Tw: Mentions of parental abuse in Landon's pov. Mentions of suicide in Zora's pov. Please dm me if you need a summary.

Landon Singa, 17

Somehow, as the Free Day progressed, the careers split off from each other. Brizio went with Emery. Aida, and Geneve disappeared somewhere together. Finally, Meridia went back to District Two's apartment. That left Landon standing on the street, with no company except for Romulus, which he supposes is better than nothing; the guy seems to be all work and no play on the surface.

(But Landon knows all too well that the surface is just an act.)

The sunlight is replaced by the glittering, Capitol Metropolis. Landon gazes around at the glowing, concrete forest. He grins, imagining how much his mother would fit in here; with all the Capitol's rules, control, and despite all the flash colours and fashion - their blandness.

Landon turns to Romulus, who is sporting his usual hyper-focused, stoic expression.

(Something is telling Landon that there is a fun-loving daredevil hidden inside his peer from Two, and he'll help to bring that daredevil out.

If only because he can't stand the idea of spending his last night before the games with this solemn-looking workaholic.)

"Where are you doing now?" Landon chirps, as they narrowly dodge out of the way of a honking, Capitol car.

"Back to the apartments, I'm gonna get an early night. I'd do the same if I were you."

They cross a dark, narrow street, and then find themselves back at the Tribute Accommodation.

"I know! Why don't we see if we can climb to the top of that." The mischievous One boy points to the top of the tribute tower.

Romulus scoffs and shakes his head. "You're crazy, you know that?"

"I'm so glad you noticed." Landon sarcastically places his hand on his heart.

Romulus continues to dismiss the idea as they pass the Peacekeepers guarding the entrance and make their way inside.

When they reach the elevator, Romulus taps the button for the second floor. Landon decides to adorn a more pleasant than mocking smile. "Oh, come on big guy." He jabs the Two boy's shoulder. "You wanna know what I always say?"

"I dunno, do I?"

"Today's present, tomorrow's a mystery… in fact, thinkin' about it, never has that applied more than tonight."

A glint flashes in Romulus's chestnut eyes like an inner voice is nagging at him - he actually seems tempted. I knew it. Landon resists the urge to jump with excitement.

But then, what Landon can only describe as a facade built by someone else, descends back over Romulus's face and he returns to the same old Romulus.

(Landon knows the facade because it's the same facade as the one his parents tried and failed to instill in him.)

The elevator door dings.

"See you tomorrow," Romulus says.

Oh no. No way he's getting out of this that easily.

"Stop tryin' to fool me and yourself. I know there's a reckless streak hidden in you, an adventurer just itching to get out," Landon persists as he follows Romulus out of the elevator.

"Oh yeah? What makes you so sure?"

"Else, how would you have found out about Brizio's mercenary work? You must have broken into his apartment." Landon gives him a jovial tut.

Romulus stops dead and frowns at his ally.

Looks like I finally got his attention.

But before Romulus can press him on the matter, Landon has disappeared down the corridor. Intrigued like a child on an easter egg hunt, Romulus follows him to the end of the corridor.

"Maybe I underestimated you," Romulus says, crossing his arms.

The eccentric One boy places his ear up against the corridor window. "Hmm, I bet when they fitted this, they didn't count on two tributes wanting to climb out." He taps on one of the screws with his knuckles, and the window frame pops loose. "A-voila," he smirks, sliding the window to the side.

A gust of wind and rain blasts against Romulus's face from outside, causing the muscular career to put his arm up.

"I just assumed, with all the fucking about, you weren't paying much attention to anything," Romulus shouts over the wind.

Landon realises the hairband on his ponytail, allowing his long, wavy hair to dance in the wind. "Let's just say, I have a special talent for seeing through people's bullshit," he affirms.

With that, Landon climbs up onto the windowsill, and peers about, under the rain, to observe his surroundings. There's a ledge just beneath him, which is wide enough for him to walk along if he grips the ledge above. To his left is a tribute balcony, but it's protected by a pane of glass to stop tributes from jumping off. To his right, is another window, which can be used as a platform to reach some metal stair gratings that in turn lead all the way to the top.

