I was pulled out of the water just when I thought I was about to drown. Coughing, I leaned to the side and hurled up water that was in my system, surprised to find the air I gulped down was fresh. Glancing to my right, I saw a girl gazing at me solemnly. I didn't recognize her.

"Amber Foxen," she mumbled. "Your ally ran off somewhere. Congrats, you got down to the final eight. Couldn't have you drowning yourself in the middle of all the excitement, right?"

I offered her a wry smile. "I've had enough of these Games. Did you see the explosion? I didn't want to suffocate to death."

"I watched from a safe distance. Your friend actually went past me. Unless someone or something kills her, she should be alive." Amber sighed. "You should've run away. But maybe I should've hoped you died. One less person I need to kill in cold blood. Just for riches and the prospect of a full belly 24/7."

"Most think it's a good deal," I managed before I turned and threw up again. Gross. Besides, I was vomiting up valuable food I need in my system.

"Yeah, but is killing each other really necessary? Just because we disagreed about the Capitol's laws?" She shook her head and stared up at the sky. "This is all fake. Created. Projected."

"The arena?" I glanced around. "I wondered that, too."

"I'm not wondering, Waters, I know." Amber chewed on her lip, then bit her tongue, hissing out a "Someone's coming!" before making a mad dash to the trees.

I staggered to my feet, my eyes widening. Six other people, all in a pack except for one skinny boy--who sadly was not Iver--were charging towards me, eyes battle-hungry. I whirled around and tried to sprint after Amber, but someone grabbed the collar of my shirt before I could take off.

"Hey, Luna. I guess it all comes down to this, huh?" I swallowed the disbelief. No. No, no, no, no, no, no! He was gone!

"Iver!" I twisted around, trying to look at him, but my friend kept his grip firm. I swore I saw the tip of an ax, though. "Why did you leave?"

"You say that as if we're friends." He laughed, the sound a harsh contradiction to the distant stampeding of feet. A boy and a girl launched themselves in front of me, wrestling each other and fighting to at least wound each other. They might've been allies a few moments before. Like Iver and me.

"We're allies!"

"No, Luna." Iver threw me down, and I wheezed for air. He raised his ax, eyes glittering coldly. I think he lost it. "We were never friends. It's either kill or be killed, and you can't have any friends in this case!" No sane Iver would do this. He brought the ax up, preparing to cut into my flesh and disconnect my heart. Coldblooded murder.

"Goodbye. At least you'll be with your loved ones."

I didn't even bother closing my eyes as his ax delivered a quick blow to my chest. Darkness enveloped my vision anyway.

I was dead.

It felt so relieving.

LUNA WATERS--DISTICT FOUR, DEAD.