AN: This update marks the story's two-year anniversary. Hope you enjoy!

Miracle Emerson

District 1 Female

18 Years Old

This was not what I had in mind for an eventful hunt. Cora and I were chased by these bear-like creatures all the way to the lighthouse. While checking out the basement, we found an entrance to this massive underground complex, called the Project BEOWULF facility, whatever that means. Inside, we decided to set up in a large dining hall connected to an industrial kitchen. And then Dom shows up out of nowhere.

"Where's Bliss?" I demanded, unable to mask the panic in my voice.

He looks at me in silence before lowering his head, which tells me all I need to know.

My twin brother is dead, and I didn't even get to say goodbye.

I can't help but start thinking of our younger days with Isabel, Scarlet, and the others, back when the vineyard was flourishing, before we knew what our father was, before we drifted apart. We were happy. To us back then, the Hunger Games were a dream and not an escape. I bet we didn't think it would be like this, the two of us in here together, going days without killing anyone, our group fractured to shit and forced underground by mutts. No, I only paid attention to the highlight reels, Serenity's ravishing crown, the dresses – those fucking dresses. Perhaps the trainers at the Academy were right – I don't think things over, I'm too impulsive. I never even told him I was entering the trials. I mean, how did we get to that point? Was it because we reminded each other of home? Of the dusty and decaying vineyard, of mother as she cleans out another bottle, of the way everyone unquestioningly shuns the Emerson name? He told me why he volunteered though. I couldn't believe it, that Bliss, with his subdued voice and shy demeanor, thought that he might one day turn into the monster that our father was.

I wish it didn't end this way, Bliss. I wish we had more time.

Ebony Lanvin

District 8 Female

16 Years Old

The four of us are holed up in one of the so-called living units, a small apartment-like space that features little more than a bed, dresser, desk, and tiny bathroom. These units are lined up on both sides of a long hallway. It seems that the people who used to work at this facility lived here.

"We need to stick to the plan," I tell the group. "While I was following the Careers last night, I saw two of them go through the hallways of the living units, the botanical garden, library, and gym. They're going on the hunt, just like they were on the surface."

Lynn, as always, has an uncertain look about her, while Cher seems to be mulling over what I said. But it's Alexei who responds first.

"Where should we attack? There's no more Cornucopia."

"Looks like they're set up in the dining hall," I reply. "Unfortunately, it's easily defendable and you can't really get in unnoticed."

Lynn speaks up. "Are we sure we want to risk this? I mean, these guys have trained all their lives to kill…"

"The longer this goes on without action, the more inclined the Gamemakers will be to create action," I argue. "Those mutts were an example. If you don't want to kill each other, we'll just kill you – that's the kind of message they're trying to send. So, instead of sitting around waiting to be killed, I propose we take the fight to the people who killed our friends."

"You mentioned a library," says Cher rather abruptly. "That could work. Places to hide, a good amount of cover, tighter spaces to line up a shot…"

"You still have two arrows, right?" Alexei asks Cher.

"Yep. Sank the third into one of those bear things on the way here."

"Looks like there's no room for error then."

"We can keep the same setup if everyone's on board with that," I say. "Alexei and Cher will hit them first, then Lynn and I can back you up. If the first shot's good, then the four of us can work together to bring down the other one."

"Hopefully it'll be that straightforward," Cher remarks.

"One can hope," says Alexei. "But just remember, we all want to go home, and getting these guys out of the way while we still have the numbers – that's our best shot."

Going home would be nice, but it frightens me to think that I haven't thought about it much recently. My mind's been on Klein and killing the Careers.

Soon, it'll be time to turn thoughts into action.

Sycorax "Cora" Adherra

District 2 Female

18 Years Old

Now that the Cornucopia's out of the picture, Dom is perfectly fine with leaving Miracle by herself at the dining hall.

Honestly, I prefer our new base of operations. There's running water and a walk-in fridge full of food. What else could you ask for? It almost seems too generous, considering this is the freakin' Hunger Games and all.

Anyway, just as we did yesterday, the two of us are making our way around the living quarters, which includes the dining hall, living units, botanical garden, gymnasium, and library. Afterward, we take an elevator down and do a sweep of the lower levels, where all the research used to be conducted. This took a while yesterday since we got caught up in reading papers and whatnot that were left behind.

Apparently, Project BEOWULF was an organic weapons program initiated during the First Rebellion. All its staff was housed on this island – Renaissance Island, according to the maps we found. In fact, this is where tracker jackers were first created, one of the project's early successes. The bear-like creatures that chased us on the surface were named "Cuttclaws," and they were a later BEOWULF development. Several documents suggest that these were too aggressive and difficult to control to be very useful in the war effort.

Reading up on this place helped us to pass the time, I guess, since there was still no sign of any other tributes. Hopefully, that'll change today. I'm not quite as antsy as Miracle, but the lack of blood since the first day doesn't exactly have me in a good mood.

As we enter the library, Dom and I split up to cover the ground more efficiently. For a while, the only sound in the room is that of our footsteps on the carpet, until Dom suddenly yells out my name.

The sudden noise makes me jump, right before I feel a sharp cut in my left upper arm. I spin around to see an arrow stuck into the wood of a bookshelf. Then there's the clashing of metal from across the room as I scan the library for my assailant.

I see her – just a peek, but it's enough. She's hiding among some shelves near the opposite side of the room, with some study tables and chairs separating us. I take off my backpack and begin to make my way over to her, crouching behind the furniture to avoid another shot. She – I can now tell it's the girl from Seven – realizes that I'm coming for her now and nocks another arrow. I'm getting close when she fires it, missing me entirely this time. And from the look on her face, I can tell she's out.

With a feral scream, I charge at her. She uselessly tries to defend herself with the bow, before I jam my daggers into her and pull them out in a torrent of blood. The sound of a cannon is blasted over the intercom.

Then there's a paralyzing pain in my left arm, and as I turn around, I'm face-to-face with the girl from Eight, who immediately stabs me in the side and twists the knife. "Fucking die," she says to me through clenched teeth. I feel incredibly weak, but I use my remaining strength and falling momentum to push one of my daggers into her while both of us hit the ground.

There's another cannon sound as I try to crawl to my supplies on the other side of the tables, Eight's knife still lodged in my side. I can hear Dom and someone else shouting from behind the shelves somewhere.

I make it less than halfway when everything goes black.

AN: Back in January of 2018, I started this SYOT after lurking here for years. At the time, I made a promise to never abandon this story, and I'm glad I didn't. Thank you for sticking with me through these two years. I love reading your reviews and hearing your thoughts on everything that's going on.

This is a bit of a shorter chapter, but with no shortage of action. After a long downtime, the Careers finally got to fight again as they clashed with the Six-Seven-Eight alliance in the facility's library.

And that brings us to our final 10! What are your predictions?

Additional placement(s):

13th: Cherrie "Cher" Axlyn (D7F), killed by Sycorax "Cora" Adherra (D2F)

12th: Ebony Lanvin (D8F), killed by Sycorax "Cora" Adherra

11th: Sycorax "Cora" Adherra (D2F), killed by Ebony after being injured by Cher