Sam Nkata Creek, 18

District 4 Male

Sam was awoken from his brief hibernation by a knock on the door. It was morning already, which meant it was time to travel to the arena. He yawned, stretching his large body and feeling his joints pop. The person knocked again, and Sam frowned.

"Just a sec," he grumbled.

He rolled out of bed and opened it, yawning. Daphne was standing on the other side, frowning.

"Good morning, lazy bum," she said. "We're leaving in twenty minutes."

Sam groaned, throwing his head back. The groan came out as more of a roar, and Daphne flinched.

"Can I shower?" he asked. Daphne narrowed her eyes.

"If you're fast."

So Sam showered quickly and threw on a soft brown sweater and jeans before stomping into the kitchen. The warm shower did very little to wake him up, so he was still sleepy. Adelind was sitting at the table with her head down and didn't bother looking up when he said good morning.

Sitting down, he shoveled potato pancakes and fruit into his mouth until Ulysses came over.

"Alright," he said solemnly. "It's time." Adelind sat down her fork and Sam awkwardly swallowed his last bite.

The elevator ride to the roof was quiet, Adelind was fiddling with the ends of their long hair and Sam rubbed the pad of his thumb over his sharp nails. It was a habit he'd gotten into after he started sharpening his fingernails. It was a reminder of his natural strength, in a way. If his claws were sharp, he would be ready for anything.

The building was tall enough to muffle the sounds of the people below, leaving the roof silent. Only a few tributes were still there. Most of them had boarded the hovercraft already. Adelind and Daphne huddled together, having a quiet conversation. Ulysses put a hand on Sam's shoulder.

"Good luck," he said when Sam turned to look at him. "And remember, you never know what you're going to encounter, so be flexible."

"I will," Sam said. "Bears can live in lots of different environments." Ulysses's brow furrowed, but then he shrugged and nodded.

"Alright. I believe in you." Sam grinned.

"Thanks."

On the hovercraft, Sam sat down next to Fritz. She gave him a hesitant smile, which he returned. Adelind took her seat beside him, and the hovercraft door slowly shut. This was it.

Marcus Taylor, 18

District 7 Male

The hovercraft engine whirred quietly beneath them as they flew towards the arena. Marcus was practically trembling with excitement. In a few hours or less, he'd be doing what he did best. Killing.

Beside him, the girl from 8 was shifting in her seat. He could see tears in her eyes. She must have felt his eyes on her, because she glanced over. He gave her a menacing smile and she squeaked. Her district partner shot him glare.

Soon, a woman in white nurse's clothes came over a huge metal syringe in hand. She injected something into Yale's arm, making the boy wince. Then she moved on to Saoirse. Slowly, she made her away through every tribute. Colette cried out when she was injected.

"What is that?" Danse asked warily as she approached Marcus.

"Your tracker," the woman said. Then she turned to Marcus. "Give me your arm," she instructed. He held it out, allowing her to inject the small metallic device into his forearm.

About an hour later, the hovercraft began to descend. Colette began to whimper and Marcus rolled his eyes. What a baby.

When they landed, Peacekeepers came on board, each one walking over to a tribute. Two Peacekeepers came to guard Marcus, making him smirk. They led everyone off the hovercraft and into a circular cement room. Tunnels branched off in every direction. With a Peacekeeper on each side of him, Marcus was escorted down a tunnel.

They walked for quite a while before stopping outside a metal door. One of them punched a code into a keypad and Marcus was shoved inside, where his stylist Delia was waiting for him.

The pink-haired woman grinned crookedly when she saw him. To everyone's surprise, including his own, Marcus liked Delia. She was almost as unhinged as he was.

"Ready big boy?" she asked. Marcus gave her his best sadistic smile, and she cackled.

He stripped down, and Delia provided him with a bag of clothing. First was his tight underwear and gray socks, followed by cargo pants and a tight, long-sleeved gray shirt. Finally, she helped him put on a dull green rain poncho and boots with grippy soles.

"You're ready!" she declared, gesturing towards a circle on the floor. "Hop on in!"

"Alright," Marcus agreed, going to stand in place. But as a glass tube rose around him, he felt his heart begin to pound and his breath quickened. Was he ready?

Fear was a foreign feeling to Marcus. Maybe that was why he found it so fascinating in others. The fear on his mother's face as his father drove a kitchen knife into her gut. The fear in the Peacekeeper's eyes as he sunk an ax into their skull. He'd never felt it. Was it what he was experiencing now?

He was plunged into darkness and he suddenly wanted to scream. Instead, he bit down on is lip so hard it began to bleed and forced himself to settle. He had to stay calm. Soon, he'd have an ax and more blood on his hands. The thought comforted him. Then he was thrust into the light and cold wind began to lash at him. It was time.

Hey everyone! Here is the final chapter before the bloodbath! I wrote this chapter on a plane, so I'm sorry if there any mistakes. I won't say much here, since I will be posting two chapters today. The bloodbath will be up soon as well!

Questions:

1) Any bloodbath predictions?

2) Any bloodbath wishes?

Current Alliances

Careers:
- Regina
- Helios
- Mozu
- Blitz
- Adelind
- Sam
- Noah

Girl Power! (and Dieter and Theo):
- Adelind
- Fritz
- Dieter
- Theo
- Thalia
- Fallon

District 6:
- Ellie
- Josko

Happy Gals:
- Colette
- Gaia

Loners:
- Lana
- Wyler
- Danse
- Marcus
- Alrik
- Ray
- Saoirse
- Yale

Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!