Landon smiles. His saying from home resurfaces in his head - You don't know you'll hit the ground until you're tumbling towards it, so why worry?

"Landon, don't be a dumbass, get back here," Romulus calls from behind him.

"Why? Why do you care? If I fall, it'll be one less tribute to worry about in the arena."

"Why? Because I don't particularly wanna see a Landon pancake lying on the Capitol streets right now."

Landon chuckles and continues his ascent up the tribute tower. To his surprise, as he grips the metal-stair gratings, he finds Romulus traversing up the side of the building beneath him, the downpour of rain battering against his face.

"This might be the worst decision I've ever made," Romulus shouts despairingly, but half chuckling at the same time.

"Only one way to find out!"

After clambering his way up the gratings, one arm after the other, Landon hauls himself up onto the ledge at the top of the tower.

Not long after, Romulus follows suit and perches beside Landon. "What am I doing?" He throws his head in his hands, but for the first time since they met, Landon sees a genuine smile of thrill and joy on the Two boy's lips, instead of a sneering smirk from thinking he'd one-upped Brizio.

Landon smiles back. "I knew you had it in ya!" He shakes his hair, splashing rainwater onto Romulus's face, and the boys chuckle along together, staring out into the shimmering, multi-coloured lights of the Capitol skyline under the rain.

They scoot over the edge until they are under a protective shelter to shield them from the rain.

"Back at home, me and my buddies had this thing called rooftop talk," Landon says as they stare into the cityscape.

"Rooftop talk?" Romulus laughs, turning to him. "That's kinda goofy."

"It was a sign of trust."

"And you trust me?"

Landon tilts his head. "Well… you haven't tried to push me off this roof yet. So that's a plus."

"You think if I got caught murdering another tribute before the games there wouldn't be consequences?"

"Exactly! You just don't get caught. Besides, it didn't stop you from breaking into Four's apartment," Landon retorts.

"Alright," Romulus sighs. "I'll bite. What do you wanna talk about in this 'rooftop talk'?"

"Usually it's, ya know, introspection… thoughts, feelings on life… soul-searching."

Romulus raises an eyebrow mockingly. "Seriously?"

"Oh come on!" Landon lightly jabs the other career's shoulder. "I think there's more to you underneath all that bravado."

There is a pause.

"Okay so… how do you do this soul-searching thingy? How does it work?" Romulus asks, crossing his arms.

"We ask each other questions about life, but it's gotta be something interesting, and remember I can see through the bullshit." Landon playfully wags his finger.

Romulus scratches his chin, contemplating. "Alright, I got one, what brought you here to the Capitol? Why are you sitting beside me right now?"

"Now that's an interesting question," Landon says. "Have you ever felt trapped? Like you'd do anything to get out of somewhere?"

Romulus drops his gaze. "Actually… yes." Then, he peers back up at Landon. "Who was it? You're parents?"

"Yeah… they just wanted me in a cage, y'know. If I make it through this then I'll finally be my own person."

"Yeah…"

"Your parents were the same?" Landon asks, turning back to Romulus.

"Yeah… only difference was, if I didn't fall in line there would be repercussions… physical ones," Romulus mutters, his eyes sink down low.

The conversation ends there. Silence follows as the two careers stare out into the distance.

Landon is the one to finally break the silence. "Whatever happens tomorrow, there'll be no more cages for us," he says.

"To freedom," Romulus smiles.

"To freedom," Landon repeats.

Day Amatore, 18

Day never wanted to trust ever again, but she can't help it. They're too much like her sisters - Liz and Meilin. So much so, that Day could have been back in Dawning Avenue today, baking cookies for little Luck and Ava Amatore.

They stare out of the window of the sitting room, into the rainy, cloudy, night sky. Maybe that was why I was sent here? Maybe there is a reason for all this pain and madness - to be given another shot at protecting innocent people.

(But what about Fly High? If Day is gone, then who is going to finally end that company's reign of destruction on the people of District Five?)

There is a knock at the door.

Day is snapped back into the present. Meridian? He stayed behind longer in Three's apartment with Liz and Meilin, but Day decided to try to get an earlier night to be ready for tomorrow. Did he lose his keycard?

