Scheme of bloodbath positions (the first line represents the plates on the back of the cornucopia. Tributes who have a POV in this chapter are underlined):

D4F-D12F-D10M-D3M-D13F-D7F-D11M-D6F-D12M-D1M-D8F-D11F

D2M-CORNUCOPIA-D9M

D5F-D8M-D7M-D9F-D3F-D2F-D13M-D1F-D5M-D6M-D10F-D4M


First day in the arena

Owen Coin (18)- District 13 male tribute

The Memory

60…59…58…57…56…

My plate is right in front of the cornucopia's mouth- for the moment, the most dangerous place in the arena. On my left, the girl from Two; on my right, that of One. I know that the Capitol wants me dead, but do they really need to make it that clear?

50…49…48…47…46…

I stand no chances, but I cannot give up! Maybe I could try to grab the closest backpack and then flee as fast as I can, hoping that the Careers will focus on other targets than me. When did I become so cynical? No, it's not a matter of cynicism, it's a matter of survival. There's no room for mercy or selflessness in the arena, one should think only of oneself.

40…39…38…37…36…

I look around. On my left, there are two tributes between Rebecca and me. As soon as our eyes meet, she shakes her head as if to say that I should put as much distance as possible between me and the cornucopia. There's sincere concern in her gaze. I feel guilty. If she's got attached to me, it's all my fault. If only I hadn't got the idea of allying with her… now, I risk dragging her down with me. We have something in common: we have both a rebellious nature, and our family names are likely to be our ruin. Maybe, if things were different… but things are not different, no use dreaming.

30…29…28…27…26…

Now, I'm contemplating suicide. It would be easy, I'd just need to jump off my plate before the time, and I would be blown to bits. No one would have the satisfaction of killing me. However, suicide would mean dying as a coward, and the Capitol would certainly use it as an excuse to dig up dirt on my family. I cannot let it happen!

20…19…18…17…16…

It's almost time! I don't know what is faster: the countdown or my heartbeat?

10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…

The gong sounds. Before I can even realize it, my legs start running towards the cornucopia, while adrenaline is flowing through my veins. Now that the Games have officially begun, I feel almost excited. Maybe I can make it.

"You're mine, Coin!" someone shouts, right before jumping on me.

I fall to the ground. I manage to roll belly up just to see that my aggressor is the girl of District 2. I try to free myself, but she repeatedly punches me in the face. Now, my head is spinning like crazy, and I feel so weak… weak and sore. But I'm not able to react. Am I really waiting helplessly for my death? At some point, the girl puts her hands around my neck and tightens her hold immediately afterwards. Instinctively, I try to get her hands off my neck... but they seem to be made of steel. I try… I try to use my legs, then… but she… she knees me in my ribs. I'd like so badly to scream in pain, but… just a moan comes out of my throat. I swear I can feel my trachea tighten, desperately seeking oxygen. My… my vision… my vision is blurry now… yeah, it's blurry, and… eventually, everything… goes dark… forever...

…...

Scarlett Pearce (18)- District 2 female tribute

The Bloodthirsty

The pleasure I feel as soon as the boy of District 13 dies is hardly describable. I take a minute to savour it. Knowing that the life of another person is in your hands- in this case, quite literally… seeing it drain away from their eyes… every cell of my body is enjoying this moment! I feel so alive right now… now that I'm surrounded by death! But this feeling is like a drug; once you experience it, you become addicted, you need it more and more. At the moment, it feels like my mind is yelling at me to reap other victims. These are the Hunger Games after all, I cannot stop now that they have finally begun.

I look around. Excelsa has got a sword, and she has just killed the boy of District 5 with it. Oliver's plate was on the same side of the cornucopia as mine, but I cannot see him any longer. Please, don't tell me that he decided to betray us to ally with his alleged sister! If so, he will be the next tribute I kill. Vivian and Kyle must be on the back of the cornucopia, given that I didn't see them during the countdown. But where's the hell is Victor? He was on my left at the start, maybe I should look in that direction… yeah, there he is… and the boy from Ten is running right towards him! I know they had a spat during the first day of training. Seeing how Victor copes with him gonna be interesting.

"It's about time you showed up, Ten!" says Victor.

"No trainer will save you here in the arena!" replies the other.

"Honestly, I didn't think you would be that stupid to defy me again."

"The same could be said for you."

