She had thought it would make her angry. But mostly she wasn't. She just wanted to die. She wanted the feeling of his hands to disappear, the memory of how his wet slug lips had felt to disappear. She wanted it all to go away, but she knew that for as long as she was alive, it would stay.

The past few days had passed in a blur. The training scores had come out. Muffle had gotten a six, which wasn't bad. Had Iris gotten a six? She couldn't even remember. She remembered using a flail, not that that had helped her in the arena… what had her score been? She had spent most of her time either drunk or hungover, and constantly disgusted with herself. She had swore she wouldn't drink while helping the tributes… but Lucan encouraged her too when she was with him, and it helped her to not remember.

Lili had received a three. She'd spent the rest of the day sobbing, declaring that she was going to die – which they all knew anyway, but they had to try to give her some hope. The truth was, Lili was going to die. Iris knew it, as sure as she'd known that Axel would die. She had no skills to speak of, she was small and unhealthy and timid. Iris felt awful for dismissing her so soon - but she was beginning to understand what Haylee had meant.

The scores didn't end up mattering too much, anyway. Both of them were overshined by the Careers - one of whom, the girl from Four, had gotten an impressive ten, the highest score of all - and Iris couldn't think of a single thing they could do or say at the interviews that would make them stand out. They were just another couple of kids from Six. More or less the same every year.

Nevertheless, when she wasn't out with Lucan, Iris and Pomponia worked with the kids as best they could. Iris watched Pomponia closely, took notice of how she talked to them, what questions she asked, the advice she offered to each of them. She might not have had Haylee's help, but at least Pomponia knew what she was doing.

The first time she saw Lyme was backstage, before the interviews. The tributes had all been sent off to wait, and the mentors were given a few minutes to chat before they too had to find their seats.

"So. How's it going?" Lyme asked. Iris let out a huff, and Lyme grinned at her. "That good, huh?"

Iris wondered if the bags under her eyes were still visible under the makeup. She was so tired, she felt like her eyeballs were puffing out of her head. "When there's time, I am in need of a night out."

Lyme nodded. "Absolutely. I'll take you to my favourite clubs."

"Anything to…"

"Forget."

"Yeah," Iris breathed.

"I understand." Lyme squeezed Iris' hand, and her heart jumped in her chest. "I have to go. But I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," Iris agreed, thinking glumly of the Bloodbath.

Lyme smiled at Iris over her shoulder as she walked away. Pomponia touched her elbow. "We should take our seats."

The interviews weren't anything particularly surprising. Ada yammered on about her mother and how much she loved school. Surely she would have some sponsors - Calcula had been around for a while, no doubt she had friends in the Capitol willing to give her daughter some money.

The girl from Four seemed to be the favourite this year, and Iris had no doubt that she would receive the majority of the sponsorships. She knew for sure her tributes wouldn't get any. Lucan had promised to donate some money, but although she had tried, none of the other Capitolites she'd talked to seemed interested. It was unfortunate, but she couldn't blame them. And maybe it was for the best. Knowing now what they would have to do to pay their sponsors back, Iris didn't feel as bad about the lack of donations.

Muffle's interview wasn't as bad as she had thought it would be. She'd spent the whole time with him trying to help him reframe his sullenness into confidence - they'd made some progress, at least. But it would be nothing compared to the charm of the boy from One, the arrogance of the boy from Two. Muffle wasn't good-looking, and he wasn't good with words, and he wasn't at all personable.

"Tell me about your family, Muffle," Caesar had asked.

Muffle shrugged. Smile, Iris told him silently, but he didn't. "Not much to tell. Mom, Dad, two younger brothers, and a couple of cousins. Hope they won't miss me too much."

"Well, Muffle, work hard in there, and maybe they won't have to."

Muffle smiled, then, finally, but not in the way Iris wanted him to. It was a strange smile. If she didn't know what he was like, she would have said it was sad. "Whatever."

Lili was the one she had been the most scared for. They had worked on breathing strategies for her to use to calm down, so that she hopefully wouldn't burst into tears onstage. But her lip trembled, and she stammered nervously through all of her answers, despite Caesar's best efforts to turn it around.

