A Whole Lot Of Lies…..and Crazy People.

District 5 – Solaria Atom(17)

It wasn't all that hard to get rid of Aniya. Not that I enjoyed it. I've seen many people go down like her back in the hospital, and it really isn't a good way to die. But I had no other option. I couldn't exactly go up to her while she is in the middle of a conversation and stick a knife in her back.

Aniya was too much of a threat. I feel as if her and I were very similar types of people. We were both above median age from mid-level Districts, who were likeable characters. Plus, Aniya seemed to have instant rapport with everyone. She had been with Ash for the entire Games, and was Cains' District partner. And whom did I have? The two tiny girls. Great.

Now that she is out of the equation I would like to think that I am the one that people will be clamoring to go further with.

After they took Aniya's body away, the blame game began. Ash blamed Cain, Cain blamed me and I blamed Ash. Ivy and Lia both just stood around and watched us all argue.

"How on earth could you possibly think this was MY fault?" Ash says to me frustrated.

"You obviously knew about her condition! If you had told us previously then this never would have happened." I argue

"If HE" Ash points at Cain, "hadn't put the thing in in the first place, then Aniya wouldn't be dead. He easily could have known about her allergies, considering he spent the whole of his life in the same District."

Cain looks absolutely appalled.

"I would never poison someone. That is a dishonourable game. I would like to add though, that the rabbit never would have been added to the stew if Solaria hadn't convinced me to do it. For all we know she could have known about Aniya's allergies and knew she would die with all her medical knowledge."

"ME!?" I act astounded. "I was the first one trying to help her while you two gumballs were over there fighting. If I wanted to kill her why would I try to help?"

"For crying out loud." Ivy's voice breaks in during the short interruption before Ash could respond to me.

"You all realize it could have just been an accident? You know - an unfortunate series of events. It wouldn't be the first time an accident happened in The Hunger Games."

"I still think Cain did it." Ash huffs.

I turn to Cain. He stands just a short distance away, and I can see the tears start to well up in his eyes. I kind of feel bad for the guy, considering that I'm the one that did it.

"I told myself I would kill, but I would NEVER kill her. I'm not sure what it's like in District 12, or District 5, or 8 or 10 or wherever the hell anyone is from. But in District 7 we do not kill our own. Just think about that."

Cain turns his back on us to separate himself from the group.

"We should still keep an eye out on him right?" Ash asks me.

"Definitely." I'm glad it's dark, so that he can't see the slight upwards curve from the corner of my lips.

District 7 – Cain Kasidy(18)

I didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know. Maybe I did. I don't know!

Maybe after being together for a week in the Capitol I did pick up the fact that she was allergic to something. I'm just not sure.

And now no one is even talking or looking at me after I decided to separate myself. It makes me so mad watching the four of them over there talking together. It makes me even angrier knowing that there is this big bull's-eye on my back now, and no one in their right mind is going to trust me going forward. This is all a complete misunderstanding and it has destroyed my chances of getting home, back to my family. That's all I ever wanted, to get back. I never wanted to be here in the first place, neither did Aniya, and now she's gone and I'm here, watching people who are probably conspiring against me.

It's just hard.

From the corner of my eye, I see a pair of feet making there way over to me. They seem hesitant, weary of me. Lia looks at me.

I've never had much to do with her in these Games, and the only reason we are here together is because Aniya had made deals with every man and their dog in order to not get us killed.

"Are you alright?" She timidly asks.

"No. No I'm not Lia."

"I'm…I'm sorry about Aniya, and I believe that you didn't do it. I really do. Can I sit?" She asks gesturing to the ground next to me.

I make a wave of sorts to invite her on to talk.

"Can I bring something up to you Cain? I feel you are the only one who can help me in this situation." I turn around to her; my puffy eyes and sniffling nose seem to clear up as I try to look strong.

"Yes Lia, what is it?" She reminds me of my little sister. And I imagine Lia is probably someone else's shining light, like my sisters are to me. Her eyes sparkle, dimly though, a week of the Hunger Games seem to have ravaged her soul. She is weak; you can see it in her. Her cheekbones are prominent, and she struggles to lift slight weights. I don't know how she has managed to carry that crossbow everywhere.

