Twyla Zahavyin(D5 Female)

I remembered rather vividly, as I saw Harriet's smiling picture fire up into the sky, the last moments of her life.

Elisabeth and I had been running, with Rowan collecting items and whatnot behind us. The snow kicked up under our feet and I resisted a faint shudder as the wind bit through out jackets- they almost seemed flimsy in this eternal winter.

I had never seen anything like this before in Five- it was all new to me, from the cold weather to the weird feeling of hotness whenever I sweat even when it was freezing in the air. I had expected something definitely more tropical, like in those nature channels I watched. Definitely wasn't expecting this.

My mind scanned over the last few years, what had happened in the Games, and a couple things hit me: first, that the victor had always had to kill someone, and second, that everybody who had died died pretty gruesome deaths.

What I hadn't been expecting was the choking pain and internal guilt I felt when Harriet met her demise. If only I had took her under my wing..helped her and been allies with her, then I could've protected her. I wondered if she had been allies with anyone or if she had decided to go out alone. Judging by her friendly, sweet attitude, I figured not. And that brought on a surge of anger that her allies did not manage to save her.

I kept tough, gritting my teeth and wiping away all traces of compassion until I was practically blank, like that weird Capital lady who had announced our arrivals, with the giant wig and emotionless aura. I didn't even feel like being sarcastic now- everything was gone but an intense fire that stole my breath away.

I pushed past Elisabeth fiercely and she cried out in protest, "Where do you think you're going?" The only sign of answer I gaze was the glance I cast around the clearing, to see if Rowan was paying attention. He was fighting some other tribute who had gotten in the way.

I had to do this quick. Panting hard without even realizing it, I dashed in her direction, my feet skimming the ground so lightly I was afraid I might fall. My head felt heavy on top of my body, like it was gonna sever or something.

"Twyla!" shouted Elisabeth. I didn't even know she could yell so loud. "Please, don't!" She tugged at my arm and a moment's hesitation caused her to drag me all the way to the edge of the clearing. Soon we were running again. I was completely numb- all the fight had poured out of my body. I was sapped of energy as well, it seemed.

I dashed a glance behind me and with a twist of my heart, saw Harriet with a knife straight through her skinny chest. Cornell was running away from them, while Azurine's brow was creased and she stood a couple feet away from the dead tribute, heaving for breath. Her signature smirk was on her face; I wanted to rip it right off her mouth.

We kept running, and slowly my senses began returning again. My instinct to survive powered me on, even when Elisabeth was panting for breath. I was running with Harriet in mind, her terrible death keeping me going because I knew she had jumped in front of her ally.

Harriet, how could you ever think of being heroic at a time like this, when we're all meant to be selfish? I thought, shaking my head. I continued forward for what seemed like forever.

Now, sitting in the snow, our makeshift camp nearby, I heard something: and I froze. Footsteps crunched down on the snow; whoever it was had a horrible sense of being quiet.

"Come out!" I shouted, hearing that whoever it was had stopped moving and just...stood there. The image of a set of bow and arrows poised at my heart leaped into my mind and I fought a bout of trembling. Whoever it was, they were certainly inexperienced, judging by their lack of knowledge in hiding the sound of their footsteps. So..they couldn't be a Career. Unless..unless a Career wanted us to think this way, wanted to trick us by purposely coming toward us as loud as they could muster?

The suspicious feelings lingered on and I crossed my arms over my chest, purposely over my heart. If they tried killing me and went for the head, I could duck. And if they went for the heart, well, surely some broken flesh on the arm and a little bleeding wouldn't do too much. Hopefully.

Rowan stared, not daring to move, while Elisabeth simply looked petrified.

"Come out!" Rowan joined in in a loud, intimidating voice.

Softly, Murray Keyes walked nimbly out of the trees, his eyes widened. "You wouldn't kill me," he said, no fear at all in his voice. Hmm. Impressive. "..Right?"

"Of course we won't," I snorted, rolling my eyes. As long as he proved his worth.

I gestured to Rowan, knowing he had swordfighting skills. "Please, will you?" A small smirk spread across my lips as Rowan nodded curtly, leaping at Murray and pinning him to the ground with a sword a hairslength away from his heart.

I didn't really want to be responsible for murder, so I gave him a chance. "What do you know?" I demanded. Elisabeth joined me quite breathlessly.

Murray looked like he was considering suicide for a moment. Then he shrugged, "Lots."

"Like..?" I nodded to Rowan and he pressed the sword farther, almost into the boy's flesh.

"Things." Murray's eyes narrowed. I sighed. This was going to be difficult.

"Given you're at our mercy, you might as well answer," I said sharply, hoping to scare the answer out of him or something. Why did I stink when it came to procrastination? "Would you rather die, or give us the information? We promise we'll let you go, unlike...some people, who kill once they have gotten all that is useful from one."

Murray's nose flared. "I'm not going to tell you my secrets and risk endangering my allies."

