A/N: As you've probably noticed, this story has quite a few more tributes than most. Because of this, there are several tributes I have not gotten the chance to visit since their interviews. I will be including several of those tributes here.

The Arena

1043 Hours

5:00:43:12

District 5 Female B: Melody Wright's POV:

I am supposed to be dead.

The Capitol ranked me sixty-second on their list. There are fifty-six of us left. I should have died on day one, but here I am, cold and tired and hungry, trudging along the cobblestone road, five days into the Games.

Half of my district is dead. To no one's surprise, Jason is not among the four. Cole, the ten-year-old Hispanic boy, is alive as well, along with Edel, the pregnant eighteen-year-old. But Maddie and Magali, little Bell and Ziggy, all four met their ends on the first day. I had never met either of the little boys before the reaping, and Magali attended the rich kids school, but Maddie and I, only a year apart in age, had been quite close when we were little, and though we grew apart as the years passed, it nearly broke me to see my childhood friend die.

I hate the idea of murder, of killing another being. I cannot imagine drawing a blade through a body, the idea sickens me. The prospect does not seem to trouble the Careers at all. I saw it happen, I saw Astrid's arrow notched, pointed at Maddie. I screamed for her to run, but it was too late, the shaft was embedded in the girl's chest, and all I could do was stare as she fell to her knees, grappling at her chest.

I shake my head to clear the memory. My hair, still damp from yesterday's storm, speckles my thick glasses with tiny water droplets. Sighing, I remove them and rub the right lens with my shirt. It squeaks, and I realize my shirt is wet as well. I shake my head and slide my glasses into place. I'll have to wait for it to evaporate. I got no cloth from the Cornucopia, just a large container of water and some bungee cord.

A sharp gust of wind strikes my face. I shiver, tucking my chin into my chest. I try to ignore my hunger, my tiredness, and focus on placing one foot in front of the other. Right, left, right, left.

In the Capitol, thousands of civilians are filling their stomachs until they can eat no more, happily watching this festive display of blood and gore and death. They have never known hunger, or any other hardship. And I hate them for it.

I lift my water bottle to my lips. The cool liquid flows down my throat, and I allow myself to relax. Time for a little break, I decide. Just a few moments. I put away my water bottle and lean against a brick building.

As I slide to the ground, a cry rings out. I sit up straight. It was the cry of a child, a boy. Whoever he is, he cannot be more than a block or two away. I force myself to my feet and scan the street. Nothing. Treading lightly on the cobblestones, I make my way to the corner and peer around.

Almost immediately, a pair of light blue eyes lock on mine. I gasp as I realize who it is- Maddie, the girl I thought was dead. I backpedal, but it's too late. She's seen me. Was I mistaken when I saw her face in the sky on the first night? Did she somehow survive the bloodbath, the arrow in her chest? No, I remember weeping that night at the knowledge that I would never see her again. I am confident that she died that day. This girl, she must be a mutt, a creation of the Gamemakers. And in the arena mutts are created for one and only one purpose: to eliminate tributes. Maddie was sweet and kind. This creature will not be.

I am fast, but the boy is faster. As I near the end of the block, he passes me. I decide to follow him. If Maddie catches us, I do not want to face her alone. I am unarmed. I will have to make do with a bulky metal canteen and several yards of cord. I hope the boy has a weapon. Hopefully he will deem Maddie the bigger threat.

I sprint to catch up with the boy. His head whips back, and I look behind us as well. Maddie is nearly a block back, but we are tiring, and she is gaining on us. Fear fills me, as does determination. I cannot die here. I must show Father that he cannot get rid of me. I must survive.

The boy grabs my arm and pulls me to a narrow side alley. "Don't step on the red cobbles," he warns me. Releasing my arm, he carefully begins to make his way down the alley. I follow him, my eyes fixed on the ground. I move as quickly as I can, avoiding all the stones with even a hint of red. The alley is perhaps one hundred yards long. When I reach the end I find the boy waiting for me, looking almost content.

"What was that about?" I ask. "With the red cobbles and all, I mean?" I look nervously at the alley. Maddie has not yet reached it. We shouldn't be standing here, we should be running, putting distance between us and the mutt girl. But the boy has stopped running, and he does not appear to be particularly winded.

