I am clearly incapable of sticking to a schedule (both upload schedules and being on time for school…). I enjoy writing this so much, that I can't stop! So, I will never take over a week to upload a chapter unless I really have no choice. I've been using A.I. ( /ai) to generate pictures of the tributes, and they're turning out well! The ones I've done so far are on the Discord server. Thank you so much for reading my story! I know I've said this before, but it really does mean a lot!

The other tributes are absolutely livid. Well, some of them are. Some of them are pulling faces, others look like they're about to explode. And then a few look impressed. The Odair boy catches my eye, and raises a glass that he picked up somewhere, his face saying 'Alright, that was pretty spectacular.' He doesn't seem frustrated. Neither does the District 4 female career, for some reason. A couple of others have a similar reaction – a girl from 3, some of the tributes from 7, the dainty little Rosabeth Pomelo and a few of the other tributes from 11. There's one girl from 10 who's smiling at me. I think she'd be a good ally. Something tells me that I should talk to her tomorrow, in the training centre.

Katniss and Peeta run over to us, quickly followed by Cinna and Portia, and then Effie, and finally a very drunk Haymitch.

"That was brilliant! You were all perfect! Jasmi and Argent with your kisses, Nathan and Helayne with the hand holding, Prim you looked a little angel, and Lark and Robin – lifting him up on your shoulders was risky, but brilliant!" Peeta is ecstatic.

"Well done, team," Katniss says. I feel a slightly warm glow at the word team. Although most of us will die, I like the idea of us as a team. "That was fabulous." She then runs over to Prim and gives her a hug, lifting her up off the ground.

"Lark, that move with Robin was far too risky! You and him could have been killed! But it was a very heart-warming sight," Effie tells us.

Haymitch is grinning broadly at us. Cinna and Portia applaud us. The other tributes envy us.

Later, we are at the tribute centre. I loved riding the elevator! It was beautiful, the way the people shrunk down to the size of flies beneath us, through the crystal – the elevator is made of crystal! I've only ever been in an elevator once, when I was on my way to be left with Robin, Helayne and Nathan so that we could say our goodbyes. It was nothing like this one.

Tonight, we are having a delicate meal of paper-thin slices of roast beef, peas, a cheesy garlic sauce – I love all of this garlic – potato salad, and gorgeously poached pears. Truly divine. The Capitol food is fantastic! To top it all off, Cinna has ordered a volcano table decoration. It looks absolutely real, glowing lava oozing down the sides, some sort of smoke coming out of the top.

When we all finish, Cinna grins, and nods at an Avox. All of the lights turn off, and the volcano begins to erupt! It's spewing the glowing lava! I realise that it must be some sort of juice (although I have no idea how it glows). There are strategically placed glasses, that catch it. After checking with Cinna, I pick up a glass and drink from it. I receive a burst of sweetness, that fills my whole mouth. It is absolutely delicious. Upon seeing my face, Cinna laughs! "It's tropical fruit juice! Mango, passion fruit, and orange," he says. I eagerly sip more of it. It's wonderful. When all of the others have picked up a glass, we raise them to each other. Suddenly, the volcano bursts into flames! Multicolour flames! Blue, green, purple, pink, white, orange! Our colours – and some extras! The volcano melts away into a splendid, phoenix-shaped cake! It's absolutely brilliant! I laugh out loud, cheering, as do Nathan, Helayne, Robin, Prim, Argent, Jasmi, Effie, Haymitch, Katniss, Peeta, Portia, Cinna, and even the Avoxes, to a degree! I feel terrible for them. I imagine their crimes were minor, but heavily punished. There's a vaguely familiar red-haired girl, but I can't place her. Maybe she has a lookalike in District 12. That would be unlikely though – District 12 is mostly blondes and brunettes. I dismiss that train of thought, and take an offered piece of cake. Cake! I've never had it before! This one is iced a brilliant array of colours, in a beautiful blended gradient! As the cake blends, the flavour changes. The icing is flavoured peppermint, vanilla, raspberry and strawberry. The cake transforms from an ordinary cake into chocolate cake. I'm surprised by how much I know about types of cake – although I have regularly looked in the baker's window.

We are all happy, and smiling, and laughing, in the abattoir.

Later that night, we're all going to bed. Robin insists that I stay with him, in his room, until he falls asleep. I'm happy to oblige. I love him so, so very much. I love all of my brothers. But I have a special place in my heart for Robin. He's the one who needs protecting the most, what with his illnesses. Today tired him very much. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. I stay, stroking his hair, for a bit, before finding my room and going to bed.

"Lark!" I hear Katniss's voice calling me.

"Yes?"

"I just wanted to thank you. For laying down your life for Prim – and Robin. You have no idea how much Primrose means to me."

"Katniss, I understand. Robin and my other brothers are the most important things in the world to me. I would simply die if they did."

Katniss smiles at me. She looks very pretty when she smiles. "Still, thank you. I'm very grateful. Tomorrow, I'd like to show you the rooftop garden. It's a bit late now. But there are lots of loud windchimes. They're very beautiful, and I'd like you to hear them. I've heard you singing, and playing your violin sometimes. It's very beautiful, and I think you'd appreciate the music. We could also discuss potential strategies." She's right, I would appreciate the music. At home, I have a violin. I saw one once, when we were watching an old Hunger Games interview, and I found it beautiful. I begged my father to make me one, and eventually, he learned how to and did it. I practiced regularly, and I have to admit that I'm pretty good. I'd be better if I didn't hunt, but oh well. You can't have everything. And in this case, the choice was between being a virtuosic violinist, or starving. If only I had it with me. But I can tell from the look in Katniss's eyes that she wants to tell me something, and she doesn't want to be overheard, hence the windchimes. I imagine it's not a strategy. I also imagine that we are under surveillance, and she knows. It does feel a little off here.

Hoping she can read my expression, I smile and say, "I'd love to see! You're correct about me loving music. I'm really tired now, so I'm heading to bed."

"Goodnight!"

"Goodnight."

The next morning, I wake up early. There is already a feast on the table for breakfast. Pancakes and cinnamon rolls! I stuff some of the rolls into my dress pocket, to eat later, before spreading a lavish amount of butter onto a pancake. I also put some jam on it. I love the pancakes. Katniss is the next awake. "Lark! Would you like to see the chimes quickly?"

I nod enthusiastically, stuffing the pancake into my mouth.

She leads me onto the rooftop garden. We wander into the middle of the chimes, before she starts speaking in a hushed whisper. "Lark, there is a lot of rebellion in the districts. I know this is a lot to take in, but District 13 wasn't destroyed. I've managed to get them to agree to rescue you all, if you can break out of the arena. There'll be a forcefield. If you can somehow destroy it, you could get out. Or, you could threaten suicide. I just want you all to get out of there." It's all I can do to keep my face neutral. "You're smart, probably the smartest out of these tributes from 12. I think you can find a way. The tributes from 3 know, I think, and possibly 7 and 4. I'll leave it to you to find a way to tell the others."

"You're serious?"

"Absolutely."

"It's a lot to process. I'll do my best though. I don't think we'll get Sapo out somehow. He won't understand."

"Just save whoever you can, Lark. Please."

"I will."

"Thank you! I'll see if there is any possible way that I could help you. Remember, you all need to maintain your roles at all times. We'll do a group strategy this evening."

When we get back to the dining room, most of the others are there, tucking in. I sit down between Helayne and Robin, and devour some more pancakes. I'm wracking my brain to think of an idea. I have one. I just need a thunderstorm. And, knowing the games, that should be possible. It would mean that I don't get out, but that's a sacrifice I'll make. Now, my fate is sealed no matter what.