had been able to change. The kid from twelve had it the worst though. He had to be freezing with only coal dust to keep him warm. "And I'm not even a fan of oysters, I know, I know, I'm from four, I'm supposed to love oysters. But after shucking oyster after oyster, they get old after awhile. And if I never see an oyster ever again, it would be to soon."

Marin got grilled next. Marin admitted that he still liked oysters. Jace didn't see why it really mattered. Who cared what any of them liked? It's not like anything good was going to be done with that information.

"Asla is my sister," Marin said, "well, she was my sister, she died when she was just a baby."

Caesar and the rest of the audience awed. "I bet you miss her, you never got the chance to know her."

"I like to imagine her as she would be if she lived. She'd be seven right now, with golden curls and green eyes. If she was alive, she'd be with my parents right now, her eyes glued on the screen, watching me and wishing that I was home with her."

"She was a lucky girl, to have you as a big brother," Caesar said before moving on to Jace. Jace wasn't ready to be grilled. Because he knew exactly what Caesar was going to ask him.

Sure enough, without fail, Caesar brought up Janie.

"Look, let's get one thing straight, I've known Janie her whole life, I was there when she fell and broke her ankle. I was the first one to sign her cast, I carried her wherever she needed to go. When she was sick with pneumonia, I nursed her back to health. I made her soup and sang her to sleep. I knew her better then I knew myself. I will always be madly in love with that girl. I was the only one for her. And that's that."

Angelo was glaring, but so was Jace. Chairs squeaked as they were pushed backwards and Angelo and Jace had a stand off.

"That's enough," Caesar barked at them before fists could fly, "save it for the arena."

"Oh don't worry, I will," Jace said gruffly.

Caesar managed to do the whole, damage control thing by ignoring Angelo and Jace and moving onto Belaquia.

Belaquia was also glaring, or maybe her face was just contorted that way naturally. Jace couldn't tell. But that glare didn't really help her look like a nice tribute.

Belaquia mainly talked about her sister. "Her name is Ellie, and she's younger then I am. She's paralyzed from the waste down because of our bitch mother."

Belaquia's features seemed to soften as she talked about her sister, but her anger flared up the moment she mentioned her mother. Caesar seemed to realize that, so he didn't ask her about her mother.

Ethen was last, and he wasn't really that interesting. "My mom was reaped when I wasn't even a year old."

"That had to of been tough on you."

"Yeah, I don't remember her, but my dad said she was a wonderful person. Her name was Kali, and dad says that I have her eyes and her stubbornness. I wish I had been able to get to know her though. No one should have to grow up without their mother."

From next to him, Belaquia snorted. Guess she didn't care for her mother. Jace agreed with Ethen, he loved his own mother. Amara was the sweetest woman ever, always willing to help someone in need.

"Well that's about all we have time for folks," Caesar finally said. "Let's say goodbye and wish these eight tributes good luck, because it's off to the arena for them."

And so it was.

XXX

The eight of them were returned to their mentors and then ushered to the launch area where they all separated into different rooms.

Angelo had already been though this before, so it wasn't anything new. He was just ready to get this over with. He wanted to show that Jace fellow that he was better then him.

"Here, it's your token for the games," his mentor said, handing him something. Angelo opened his hands and a small pair of something metal fell into his open palm.

"What is it?" He asked, confused.

"Tweezers," his mentor said softly, as if that explained everything, yet, it explained nothing. Angelo shrugged but gripped them in his hand. There was something special about those tweezers, he could sense it, he wasn't sure what, but he knew it was something. "Janie would want you to have them," his mentor clarified, and that explained everything. Angelo would never let those tweezers out of his sight.

Angelo put on a brand new bathing suit. Which he was glad for, because the old one had definitely seen better days.

He stepped onto his plate, squared his shoulders and waited for it to emerge into the air.

It wasn't long before he was zipping up to the surface for the second time.

To always remember, keep a box of your most treasured items.

Opinion Question: Who's your new favorite tribute?

Blood Bath Chapter Guidelines: Yup, I told you there would be another opportunity. Blood bath chapter will be chapter 40. Deadline is April 20th. If you are interested in writing it, then let me know. If it doesn't seem like anyone is interested then I will write the chapter myself, but I hope you are interested, because it is really fun.

This time, you get to choose the deaths! You can kill up to three tributes.

Must be 2,000 words or more and proof-read.

Must include a scream, someone tripping, and a fly.

Must include the line "what else do you have up your sleeve," and the line "don't make me laugh, seriously, don't."

Must include the sea lion, a fight between Jace and Angelo, the color maroon, and the word inconceivable.

They are going back to the same arena, exactly the way that it was left, so weapons will be scattered all around. There still might even be some fish that Artis caught lying on the ground.

Any other questions, then please pm me!

Good luck and have fun!

And of course, there's a new poll up.

I really think you should review, don't you agree Lute. Yes, it would be wonderful if you did, I'll make you a clock. See, isn't that wonderful, you review and you get an awesome working clock. At least, I hope it works. Hey! Of course it works! I'm good at what I do. Yes, of course you are Lute, I know that, but they don't. That's cause they need to have more faith.

~*Misty*~