-David-

"...thusly by determining not the social status of its citizens, but the future economic potential of the Capitol itself, one can see the negative outcome of this current administration."

The large blond one didn't stop talking since yesterday. The small blonde one popped up from the back. "Why do you think that?"

"Well Remington, the current economic system is not only unsustainable, but there is a fundamental lack of socio-economic mobility, with the Bourgeoisie having 98% of the wealth. I'm not necessarily advocating full scale revolution, but if we simply gather the working class Proletariat as one and strike, we can create a fully classless society."

As he talks, his walks with his back straight and hands punctuating every sentence.

Eric injected into the rant, "I don't think you should be talking about this on national television."

"Symptoms of a larger problem! And anyways, I'll be fine. I can't be broken by their brain washing techniques." I think Andrew may already be crazy without mind control.

Remington straightened his glasses. "Why do you think you're so impervious, Andrew?"

"Oh, I know what they do to you. They brain wash you into becoming a person that is completely opposite of your previous character. Everything that you ever done will make no sense to how you are acting. It can only be cured by the power of love."

"Is that really how it works?"

"No, that would be dumb."

"Yeah, that would be dumb," Eric said as he sheathed his sword and pull out an apple from the pack. "Want one, Remington?" He said as he held out the apple.

Remington stared at it for a second. "Naw, I think I'm good." He pushed the apple away. "We need to conserve food; the only ones who got backpacks were you and David." I looked up from my feet to Remington. He kept talking to Eric. "I was thinking we could make some makeshift spears if we sharpen them with your sword. There should be some good ones nearby. Let's make camp here."

Andrew and Eric collapsed on the ground in exhaustion. Remington followed suit. I knelt down, resting my hammer in the ground.

Remington piped up again, straightening up. "David, could you look around for some food, please?"

I lifted up my hammer to leave and said: "Sure."

-Andrew-

Both Remington and Eric sat far enough away from me, sitting there talking and sharpening sticks, that I could relax without fear of being stabbed immediately.

I pulled both of the backpacks towards me, unzipping both and rummaging through their contents. Each backpack was fairly empty in my opinion; there's no reason why we needed two separate bags. I began unpacking the lighter of two.

David snagged this one from the teeth of the Cornucopia; it held a variety of fruits, crackers, a full water jug, and some dried meat for protein. Alone, I'm guessing David could ration this for a week and a half, but with all of us it'll be significantly diminished within a few days. Already, they had began eating the pack's food and water without even considering the possibility of cyanide, hydrogen peroxide, mercury, or arsenic-much less any bacterial pathogens. I let them eat first so they could fall victim to their ignorance, but after an hour they seemed fine so I had a few crackers.

I checked back upwards, those two were still sitting there, laughing and talking about what I think was horses. Remington had told us he was from the livestock district: 10. Talking about work is probably common chit-chat for normal people but I listened in anyway, taking special precautions to avoid detection.

"...and so my favorite one I named Twilight Sparkle. She's probably the most intelligent of the herd. I always...um...Hi Andrew. You are kinda staring intently at me. Can I help you?"

"Damn. I've been spotted." I covered my mouth. "I mean, I'm not listening to your conversation. Don't mind me." I scooted away slowly to avoid suspicion.

"Um right. You do that. Anyway, every pony is..." He turned away from me. Fool! I could strike you right now from twenty feet away if I really wanted to! I held back a maniacal laugh.

I put my back against a tree, preventing a possible ambush if one of them were to circle around me. Why did I trust them in the first place? So what if I was weaponless, running away from the Cornucopia as fast as possible? So what if I was really hungry, and they came and offered me food? Damn this accursed body, and its physical desires of food.

Handling each piece delicately, I transferred the contents of one bag to the other.

This other guy, David, he barely even talks. Is he some kind of zombie? A robot? Secret Capitol spy sent to ruin me? If so then our president is weak. I could manage way better than he ever could. First things first though, there needs to be a better system than the Hunger Games. Just lining us all up and giving some guy a go at us with a rifle is way more efficient than this.

