A/N: Here it is at last: the 113th annual Hunger Games! I said this for Broken, and I'll say it again: PLEASE do not take personal offense if your tribute dies. Some seriously great characters shatter in this chapter and making these decisions was seriously painful. Are we cool? Thanks. Hope you enjoy the chapter, as sad as it might be! Eulogies are at the bottom.

Note: There aren't song lyrics before the POVs, just because there are a lot of them, they change rapidly sometimes, and ultimately I just don't want things to look cluttered. Every tribute who survives the bloodbath will get a new song, and there will be less Taylor Swift this time, I promise ;)

Edamame Stanton, 15 / 2017tnt

District 11 Male

I dash off of my pedestal as soon as the gong sounds, streaks of blue and red blurring around me as I dash toward the cornucopia. Some tributes run for the horn strategically, zigzagging or curving around the strong tributes to make themselves a less likely target. I planned to do something similar, but all of the careful plans I made slip from my mind amidst the sheer rush of adrenaline.

I take a deep breath, training my eyes on the horn. Right now, my only two goals are to get closer to that thing and not get killed.

When I reach the first ring of supplies, I freeze in place, my eyes darting back and forth. The others are mere silhouettes against the red clouds. They sprint, tumble, and trip, groaning and hyperventilating in panic.

What am I doing? I should be gathering supplies. I remember Gwyneth and Newton. I'll feel safer once I find them, no doubt. Before then, I need at least one backpack, or at least something useful.

I bend over and snatch up the first thing I see. A little black net. Might be helpful for keeping mosquitoes off of the arms or face at night. I doubt this arena has such insects, and even if it did, they would be the least of my problems. I decide to move closer to the cornucopia, where things are more valuable. It's a big risk, but if I land something worthwhile I know it'll be worth it.

Fifteen more seconds of running bring me to a little orange backpack. Yes! I bend over to pick it up, but freeze halfway through the fell swoop. The first scream. It belongs to a little girl: a very, very little girl. She might be five years old.

About ten meters up ahead, tiny Suzuki lies on her back like a child mid-tantrum. Midas stands over her. The little girl flails her fists and lets out one scream after another. The rocky terrain absorbs absolutely no sound, so each tiny whimper echoes around like thunder. Midas has her ankles pinned down as he traces his spear down her chest. He's taunting her, really. Playing with his food.

"Let me go!" she screams. "I'll stay out of your way! I promise!"

"Oh, I know you will."

Her voice starts to crack. A few meters to my left, another tribute, Bryndle I think, has stopped to watch the scene. By this point, Suzuki's face is a violent red color. Tears and streaks of blood cover her face completely.

That's when I turn away; I can't bring myself to watch the moment of the killing. There's the crunching of bone, the squishing of blood. Then the screams stop.

"Ed! What the hell are you waiting for?"

I leap at the noise of Gwyneth's voice. My allies rush to my side, both Newton and Gwyneth already covered with sweat and laden with collected supplies. I can't help but be embarrassed. While they've been working hard, all I've been doing is standing here and watching some poor little girl's death.

It's not my fault, I remind myself. It's a comforting excuse. I literally couldn't look away. Now that the death is over, I find myself able to move again.

"Run," Newton murmurs. Then they're gone.

"What?"

The point of Midas' spear flies out of the darkness before I have time to breathe.

Jade D'Amore, 18 / DefoNotAFangirl

District 1 Female

Alright. All that bullshit is over. I'm done playing the cute little girl who loves cats. I'm in the Hunger Games now, and that means it's time for murder.

When the gong rings, I sprint toward the horn and grab the first weapon I can find: a long, thin sword. It isn't the spear I was hoping for, but it's something for me to hold onto until I can find something I like better.

I try to keep up with the progress of the others. Midas stands to my far right, offing Suzuki while two outliers watch, dumbfounded with shock. Moments later, Midas charges at one of the onlookers, killing Edamame before he can scream. Bryndle races away as fast as her legs can carry her, but is followed by Kennedy in hot pursuit.

Upon reaching the horn, I find a spear that fits into my grip like it was made for me. It probably was. Gaius races up behind me and gestures for the sword, which I toss to him. The spear is my true talent. Outliers, prepare for the end.

