Day Two:


Yeah, this type of life, it'll eat you up alive;
It's a game and you gotta put your feelings to the side.


Eloise Allegro, District Eight


I drift into consciousness. And then back out. The world's a blur, and random images float aimlessly around the pool of my thoughts, as though they're being forced in.

A momentary gust of wind brings me back to reality for a few seconds, but after some time I catch a grip of myself and force my eyes to remain open. I expect to be greeted by moonlight, but only harsh rays welcome me.

Confusion blossoms in my heart, and I wanna simply lie down my heavy head and retreat into wallowing darkness, but reality smacks me across the face. Groaning, I quietly pick myself up, rub the crust from my eyes, and flick it away. ''That's nasty...''

''Ah, you're up,'' Darren says, sounding relieved.

With a small nod, I tilt my head quickly and roughly so that my neck cracks. ''And so are you. Why is that, exactly?''

Narrowing his eyes, Darren searches for the right words but eventually comes up short. His facial features are incredibly emotionless, almost as if he's some sort of undead creature with no sole purpose in life. ''It's because I didn't wake you up last night.''

Acting as if that's a perfectly understandable excuse, I ponder with my hand pressed under my chin and nod nonchalantly. ''Oh, right. Last I remember, we didn't even speak last night. You kept me away.''

Did you think that I wasn't capable of looking out for you? I almost ask. He flashes me a forced smile, as if it'll stir my mind away from the topic at hand. ''Come on, El—'' El, he says. ''—don't play that card.'' Useless!

''You didn't wake me up because you thought I couldn't—''

''I didn't think anything other than that you're my partner and I need to protect you at all times,'' he spits out in that groggy tone of his, catching me by surprise.

I ease up when he finishes his sentence. Everything seems to calm down, and my casual attitude begins to reappear. I strut over towards Darren quickly, trying so hard not to laugh after questioning, ''Take care of me how?''

''You're dirty, kid,'' he jokes. The morning atmosphere is so clear, yet it doesn't feel that way. After last night's weather, I can't really complain, though. ''Listen, I'm sorry if I made you feel irrelevant. Your life matters to me just as much as mine does, and if I can stay up the entire night in order to make sure that you're properly rested, then I'm gonna.''

Seating myself next to Darren, I cross my legs together and wrap an arm around his shoulders. ''Hey, tough guy, don't think that you've gotta do everything for me. We're a team. You shouldn't prioritize me when we're supposed to share the burden equally and look out for one another.''

How he stayed up the entire night yesterday, I honestly can't figure out. He made sure that I was comfortable as I slept, but didn't allow me to repay the favor.

''How do you expect us to start the day if you're not in top shape? Look, I'm taking the lead now, okay?'' His lips twitch suddenly, but I abruptly cut him off. ''No! Be quiet. You're gonna go to sleep, and when you wake up, we'll go looking for supplies.''

Staring into his heavy-lidded eyes, I gently guide Darren's head down onto my lap and let it rest there.

''You really are the perfect partner,'' he whispers. My eyes widen from surprise, but I mask my feelings with a confident smile. ''You always put me in serenity and draw me into liking you more than I already do. You've got the most real personality ever, and there's so much more to you that I can't be bothered to list. I definitely hit the pot of gold partner wise.''

Despite all the time in the world that I have to respond to the sweetest words I've ever heard, I decide to hold my tongue and let Darren rest. Instead, I remain lonely, quiet, at peace. A barely audible song of birds passes by my ears and straight into my soul. As if a sign was being sent my way, a strong force of wind bustles through my brown hair and cools my fingers.

Hummingbirds dazzle across the sky, speeding off into the distance. I feel as though my eyes are deceiving me, but I know that they aren't when paths of mud begin to form all around Darren and I. They circle us, creating small spots that form a straight arrow leading at least a mile deep.

Directly underneath me, another one forms, soiling into my long skirt. An annoyed gasp escapes my lips, but that quickly turns into a groan. ''I get it. You want us to follow that, but can we have a moment here? He's sleeping.''

Apparently the Gamemakers are willing to accept my request, because nothing attacks us, no noises hint that a predator is approaching, and the wind begins to slow down. Hopefully they're not trying to lead us into another group... ''Thank you.''

I wonder if he was this bored when I was sleeping. It's only been about twenty minutes and yet I want to get up and go do something; while on the other hand, he had to deal with this for over eight hours.

