ELISSA DE ANGELO- Grande St. Leger

She believed she would keep going when she died. When I saw her for the last time, it was the first time I truly believed it. I couldn't imagine a world where a soul like that could cease to be. Elissa was too irreplaceable to be gone. Something like that couldn't begin unless it was endless.

Caio Sagres- District Two male
'The absolute madman, he actually did it. When I heard the cannon, of course I assumed it was Meenah. Right away I started plotting how I was going to win against two united Careers. Then "nightfall" came and it was Elissa looking down at me. Grande was a more perilous man than I'd accounted for. I'd never underestimated his skill or danger, but I'd had no idea he was ruthless. Our final battle would be one for the ages.

First it had to begin. There were only three people in an entire Arena. One of them was no doubt hiding in a hole somewhere. Grande was looking for me just as I was looking for him, but the fact remained that there was an entire Arena between us. We wandered for two days and it might have become two weeks had something else not stepped in.

"Good afternoon, Tributes!"

The sound of a human voice and the metallic artificiality of the microphone feedback after so long in stone age loneliness jarred me. I had my spear up and almost threw it before I caught myself.

"There will be a feast at the Cornucopia beginning posthaste. Refreshments will of course be provided and the entertainment will be legendary! I'm sure none of you want to miss out on this."

A smile snaked across my face. For once the Gamemakers did us a favor. The Cornucopia was the one landmark of the Arena. It was the only place they could easily direct me and Grande so we could meet. Oh, no. I certainly don't want to miss out.

Meenah Turbine- District Five female

My hands looked just like Atticus'. As I lay on my stomach by his desiccating corpse, my hands were indistinguishable from his. I was wasted away, as thin and frail as a bird. It amazed me I didn't feel weaker. The human body can put up with more than anyone can imagine.

Soon I would look even more like Atticus. He had barely any flesh left. A tongueless mouth grinned at me under empty eye sockets. The soft flesh had gone first. Then the insects moved to the firmer meat. He was almost skeletonized now. When the last of him left, so would the insects. Then I would starve.

It crossed my mind that I could have joined them. The insects, I meant. Sometimes when I looked at the shreds of meat left, they looked like jerky. Just beef jerky. The kind of chewy jerky that takes so long to eat you're almost playing with it in your mouth and it's like a toy and a food all at once. I flirted with that line sometimes, but I never really came close to crossing it. I remembered what happened to the other Tribute that did that. It wouldn't have stopped me in the end, though. There would come a day when survival beat out shame and then fear. I didn't think I would live that long.

"Good afternoon, Tributes. There will be a feast at the Cornucopia beginning posthaste. Refreshments will be provided..."

Nothing came to mind. The word food hit my brain and the reaction was visceral but amorphous. Confronted with the possibility, I couldn't think of any food. Just insects and beef jerky.

It made no difference. I wasn't going. It wasn't meant for me. it was to bring Grande and Caio together so they could fight. One would die and the other would come for me.

Grande St. Leger- District One male

I was the first to reach the Cornucopia. Ornate wooden banquet tables had been added before our arrival. A tablecloth woven with fiber-optic lights was draped over it, casting enough light to illuminate the contents. It was an elegant spread with three settings, though everyone involved must have known Meenah would not be attending. Platters and vessels for dozens of luxurious dishes sat on the cloth.

Not ten minutes later, I heard the sounds of Caio approaching. I wasn't surprised, coincidental though it seemed. I knew the Gamemakers had waited until we were nearly the same distance away in order to stir up their drama.

Caio bowed theatrically when he came into range of the lit tablecloth. "My old friend Grande," he greeted me. He strode to the opposite end of the table and stood by one of the intricately carved chairs. "We will fight, I am sure. But first, let us eat. It would be a shame to let this bounty go cold."

He really meant it. If I knew anything about Caio, it was that he was a sensualist. It would be a crime in his eyes to spoil luxuries because we were impatient. I also knew that his sensuality bled into his achievements as well as his indulgences. He wanted to beat me wholly, not by cheap tricks or by surprise. He would not strike until the eating was over and we had by our unspoken bearing signaled that the battle was beginning. And so, as strange as it seemed, I took the seat at the opposite end of the table and we began to eat.

"My condolences on the loss of your District partner," Caio said, his eyes flicking up from his downturned face. "I'm sure it was very difficult."

I'd known he would strike and still it hurt. "It was not by my hand," I said bluntly.

An instant of fear passed over his face, interrupted by amusement he seemed to welcome. "Meenah? I suppose she has lasted this long. I never dreamed of such hidden depths." He toyed with a knife against the tablecloth. "I only wish our group had not been winnowed so prematurely. I would have liked to have faced more of my equals in battle."

Caio did not rush as he luxuriously scooped food from dishes and poured some dark drink from a decanter. The clinking of silverware punctuated the conversation. I might have enjoyed the rich Capitol food if my dinner partner had allowed me some peace.

"It has been a long and dangerous road. Everything we hoped for, I would say. But all things must end. It is time for your last and my last battle, for differing reasons. You will be my proudest kill," Caio said. He sat back on his chair and swept crumbs off the table with his napkin.

"A meal like that is not forgotten," he sighed. He stood and retrieved the spear he'd leaned against his chair. "We have eaten. Now, let us fight."

I came into this intending to write the fight but Caio is hella dramatic and dragged it out.