"You won't kill me with your chit-chat! Come on! Show me what you can do!" Victor urges his opponent in an angry tone.

They begin to fight… well, calling that a fight is a euphemism, but at least they're trying. At first, they limit themselves to circle each other without striking any actual blow. At some point however, the boy of District 10 kicks Victor in the shin- uh, that must be painful!- and punches him in the face immediately afterwards. Victor loses balance and drops to his knees. Is he really about to be defeated by a tribute from an outer district? No, I cannot let it happen! If there's anyone who shall kill Victor, it's me! Besides, the Career pack cannot lose a member so early in the Games. It's a matter of dignity!

The boy's back is turned to me now. Great, that's the right occasion! He will be hopefully too focused on Victor to pay attention to me. He won't even hear me coming. I approach him as silently as I can, trying not to trip over the purplish shrubberies that cover the ground. Hell! That's the most uncomfortable arena I've ever seen! Anyway, I manage to sneak up on Ten without being noticed. I put my hands around his neck and snap it. His dead body drops to the ground like a puppet whose strings has just been cut. He didn't even realize what happened. A smirk forms on my lips. My second kill in the arena… two kills made only with my hands. I don't need any special weapon, after all.

"Scarlett…" says Victor, a puzzled expression on his swollen face.

I stretch my hand out to help him up, but he rejects my help. He stands up himself.

"You… you deprived me of my second kill!" he continues with an angry voice.

"Second?" I echo him.

"The girl of District 5 was my first kill," he explains, pointing at a corpse that lies near his plate.

"Oh, if you call that a kill…"

"Let's hear… what have you done so far except for killing my target?"

"I killed Coin," I promptly answer.

"Oh, lucky girl… they basically served him to you on a plate!" he comments, annoyed.

"He died, who cares how?" I point out with a shrug.

"I don't like this careless attitude of yours."

"And what do you wanna do about it? Kill me?" I enquire, smirking.

He shakes his head. "Too early."

"Well, I wouldn't wait too much, if I were you. You know, your secret is not a secret to me…"

"Is that a threat?"

"We both know you're not supposed to be here, you're not the chosen tribute. What if our allies found it out?"

"What if I killed you right now?"

"You can try, but, since our conversations are recorded, now the Gamemakers know your secret as well. It will get out sooner or later, that's for sure. Of course, I want District 2 to win at all costs, but, if you kill me, you'll be alone. If I don't win, make sure you do it, okay?"

…...

Autumn Peachskin (18)- District 8 female tribute

The Actress

The back of the cornucopia is said to be relatively safe… but it's not true, not this year. On this side, there's Alexa Steel- the girl of District 6- who's showing an incredible ferocity. As soon as the gong sounded, she jumped off her pedestal and ran towards a big backpack leaning on the cornucopia. I noticed it too during the countdown, but she reached it before me, and when I saw her get a belt with several knives out of it, I immediately stopped. Luckily, she didn't see me. She quickly wore the belt and then turned back.

"Look up, Eleven!" I heard her shout, addressing Tobias Jackson, who was rummaging in a backpack.

Poor boy! He had just the time to raise his dark eyes that a knife hit his throat. With terror, I watched his blood flow out of his wound and soak his clothes, while he was slowly keeling over on the ground.

Now, Fabian Swift- the boy of District 12- has just knelt down beside Tobias, trying to rescue him, but there's nothing he can do. Tobias is dead. At this stage, Fabian looks up at Alexa, who's walking right in his direction. His gaze is filled with hatred. He stands up. She throws a knife at him, but he dodges it. Then, she gets closer, and they begin to fight. Alexa attempts to stab him several times, whereas Fabian tries to disarm her, but what he gets are just bleeding cuts on his hands. Eventually, he loses the fight: she pushes him so that he trips over a backpack behind him and then falls to the ground; she takes advantage of it and stabs him repeatedly in the stomach, until he dies in a pool of blood. At this point, Alexa retrieves the knives she threw, grabs two backpacks and flees towards the valley. She must be satisfied with two kills for the moment.

Suddenly, someone stops by me. It's Kyle. My muscles tense with fear. Kyle was kind to Tartan and me during training, but training is one thing, the arena is a whole other story… and Kyle is a Career, after all.

"Why are you still here?" he asks me in a worried tone.

"I-I…" I stammer.

How idiot I am! So far, I've limited myself to watch what's happening around me, but my life is at stake like that of my fellow tributes! I'm not a spectator, I'm a player in the bloody show of the Hunger Games!

