District 9: Todd Halder's POV

I stomp my way back to the front end of the ship in frustration. I find it impossible that I couldn't find anyone to get rid of, but it is like something has put a layer of silence over the ship. Not a soul could be found anywhere on the deck. Now I have to listen to my ally's complaints for the rest of the night. These Games haven't been very productive for me thus far.

I reach where I had last left Sunday to find her standing with her pack on her shoulders and another pack in her hand, holding out in front. My own pack is still lying on the floor where I had left it, untouched. My eyes search Sunday for an explanation. She lets the extra pack drop from her grip and I cringe a bit when it clatters against the deck loudly.

"Do you still think I can't deceive?" she asks in mockingly sweet tone. I notice her eyes are a bit red in the glow of the ship's deck lights. The light and the red tones make her dark eyes even more cruel looking than usual. The eyes cause my stomach to drop slightly; as if for the first time I am actually afraid of this girl. She gives me a sly smirk before drawing a bit closer.

I try to make my large swallow unnoticeable. "Where did you get that?"

"Nowhere that concerns you," she sneers, losing her nice voice for a crueler tone. Her eyes and now her smile show her fury. I never knew a thirteen year old could be so frightening, but she will have to try a bit harder to get me to show I am actually a bit scared for my well thought out plan's well being.

"I see what you're doing here. If I apologize, will you drop the act?" I ask, give her a grin of my own. She doesn't return it. "Fine, I'm sorry I said you weren't skilled enough to trick people. I see now you obviously are. Happy?" Sunday only crosses her arms and takes a few steps back. She grabs the stolen pack from the floor before returning to where she had been.

"I'm dumping you."

My eyes grow wider than I ever thought possible and I momentarily let myself look and sound bewildered. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Sunday says with her faux sweet tone back. "I'm dumping you. This alliance is worth nothing to me and it seems to be the same with you. I don't see why I should waste my time with someone who doesn't care anyway." She draws a bit closer to me and smiles when she sees my confusion and maybe even a bit of fear. Things weren't supposed to work out this way. She comes even closer, close enough to whisper in my ear. "I would kill you now, but I still have enough respect for how you play the game to let you keep playing for a little while longer. But the next time I see you, the knife in my jacket will go straight into the place where your heart should be."

Sunday backs away, giving me one more triumphant smile before turning her back to me. The sound of her footsteps echo in my ears. I feel it is as if she is shattering everything I had worked out before the Games by just leaving. One pebbles falling really can start an avalanche.

I wipe the beads of sweat that had appeared during Sunday's killing speech and I walk to pick up my own pack. I suppose I now have nowhere to go, but up from here though I still feel I have so many miles left to fall before things pick up for me. I guess when you think everything is going in your favor, someone has to come along and ruin the balance.

"Yes, I'm breaking-up with you. I think this is better for both of us. We just aren't good together. I'm really sorry Todd," Amber says before walking out my store's door. I make sure to slam it quickly as she does so. I sigh in aggravation and relief. I never like to stick with girls long, but there nothing I hate more than when a girl beats me to the break-up speech.

"Did Amber just bruise your pride?" Keeley jokes from the counter next to my brother. Nash laughs with her, but the two both stop when I glare at them. I walk over to the counter and jump up to sit on it. I sigh again, this time with very little relief.

"Just because she broke up with you doesn't mean you are any less of a ladies man, big brother," Nash reassures me, but it doesn't help at all. I have had one or two girls break up with me before I got the chance, but it is the way Amber just said that is driving me crazy. She said a simple three sentences then left without even a sympathetic hug or just a pat on the arm. That is how I do it. I shouldn't be getting my own treatment back.

"What are you going to do Todd?" Keeley asks me and without looking, I know she rolled her eyes. Though Keeley doesn't mind me, she finds my scheming ways and cold manner annoying and she isn't afraid to show it. I don't mind that she finds it annoying, I just hate when my brother takes her side over it.

"The next time her dad walks in her, he is going out with the whole store's inventory," I tell the pair. Nash chuckles at this, but Keeley only shakes her head. "What? No one dumps Todd Halder and gets away with it."

With a new surge of confidence, I swing my pack on to my shoulder and start on the path farthest from where Sunday had gone. She will regret what she did, but not yet. The best kind of revenge is the type that leaves everybody speechless.