"Let's get inside first," he says. He opens the door of a stone building and steps inside. When I am inside, he closes the door. He adjusts something on the knob. There is a small click, and he turns to face me again. "Promise not to kill me? Until she's done for, at least?"

"Yeah."

"You wouldn't want to kill me, anyways?" He peers at me, his brown eyes enlarged by glasses nearly as thick as mine. He's correct- good at reading people, it seems. Or perhaps I am just an open book, even to a boy with whom I have never conversed. "That's reassuring. And don't worry, I'm not going to take a stab at you."

For some reason, I find I believe him. "So. Maddie."

"Maddie," he agrees. "Come, let's watch her."

"We need to run," I tell him. "She's a mutt. The Gamemakers are going to have her come in here, and I don't have any weapons." I bite my tongue when the last few words slip out. You should never admit you are unarmed. Not in the slums of District Five, and certainly not in the arena, though I doubt I could ever use a weapon even if I had to.

"Unless she teleports in here, we're safe," the boy assures me, leading me up a flight of stairs and over to a window.

I look out just in time to see Maddie arrive at the alley. A long sword is in her hand. She sprints down the alley, her straight dark hair trailing behind her.

"Come on," the boy mutters, his knuckles pressing into the dusty windowsill. He gazes worriedly at the girl below us.

The sun emerges from behind a cloud, lighting up the cobblestones. One particular stone catches my eye. It is a deep burgundy, and it nearly sparkles in the sunlight. And then the brown boot falls heavily on it, and Maddie is blown into the air.

I shriek, falling backwards and covering my face. Benedict doesn't notice me at first; he is gripping the windowsill, almost smiling at the sight of the wrecked girl below. I get to my feet and join him at the window. Maddie's remains are sinking into the gap where the rigged cobble once sat, unseen hands pulling her down.

"Nice," I tell the boy. I hold out my hand. "Melody Wright. District Five."

"I know," he says. "I'm Benedict. From Seven."

"Nice working with you." I turn and start towards the door.

"You don't have to leave," Benedict says softly.

I turn, surprised. "You want me to stay?" Though I have known the boy for under an hour, I trust him more than any other living tribute. I cannot keep the hopefulness from my voice.

"I know you don't want to be alone," Benedict says. "I thought that maybe we could team up, work together for a little while. I tried to find an ally during training, but I guess I don't seem threatening enough to be much use to anyone." When I don't respond, he adds, "I have food. The sponsors sent me some more just before the Maddie mutt appeared."

My mouth waters. "I haven't eaten since the Capitol."

Benedict slips his pack from his shoulder and takes out an apple. "Is that a yes?" he asks, offering it to me.

I grab it and bite off a large chunk. When I swallow, I smile at him. "Yes."

District 4 Female C: Alaska Silverstone's POV:

My stomach growls with hunger as I sit in the small wooden room. My mentor must think me a hopeless case, for she has not spent a cent on me. I have received no sponsors. I have not eaten in days, and I had not drank a single drop of water until yesterday's rainfall. I have no doubt that this lack of sponsors is a result of my failure to make it into the Career alliance. The Careers have always been sponsored more than other tributes. Out of the eight from District Four, only Griffin and Gemini made it into the Career alliance. However, it is widely known that while Avalon, Katie and Tristan chose to forge their own paths in the arena, I tried and failed to join a larger group.

If I cannot obtain supplies, I will be dead in a matter of days. I must find another tribute before my time is up. I am unarmed and weak with hunger and thirst. I will not survive a fight. No, I cannot take down a tribute to take their supplies. I must join an alliance.

I look out of the window. No tributes are in sight, but the square is just three blocks away. The Careers have suffered many losses in the five days since the Games began. Perhaps they will allow me to join if only to add to their numbers. I am from a Career district, after all. Maybe Gemini or Tristan will take mercy on me, give me a chance in the group.

I grab onto the windowsill and hoist myself to my feet. I stand, lightheaded, as the world swirls out of focus.

The dark haired girl stands in the center of a frozen pond. She gives me a wide grin.

