What...is...up internet. I'm back. It's been a while, but finally, here is the moment you've probably (hopefully) been waiting for!

Kodi Nyquist

"I'm…I'm sorry about your mom," I whisper. Selene mumbles something half-heartedly, but I can tell by the look on her face that something is wrong.

I know I have to cheer her up somehow, but I don't exactly know how I can. Everyone in the poor section of District 3 has had hard lives. But it always hits home when someone as young as Selene is affected by poverty and hardship. Especially for me.

"How 'bout I tell some funny stories back home? We've got tons of sunlight left, might as well pass the time," I ask. Yeah, it's a pretty bad attempt to try to cheer her up. But she does manage a small grin, so I guess it works.

So I begin with a story about Garl and apples. But I don't get the chance to finish, because before we know it, a thick brown rope slams us against the tree.

The rope is latched tightly around my chest, feet, and neck. The rough length of rope digs into my wrist, turning the skin underneath it red and raw. It's wrapped so tightly around my chest that I can barely take in a good breath.

"Okay, okay. Don't panic! Whatever you do Selene, do NOT panic. Just-just don't, don't' don't don't…don't, do not panic. I said DON'T PANIC, STOP PANICKING!" I chatter out, swerving my head around.

"Kodi…stop," Selene commands, rolling her eyes. "Can you reach the knife in your…"

Selene is interrupted by the sound crunching brush below us. The sound keeps advancing closer and closer; the forest's leaves rustling with the movement. "Maybe…maybe they didn't hear us," I mumble, hoping I'm right. But the sound just keeps getting closer, and it's apparent that it's not stopping.

"Okay then, maybe they're…friendly," I continue, trying to sound reassuring.

"Kodi, we're going to die, aren't we?" Selene inquires. So much for reassuring.

"You are being very pessimistic young lady. Maybe they'll take us prisoners or something," I reply, except now I don't sound so confident.

"I just want to say, Kodi, that I'm glad to have been your partner." I close my eyes and let out a deep breath. I open them to see Selene's emerald eyes staring back at me. Kat, I'm sorry. I wish I could see you one last time…

The advancing figures emerge from the shrubbery below. My last hope was that it was Marquette who would pop out of those woods. I was wrong.

Instead, out pops two figures, a boy and a girl. They both look like they haven't had a good meal in their whole lives. Their cheek bones protruded from their face and the clothes they wore fit loosely around their body. Normally this would be a good thing, since poorer people are usually kinder than others. It's sad really, but true.

But these two definitely did not want to free us. I could tell from their evil sneers and the murderous look in their eyes. "Well, well, welly well well, what do we have here Vi?" the boy says, motioning upwards with his sword.

"Looks like some animals got stuck in a trap, Faust," the girl replies, holding a staff. The two stick figures begin to climb the tree, and judging by their swiftness I'd say they were from either District 7 or 11.

The pair situated themselves in front of our trapped bodies, inspecting them. I take this time to ask, "So, uh, I don't suppose you'd be letting us go?"

The boy, Faust, stuck his sword into the branch, leans in close, and replies, "Hah, I think you know the answer to that, mate." His breath smells like he ate a decaying rat or something.

"Since I'm nice, I'm going to tell you what we're going to do. Me an' Veranda here are gonna carve out your skulls like jack-o-lanterns, see? Then, we'll gut ya' like a hen and throw you out into the forest, mate. Don't that sound like fun?"

"I think I'd be more fun if you let us go," I comment calmly. This time it is Veranda's turn to speak.

"Fat chance, beanie boy. Say, you're from District 3, ain't ya? The Children of Lighting, yeah." She stops to roll her eyes and scoff. "More like Children of Idiots, gettin' yourself stuck in here. Don't think it'd be in the spirit of the Games to just let you go."

"Please, just free us. You're not going to kill a little girl, are you?" I plead. I glance over at Selene. But instead for seeing her strapped to the tree, I see another girl. Hazel eyes, blond hair with brown streaks, tied up into a pony-tail. Blood, oozing from her neck. The same image that haunts my nightmares.

I shut my eyes, and blurt out, "Take me, and let her live."

The girl, now reverted back into Selene, shouts, "No! No, no, you're not going to do that Kodi. I'm not going to let you!"

Faust plucked out his sword and held it to my throat saying, "Settle down, mates. We're not letting either of you go. You guys are famous, see? That's something I envy about you two. But, if we kill you, then we'll be the ones who'll be known as the 'District that killed the Children of Lightning'."

I squint and spit out, "Envy's one of the deadly sins. So you can just go to hell."

The boy just sneers holds his sword to my mouth, replying, "Yeah, well so's killing, mate."

"You're stupider than you look. And trust me, that's hard to do," I sneer. Obviously, Faust doesn't take too kindly to that comment. He raises his sword, letting out and evil cackle. Then, he brings the sword to my cheek, and the blade begins to dig into my face.

The next few seconds was a blur. And it all started when the rope went slack. All of a sudden, the length of rope found itself lying at my feet. At that moment, my instincts kick in.

I charge into Faust, his blade slicing through my cheek. The pain doesn't stop my relentless tackle though. The impact disarms him, the sword twirling down through the air. And a second later, Faust and I join it.

