Radioactive.

It's a revolution, I suppose. We'll paint it red to fit right in.

Waverly Pond, District Four Male.

It takes a while for me to even begin breathing again. Everything is so surreal, so amazing. I never expected it to be this overwhelming. I take in my sights, trying to understand it all. Finnick said the Careers alliance is important to stay in, and I understand that, but it's so hard to compete against trained killers. I trained, sure, but playing with tridents and spears, without hitting targets, isn't exactly what everyone else is used too.

I feel more like the reaped, rather than the volunteers.

60...50...

My eyes wander around the large circle, everyone dressed the same, their coloured belts setting them apart. Four plates to my left is Theo, standing tall with a grim expression as he realises that the Cornucopia has no weapons, only backpacks. And since you have no idea what really is out in the arena, you have to take the backpacks, because there could be no water, no food, no survival kits. Besides Theo, I can see Lorelei, six tributes to my right. Gage not far from Theo, and... And that's it. Astor, Garnet and Delaney must be on the other side, blocked from my view.

40...

Was I ever really ready for this?

I watched Finnick's games, and throughout, he was the one to beat because he was so good. I thought it'd be that easy. But then again, I've never been the one to beat in this competition, which means I'm on a whole other level, lower than the Careers, higher than half the reaped.

And for a supposed Career, who volunteered because he thought it was easy, doesn't look too good at all.

The boys from Eleven and Twelve are on either of my sides, and compared to me, both look far too stunned to even allow fear to take over.

30...20...10...

Any moment now, the gong will go, and I'll have to fight. This bloodbath will be intense, chaotic, bloody. Everyone will want a backpack, and no doubt, they'll fight for it no matter what. Inside is the contents to save you. I can't see too many tributes willingly running away up the concrete steps or broken, rusted escalators. I spin around, finding a staircase behind me back a little, which I could easily take. Behind that distance is a broken, chipped water fountain, covered in slimy green moss.

0...

The gong sounds, and without a doubt, I leap off my plate and run forward, alongside every other tribute, though some stand and hold back. No-one opts to run away, though, and I can't fight the sickness at the coming brutality. I'm not fast, not in the slightest, but Theo and Lorelei are at the Cornucopia in seconds, grabbing a backpack each. Garnet and Astor join us, but it's chaotic, and in the midst, someone hits me over the back of the head.

I sprawl to the floor, tucking myself around just in time to watch the girl from Eleven grab a bag and begin to run. She hit me. But she's quick to run into Astor, who delivers a slap to her face. But Eleven has an ally who will fight, and sadly, the girl from Seven is quick to fly in at Astor and knock her to the floor.

The boy from Twelve runs at me. I'm on my feet in seconds, and harshly, I grab him by the scruff of his collar and launch him to the side.

It's only then, as Theo opens a bag, do we see the contents.

Large, broken pieces of rubble. Nothing else.

"Shit." Theo mumbles under his breath.

"What is it?" Lorelei asks evenly.

He hauls out the piece of stone, showing the rough edges to her. "Stone. They want us to kill with these."

I could almost see a calculating, dark glint in Lorelei's eyes, but she grabs the rock from Theo's hand and runs into the oncoming crowd.

Theo opens his mouth to say something, but it's cut off by a girl's scream. I whip my head around, just in time to see Delaney, rock in hand, cave it into the little girl from Ten's skull. Blood and white chunks of skull fly out, but she's dead in seconds. It's only then, do I see Garnet, an empty orange backpack in hand, to know he handed her the rock with a dark smile.

Her blood spills on the floor, and once again, the sickness arises.

You wanted this, Waverly. Remember that.

Now, I wish I wasn't so stupid into volunteering for this. My chances of making it out alive are less than none.

Astor Sheen, District One Female.

I almost had the girl from Eleven, but her partner was quick. They grabbed a backpack, which I now know is nothing but rocks. A cheap trick by the Gamemakers to either confuse us, leave us without a clue, or to ensure the bloodiest bloodbath in history.

I rub my hand over my cheek, where Seven slapped me rather hard after tackling me to the floor. My eyes close, just for a second, and I work out what I need to do. Killing isn't a problem for me. I'll do anything to return and bring that honor I want, but it's finding the right people.

Then, almost poetic, I see the girl from Five standing idly, looking for her partners. I run across the jagged floor, ignoring Ten's blood on the floor, skimming it. Cameron, I think her name is, notices me just to time to begin running in the opposite direction. Sadly, as she dodges one of the many cracked, moss covered fountains, she clips her leg and stumbles, making me tackling her a lot easier.

