Goodness, long time update, huh? I'm sorry, but I have had a lot of work lately along with my new and crazy diving schedule. My updates might not be as frequent. Still, enjoy!

…

Day 2

District 7: Sunday Lancast's POV

My head pulses with the sounds of swords clashing, tributes whispers, arrows soaring, and so much more. However, none are more evident in my head than the sound of my own beating heart. My hands are sweating as I pick up a knife from the fancy array that is before me. I don't know if my nerves are on a rampage or something else was going on, but my vision seems to be fazing in and out at will. No one said this would be simple though.

I find myself searching around the room for a witness. A careers witness preferably. I believe that is the best plan, get into the Careers. I could be the new Elena and spy on the pack from within. Then, I would do what I came here to do. Just kill the girl from 2 and the rest I don't care about.

Not one Career catches my eye though. They are all too wrapped up in their own training. I do take an extra glance at my target, Anna. She looks rigid with determination as she wields the sword against her training. It is quite obvious she is far above the trainer's skill level. She seems to be wasting time. I do take note that the other Careers are eying her too. They know what I know. She is a powerful enemy and ally.

I finally turn back to my throwing. I may not have caught a Career's eye, but I need the practice. It isn't easy as it looks, stabbing people in the back. I salvage the little bit of my focus I have left and throw my knife at the target. My focus and direction fail me as the knife misses the target completely.

"You hope the Careers will check you out for that?" The voice startles me to say the least. I feel myself jump whilst turning to see the person interrupting me. It is a boy around my age giving me a smirk and holding back a laugh. Just what I need, a sarcastic onlooker.

"What do you want?" I snap quickly, though I want to ask him how he knew I wanted to attract Career attention. The boy shakes his head and laughs again at my question. He extends his hand instead of giving me the answer.

"I'm Todd Halder. Pleasure to meet you Sunday Lancast or I believe you used to be called Sunny."

I immediately curl my fists in rage at the very sound of my old nickname. That was my past and how does he know that? I am about to ask when he begins again. "I see you are wondering how I knew that. I have taken an interest in you. You seem to be more than just a sibling bent on revenge. Now tell me, what happened to the little girl routing for her sister and her lover last year? What was that one comment you made? Something about District 7 and 1 babies?"

This boy Todd was in serious danger of getting throttled. I already feel my rage becoming uncontrollable. I bite down hard on the inside of my bottom lip to regain some control. The boy is safe for now. "I don't need to answer you questions."

"But what you do need is an ally," he comments. "You can't take out the District 2 girl by yourself and backstabbing is a bit tacky and cliché, don't you think? You need to trap her with something. You need dirt on her and you need to make her some enemies."

I hate to say it, but this Todd has me intrigued with his words. My rage calms itself down slightly and I release my bottom lip. I taste the blood in my mouth, but it hardly bothers me. It is something I am use to. I don't know how to make him continue so I make a little hand motion. Todd takes note and smiles.

"Well, it is good to see I have made an ally. I can get you anything you want. You will find that I am very, shall we say, persuasive. Of course, I will need something in return. You don't expect me to do it for free, right?"

A tiny flame of anger is back, but I try to beat it out. Still, my eyes narrow at Todd. "What kind of payment are you considering?"

"Not considering darling, I know what I want," he says with another one of the smirks he seems to fancy giving me. I narrow my eyes further, but this seems to be funny to him. "I heard your face will freeze like that."

"What do you want?"

"I want to be the one to kill Anna," he tells me. I almost fall back in shock and more anger. He wants me to give him the one kill I have had planned? The only thing that made me volunteer? Well, maybe not the only thing, but still. Who does this boy think he is?

"Why would I do that?" I sneer. I find myself biting at the bottom of my lip again.

"If she is dead, she is dead. I don't see why you have to do it yourself," Todd says with a small shrug. "Anyway, I am giving you a much better deal. I am giving you allies and a cause. Why just destroy Anna? Why not make a whole group to destroy the Careers in sweep."

"I don't need…" I end mid-sentence. End the Careers, what an interesting idea. No one had ever dared try to take them completely out. Elena corrupted them, but she did not cause complete destruction. Hell, a Career won in her year. Having the Careers out before the final eight, this would put our Games in the History book.

"It seems to be that you are in," Todd guesses. "And I think it will be good for both of us. I'll gift you the idea and I get the kill. Our pack will go down in history, even if we don't live to see it ourselves. So, do we have a deal, Sunny?"

