I am running through a dense forest, tripping over everything in my path. No matter how much I try to avoid obstacles, they seem to come out of nowhere and take me down. But I don't stop. Wherever I'm running, I have to get there.

I'm too late. Ember lies dead on the ground, her body sprawled out in an unnatural position. I run over to her and put my fingers on her neck. Nothing.

I scream when her hand shoots up and grabs my wrist. I try to pull and pull, but I can't get lose. Her eyes open, void of all color. She clenches her jaw.

"Traitor." I finally manage to pull away from her grasp. I scoot away until my back smacks into a tree. She screams, flailing around on the ground until she stops. I look at my wrist. It's covered in cut marks.

Something drips on my skin. I look up and see Alvin's body, hung from the tree. In a panic, I jump up and stand, facing his corpse.

But like Ember, he's no corpse. When he wakes he screams and reaches for me, but I'm too far.

"You killed me. You killed Ember. You're a murderer!" I cover my ears with my hands. His screams are joined by Ember's screams, and my own. I close my eyes and desperately beg to wake up.

"Tributes, congratulations on making it this far-"

I scream as I wake from my nightmares. Sweat covers my skin and the fleece blanket I'm laying under. My hand aches from gripping Alvin's cane so tightly. I throw the blanket off of me and let the cold air battle the sweat.

"I would like to formally invite you to this year's annual feast! There will be food, of course. But there will be plenty of items to keep yourself warm. Jackets, blankets, shelter, even a fire starting kit. For those of you who have struggled to stay warm, this could be the last chance you have. It will happen at sunset today at the cornucopia." I eat some food as we're invited to the feast. I haven't struggled to keep warm, though going numb from the water was pretty awful. There's no reason for me to go, other than a good fight. And isn't that why I'm here?

I decide even the possibility of death is better than sitting here wallowing in self-pity. I can't bear to think about... those who have died.

So I pack up everything and begin heading towards the cornucopia. I don't bother to cover my tracks. Let them find me.

I reach the top of the cliff and look into the cul-de-sac that holds the cornucopia. It's clear the Careers are taking shelter in the nearby houses based on the smoke coming out of the two closest houses.

I wait patiently for the Feast to begin, knowing there must be others nearby. I keep myself wrapped in my jacket and the fleece blanket, too tired to feel anything anymore.

A hovercraft descends above the cornucopia. It slowly delivers exactly what was promised, a collection of various tents, blankets, jackets, and even a few weapons. As soon as it clicks into place, the remaining three Careers come out of their houses.

They don't seem at all careful as they take every supply off the table, leaving nothing for everyone else. I keep waiting for another tribute to go in and fight. Was I wrong to think others would be here? Am I the only one who braved the feast?

Fuck it. I rush the cornucopia, tackling Cade to the ground before he realizes what hit him. With one quick slash across the neck, his cannon fires.

Brighton and Layna raise their weapons. Brighton is the first to charge at me, and I just manage to block using Alvin's cane. While she aggressively swings at me, I see the girl from 11 trying to come in and get a few supplies. Unfortunately for her, Layna sees her. She's dead before she knows what hit her.

I'm able to cut Brighton's thigh, causing her to swear and fall to one knee. I'm unable to deliver the final blow because Layna charges at me. I dodge her blow and decide to take what I can while I'm still alive. I leave the fight with a new jacket and thicker blanket. By the time I return to my shelter, another cannon has fired. The anthem confirms the death of the girl from 6. Along with the other two Feast casualties, that leaves three tributes remaining. Me, Layna, and Brighton, both who have had a desire to see me dead since the moment we stepped into this arena. Anyone else would be afraid and play it safe. But with nothing left to live for, I plan to go into this finale giving it my all.

24 hours and there was peace. 24 hours I contemplated my choices for this inevitable fight. There were a few ways I thought it could go down. I could try to sneak up on them. I could burn them out of their house. I could brute force my way through when they don't expect it. But none of these plans come to fruition because the Gamemakers decide to send mutts after us.

They're shaped after polar bears, except they're claws are sharp enough to kill you with one slice while also being sharp enough to scale a mountain. And they can jump far enough to cover nearly a quarter of a mile. Great.

I'm able to lock one of them inside the temple and take off down the road. Two more chase me up the hill, nearly tackling me down. Fortunately, it overshoots its jump and I continue running.

I'm surprised when the cannon fires. I guess it's not just me the Gamemakers are after. I don't let myself wonder who died.

By the time I reach the cornucopia, I'm dripping with sweat and struggling to catch my breath. The bears seem to stay just outside the cul-de-sac, pacing around the edge. They must be waiting for the final show.

Brighton comes up from the mountain, her arm over her stomach, blood slowly seeping out from behind it.

"How is it you're still a competitor in these fucking games?" She spits at me. I let myself enjoy the moment.

"I guess I'm just better than you." This provokes her. She charges towards me but I easily dodge. She expects this and quickly turns to stab me in the back. The blade lodges itself underneath my shoulder blade. I swear and anger builds up inside me. I take Alvin's cane and smack her on the side of her head. She collapses to the ground. She tries to stand up but she's too dizzy and collapses back to the ground.

"I told you I was better than you." I take the cane and hit her in the head with it. Over, and over, and over again. I don't stop when the cannon fires, nor do I stop when I hear the announcer congratulate me as victor. I only stop when the hovercraft freezes me in place, pulling me away from the cold and away from the nightmare that has been my existence for the past two weeks. I feel the needle go into my back and let myself slip into sweet nothingness.

Until the day I die, I never want to be congratulated again.

The doctors said it to me. Cheryl. Capitol citizens. Gamemakers. Other mentors. Like I accomplished something worthwhile. I didn't plan to make it this far. And now my entire life will exist as a Capitol pawn. Mentoring tributes until I keel over.

When I woke up, I knew something was wrong. My vision was too clear. The doctor told me they fixed my vision. They couldn't have their precious victor have a defect, could they?

They had to sedate me two times before I calmed down. And Cheryl promised she would have them return Alvin's cane to me.

I sit alone on the bed that's returning me home, gripping his cane until my knuckles turn white. I don't want to return home. I don't want to be congratulated a million more times. I want to fade into fucking oblivion. I want to be with Alvin.

I should know by now I never get what I fucking want.