''Well, at least I've got something to play with,'' I snicker as I dip my finger into the mud, staining the color of my nails and brushing it down to the tip of his nose.

He'll probably wake up wondering why he's got crap all over his face, and that'll make it all the more hilarious.


Lachlan Smith, District Six


Lying on my back in a stagnant puddle of water, disguised by the dark mud that my fingers dig into, I hold in a hollow breath and stay as still as a corpse.

Malik slightly levels up his body as a man on a horse turns the corner of the dusty road. There's a streetlamp standing straight, with absolutely no reason of being there other than for decoration. ''No, bro!'' I grit as I grab Malik's wrist, pulling him back down to the ground. ''Dude's got a gun!''

''True, but where the hell is Aspen?'' he retorts, nudging my shoulder seriously. ''If he's caught...''

''He's not gonna get caught,'' I assure. Honestly, though, I'm not entirely sure what Aspen's gonna do – I don't even know where he is. We had one goal: stick together at all costs, but somehow he got lost. How did we even get caught in a situation like this?!

Slowly, the man comes to a halt on his horse, his revolver reflecting a metallic shine. Not only is his posture cocky, but the look on his face shows that he has no doubt that he's gonna capture a few tributes today.

''Don't make this harder than need be...'' he coos, smoothly removing himself from the saddle and stomping his boots on the floor. ''Make it easy on yo'selves n' come out.''

Normally this would be a good time to run, but this guy's searching, listening. One movement, one sound, one involuntary gasp and it's all over. And just so we know that the Gamemakers are trying to fuck with us even more, I feel the sting of ants through the water beneath me – and they're not stopping at my ankles.

My mind's on fire as they bite, and so is Malik's; he's furiously trying to fight them off. Fortunately, we're able to keep our limbs quiet enough, but that doesn't mean that Aspen is. In seconds the air becomes rent with his voice – his scream – increasing in volume and pressure over the prairie's tall grass.

Idiot!

''Gotch'ye now!'' Without a moment of hesitation, the man shoots somewhere off into the grass, and with precise accuracy, the bullet rips straight through a huddled portion and forces the green blades to fly open, revealing Aspen's frightened state.

Malik freezes, his eyes twitching with worry. ''What do we do?'' he panics, and I don't blame him for it – none of us have ever been in a situation like this before. Malik's had experience in tough areas with Peacekeepers, but this … it's something entirely different.

Scanning the scene, I force myself to take a deep breath and calm down. Just as Malik attempts to get up and try to go rescue Aspen, I hold my arm out and stop him.

''Our ally's in danger and you want me to sit back?'' he accuses.

''No, I want you to not make a stupid decision,'' I say, possibly hitting a nerve. ''You've got an axe, he has a gun. What do you expect to accomplish? If anything, you'll get two bullets to the chest and die on sight.''

''So what do you propose we do?''

This all relates to the puzzles that I used to do back in Six. The answer is so simple yet intricate, and the steps needed to accomplish the task at hand have to be drawn out perfectly. ''Drop all of the equipment that we have. Leave me with my blade and turn yourself in. He's not stupid; the man knows you specifically. If he sees the bruises on your body, he'll be easier on you and Aspen. Make yourself look beat and worn out. Once all that's set in stone, that's when I come in.''

It takes a bit of time, but Malik musters up enough trust that he jumps out into the open with his hands held high. I know that it's risky, but it's a chance that we've gotta take. Play by the Capitol's cards and they'll let us live. Maybe this isn't exactly what they had in mind, but it's certainly enough to stir some interest.

The pungent mud that's splattered all over Malik's face is enough for the Capitol-programmed asshole to take out a pair of shackles and approach him. Each step he takes results in foul words coming out of his mouth. ''I'm gonna sell you.'' ''You and your accomplice are gonna be whipped to death.'' ''You'll make me tons of money.''

Shut the fuck up, man... At this point in time, some tributes might figure that it's best to dip and leave their allies to die, but not me – that thought hasn't crossed my mind 'till now, but I'm not gonna betray them like that.

Malik now has his hands behind his back, and before I can even move, Aspen fucks it all up and charges at the man. ''Leave him alone!'' Whipping around with a sudden burst of speed, the man smacks the top of his handgun against Aspen's forehead, instantly cutting through skin.

Blood begins to drip down to his nose, his breath hitched. ''Dead or alive, I'll still get profit from ye bodies. Fightas always make it betta'.''

''Lachlan!'' Malik screams.