It's interesting to watch how the various sects of outliers take on the bloodbath. Heather and Fawn stick close together, while the four boys—Dock, Gary, Arien, and Turner—move around more loosely. That quartet is a pretty attractive target, but taking it on by myself isn't a good idea: waiting for just a few moments, when two or even three careers can gang up to take them down, is a better bet.

That's when I see them, standing in front of the horn, silhouetted against the cornucopia's faint glow. Jack and Jill. The beloved best friends from District 7, James Smith and Trixana Faust.

My feet are moving ten seconds before my mind has time to catch up. My instinct really is quite like a cat.

"Holy shit!" James shouts as I pounce. Trixana tugs him out of the way, and the district partners stagger backward, eyes wide with terror. They are all but unarmed: James wields a flimsy hatchet, while Trixana's hands are completely empty. She shakily scoops up a little blue rock. That isn't going to save your life, sweetie.

"Go, go, go!" Trixana murmurs as I charge. Kennedy, who must have given up her pursuit of Bryndle, races to my side. "I get the boy. You get the girl," I mutter.

Kennedy groans. "I'll get them both. Honey, you can fuck yourself."

I knew this kind of thing would be difficult. I'm going to catch up to them, and I'm going to kill both of them. I have to prove myself, and I have to do it soon. I need to show them all that there's a not-so-adorable streak in me.

The noises of the bloodbath begin to fade as Kennedy and I chase the allied 7s across the treacherous, rocky landscape.

Trixana Faust, 17 / Professor R.J. Lupin1

District 7 Female

"Don't look back." It's hard to talk clearly when I'm running this fast; when my heart is beating this hard. Every inch of my skin crawls with terror.

"They're going to catch up!" James shouts. "There's nothing we can do."

"Keep running."

"No."

"Keep running! Keep running!"

James and I collapse at the same moment. "Keep running" is literally impossible now. Not with the footsteps of the career girls getting nearer. Not with the howling of the wind to horrify us into motion.

"Look what we have here," Kennedy muses, carefully observing us. She has one of the blue rocks bound to her chest like a flashlight.

Kennedy and Jade stalk closer. With each footstep, my composure falls away. Slowly at first, then with a roaring torrent of panic.

I completely lose awareness of my surroundings as the screams begin. I refuse to believe they're mine, and not only because I can't feel myself creating them. The belief that I could ever make a sound so terrible chills me to the deepest core of my spirit. It's humiliating. I feel like an animal helplessly cornered by a hunter. Because right now, I am not Trixana Faust. There is no me, only a shadow of me, a girl who screams and screams as she watches the cat girl skewer her spear through her district partner.

"James!"

That's all I have time to say before Kennedy bears down on me, rearing up and brandishing her sword so that it glistens in the icy blue light. "This one should be easy," she mutters.

It only hurts for a minute. Then there is only a quiet humming sensation.

Dock Breckminn, 12 / CragmiteBlaster

District 4 Male

"What have you got?" Arien asks frantically.

"A backpack, a sleeping bag, I don't know," Gary responds.

I groan. "Did anyone else think to pick up a weapon?"

"I did," Turner holds up two wicked-looking hunting knives.

"I have a knife for each of you," I say as I had out the weapons, keeping the sharpest one for myself. "Where's the food?"

The others stare back at me in terror.

"Food. Go get some. Arien has enough water to last us all a few days. Someone get food, and then we can get the fuck out."

"Why aren't you searching?" Gary shouts.

"I have been! Now do you want us to live or do you want us to die?"

Turner returns with a few packs of dried beef strips. "The beef strips are all I could find. This is bad. Really, really bad."

Soon enough, Arien has collected a few. It's clear: the dried beef is the only food at the cornucopia.

"What? You two allergic or something?"

"Dried beef dehydrates you," Turner says. "When the cornucopia has dried beef, it means there's almost no water in the arena. Remember the 108th games? Remember the…"

"Could you shut up?" I shout. I can't believe this group. Turner does nothing but spout meaningless facts about past games, Arien is too busy spooling on about star-crossed lovers to care about combat, and Gary makes the most unnecessary jokes.

The instant Gary lets out a loud gasp, I know we've taken too long to flee.

"Go!" I shout as Gary falls onto his back. I can't tell how much of the blood on Midas' sword belongs to Gary and how much of it belongs to Midas' past victims. The 1 boy has already peppered numerous small-to-medium holes in Gary's abdomen, with no signs of stopping in sight.