He puts his hand out once again and I want to quickly shake it. But if I had learned one thing from the Games, never give the full truth. I would get my kill and the name in the book. First, I will have to leave the poor boy hanging. "We'll have to see on one condition. It's Sunday." I put a hand on his cheek and push the side of his face. "Darling."

District 9: Almond Willow's POV

I get another good grip on the spear and chuck it at the dummy that is not even a full yard away from me. I miss by a long shot. I groan in frustration and reach fro another. I miss to grab one as well. I want to stomp my foot on the ground in annoyance with myself and the weapon, but I don't want to be marked as the immature girl. Though, it would be hard to be the small girl from District 3.

I manage to get the spear this time and I try to through it in the right direction. I succeed, but only slightly. The spear enters the dummy's shoulder. However, the instructor finds this a major improvement and applauds me on the effort.

"I wouldn't worry about it," a girl behind me says. I turn to see the girl from District 14, whose name I didn't bother to learn. I have secretly just been considering them bloodbath. "However, your angle and direction are far from perfect. It would be best to hold it slightly up so that it will have a better chance of hitting rather than dropping down at their feet."

"Do you know how to throw spears?" I ask. I wasn't curious just annoyed at this girl for telling me how to hold a weapon. She doesn't even seem to know how to pick up the weapon let alone throw it.

"No, I just know science," she explains, mimicking my slightly hateful tone. I realize I may be starting to make an enemy and that is not something I want to do. My plan is to make no enemies and no friends. That way I can hide out until the game is at the final eight and make my appearance then. People do it every year. It shouldn't be difficult.

"I'm Almond Willow," I say, extending my hand out to her. She seems a bit skeptical of my sudden change in mood, but she shakes anyway.

"I know what your name is. I took the time to know all the tributes names. It is easier to know who is dead in the arena. I'm Astrid Aelish," she tells me. She drops my hand immediately when we are done shaking and picks up a spear. I don't know what else to say, but I can't stand standing here in total silence.

"Your District partner is pretty cute," I say in an effort to start up another conversation, one that is not backed by annoyance or the blooming of hatred.

"What?" Astrid stops what she doing and almost drops her spear.

"I just said he is cute. I don't know if he is really my type, but I can't deny that he is good-looking," I say as I try to locate the boy in the room of other tributes. I find him testing out the edible plants station.

"I don't think he is cute and he probably isn't your type," Astrid sneers cruelly as she tightens her grip again on the spear. She turns her back to me and goes for the target dummy opposite of mine. She throws the spear only to have it drop at the dummy's feet. I snicker at her failure, but she just turns to pick up another spear. "That was my imitation of you."

I stop laughing to shoot the girl a sour look. I pick up a spear of my own and throw it with all my strength. It lodges itself in the dummy's shoulder again. "I would like to see you try to make even that shot."

Astrid seems to have accepted the challenge and prepare to throw her own spear. She doesn't seem to throw it with much strength and start to laugh again. That is until it lands straight in the dummy's heart. Astrid turns to me with a smirk. "Would you look at that?"

Day 3

District 10: Raze Tanner's POV

I grab the blade before the other hand could swipe it away. I hear a soft growl from the person, but I pay it no mind. I need the practice and the best sword. I need to stand a chance, more actually. I have spent the last two days watching tribute interactions. Now, it is my turn to impress.

"What ever happened to chivalry?" It is the girl from 2 as I predicted. She has been hogging the swordplay station every single training day. I don't care. She doesn't need another skill. I bit she could throw a blade faster than a knife thrower. She is not someone to be taken lightly and not someone to underestimate. However, I need to find something wrong with her for I am in danger of overestimating her.

"Chivalry died when you got off the train," I tell her. "So, Anna Sinclair, back again for more practice or is this just a sill game to you?" I hear another growl along with the sound of sword clanging against another. She has already begun. I turn quickly to catch the trainer's eye. I see the fear.

"I guess I am going to have to say the second one," she snaps. I expected her to be cold, but all the Careers are at first. I don't want to judge her personality yet. Due to recent events, I believe she might have a bit more depth.

"I want to thank you Anna," I tell her even as my back is turned. I wish I could see her reaction, but the instructor is trying to teach me something I probably already know. I don't hear anything for a long while, sword clanging included.

"You're welcome," she mutters, sounding a bit stunned. I expected that too. She doesn't seem to be one who helps people a lot and probably doesn't get many thanks.

"So, I am Career material? I didn't really see that coming for the exact reason Camille said. I was surprised you thought differently."

"You think you know me," Anna snaps suddenly. I didn't think she would be offended by that comment. It takes me aback a bit and I wait for her to continue. "All you tributes are the same; you assume things about each other. District 1 tributes are shallow, 2's are brutes, 3's are smart, 4's are shy, and so on. It is sickening."