Kyle gives me a backpack. "Flee as fast as you can!" he orders me.

But I'm still uncertain.

He rolls his eyes. "I'm not going to punch you in the back! Now, run!"

This time, I do what he said. I start running towards the purple-green hills, while wearing the backpack he gave me. I'll check later what's inside. Has he really spared my life? Why? His behaviour doesn't make sense… not in the Hunger Games, at least. But I've already wasted enough time today, I'd better think only of my survival now! Kyle gave me a chance, and I'm not going to waste it! I must put as much distance as possible between me and the other tributes, especially the Careers and the girl from Six. Well, she headed to the valley, and I'm running in the opposite direction, so we won't meet. But what about Tartan? I haven't seen him yet. I can only hope he's okay.

…...

Maya Seeds (12)- District 11 female tribute

The Blossom

Also the girl of District 8 left the bloodbath alive. From my hiding place, I can see her run towards the hills behind the cornucopia. I feel so guilty. When the gong sounded, I immediately ran and hid behind the chestnut tree standing right outside the ring of plates. I was scared to death… I'm still scared to death. But does it mean that I have to leave my allies alone? I could see them during the countdown, because their plates were not that distant from mine, but then I inevitably lost sight of them. Where are they? They didn't flee towards the hills, otherwise I would have seen them. Maybe they fled in the opposite direction… or maybe… no, they're not dead, they cannot be dead! To be sincere, I haven't dared to look at the bloodbath so far, I've just stayed here, shaking like a leaf, wincing every time I hear someone scream. Maybe I should have a look now.

Still leaning on the tree trunk, I peek my head out. A couple of Careers are guarding the mouth of the cornucopia, but luckily they aren't looking in my direction. The others must be inside, since I cannot see them anywhere. With my heart in my throat, I notice some bodies lying lifeless on the ground, but I cannot identify them, partly because they're half hidden by the shrubberies. Except for the Careers, there are still some tributes looking for supplies, but they're all on the back of the cornucopia. What should I do? I cannot stay here, that's for sure, but I'm scared. Maybe I should grab a backpack and then flee, hoping to find my allies sooner or later. After all, I'd have more chances of surviving with some supplies. Yeah, I must get some supplies!

I run towards the back of the cornucopia. There are still some backpacks that nobody has taken for the moment. My attention is drawn in particular by one that looks pretty full. It's bigger than the others, but I don't need to take it with me, I could just rummage in it and then choose what to take. If it contained food, it would be great. I am, however, disappointed when I get a bow and a quiver of arrows out of it. I don't even know how to use a bow! But maybe I could give it to Fabian.

"Give it to me!" someone yells at me.

I look up. It's the boy of District 9. His dark green eyes are beaming with rage. Would he kill me, if I refused to do what he said?

In response, I hold the bow close to my chest. "It's mine," I say.

"Kid, I've been looking for a bow since the Games have started. Give it to me!" he insists, stretching his hand out.

I shake my head.

At this point, he walks away, outraged… or, at least, he pretends to walk away. Actually, I feel a searing pain in my head immediately afterwards. He hit me from the back! I cannot see him, since I'm lying on my stomach now, but who else could my aggressor be? I try to crawl away, but he repeatedly hit my head with something hard. I scream with every blow, but he doesn't stop… he doesn't. Eventually, he throws his weapon… to the ground. Now… I can see that… it was a stone… a stone smeared with blood… my blood. I hear him… I hear him get away, so… don't know how… I turn… I turn on the side. I see the boy of District 9… yeah, my aggressor… was him… and now he's running away… towards the hills… like the girl from Eight. Maybe he thinks I'm dead, but… no, it's not so. Help… please, it hurts… help… I'm crying with pain… it hurts a lot… a lot. I don't want to die… I don't… I want… I want to become a teacher… I want to see… my family again… and Tobias… and Fabian. I'm scared… everything… is getting… darker and darker…

…...

Yolanda Underwood (15)- District 12 female tribute

The Outsider

I'm running towards the valley. My vision is blurred by tears, but I cannot stop. Neither my asthma could stop me at this point. I've got a backpack in one hand and a bloodied spear in the other. I didn't expect that. Yeah, I knew I was going into the Hunger Games, I knew I would need to kill in order to survive… but knowing it and doing it are two different things. But I did it just to defend myself, didn't I? There's nothing wrong with that, right?

