I hated how I couldn't even be bothered to sleep. I was becoming restless. I didn't understand why. I'd been sleeping pretty hard when nobody else was around but now suddenly with the protection of my brother I can't even close my eyes. Well... To be fair I was staying up all the time back when the night sky was clearer than it had ever been before. Last time I remembered it being like this was... Well, back when I was with Monica watching the night sky before... Well, you know the rest.

I begin to sit up when I realize a knife is next to me. I don't remember putting it there but I probably did to feel safer. I push it a little further away and sit up, facing my brother who's sitting against a tree. I can barely see his face in the darkness but I know he's looking over at me. He's reminding me a little bit of Monica. I kinda wish she was here. I thought she was pretty cool. Though this instead reminds me how much I distrusted her through much of the two days we were aligned. She was older than we were and definetly had a chance on her own so protecting us just seemed like she was wasting her time. She had to have some sort of goal in mind... But even when she could easily just kill or abandon them on the spot she just stayed with them. I mean yeah, I AM pretty good with knives but again I'm not perfect. Her spear was enough to end my life in a flash so it wasn't like she was waiting to weaken me completely. Especially on the day they were separated and Troy and Byke were dying. I recall I wasn't suffering from anything like Byke or Troy. Just a large gash on the shoulder which we healed up afterwards but I mean... Before? Monica could've killed me right then and there. Maybe she was really trustworthy after all.

I cross my arms. If me and Alma ever come into contact with her ever again we should join together. We'd be pretty good together. I wanna tell this to my brother but...

I lay back. I really wish I had my sleeping bag still. I believe Monica has it. We were so tired the day we were attacked that we hadn't even used it. Strange considering that would've made rest a lot easier but I guess Byke was so tired after the constant problems we had on Days 3 and 4. Monica took the sleeping bag when those mutts attacked them. Now Alma didn't have a sleeping bag or anything like that but he did have a few covers which he gave me to sleep on.

Monica...

I'm curious. Is she doing alright? Is she alive or is she just barely breathing at the moment? I sit up and pull my knees closer to my chest.

"You better not have died." I whisper to myself, starting to now feel anxious.

"What?" My brother questions suddenly. My eyes turn his way, surprised he even heard that.

"Oh. Nothing. Don't worry about it." I say, trying to evade a conversation about Monica with him. He gives an understanding nod that I can see through the moonlight.

"Get some rest okay. We may need it for tomorrow who knows." He says in my direction. I nod back and lay my head back on the ground.

As I begin closing my eyes though, I hear a rumbling in the background. Alma looks up at the sky giving off a very concerned face.

"Another storm huh... Fucking hell." He shakes his head. I swallow my saliva. This doesn't sound too good. The last storm was already bad enough but anymore and well... ugh, this cannot end well.

"Yeah, you should get as much rest as you can. If anything we may get swept away by a wave or something and if you can walk on your feet tomorrow then we may stand a chance." He says under his breath. I only nod in response. It's going to be a tiring rest of the night huh...

"Crash"

I jolt upwards. I actually didn't realize I'd dazed off sometime after my brother suggested I'd rest. Somehow I even managed to catch sleep while it's pouring down rain. And after all those failed attempts too. However on the other hand I'm searching around frantically. I can't see Alma!

"Hey! Altar! I'm over here!" I heard a shout. It turns out Alma is actually just right in front of me but the heavy rain combined with the darkness made him hard to see in front of me.

"Oh god. I thought something happened and I was-," I begin before he comes over and shushes me.

"Quiet... Somebody's nearby and I know it..." He whispers into my ear. Now I'm shaking. S-Somebody's near? Oh no oh no...

I figure this is a dumb decision but I begin to get to my knees. The wind blows past me. I feel the chill of it all over my body. Rain pelts my face as I look up above us. Me and Alma are both checking our surroundings. I take in a large breath silently.

"We should move." I whisper over to Alma. He shakes his head slowly. I cross my arms. We've basically thrown ourselves in a corner. I remember I was being a large idiot by choosing to sleep in the middle of an open field a few days ago. However, you could get a fantastic clear on where everyone was in proximity to you if anyone came by. Of course, nobody ever did this (I was always too far away in an arena with very little tributes) but I felt a lot safer out in the open for some reason. I felt closed in while in the forests. Even when Monica had pledged to protect me, Byke and Troy. I chew on my tongue.

"Pst. Alt." I look up as Alma begins whispering again.