"See, Alaska?" Alicia says gleefully. "I made it to the - "

She cuts off abruptly as a web of cracks appear in the ice beneath her feet. I scream for her to run, to come back to me before it is too late, but she is frozen in fear. The ice crumbles below her. Alicia runs towards me, but she slips on the slick surface. I scream as she slides into the water. I scream and keep screaming until I can scream no more.

My vision clears and a tear rolls down my cheek. I blink it away. I cannot cry. I cannot afford to lose the little moisture my body has retained from yesterday.

I leave the wooden building and make my way down the street, stopping every so often to catch my breath. It has been two years since my sister died, but I still cannot get her face out of my mind, the horror that crossed it that day. Alicia occupies my thoughts as I walk down the street towards the square. I urged her to go with me to the pond that day. If I had not, perhaps she would still be alive.

I reach the courtyard and take in the fountain, the golden horn. The square is deserted. I groan inwardly. I sit on the ledge and jump onto the cobbles below. My ankle twists as it connects with the ground, and I wince. I limp to the fountain and sit beside a stone fountainhead. There will be no leaving the square; I could not for my life make the six foot climb to the buildings. If the Careers do not return soon, I will die. Even if they do come back, I may still die. I lean against the Cornucopia and sigh as I await my fate.

1427 Hours

5:04:27:50

District 5 Female D: Edelweisse Gellum's POV:

I sit in the chilly room, my back pressed against a cool marble slab. I fiddle with the straps of my backpack as I observe the two boys. Zarath is at the window, looking out at the street two stories below. Anvil, who had been unwilling to settle in an upper story of such an unstable building, is cleaning his mace with the fabric of his shirt.

I resist the urge to finish off the little food we have remaining from the Cornucopia. I am hungry, but I will live. At this rate, though, our food will be gone by tomorrow.

"We should be walking," I say. "I don't want to stay here all day."

"Not much as happened today, as far as we know," Anvil puts out. "No one's died. Suppose the Gamemakers decide to interfere again? You really want to be out on the streets when that happens?"

"No, but I think the audience is more likely to get bored if everyone's staying inside," I retort.

Anvil is about to say something in return, but Zarath speaks first. "Parachute," the low voice says.

"Parachute?" I look up. "Who's it for?" I take the silver basket from him. There is a small 11 carved into the side. I toss it to Anvil. "It's yours."

Anvil opens it and takes out a large flask of water, a loaf of bread, a bag of dried fruit, several sausages and a hunk of cheese.

"Nice," I comment. "Can we have some now? I'm hungry. Starving. I'm eating less than I did in Five, and that's saying something."

Anvil tosses me a dried apricot. "This is going to have to last a while, Edel."

"Fine," I mumble. "Can we walk now?"

"We'll leave in the morning," Anvil says. "If you two want to move to the first floor, however, I'm all for it."

"This building is stone," I remind him. "It's hardly weak."

"The Gamemakers are hardly above collapsing a building on us," Zarath says, pressing the tip of his spear into the dusty floor. "No one's died today. There are ninety-six of us, and I don't think they want this dragging on too long."

I'm quiet for a moment. "I almost died at the Cornucopia."

"We all did," Zarath snaps. "That's what happens when you participate in a bloodbath, you know."

I ignore the older teenager. "I ran into Lila. District Two, I think. I had nothing, she had a knife. I was helpless. But she let me go. She could have killed me, but she chose to release me. Because of this, I imagine." I pat my stomach lightly. "Because of her."

"Her?" Anvil repeats.

"It's a 'her', I just know it."

"Well, don't expect everyone to decide your life is worth saving," Zarath says. "Run into another Career and you're as good as dead."

"In that case I guess I should make a point of avoiding them," I say icily. "Oh, wow, I'd never considered that before."

Zarath ignores me, using his spear to carve an elaborate design in the dust.

District 6 Male C: Coby Roose's POV:

Kaila's hand rests on my shoulder. "Coby, can you and Ava scout out the surrounding blocks?"

"Me?" I stare at her. Every few hours, Kaila appoints a duo to look around and make sure there are no tributes near the bulk of the group. Usually she chooses older children; Axel, Belladonna and Jame are frequently chosen.

"Yes, you." The fourteen-year-old smiles warmly. "I was going to send Jame and Jonan, but Jonan suggested we give some of the younger ones a chance. He specifically nominated you, you know. Do you think you can do it? Ava's already agreed."