Jolting up from my crowded position, I swipe a small switchblade from my pocket and force the steel to pop out, resulting in a bit of of blood seeping from a wound in my thumb. It's not exactly my ideal weapon, but until sponsors hit us up, it'll have to do.

The man doesn't even expect it when a roar erupts from my mouth and I tackle him onto the rock-filled, bumpy road. Forcefully, I press the palm of my hand against his chin and dig his head into the ground.

I don't know why, but I'm frozen for a moment. That's all it takes before both of my allies are screaming out my name and I get a punch to the temple. Despite the dizziness and sudden feeling of weakness, I still – barely – manage to arch my weapon in a way so that it embeds itself into my opponent's neck.

A gush of red oozes from the pressured wound. I know that he's not a real person – or maybe he is – but this is my first technical kill. If a potential mutt made me freeze, what'll it take for me to actually end someone's life when I'm fighting an actual tribute?

Silence falls over the three of us, but Malik speaks up and congratulates me. ''This was our first successful real life-threatening task completed as a group. Maybe it wasn't executed perfectly, but that was a great plan, Lachlan.''

I shake my head in disbelief. ''No, it wasn't. All three of us were seriously close to dying by the hands of one person.'' Malik puts a hand on my shoulder but I shrug it off. Why? Because we could've done so much better. His job was done well, but mine? No way. ''Seriously, Aspen? You couldn't just wait a second before charging? You wouldn't be bleeding if you just chilled out. You had one job, and that was to stand completely still!''

''I … I didn't know. Jeez, sorry. I wasn't filled in on the plan, you know...''

Waving my hand, I completely ignore my previous statement and berate myself. ''No, you didn't know, but I expected better of you. When your ally's in trouble, you don't make the situation worse by putting yourself in danger as well. But I shouldn't have froze like that. That plan should've been performed without any flaws, yet I made the biggest one and almost cost us our lives...''

''Yo, don't worry about it,'' Malik sighs. ''What's done is done. We're alive, he's dead. Besides, killing isn't easy; I'm sure we all understand that. You can't expect to jump into the Games and take lives without hesitation or remorse. We've gotta get used to it and adapt.''

Adapt. That's a word I always throw around, and look at me now. I adapted, but not in the right way. Now staring down at the lifeless man, a precarious idea pops into my mind. He's got multiple shackles, an entire uniform, a map, and a revolver. Adapt...Out-of-the-box thinking takes place here.

''You think it's possible that three tributes could possibly wander into the nearest town and not be suspected of anything?''

Aspen and Malik stare at each other before turning their puzzled gazes back to me. Guilt bubbles in my stomach because of this procedure, but it could really work. Picking up on how to ride a horse like that won't be easy, but ... it's better than walking.

I can't laugh, but I can smile. There's no reason in holding back as a considerable yet determined look appears on my face when I hold up two pairs of shackles. ''Because I certainly don't. It's just not practical.''


Camille Lussier, District Two


Time appears to be flowing like cement. It's only been an hour since Cassian, Aurora and Aether left, but it feels like an eternity. Sitting here with nothing to stare at but a wall with chipped cream paint and a slightly cracked attic window is excruciatingly dull.

Maybe the Gamemakers will provide us with some action by having another skeleton pop out at us, but who knows. Who even cares? It's better to remain patient and wait my turn, like someone with manners would do, instead of groaning and moaning about things that aren't specifically in my control.

''Do you guys wanna talk?'' I ask out loud. Odessa brushes a strand of hair away from her face and stares at me with an uninterested look, while Sota continues to saunter back and forth.

Calmly, Odessa leans backward against a pile of bags. The boredom's probably getting to her, too.''About what?''

''Anything. Personal things, maybe? Like, why'd you guys volunteer?'' I suggest.

''Pass,'' she decides, so much as not even looking back up at me. A shallow sigh escapes from her pretty lips, one that tells me that she's no longer even giving me a chance to communicate.

No, no, no. This girl's too useful for me to just let her go like that. If I can somehow get her to grow a close relationship with me, everything will fall into place. ''Fine. How about we play a game like … like spin the bottle! Err ... or spin the knife?''

In a careless manner, she puts the idea aside by sarcastically saying, ''I'd rather wait until the whole gang is here to lock lips with you hotties.''

Wiping my hand down the side of my face, I then turn to Sota. ''And you?''