They brace themselves with a deep breath, as they always have to when facing Meridian.

But to her surprise, when she pulls the door open, they find Liz before them.

"Room service," the Eight girl quips.

"Liz! What are you doing here?"

"Couldn't sleep," she shrugs, stepping into the apartment. The girl from Eight then relaxes casually on the sofa.

"Me either but-" she looks at the clock - 10:30 pm. "They want all of us back in our apartments by eleven. Otherwise…" they point to their taser-collar.

Liz tilts her head, smiling as she always does. "We got half an hour, then. Come on, it'll help us to talk about it."

"Okay," Day smiles back.

Liz fast gets to the point. "I think he means well, ya know, Meridian," she begins, moving her gaze to the window. "I… I think whoever it was that betrayed you, that wasn't them."

"Did Meilin put you up to this?" Day asks, crossing their arms.

Liz turns back to them from the window. "Maybe," she smirks. Then she takes on a more serious expression. "She just wants to keep us together for her plan-"

"Do you think it'll work?"

Liz shakes her head. "In truth, no… but still, if we're all together and we all trust each other, we'll have a better chance out there."

Day nods then gently takes a seat next to the Eight girl. "She's a good kid… if it was two years ago I woulda been just like her," they affirm. "We gotta look out for her tomorrow."

"We will."

Day takes in a breath and rubs her face. "As for Meridian… you have to understand, it's difficult for me… not all scars are visible, but all scars stay with you." She releases her hands from her face and stares back into Liz's innocent eyes. "Scars also change you… for better or for worse."

Day discovers that she enjoys these last minutes talking to Liz but unfortunately, like everything in Day's life, it doesn't last.

Even after Alizka left to go back to her apartment, Day still cannot find the courage to go to bed - that would mean she will have to wake up tomorrow, and that means she'll be in the Hunger Games.

It all came around so fast.

They simply wait on the couch and observe the rainy night sky. At least this time they know the disaster that awaits them, they've had time to think it over. When the diggers rolled in to destroy Dawning Avenue, she had no time to prepare - one day, they woke up, and their life was changed forever. Everyone she ever knew, except for her family, was gone in a flash.

(She can't decide which is worse.)

All Day Amatore knows is if she could survive the wrath of Fly High Energy scattering her Dawning Avenue across District Five, then they can survive The Capitol.

Day hears the sound of the keycard on the door. Meridian slips back inside the apartment, subtly closing the door behind him. They attempt to sneak past Day through the darkness of the room, but to no avail. Day stops him in his tracks with a simple "hey."

Meridian looks in their direction.

"Good luck tomorrow," she offers, the words almost hurt her to say.

"Good luck," he returns, fiddling with his hands awkwardly.

Day's district partner retires to their room, leaving Day alone for the rest of the night. Yet, somehow, her mind isn't dwelling on the games, it's focused on her little sisters. They begged her to come back when they were saying goodbye in the justice building, and she promised she would; she can't let them down, not again.

Also, to her surprise, their mind keeps replaying that last interaction they just had with Meridian over and over again; it could very well be the last interaction they ever have with him if things go south tomorrow.

Deep down, Day wonders if they'll ever feel the same as they did on that final night in the community garden with Meridian before everything in her life went wrong. The pair's eyes were sparkling from the bioluminescent lights of the garden, as they stared into each other's hearts.

Day disregards the thoughts and shoots a glance at the clock - it's just gone midnight. A stream of anxiety runs through her. It's now or never. If they don't at least try to get some sleep now, then who knows how they'll fare tomorrow without any rest?

They finally drag themselves to bed, collapsing under their covers. Then, the tossing and turning begins, and Day loses count of how many times she flips her pillow over.

She has to do this. She has to. For Luck and Ava. For her parents. For Dawning Avenue.

Zora Iskra, 14

For the entirety of her life, Zora has felt a little out of place, like there was something going on behind the scenes that everyone else knew about that she didn't. Even with her family around her, she never really felt like she belonged; that is, until she met Bexley. But then she was dragged away from her into The Capitol, and Zora Iskra was alone again. Or at least, she thought she was; there are twenty-five other tributes here, each with their own quirks, interests and stories. Zora's endless curiosity wants to know more, she has endless questions that need answers. If there's one last thing that she's meant for in this world then it's finding the answers to all the questions in the world.

