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Katcia Elspeth
District Seven Female, 17 Years Old

It's selfish of me.

To be grateful that my allies have survived. That, unlike other alliances, not one of us have died so far. Like the Careers, they lost a member already, and Kade, the boy from Twelve, who lost two allies. But, I haven't lost one ally.

And I don't really intend on losing any of them.

I can't lose any of them.

"Good morning," I say, leaning up a little from the hill once I see Halley peep her head out the hole. "How'd you sleep?"

"It's not comfortable," she says, a yawn following as she finishes the word, cutting her sentence short. "I don't like it."

"What about Silas and Damaris? Are they okay?" I ask, realizing I haven't seen them in a few hours or so. I've been sitting out here, being the only one who would want to. I haven't come across anything out here, but still, it's just for safety. If I did see anything, I'd take care of it.

Or at least try to take care of it.

Halley shrugs, her voice drifting away as she goes back into the hole. "They're still sleeping."

I feel like that's all we've been doing. Sleeping, hiding out, hoping for the best. It's good for us technically, but for the Capitol, I don't think so. We're getting boring, but I seem to be the only one who realizes this. We haven't walked around anywhere, moved to another tunnel, or fought anyone.

It's been us four the whole Games.

I just feel like that'll change soon. That one of us might… That one of us might not be here soon.

A large shadow begins to hover over me, the cloud above blocking out wherever the light is coming from. It drifts along, now covering the area next to me. Even without the shadow, that's all this arena is – dark. Dark grass, dark light, dark ground. If you look out into the distance, that's all you see.

It looks like it goes on forever.

And, in a way, it reminds me of District Seven. The rolling plains, scattered with trees and occasional log cabins. It's been a problem, lately; the cutting down of trees. Back in Seven, there are just stretches of land with no trees. They were all cut down, and as the new Mayor made his way into office, he began planting more trees. They're all buds now, but soon he says, they will grow.

And then District Seven will flourish once again.

I don't really buy it, though. All the lumber we cut down just goes right to the Capitol. They take it from us, rarely ever paying for anything they consider theirs. District Seven doesn't do much about it, either; they just sit back, letting the Capitol take back what is ours. Yet, I still don't find myself caring too much. I've always been neutral on my District, but it offends me a little to watch the Capitol tread all over us.

Maybe that's why I wish I could live in a District like One or Two one day. I heard it's nicer there, anyway. And from what I can tell of the recaps, it is. But, that comes with an allegiance to the Capitol. The Career Districts are always closer to the Capitol, receiving more benefits and perks for being their pawns.

Really, I always wished I could visit the Capitol too. When I was reaped, that was in the back of my mind; my wish was coming true, right? I mean, I did get to see the Capitol. I would never admit it, but it was better than I expected. The people, the buildings, the overall atmosphere.

It's nothing like District Seven.

From out here, I can hear the three of them inside talking quietly. I hear Damaris' gentle voice, Silas' shaky voice, and Halley's distinct voice. Here and there I hear a giggle from Halley, filling the air around me, making me smile. They just make me feel better, knowing that I have someone to rely on in the arena.

I'm not on my own in here.

But, I have to understand it from their perspective. I know Damaris and Silas are scared and that Halley doesn't really get it. That's why I feel like the leader here; I'm leading them, being the one they could look up to. If anyone were to kill in the Games, it would be me – reluctantly, but it would have to be me.

The three of them couldn't do it. They're too fragile, too weak, to ever do that to someone. I don't want to make it seem like I would gladly stab someone, but if it came down to it, I would have to. I would have to do it for them – for our alliance.

I can't risk losing one of them, that's the only reason. If someone ever came too close for comfort, I would jump in and deal with the problem. Damaris would shy away, Halley wouldn't know what to do, and Silas wouldn't be able to stick up to them. I'm not being patronizing, but it's the truth. I realize it, and unfortunately, they don't.

That's why I have to be their leader. To be the person they can look up to for advice and for aid. I'd be there for them every time; I couldn't do that. I chose to join this alliance for a reason, not just to help the odds of me winning. They're all nice people, each of them being someone I can relate to.

But, I can't delude myself.

I see that we're the underdogs here. That we might not be the strongest or the smartest, but we have the numbers. We're a close-knit alliance that works together and does everything as one. And, in a way, I'm here to help that process. To make sure that we get along, that I can do whatever it takes to keep them alive. If that makes me have to act strong and leader-like, then so be it. I don't have a problem with it.

I have to do it for them.

I have to act strong. I have to be a leader. I have to protect them.

I can't let them down.

Kade Blaire
District Twelve Male, 16 Years Old

Kicking a pebble, I watch it bounce off the side of the hill, rolling back down it.