I grin proudly. "Yeah, sure!"

"Awesome." Kaila takes my hand and leads me to the smaller girl. "You two know what to do, right? Just look around the nearest streets. Be careful, and make sure that if you see anyone, they don't see you too."

"Got it!" As we turn to leave, she catches my shoulder again. "Coby..."

"Yeah, what?" I give her an impatient stare.

She shifts uncomfortably. "I don't like doing this, but...I can't just send you out there without anything. And you're a bit older than Ava, so I figured I'd have to give it to you." She holds up a long knife and presses the handle into my palm. "Be careful. Don't hurt yourself; we don't have much in terms of medical supplies. I really hope you won't have cause to use this, but just in case, be sure not to lose it."

I nod, fear only now coming upon me. I grip the knife tightly in one hand and take Ava's hand in the other. We walk away from the group, scanning the street.

"Stay together!" Kaila calls as we turn the corner.

"Yes, Mother," I mutter. I get a small smile from the five-year-old on my right. "See anyone?" I ask her.

"No...yes."

My eyes widen and I look around frantically. "Where? Where?" Through my panic I hear the sound of laughter. I turn to the giggling girl, confusion coming over me. "You lying to me?"

"Nope." Ava bites her lip to keep from laughing. "Don't you see someone?" My lips part as realization begins to dawn on me. "Or am I in - invisible?"

I punch her in the arm. "You little..."

"Did I scare you?" Ava asks, laughing again now.

"Course not! No one ever scaring me!" I cross my arms, delicately weaving the knife through the crook of my elbow.

"I scared you," Ava teases, a bright smile on her face. I open my mouth to retaliate when her eyes focus on something behind my head and her smile disappears, replaced by a look of horror.

"Now you messing with me again," I grumble. "Well, you can't fool me."

And that's when a thick arm clamps down on my chest, holding me immobile. I scream and fight to lift the knife, but my left arm is pinned against someone's chest. Ava turns to run, but she is grabbed by a tall, muscular girl. I take in the 4 on her sleeve and begin to struggle again. The Careers.

I twist the knife in my palm and push it away from my body with all of my strength. My arm is capable of little movement, but I hear a boy curse and I know it has reached him. A boot connects with my hand, and I drop the knife with a yelp.

"Do you have to hold him, Sage?" a tall blonde girl asks. I look away when I see a long, wicked looking knife in her hand. "It's more fun when they try to run."

"I have to agree with that, Val," the boy says with a cold laugh. "Make it slow, okay? The little brat got his knife on me."

The boy's grip on me loosens, and I squirm free. I try to run, but his foot connects with my behind and I fall to the ground. I roll onto my back and try to sit up, but the blonde girl is standing above me. She pushes me to the ground, her knee on my chest.

"Don't kill me!" I plead. "Let me go! I'm not going to win, someone else will kill me eventually, just please let me go for now!"

"No, you're right, you're not going to win," she confirms. "However, I think we can delay your death a bit. You want to see your friend bite it first?" She hoists me to my feet and pins me against the side of a building, offering me a clear view of the spectacle in the street.

The girl from District Four holds Ava's hands behind her back. The boy from Eight - Cade, I remember - stands in front of my friend, sword in hand.

"Come on," I hear Four say. "I know you want to draw this out, but we have to get back to the Cornucopia by nightfall."

"That's hours away, Gemini." Cade rolls his eyes, but he steps forward. I close my eyes as a scream pierces the air. I wait, but no cannon follows. I raise my eyelids slightly and squint and the tributes in front of me.

Gemini has relinquished her hold on Ava. My ally lies in the street, blood pumping freely from the gaping wound on her chest. Cade strikes her again, this time in the neck. Ava screams again, then falls silent. Her cannon sounds, and tears prick my eyelids. Ava, the sweetest girl I ever met, is dead.

"Your turn," Valentine says cheerfully, shoving me to the ground. I scramble to my feet and turn to run, but a second girl from One grabs me. "Hold him, Heather," Valentine orders.