"There's a clearing just ahead. I know it. It's the best place to... Ya know. He makes a motion with his hands, revealing his intent to fight off whoever is hiding. I'm a little relieved but my arms are still feel as if they're made out of clay. Like, they're still shaking in fear.

"W-Why don't we just call them out. It'll-," Without even thinking, my words fade as I hear a loud pounding noise in the darkness somewhere behind me. For a few milliseconds I cannot react. I just know it's coming and I don't know what to do. I find a knife situated next to me and I'm ready to do something without. But I know I'm too slow and I'm already prepared for what's next.

Then, it happens. I feel a cold, aggressive hand wrap around my shoulder. Instantly, a shiny object is at my throat at a choking level. I'm already panicking when I realize that it has happened. Someone has found me. Somehow, I react with stillness. I'm no longer shaking. My intense fear remains, but I'm not longer showing it. I'm frozen in time. In what may be my last moments. I swallow my saliva as I feel cold breathing on my neck. Then, comes the outburst of laughter. The person holding me doesn't kill me right away. Instead he's holding onto me like a shield in front of my older brother, continuing in his laughter.

"What's wrong. Can't protect do anything about your little brother can you? Not a bad move. After all, make a move and his throat will be slit." He warns my brother. I'm actually about to piss myself. My brother is helpless to do anything to stop this boy from killing me. I imagine getting your throat slit open is painful. I cannot bear the thought of it. The idea of it. The concept of it horrifies me. And the fact that this... Is 99.9% possibly about to become a reality right here and right now. I want my brother to come in and save me. His presence makes me feel almost at home. It makes me feel invincible. However the sword at my throat reminds me that this isn't District 11. This isn't the house we live in together. This is no mans land. This is where children like me are sent to die for entertainment. For the amusement of those sick enough to enjoy it. For nothing.

I was sent here, into the 100th Hunger Games, to be slaughtered in the bloodbath. I was sent here to show that the past never forgives and never forgets. That even poor little Rue, the girl buried in a beautiful bloom of flowers to show how unjust the games were, could never escape. My dreams and hopes that I'd come home were just that, a dream. I come to accept this reality. I'm already imagining what'll happen after I die. I've been scared of it. Maybe there's a place where I'll meet Byke and Troy. I'll apologize if this happens.

I'm midway through this daydream when the sword gets pulled in closer towards me neck. I'm on the verge of just shutting down mentally.

"What's wrong? Not gonna cry for help? Beg? No resistance? Hm. Disappointing." The boy mocks into my ear. Through the rain, I look over at my brother. He's not showing much emotion. In fact, I notice that me mouths something the moment I looked up at him from the ground.

I believe it is something along the lines of "Stab him". I'm quick to remember I have a knife in hand. It's useless though. If I stabbed him, the boy would just quickly stab me. I could probably barely leave a mark. However looking back up, I see him mouthing something else. Seeing this though, I change. My body acts on its own and without hesitation, almost without knowing, I stab the boy. I believe I get him in the arm but that doesn't matter anyways because despite the screams of pain the boy transmits, the sword finds its way into me and the sword begins ripping through my neck. The pain is immense. Surging through me. However even as I hit the ground screaming, crying and tears running down my face... I realize something.

It didn't kill me...

I look over at the boy during my panic. What the hell could this be about? How is it...

It only takes me a couple of seconds to realize what had happened. As my brother picks me up and pulls something out of his bag and I watch the other boy roll around in agony not to far away I come to the realization. Only a small part of my neck is in pain. The cut only runs a little bit before it stops. The sword is on the ground not too far away from the boy, my blood on it. It's here that I realize what exactly happened. My knife was doused in poison and Alma knew this. In fact, he probably planned it. My brother stands above me as he got out a medical kit.

"I was prepared for someone to enter the scene and hold my brother hostage like that. Even if little Altar died, he'd take you along with him. Funny isn't it." He tells the boy who is now dying, cursing my brother. I begin to understand. While I was asleep, my brother had probably put poison all over one of my knives and left it next to me just in case. Not bad, I'll admit.

My tears begin to slow as I think about this. So... Am I not going to die? I'll admit, this has caught my by surprise. I begin to turn over towards my brother when suddenly I'm kicked in the back and knocked onto my belly. Suddenly, the boy is above me.

"T-This is nothing. A little bit of poison won't d-,"

"SPLISH" Without even seeing what'd happened, everything has already been confirmed for me. The sound of a heavy object collapsing nearby reaches me ear. A small moan of pain coming from that direction. Afterwards, I hear a canon boom. It's confirmed. My brother drops onto his behind right next to me.