Sluggishly walking over to it, I kick it again, watching it hit the hill again. Over and over again, I kick the pebble, that being a distraction enough. It distracts me from where I am, distracting me from what could happen to me any time. That I could die; a spear to the chest, a knife in the back, an arrow in the head.

I could drop dead at any given moment.

And, really, I don't want to do anything about it.

At the next hill, I stop walking, bending down to pick up the pebble. As I bend down to pick it up, I think I hear something. It sounded like footsteps, the heavy boot pressing down against the ground. I shoot back up, the pebble in my hand, and from where I am on the hill, I see something scamper by in front of me.

On the other side of the hill, there's someone… Someone with red hair. They must have been tall enough for me to see it from over the hill. What could this mean? Has someone come to kill me? Am I supposed to run now, or am supposed to fight?

There's another scamper of footsteps, and as I begin to back up instinctively, I wish I could still go straight. I know that the Careers are the back the way I came, so going straight was my best option, but now I have to go back. Unless I could kill whoever's over the hill.

I shake my head, turning back around to jog away. But, whenever I run, I can hear the footsteps following me. From time to time, I look over my shoulder, trying to see if anyone is following me. Then there's red hair again, but as I go down the hill, I can't see it anymore. I keep running, not looking back at anymore. Even if I wanted to die, I don't want to die like this.

I'd rather die on my own terms.

I'd rather die in a way that wouldn't make me seem so pathetic.

When I think I'm in the clear, I slow down, and as I turn around, I can't see any more red hair. It's not the red hair that I've seen before, it's an orange-ish color that only one person could have – it's Kapera. It has to be her, since she's the only one with red hair here. But, why would she kill me? She never seemed to be a violent one.

She even hinted at allying once. It was back in the Training Center where I was at some center, and as she came over to talk to me, I just walked away. I didn't want to be bothered by her presence; from what I saw, she was annoying as it is, so she would have made things worse.

Not that things are already bad enough.

Listening carefully, I can't hear any more footsteps, so I finally calm down. I can breathe now, resisting the urge to hunch over and pant. I've never ran this much before in the Games yet, except during the Bloodbath. As soon as I saw Lomman die, I knew I had to get away. Peros didn't last long, either.

So, I was left alone.

It's better off this way, anyway.

It's like life back in District Twelve. Me being alone, only living with the Peacekeeper. The Peacekeeper who I was always suspicious, the one that always reminded me of my mother. Ever since my mother died, this man came to take care of me. But, I never trusted him.

I felt like he was the man who did it to my mother… who raped her. Who violated her, who made her kill herself. I found out that she drowned herself in the nearby river, and all I could do was blame whoever did this to her. And when that man came to take me in, I knew it was him.

Why else would he let me in?

He probably feels like shit. Watching my mother die, leaving me on my own. And even if it were my real father, he isn't much of a father. He isn't anything to me. Just like everyone else, he has no significance. Just at the thought of this, I feel myself getting angry, not wanting to deal with anyone.

I don't want to deal with any of this.

With the Capitol, with the Games, with being a tribute.

"Look over here!" A male voice shouts, and instantly, I freeze. "There's someone over here, guys!"

I know who that is from the interviews. It's Kace, the male from District Two. He's somewhere nearby, but I don't know how he can see me. Unless he sees Kapera, wherever she is. Spinning around, I try to see if I can see anyone coming, but the hills are in my way. I can't see over any of these; they're much larger. I'm at a disadvantage now, and as I finally hear someone coming by, I don't know if I want to run.

Is there a point to it?

Kapera was after me. Now Kace is.

There will always be someone after me.

Besides, what's the worst that could happen? Me dying? That's the only way I'll get out of this arena – by joining my mother. There was never a chance I could win, or even Amelia. We were both put into this arena to die. District Twelve never wins, and even when they did, they either killed themselves or became a drunkard.

I'd rather die in the arena than come out like that.

I just don't see the point anymore. To run, to escape being killed for now. I'll die eventually, so why waste my time? Why avoid the inevitable? Why not let death consume me now, rather than later? Why bother trying?

And what if I don't try?

Will the Capitol think of me any less?

They already think I'm useless. That I'm destined to die. That I mean nothing.

That I am nothing.

Kace Edevane
District Two Male, 17 Years Old

"He's mine!"

The boy from Twelve locks eyes with me, immediately spinning around to go the opposite way. I don't need permission to go after him; besides Audric, they all have killed. Alamar, Ceres, Constance all have killed, all did things on their own terms. Now, it's my turn to do what I want without permission. I never really needed their permission, but before, I would've let them take the kill.

But, now that it's Day Four, I need to start playing this Game. The Capitol can't get bored of me, can they? Of course not; they'd kill me then. What's a better way to excite them than getting a kill?

Not waiting for any of them to follow after me, I scoop up my sword, bee-lining right to the boy. He's a slow runner, taking his time with each stride, just wasting time. He could have been gone by now, but now he's mine. My first kill.