District 9: Almond Willow's POV

The atmosphere of the boiler room is heavy in more ways the one. The muggy air and heat cling to me alongside the dress I was forced to wear. The sounds of fire and machine rattling roars over the small patter of my heels. It is not a perfect environment, but it is an ideal place to hide for awhile. Though I don't have a pack or a weapon, I managed to get a small amount of food and water. It should last me a few more days.

It has been two days without one cannon to be heard. I'm sure the Capitol is getting restless for blood and gore. That is why hiding is the best option. Though it may seem like I am taking the easy way out, I feel I have to avoid the eye of my competitors for now. Some of them are restless for blood as well and it is better someone else be caught than me. It is cruel of me to say, but I have to win. I just have to.

I find an area in a dark corner that is not as hot and I make my camp there with what little I have. The heat isn't unbearable, but I can tell it will be an uncomfortable next few days. I break a piece off of one of my two small loaves of bread and eat. I have been avoiding all meals, but dinner and my hunger has never felt so severe. Is that a sign of fear?

A few hours have past now and the heat is now killing me. I would leave if it weren't for my exhaustion. I will leave right after I sleep. That is the last thing I think before I feel my eyelids closing and I am asleep.

It is a few hours later when my eyes fly open. The sounds aren't right. The fire is still roaring, the machines still rattling, but the lighter sound of pounding metal hasn't been present until now. Someone is here with me.

I don't bother gathering my stuff. I leave the corner for it will be too easy for the other tribute or tributes to trap me. I duck into one of the many rows of boilers, all seeming to be forcing their heat on to me. I am careful with my steps. If I can hear the pounding metal even over the loud noise, so can the person down here with me. I try to watch both behind me and in front of me and I try to inch closer to the door back up to third class. I peer over my shoulder again, feeling more relief as I become closer and closer to my goal. I turn back ahead and my eyes lock eyes with him, the boy from 12.

"I thought someone else was down here," he says in smooth and casual voice. I swallow hard and I feel my feet dragging me back towards where I had come from. I pray there is another way out, somewhere to run to. I have heard the rumors along with everyone else. I've seen them proven true. This boy is a mental case and cold-blooded killer. For once, I am not afraid of looking weak in front of the Capitol. I think being in the same vicinity as this boy earns me the right to look terrified.

"What do you want?"

The boy shakes his head and laughs a high-pitched chuckle. "Why would you assume I want something? Maybe I am just merely exploring the ship hoping to find some supplies. But now that you brought it up, maybe we can be friends, allies." I realize he has been moving closer and we are now a few precious feet away. My feet no longer slide back slowly, but take large strides backwards.

Trying to force my voice not to shake, I answer, "No, I don't want to be allies. I'm doing fine on my own. Now, I'll just be on my way." The heels will give me a disadvantage when running, but he has no weapons that can be seen and I have never been a horrible runner. I just need to choose the right moment. Timing could be everything.

"But we could have so much fun." The distance between us is almost gone and I fear I have lost any opportunity to run. My choice had been fight or flight and now I have to fight. My fingers curl into fists and wait for him to make the first move.

"I doubt that. Now leave," I snap, but my wavering voice gives my panic away. He notices it easily and his arm reaches out, his hand ensnaring my wrist. I know I should hit or even struggle, but my hands are shaking and I feel my legs go numb.

"Why do girls have to be such killjoys?" I feel his sharp nails digging into my skin and my lip quivers slightly. My thoughts are running a mile a second, looking for option anything. To my left there are more boilers and no visible way of escaping. To the fight is the door, but it would be too simple for the boy to catch me. Behind me is an open boiler, the flames leaping out nearing me. And in front, there is only one way. I take it.

I use my left leg to kick him in the shin and he lets out a yelp of pain. His grip on my wrist loosens enough for me to be able to yank it free. I do so, but I trip and my heels don't allow me to regain my balance quick enough.

I fall. I fall straight back, back into the fires. I find the pain is tremendous, but quick. There is nothing I can do. I am consumed by the flames.

…

I actually liked how this chapter turned out. Only four more Districts of Games' POVs before anyone goes.

Capitol Question of the Day: What character (besides your own) is your favorite at this point and why?

Reviews are lovely. Peace, Love, and All That Jazz.

-Emma