"So you can take all the glory again?" Heather sneers. "You, the little Gamemakers' pet? Ranked first, my ass. Hold him still for you? I don't think so." She shoves me away and lifts her spear. I cry out as pain explodes in my torso. I stare in horror at the wet blotch spreading around the ragged hole in my shirt.

"That has to be the lamest stab I've ever seen," Valentine says with a snort. "Clear out and I'll show you how to take care of a tribute."

I sit on the blood streaked cobbles, paralyzed in fear, as the youngest Career approaches me. Her knife flashes, tearing open my chest. I sob in pain, and she grins. She raises the weapon high above her head. I sob out an apology to Medrada, my sister Meddie, and Valentine brings down the knife one last time.

District 12 Male D: Lupus Astrum's POV:

Someone is tugging at my backpack. I turn to the boy beside me, who is the perfect image of myself. I look at him expectantly, hoping I do not appear too annoyed. "Yes?"

"Can we eat now, Lupus?"

"I'm sure we are capable of it, yes," I tell my brother, "but we should probably wait another hour or so before testing the theory." I consider asking him to speak in English for the audience, but I decide against it. They will most likely put edit in English subtitles, the way they did with the French pair from District Six two years ago.

"But Lupus," Laurus whines, "I'm hungry. And we still have food from the sponsors yesterday, a lot of it."

"Patience," I say. "I must remind you, not all in District Twelve were as fortunate as we. Even now, we are better fed here in the arena than many are in the mines." I am not user to hunger either, but it does not bother me as much. Laurus is not as versatile.

"We shouldn't have both been chosen," Laurus laments. "The odds of even one of us being reaped were near invisible. Did you buy tesserae for us both?" He shakes his head.

They rig the reaping, I want to tell him. We could have been younger and had fewer slips, and we would still have been chosen. They wanted to see how we would fare in the arena, so they chose us. It is not a matter of tesserae. But I am not supposed to know such things, so I merely say, "Life has its quirks."

"It really does," Laurus agrees dejectedly. "But come on, Lupus, it's nearly dinnertime. Can't we take a little break for some bread and ham? The food isn't going to keep for that much longer."

"Soon," I promise. "In five blocks we will find a building in which to stay the night. Then we will eat, though we do not need more energy to sleep." Laurus sighs and trudges along, his eyes on the cobbles below him. "Keep your head up," I reprimand him. "We need all eyes on guard."

Laurus does not reply, but instead stops in his tracks. I turn back in exasperation. "What now?"

Laurus points at the light colored cobble in front of his right foot. "Look."

I kneel and scrutinize the pale rock. I see it immediately, a dark red smudge about three inches long. "Blood."

"I wonder who it was," my brother says, his voice shaky. "I'm glad we haven't run into anyone yet."

"With any luck the Gamemakers will give us more time before, ah...organizing a meeting for us," I say.

"Lupus, you do realize that if the list was accurate we should be among the next few to die, don't you?" Laurus asks nervously.

"The list is not accurate," I assure him. "The boy ranked last only died yesterday. They now expect us to die thirty-fifth and thirty-ninth, not taking into account the two who died earlier today."

"You pay attention to that?"

"Of course." Even if the Capitol isn't intelligent enough to even vaguely predict when we're to die. I stand and put my hand on Laurus's shoulder. "But it does not matter where the Capitol placed us. Odds are just predictions. Leave the rock, Laurus. There is no helping whoever bled here."

Laurus rises. He casts one last look at the red streak and follows me down the block.

District 10 Male B: Spencer Jackson's POV:

"You're gonna come back, aren't you, Spencer?" Maia asks, her eyes red and puffy. She presses her shaking hands into the velvet couch.

"Don't ask me about the future," I remind the seven-year-old. "I'm not psychic."

"But you're gonna try, right?" the child asks, tears running down her cheeks. "You're not gonna leave us alone? Not like Poppa did?"

"They never gave him a chance," I tell her. "He tried to leave and they shot him down immediately. But they're giving me a chance, Maia. One gets out. It could be me. I might be lucky. But there are ninety-six of us, so don't get your hopes up. It'll be...beyond difficult." I know that my odds of winning are minuscule, but I don't tell her that.

"But you'll do your best, right?" Maia says desperately. "You'll fight as hard as you can so you can come back to us? Kill them all if you have to, just come back!"

