A.N.: So, apparently there's been some confusion as to how and when Ashley died. In Chapter Eleven, she's hiding behind the waterfall when Shimmer and her pack attack Moira (the "Five girl" as Shimmer refers to her). From Shimmer's point of view, the person hiding behind the waterfall throws a spear at Lucas, killing him. Thera and Phenom run for the waterfall, and then Shimmer hears "a scream and yet another cannon." She didn't check to see who it was, because she was making sure that no one else had snuck up on them, and reprimanding herself for not checking in the first place. That night, Briar sees Ashley's picture in the sky after the playing of the anthem, as well as those of Lucas, Moira, and Sara, who was killed by the spider. I hope this clears things up!

XXX

"We've been here for hours," someone mutters. "When's something going to happen?"

"You can go home if you want," the Head Gamemaker says, not turning around to see who it was. "Or you can stay here and be ready."

The other Gamemaker shrugs and pours himself another cup of coffee before turning to face the large television screen. On it, the cameras keep alternating between shots of Dalinder Fernswith (17, 12), who hasn't gotten any sleep tonight either, and the two tributes from Seven, who are the reason that she's awake. The three were playing an odd sort of cat and mouse. Dalinder rested, Jude and Robin approached; Dalinder ran, Jude and Robin waited. Eventually, the Gamemaker knew, one or the other would slip up, leading either to escape for the girl from Twelve or a kill for Jude.

The Head Gamemaker was not watching the screen. He was watching Tacita, the psychologist, as she silently read papers from a plain white folder she held in her hands, while watching another, smaller screen with the volume low. The screen was showing clips from the interviews.

Tacita leans back in her chair. "Who were you thinking would win?" she asks.

"Probably Shimmer," the Head Gamemaker replies. "Or Thera. Maybe Carn, if it comes to that. It all depends on what happens after they move back up the mountain to face Jude and Robin."

The psychologist nods slowly. "What about Kayla?"

"The girl from Nine? If she goes another day without someone finding her, we'll have to take action. She's got it far too easy. That's no good for the ratings."

Tacita looks thoughtful for a few moments. "Can you get me a tracker map?"

The Head Gamemaker nods at the woman on his left, who presses a few buttons on the keyboard in front of her. Yet another screen flashes to life, showing an above-view of the arena layout, with ten dots of different colors for the tributes. A motionless group of three near the mountain's base for the Career pack. Three moving dots: Dally, Jude, and Robin. The other four are spread out and motionless. Tacita checks the key at the bottom of the screen and studies the map, not speaking again for several moments.

"Sir!" one of the other Gamemakers exclaims. All eyes but those of the psychologist turn to the main television screen, where Dalinder lies on the ground, having tripped over a tree root and now being held down by Robin. Jude runs up, swings his axe over his head, and brings it down on the girl from Twelve's neck.

The Head Gamemaker nods and pushes a button.

"Fire cannon," he says, his voice entering a sort of P.A. system. "Hovercraft Three, prepare to collect the body."

In answer, the arena cannon fires.

"Give her two days," Tacita says.

"What?" The Head Gamemaker turns back to her.

"Kayla Rakkor. Don't give her one day, give her two. Then make your move. It's the rocks, isn't it?"

"Yes…" says the Head Gamemaker. "But what difference will two days make?"

The psychologist wordlessly points at the screen, at a dark green dot labeled Anise Leenan: District 11.

"All the difference in the world," she says. "Trust me, you'll get your show."

XXX

Briar Tussen, 12, District 11

I hear the cannon through my sleep, and my first thought when I wake up is Dally!

Then I stop myself. It could very well be someone other than Dally. Maybe the pack had another falling-out. Or Dally got the better of Jude or Robin. Or, really, anyone else: Anise or Kayla or Bergamot.

I won't know for sure until nightfall.

I wish they showed deaths during the night right away, rather than waiting for the next sundown!

But there's nothing I can do about it.

If it was Dally, then Jude and Robin will be moving on to their next target.

…Me?

I try to decide what to do now. Stay in the tree? I'm a sitting duck here. I could maybe jump into another tree if the Sevens find me, but it will only be so long before they wear me down…

What's at the top of the mountain?

