Author's Note (Dec. 27, 2013) - This story is the 72nd Hunger Games. Yes, it used to be the 71st, until I realized Johanna won the 71st, which I'm surprised no one ever pointed out. So, wherever you see it mention the 71st, it's actually the 72nd. Thanks a lot! PS, if you're reading this, I'm still here. Reviews are always appreciated, just keep in mind, this was my first story ever, so be gentle!

I'll seek you out
Flay you alive
One more word and you won't survive
And I'm not scared
Of your stolen power
I see right through you any hour

Crisis Cavitch

I lean my head back against the damp cave wall as I study Audrina. Audrina in her element.

She is perched upon the boy from Three's chest teasing him with the tip of her dagger. Insane, feral Audrina with a hunger for blood, always playing with her food. She tugs on the boy's t-shirt and rips it open, painstakingly slow, revealing his pale chest; bones sticking out in every direction. He is a typical District child of Panem. She drags her nails down his chest and small whimpers escape his mouth. For a moment, I almost envy the boy. What it must be like to look into the eyes of such a beautiful, deadly woman. To feel her touch, and know that it will kill you. I shiver just thinking about it. I redirect my thoughts to the reverse situation. I imagine that I am the one straddling her, that it is my dagger that dangles so close to her lifeline, ready to sever the cord at any moment.

I am interrupted from my fantasy when the Anthem begins to play. I look around the cave, suddenly aware that I do not know where to look. There is no sky above us, save for the small holes in the roof, but those will not suffice. I look upward regardless and find that images are somehow being projected on the ceiling of the cave. The death recap has always been my favorite part of the Games, even more so now that I am in them.

First is Ariadne, the beautiful, but ultimately useless girl from One. A sorry excuse for a Career, if you ask me. I can only imagine the humiliation her trainers are facing right now. Then the girl from Three, who I helped Audrina kill. The weird redhead from Five. The girl from Seven, boy from Nine, girl from Ten and boy from Twelve.

Seven kills on the first day. I'm a little disappointed. I wish there had been more. The only ones who really mattered were us and the so-called "Anti-Career" pack. Celeste's little group of underfed, but unnaturally high scoring tributes. I'm surprised that the babies from Eleven are still alive. I thought they would be among the first kills for sure. Not only were they so young and small, I had seen them in training. They has absolutely lost the will to survive. Sighing, I turn back to Audrina.

"Drina, I'm hungry. Kill him already so we can go back to camp."

As soon as bloodbath ended, parachutes of food flooded in from our sponsors. Audrina and I left early this afternoon to find a water source, not trusting the lake that we had been dropped into, since several corpses probably still laid at it's floor.

We took Three with us, hoping he would be able to help us carry water back, planning to kill him upon our return. However, he proved to be so weak and useless that I finally gave into Audrina's pleas to kill him sooner.

Murder was her drug. I had seen it in the training center, the kids who had been too weak to fight, or had gotten into trouble one too many times, became the victims of the bloodthirsty Trainees, like Audrina and I. In our training center, we had a mock arena. Once a month, they would send twenty four of us in. It was extremely one-sided, there were twelve of us who would win, and twelve who would hardly put up a fight.

Audrina always had the most kills. She was one of the smallest, and the Victors stuck her in every time. They thought eventually, she would be killed in there. But she always came out.

Her eyes, always stone cold and oozing with hatred, would fill with fire when she had someone at her complete mercy. She lived to see the life leave their eyes. She craved it and she needed it.

Screams of terror cut into my thoughts and I turn my attention back to Audrina and her prey. She had lodged her dagger between his ribs, in the vicinity of his heart, but not close enough. Not yet. Slowly and sadistically, she tugs on the knife, dragging it in a circular motion around his heart. Bones crunch and snap, blood spurts from the wound, screams taint the silence of the night. Audrina's eyes burn with fire and intensity, and it's such a turn on that it's all I can do not to end the boy myself so I can take her right here and now. The image is too much to handle. Sexy, flawless, lethal, Audrina writhing in pleasure in a pool of the blood that she has just spilt. I close my eyes and lean back once more, enjoying my illusion while the boy continues to scream.