"That nearly got bad. I'm just glad you're okay, Alt." Alma says to me, rubbing my hair.

After a few seconds of my brother just resting, he pulls out a medical kit and wraps a bandage around my neck.

"This was the last sponsor item I had the chance to get my hands on. I've only had to use it once before." He tells me. I'm not very patched up but otherwise the bleeding has stopped. Sooner or later, the pain will stop being as bad as it is right now. We survived and that's all that matters.

"Odd... That boy's from 4." Alma says, looking at the boys jacket. I look up. He's correct. It's the same color as Monica's. Alma begins to frantically search around.

"But... I don't believe any more careers are here or anything. If they were... They'd just attack us now or something like that." He puts his hand on my shoulder, looking around. I swallow my saliva. Then again, that's the obvious strategy. They could still be out there still waiting for a different opportunity. I look up at Alma and I realize he has this exact same thought. It isn't too long afterwards that he picks me up and we begin rushing along towards the clearing he told me was around here. Were moving at such a pace we aren't even sure if we're the only ones around here or more people are moving around too. However I don't even bother checking. We're just running like a storm towards the clearing that's slowly growing and growing. Eventually we land ourselves in the circle of flowers where the trees surround us. It soon becomes clear that nobody is after us which I'm thankful for.

As we try and catch our breaths, I notice my brother looking over at me. He begins chuckling once he notices I've caught his gaze.

"Sorry about that gamble by the way." He breaths, "I'll be honest I wasn't sure whether or not you'd get through that or not. You know." He admitted, patting me on the back. Immediately after he says this, he collapses onto the ground beneath him. Despite my injury, I'm quick to spring up and make sure he's okay. However he pushes me back.

"Look. I'm good. Get yourself some damn rest. We're going to go hunting and traveling tomorrow." Hey says, tapping me on the forehead. I give him a confused look but shrug...

(Hours Pass...)

The rain continues to get harder during my attempts to get some sleep. It's pretty bothersome. I look over at my brother. Despite the fact that he promised to stay up and guard us he looks to be asleep or somewhat half sleep. I give him the benefit of the doubt. Just looking over at him gives me a pain in my neck. He's done so much and honestly for very little. What purpose do I serve to him? I'm just a 12 year old. I can't win this. He can, for sure but like...

It gets me thinking back to Byke and Troy. There memories have been guiding me like stars. Well, they're as good of guides as they probably would've been in real life. It's pushed me in circles over and over. The pain. The Agony. The Tears. The Fear that's come with it all. But for the first time, I feel myself becoming frustrated with their deaths. This outward annoyance seems to be at everything. Byke and Troy for being so helpless. For letting themselves go down like fools. Anger at Monica. For not doing something right away. Ceres and her friend, for hurting a bunch of 12 year olds. However they all seem to segway into one common anger. Towards the Capitol and the whole concept of the Hunger Games. For killing children. For killing children for what I consider nothing important, at least anymore. For quieting voices. The voices of children who could have made a difference in the world as we know it. For silencing the voices of those two, my friends. Their laughter. Their cries. They'll forever be forgotten. Just another name on the list of those who died for the cause of the Capitol. For nothing basically.

However I stand up with a thought.

Maybe not. At least if I win. I'll make sure EVERYONE remembers there names! I look skyward, rain pelting my face as I do.

"You will know there names." I mouth. I take a deep breath, having vented these feelings out in the most appropriate way ever. Though I'm quick to remember that winning the Hunger Games are better said then done. I recall all of the tributes I considered troublesome while we were training.

The District 1 pair, District 2 boy, District 4 boy as well as Ceres and the girl from 10. Bella or something?

A gut feeling engulfs my stomach. Again with my dread. I pray at some point all of these fools come in and take each other out. The ones I really want removed are Ceres and that Bella girl. They're too much. They did in the majority of the careers themselves. Me and Alma would NEVER be able to handle them on their own. I just know it. I bite thumb.

Darn it darn it darn it darn it...

The thoughts begin to cloud my head, exhausting me. I just know it. I need some rest...

(Far, Far later...)

The morning of the 11th day began well for us. For one, my neck wound isn't too bad anymore meaning I can actually talk again. We both awoke and despite the continuing heavy rain we both turned our attention towards food. Of course, no thanks to the ongoing rainstorm; me and Alma used rain as our replenishable water source. I even left my water container open over night to see if it'd fill up enough. It didn't fill completely but personally I'm satisfied with the results. Food has been a lot scarcer. I kind of wished I had taken and eaten that mutt I murdered a few days ago. After all, it was probably some good meat. However when I bring this up to Alma he reminds me I literally have no idea how to cook.