I swallow and look at the small girl. "Yes," I say softly. "Yes, Maia. I will kill them all."

When I step from the stone building, a silver parachute drifts by my face. I step backwards, then catch the gift, annoyed at myself for allowing the Capitol to startle me, however momentarily. I tear the silver compartment open, almost grinning when the lid flips back to reveal a large capsule of water. I fumble to remove it and stare at the food beneath. A wrapped container of soup, a package of beef jerky, bread, cheese, and...fresh fruit. I take a small handful of strawberries and munch on them as I carefully place the sponsor gifts in my thick brown backpack.

"Thanks," I say. "Help is always appreciated." I give the air my best smile and hope I catch the camera at the right angle.

Two have died today. As I stare at the partially collapsed buildings I wonder who they were. Their proximity suggests that they died in the same place. Perhaps there was a fight, or an alliance was ambushed, and two died. I doubt that either was from District Ten. Ally and Scarlett are tough; it would have been quite hard to take them down. It almost certainly wasn't Woody, that boy scares even me. I have heard stories of Woody Two emerging around the district, and everyone knows how he snapped at Benedict in training and had to be forcibly subdued by Peacekeepers.

I hope at least one of the two was a Career. They are the tributes I fear the most. Most of the other tributes I believe I could take down if I faced them in a fight, but the Careers have trained their whole life for the arena. I am not afraid to kill - I want to take down the opposition - but skill wise I cannot compete.

I have been searching the streets since day one for any sign of another tribute. I have glimpsed only Careers, who have twice marched past a building I was in, and I do not dare to confront them. I hope that one day soon I will encounter a weaker tribute. Perhaps I will even take on an ally one day.

I walk down the street, playing with the strap of my backpack as I scan the area for other tributes. Ten minutes pass, then twenty. The sun is lowering slowly in the western sky. I take in the beautiful sunset for a moment before reminding myself that I have better things to do. Last evening's was better, anyways.

As the shadows lengthen, I begin to search for a building to stay the night in. There is a careful balance- the building cannot be too run down, for obvious reasons, but a building too intact is the perfect place for the Gamemakers to set a trap. All the buildings I can see are members of the former category, and I do not wish for the building I take refugee in to collapse on me. I turn yet another corner, my attention focused almost solely on the buildings the new block has to offer.

He sees me first. Preoccupied with finding a building to settle in, I had not been alert to the street itself. I feel a stab of panic and am about to draw my dagger when I notice how short the tribute is. He is well under five feet, and quite scrawny as well, though his build would probably be considered average in a district where less physical labor is required than in ten. I check his sleeve. District Five.

I am surprised when he does not turn and bolt. I am fast; I could most likely outrun him. The boy looks at our surroundings, then back at me. He steps into the shadows beside the building, and in the fading light I have to squint to see him. When I look closer, I realize the shape I thought was the tribute is actually a stone post. I scan the side of the street, but my search proves nearly impossible.

I think for a moment, then drop my hands to my sides, away from the hilt of my dagger, adjusting my jacket to hide the weapon. "Hey," I say warily, half expecting the kid to jump out at me with a knife. There is no response, of course. "You don't have food, I could see that much. And no offense, but you're not exactly the kind of tribute Capitolites would be lining up to sponsor." Silence. "I have food. Water, too."

When the boy still does not reply, I search my memory. "Cole, right? Well, Cole, you're not going to last much longer if you don't get your hands on some food. I could give you some. I'm not going to kill you, I swear it. I - I'm just sort of lonely." If the Capitol knows me at all, they'll know this is a fib. I take comfort in that, telling myself that they won't think I'm weak because of it.

Cole still does not respond. I wait for a minute, and then my patience runs out. My hand returns to the dagger at my hip, and I step forwards into the shadows. I feel around for a body, but find nothing. I draw my dagger then. I guess there'll be no tricking him into a false alliance. I look around, but the child is nowhere to be seen.

And then I see it. A small sliver of light where there should be none. A strip of lighter dust on the ground. I turn and see a small gap between the stone post and a building. I peer into the narrow alley and see a small figure moving just meters ahead.