"Now, Lili. Your mentor won only last year. Do you think her recent victory will help you win?"

"N-no," Lili said, a tear escaping her eye. "Iris was strong. I'm not!"

"Well, Lili, maybe you don't have to be! There are many ways to win the Hunger Games."

Lili wiped her nose on her sleeve. "I guess."

Pomponia patted Iris on the arm, sensing her tension. Iris already knew that she had failed. It was beginning to sink in that she would see these kids die tomorrow. She felt sick.

Lili ran to her sobbing once they were back in the Penthouse, throwing herself at Iris. Iris hugged her awkwardly, trying to soothe the girl in some way. "I'm sorry!" Lili cried.

"You don't need to be sorry," Iris said, rubbing her back.

"I don't want to die."

Iris wasn't sure how to respond. She hugged Lili tighter, and stared at Pomponia, who only shook her head. Iris wondered how many times she'd heard that string of words. How many sobbing children she had tried to comfort, knowing it would be a lie to tell them they could win. Iris didn't know what to do except hug Lili back. There was nothing more she could say in comfort.

When Lili finally let go of her, they joined the others at the dining room table. Lili's makeup had smudged all over her face, and had stained Iris' white blouse. They ate in silence, apart from Lili's occasional sniffles. She watched the kids finish their plates, and cleared her throat. They looked up at her.

"Tomorrow," she said, "I want you both to run. As far away from the Cornucopia you can. Don't even think about the Bloodbath." Lili nodded nervously. Muffle stared at her wordlessly, fidgeting with his fork. "Find water as soon as you can. Try to find somewhere to hide. And stay away from everyone else - no one can be trusted."

It was the best advice she could give them. Neither of them had any proficiency with weapons, or knowledge of plants, or the charm or willingness to make allies. She sent them both to bed with a final hug each, aware it would be the last time she'd see either of them.

She allowed Haylee to pour her a drink once the kids had left. Pomponia, to her surprise, joined them. She usually disapproved of Iris' drinking, though she had long since given up on Haylee.

"Don't feel too bad," Haylee told her. "They wouldn't let us win two years in a row."

Iris frowned. "Is that a thing?" Thinking back, she realised she couldn't remember the same district winning two years in a row, even the Careers.

Pomponia took a gulp of wine. "Yes."

"Can't have the Capitol getting bored, now, can we?"

"I guess not," Iris sighed. She had a sip of wine. She didn't like red wine much - it was heavy, made her feel sick quicker than any other drink - but alcohol was alcohol. And she needed it right now. "I don't want to watch those kids die."

"It gets easier," Haylee said unconvincingly.

Iris frowned. "Does it?" She couldn't imagine a reality in which watching children die onscreen wouldn't affect her.

"Well, no. But you learn how to deal with it better."

"Yeah. Because you deal with it so well," Iris snapped.

Haylee glared at her. "You'll be just as bad as I am in ten years." She threw back the rest of her glass of wine and wiped her mouth on her sleeve, standing up. "I'll see you both tomorrow."

Iris didn't watch her leave. She stared into her glass. The wine was a beautiful colour. It was too dark to look like blood. It reminded her more of the colour of rose petals. Once her dad had bought her mom a red rose for her birthday. He'd danced around the apartment holding it in his teeth while her mother laughed. She missed her parents. She looked up at Pomponia. "I wish I could have done more for them."

"You did your best. And you did it well."

"Did I?"

"You managed to get Muffle to listen to you. You were able to bring some comfort to Lili. Those are no small achievements."

"Thanks," Iris muttered. She didn't feel like she'd done anything for them, not really. They didn't have sponsors. They didn't have skills. She knew that the second the gong went off tomorrow, it would only be a matter of time before they were killed.

"I mean it. You did very well. And I am sure that in a few years you will manage to bring someone home." Pomponia drained her glass. She reached across the table and squeezed Iris' hand softly. "Do try to get some sleep, dear. You will need it tomorrow."