Zora can feel the seconds ticking down. Time was never truly on her side to begin with; the last day she saw her sister alive keeps replaying in her mind. Why are her thoughts stuck on that right now? Now of all times. These are her last free thoughts before it will be nothing but how she'll survive the rest of the day. Yet, the memory won't leave. She begins to believe that she's cursed with it.

If she had come back just an hour earlier on that last argument with her sister, maybe she would still be alive, or if Zora hadn't said what she said…

She was too late to confess her feelings for Bexley - that moment was snatched away from her by the clutches of fate. Zora wouldn't be exaggerating if she believed that life had put a curse on her.

She hasn't even attempted to go to bed yet. She's sitting at her desk in the confines of her room. She has to get out of here, stuck between the hauntings of her past and the hauntings of the future.

She gives herself a shake to return to the present moment, then checks her glass of water by her bed - empty.

She heads out to the kitchen to refill her glass and is instantly hit by a ray of relief. The task of getting water is at least a little distraction from her sister.

After filling up her glass, Zora has to do a double take before she heads back to her room - she spots Jokull standing outside on the balcony getting drenched in a torrent of rain.

She feels herself calling his name, "Jokull!"

He shifts his gaze to her, water dripping down from his face and clothes.

"W-what are you doing? You'll catch your death out there," Zora exclaims. "Come back in."

Jokull pauses, looking inward for a second. "Why?"

"Because… it's dry inside."

He nods, stepping back inside and sitting down on the sofa. Zora runs to the kitchen before tossing him a cloth to dry his face.

Zora takes a seat beside him. "W-what are you still doing up? It's past midnight," she mutters, observing him curiously.

"What are you still doing up?" He retorts.

"I couldn't sleep," Zora shrugs.

"That makes two of us." Jokull's eyes wander to the floor. "Was it your sister again?"

Zora answers with a meek "yeah." Then she asks. "Your brother?"

The Six bot nods and continues to stare at the floor with vacant eyes.

How can he look so emotionless when discussing his deceased brother? On the train, their escort implied that Jokull was the one who burnt down his orphanage, killing many people inside, including his brother. Ever since then, a question has been lingering, refusing to go away like an obsessive pest - was it true? Did he kill his brother?

Zora takes in a breath and clears her throat. "Jokull, there's something I need to know, it's been bothering me ever since we were on the train. I know you understand why I have to know."

Jokull raises his eyebrows which Zora takes as agreement.

"The fire… at the orphanage… was it you? I won't tell anyone; I just have to know."

The boy stares at her momentarily with an empty expression, and Zora recoils, regretting asking.

But then Jokull sighs and relaxes his posture. He gazes outside the window at the rain. "Yes," he finally confesses.

Zora rises up to her feet in shock. "B-but your brother-"

"No! It was an accident… I didn't mean to… I was doing it to protect him!" Suddenly he is breathing heavily, and if his head hadn't been shaved, he would be tugging his hair.

"To protect him?"

But, for the first time, he is showing emotion in his eyes, which makes Zora believe he is telling the truth.

She backs off. "I… I understand," she catches herself saying.

"I know how this must seem," Jokull says, rubbing his tired eyes.

"No… it's ok… I-I understand…"

They sit in silence for the next few minutes with only the sound of the storm outside.

Finally, Zora decides to return to her room. "Goodnight," she says, heading to the door.

Again, she is trapped with nothing but her aching thoughts. Although, this time at least she has got one major one off her chest. Her mind is clearer than ever; now she just has to do her job.

Briar Bacardi, 17

The night is fast drawing in. Time is fleeting; but then, it always has been in Briar's life. There wasn't enough time for her to see the brother, who was taken by illness before she was born. There wasn't enough time to know her mother, who left two years later, afraid that the same fate would befall Briar. There wasn't enough time to stop her gang of street urchins from being taken from her - the found family that she never had.

So, if there's one thing she is sure about, it's that she's going to keep Chaney alive; she's going to keep him alive for as long as she can, until they are the very last two, and when she passes, Chaney can go on, and cherish her forever in his memories like the last rays of a beautiful sunset which never sets.