"Solaria is trouble Cain, and I don't like it. She acts like a sweet, innocent bird, but she tried to trick us. She tried to tell Ivy and I that she hadn't killed. And then she let our ally Sam go. He said it was either him or her, and I regret it now, telling him to leave. Because ever since then I have had bad feelings about Solaria, and, in all honesty, it would not surprise me if she killed Aniya on purpose."

Lia looks very serious and sincere. But at the same time she looks completely frightened.

"And I was wondering Cain, in exchange for me protecting you from the others, by calming them down and realizing the importance of keeping you. You have to promise me, that when we get the chance, Solaria is the first one."

"And what makes you think I will accept this offer?" I ask Lia.

She does not look frightened anymore; because what she says next, absolutely astounds me.

"Because if you don't, I'm going to take this knife, and stab myself in the hand. Then run back to the group, and, well, we all know who will be next instead."

Well, yes I would be next. Lia is a little schemer, and I like that.

"Lia, you little devil. You are a worthy ally. Tell you what. I promise that I will protect you until the final 2. But we need a third to outnumber the others. Because as it sits it looks like Solaria and Ash may be together."

"Don't worry," she says, "I'm sure Ivy is with us as well." Then she gets up and turns around to leave.

It's funny, one moment you think you are a dead man walking, and the next, with the help of an unsuspecting 13-year-old girl, you could just walk out of here alive.

District 10 – Ivy Caverly(12)

As soon as Lia leaves to go and talk to Cain, I am approached by Ash.

"Hi." He says.

"Hi"

"You were right you know."

"About what?" I ask.

"About how it could have been an accident."

"I know I was right. Even though I'm only 12, I'm not stupid."

I feel as though Ash has something he wants to talk about apart from this trivial bullcrap. And yes, I can say bullcrap, I'm from District 10.

"What do you really want Ash?" His grey features start to light up, as his head turns back to me and his grey eyes stare in to mine. I think that he would be a very popular boy back in 12. His eyes have a way of staring in to you and making you weak at the knees.

"Okay Ivy, lets be real here. Who can't you beat?"

I've known this for a long time. I know my way around a knife and I'm handy with ropes and knots, but I'm tiny.

"Solaria and Cain."

"Exactly. So what I propose is that the smallies take it to end. Lia, you and I. We can both beat Lia, so what I'm trying to say is. Do you want to battle it out at the end with me?"

I have no attachments to Ash, and if he agrees to deal with Lia, then I'm more than happy to finish him off and declare myself the youngest victor there ever will be. It fills me with a great deal of sadness thinking about Lia, and how we have helped each other through the Games. But there comes a point where you have to be selfish and put yourself ahead of the others. I know I couldn't bring myself to hurt Lia, but if someone I don't have any attachment to wants to kill her and then battle it out with me, then I have to oblige.

"If you can promise me that I will not have to hurt Lia, and that you will take care of it. Then I am in, because it is my best option to win, and in all honesty, it is your best option to win as well."

"That's what I like to hear." Ash says with a smile on his face, and his hand outstretched towards mine.

"You've got yourself a deal." I grab his hand and shake it, before he gets up from his position and leaves.

Moments later Lia arrives back from her talk with Cain.

"Did he agree to it?" I ask.

"Yes." She says.

"So he is on board with the 2 of us? Solaria will be out and we will have the numbers to get rid of him after he helps?"

"Yes." She says again.

"Are you still good?" She asks me.

"Yeh, I'm still good."

"What did Ash just talk to you about?"

"Oh, oh, nothing. Just about how he still doesn't trust Cain and wants him killed. He says he and Solaria are more than willing to turn on him whenever is necessary."

"And what did you tell him?"

"Well, I told him we will see how it goes, because…..ummmm…..uhhh….we may still need him.

"Right." Lia says, "Okay, well, as long as it's still the two of us then?"