''Nah, I think I'm good,'' he excuses. Before I know it, he's already climbing down the staircase that leads up to here. The creaking sound of his hunting boots slapping against the railing is enough to make Odessa hunch up a little. ''Sorry, I just … I'm gonna go take a nap. My head's been hurting lately.''

''Go ahead, kid.'' Gesturing for him to leave, Odessa adds, ''We've got the supplies covered. Take a water bottle just in case you get thirsty.''

Once he's gone, it's just me and my soon-to-be best friend all alone together. I gently slip off my sandals and stride towards her with only 'good' intentions, I suppose. ''Mind if I sit next to you?''

''I don't see why not.''

''Hey,'' I start, ''I guess that talking isn't your thing, but can we just acknowledge that Sota got the first and only kill of the Games so far? And that it was his idea to go out and trek for a bit.''

''Yeah, and what about it?'' Clearly, I've got no control over this conversation so far; she continues to stray herself away from my point. ''He's a Career – he should be prepared for things like this. He did his job, and he deserves the credit.''

''Yeah, but only one person died. I don't mean to downplay his success, but us – as a group – achieved nothing satisfactory yesterday.'' Crossing my arms together and resting them under my sternum, I then finally take my seat next to Odessa – a bit closer than she'd like, I assume. ''Besides, I know it's still early and all, but I think he might be cracking.''

''That's our fault, not his – we should've done more and searched further as a group, or each split up and took different sections of that prairie instead of sticking together. And what do you mean by cracking?''

''Like, he might be having second thoughts. He's not his usual self, and ever since last night he's been acting differently,'' I point out. Her face softens a little bit, almost as if she's seeing the clear picture here. ''Killing that girl might've gotten to his head. Sota's just not fit for this.''

Odessa raises her arms up in a shrug, but then she nearly snickers to herself. ''Well, that sounds like a personal problem to me. If he's not fit for it, then that's his life. I'm not afraid to say that it's beneficial to the rest of us because this is a competition, but still, he's our ally. Either way, he's provided a kill and secured his spot as someone who's willing to do what it takes, but if he dies, or chokes … then that opens up more opportunities for us.''

You're getting there. I can't help but smile to myself and spring up with anticipation of getting this girl – a major threat – to be on my side. ''Right?!'' I'm barely able to keep my voice under a steady volume. ''This is why I think you're gonna go far. You've got the right mentality and the right way of setting your foot in this Game.''

Now crouching in front of her, I place one hand on her shoulder and the other on her cheek. Her reflexes are quick, as she immediately pushes my left arm away and locks the other one in a tight hold – not enough to hurt me, but also not enough to let me escape.

It doesn't take any words for her to let me go. Guess she's not someone who likes to be touched. ''But I'm not here to talk about Sota. I'm here because I think that when things go south, you and I can come out of this alliance alive and well. If— no, when we split, I want you and me to be the only two posing a threat.''

She shifts in her position uncomfortably and sits up straight, kind of like she's attempting to get up and run. But instead, she questions, ''What are your intentions?''

''Honestly, I just wanna get to know you better. It seems weird, I know, but me and you could destroy the other competitors,'' I lie, only somewhat. ''Cassian and Sota are too foolish, Aurora hasn't shown anything special, and Aethor's still a question mark. But you and me, we got this. Don't you think?''

''If that's the case, then what's up with that personal shit that you were asking earlier?'' Her eyes narrow in a cold manner, and her brows line up ferociously.

Even though I'm not necessarily running out of things to say, I'm just tired of this topic. ''That's the only way that I can get to know you. I'm sure there are other questions that you'd be willing to answer, but how else do you expect me and you to bond?''

As I hold out my right hand for her to shake, I also bring my left hand into the equation and lock my pinky fingers together.

''Our friendship throughout the course of these Games is gonna be this strong.''


Sebastian Hammond, District Five


There's a crunch of gravel that my ears pick up, the defined sound of a footstep clear as day. How Pavel and Mackenzie haven't picked up on this yet, I'm not quite sure.

Again, there comes another crunch, this time lighter and a bit slower. Whoever's trailing is trying so hard not to make any noises. What for, though? To sneak up on us? To track our movements and see what we're gonna do?

''Who's out there?'' I shout, despite having a weird feeling in my stomach.

Pavel comes to a sudden halt and turns around. ''I thought I was hearing things, but someone's actually been following us, huh?''