I'm used to rough and tumble. Blackdamp can do that to a person, really.

I don't say anything as I punch her in the jaw.

She says nothing as she squirms, managing to kick me rather awkwardly, like she can't fight for her life.

But like taking on Eleven, Cameron has an alliance, and the silly girl from Eight runs near us and screams, a high shriek like that of a banshee, and that catches my attention enough to drop my guard. Cameron manages to wiggle free, kick me awkwardly once more, then dash up a broken escalator, tugging Eight's hand with her.

"Fuck," I hiss under my breath, watching Theo come over. He looks at me with those steady eyes of his. "What do you want?"

"Thought you could use help," Theo mumbles, passing me a large rock. "All we have."

"I know."

Silence takes over, the screams and fights in the background clear. Over Theo's shoulder, I can see the boy from Eight fighting with Garnet, and as much as Garnet swings the large rock, it never hits as Eight manages to practically dance off every move, before delivering a kick to his knee and sprinting up the stairs.

Bit by bit, everyone is leaving.

"Where's Gage?" I say, throwing back some of my hair.

Theo shrugs. "Not sure. You go find him, I'm going to find Delaney. Round up the alliance."

I nod, because really, I have nothing against Theo or his leadership skills. He's good enough, and everyone pretty much knows that someone from Two leads the Careers to hopeful victory. As I walk back to the Cornucopia, the carnage is astounding, everyone whose left actually trying to fight and attack each other. The only ones that look like they've escaped are the most obvious.

Then, I see Gage, rock in hand, near the Cornucopia.

I frown, watching him approach closer and closer to Waverly. He must think he's subtle, because in a flash, he grabs Waverly and pulls him into the darkness of the golden horn. It doesn't take a moment, but Gage emerges, dropping the rock stained with blood to the floor and walks off, almost completely unfazed.

He killed Waverly and thought no-one would know.

Looks like there's a traitor in our midst. I smile to myself, remembering to never fully trust Gage, not that I did anyway. Three tributes are sneaky, smart bastards and you can trust them. Not a single bit. I see Theo catching Delaney before she throws a rock out of desperation at the boy from Six as he clambers up an escalator, the boy from Five waiting closer to the top. Then, sadly, I turn my head to see the boy from Ten, looking down with a pale face at his dead district partner. They looked so attached. He makes a silent pray for her as he jogs up an escalator.

But, I don't attack him or run after him. Not only is he tough and might be able to snap my neck if needed, but he looks so pained from losing her, that's just cruel.

And I might be a Career, not even properly trained, but I am far from cruel.

That job is for idiots like Garnet and Delaney.

Alto Boulevard, District Eleven Male.

I wait at the bottom of the steps with Koel, ready to run when needed. I couldn't even see Addilyn on the plates, which makes me think she was on the other side. But Koel was so close, and we decided to just run. Ashton was even closer, but the boy with a death wish, obviously, ran into the crowd.

"Addilyn!" Koel screams at the top of his lungs, and surprisingly, Addilyn appears, running towards us out of breath and a bright pink mark to her face.

"What happened?" I ask.

She touches it gently and offers a soft smile. "Girl from Two slapped me pretty hard."

I almost want to touch her face for her. I should have ran and tried to get her.

Then you would have been hit, Alto. She's safe. That's all that matters.

Looking back on the crowd, knowing no Careers are near us, we jog up the steps as quick as possible.

And like rising, my breath hitches, the full extent of the arena now on show. There are shops, lining the entire view in front of me, giant glass windows showing off all what's inside. The shop in front of us is home to knives, big and small, large and heavy, thin and dainty. Next to it contains axes, varying in colour and size. Everything. When I turn around, the reflective surface that hid the upper levels, obviously, has disappeared, now working only one way.

It still shimmers, and Addilyn is careful to warn us when I hear an electrical pop.

But by stepping near it, you can see downwards towards the Cornucopia. It's then do I see Ashton, being gripped by the brute from One. He's murderous, awful, as he drags Ashton by his curly locks to one of the steps, repeatedly bringing his small head down on the concrete. Blood pools as Ashton screams, but you can't hear anything.

"It doesn't let noise come through," Addilyn says numbly. "Soundproof."