The question suddenly pops into my head. More trees? Possibly. Or something else? Jude and Robin's domain is the forest…but what about the peak?

Well…there's only one way to find out, and it's better than sitting here and waiting for Jude and Robin.

XXX

Shimmer Argent, 18, District 1

"It's time to move up again," I announce. "There's no one left down here, and if there are more spiders, this is their nest."

"Someone's busy up there," Carn mutters. "That cannon last night…"

"Jude and Robin's work, no doubt," I say. "Or Bergamot's, but I wouldn't bet on it. He's too sweet. It's time we hunt him down. It's time we hunt them all down."

"No problem," Thera says, rolling her eyes. "So let's go."

I glare at her. "You're too relaxed," I say. "Much too relaxed. Do you even realize what happened yesterday? How close this game came to ending? This is serious. This is the rest of our lives. The rest of my life. Do you realize that? No, you don't. You don't realize. And that will be your undoing.

"And you!" I continue, turning to face Carn. "Sleeping on your watch! You almost got us all killed by your utter stupidity. There's no excuse for that. You've got the body of a warrior, but inside is the brain of a worm. A worm that's been cut in half!"

I turn and begin to hike up the mountain. Of course I know that my back's to them now, but part of me wants them to attack. Last night shook me up. I need to kill someone.

Something else that's bugging me: Why haven't I gotten any sponsors yet?

There must be money. So where're the parachutes? Not that I need anything, but still.

XXX

Kayla Rakkor, 15, District 9

I stop walking, and I realize that I've been pacing back and forth for a long time, tracing and retracing my footsteps. Luckily, my limp is my natural go-to now for movement, because I haven't been paying attention to what I was doing. There's no one here to have to trick, but…it's the only thing that I have to do.

How many days have I been here? We left the Training Center…four days ago, was it? Four days. I've been sitting here for four days? That can't be right. It feels like longer.

I've been comfortable. Almost too comfortable. I have food, I have water, and I have shelter. No one's come hunting yet. I'm not sick or injured. I'm fine.

But because of that, I'm downright terrified.

Something has to happen soon. Something! Why are they letting me just sit here? I mean, I like it, but… No one gets to just sit around in the Hunger Games. All the action and dying is happening elsewhere on the mountain. That cannon last night means that there are nine of us left. The viewers in the Capitol might be getting bored. They'll need everyone to be doing something to keep things entertaining.

So why am I just able to sit here?

I look down from the ledge, and then up the rocky mountain, and then I check the tunnel. Something big and nasty is creeping up on me, I just know it. Something that can hunt, and that wants some skinny little prey for a snack. I'm unarmed. Helpless.

Hunter grins and licks its chops,

Watching little prey that stops.

Hardened muscles, vicious skill

Teeth that bite and claws that—

I curl up in the tunnel, hands clamped tight over my ears, trying to drive out the horrible rhymes.

XXX

Carn Hurdy, 18, District 2

I've had enough, I think, watching Shimmer as she looks for a good place to camp. I've had enough of being yelled at, enough of being insulted and belittled. Enough of Shimmer Argent.

But what can I do?

I have the food on my back. I could run for it.

She'll kill me. Poisoned knife in the back.

If I snuck away during the night…?

Then what? Hole up somewhere and hope that the others stay away, or kill each other off? I'm lousy at fighting. If Jude and Robin or Bergamot show up…or that girl from Eleven, who killed her mother, for God's sake…

I frown. As much as I hate it, I'm safer with Shimmer Argent and Thera Adrastea than anywhere else.

This sucks…but I guess becoming a Victor makes it all worth the while.

XXX

Remaining Tributes:

Tribute-Name-Age

1G Shimmer Argent 18

2B Carn Hurdy 18

2G Thera Adrastea 17

7B Jude Paraux 17

7G Robin Sarabia 16

9B Bergamot Palentia 17

9G Kayla Rakkor 15

11B Briar Tussen 12

11G Anise Leenan 15

A.N.: I really like writing the Gamemaker segments… Next chapter, there should be the promised Sponsor Table segment, though!