| " P R O M I S E . " |

___♔___

The rest of the night flew by quickly with no disruptions. No tributes. No kills. No cannons.

I didn't want to face it, but I knew that soon enough all of us would be dead- except for one. And I was determined to make sure the boy from the other day and anyone in Leane's group wouldn't be taking the crown.

I slip outside of the cornucopia early that morning, taking a half loaf of bread with me. I boost myself to the top of the horn, and overlook over the areas around me. I eat slowly, and keep a lookout for any tributes that would approach.

As the others sleep peacefully, I start to think, and end up getting lost in my thoughts.

I think Apollo, Christiana, my parents, Mason, and Garret. About Leo, Krystal, Reena, Aven, and Paul.

"You have to rely on us, okay? Don't believe anything you see in those games. All of it will be a part of our plan. Don't let any of it get to you."

Pshhh. How could I not believe this? It's real, and it will never stop. The Capitol proved that when they slaughtered Katniss Everdeen after the assassination of President Snow.

I have to admit, Katniss had courage.

I watched a replay of her games when I was little, and was stunned by her ability to survive. And somehow, she defied the Capitol, and gave the rebels and Districts hope. But everyone's hope was crushed when her plan wasn't enough to overthrow the Capitol. Peeta Mellark and some of the other mentors were killed, along with Katniss, for her mistake.

A new leader took President Snow's place- someone from his family- and started the games again. Thankfully, this year he overlooked the Quarter Quell, and allowed us to have one of the regular games. I'm not so sure that we'll be fortunate enough to not have another Quell.

A rustle in the leaves behind me pulls me from my thoughts. I jump up quickly, swinging myself around to see Laila. Her eyes widen, and she holds up her hands in surrender as I look down at her, a knife ready to throw.

I sigh in relief, and hop down from the horn.

"I could've killed you," I say seriously. She rolls her eyes, not looking intimidated whatsoever.

"Yeah, sure." She snorts teasingly.

I stand in my spot for a moment, a close my eyes, wishing that I could just be home again. See everyone again. Be myself again.

The snap of a twig sounds from behind me. It was small- so small that if you weren't listening close enough, you wouldn't hear it.

I open my eyes again, and try to warn Laila. But it's too late. Chris sends me a wicked grin as I turn to him, then sends and arrow right through Laila's chest, before disappearing in the distance.

I fall to my knees with tears in my eyes.

Soft noises come from Laila's mouth as she gasps for air. I crawl over to her, covering my mouth as a choked sob erupts in my throat. A lone tear falls from her eye as she takes a last heavy breath, and releases it slowly.

"L-Laila?" I question as her eyes close. She doesn't move, her body limp- dead. "Laila."

I shake her slightly, sniffling as I wipe my eyes. A cannon fires, my eyes widening at the sound. "No, no, no. Laila."

"What's going on? Who's cannon was that?" Raley asks, running from the cornucopia. With one glance at Laila, she stops dead in her tracks, her face visually falling.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper, shaking my head.

I stand up, and sprint to the cornucopia- past Bane, Jonah, Triton, and Seth. I slouch to the ground, and slam the back of my head against the wall as I cry. The guys make no move to comfort me, to my praises.

At this point, I don't know if I could handle anyone else telling me something isn't my fault.

Especially when they all know it is.

___♕___

I sat in the cornucopia for a long time after Laila's cannon fired, staying mute. I wouldn't reply to anyone or say anything at all. All of the deaths were weighing me down.

I don't think I can handle this. I'm breaking even more than before, leaving myself with very little strength.

I don't have the will to win anymore- to go on. I feel the pressure pressing down on me, exceeding my limits with each given minute. All of these people are dying, because of me. Because they want me to win.

But I don't want to win anymore.

I don't want to be rich, and go home to a forever-lasting depression. I don't want nightmares of my past shaking me awake every night. What I do want, is for all of this to end for me. For all of the pain to go away.

"Lana, you need to let it go," Bane sighs, sliding down next to me. "It wasn't your fault."

"Yes, it was," I state, my eyes dead as they focus to the ground. "All of this is my fault. Laila. Grace. Lily. All of the other tributes I killed. They're all dead because of me."