The gong sounds. Everyone jumps off their pedestal. Actually, every tribute is now aiming at the backpacks, shoving and elbowing each other like tomorrow doesn't exist. I cannot run that fast, though. If I had an asthma attack right now, it would mean my death. Maybe I could wait until the majority of tributes run away. The only real threat near me is the girl from Four, but she's heading to the front of the cornucopia, so she won't bother me, I hope. Also the boy from Ten is running in that direction, and he almost bumps into me. Luckily, he doesn't seem interested in me... I don't think I could defeat him in combat, after all.

At some point, my eyes land on a backpack that might be right for me. It's not that big, so it's likely to be ignored. My instinct tells me that I should immediately flee as fast as I can, but I'll need supplies to survive in the arena, and I cannot rely exclusively on sponsors to get them. I must show them that I'm able to take initiative, and maybe they'll be more willing to help me... maybe... I know that I don't exactly embody their ideal of a victor, but I'll do my best in order to win. So, I quickly get closer to the backpack, but...

"Hey, Twelve! I haven't forgotten about you!" someone shouts from my right.

I instinctively get down... just in time to hear something whistle above my head. I look left. There's a spear on the ground. If I hadn't got down, it would have pierced me like a meat skewer. I look right. The girl of District 4 is running in my direction, her green eyes full of killing spree. I try to get up, but she grabs me by the ankles, making me fall to the ground again.

"Where are you going? You'll miss all the fun!" she says.

She starts to haul me away, but I kick and squirm in response.

"Stay still!"

No, I'm not going to stay still! When I finally manage to break free of her hold, I start crawling towards the spear. She tries to stop me, but I roll belly up and kick her in the stomach. That gives me the time to reach the spear. I grab it, and, when the girl attacks me one more time, I use it to stab her in the stomach. She doesn't scream, though… or, rather, she tries to say something, but she just spits blood. By her facial expression, I can tell that she's both surprised and scared. With terror, I see her release the spear from her stomach and then let it fall to the ground. She tries to keep standing, but she has no energies left, and I have to roll sideways to prevent her from falling on me.

The girl is dead, and it's all my fault… it's all my fault. But it was her who attacked first, so I just defended myself, right? If I hadn't done it, I would have died. This thought fails at consoling me, though. I killed a person, I ended a life… even though the girl was an enemy, tears start to stream down on my face. I will never be the same, that's for sure. I cannot take my eyes off her corpse lying face-down on the ground… but I cannot stay here neither! So, I work up the courage to grab both the backpack and the bloodied spear. While I'm doing it, I notice that Oliver is a few feet away. He is staring at me, his eyes widened with terror. Does he still see me as a sister, even if I'm a killer now? Or does he think that I'm a monster? Ah, there's no time to dwell on these things! I'm still in danger, I need to find a safe place to hide! So, I start running towards the valley, without saying a word to Oliver.

I don't know how long I've been running. I just know that I ran past a lake but didn't stop there, because a lake means water, and it is the first place the Careers will head to in order to find someone to kill. But I cannot continue for long. I can hardly breathe, and I'm so thirsty.

Eventually, I stop at a pond. There's also a thicket nearby. I immediately wheeze into my inhaler. I sit down between two rocks, which stand near the waterside. I put the spear on the ground and then check what there is inside my backpack. I'm utterly disappointed when I find out that most of the space is occupied by a blanket, but at least it has the same colour and pattern of the shrubberies surrounding me, so I'll be able to blend in while sleeping. In addition to the blanket, there is also an empty flask, iodine tablets, vitamin C tablets, and some dried fruit. Not bad. At the Training Center, I've learnt that iodine can be used to purify water. Iodine tablets are water-soluble, so I just need to fill the flask, add a tablet, wait thirty minutes for it to take effect, add a vitamin C tablet to remove the taste of iodine, and eventually drink. Since I don't know how pure this water pond is, I'll wait more than thirty minutes before drinking it. Better safe than sorry. I empty my flask and then I fill it again, repeating the same steps to purify its content.

In the meantime, the sun has begun to set. The sky is now coloured by breath-taking hues of yellow, orange, and violet, and a light fog is slowly lifting between the purplish shrubberies. A wonderful place and yet so deadly.