Jumping off the top of a hill, I land on my feet, catching up to the boy rather quickly. He goes down a hill, and for a moment, I lose sight of him. But, when I go up the hill, I can see him already going up the next one. Just watching him try to run motivates more to get him – to kill him.

I've waited long enough to make a kill.

Even though I should have waited for my allies, I can't help it. We haven't come across a tribute in a day or two, and if I were to kill this one, I would be the Career the Capitol would love. I would be the one they would now bet on, for making a kill for the first time since the Bloodbath. My allies are slacking, but I would never tell them that.

They'd kill me right on the spot. Alamar would probably be the one to do it.

At the next downward side of the hill, I take a large jump, reaching out my arm to try to grapple the boy's collar. But, I miss his collar, falling right down to the ground, my sword flying to the side. I manage to grab the boy's ankle, though, bringing him down with me. He hits the ground with a loud thud, a groan coming out of him.

Twelve kicks his foot in my face, but I press all my weight on top of his feet, making him stop squirming. I can't hear anyone coming from behind me, so I assume that my allies are leaving it up to me. Good, they think I can do it. I could always do it, but I had my doubts. We all have our doubts.

While keeping one arm on his legs, I reach my other one out, trying to get my sword. My finger barely touches the handle, and as I try to push myself closer to it, I can feel him escaping. Wrapping my arm around his one foot now, I push both of us towards my sword, and as I grab it, I finally see his face.

He looks scared.

And he has every right to be.

Now with the sword in my hand, I flip it around, stabbing it downwards. Twelve throws his head to the side, trying to flip himself over, but the grip I have around his foot won't let him. Next time I bring the sword up, he makes one last effort to free himself, and just as the sword comes down, he stops moving.

The sword dives right into his back, one last breath escaping this boy's body. His feet shake, then going limp. There's no more movement, and as I stand up, I see that he's dead. And, for a moment, I remember his face. How scared he looked, how terrified he was of me on top of him. But, if I didn't kill him, he could have killed me.

It's killed or be killed.

It's always been that way.

The sound of his cannon distracts me from anything else.

Suddenly, I feel something. My head droops to the side, and as I bring my hand up to me neck, there's something there. My eyes shudder, a sudden burst of pain shooting through the back of my head. My fingers feel around for whatever is in my neck, and once the tips of my finger grip around a thin piece of metal, I yank it out.

It's a dart… It's a dart from a blow-gun.

The sword drops out of my hands, my hands feeling as if they aren't there anymore. They feel airy, like the blood in them has suddenly disappeared. My eyes rapidly continue to shudder, and before I know it, I'm on the ground. My body falls right onto my side, my fingers dropping the dart right in front of me.

What is this?

Everything begins to distort in color. All the gray grass and sky change color, turning into a dark red color. My eyes begin to burn, the kind of burning that makes me want to itch them, but I can't move my hands. I can't move my legs or my neck anymore, either. I can't move anything…

As I open my mouth to call out to my allies, nothing comes out. It's just air… Empty air that hurts my throat as I breathe. It scratches the back of my throat, the beating of my heart in my chest slows down.

It's a slow beat now.

I try to breathe through my nose, but it feels clogged up, and now I see it. It was poison. But, who could have done it? It was only me and the boy from Twelve… Unless someone else was out there. And before my eyes completely shut, I see it.

Red hair. Wiry body. And, at her side, is the blow-dart gun.

She's the one… but who is that? I don't remember her face.

That's all I can see approach me, grabbing the sword away from my side. It's all black now, but I can't help it. It's all black, and the worst part is I can feel it happening. I can feel my body… I can feel my body going out.

I can feel myself dying.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

It was never supposed to end like this.

I wasn't supposed to die.

I was supposed to win.

District Twelve, Kade Blaire – Placed 12th

District Two, Kace Edevane – Placed 11th

Author's Note:

Kade Blaire: Is anyone surprised he made it this far? I am, hoho. He was supposed to die earlier, but yeah, I liked letting Kace kill him more than anyone else. So, for his character; at first, I wasn't the biggest fan, but he got better as the story went on. I liked his dark thoughts and how hopeless he was (mostly because of what he went through), but he did have some redeeming qualities.

Kace Edevane: Truthfully, he was the weakest Career. Too deluded, too oblivious. I liked him, though, especially during Training. I liked what he added to the Career Pack, since he wasn't serious and he wasn't arrogant. His death might seem quick, since he died right after killing Kade, but Kapera was snooping around, you know? Using all that stealth to watch them kill one another, then go in for the final kill. His legacy will be soon in later chapters, though.

That's Day Four. Top 10 already, wow.

What tributes stood out?

And a personal question!

If you were in the arena, and there was a Feast, would you risk it and go to that location?