''Yes! Ever since yesterday evening,'' I clarify. ''You guys are unbelievable. We're lucky that they didn't kill us last night! They could've ended us then and there..!''

''But they didn't.'' Mackenzie says quietly. ''And if you heard them yesterday, why didn't you say anything? If we died, it would've been your fault.''

Cutting through my response, Pavel places his hand against my chest and pushes me behind him. Following suit, he does the same to Mackenzie, as if this is some sort of way to guarantee our safety.

''What the heck are you doing?'' I begin to take a few steps backward, more towards a path that leads in between a divided row of bushes instead of the dirt routes that split into three different directions. ''You trying to save us, buddy? Hate to break it to you, but we have absolutely nothing! What are you gonna do when we have no weapons? Fight an armed tribute or mutt with your hands?!''

Already... We haven't even fully begun the Games and we're already in a predicament. Both of my legs are twitching, ready to take flight and get out of here before whatever's out there strikes.

One death yesterday wasn't enough for them, I get that, but I'm sure not gonna be the second, or the third, or the fourth... I don't wanna be any of the deaths, in fact! I wanna get out of this arena and go on to do something – anything – with my life.

''Sebastian?'' Mackenzie turns to me with a puzzled look on his face. ''Why are you twitching? You're scaring me...''

With life already being terrible as it is, I had to be thrown in here. Anything would've blessed me. A new home for my family, a new pair of clothes, a new lifestyle. But no, here I am. Here

Sudden, erratic footsteps jump out at me, racing forward. I take my first step as I turn, but a feminine voice yells at me. ''Hold up, hold up!'' Leaping at me, the feeling of wind coming off of another person's body and on to me growing noticeable, something clutches my wrist with soft hands. Nails lightly scratch into my skin – nothing serious – but it's enough to grab my attention.

''Do not run away!'' I stare up at Krissy, my eyes wide. Krissy? But...

''I thought you left the alliance?'' Things aren't making sense at all. ''Pavel said that you had better offers.''

''That's not—'' she pauses, ''—okay, maybe that's true, but I wasn't gonna leave you guys. We're allies, right?''

''I dunno. Do allies stalk each other and wait until someone's about to flee to show themselves?'' This is the most serious that I've ever heard Mackenzie be.

Pavel grabs Krissy by the shoulders and pulls her off to the side. The two of them go back-and-forth for a few minutes. They're not arguing, but it's something personal, I feel. Mackenzie and I seem to have the same idea in mind, as we both take a step closer to them in order to eavesdrop.

Mackenzie reaches them first, and I'm ready to stick my nose into their business until a brilliant shock of white rips through the graphite sky, forking silently to the unsuspecting ground. Something's coming.

''It's good to have you back,'' I hear Pavel say. They make up, and everything's back to normal, I guess, considering that Pavel told us that she was for sure leaving. ''We need someone with medical knowledge like you. We need someone like you period. Sorry about all the shit from before.''

Krissy waves her hand and dismisses Pavel's words. ''Don't worry about it. As long as we're all okay—''

''Okay, we're all fine and dandy, yeah, that's good and all, but I think you guys are missing the bigger picture here. It's awesome that we've got someone who knows her stuff, but what is she going to do with no supplies when one of us gets hurt? What are we going to do? We have no food, no water, no weapons, no bandages, no nothing! But hey, it's all good because we've got a former nurse on our team, right?!''

''So what do you suggest, huh? What's your solution to this mess?'' It's to no surprise that Krissy's got a hint of annoyance in her voice. We're in the Hunger Games, and as her allies, we kept her out. Still, though...

A chilly gust of air crawls down my spine, causing goosebumps to grow on my body. We need to get out of this weather and find some sort of small haven that's actually hospitable and is stacked with at least something useful for us to use.

My stomach growls, and I squirm in my stance in order to silence the grumbling. ''I don't know.'' She purses her lips and turns away from me. From my peripheral vision, I spot Mackenzie staring at me.

''You're hungry, too?'' he whispers.

I don't even get a second to nod my head when a thunderous boom screeches in the atmosphere – most likely coming from the bolt of lightning that I saw earlier. For some reason, I just feel that this is a warning call to get going.

''We need to move and find somewhere to stay for the night!'' Yes, I'm frightened. Yes, I'm distraught. Yes, I'm pessimistic.

Yes, I'm bitter and intrusive. But one thing I'm not...

Everyone else nods their heads in unison, all set on seeking shelter before this storm comes. There's one and only one thing to do in a circumstance like this, and I'm glad that we're all smart enough to admit it.