Iris smiled at her. "I will," she lied. "See you tomorrow, Pomponia."

/

The Mentor's Station was eerily quiet when she arrived. She wasn't sure what she had been expecting. Those of the Victors who were there were already sitting in their booths. Some murmured to each other, others only stared at the empty screens, waiting.

Belle greeted her when she arrived. "Coffee?" she asked, gesturing to the refreshments. There was a buffet table. Iris wasn't sure why that made her so angry.

"No thanks," she said. Her stomach was churning, and she wasn't hungry even though she hadn't eaten since dinner the night before. She felt as awful as she had before her Games. Maybe worse - it wasn't just her life at risk this time. "I feel sick."

"Suit yourself," Belle said, shrugging. "How is everything going?"

Iris shrugged. She wasn't sure how to answer that. Did she say that, ever since Lucan had touched her, she felt like peeling her skin off until she could no longer feel his hands? She hadn't known Belle for very long, so she decided against it. "Fine. Awful. But fine."

Belle nodded slowly. Her eyes were quite small, Iris noticed. They were too small for her face. Blue and beady, like some beautiful blonde bird. "If you need anything, please let me know. I know Haylee isn't exactly the most… well. Just come and find me."

"Thanks."

Haylee's eyes were bloodshot, and the only welcome she offered Iris was a grunt before she lowered her head back onto the desk. Iris wished that escorts were allowed in the Mentor's Station - having Pomponia by her side would have been a comfort.

She stared at the blank screens around her. After ten minutes, they flickered to life. The screens that would show the arena were still blank, but there was one showing Muffle, and another showing Lili, both waiting for the Games to begin with their stylists. Numbers appeared off to the side - Iris realised they were their vitals. Muffle seemed to be arguing with his stylist over something. Lili wasn't crying, surprisingly, but she was pale and drawn, hugging her knees to her chest.

Was she watching their last moments alive? Or would they live to see another few days?

A bell chimed, followed by an announcement. "Please prepare for launch. Please prepare for launch." It repeated once more, and Iris chewed on her fingers as she watched Muffle and Lili step into their tubes. Haylee lifted her head.

She had thought the Mentor's Station had been quiet when she entered, but it was nothing compared to now. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, and Iris was sure that she would have been able to hear a pin drop.

The remaining blank screens went from black to… black. Dark grey? The tributes were dark smudges on the screen, but after thirty seconds lights flickered on, lighting them up. Lili blinked at the sudden flood of light, and Muffle pulled a face. They seemed to be in some sort of cavern. She glanced at the other screens dedicated to the arena - there didn't seem to be anything but black and grey. The arena was some sort of cave. The Cornucopia chamber was large and well lit, and there were six tunnels leading out. Iris wondered what sort of horrors the tunnels held.

She dug her fingernails into the skin of her palm. A cave would have ample hiding spaces, but it was so dark… How were they meant to find food? Find water? The only cavern that was lit up was the Bloodbath chamber, which had sconces around the walls, lighting up the tunnels.

Lili's eyes were wide. She was standing between Ada and the boy from Twelve. She looked around her, at the supplies scattered near her, before turning her body the other direction. She seemed ready to run towards one of the exits. Good girl, Iris thought.

Muffle seemed unsure. There was tension in his face. He, too, turned his body towards the nearest exit. Iris nodded, glad that he had listened to her. But her relief was for naught when, in the last ten seconds, the tension left Muffle's body. He turned back around, facing the Cornucopia.

"No," Iris muttered, willing him to turn back around. She didn't want him to fight. Even if he managed to grab something, he'd never get away in time.

The gong went off. Lili leapt from her pedestal and ran towards the tunnel closest to her, disappearing into the darkness. She was followed by both Ada and the boy from Twelve, neither of whom Iris was particularly worried about - they both looked too scared to pose any threat to Lili.

Lili safe for the moment, Iris turned her attention to Muffle. He was still on his pedestal. He sat down, crossed his legs, and stared into the Bloodbath. What the hell was he doing?

"Kid's an idiot," Haylee muttered.