I knew I would be surprised by Anna Sinclair. But I never thought I would get information this quickly. I don't know why Anna interests me so much. It did start two days ago yesterday. Maybe it has something to do with what she said. Maybe I thought she was different then the stereotype people have molded her into. I feel the same about myself.

"I'm done here," she says promptly to the instructor. She gives me one last look before she goes. It is not anger, but just confusion. She is probably thinking the same about me as I am of her. I watch Anna walk towards the knife throwing only to be confronted by the boy from 9, Todd. Interesting, I didn't assume he was that bold.

"She is so out of your league and she will kill you when she gets the chance." It is Lyli, my less than wonderful District partner. It seems just like her to say something like that. I shake my head at her thought though.

"I would judge her just yet. There is more to her story than meets the eye."

"Whatever you say," Lyli mumbles with a small laugh. I brush it off and turn back to my training. Lyli could be right or wrong, but I want to know Anna Sinclair, maybe if it does kill me.

District 12: Vina Renna

I feel the soft feeling of couch stuffing as my finger nails break through the fabric of the couch. It is not like me to get insanely nervous, but I find my mind spinning. The others around me look jumpy as well. Training scores can make or break you and even if you don't think it, you have everything to lose. A bad training score might cost you your life.

The screen flickers to life with the Capitol symbol. The one thing I hate about District 12 is the wait. I have to sit here and watch everyone else pull decent or great scores while I wait in agony, hoping for the best, but thinking the very worst. It is utter madness.

The boy from 1's picture is the first on the screen. And so it begins, the long line of tributes faces and a little number that is worth everything here.

District One

Male: Marco von Erich 8

Female: Bliss Honeycutt 6

District Two

Male: Benevolence Valencia 10

Female: Antonia Sinclair 10

District Three

Male: Miles McCarthy 7

Female: Shiloh McCarthy 4

District Four

Male: Kantix Kosmelt 8

Female: Camille Booth 6

District Five

Male: Dexter Hasselback 7

Female: Katarina Peters 4

District Six

Male: Finn Darrenhall 7

Female: Cetera Jellon 7

District Seven

Male: Steam Trace 9

Female: Sunday Lancast 9

District Eight

Male: Ian Williams 6

Female: Kamira Lyre 6

District Nine

Male: Todd Halder 7

Female: Almond Willow 6

District Ten

Male: Raze Tanners 10

Female: Lyli Hyerman 6

District Eleven

Male: Arin Andrews 8

Female: Tawncy Moriatri 8

District Twelve

Male: Azrael Lupin 10

Female: Vina Renna 7

District 14

Male: Karter Neandra 6

Female: Astrid Aelish 9

A seven, it wasn't the worst score out there. But it was certainly not the best. I can't say I am surprised by Azrael's high score. He has ability. I'm surprised he didn't eat one of the Gamekeepers.

"Good job both of you," Storm tells in his mumbling tone before making a hasty exit. Cinna is gone quickly as well, but not before giving my hand a squeeze. I give him a fleeting smile and watch him exit almost as quickly as Storm. Soon, the whole room is vacated, leaving just Azrael and me.

"Good job," I tell him with my best attempt at a smile and true sincerity. I have a hard timing telling if it worked. He just gives me another one of his eerie once over's before turning away. I can't help it, I scoff. The least he could do was acknowledge I said something nice. It is hard to compliment someone like him. I can barely look at him.

"Well, I'm going to bed. I guess I will be seeing you tomorrow," I say quickly before stalking out of the room with my silent fury. It is then I feel the hand on my shoulder. I instantly shudder and whip around. It is Azrael.

"And the day after, but not for very much longer," he says with a creepy smirk. His hand squeezes a little harder and I squirm with discomfort, but I can't jerk the hand away as I hard as I try. He notices my discomfort, but this only widens his smirk. My breathing becomes a bit shallower, but I take one large breath and try to act humane towards him despite the way he acts to everyone.

"I'm going to go to bed," I say in a quiet voice before trying one last shrug. His hand gives this time, but I feel that he just let go. I retreat back and give him a disgusted look, one he has had coming for a long time. He just gives a low chuckle at this. I turn my heels and stalk off once again, but my whole body is tense.

"Remember Vina, time is fleeting and it is not something you will want to waste."

…

There you go. I liked this chapter. I think it went well. Next is the interview chapter and then the final chapter before the Games, the roof chapter. I can't believe we are almost in the arena

So, reviews are lovely. Peace, Love, and All That Jazz.

-Emma