...is ready to die.


Imogen Pryor, District Five


Chattering resounds from the dining room of Mr. Hepiner's vintage home. It's like a festival in there. Everyone – from his wife and children to the numerous amounts of guests that they have over – are all indulging in more food than I've ever seen in my entire life.

While they're out there having fun and celebrating the arrival of his two new slaves, Chayona and I are forced to work as maids and serve them. Unfortunately, we're not getting anything ourselves. In fact, I'm starving...

My stomach does ecstatic cartwheels as I turn my eyes upon the row of frosty desserts. On the counter adjacent to me lies muffins covered in chocolate cream, ruby-red cherry pies, and so much more. My mouth starts foaming uncontrollably, and eagerly, I grab a spoon so that I can reach for the delicacies.

''No shot, Imogen,'' Chayona hisses quietly, softly slapping my hand away from the silverware. ''He's gonna get mad if he finds out that the food's been tampered with.''

I laugh off Chayona's words and place both of my fists on my hips, slightly tilting my head to the side with a half-smile. ''C'mon, he's not gonna know. Stop being so worried. I'll only eat a little. Besides, aren't you hungry, too?''

Her face contorts into a look of agreement, but she still isn't budging. ''Yeah, but we'll get something to eat soon enough. We can't be working for free … right?'' After a moment of silence, she continues. ''Plus, he might! We don't know how observant he is. He could be looking for a bit of frosting on your white apron, or even take a good, long look at whatever he asks us to bring out to him.''

''Speaking of white aprons, how do you feel about wearing this stuff?'' I ask, trying to loosen the laces that reside under my boobs. ''Seriously, these buttons are too tight and this collar is itchy; and these gloves are ridiculously baggy. How does he expect us to work in this outfit?''

''Can you please explain to me how you're so unperturbed? We're in the Hunger Games, have been kidnapped and sold, and are being forced to do the work around this man's house, yet you remain calm.''

Come to think of it, there's not really a clear answer as to why I'm not bothered by all this. ''Guess I'm just not used to the hardships, that's all. Plus, I'm not dead yet, am I? He's not beating me, nor is anyone in his family. The way they talk to us is absolute shit, but we're still breathing and well, right?''

She nods her head lightly, relaxing a little bit. ''But if we were in some sort of danger, then it'd be a completely different story. If that were the case, then I think we'd have to kill these people and set out. But that's for another day and another time. Say it does come down to that, though, how do you figure we'd—''

''Okay, I get it,'' Chayona laughs, ''you've explained it well enough. No need to carry on much more than needed.''

Now leaning against the same counter that she warned me not to approach, I watch as she takes in a deep breathe and exhales soundly. Suddenly, the reason why we we're being forced to wear these outfits dawns in on me. Or, at least why she was forced to wear this. She's oblivious to it, but Mr. Hepiner clearly isn't.

''Um, you sure you're okay with wearing this outfit?'' It's hilarious but creepy at the same time. Those Capitolites have always been perverts who were ready to take advantage of any tribute when they sought the opportunity. Mr. Hepiner's got three sons, all teenagers – and we're two teenage girls, forced to wear sexy outfits that reveal our bodies. I wonder why...

''What do you mean?'' she inquires.

''Ain't it obvious?'' Approaching her, I stare down at her busty chest and try my hardest to subdue my laughter. ''Your 'assets' are the reason why we're wearing this.''

''My... M-My what?!''

''Anyone ever told you that you have extremely notable cleavage? Girl, you're packed, aren't you?'' Chayona instantly reacts by crossing her arms over her chest. ''Don't be shy about it! A lot of people wish that they could have your body.''

''Thanks … I-I guess. My sister Abby always brought it up, but it's still embarrassing, you kn—?''

Mr. Hepiner forcefully swings the kitchen door open and storms into the room. ''Lackin' in here, ain't ya, you foolish goops!'' Both of us grow silent, and I was just about to tease her and have some fun, too. ''I ordered y'all out minutes ago! Hurry up! The guesses is waitin' on y'all two. Can't y'all cook with gas for once?!''

Cook with gas..? ''Yes, Sir.'' Chayona speaks up. ''We didn't hear you before, but we'll be out as soon as possible.''

Before exiting the room, he turns to face us once more and says, ''Bring out all the sweets, you fine wines!'' Just when we think it's over, he adds more fuel to the fire. ''And I ain't gon' tell ya again – call me 'Massa'.''