"Yeh for sure." I lie.

She nods, stands up again, and goes to sit by the fire with the other 2.

I don't even know what I have gotten myself in to. Cain thinks I'm ready to jump on board with him. Lia thinks that her and I will be the last 2 standing and Ash thinks that he is taking out Lia at final 3 and battling it out with me. And who the hell knows what Solaria is doing. But the most confusing part is that no one else knows anything about any of these plans.

It would seem I am in quite a good position. Either way people are thinking of taking me pretty far. If things keep going this way for me, I might actually get back to my father and 3 brothers.

To make that a reality though I have to keep practicing. Coming from District 10, I know how to make a lasso, and I know how to swing and throw one. So, in preparation for the end, I've been making one out of a large length of rope I found earlier in the Games. No one else knows about it, and I plan to use it to tie up any 'loose ends.'

District 12 – Ash Haven(14)

Now that there are only 8 of us left, it is time to makes some moves. Solaria told me after Kelli died, that sure, it sucks that she is gone, but she gave me better odds of getting home and doing something good. I want to take that approach to Aniya's death as well. I will admit, I have cried over it. She was with me for the whole Games, and because of her I was never alone. But she gave me a 1 in 8 chance of being the last one left, and I'm going to take it.

I've already secured my final 2 deal with Ivy, and now all I need to do is seal one with the other two girls.

Why not Cain? Because he is twice my size and has a big ass sword, that's why. I'm not going to go making deals with people I can't beat. And I sure think that I can beat the three ladies, and none of them are going to approach the others about the topic, because that would be a sign of disloyalty. If everything goes right, I will have 3 options to work with and can improvise from there. The goal is to get home. Yesterday the goal was to get through another day. But with the end so close, plans need to start, and people need to become more cut throat. Otherwise before you know it, your face will be shining down in the sky on everyone else, and I sure as hell don't want it to be mine.

"Who's on guard duty? Are we still pairing up?" Solaria asks as all of us, including Cain, sit around the fire.

"Yes." Cain replied.

"Solaria and Lia can take first duty. Ash and Ivy the next, then I will do the third."

"NO!" I yell out without even thinking, and everyone looks at me.

"What's the issue, Ash?" Cain replies.

"I still don't trust you is the issue. Lia and I will take the first watch, followed by you and Solaria. Ivy are you alright to take the last watch on your own?"

"I don't see why not, as long as I'm a bit rested." She says.

"Then it's agreed. If she doesn't feel safe she can wake one of us up."

Cain's mouth is a straight line, and you can see the intensity in his silent thoughts. But not only does it stop him from doing anything irrational. But it gives me a chance to talk with Lia alone.

"Okay guys. I guess it's time for bed then."

District 2 – Lanius Marais(18)

I've been watching their every move. They are just sitting there, so confident, and it annoys me. Those pretentious snobs, how dare they. When I arrived in the throne room yesterday, I was so sure it was a sign from somewhere or someone, and now that is confirmed. Mere moments after I had finished my sponsor meal, I saw them. A group of 6 people just camped in the middle of a grassy field, which is then nestled in the middle of the castle complex.

When I was interrupted in the middle of my dagger throwing practice by the sound of a cannon, I went to check on them again. Now there were only 5 of them, a large fire flickering and revealing separation of the tall lanky Cain from the rest of the group, his District partner nowhere in site.

Good, I thought, there is discord amongst what did seem like an impenetrable group. And now there are only 5 of them.

So I continue to watch, to catch them off guard and plan to attack when they are at their weakest. I don't need sleep, I hardly ever do. I plan to stay here all night until their weakest are on watch. Maybe one of the stronger ones will dose off leaving everyone unguarded.

This is when I plan to make my move. I've also been noting the strengths and weaknesses of the people. I don't really know who they are, considering I don't care. But I would like to know what each one could do, because even though I'm 100% sure I can kill each and every one of them, there is no point being unnecessarily risky.

