Ah, welcome to the first part of the finale!

It's a nice little overview that will be our final look at the brilliant tributes left in the Games before they slaughter each other and we get ourselves a victor. It will be very short and sweet, but I thought it would be nice to go over a couple of memories.

I won't waste time. Here it is~

Trigger Warning: Austin's POV will have mentions of child abuse.

Thank you to BamItsTyler, Remus98 and FireflyLlama who reviewed!

"Take care of all your memories, for you cannot relive them." ~Bob Dylan

Don't let me fall asleep until you've said goodbye.

Austin Ogara, Eighteen, District One Male

The Goodbyes.

Saying goodbye had felt like so long ago. Colette was the only one who'd visited me, aside from a few girls coming to give me one final kiss. It seemed funny that it would be her, nobody else, not even my Dad who cared enough to sit with me…

"So you're really doing this," Colette smiles, her eyes betraying her sadness. "I don't know what else to say. I know you can do this. I know you can get out. I'm just worried."

"Colette, I'll be fine," I smirk. "I don't think there's much the tributes can do. Last year was just dumb luck. This year is my year, I know it."

Colette tangles her fingers in mine, cradling our two hands with her own. She gives it an experimental squeeze, and I squeeze back gently, leaving her to smile.

"Don't worry about me," I tell her. "We both know I've got this."

"Okay sure, Mr Tough Career," she giggles.

"Ugh," I roll my eyes. "Whatever."

I tap my foot on the floor, thinking of what to say. My best friend has been here with me through thick and thin. She's smoothed over the cuts and bruises that used to decorate my body, she's helped to build my self-confidence where my Dad used to tear it down. He's not here to say goodbye, and I'm happy about that.

Volunteering? Winning?

It's not about him. Sure, I'm leaving him behind, but I have better things to think about; a place of my own, getting back to my best friend, finding a real place to belong here in One.

Yeah, that'll be nice.

"What are you thinking about right now?" Colette asks me.

"Something I've wanted for a very long time."

Colette raises her eyebrows in question.

"You'd better not mention anything about having sex with some girl."

"Not this time," I shake my head. "No, this time I'm thinking of something else."

It's me, Colette. A chance to be me, to live my life to its fullest potential. It's that chance, that feeling of no limitation. It's the getaway from my Dad, the new chance at life. It's the ability to have my own place that isn't falling apart. It's the hope of being able to live as my own person.

It's…freedom.

Colette smiles, her eyes crinkling slightly.

"I'm glad, Austin," she tells me. "I'm happy you're focused on the Games. I want you back in one piece, you hear me?"

"Alright, alright," I yawn, a smile breaking out across my lips as she punches my broad shoulder.

"Promise me?"

"…Okay, I promise."

Their questions about you leave my heart still.

Isabelle "Izzy" Moire, Sixteen, District Five Female

The interviews.

I try not to twitch too much as the lights blind me. My feet, strapped into heels, lead me to Dallas, who guides me into a soft foam chair.

"Welcome, Isabella Moire from District Five!" he calls.

"Oh, thank you!" I grin, playing up my angle. "You can call me Izzy!"

It's basically my cheery self, so I know that there's no way I'm disappointing Nate on this one. I can only hope it'll work, especially since my twitches feels so much more violent and frequent when there's a thousand eyes watching me. I push through; I have more to prove than just hiding inside of myself.

"Oho, a little bit of a firecracker, yes?" Dallas laughs.

"Maybe just a lil'," I wink, shifting slightly in my glowing purple gown. I told Nate that purple was my favourite colour, and I can only guess the stylists could word of it.

"So, what is it that you can do, Izzy?" Dallas asks me. "What will you be able to do to outsmart the other tributes?"

"I think my allies and I are gonna rock it," I cheer, and the crowd whoops with me. "If my speed, smarts and knives don't do the damage, they'll have my back!"

"What about home?" Dallas continues. "Who's rooting for you back there?"

Not many people, that's for sure. Just a handful. Zapp. Mallory. My Mom, deep down. I've always been that girl, the one who's picked on just because I can be. Dallas doesn't need to know that. The Capitol doesn't need to find that out, at least not yet.

"Mallory, my lil' sis," I chirp, my neck twitching. "She's the best, she's gives me these big ol' squeeze hugs, y'know, the ones that make ya smile even when ya don't feel up to it? Yeah, those."

"Aw, she sounds special, am I right everyone?" Dallas calls, hamming up the crowd.

A resounding applause reaches my ears.

"So, do you have any secrets you'd like to share?" Dallas hums.

"Well, I guess I do, huh," I answer, pretending to think about what I want to say. "I guess I'm stronger than I look. Smarter than I seem. Faster than they know."

"Who's they?" Dallas wonders curiously.

"Everyone," I grin, stretching slightly. "But I'll show 'em. I mean, who else will?"

As the crowd cheers for me, the buzzer sounds.

"Everyone, Izzy Moire from District Five!"

To think our team was the first to fall.

Lewis Coltsfoot, Fifteen, District Twelve Male

The Games.

"Sup Colt!"

It's the first morning after the bloodbath, and somehow, we're safe. Parker's gone, and I haven't really slept. I've been thinking about him. His death hit Dathan hard, but I just feel so…numb. It's almost as if a part of myself is gone and I don't even realise it's missing.

"Hey, Shura," I smile. "What's up?"

"Well, I was wonderin' if you'd give me a few tips on how to seduce Boss Man over there," he giggles to himself. "Y'know, since he was all kissy kissy with Ramble, I guess it's my turn?"

"Wow, you really don't give up, do you?" I chuckle. "Go ask him yourself, I don't want any part of this."

"You realise I heard all of that?" Dathan asks from a few metres in front of us.

We both fall silent, almost as if we'd been told off by a parent or schoolteacher. I feel like Dathan definitely holds that kind of role in our team, with Shura as the resident child and me as the one trying to calm him down. I guess that makes me the babysitter.

The silence stretches on as we walk. I end up cracking my knuckles, which are still purpled with fading bruises; someone I hit a couple of days before the reapings. Shura notices my discoloured hands and prods one of my knuckles gently.

"Oooh cool dude, you get into fights?" he asks.

"Not really," I smile awkwardly. "Well yeah, I guess I do. I was lucky to win the last one."

"Damn, Boss Man, did you hear that? Colt can pack a punch!" Shura cheers. "Anyone want a knuckle sandwich?"

"Do you?" I ask in a mock-threatening tone, and Shura makes a grandiose act of running away from me, draping himself over Dathan.

"Ah, such tragedy!" he calls. "You'd better throw a punch at someone."

I scoff quietly to myself.

"I don't know if I'll ever get the chance."

"Everyone, quiet," Dathan hisses suddenly, and obediently, Shura and I fall silent.

Up ahead, I hear the faint sound of voices.

"I think its Lenore's alliance," Dathan mutters, readying his hammer. "Let's take them out."

"Are you sure about this?" I ask. "We're outnumbered."

"Yeah, but we're the ones surprising them," Dathan winks. "C'mon, in Parker's name, we will fight!"

As Shura prepares his switchblade, I raise my short sword half-heartedly.

I have a strange feeling, one that makes me want to run.

Maybe it's not too late to do just that…

Ah, the little memories, little tidbits we missed that I thought could give us a nice little insight in our tributes and their experiences. I hope you enjoyed it, let me know what you think?

Now it's time for the real action to begin. I know you're ready for it, so just hold on a little longer.

I don't have much else to say, just stay happy and healthy! I hope to be seeing you very soon ;)

Over and out!
~Mental