Chayona and I pick up as many tasty dainties as we can, but we'll have to come back for the rest – which will only infuriate this asshole more. I struggle to align the plates properly, and I know that it's ridiculous, but these things weigh more than you'd expect them to. Thankfully, Chayona's here to help me.

I guide the two of us forward and hold the door open with my back. There's a large crowd outside, all huddled around the table with their fingers intertwined. Chayona gets ready to set down the plates, but then something happens.

One of Mr. Hepiner's sons sticks out his leg and trips Chayona. Everything goes flying – the food, the silverware, the platters, her. Some dishes crack against the tiled floors, and some of the sweets splatter all over the guests.

A collective gasp rumbles around the room. With lightning speed, Mr. Hepiner unbuckles the belt that holds his jeans up and lashes it at her back while she lies on the floor. As much as I want to stop it, I can't..!

''He tripped her!'' I scream.

''Dont'cha dare accuse my son of something your ungrateful partner did!'' The veins in his head threaten to pop, but to me, they only show how much I wanna grab him by the throat and throttle him until they do! But then he maliciously threatens, ''Talk again 'n I'll hang her..! Talk again 'n I'll hang the bof of y'all..!''

Minutes pass by before the assault stops. She lies there on the floor whimpering and gasping for breath, blood seeping beneath her skin, bones fractured from the repetitive slaps and constant stomping. There won't be any help, any evidence, and now we're stuck here unless we run away. But she needs a doctor, and he certainly won't listen to me if I mention it kindly – not even if I plead.

How did the mood do a complete flip? It makes no sense!

My fingers jump almost rhythmically to cover my mouth, as if I just had a spasm. M-My legs gently fold, making it hard for me not to subside on the floor. Oh, God, no... The only explanation that I have for such a quick form of violence is that today was lacking, so something needed to happen... Someone needed to get hurt... And, unfortunately, it was her that the straw landed on. Nothing can be done about it, either, which is the worst part.

...And that's reality sinking in.


No Deaths


A/N: Ayeee! So, it's been a minute, and I have no excuses, really. Senior year of HS started, hasn't been bad at all when it comes to homework and tests and stuff, but I'm not gonna lie, it kinda sucks. Everyone leaves at different times so it's not as lit as it used to be, and the squad groups up only in the mornings, but getting out early and going to eat and just fool around for a few hours is great for my soul. Anyway, I think y'all know. If not, now ya do. There's this massive ass hurricane heading towards Florida, and I live in downtown Miami, so this shit's absolutely about to body my city no matter what happens. Looks like it's aiming directly at us, so. Honestly, after hearing about the news, updating was the last thing to cross my mind, but I thought, ''Why not get one more in before ... all this?'' What sucks is that I really just started getting back into the groove and was so ready to get these chapters up quick and everything, too. What's worse is that Irma's little brother Jose just formed into a category 3 and I have no idea whether or not that's gonna be hitting us, too, and collecting its sloppy seconds. Basically, the entire State of Florida is getting bodied by this hoe.

I don't really have much to say. Honestly, I just gotta blast. This could be the last chapter for a while depending on what path this thing takes. I'm just hoping for the best. There's no doubt that it's gonna flood here, and these winds are gonna cause a lot of damage, but I can only hope and pray that it doesn't destroy my house and rip off the roofs like it did in the Caribbean, and that deaths aren't high. With a storm like this, it's unfortunate but honest to say that there'll be fatalities. And I hate saying shit like this because I'm not a focus on the number of deaths type of person and always hope that life lasts a while, but I dunno. Kinda ironic for someone who writes about the Hunger Games, ain't it? Either way, it'll be some time 'till the next update, but that's nothing new. Kinda scared, kinda lost for words. This thing's as big as Texas, so I'm just ... aye? Honestly, a ton of Floridians take hurricanes as a joke because it's been a minute since one actually fucked us up as bad as Andrew did. Last one to actually hit was Hermine, I think, and that wasn't too bad. Guess this is Matthew's sister coming for revenge after we joked on him for missing?

Anyway, yeah, that's really all for now, I guess. Don't know what's gonna happen, but hey. I'd love for Irma to do a yeet and completely flip back over to the Atlantic Ocean, but I've been wishing for that ever since this thing formed. Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter, and same goes for your day, night, afternoon, whatever. I'll see y'all next chapter ^