"You said allies, huh? Some loyalty you have there, then. Well, do you want to die?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Obviously not. But there's no way I could go back with my head held high if I let this weird nerd girl scare me." He said this all coolly, as if he knew my weak spots.

I clenched my fists. "You will answer, or you will not."

"I'd rather not. Take me prisoner if you want. I don't care." He shrugged lazily.

"Take you prisoner? Oh, we wouldn't bother- you're not that useful. We could force it out of you." The suggestion made my blood run cold, and Elisabeth threw a rather dirty look at me, mouthing, Twyla! That's cruel! We had to survive though. And we couldn't release this one grasp at information, especially when he knew where our camp was now. He would most likely tell his allies and they would kill us during the night. I knew for a fact that this boy would not be getting out of here alive, if I had my way.

I flicked my fingers and Elisabeth let out a shriek of alarm, "Twyla! Are you insane?!"

Rowan jabbed his sword into Murray's heart and it was all over. I looked away as the boy's shirt and jacket ripped sickeningly, blood pouring out faster than I would've thought possible. A large gaping wound lay on his chest. It looked like he had puked out all of his guts or something: yes, that gross.

Elisabeth covered her eyes and refused to watch, still glaring at me in a betrayed way, making me feel extremely guilty.

"Do you have anything to tell us?" I said, fighting to keep my voice strong.

"No-!" Murray said, coughing. "It's- obvious I'm - going to die, so what's the point anyway-! Whatever I say, I'll be gone before tomorrow. I'd rather not."

He convulsed on the ground, spitting blood, and then he went silent, and we all opened our eyes. I could see blood staining the ground in thick sheets, turning the snow and unnatural color like my hair. I still remembered what he had said. ..if I let this weird nerd girl scare me. Anger pulsed through my veins and I was tempted to go kill him again. I wasn't like that! I didn't know what had gotten over me. I wondered what my stepmom would think. If I came home, carrying the weight of loss on my shoulders but also a huge prize, she would simply use me, boss me around and take control of me until it would seem like she had been the one to win, not me.

I turned away when Elisabeth tried to talk to me, when Rowan grunted that "at least we had gotten rid of another opponent".

"He saw our camp anyways- we had to have gotten rid of him either way," Elisabeth argued, trying to make me feel better. I pulled my fingers over my face and avoided her intense gaze. She was totally not making me feel any better. I had killed someone and I was guilty. Not Rowan, no. It was all my fault.

"Listen, I'm going to sleep," I said brusquely, sweeping past them and pulling the sleeping bag up over my head. I squeezed my eyes closed and let the cold try to make me feel comfortable, fresh. But it only made me feel more hollow than before.

"Okay," murmured Elisabeth. I twisted my head around, scooting to the edge of the sleeping bag so as not to hog space. Quietly, Elisabeth joined me; the only way she could fit in there was by tucking her head next to my shoulder. Rowan tried next and just managed to slip in.

"Um, guys, there's guts over there," Rowan said. "Don't you think that's a little suspicious?"

"I'll help clean it up," offered Elisabeth at once.

I could feel the sleeping bag shifting. "Nah, don't worry about it, I'm fine. Just giving you guys a heads up in case someone finds us during the night- I wouldn't be surprised." Rowan's deep voice sounded.

"Oh, don't be negative," Elisabeth sighed. How close she was to me made me uncomfortable, and soon I was sweating from all the body heat instead of feeling cold. I considered removing my jacket but I didn't want to get a cold during the night or something. That would be the worst thing ever.

The rest of the night was difficult. I tossed and turned in the sleeping bag, never managing to find the right spot for me to actually relax in. My muscles were tensed up, which made it a whole lot worse. Whenever I tried to loosen my limbs, they just tightened up again, knotting themselves together. Eventually, I decided upon a so-so form to sleep in, with my legs tucked together and my head as far out of the sleeping bag as possible to get some fresh air, and my eyes naturally fluttered shut.

The rapid pounding of my heart reminded me that Murray's had stopped hours ago, and that there was a huge percent mine would quit its thumping in the next few weeks.

Dahlia Rhodes(D10 Female)

Sitting up, I felt something touch me during the night. I yawned, my eyes drooping heavily, and my fingers tightened around a slip of paper. It was fastened to a parachute type thing and I quickly untied it, my pulse racing. What was in this letter? I wondered. Would it be a source of water? I was definitely needing some right now, and the ice did not help in the slightest.

Actual melted water, that would be wonderful! Enthusiastic, I tore open the letter and read it as fast as I could.

Confused, I flipped it around, my eyes blurring slightly, almost with nostalgic tears.

Dear, Dahlia. From your friend, or I suppose that is what you would consider me, Mia.

A/N: Anybody remember Mia from the Reapings? Lol, it will all tie together soon. ;)

Also, how was everyone's Halloween? I had a great time trick-or-treating(don't judge lol), even though it was raining like crazy where I live. Can't say no to a night of free candy, haha.

Up next(or at least, that's what I'm planning, you never know): Cornell Wheaton

11/2/17