Me again!

Just wanted to say, thanks all for sticking with me this long, and if you're still reviewing, the Holy God of Fanfiction bless you (:

*In the Blink of an Eye

Jaysper Pavane Grey, District Eleven

When I wake, Natalie is gone. I knew she'd go eventually. The sullen expression and shifty stares when she thought we weren't looking. It all added up to this. Maybe it's time for us all to split. But then we'd be more vulnerable. And with a psychopath on the loose, we need all the strength we've got.

As I gather the last remaining food and organise it into a half-presentable pile, I realise that we need Natalie. Maybe not the sulky side of her, but the watchful side, the protective side. I think back. Without her, we'd have probably been eaten by the huge bird creature. We wouldn't have seen the girl yesterday. She was part of our group.

If we were in a fight, Cora would be the one cowering at the back, whimpering when blood was drawn. Are me and Stag enough to take someone down? Who's left? Is there someone lurking at the back of our mind, feeding on shadows and watching?

I don't know. And I miss home. I want to get out of here alive.

Coraline Rige, District Seven

I bite my lip and take a slice of cheese. It's half melted, but is still aromatic. It's the last slice. I don't want to add to my worries, but what do we do when the rest of the food runs out?

I have the crying under control. When I feel like pouring out my troubles into tears, I think of wood. Strong, sure wood. Dusty yet firm under my fingers where I have chipped away the shape. There's not much wood here, but I can sometimes still feel the shape in my hands. I just try not to wander to thoughts of Monty.

We don't really talk any more since we found Natalie's empty spot. What we have now is too fragile to risk something as brash and clumsy as speech. We do what we do, when we want to, and seeing as there are only three of us, this isn't a problem.

At least we can hear everything around us.

When I reach the last bite of my cheese slice, I hear a rustling. Something trying to be quiet but failing.

Who? I share a startled look with Stag.

Bronte Pratt, District Six

Kyle has his hand over my mouth. Not that I'd make a sound with the rifle pressed to my temple. But psychopaths will be psychopaths. I know that if I made a peep, pieces of my head would be blown sky-high. So it's quiet time.

I'm not really sure what Kyle wants from me. Sure, he had a bit of fun getting me to 'sit' and 'lay' and all the other hilarious tricks that dogs do, but to be honest, I don't think he's enjoying it. His toy has had it's moment to shine. I dread to think of what this means for me.

Knowing Kyle, he'll probably shoot me in front of the alliance we're creeping up on as a little message. Then either shoot them too, or keep them as pets too.

I step on a loose pebble and it clinks gently. Kyle moves his hand away from my mouth and twists my ear so hard I want to scream. Amongst the pain, I hear a crick. There goes the perfect shell-shaped ear. The only thing keeping me from crying out in pain is the cold barrel on my head. One twitch. That's all. That's all it could take to end my life.

Would it be better to cry out and alert the alliance? Sure, I'd be dead before I could see it, but would it be worth it? I dismiss the idea as soon as it comes. I want to live.

From now on, I am careful where I put my feet, although it's hard to concentrate with pain throbbing through my ear.

We're close enough to see the alliance closely. It's odd seeing so many people together who are not expressing signs of violence towards each other. Feels odd after the past week. But instead of the calm, unknowing group of victims I had imagined, they hold knives and are staring towards our direction.

It's now or never. I slam my head to the side, jam my foot into Kyle's groin and dart behind him, pulling the gun with me. I'm careful to point it away from me, in case Kyle is a little trigger-happy in his shock. In under three seconds, I have the gun pointing at Kyle's brain.

I have to be quick. "You know I will do it," I hiss in Kyle's ear, "Don't. Move. A. Muscle."

Holding Kyle like a human shield, I brace myself – ready to run with the gun if necessary.

Who knew I had it in me?