It makes sense. Then, my eyes drift upwards to see shops on the other side. A shop full of blankets, another of swords, even bow and arrows. Tons, spit up haphazardly along the whole walls. I watch as the girls from Five and Eight slip silently through one of the doors, ready to hide in a shop full of blankets.

"It's a mall," Addilyn says aloud, once more. "Like, back in olden times. This is the second level. Down there must be the plaza."

"So we can see them across?"

"Yes," Addilyn nods, a little pale apart from her sickening pink bruise. "That's why we can see them. I'm guessing it's to produce some fear. Being able to see each other, just across the gap, but not being able to get near or scream or anything. You just watch as someone you know dies, someone you hate preparing to find you, taunting you. But the barrier keeps people like Alto with their bow and arrow from picking people off so easily."

It's a large circle, meaning it wouldn't take that long to run around. But the gap across is rather wide, and even up here, you can feel the warmth of the sunlight drifting downwards. That's why there was backpacks full of rocks. Everything you need is further up, but they still wanted a bloodbath. Playing on your fear of the unknown, but to find out it's false hope.

"Where should we go?" Koel asks.

Addilyn turns, showing off another set of steps that go higher. Then, as if she points them out, I can see more and more steps, rusted escalators, all heading to higher levels. The arena isn't wide this year, it's tall. But the glass roof perplexes me. Why let sunlight in here, when you could just cut off nature altogether?

You know why.

I don't, though. It doesn't make sense.

Yes, deep down, you do. Think back to the nights out in the fields, waiting, when you couldn't sleep and you just wondered around aimlessly.

So, I do. I remember them all too well. The moonlight in the distance, stars peppering the black sky, the haunting whisper of the animals sneaking around. It was awful, because at any point, something could happen. This year looks like it's trying to represent fear, but in a total different way.

"Up," Addilyn smiles a forced, soft smile, and once again, I remind myself that no attachment makes it easier. "We go up."

Anastasia Burne, District Twelve Female.

I breath heavily, the girl from Two pinning me down. She seethes angrily into my face. She was always beautiful. Her chariot rides, her interview, you couldn't help but look at her. Right now, though, is the face of an animal, not a human.

"Anything to say, Twelve?"

I look unsteadily at the rock, gripped in her hand, knuckles white. She didn't think when she caved the girl from Ten's skull in, or when she slapped her from Three.

Something about her tells me she hates girls a lot.

"I-I have nothing to say." I muster up as much bravery as I can.

She grins darkly at that, knowing that she can do whatever she wants at a whim. By now, nearly everyone has braved going upstairs. Besides the three deaths, mine about to join, every tribute has run, knowing that the backpacks were simply a trick to pull us in, including Karli. She wasn't far from me, but she didn't even bother trying. As everyone ran forward, she stopped, surveying the area as I tried my hardest to go in.

I managed to fight back the boy from Eight, whilst his district partner proved no threat when she just watched me like a little puppy with wide eyes.

Then, the Careers began to gather minus the boy from Four who seemed to have disappeared. But I wasn't quick enough to run away. I failed that part.

Two saw me, threw a rock that surprisingly caught me at the back of my leg and clipped me, and now, here I am, at her mercy.

"I really want you to beg, though," Two smiles sickly sweet. "Beg for your life and I might give you it."

It's a tempting offer. One I know she would never, ever keep.

"Ana!"

I look around, just to see Karli run down the stairs, out of breath with wide eyes, much like Eight's. My heart sinks when I realise, that by running down those steps, the rest of the Careers are obscured from her. She can't see them, just around the golden horn.

"K-Karli, run!" I scream pathetically, much to Two's delight.

She doesn't get the chance, too. As she whips her head around to begin running, the girl from Four makes a dash towards her. Karli attempts to run. My eyes grow wet as Four tackles her to the ground, holding her down by hair dark locks that I've always envied about Karli.

"You just got your friend killed." Two sniggers.

And as I strain my neck to watch, though I don't know why, I watch as Four twists and snaps Karli's neck like it was nothing more than a twig. As Karli's head goes limp and hits the floor, I see tears still leaking from her face, crying before she was killed. She ran to save me, when all this time, I haven't cared too much for our alliance, even though she's a nice girl. The tears begin to flow properly, but Two steps off me.

"I'll let you go," Two smiles sickly again. "But only because I need someone to hunt. You have about three minutes before I hunt you down and open you up, bit by bit. Go."