I notice the older girl is very observant and has been tending to wounds of her allies – she must be the girl from 5 people would always tell me about. Cain has his sword and a pack full of supplies that he stole from me. The young girls are together a lot, and one of them carries a crossbow, while the other plays with knots, a pretty useless skill in my opinion. Other than that, the grey-headed boy is no threat. It should take me no more than 5 minutes to dispatch them all if I catch them by surprise.

Hours go by, hours and hours, until eventually there is only 1 girl on duty. The blond one who was playing with knots, and she sits by the fire alone. Now is my time. I gather up my dagger and head out. With these 5 gone, there will only be 3 of us left.

District 4 – Naina Williams(17)

This guy is batshit crazy. I'm not even kidding. He keeps his eyes wide open. That's not even a figure of speech; they are literally as wide as they will go ALL the time. It creeps me out. And all we do is walk around, I'm pretty sure we have walked every hallway in every part of the castle and are starting on repeat.

"We are going to the Cornucopia." He states blankly.

"There may be tributes there. Don't die and don't kill me. Otherwise you stand no chance."

It sucks that he is right. If I ditch him now it's me against 7 other people, one of whom would have a vendetta against me. If I try to kill him, well, I saw how quickly he dispatched of Kelli, and I will never forget it. That isn't an option either. I just hold on to all hopes that we run in to someone and they fight it out and end up killing each other, leaving me free. Farfetched, I know. But it is still possible.

When we walk the halls, he talks to himself. Sometimes he mentions Brill, or mentions winning. Lanius' name comes up quite frequently, Cain's name every now and again. But that's it. I don't get an ounce of personality or care from this man. I don't know what happened to him to turn him in to this beast. But he must have a dark past and some ghosts in his closet, because in my experience, no one gets this crazy without some serious issues.

I notice when we are almost at the bridges that cross to the Cornucopia, that even more have collapsed. I wonder it anyone was on one as they collapsed.

I giggle.

Tilver turns around and glares at me.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing. Just almost fell off these bridges once. Are you afraid that there is a trap over there for you?"

"Firstly, that is not funny. Secondly, no. These people aren't smart enough for that. Now be quiet, I don't want anyone over there hearing us before they see us."

I zip it as we cross the bridge. Tilver doesn't even seem worried about the potentially deadly drop in to the river, and walks exactly like he walks at all other times, confidently and brisk. I take more of a guarded approach, because I hate these bridges and resent the fact that I could die it I fell.

When I look up, as I'm halfway across, Tilver is already on the other side, scouting the Cornucopia and looking for anything that he can use.

I hurry along to the other side to join him.

"THERE IS NOTHING HERE!" He screams as I approach.

"There is no one, there is nothing. WHAT HAPPENED!?" He roares, as his dagger quickly makes its way from his bag to his hand and up to my throat.

I gulp and sweat as my breath becomes faster and I can hear my heart beating.

"Maybe the supplies were destroyed. There were career casualties not long ago, maybe this was a reason behind it?"

Tilver's crazy eyes stare in to mine, and he lowers his dagger.

"You are right. Let's move on."

But I'm exhausted and I need rest. If I don't sleep, I may as well jump off these bridges now, because I'm going to pass out soon.

"Tilver can we just….."

"Do NOT call me Tilver." He states.

"But that's your name…..isn't it."

"That is the name of a weak entity. I am not Tilver." The blunt voice says.

"Okay…..entity. Can we take a rest? If I don't sleep…..I'm not sure about you. But I will pass out and probably die of exhaustion."

His crazy eyes stare at me again.

"You are permitted to rest in the Cornucopia. You have 6 hours to rest. I will stay on guard."

I don't argue, I head off in to the mouth of the Cornucopia, but I see blood everywhere. Definitely not sleeping here.

I make my way back further and lie down and close my eyes.

Okay, this time I also apologize for the delay. I have just finished 3 weeks of intense exams, so I feel like a boulder lifted off my shoulder. Mark my words, this story WILL be finished within the next month, so look out guys. Let me know what you all thought of this one! Remember there is still that poll open on my profile, good reading, and remember to review!

Isteed.