Damon was on the edge of his seat as the scores flashed up on screen.
'Avery Mackenden: 10'

Letting out a sigh of relief, Damon congratulated Avery silently. He just hoped this would help him get many sponsors and win.

The next day was the interviews and the last day before they went into the arena.

He watched all the interviews with a bored expression, but as he Avery walked up on stage, his heart stopped. In a navy suit, and with his hair brushed neatly, Avery looked amazing. Ceasar smiled as he approached.

"Avery! Why don't you look dashing."

Avery smiled. "Compared to you? Hardly."

"You do flatter me." Caesar smiled. "Now tell me, is it true you've been teaching your fellow tribute Patricia how to fight?"

"It is." Avery nodded, Damon's eyes widened, did that mean Avery had not devoted time to making himself a better fighter?

"And why would you do that?" Caesar asked.

"We all deserve a good chance. She doesn't deserve to die." He answered.

"And how do you feel, about going into the arena?" The blue-haired man asked thoughtfully.

"Scared. To be honest I am absolutely terrified." Avery confessed. Ceasar laughed.

"With your score from the gamemakers, I'm sure you'll be fine." Avery nodded at the man's words.

"I hope so."

"And is there a nightmare weather condition that you hope will not turn up?"

"Humidity, I cannot function in humid conditions." Avery answered.

"A thought I'm sure many of us share."

The interview ended and Damon sat back in his chair.

"Are you alright darling?" His mother asked him. "I know losing your best friend is hard." She didn't think Avery would make it.

"I'm not going to lose him." Damon said determinedly.

"Don't get your hopes up too high, he's against careers out there, they've been training for this their whole lives." His father added, Damon shook his head and ran up to his room. The games started tomorrow and he was just hoping with all his might Avery would be okay.

^^^
The games started all too soon, and with his eyes fixed on his best friend, who looked too relaxed. He was mouthing something to Patricia, who nodded. They were in a snowy landscape, with sparse forest littered around.

The horn sounded and taking everyone by surprise, Avery ran towards the cornucopia.

"What is he doing?" Lil yelled from beside Damon, who had the same thought. What had gone through Avery's mind. His family had joined Avery's to watch the games and Damon was glad to have some others who cared about Avery with him.

Avery grabbed a heavy looking bag and a sword, stabbing someone as they tried to do the same to him, he sprinted into the woods. The room was deadly silent. The least violent person they knew had killed someone.

"I hope he has a plan, because he just killed a career." Lil sighed.

"He'll have a plan." Damon said, but he wasn't sure.

The camera switched to Avery again, who had climbed close to the top of one of the pine trees in a more dense part of the forest. He was watching people pass and looking through what he had stolen. He had also acquired a bow and arrow, despite not knowing how to use it.

"If this is his plan, he's going to die." Wes, the second youngest of Avery's siblings, said plainly. Damon had to agree. What was Avery thinking?

Hearing another cannon blast, Avery looked around and then noticed a district 5 girl staring at him, his eyes widened and he motioned for her to be quiet. She nodded and ran on, Damon frowned. That was weird.

He watched Avery sigh in relief and the freeze as the sound of the careers came towards him.

"So where is he?" The girl from district one asked angrily. "He killed my boyfriend."

"He can't be that far." The boy from district two said, and the five careers continued on.

It was getting dark in the arena, Damon could see Avery's fear and tried not scream at his expression, he hated seeing Avery like this.

"Come on son." Avery's father murmured, as the boy climbed down from his tree and ran. He was headed towards a cluster of dead trees and quickly built a fire from the branches, and then he ran.

"What's he doing?"  Damon asked.

"Distracting them. I think he's trying to find Patricia." Lil answered.

"What's he gonna do if it ends up being only the two of them?" Damon asked, he didn't think alliances were a good idea.

"Knowing Avery, kill himself so she can win." Lil answered.

"He can't!" Damon exclaimed.

"Lets just hope that he doesn't find her." Avery's mother said with a sigh.

Avery certainly seemed like he couldn't find her. The careers had fallen for his bait, leaving him free to run through the woods as quickly as he could. He was trying to find a place to sleep.

There was a small, thick cluster of trees in the middle of a clearing and he was heading for that, he climbed to the thick, leafy top and settled on a large branch. He tied his legs to the branch, so he wouldn't fall in the night and looked up at the sky. They were announcing the deaths.

The boy from one, both from six, the girl from seven and both from 12. It was a small amount compared to previous games. Upon seeing that Patricia was not dead, Avery let out a visible sigh of relief.

The camera shifted to the careers, who looked angry and out for blood. They wanted Avery dead, and that was the truth.

The viewing of the games ended for the night.

"He's okay." Sara sighed in relief.

"Your son is very brave." Damon's mother said to Avery's parents. "We must be off, would you like to watch it in our home tomorrow?"

"That would be lovely, thank you." Avery's mother nodded.

"See you tomorrow then." Damon waved at his best friend's family and followed his parents out of the door.

"Avery is doing well, although with the careers on his tail, he must be careful." Damon's father said. "I was not expecting him to last this long."

"I told him to win." Damon sighed.

"Did he say he would?" His mother asked.

"He did."