The jaunty tune of the Capitol's anthem streamed from god knows where. I, for one, am all for propaganda as much as the next guy, but it's just too much work to stand up and sing it every night in the Districts. Capitol, I understand the fact that you want us to be your mindless slaves and puppies. On the other hand, you should really understand how inherently lazy people are.

I looked up towards the sky. Whoops, I missed the people who died for day two. I'll have to ask Remington or Eric later.

I discarded the first backpack, now empty, and squeezed the clasps on the side of the second so everything fit perfectly.

"Andrew, that backpack looks like it's going to burst at the seams any second now." Remington eyed my handiwork in a very disrespectful manner.

"But it is so much more efficient than having to go from backpack to backpack." I clung onto the bag, shielding it from non-believers.

"Remington's right. I think that it would be better if we all split them up." Eric looked over at the hollow bag at his feet.

"But if you think of it as..." I began, as a voice suddenly appeared out of nowhere behind me. I flinched and hit my head against the tree behind me.

David stood, pointing in hammer in the direction of the thick forest. "Guys, come on, I think I found someone."

—-—
-Remington-

"How did you find this guy?" I followed behind David with Eric and Andrew and his backpack.

David led us into the thick forest. "I was looking around for food when I heard an "Ow" and someone talking to themselves. I think he may have heard me. We should break into twos and attempt to circle around him to strike."

"Um yeah, let's do that." I looked backwards at Eric and Andrew. "Eric, you and I will stay on this side, while Andrew and David go around." I squinted in the dark at each of their faces; they gave me a nod.

The large bag crashed through the forest as David slid between the trees. The darkness continued to swallow all of us as we ventured further.

Eric poked me in the back to get my attention. "Remington, did it get really dark all of a sudden or is it just me?" He dropped his voice to the tiniest whisper.

I glanced behind me. Despite there only being less than three feet of distance between us, I could only make out a tall silhouette, only distinguishing itself only from the dark when it occasionally moved. "Yeah, the Gamemakers have to be messing with us. A forest can't really be this dark, can it?"

Eric looked down at the ground. "I'm not really sure of anything in this game."

Appreciating the little benefit of the darkness, I avoided his eyes as I lied to him. "We'll be fine. Between all of us, I have no doubt that one of us can win this thing."

Thankfully, any response was preemptively cut off by the sound of heavy panting and cracking sticks in the distance. Growing in intensity, the person charged right into our trap.

Gripping the spear we made together, I looked back in the direction of Eric. "Let's do this."

Breathe like a dying animal, the sound allowed us to hone in on our target. Two separate trails of footsteps (one significantly louder than the other) reached my ears, telling me that David and Andrew also found their targets.

As we quickly drew closer, the chaos shadowed the accuracy of any information from sounds. Falling back to my vision, my eyes flew around the center of this circle. A blur of motion darted from my left. The body of shadow plowed into me. Not knowing what to do, I shoved him away, hopefully giving me time to strike.

As the side of my spear pushed away this shadow of death, my last breathe left me, not from my mouth, but the newly formed hole in my chest.

—-—

-Eric-

The crack of bone made me look from the spot in front me, to a distance away.

I looked down in front of me, eyes widening as I saw the mess in front of me. My sword nestled into the ground, as I fell to my knees. Warm blood squished beneath me. "Remington? Are you okay, Remington?"

A cat-like laugh broke the silence I collected.

"Hahahahahahahahaha!"

A short shadow appeared behind me. I scrambled for my sword, before a hand appeared on my shoulder.

"Calm down, it's me, David. I got Andrew. We need to go right now. I know that girl; she's from District 8 as well. We need to leave right now." I stared at him, blankly.

"But Remington..." I protested. "I haven't heard the cannon yet. We can still save him." I realized I was yelling at him.

A chill ran down my spine as a high pitch scream filled the night air.

David pulled my shoulder. "No, we need to leave now. Let's go."

"I can't just let this happens to him without killing the person who did this to him. I can't just run away."

He pulled harder. A canon boomed in the distance.

"You'll have another chance; trust me."

I looked at Remington one last time, grabbed my sword, and left him alone.