Suddenly, it is silent. I open my eyes to see Audrina grinning triumphantly, her dagger stuck in the boy's heart. Her hands are covered in blood, and she has never looked so beautiful. I make my way over to her and help her to her feet. She pulls the dagger from his heart, and his cannon sounds with finality.

She runs her fingers through my blonde hair, leaving streaks of scarlet. I pull her face to mine and kiss her passionately, backing her against the stone wall, much like Opening Ceremonies. Part of my mind travels back, recalling all the times I have had Audrina in this way and more. I feel her smile against my lips, and mirror it with my own. I know she is thinking the same.

There is something so satisfying about knowing how utterly and horribly wrong your actions are, and doing them regardless.

Daniel Kerwick

Celeste is asleep, and I don't really have the heart to wake her. I don't mind. I'm used to operating on minimal sleep. Prison does that to you, I guess. I've begun to realize that the Hunger Games are not unlike jail. Dark, cold and damp. Your every move being watched. Not knowing when your next meal will be. Paranoia wrapping its skeletal fingers around your mind, leaving you uneasy and nervous, keeping your eyes peeled for enemies.

As if trying to remind me, Celeste shifts in her sleep, moving her body closer to mine, I didn't think it was possible. Her cheek rests on my chest, her hair tickling my arms. Her small hands clutch onto my shirt tightly. She doesn't want to let me go.

No, I am not in prison. I have this angel here with me, and as terrible a thought it is, I am thankful to have her. I scowl at my own musings. Of course I do not wish for her to be here, I do not wish to see harm come to this girl. I want her safe and sound with her family back home, out of harm's way.

But, if she has to be here, I am glad that I am here to protect her and to make sure she makes it out alive. Not that she needs protecting; she was the highest scoring girl and one of only four tributes to earn a ten from the Gamemakers. I smile to myself, shaking my head. I still have no idea what she did in there. This little doll of a girl who continues to surprise me day after day. I have never met such a complex person. There are so many sides to her, so many layers I have already peeled back, and yet so much more left to discover. I realize, though my days are numbered, I want to know everything about this girl.

I hear faint footsteps in the distance and turn around to see Holden and Aurora approaching.

"It's our turn for watch." Aurora says gently, "You two can go inside where it's warm."

I return Aurora's hesitant smile and effortlessly scoop up Celeste in my arms, keeping the blanket tucked around her small body. I narrow my eyes at Holden as I walk away, wondering if he is trustworthy. But, I have faith in Celeste's judgement, and if she says he is a good ally, I will stand by her.

I duck into the tent and immediately notice the temperature difference. The tent is warmer by several degrees. I wonder if it is made with some kind of insulation material to trap all of the body heat inside. Most likely. I run my fingers across the lining of the tent and recognize it. My mother works at the factory that produces this stuff. I chuckle at the irony; so many miles away and she is still protecting me. She never blamed me for what I did. She understood that it was a mistake and she endured immeasurable amounts of ridicule for supporting me. I feel a pang in my heart, knowing that I will never see her again. I pull Celeste closer to my body, craving her closeness. I know it is selfish, but I need her.

"Daniel?" Celeste murmurs. I exhale a sigh of relief that she is awake. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep and knowing I have someone to talk to placates me.

Her large blue eyes open and search mine, but her fingers do not loosen their grip on my shirt.

I say nothing and stare into her eyes. I realize that this girl not only surprises me, but she scares me. She scares me because I don't want to lose her. I don't want her to stop trusting me. I fear that when she finds out the truth she will run. She will leave me or she will kill me on the spot. Both of which I completely deserve.