I hold Faust below me while he struggles to break free. But I am easily stronger than him, and I manage to keep him pinned. He screams, "Bloody hell, mate. Let go!" But it's too late. Before we know it, we hit the ground. Hard.

I hear a large "Crack!" and I realize Faust has stopped struggling. I take a quick glance at his face and I quickly wish I hadn't. Because his head wasn't there. It was a few feet away, lying below a bush. Disgusted, I turn away toward the trunk of the tree, just as a cannon blast signals his death.

There is a ruckus in the tree and I see a lone figure punching Veranda hard in the jaw. I wonder if it's Selene at first, but then I see her dropping down from behind the truck. I look back up to see Veranda lying still on the branch, and the lone figure begins to descend.

My heart stops when I see the red hair.

Marquette Tetra

The skinny girl's temple is greeted by the impact of my knuckles. Her body falls onto the branch, limp. Satisfied, I jump down to greet the duo that I saved. Boy was I in for a surprise.

When I saw that beanie cap, I took all my will power not to dash towards him. He looks just as surprised as I probably do however, and he gasps, "What…what are you doing here?"

"Not exactly how i would greet someone who saved my life," I reply sarcastically, curling my lips downward. But on the inside, I'm just relived to see him safe.

"Sorry, it's just that, y'know…I wasn't exactly expecting to see you here," Kodi answers. Next to him is Selene, grinning, happy to see me. And on the other side is a headless body with blood pooling around the neck. Nice little picture there.

"Want to get out of here before that girl up there wakes up?" Kodi's voice snaps me out of my trance, and I agree. Then the three of us head away from that tall, ancient tree and the two limp bodies that lay near it.

xXxXxXx

After about 30 minutes, we stop at a clearing far away. Behind us is the waterfall at the edge of the arena. The faint sound of a cannon rises over the sound of gushing water spraying mist high into the air. It's a good way to give us cover.

Tired, we sit on the ground where Selene begins with a happy little squeal followed by a hug. "Nice to see someone's wanted to see me," I say sarcastically. Just for good measure, I roll my eyes for Kodi to see.

"It's not like I'm not happy, it's just that I wasn't exactly expecting to see you…so soon," he replies defensively. He takes off his beanie and gives such an apologetic face that I can't help but laugh.

"Naw, I'm just joking with you Kodi. But I really am glad I found you…two." I add that last word so he doesn't get the feeling that I'm, you know, attracted to him. Too bad I really suck at being discreet.

Although I'm pretty sure he knows already, he acts like nothing's going on. But everything is going on. The Hunger Games, the murders, my feelings for him, even the thoughts of my father. All of it just keeps swirling around in my head. I wonder if he's having a mental breakdown like I am right now. If he is, then he's got one hell of a poker face.

Night falls, and faces flash across the sky. The first is of the boy from District 7 Kodi had pushed off the tree. I still can't get the sight of his headless body lying limp at Kodi's feet. Then there's the face of the girl whose throat I pierced with my javelin. Nice, The Headless Horsemen and the Human Pincushion. I can already tell what tonight's nightmares will be about.

The only other face in the sky was of a female from 10. She had a limp when she walked, so I'm actually surprised she got this far. Made it further than nine others, I'll give her that.

I ponder on this for a little bit. Ten down, thirteen more to go. That's thirteen kids standing between me and going home to see my brother. Unfortunately, two of those kids happen to be Kodiak and Selene. And I already know that is not going to end well.

I glance over at Selene who is already tuckered out, spread over a patch of moss sleeping. It's obvious that I'm not going to kill an innocent little girl.

Or am i? I killed my ally, albeit one that was still obnoxious and rude. But she was my teammate, and how do I know that I won't do the same to these two.

But these two are different. They like me, and I like them. There's no possible way I could stoop as low as the kill them.

Oh, but if only I was so sure about it. But I'm capable of murder, that's a fact.

Am I turning into a monster? I've killed two people, and attacked another. What's to say I won't try it on them?

There isn't, and that is why I'm screwed. On top of that, I'm beginning to argue with myself. How awesome.

Before I have the chance to spiral further into craziness, Kodi shakes my arm. "Mind if I tell you something?" he inquires in his calm, gentle voice. "No problem," I say quietly while ready to pull my hair out.

He begins, "So I've got a plan—" on how to kill you.

"To deal with our Career problem—" the only problem I have is finding a way to murder you.

"In one quick swoop." No, I can't. I can't kill you. I love you, and I hate you for it. Making things so complicated.

DAMN these voices in my head. It's like I'm bipolar, only a hundred times worse. Murder tends to do that to people.

I can't lose my sanity. Not if I want to see Kory again. Need to keep my head clear, need to stop stressing out, need to stop worrying. Which is pretty much the opposite of what the Hunger Games is about.

Inside, I want to scream and sob in frustration. On the outside, I grin confidently and whisper calmly, "Alright, I'm all ears."

For once, it seems Kodi is the sane one... naw, just kidding. Anyway, hope it hasn't been too long since my last update. But hey, thanks for any readers who have been waiting patiently and take the time to...REVIEW!