"Go!" I shout again. And of course, these idiots have frozen in place to watch the killing as it plays out. I can't believe them sometimes.

Gary Redwire, 13 / AlexFalTon

District 8 Male

Things blur together. The world doesn't spin around me, like everyone says it does when you're dying. It's more of a flicker, a kind of glow that morphs and slowly dies while the sound of the ocean gets louder and louder.

The hand that belongs to Arien reaches down and tries to help me. He should be running. Shouldn't he know I'm beyond saving?

The good stands at my feet, while the evil stands at my head. The evil spear has already taken the good from me. The touch of Arien's good makes everything smoother. The light stops flickering, turning to more a gradual fade. I can see less and less, only barely having the consciousness to watch Dock tug Arien and Turner away.

Goodbye, friends. Goodbye, Panem, District 8, drugs, Mr. Rella's poetry class. I've had such a great time with you all. I've had such a great, great time.

Vista Juarez, 18 / 2017tnt

District 4 Female

The five of us gather at the mouth of the cornucopia. Jade has a spear; Midas, Gaius, and Kennedy hold swords, and I clutch a bow in my grasp. A quiver of arrows is slung over my shoulder. I have yet to make a kill, but I am determined to do so before the bloodbath comes to a close. There's no point being ready for the games proper if you don't survive to them.

"What are we doing, team?" Jade asks.

Midas takes charge. As arrogant as he can be, I'll admit he's an astounding leader. "Gaius and Kennedy, head for the pedestals. Jade and I will search the cornucopia field. Vista, make sure there aren't any stragglers hiding in the horn. You know how that happens."

Midas also has the gift of keeping order in a group. We all rush to do as we're told without complaining.

I arrive at the horn in a matter of moments. Lo and behold, two girl stand inside. I can't really call them silhouettes, because the blue glow of the horn comes from everywhere, illuminating them faintly from all directions. Still, I'm unable to tell exactly who they are.

"Hide!" one of them hisses. They stay close together as they rush deeper into the horn, hiding behind a stack of empty black crates, long since pilfered of their contents. "Find a weapon, a rock, anything," one of the girls whispers.

Clearly, the girls don't think I've seen them.

I take a moment to pause, letting my eyes fall on the horn's supplies. Virtually everything has been taken, more so than usual. Overturned crates and crumpled tables litter the place. Of course, quite a bit of it is covered in blood.

There's no use wasting my time any longer. I draw my bow, arrow at the ready as I creep into the horn. Then I fire into the darkness.

Neveah Sunshine, 17 / CragmiteBlaster

District 9 Female

A jolt physically trills through me as the arrow lands in Heaven's chest.

"You're not dying." That's all I can say at first.

"You're not dying. You can't be."

But she is dying. And if she's dying, I'm dying too.

"You're going to be alright. It'll all be alright. I… I don't know what to do! I don't know what to do!"

"Neveah," Heaven murmurs. "Quiet."

"We're dying." She is we.

"Quiet. Quiet. Just listen to the wind."

I can't imagine the pain she must be feeling, yet she stays quiet. I feel nothing of the kind. All I do is lie down with her and slowly feel our body fail while Heaven shakes rapidly. Seeing her like that—it's a fate worse than death, really.

"The wind," she says again. "It sounds nice, doesn't it?"

"It does." My voice is weaker than I ever thought it could be. The tears seem to be physically shaking me, even though I know that's not possible.

"I love you."

"I love you."

I rest a hand on her heart. It beats along with mine in near-perfect synchrony, just like it has for seventeen years. I feel her heartbeat stop, and I know I'm gone too. It's possible for me to be gone even though my own heart is still beating. Soon enough, I'll be gone all the way, just like her.

Empty. Lie back, head hits the stone. It's all very, very quiet.

Monita Lidell, 16 / DefoNotAFangirl

District 3 Female

"Alright," Gray grunts. "Where the hell is Bryndle?"

"Kept my eyes peeled for her. No sightings," I say.

"I saw her," Rocky says. "One of the careers chased her away."

The word "deserter" hangs on my lips. I try to remind myself that Bryndle didn't abandon us on purpose. Even so, it's hard not to be heartbroken. I've told myself not to get too attached to my allies, but the experience of the games already binds us like oath. Missing her feels like missing part of myself.