"Don't say that. This is the Hunger Games, Lana. Every year, twenty four kids are thrown into this arena to fight to the death. I assure you, this isn't your fault. It's the Capitol's." He reassures, laying his hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah, but I could've made sure that Laila didn't die," I argue. "If I would've joined Leane, none of our allies would be dead."

"So what? What if they didn't die? What if our group of allies were the last ones in the arena? Would you really want that- to kill them yourself? Or is it better that they went when they did, by someone else?" He raises an eyebrow.

When I really think about his words, I know that he's right. When it came down to it, I wouldn't kill them, and I'm almost positive that they wouldn't kill me. I guess it is better that they went when they did. At least they went fast, without torture . . .

"Well, yeah, that does make sense," I sigh. "But what about the rest of us-?"

"We'll go when our time comes," He interjects. "You don't have to worry about any of it."

"I don't want to win though, Bane." I turn to look at him.

I want you to win.

"But you will," He says. "That's a promise."

I hesitate to answer him.

So instead, I just nod, and lean on him, closing my eyes.

___♕___

"We have to do something," Raley fumes, pacing the cornucopia. "I can't stand this. I want to rip Leane and her henchmen to pieces!"

"I agree," Triton says. "But where could they possibly be?"

"Anywhere," Seth speaks up. "And there's no telling where that one guy is. He's probably waiting for us, wanting revenge."

"I wouldn't doubt that," Bane brings himself into the conversation. "I think we should go find them."

"Can't we just wait until tomorrow?" I ask. "I'm exhausted."

"If we wait, they'll most likely strike while we sleep," Jonah shakes his head. "I'm with Bane. We need to find them."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Raley asks, cracking her knuckles. "Lets go make those bastards pay."

I huff, and pull myself up from the ground, walking behind all of the others. With knives in my pockets and hands, I feel pretty confident that I can fight off anyone that comes at me.

I guess I finally got over all of the crying, and grew up after realizing that Bane was right.

This is the Hunger Games.

And I should get used to it.

"Where do you think they are?" Triton asks.

"The most expected place," Seth speaks up. "They'll be waiting for us."

I try not to think about dying, and focus my attention on staying near the group.

Step. Step. Step. Step.

"They should be around here." Seth says, looking around. "This is where they always turn up."

Around us,is a dense forest. We are no longer near the clearing, or the cornucopia. I listen for any sounds that could give their location away, and watch for any sudden movements.

But there's nothing.

Five figures make themselves known jumping to the ground. They were in the trees.

Leane, Maria, Chris, Creve, and the unknown boy tower over us, smirks on each of their faces. I almost flinch from the sight.

"Decided to join us yet?" Leane asks. I step in front of the careers to look her right in the eyes. I don't answer her, triggering the sigh that escapes her lips.

"You see, Leane, you really piss me off when you kill my allies." I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Well, that is what we're supposed to do, isn't it?" She chuckles. "Although I wouldn't expect you of all people to understand that, considering your allies do everything for you. All you do is cry."

"Whatever," I roll my eyes. "I've killed plenty of tributes, more than you."

"But that's the thing, Lana." She moves closer to me, patting my shoulder. "I might've killed less tributes than you, but I didn't cry after I did it. I laughed about it, as a matter of fact. You are constantly sobbing over being here, and everyone in your allization pities you for that."

"Shut. Up." I snap.

"I don't think I should," She goes on. "One after another, you've slaughtered around nine tributes, then cried about it. You think you're dangerous, but you're not. It's actually pretty sad, and that's the exact reason why you have so many people rooting for you."

"Can it, Leane," Raley hisses. "No one wants to hear your bullshit."

"Oh, but I think the Capitol enjoys this- the truth." She pushes. "I'm tired of hearing Lana crying over everything."

Creve moves quickly and pulls me into a headlock, making me yell out. The boy slashes Raley's stomach and she falls to the ground immediately after, a cannon exploding in the sky.

What about her fiancé?

I hold back my tears, remembering everything she said to me a few nights ago. Chris grabs Jonah, and forces his hands behind his back. Leane, the boy, and Maria do the same to Bane, Seth, and Triton.

And the last thing I remember is pain as the butt of a knife handle connects with my head, knocking me out instantly.

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