I shove my shoulder into the gap, wincing when it is pinched by the stones. Slowly, I force my body into the alley. I rub the scrapes covering my torso and shoulders and continue, following the distant silhouette of the little boy. He is not very fast, and I soon gain on him. He sees me and even in the dim light I can see him kneeling. When I am barely thirty meters away he straightens and sprints off.

I slow as I near the arena where he was working and warily look around. A breeze wafts through, and I catch a small glimpse of a yellowish rope on my right. As I step forward to take a closer look, it swings out of view. Nervously, I turn and step down the alley.

My left foot doesn't move. Frowning, I yank it harder. When it still doesn't budge, I pull on it with all my might. Irritated, I look down to see the a long stretch of rope looped around my ankle. The other end passes under a wooden door. The door teeters, my yanking having unstabled it. I curse and leap out of the way, and it crashes to the ground just to my side.

I growl and take out my dagger. I sever the rope and give the door a hefty kick before turning and sprinting after Cole.

The alley is too narrow to provide any hiding places, so Cole has no choice but to go straight. I catch up to him in a matter of seconds and thrust him against a wall. His yellowish eyes are wide with fear. He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off.

"Sorry," I say plainly. I don't like killing, kid, but if I'm to get back to Ten some lives will have to be cut short. I raise my dagger and hesitate only a moment before dragging it across his neck. He screams, a terrifying and wonderful sound to hear. I press the blade into his neck again, and he falls limp. A cannon fires and I step backwards, letting the small body fall to the ground. A hovercraft appears overhead and I walk away.

1915 Hours

5:09:15:02

District 1 Male C: Sage Lock's POV:

We have nearly reached the Cornucopia when a third cannon rings out.

"Three down," I say cheerfully. "How many are left now? Fifty-three? That's just over half. The Games could be over in under a week." As the last words leave my mouth, I notice Gemini stiffening beside me. She believes she will be the victor, that much is clear. Heather, Cade and Valentine each believe in themselves as well. But I am certain that I could beat any of them in a fight. Even Valentine, who somehow ended up ranked before me.

We round the corner to the Cornucopia and the sound of trickling water fills my ears. I tilt my head back and bask in the familiar sound. Home sweet home.

"Four down, soon," I hear Valentine say, glee apparent in her voice.

I look at her. "What?"

"Look." She points at the fountain. I follow her finger and frown. There is a figure collapsed at the base of the fountain. Even from here I can tell it is a girl. Perhaps she was the one who just died- no, there is no sign of a hovercraft in the sky.

I leap down into the courtyard and make my way over to the fountain, my four allies close behind me. I stay a sword's length from the girl as Gemini bends down beside me.

"Alaska?" my ally asks, surprised.

The black haired girl's eyes flutter open and she stares back at the older girl. "Gemini." She looks at the three behind us. "I was wondering when you guys would return."

"You're talking," Valentine notices, coming up on my right. "Thought you were the mute one."

Alaska shrugs. She swallows and opens her mouth, then closes it again. She shifts uncomfortably, and bites her lip.

"Spit it out," Cade says. "We're going to kill you, so you'd best take advantage of this time to say something."

"May...may I join?" the husky voice asks.

Cade laughs. "Of course not. We have five, and that's more than enough. And look at her - she's a wreck! Really, guys, let's not waste our supplies and time on a hopeless case. Who wants to kill her?"

"Let's take her on one hunt," Gemini bargains. "If she can kill, we keep her. If she can't, well, sucks to be her."

"You're getting soft!" Cade accuses. "I don't care if you grew up in the same district as her, even if you were best friends as children. She's a waste of energy. Let's kill her now. We don't need any more people."

"Where are the others?" Alaska wants to know. "Gladius, Pierce, Aloe, Astrid? Tiger joined too, yes?"

"They ditched," Heather says bluntly. "Ran away with as many supplies as they could carry. First day. They killed Kai. We haven't seen them since."

"Who killed Kai?"

"Astrid," Heather replies. "They're from the same district, but that didn't really matter. She was the second highest ranked from Two. Good enough to kill him, apparently."

"I could help you hunt them down," Alaska says. "I will need to get my strength up, yes, but I can fight."

"We don't need anyone else," Cade reiterates, kicking the girl in the side. "This is a waste of time. She's a waste of time. Just let me kill her. You won't regret it."