It seems like hours before either of us moves. Finally she shifts and buries her face in my neck. I pull her closer and comb my fingers through her hair. I can feel her heartbeat quicken and I hear her breath catch in her throat. I know she wants to ask me. I know she wants to know why.

I lean down and whisper in her ear, "I will tell you. Soon, I promise. But for tonight let's just stay like this. Please?"

She exhales, sounding relieved, and nods. I pull her closer and finally let my heavy eyelids shut.

Harbor Aberdeen

I'm standing between Hana and Bravo, all of us looking extremely amused at the sight before us. The small children from Eleven are curled up in a small crevice. There is a machete lying between them, though I doubt either of them possess the strength to lift it much less do any harm with it. Bravo reaches forward and picks it up, adding to his ever growing collection of weapons.

Hana pulls two knives out of her belt and hands one to me. She locks eyes with me and speaks in a hoarse whisper, "Do it fast, in their sleep. That is the least we can give them."

I am about to nod in agreement, when I notice that Bravo has other plans. He's circling around the girl, Lucy, with an evil, catlike smirk upon his face. He is stalking his prey.

Shit. Goddamn Careers. I almost understand it, they are raised like animals, never shown love or compassion. But this is a whole new level of twisted. My heart falls to my stomach as I sense what he is about to do and I look to Hana, both of us wondering if we should step in.

We don't get a chance to make a decision. Bravo smirks in our direction and drops a deadly kick to the boy's ribcage. Hana cringes as we hear several bones crack. The boy wakes up suddenly, fear emanating from his eyes. Bravo kicks him a few more times, until I see deep scarlet pouring from his lips.

Bravo turns to Lucy, who, by some miracle has not woken up. He grabs one of her long blonde ponytails and drags her out of the crevice by her hair. Hero gasps and reaches out for her, but he is in too much pain to move.

Lucy's eyes fly open and she panics, trying to escape though she has no idea where she is or what is happening. Bravo slams a giant foot down on her chest, holding her in place and knocking the wind out of her.

A demented smile spreading across his face, he looks from Hero to Lucy to us and back to Lucy. He brings the machete over his head with both hands, and everything seems to happen in slow motion.

Hana squeezes her eyes closed, sensing what will happen. Hero's eyes are huge and glassy as he screams out Lucy's name. Bravo looks sadistic and mad. Lucy is looking into Hero's eyes, a mixture of confusion and fear pooling inside them. She does not see what is coming for her. I suppose it is better that way.

Bravo slams the machete down on Lucy's neck, decapitating her in one clean cut. The disgusting sound of blade meeting flesh and bone echoes through the cave. Hero's screams and Bravo's evil cackle follow. Lucy's head rolls down the small slope and into the darkness. Blood spurts from the wound at her neck, leaving a huge pool around Bravo and the body.

Hero is a mess; sobbing, screaming and choking on his own blood. His eyes meet mine in a silent plea and I step forward with my knife to put him out of his misery, but Bravo throws his massive forearm across my chest to stop me. I stumble backwards, unprepared for the impact.

Hana speaks up in protest, "Bravo come on, just let us end him. It's inhumane, these kids didn't do anything to us."

Bravo glares at her, his nostrils flaring.

"No." He orders, "We leave him here. He'll be dead by the recap. We'll let his little friend keep him company."

I repress a shiver as I look toward Lucy's body. The entire scenario seems unreal and dreamlike. I have seen great amounts of torture and brutality from years of watching the Games. Yet nothing could have prepared me for what I just witnessed. I doubt I will ever be able to erase the scene from my mind. Bravo has already begun to walk away and I see that Hana is following him. I take one last look at the sobbing boy, careful to avoid looking at the bloody body on the floor next to him, before turning away and following my allies. I can practically hear Finnick's disappointment as I walk away.