I don't argue. I'm on my feet, and pathetically, I run past Karli's body without giving it another look. If I do, I'd only be more ashamed of myself then I already did. I prayed she wouldn't abandon me, and I almost was sure she did, but instead, she came back and lost her life.

Clambering up the steps, I fight back the feelings of shame that continues to grow. Now, I'll have to live with myself and my actions.

Maybe letting Delaney kill me, there and then, was a better choice. A quick, easy end to it all. Now, whether I win or lose, I'll have Karli's death over my conscience. And that might not be something I could ever handle.

Theo Cassius, District Two Male.

After Delaney lets the girl from Twelve go, surprisingly, there is no-one else around. We managed to kill three people. Three dead. Delaney killed Ten, Garnet killed Twelve and Lorelei killed Six. Not exactly the impressive bloodbath they tricked us all into. Though, we did fight a lot. I didn't even see Ten escape, and deep down, I wince at the thought of him seeing his partner that he was so attached too.

"Well that sucked," Delaney rolls her eyes. "Only three are dead."

"Well you didn't have to let her go, Delaney," Garnet smirks. "You chose too."

"What can I say? I like to play with my food before I eat them, so to speak."

Then, Astor steps forward. "Actually, four are dead. Check the Cornucopia. I think we're missing someone."

I quickly do a head check, knowing that Astor and Garnet are here, me and Delaney, Gage annoyingly and Lorelei... No Waverly. Everyone looks at me, expecting me to go and look, and begrudgingly I do. Peering into the shadows of the mouth, I spot Waverly, sprawled out on top of the leftover orange backpacks, a thin stream of blood trailing down his face and eyes wide, colourless.

It's not hard to notice his skull dipping in.

"Someone killed him." I say aloud.

When I climb out, no-one offers an answer.

"Did any of you see where he went? Who was near him?"

Again, no-one knows. Lorelei just shrugs, Delaney plays with her nails, Garnet looks confused and Astor, actually, is hiding a smile.

"I don't know who done it," Astor says sweetly. "Though, I did see a lot of tributes loitering around, and Waverly wasn't fighting with anyone. Easy pickings."

But as she finishes her sentence, she looks at Gage in a way that you would only if you knew a secret they held tightly. Much like Delaney, when she stares at me, or when I look at her. We hold each other's secrets as close as we can, but sometimes, she'll smirk and look at me if anything comes up that remotely relates to it. That's what you get for being best friends with a psychopathic slut.

"Doesn't really matter," Garnet says. "He wasn't worthy of his position anyway, what with a tiny score."

"You could say the same thing about Gage." Astor counters.

Gage shrinks a little under the watchful eyes, but still doesn't fully relent. "As I said, it was all a plan to look less intimidating."

"Sure thing kid," Garnet laughs. "When you're ready to die, let me know, I'll happily murder you. Boss, what are we doing?"

Garnet and me have always had a weird, semi-friendship. He trusts me enough to boss him around. I managed to get him to stop eyeballing the girl from Ten during lunch that one time. He listens to me, and always seems to respond sarcastically.

"We'll head up the stairs then," I point to one in particular. "This one. If the reaped can run up it and no-one has gotten killed, then it should be safe for us."

"Clever thinking." Delaney winks.

She saunters to the front, and one by one with Gage trailing the back, we move up the stairs. They're not long, but they're chipped in places and parts are falling. When we reach the top, however, we come face to face with Garnet's dream.

"Swords!" Garnet almost giggles in excitement, as he rushes into the... Shop?

"Impressive." Lorelei says quietly, and I can't help but nod in agreement.

Soon enough, I follow Garnet to the door, seeing him swing a large, silver-handled sword around, pretending he's attacking the others. The girls pile up at the door, Gage somewhere hidden. Garnet smirks, grabbing another sword off the rack and throwing it at me.

"Come on, fight me."

I rise the sword, but lower it, almost like I'm taunting him. "No thanks. We're fighting over people not ourselves. Yet."

He shrugs, deciding that this is his sword, and we walk out. Surprisingly, as I look out, I can see the small alliance, the littles, ascending another staircase. Delaney growls under her breath, but I lay a hand on her shoulder.

"Patience," I smile. "We'll get to them eventually. For now, go find a knife. A big one."

Lorelei Avalon, District Four Female.

