I had no idea how I made it back to camp, but I managed. The second I reached safety, my knees buckled and I collapsed, completely grief-stricken.

Linnet, my guardian angel, was gone, and I could've saved him. Why did I lose everyone? Did the world have no mercy?

I sobbed until I could produce no more tears, and even then, my frame shook with soundless cries.

I closed my eyes and remembered.

.

"Linnet, where's my Mummy and Daddy?" Harper asked. Her large, innocent blue eyes were wide and frightened.

A five-year-old Linnet grasped her hand tightly.

"I don't know, Harpie, but you're coming to live with us now. We'll be like brother and sister, OK?"

Harper nodded eagerly, a delighted smile replacing her frown. "Yes!"

Years later, at the age of nine, Harper discovered the truth about her parents.

"Harpie, we'll always have each other. I will never let you down, I promise," Linnet soothed, holding a weeping Harper in his arms.

"Don't leave me," Harper whimpered.

.

But he has left me. There's only one way I will ever see him again.

So why not just end it now? I don't stand a chance against Ace or Crystal anyway. I've almost ran out of food. At this rate, my sorrow and starvation will give me an easy passing.

No, I can't afford to think like that. I have to at least try and go home, for Linnet. It's what he would've wanted.

Crunch.

I scrambled upright, and swiped the tears from my face, expecting to see a blood-thirsty Career. Instead, a large, beautiful cat crept towards me.

Its coat was tawny and patterned with unusual, black spots. It had vibrant, emerald eyes that reminded me of Ace's.

I gulped. A muttation, it had to be.

It turned towards Linnet's pack and began to tear at it with razor-sharp claws.

Furiously, I notched an arrow and released the string without taking aim.

I managed to catch the creature in its leg.

The cat yowled in pain, cast me a ferocious glare, and then scampered off into the jungle.

I resumed my earlier position and mourned, wondering how I could ever recover from this.

.

Robyn's P.O.V

"This could be useful," Dallas murmured, admiring the armor he'd received in his pack.

I frowned. "I don't see how. We require food more than anything."

I'd received a pair of trainers in my pack. Only God knows why, I don't plan on taking a hike any time soon.

Dallas suddenly looked up, alarmed.

"Get down, beneath the shelter," he hissed.

Hesitantly, I hid under our makeshift shelter and pulled the water-proof sheet over me, peeping out from underneath.

Dallas raised his axe and rose, tensed.

I had no idea why, I couldn't see any danger, until I heard quiet voices and footsteps.

"We found you," Crystal laughed, emerging from the trees.

It appeared to me as if she wasn't all there, and the same could be said for Ace. His eyes gleamed with malice.

"Remember me?" he growled.

Dallas remained silent, weapon raised.

"Go on," Ace taunted. "Give me your best shot!"

I watched in horror as Dallas launched the axe with all of his strength, but it sailed past Ace's head.

"Unlucky," Crystal sniggered.

Before Dallas could defend himself, Ace plunged his sword through his chest.

I had to ram my fist into my mouth to avoid screaming.

Dallas fell with a sickening thud, and a cannon announced his death.

"Where's the redhead?" Crystal demanded. "I swear she was with him!"

"They must've split up," Ace sneered. "Come on, Sparkles, time to fry some fish."

"Literally," Crystal giggled.

I let out a huge gust of breath as the Careers vanished.

Shaken, I crept from my hiding place and stared at Dallas's lifeless form.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

.

"It's useless!" Crystal groaned. "We've been searching for hours and there's no sign of her! Can't we just set up camp for tonight?"

"No," Ace snapped. "She dies today."

Crystal scowled. "I don't see why you're so eager, she's my kill, remember?"

"Oh, how mature," Ace sneered. "If I see her, I kill her. It's as simple as that."

Crystal halted, eyes wide with outrage. "Are you kidding? You had Dallas! She's mine!"

"Fuck off, Sparkles," Ace snarled. "She killed Garnet, therefore, I get to kill her."

Ace watched, slightly surprised, as Crystal turned away from him.

"What are you doing?" he demanded.

"I guess it was going to end like this, anyway," Crystal sighed. "Hope that one of us dies along the way so we don't have to kill each other in the end. I'm finding her, Ace, and when I do, I'm going to murder her. You will not stand in my way."

"Pray that it doesn't come down to the two of us," Ace murmured, voice heavy with sadness. "It's been fun, Sparkles. You know how to bring a man happiness, I'll grant you that."

Crystal's heart strings twanged, and she fought the urge to fly to his side.

"Goodbye, Ace," she mumbled.

Crystal didn't look back as she marched through the jungle, overwhelmed by loneliness.

How could she feel this way? She'd been trained to be a victor, and to triumph alone. Why was it so hard now? Was it because she'd lost Bronze, her dear friend? Or Garnet, her fierce ally? Or Ace, the boy who meant so much to her?

Crystal sunk to her knees, buried her face in her hands and sobbed. She didn't care for the viewers watching, they probably assumed she was crying over Ace, which partly she was.

Crystal drained herself of tears before a spark ignited in her chest. I can't be alone, she thought. I need him.

Jumping to her feet, Crystal sprinted in the direction she'd come. She was a talented runner, one of the fastest in the Training Academy.

"Ace!" she screamed. "ACE!"

Minutes later, Ace thundered through the trees, eyes wide with panic.

"What? What happened? Are you hurt?" he demanded.

Crystal threw her arms around his neck. "Don't leave me."

Ace paused, frozen with shock, before returning her desperate embrace. "It's OK, Sparkles. I'm here, I won't leave you."

.

I stumbled alongside the river, carrying a heavy pack. I'd abandoned camp, who needs it? I'd just wait until the starvation claimed me, or the Careers succeeded in hunting me down.

Eventually, so consumed by thirst, I sank beside the river and began to drink. I don't care whether it's poisonous or not.

Suddenly, a twig snaps behind me, and I expect to meet the feral eyes of the jungle cat. Instead, Crystal gazes down at me, golden eyes glittering with hatred.

My heart faltered, as I realized, I was nearing the end.

Crystal approached me. She looked like a dark, seraphic angel, driven to the point of insanity. I braced myself for death.