(At least when she's gone, someone will remember her name.)

And so, tonight, Briar paces up and down in her bedroom, sweating from fixation. Her mind is a tunnel of thought, going in a single direction - to Chaney's survival. No matter the arena, every action she takes will be carefully conceived and rehearsed in her brain one thousand times over to lead to that single outcome.

Before she tears her hair out from overthinking, Briar swings her bedroom open to head outside for a glass of water to clear her head. But this time, her thought process is cut short by her mentor's voice. "Briar."

The girl from Nine spins around to find Lance sitting on the couch.

"I didn't mean to startle you, do you have a minute to talk?" He requests, gesturing to the couch opposite him.

"About what?"

"Something I don't wanna breach. Something you're not gonna like. But we don't have much time left."

Briar takes a sip of her water, steps closer, and awaits whatever Lance has to say to her. She maintains a frown on her face.

Lance sighs and rubs his face. "Whenever I've tried to… speak with you about how to get you through the games, you've seemed, how do I put it, disinterested."

Briar doesn't even try to deny it, she knows he's right, and she doesn't care if he knows it. She's tired of hiding the truth that he's everything to her. She's only hiding their relationship from the world for the sake of his survival, not her own.

"Let's just cut straight to the chase then, you're gonna give your life for his, aren't you?" He asks in a hushed tone.

"Maybe I am." What does it matter to you? We barely know each other. Only I know what's best for me - She wants to speak her thoughts but luckily she stops herself.

He sighs again. "With respect, I don't think you've thought this through."

"Oh I have. Believe me, I think everything through."

"Not this." He gestures for her to sit once more, and this time she obliges - a part of her wants to hear him out because a small voice in the back of her mind is doubting herself… doubting her conviction.

"If you die, and he lives, how do you really think it ends for him? You know it yourself, he has no one. He'll be left alone in this world, and you won't be there to comfort him. All he'll have is his grief. He'll be left wandering, and withering away until he's old, only wishing for the life he never had… with you."

Briar is left speechless, with the image her mentor just described plastered in her mind.

A single tear runs down her cheek.

Lance leans in, his eyes burning with focus. "But you, on the other hand. I think you can handle being alone… I think you can make something out of the life you'd be left with…"

Is he right? Fate has denied Briar of family time and time again, and somehow she's bounced back. But how could she bounce back from that? She cannot conjure up that strength, she's not a sorceress.

With nothing left to say, she simply wipes the tear from her face and leaves her mentor. Something is drawing her towards Chaney's bedroom door. She leans up against it, swallows her tears, and croaks his name. "Chaney…"

(She's not entirely sure why. She just has to hear his silly voice - it's always brought her comfort in the past, in her darkest times.)

"Just a sec," he chirps back, and immediately a smile forms on her face.

There is a hurried but excited rummaging in his room. "Almost ready!"

Briar wipes the remaining tears from her face as Chaney's voice fills her heart with warmth.

"Ok, come in!"

Briar smiles, pushing the door open, but then she gasps and clasps her hands over her mouth.

Before her, Chaney is on one knee with the black, ornate ring, which he stole for her about a year ago, presented in his hand.

"What are you doing?" are the only words which escape Briar's mouth.

"Sorry, didn't have time to buy a ring," he says with his big goofy smile. "Briar Bacardi, will you marry me?"

Only one thought keeps cycling through her mind in a conveyor belt. What are you doing? What are you doing? What are you doing? Has he forgotten everything their mentor said - Lance's words from a few moments ago are still fresh in her mind. Her brain wants her to reprimand him for doing something so rash, but her heart is telling her to say yes, and to pull him into her arms and plant her lips on his. Usually, she ignores what her heart tells her, and follows her head. But, for the first time in her life, she is struggling.

"So… what's your answer?"

"I… I… I…"

She has no answer because two halves of her are saying a different thing.

(Somewhere out there is a universe where she never got reaped and she would say yes in a heartbeat, and the two of them would ride off into the sunset together in his car.)

Last pregames chapter! Next is a subplot interlude and then we're into the games!