I definitely need some rest. I lie on the ground, using my backpack as a pillow and covering myself with my blanket. It is warm, so I won't need to start a fire to warm up during the night. Besides, it would be unwise. I'm in a flat valley, so a fire can be seen from miles away. I haven't cleaned my spear yet, but I'll hold it in hand even while sleeping. If someone or something attacks me, I'll be ready to defend myself. Now, try to sleep, Yolanda, try to sleep and to forget...


So, this was quite a bloodbath, don't you think? Eight deaths and eighteen tributes still alive. What do you think of this chapter?

Submitters can assign points to: Scarlett (D2F), Autumn (D8F), Yolanda (D12F)

Specific questions about tributes:

Scarlett: is she going to kill Victor or the other way round?

Autumn: what do you think of her behaviour?

Yolanda: would you like her to win?

GROUPS IN THE ARENA

Careers: Kyle (D1M), Excelsa (D1F), Victor (D2M), Scarlett (D2F), Oliver (D4M)

Loners: Alexa (D6F), Autumn (D8F), Adam (D9M), Yolanda (D12F)

THE FALLEN

26th: Owen Coin (18), D13M, the Memory- strangled by Scarlett Pearce (D2F). When I created Owen, I knew he couldn't win due to his family name, but I tried to make sure he would leave a mark, nonetheless. I think he did it when he defied the Gamemakers during his private session. All things considered, the bloodbath was the best moment for him to die, no use raising false hopes.

25th: Cliff Wells (14), D5M, the Dam Worker- stabbed by Excelsa Serafin (D1F) with a sword. Cliff was not easy to love. He was kind of obsessed with the injustices he thought he suffered in District 5 and in the Games. Certainly, he couldn't go that far with such a negative attitude. On the other hand, I think he represented our desire to get recognition for our sacrifices. I will miss writing about him.

24th: Rhonda Hope (12), D5F, the Orphan- killed by Victor Blade (D2M). Poor Rhonda! She was one of the sweetest characters of this story. She was just one step away from having a better life along with Amanda, but unfortunately she ended up in the Games. I'm sorry she didn't earn enough points to survive longer in the arena. I'll miss her.

23rd: Timothy "Tim" Cunningham (18), D10M, the Rancher- neck snapped by Scarlett Pearce (D2F). Timothy volunteered for his younger brother. Nevertheless, I think the way he treated Estrella made him very unpopular, there isn't that much to say about it. If only he was kinder to her… but now it's too late for him to make up for his mistakes. RIP, Timothy.

22nd: Tobias Jackson (13), D11M, the Breadwinner- throat hit by a knife thrown by Alexa Steel (D6F). Tobias was young but strong. The death of his father forced him to become the breadwinner of his family, of which he was very fond. Despite adversity, he could be playful and kind, especially to his sister Flo and his district partner Maya. His family will grieve the loss of such a special boy.

21st: Fabian Swift (15), D12M, the Gambler- stabbed in the stomach by Alexa Steel (D6F). Fabian was a boy who liked taking risks, and allying with the couple of District 11 was kind of a risk. Did he do it out of despair? Probably yes. Certainly, Yolanda's decision to be a loner was a hard blow to him. They had a love-hate relation, and maybe there could have been something more, if they had had enough time to develop it, but so it was not.

20th: Maya Seeds (12), D11F, the Blossom- head smashed by Adam Thorn (D9M) with a stone. Poor Maya! She was a blossom not yet in bloom. She had a future, but the Hunger Games took it away from her. Her last thoughts were for her family and friends, as expected from a lovely girl like her. With her death, the underdogs' alliance ultimately dissolved. RIP, Maya, your suffering is over.

19th: Vivian "Vivi" Tide (18), D4F, the Mermaid- stabbed in the stomach by Yolanda Underwood (D12F) with a spear. Vivian, Vivian, Vivian… the fact that she got the highest score of this year was not enough to save her life. A hard life taught her to show a flirty facade, but we all know that, deeper down, she was a strong, proud, independent girl, who didn't want to rely on anyone in order to survive. With her death, the Career pack has certainly lost a combative member.

DISTRICTS' RANKING

13th: District 5- 25th, 24th

12th: District 11- 22nd, 20th

KILLS

Excelsa: 1 (Cliff)

Victor: 1 (Rhonda)

Scarlett: 2 (Owen, Timothy)

Alexa: 2 (Tobias, Fabian)

Adam: 1 (Maya)

Yolanda: 1 (Vivian)