As Delaney skitters past us and towards a shop that seems to house knives along with Theo, Astor and Garnet, I look to Gage. Everyone basically knows he killed Waverly. Astor made that very clear. A part of me thanks him for doing it. Poor Waverly, so stupid and naive, he would have crumbled under the pressure within seconds. The other part of me, however, is burning anger. Even if Waverly was stupid and annoying and idiotic and relied too much on being Finnick's friend, he didn't deserved to be killed by the little creep from Three.

Except, he's not a genius.

Because we all know what he's playing. And it won't be long until someone calls him out on it. Possibly even kill him.

I might even do it myself if he ever tries something like that with me. Just because he's from Three, doesn't mean he's as smart as he thinks he is.

My mind drifts to all the cameras watching us. I wonder if they caught him murdering Waverly? What would his parents think, so ready to say goodbye to a dorky son, only to find he's more than capable? My own family soon takes center stage, my father Merrick, struggling to pay for my training, yet he always did, because I promised I'll win and pay him back. Even that witch of a mother, Nerissa, abandoning us just because she didn't like the idea of me or Dylan actually trying to fight and protect ourselves, so one day, we could pay them back.

My training was never proper compared to others. Cheap, worthless training, but it prepared me enough.

My thoughts crash when I see the boy from Seven, standing just down the walkway, an impressive axe in his hands.

He growls something, a curse perhaps, before he sprints forward angrily.

I hear a squeak come from Gage, but choose to ignore him as Seven closes in. He swings his axe, and I'm almost tempted to thrust Gage into it. But I don't, and as the axe hits the floor and screeches against ceramic tiles, I push him with all of my might into the shop wall. He bounces off of it pretty well, but he looks dazed.

They come out just in time to see him swing his axe again, which of course, I dodge easily.

Delaney attempts to throw a knife, but like before, she's awful and it complete misses.

Seven manages to push me down to the ground, and I look up, just to see Gage stand back with wide eyes as Seven raises his axe above me. It's all over.

But then, I see Theo run forward, his hand wrapped around the sword Garnet threw at him playfully. He jerks it forward, piercing Seven straight through the gut. He stumbles and mumbles and falls to his knees, just at my feet. It's only then do I see his eyes go from dark to more soft.

That's when the tears and a smile form as he falls onto his back.

I lean over him, and it's funny, because he reminds me nothing of the boy that just went out of his way to attack and try to kill me.

"I-I-I'm sorry..." Seven mumbles with quivering lips producing blood.

I want to tell him he should be sorry. Trying to kill me like that. But, then I remember I would have done the same.

"Don't be."

His smiles stretches just a little bit more and he takes his last. "I'm free..."

And he's gone. Dead. A hole gaped in his chest.

I look to Theo and he gives me a stony nod in recognition of my thanks. I stand, albeit a bit shaky, and look at Gage with cold, hardened eyes. He cowers under my glare. Straight after, the cannons begin to boom, but we already know the number of dead.

Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom.

Yep. Five down, eighteen more to die before I can walk away with my head held high.

"You were lucky." Garnet smirks.

I glare at him, too, before offering a forceful, sarcastic smile. "I want a spear. Now. Then, I'll always be lucky."

As we begin to walk again, stepping over the river of blood Seven has begun to create, I find Gage trailing further and further back, and it takes everything not to just push him into the forcefield right here and right now, watch his body blackened from the electrical hiss. But I don't. Because, sooner or later, the genius will fall and I'll simply laugh.

I promised that I will unravel in the games.

Lets just hope everyone is actually prepared for me.

Radioactive by Imagine Dragons.

The blog for this story is - glasshousehungergames . blogspot. com - just take out the spaces. Deaths will be notified there.

Samia Carson, District Ten.

Waverly Pond, District Four.

Ashton Myers, District Twelve.

Karli Hudson, District Six.

Timber Murdock, District Seven.

Sorry to the submitters that lost their tribute. In all honest, these were the tributes I struggled to write and connect too, and in all fairness, I couldn't keep them around and constantly struggle throughout. Please stick around, but if you don't, that's fine. These are the Hunger Games and this is how it works.

Again, I'm sorry.

I still choose the victor myself. Points don't decide it, but simply help in knowing what the tributes final place should be in the Games and how things play out for them in the terms of relationship, death, friendship and camera time!

I would love to hear some feedback, rather then just your votes. I take pride in my work, and anything you say about it, I'll appreciate it more than just your votes! Please!

The arena will be fun! So many surprises to do, much like CP! Hope you liked my trick for the Cornucopia, I really struggled to do that, since the arena has everything!