If things are already this hard, I can't imagine how hard it'll be to snatch the victor's crown.

"I'm getting out of here," Gray says. "We aren't waiting for her forever."

"Seconded," I say. "This is exhausting."

"Hey. This was your plan."

"Doesn't mean I can't have regrets."

But then Gray is charging, with Rocky and I following close behind, and it's too late for regrets. We burst around the side of the horn, and there's an unspoken agreement to run without looking back rather than fight. If we're fast enough, maybe—just maybe—we can make it away without being noticed.

The careers are distracted; they surround a small boy with dark hair, who lies on the ground writhing in pain. But that isn't a good enough distraction.

"Hey!" a career shouts, and we break into an even faster sprint.

We're quickly overtaken. Gray has the lead; if he wanted to, he could easily make it to safety unscathed. Rocky and I are much less lucky. In a matter of moments, I'm trapped between Midas and Vista, while Jade and Gaius work to corner Rocky. Kennedy circles the scene like a vulture.

Rocky lets out a battle cry and flings his mace in Jade's direction. The 1 girl reels, yelping with pain. Gaius takes a quick moment to help her up. I'm surprised by the display of loyalty, but everything else disappears as I catch a glance of a charging Midas from the corner of my eye.

I have two knives, which keep Midas at bay for long enough. Still, he has the longer weapon; I can only hold him off for so long before he starts poking holes in me. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

Everything happens in slow motion as Gray starts roaring in pain. Based on the scene, he must have run back to help Rocky, which was his fatal mistake. The mute boy, Gaius, has already begun slashing. Horror pans over Gray's expression as he takes a backward tumble, grunting as his head hits the ground. Gaius slashes and slashes. Rocky races to his aid, but there's no use. Gray Golas is beyond saving.

Rocky's face turns a violent shade of scarlet, reminiscent of the clouds overhead. Rage turns tributes into unstoppable murderers, and with all the malice of Cato Hadley, Rocky slams Gaius squarely in the chest with his spiked mace. It surprises me that Gaius is able to yell, but he is, a noise that trembles and rolls. The noise is far too deep to say it warbles.

And Rocky keeps going. He bludgeons Gaius in every way I can think of and a dozen ways I can't. "Fuck you," he mutters as the career falls still.

And then Rocky has distracted one of my own attackers, tackling Vista with surprising confidence. I manage to smack Midas in the mouth hard enough to send him reeling. Vista shrieks as Rocky sends her tumbling.

"Monita," Rocky grunts. "We're leaving."

We are. I pat my shoulders just to make sure I'm still carrying all of the supplies I've gathered. Then I follow Rocky away into the dark unknown.

Kennedy Coil, 16 / MonkeyPower435

District 2 Female

"Bastard."

Midas groans as he gets to his feet. He's alive; Gaius isn't. It takes him a few moments to realize that Gaius isn't moving, but when he does, he's on Bernie faster than lightning.

"That bastard! That bastard!"

It's the law of the games that the careers should gather around to watch the last death of the bloodbath. Outliers dread it. Sometimes they'll even make an effort to kill themselves to avoid being the last one.

In any case, I doubt we could've put on much of a show with Bernie. He makes very little effort to fight back and he doesn't really scream. It's hard not to be shocked by his sheer composure. Sheer composure or sheer stupidity, it's all the same.

I don't stick around to watch Midas take out his wrath on the little pyromaniac from District 3. I have business to get done.

I tear a little knife out of my belt and dart toward Vista, holding it to her throat. I clamp a hand over her mouth. "Make one noise, fight back, and I'll kill you."

Her bow falls from her hand. Sometimes it's hilariously convenient, how badly tributes' senses and instincts fail themselves when they need them most.

We've travelled about ten seconds when Vista realizes what's going on, and I slide the blade into her neck. She's too loopy to make any noise: I've had her airways covered for at least a minute now and death must be close.

"This is our little secret, honey."

I shove her off the side of the slope, trying not to breathe too loudly so I can hear her tumbling corpse. The noise continues for a while: she's long gone. Long, long gone.

Hasta la vista.