"I love how out of all of the garbage your brain happens to have installed it never considered picking up the making raw meat good meat part. Then again you spent all your days in training watching fire." Alma jokes. I give a less than amused look back at him as we trek the former forest, of which have become a wetland.

Eventually we run out of things to talk about once more, making our journey a little more quiet and awkward. Then again, silence is needed in order to hunt. Little sad neither me nor Altar have any experience with hunting. A bunch of farm boys wouldn't know how to find and kill animals would they? Of course not. I open my mouth to yawn when suddenly my brother covers my mouth. Looking up at him, I see him shaking his head.

Something nearby? An animal? A tribute? Oh dear. Oh dear the possibilities.

Thankfully though, when I notice the deer poking its head out of the rocks I find myself relieved. Alma makes a motion. A throwing motion. In response I hand him a knife. However he's quick to hand it back to me. He puts his hands in the air before pointing at the animal that's seemingly waiting for us to strike. It's clear now. I'm better with knives than he is so if we're after food, I'm going to have to be the one to kill it. I don't mind, though I hate having to take on such responsibility. Despite this though, I take the knife with earnest and quietly make my way towards the deer. Eventually, I get in a good range.

Concentrate...

It looks at me. But it doesn't run. It just stares directly at me...

Breathe...

As I pull the knife back, our eyes clash. Eyes... Eyes seemingly filled with curiosity. Innocence and a lack of knowledge of the danger it is in... Those cold... brown eyes...

Release...

Even before the sound of my knife striking the deer and its crying in pain register in my ears I've collapsed onto the wet ground beneath me. Panicking. Hyperventilating. Screaming. My brother is quick to jump to my aid. For a moment he's checking me, making sure I haven't been hit with anything but then he realizes what's wrong with me.

"Come on Alt. It'll be okay. It'll be okay little Alt. It's just a deer."

"That wasn't just a deer!" I cry. "I saw them! ISAWMYFRIENDSEYESITWAS-," My words quickly begin slurring together in a mess of distressed 12 year old emotion before they all fade together falling back into a pattern of me screaming and ventilating fearfully.
All at once though, I stop. Once again, I collapse onto the floor. This time, just tired. However, I feel an embrace. One from my brother. He hugs me tightly.

"It's going to be okay Alt. I'll send you back to Momma. Don't worry." He rubs my head. I'm still shaking as he tries to comfort me.

"I... I wanna go home." I say, though I didn't really intend to say this to Alma. My brain feels so lightheaded that I said that instinctive. But it's true. I wanna go back to the place I was familiar with. The one where my mother was there to protect me...

Eventually Alma gets me back to my feet. Looking up, I'm surprised that the one knife I threw was enough to kill the deer.

"I'll go collect it. I'm going to need to tear it apart though if we're going to carry its meat until we can cook it." Alma tells me, walking over to its body. I watch on, my panic attack having not left my mind. I still wonder if it was just me overreacting, but the look the animal gave me was too familiar. A sense of innocence came from it. Reminding me of my friends.

Eventually Alma finishes whatever he was doing and he motions me to follow in his direction. So again we begin trecking through the wetlands. Conversation between us both is sparse now. Half because my conscious doesn't even know where to go anymore following me sudden panic attack and half because I assume he just wants me to have some time for myself. I assume the rest of our journey is going to go something like this, however unexpectedly he begins to talk again.

"I've been curious for a while. You survived on your own for some time right?" He asks me. I look up at him, unsure why he'd bother asking me about the aftermath of the death of Troy and Byke.

"Why?" Is the only response I give him. He shrugs.

"Honestly, I just wanted to know what you did all by yourself and how you do it?" He pats me on the back. "I know it wasn't easy you know, being all alone the way you were. Through that though, you stood on both feet and ran through hell and no matter what things you did I'll admit, I'm proud of you Alt." He says. Part of me feels my heart warming in response but the other causes me to roll my eyes. Why is he so focused on how I'm still alive.

The only response I give him is a simple 'whatever' and we look forward.

I can't believe it's nearly been two weeks...

District 1 Male

District 1 Female

District 2 Male

District 4 Female (Monica)

District 5 Female (Circa)

District 9 Male (Bran)

District 9 Male

District 9 Female

District 10 Female (Bella)

District 11 Male (Altar)

District 11 Male (Alma)

District 11 Female (Ceres)

I'm back again with another chapter. That's all. Good day.