Noah Cooley

We're stumbling through the dark in silence, no sounds but our footsteps, frantic breathing and rapid heartbeats. One hand is clinging to Riah's and the other is clutching my knife. We have no idea where we are going, nor can we see anything. Riah trips and falls to the rocky floor, almost taking me with her. She yelps in pain, but I pull her to her feet quickly. We stop, silently waiting for any sounds, hoping that we lost whoever we had heard in the distance. After a full minute of complete stillness, we exhale. We lost them. I turn to Riah and open my mouth to say something, when suddenly bright lights are shining on my face, blinding me.

"Surprise."

The lights are lowered and I find myself staring into the faces of the deadly tributes from Two.

Without a second thought I throw my arm backward across Riah's stomach, flinging her to the ground and hopefully out of harm's way. I thrust my knife into the darkness before me and smile when I feel it come into contact with flesh. A low growl escapes Audrina and I blindly reach out my hands to push her backward.

I expect her to slam into another cave wall or stumble and fall to the ground. I most certainly do not expect for her to disappear.

Screams echo throughout the cave as Audrina falls down whatever I just pushed her into.

"Audrina!" Crisis screams, shining his flashlight at the ground. A loud thud is heard in the distance, Audrina hit the floor. I vaguely wonder what could be down there, but before I have time to get distracted I take advantage of Crisis's vulnerability and give him a shove into the same black hole Audrina just fell down, grabbing his flashlight before he disappeared.

"Noah!" Riah shrieks, running toward me. I catch her in my arms and guide her away from the hole.

Once we are far enough away, we stop. I lean against the cool wall of the cave and attempt to calm my breathing and make sense of whatever just happened. Riah throws her arms around my neck and whispers into my ear, telling me how glad she is that I'm okay. But I hardly hear her. My mind is racing a mile a minute, desperately wondering where Audrina and Crisis have just ended up.

They fell down another hole in the ground and as far as I know, survived.

I peel myself away from Riah and shine my flashlight around the ground, noticing that it is covered in holes. Most of them very tiny, but a few of them large enough for a person to fall through. It is a miracle we didn't trip into them while we were running. The holes seem to stretch on for miles down the tunnel, growing larger and closer together the deeper in. I approach a medium sized hole and shine the light down into it, seeing nothing but blackness.

I pull Riah close to me and lead her out of the tunnel, careful to avoid any holes on the way. Never have I been so confused and terrified. What is this place?

Well, this arena is just full of surprises isn't it! I'm not a huge fan of this chapter, and I'm sorry that it isn't as long as some of the other ones, but some will be long and others won't. I'm also not the biggest fan of this chapter, and I'm sorry that there are only four POVs but I'm trying to do less in one chapter and make them a little longer. I promise, even though I'm going out of order your tribute will get his/her fair share of narration!

For those who's tributes have died, please message me if you would like to transfer his/her points. You may only transfer them to one person, and you must PM me. I will delete the points if you send it in a review.

Corbin Devereux, District 3

Lucy Wells, District 11

Go vote on the new poll!

Same thing goes for voting this time around!

This time you may only vote for two tributes, and they will both receive 50 points. Only one may be your own.

Make sure that you write in your review/message which chapter your votes are for since you get one vote per chapter.

Also, make sure to go to www . seventyoneyears . blogspot . com (with no spaces of course!) to see pictures and bios of all the tributes! I updated and changed some since writing this!

Message me if you have any questions, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

*I've decided to give 5 bonus points to each of your tributes if you leave a review! A constructive review, not a review with your votes and that's it. :)

**For more bonus points, go check out these two lovely stories:

The 124th Hunger Games: A Lost Cause by The Silver Panda (My tributes are Scarlet and Arrow, also vote in his poll!)

The 1st Annual Hunger Games! by 73Years (My tribute is Ruby)

Go read and leave them reviews and I'll give your tribute(s) 5 points for each one! Neither of them asked me to promote them, nor will my tributes be receiving points for your reviews, I just think that they deserve some more reads!

-Becca