Iris ignored her. "Come on, Muffle, move!" she urged.

But he didn't. It looked like he was waiting. She had always known he wouldn't hold his own in a fight against a Career, but she had expected him to at least try. But all the fight seemed to have left him. He didn't twitch as the screams started, as tributes began to fall. He just sat there, staring.

No matter how much she yelled at the screen, Muffle did not move. As the boy from Two approached him, Iris felt tears building up in her eyes. Muffle did not wince as the sword tore through his stomach, but Iris did. He crumpled to the ground, and the boy from Two moved onto the next kid. Iris sobbed. Muffle was pale, but not dead yet. He stared up at the ceiling, and the corner of his mouth twitched into what Iris could have sworn was a smile. And then his eyes closed, and his screen went dark.

Iris put her head in her hands. What had happened? Why had Muffle, the hot-headed, stubborn boy he had been, given up so quickly? He wasn't particularly talented at anything, but she had expected him to last longer than Lili.

Lili. She still had one tribute still alive. Iris breathed deeply, trying to pull herself together. There was nothing she could do for Muffle now, but she could still help Lili.

Lili was still running. The screen was dark, but Iris could still see her. There were no colours on the screen apart from black and grey, but apparently the Capitol had cameras that could see in the dark. Of course they did - couldn't have a Hunger Games if the country couldn't see. The effect of the cameras made Lili look like a ghost, her skin and body a pale grey.

The arena was a twisting maze of tunnels, some leading into different chambers, some going around in circles. The tributes who had run from the Bloodbath were stumbling around, unable to see. Lili's heart rate was up, and based on the sound of her shallow breaths, she was panicking.

The boy from Twelve had gone in a different direction from her, but Ada was following close behind. The girl from Three was walking quickly, but not running, and was trailing her left hand along the wall. She and Lili were only metres away from each other, a fact they both realised when Lili tripped, her sharp squeal echoing through the tunnel.

Ada stopped, and took a step backwards, her hand still on the wall. "Who's there?" she asked shrilly.

Lili got back to her feet. "Lili. District Six. Who are you?"

"Ada. District Three."

"I'm really scared."

"Me too. I don't like the dark."

"Me either. I don't know where I'm going."

"Maybe our mentors will send us night-vision goggles," Ada said.

"That would be nice," said Lili, "but I don't think I have any sponsors."

Iris grimaced, feeling guilty. Technically, Lili did have a sponsor, but the amount Lucan donated was nowhere near enough to cover a pair of expensive goggles. Besides, without any supplies or even a knife, there were cheaper items that took priority.

"That's okay," Ada said. "My mom will send me something."

"Oh, right. Your mom is Calcula. Iris told me."

"I met Iris on her tour. She was nice! I think I annoyed her though. My mom says I talk too much."

"People think I'm annoying too," Lili replied. "I cry too much."

"Crying is actually a great way of self-soothing, and they keep your eyes clean. So I think it's actually very smart of you to cry." Iris smiled, feeling a wave of affection for Ada. She was a sweet, smart girl - she didn't deserve to be in the arena. None of them did.

Lili choked out a laugh. "Thanks."

"Uh, Lili?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to team up?"

"Like, allies?"

"Yeah. I don't want to be alone in here. Also, I read once that you should never go caving alone, so allying would actually be the best option for both of us."

Lili bit her lip, and nodded, even though Ada couldn't see her. "I don't want to be alone either. I never thought I was good enough to get an ally."

"Talking to you has made me feel better, and that's good enough for me."

"Where are you?" Lili asked, reaching out in Ada's direction.

Ada reached out too, and stepped forwards. She brushed Lili's hand, and both girls clung onto each other like they'd never seen another person before. Iris couldn't blame them. She had no idea how she would react if she was lost in a cave. She was glad that Lili and Ada had each other. Ada was a smart kid, and hopefully kind enough to keep Lili around. Iris wasn't sure, truthfully, what Lili could bring to the table - but apparently her presence was all Ada needed. It made sense - Ada was quite the extrovert.