THE SHATTERED

24th: Suzuki Nox, District 6 Female – Speared, by Midas

This girl was a sweetheart, wasn't she? She had a great arc going, what with Peugeot and her altogether innocence. If the arena was a forest, there's absolutely no doubt she would have fled at the gong and saved her own life. But these games are going to have a very particular story, and I've never felt as though Suzuki had a place in that story.

23rd: Edamame Stanton, District 11 Male – Speared, by Midas

I struggled with writing this guy, and sometimes I thought it showed through to your side of the glass. In most of his scenes, he felt like a kind of third wheel to Newton and Gwyneth, who are both still alive and being much more than just friendly (hint hint). He had an interesting personality, a great interview costume, and some good potential, but he just got lost in the sea of amazing characters.

22nd: James Smith, District 7 Male – Bled to death from spear wound, inflicted by Jade

Isn't it fun to surprise readers? I bet nobody was expecting James and Trixana to die during the bloodbath, and this was the first death that hurt me as a writer when I was fleshing out the chapter. It might have been fear on my own part that led to his death. I felt like I focused so much on his gayness that I neglected to develop him properly as a character, and I didn't want to keep him alive just for his arc, as interesting as it might have been. And yes, I'm as grateful as you are that Jade isn't annoying anymore.

21st: Trixana Faust, District 7 Female – Slashed with sword, by Kennedy

The loyal friend, the absolute Hufflepuff. From the moment she volunteered, she was always searching for something, searching so feverishly. Was it the thrill of the games? Was it the attention she never got from her dad or from God? I know this girl was beloved among you guys, but she was never my victor.

20th: Gary Redwire, District 8 Male – Bled to death by spear wound, inflicted by Midas

Not quite Hopper Vigo status, but a nice comic relief character nonetheless. I must admit I had the time of my life writing out his scenes. Watching the stress of the pre-games gradually crush him like a can was a sad experience, sure, but it'll be interesting to find out how his allies cope with his death. Now he might, just maybe, find out whether those stars really are other worlds.

19th: Neveah Sunshine, District 9 Female – Twin shot with arrow, by Vista

Rue much? I loved these girls as much as all of you did, but so many rule ambiguities were brought up by their mere existence that I felt it necessary to end them this early. Even if they had survived, the gamemakers would no doubt have snubbed them victory. Nevertheless, their case was an interesting first that will go down in Hunger Games history.

18th: Gray Golas, District 9 Male – Slashed with sword, by Gaius

One of the anti-careers was always going to die. I just hadn't decided who it was until very recently. The thing I loved most about Gray was his maturity. He knew how things were going on, ultimately dying in an attempt to save his closest friend. Forgiving his childhood bully in front of the nation no doubt gained him some traction with the public, but alas, not every beloved tribute can survive the bloodbath.

17th: Gaius Alabaster, District 2 Male – Bludgeoned with mace, by Rocky

Gaius was great to write. I have no choice but to stan diversity, and this character was a great writing experience that I will always be thankful for. I really wanted to keep him for a while, but it just wasn't meant to be. In a way, the characters that die this early are the lucky ones. The struggle is over for them. It's just beginning for the others.

16th: Bernie Tropello, District 3 Male – Speared, by Midas

What can be said about this kid that hasn't been said a million times before? I'm sure most of us knew he was going to die early. Still, writing out his descent into depression and suicidal intent has been one of the sadder plotlines of this story thus far. Trust me, I'd love to see what chaos he can make with fire. However, it's always the Capitol's job to stamp out of the coals of rebellion. He could never have made it far.

15th: Vista Juarez, District 4 Female – Decapitated, by Kennedy

What we're meant to take from this death is that Kennedy has quite a bit up her sleeves. How she'll continue is for time to tell. I prized Vista as a character for her intelligence and level-headedness, like the calm ocean at dawn in relation to Dock's tempest. I considered keeping her around the most strongly of anyone who shattered here, but it just was not meant to be. And yes, I've been waiting to use that pun ever since the reaping.

Remaining Tributes (14): Jade, Midas, Kennedy, Monita, Dock, Gwyneth, Newton, Rocky, Blu, Bryndle, Arien, Fawn, Heather, Turner

Alliances:

Careers: Jade, Midas, Kennedy

Anti-Careers: Monita, Rocky

The Guys Next Door: Dock, Arien, Turner

5: Gwyneth, Newton

Let's Hate Everyone Together: Fawn, Heather

Loners (For Now): Blu, Bryndle