"She got an eight in training," Gemini reminds her allies. "Let's give her one chance. If she kills someone on our next hunt, she can stay. If she doesn't have the guts, we kill her. We could use one more person, Cade."

"Five is more than enough," Cade growls. "Sage, are you honestly planning to take in some half dead kid? We decided we wouldn't let her in during training. Now shouldn't be any different."

I frown at the seventeen-year-old cowering on the ground. She meets my eyes, and I can tell she is terrified. After a moment I look back at the burly boy from Eight. "Not worth it," I decide. "Go for it."

Cade grins and presses the point of his sword into Alaska's neck. A bead of blood appears and the girl flinches. It dribbles down her neck, cutting through the layer of grime. Alaska tries to roll to the side, but the bigger teen easily pins her to the ground. He digs the sword further into her neck. When the girl refuses to even flinch, Cade rolls his eyes and brings the sword down on her neck with all of his strength. The cannon sounds almost immediately.

"That was quick," Valentine comments.

Cade just shrugs. "It's no fun when they don't scream."

District 3 Male C: Axel Mallow's POV:

Kaila is hunched over in the corner of the room, sobbing quietly, her face buried in her knees. I abandon my blanket and make my way across the room. I kneel down beside the older girl and rest my hand on her shoulder. A tear slides down my cheek.

"It might not have been them," I say quietly, knowing my words will offer little comfort to the fourteen-year-old. "Maybe they heard the cannons or saw tributes fighting and ran away. It's possible."

"I suppose," she whispers, looking up at me. "We'll find out in a couple of minutes." I meet her red, puffy eyes and wrap my arms around her. We don't move until music blasts through the air. The children crowd at the window. Kaila and I squeeze between Belladonna and Thimble and stare up at the Capitol seal in the sky.

Kaila flinches beside me as the first picture appears. It's neither of the children, though, but a teenager from Four. The third girl, Alaska. Kaila relaxes slowly, but tenses again when Alaska's face is replaced by that of a young boy. This boy is considerably older than Coby, though, perhaps nine or ten. Cole from District Five, according to the words under the mugshot. After several seconds Cole's picture fades. A new picture forms on the invisible screen.

Coby.

Next to me, Kaila lets out a small sob. I put my arm around her shoulders. I stare at the small six-year-old in the sky. Straight light brown hair frames his face, which bears a wide smile. How could the Capitol be so heartless as to kill such a young, sweet child? Tears bubble at my eyes as Coby disappears forever, just another child murdered by the Capitol.

Coby is replaced by a tiny dark-haired girl. A short scar runs from her right ear to her chin. From a shard of her father's beer bottle, she once told me. I close my eyes, afraid that if I look at the child any longer the pain will engulf me and I will join her in the netherworld.

The last chords of the anthem echo in the deserted streets. I back away from the window. Kaila retreats back to her corner, and I follow her.

"It's okay," I murmur. "We won't forget them. And they're out of this place now. No more pain. No more suffering. No more fear."

Kaila nods and buries her face in my shoulder. "I just can't believe they did that," she says, her words muffled. "Why do they take so much enjoyment out of watching little kids spill each other's blood? It's sick, Axel, it's sick."

"I know," I say. "But there's nothing we can do."

"One of us has to win," Kaila says. "No one else will remember them. They'll just be two tributes. Low ranked, forgettable. One of us has to win. Someone in this alliance. Some of them are capable of it. We have to make it happen, Axel."

I hug her tighter. "Don't worry, Kaila. They will not be forgotten."

A/N: Longer chapter here! I didn't think I would get this posted before my school starts up again tomorrow, but I was able to. Speaking of school, I'm starting high school this year, so updates will be a lot slower. Sorry. Anyways, the deaths:

56) District 9 Female D: Ava Ruth, 5 - Killed by Cade

55) District 6 Male C: Coby Roose, 6 - Killed by Valentine

54) District 5 Male B: Cole Tenser, 10 - Killed by Spencer

53) District 4 Female C: Alaska Silverstone, 17 - Killed by Cade

Trivia: Name the two Games that Enobaria participated in.

Thanks for reading! Please tell me what you thought.