Haylee grumbled. "Lili's going to get that girl killed."

"Shut up, Haylee, stop being such an asshole."

"It's true. She doesn't stop snivelling. If Ada knows what's good for her, she'll ditch Lili."

Usually, Iris would have been angry. But she was too tired to argue with Haylee. What little energy she had, she wanted to use it to help Lili. There was a knock on the door of their booth, and Iris and Haylee looked up. Beetee stood in the doorway. "Would you like to come to our booth to discuss the alliance?"

"Sure," Iris said, standing up.

"Calcula too lazy to come here?" Haylee said.

"Ignore her," Iris said to Beetee. "She's mad she didn't get a sleep-in."

Beetee nodded, glancing at Haylee before gesturing for Iris to follow him. She stepped awkwardly into Three's booth, feeling very out of place. Wiress greeted her with a warm - if distracted - smile. Calcula, whose face was inches away from the screen displaying her daughter's vitals, did not look up.

Beetee cleared his throat. "Well. As the alliance was not established before the beginning of the games, there is not much we can do in the way of sharing sponsors. We could, perhaps, figure something out with our current patrons-"

Iris waved him away. "No. No, that's okay. I mean, just them pairing up should bring more money in." She would feel horrible taking anyone else's sponsor money. Especially when there was such an imbalance of skills in the alliance already. It wouldn't be right to have an even split.

Iris chewed on her nails, suddenly aware of the way she was thinking. Had she already stopped seeing Lili as a living, breathing child? Had she already reverted to strategy, locking all of her emotions away in her box? What was wrong with her?

She let out a long breath, and tore off a piece of her fingernail. She could taste blood as it began to leak out of her nail bed. She glanced at Calcula. "I hope… I hope Ada-" Iris stopped herself. As horrible as it was, she was rooting for Ada to win. Perhaps it was because Ada reminded her, in a way, of Jordie. Whatever the reason, she was disgusted with herself. It should be her own tribute she was hoping for. "Ada's a smart girl. I'm sure she'll be okay."

"Yes, yes," Calcula said, still not looking away from her monitor. Iris wasn't sure if Calcula was talking to her or not. She looked awful. There were dark bags under her eyes suggesting she hadn't slept, and

Wiress smiled. "Kind of you to say. Ada is… a good girl. She will take…"

"...care of Lili," Beetee finished. Wiress nodded.

"Yeah," Iris said. "I guess, then, there's not much we can do. I have enough money to send Lili some water, but that's it." She'd had a brief scroll through the list of gifts. The items she could afford were lit up in green - the rest red. Depressingly, the majority of useful things were red. Sending water to Lili would drain the funds almost entirely. Selfishly, Iris hoped that Ada would share her wealth with Lili.

"I have prepared a parachute for Ada… a backpack," Wiress said, gesturing towards a screen.

"We didn't have enough for night vision goggles, but their eyes should have adapted somewhat to the darkness by now," Beetee said. "We don't know yet how the arena works, but I am sure the Gamemakers will introduce a light source at some point."

"Hopefully." Iris sighed. She already knew how unfair the games were… but this seemed to take the cake. All the tributes, save for the Careers, had been deprived of one of their senses. The scales were already tipped ridiculously far, and the Bloodbath hadn't even finished yet.

Calcula muttered something to herself. Wiress leaned closer to hear, murmuring something Iris couldn't hear. Iris felt, suddenly, that she was no longer welcome, although the Threes were far too polite to ever say that. She wasn't quite sure how to dismiss herself - but however she did, she doubted the Threes would be offended. "Well. I'm going to go check on Lili."

"Ah. Of course," Beetee said. He smiled at her, and she smiled back, before stepping out of the room.

Beetee was a lovely man, but she wasn't quite sure how to read him. He was obviously leagues ahead of Iris in intelligence - she wondered if he ever got lonely. At least he had Wiress. Iris got the sense that the two of them understood each other in a way no one else ever would. Iris certainly knew she would never be on their wavelength.

I've started uni now so I probably won't have as much time to write. I'm majoring in Creative Writing which is exciting :)