I want to thank you all for reading and reviewing my story! You are my feedback, guys :) I would like to ask for some criticism as well as I feel you are being too mild with me :D It will help me improve my writing skills so criticize me! QueenBee mentioned in her review that I should avoid changing the view's angle so I tried to remove that. So, if you have any idea how to make things better, feel free to tell me. :) Enjoy, folks!

Lera let out a sigh as she zipped her jacket. Her heart was beating fast and her hands were trembling. What kind of arena would the tributes face? Desert, winter canyon? Woods? Lera hoped for trees

- Have you got any allies? – the mentor asked.

- No. I'm better on my own. – her mind drifted to Cato and his eyes shot her: cruel, desperate to kill her.

- Don't make it for the weapons then. You can get killed easily.

She turned to face him.

- I need weapons. – the girl protested.

She always feels so vulnerable when she has no defense. And she cannot let herself being an easy target. She must survive. It would be better for the world. She believed she could teach everyone right from wrong.

- It's your choice. – he shrugged. She knew he is trying to help her but she already has a strategy in her mind. She's very fast and can run for a long time so she just has to get to the center. If not first, then at least in the first few. She'll grab the first weapon and bag she sees and then make a run for it.

A minute later she was already in the arena and the countdown has started.

Woods. Check. Lera thanked God for that.

Bags- all the way around the Cornucorpia and very near to the start. Note to grab one after the weapons.

Weapons. Check. Lera had to make a fast run for it.

Water… The girl scanned the area. She could clearly see a lake. That's the place to make camp although it was very near. The Careers would be searching for her.

Lera looked around and saw Cato who had set her eyes on her. His gaze frightened her- he seemed so determined, so ready to kill her. As if he said: "If you make a run for it, I'll kill you. If you don't, I'll kill you later."

She turned at the Cornucorpia again. The seconds were ticking in her mind. She concentrated and bent down to make a fast start. This was something she was good at.

As the time ran out her heart felt as if bursting out of her chest, her thoughts going in slow motion. She thought her mind and her body were now separated because she did everything on impulse, without even thinking.

With the corners of her eyes she could see that most of the tributes were heading in her direction. Out of 24 including her she couldn't see no more than 5 – those who have headed for the woods.

A thought crossed her mind: maybe she should have done the same thing. But there was no time for hesitation now.

Half of the running stopped when they reached the bags. Some of them would certainly fled now but she believed most of them would continue to run into a blood battle for weapons that would start any second now.

4 or 5 of the boys were already there as she verged on but no girl. Lera let a small smirk on her face. She could see two sais- her most favorite weapon of all. When she was young she used to watch Elektra with her mother- a very old film- even before the origination of Panem. The main character, Elektra, used sais and little Lera just fell in love with them.

The girl was running so fast that she almost let the sais fall from her hand. This made her lose balance and she tripped off someone, knocking him on the ground. She was able to regain her feet however and turned around. She believed her not intentional act would cause anger in the tribute so she had no choice but to kill him. When she looked at him she almost dropped her knife.

Cato was lying on the ground, his gaze at her, filled with hatred.

He knew he couldn't stand in time so he waited for her to kill him. Maybe she would miss. Maybe this wasn't the end. But if she didn't kill him right in this very second he will kill her. Sooner or later.

For Lera the time has stopped. Tributes around her were fighting but she didn't sense it. All she knew is that she must kill him or run and hope he will return the favor. She chose the latter.

Making a run for it gave her a second advantage as Cato hadn't expected it. She grabbed a bag just beside the Cornucopia and sprinted for the woods, heading for the lake. She could hear desperate screams behind her, as a lot of people were being killed and sliced to pieces.

She reached the woods safely but couldn't stop to see if anyone followed. Just kept running until she could no longer hear the screams.

- Wo hooo! – Cato shouted triumphal and raised his hands. The other Careers celebrated with him- they had their supplies and the weapons. Now they only had to search for the others and kill them. – Count them, count them! – he continued shouting. – I killed at least 4!

- Eleven at all. – Clove counted. – Nice job, Cato! – she raised her hands for a high five which he eagerly clapped.

- Thank you. – a smirk was playing on his lips.

- But you sure missed the one from Four. – someone whispered in his ear. He turned around and saw Glimmer. She lifted her eyebrow and although it seemed like teasing he knew she demanded an answer.

- She was out of my reach.

- And why didn't she kill you? – she made a quick stop at the word "she".

He shrugged, trying to seem convincing.

- I guess she had no time. Why, you wanted to kill me?

She bent down, taking an apple and bit off. – I still do.

Cato smirked. That girl was cruel sadistic and an egoist. Talking to her was like talking to his female version. They were so alike.

Lera finally stopped to catch her breath. Her heart was beating so loud she couldn't hear anything else. She bent against a tree for a second but then looked around. No one was following her. A minute later when she relaxed herself she was convinced there was no one in her area.

Her mouth was dry and she needed water. The girl sat down, opening her bag.

Sleeping bag… useful

A rope... useful although she wasn't quite sure what for

And a bottle of water… only there was no water in it

She cursed on her mind. How far was it to the Cornucorpia? Not much but was it safe? Was there an ambush waiting for her by the lake? No, no one could know she was intending to come back. Cato wouldn't guess too.

With one last sight she grabbed her bag and headed back, taking her time to explore her surroundings. Her feet crushed the leaves beneath her. It would be noisy to move around here. But she had an advantage too- she would here enemies coming so she decided she'll deal with it for now. The bad side was also a good one.

It took her two to three hours to come back. She was cautious all the way, her senses were acute and she really was ready for fight. Her sais were lying on her bag and Lera was ready to grab them any second now.

Reaching the lake she could see the Cornucopia but it was too far away to perceive if there is anyone or not. The girl sat down next to a tree and waited patiently. Obviously there is no movement around so she plucked up courage to run to the lake and pour some water into her bottle. Then, as quickly as she came, she disappeared.

It took her half the time to come back to the place where she ran from but she was not only walking but also running.

The girl looked around to find a hiding place and almost stumbled against it. It was something like a cave which gave her a great view but she was hard to be found. Just perfect. She left her things except for the sais and started looking for food as her stomach was groaning.

Lera smiled- she was a lucky girl today. A few meters away from her a rabbit has wedged its leg. It tried to free away as it sensed Lera but it was too late. It was dead before even noticing it.

She doubt that a fire would do her any good so she grabbed her bag and started walking although the sun was already going down. After an hour or so she roasted the meat and quickly put out the fire. She knew the Careers would be here any minute now so she ran to her cave as fast as possible. She found her way easily because she took her time to remember it. In her new house she ate her meal peacefully and watched the night to find out who were left. Eleven in all. A few minutes after she heard the news a new cannon fired. Twelve.

A smile was placed on the red-headed girl as she fell asleep.