Chapter Two

Lana

I'm running for my life. But can you outrun the past? Can you outrun a memory? I thought it would take longer than this for the Games to change me. How many times had I looked at the games and wondered how people could turn so feral, so wild so quickly. Turns out I'm no different. Has it been ten minutes? Less? Since the games started and I'm already a murderer. The handle of the spear is slick with blood that's dripping from the tip. I use the spear to push past branches and vines and the other hand to wipe away tears. Killing is part of the games, I knew I would have to kill at some point. I just didn't think it would happen so soon or be so easy. That boy. I didn't even know his name.

Quinn

Damn it! I should've run when I had the chance!

The boy with the sword is behind me, and he's bigger, faster and has a frickin' sword! I feel a pain at the bottom of my spine more intense then I've ever felt before. The sword twists and I'm forced to the ground with a gasp. The world swims before my eyes and I think I can see Dahra in front of me. But she doesn't see me. She turns and runs towards the trees. I hope she makes it home. My eyes slide shut and I'm in the dark.

Brianna

I buckle the belt of knives around my waist as I run. I head where most of the other Tributes are heading. I can break away in an opposite direction later, now I can only think of living. I glance back, luckily, as the girl from Two levels her bow at me. I know from training that she never misses. And, of course, I had to pick a fight with her during training. Without having to think I throw myself into a forward roll. I come up as the arrow whistles harmlessly over my head. I run to scoop it up, raising it high in the air teasingly. I drop the arrow and raise my middle finger at her before disappearing into the trees.

Duck

Oh Jesus is he there? Is he behind me?

It's okay I just need to keep running.

Well no way, genius, I was just going to stop here and hope for the best!

This is not the time to be arguing with yourself just run!

I clamp down on my thoughts which tend to have a life of their own in bad situations. I put my head down and pump my arms but know I won't make it to the trees.

Oh man I'm so dead, oh god he's right-

Gaia

I've never felt so great in my life. I've killed three people, more then any other Career and, more importantly, more than Caine. We'd both gotten eleven as training score- while everyone else got either eight, nine or ten- and everything has been a competition ever since. I shoot him a smug look and when he glares back I smile. Good, he knows.

'Someone make a fire', I order and sit down at the mouth of the Cornucopia.

'Who died and made you king?' Caine demands, practically snarling at me. I stand up slowly.

'You think you'd be a better choice?' I ask softly, dangerously.

'Guys, I-', Taylor speaks but I cut across her.

'Shut up, Eight', I say, referring to her score, the lowest of all of us. She blushes and looks away, scowling. I turn back to Caine expectantly.

'Yeah, actually, I do', he says.

'Well what about the rest of us?' Drake demands.

'You think you'd be better then me? You only got a ten!' I snort and Drake looks like he's about to lunge over and strangle me.

'Why don't we vote?' Penny asks, 'Who wants to lead?'

'Me', Drake, Caine and I speak as one.

'Okay then, but you can't vote for yourselves. Who wants Drake?' She asks and no one says anything. Caine and I smile as Drake glares around bitterly.

'Caine?' Taylor looks at me defiantly and raises her hand. At the last second, so does Drake.

'Gaia?' Both Penny and and Orc raise their hands for me, but it's not enough.

'Now what?' Orc asks in his deep voice.

'I guess you're both leaders', Penny shrugs and the others lose interest and walk towards the Cornucopia, leaving Caine and I standing facing each other, glaring.

Both of us leaders? Not if I have anything to do with it.

Caine may be of use to me now, but as soon as he isn't...

Diana

I pause as the cannons representing dead Tributes begin to boom. One, two, three and so on until I count ten. Ten dead in the first day. I wonder for a second if Zil made it through the first day. I don't care much for him, a small ratty boy always playing tough and trying to take charge, but if I don't win, at least my family and district will benefit if he does. But, if it comes down to the two of us, I'll have no problem killing him to save myself.

Dekka

Sam and I take to the trees at night fall. Being from Seven, we're at home here, an advantage over plenty of others in the arena with us. We have an axe each and I volunteer to take first watch. He settles into the sleeping bag that was in his rucksack and after a long time falls into an uneasy sleep. He mutters and twists and I know he's having a nightmare. This almost brings tears to my eyes and I never cry. But Sam above anyone else doesn't deserve to be here. I look at him fondly. I hate that he's here, but if I can trust anyone to have my back, it's him. My arm jiggles by accident and I flinch. No matter what I told Sam, my arm aches with pain but I don't regret getting these axes. They could be the difference between life and death. I stare up at the sky. I know the anthem will play soon and show the dead Tributes, but I don't care. The only person I care about in this arena, the place that has become my world, is Sam.

A/N: So this is chapter two! This is up kind of early, don't expect this to become a pattern! I just kinda of got into a roll. I'm still working on chapter three so it'll be up next weekend hopefully. I hope I made the characters seem real enough when they were talking! Please favorite, follow and review and don't forget to sponsor a Tribute! :)

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