| " K I L L M E . " |

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I grab Paul, and slam him against the wall, pinning his arms by his head harshly.

"Talk about my brother dying again, and I'll kill you. I'll make it a slow and torturous death. You'll be begging me to end your life, and that's a promise." I snap.

Bane pulls me off of Paul, and closer to him, holding my hands behind me.

"We got a fighter." Krystal says with a smirk.

"Wow, princess. Who thought you had a bark and a bite," Paul grins, adjusting his tie.

"Call me princess one more time, and I'll wipe that ugly ass smirk off your face." I growl, fidgeting in Bane's grip.

"Stop it, Lana," Bane sighs. I try to yank my hands away from him, failing as I try repeatedly.

"Get your hands off of me!" I yell, shoving at his grip.

"Calm down, Clark." Leo says to me pointedly.

"I'm done." I say, and walk to my room. I slam the door shut, and throw myself onto the bed.

This room doesn't look too much different than the one I had back home.

Home.

I have to get back home, for Hollon. So I can see his grave, at least one more time. The only piece I have left of him is his necklace. Well, other than his memory. But I have his blue eyes. His were a bit darker than mine, and so was his brown hair.

I slowly start to fall apart. I let my tears fall for the second time today. He's gone. And he's not coming back. I pick up a vase full of flowers, and chuck it across the room. I smirk in victory as it shatters on the opposite wall. I lock my door, making sure that no one can come in here. I throw a couple more things, then crumble to the ground.

The door is broken down, and Paul, Leo, Krystal, Reena, and Bane pile into my room, looking at the damage. There are shards of broken vases all around my bed. I even smashed the mirror. I know, it's supposed to be bad luck, but the worst thing that could possibly happen is happening; being sent to the games.

Bane walks over to me, and pulls me into his arms as I sob. The others just stand there, expressions of pity and shock on their faces.

Bane rocks me back and forth, trying to calm me. He coos softly into my ear soothingly. And I wonder why Bane is doing this.

I know there's a different reason that he volunteered for me. I know it. But I don't want to make him tell me now. He'll tell me soon enough. I hear talking going on, but I ignore it.

And so I slowly close my eyes. Bane is still by my side, rocking me. And with that, I let darkness take over me.

___♕___

"Lana, it's time to get up. Dinner is ready." Bane says. I groan, and rub my eyes.

"I don't want to get up." I whine. He chuckles.

"Okay." He says. Victory is mine!

Bane picks me up bridal style, and takes me to the kitchen. He carefully sits me down into a chair, and takes the seat next to me.

"Bane, I told you I didn't want to get up," I groan.

"Well, technically, you didn't get up. I carried you." He says smartly. I roll my eyes, and look around the table to see everyone looking at us with smiles.

"What?Is there something on my face?" I ask, touching my face. They chuckle, shaking their heads.

"No dear, there's nothing on your face," Reena says.

"Then why are you guys staring?" I raise a brow.

"No reason, princess. Just eat." Paul says. I shoot him a glare.

"Don't call me that." I snap. "And I'm not hungry." I add. I get up to walk back to my bedroom, but Bane grabs my hand, and sits me back into my chair. He pushes my chair in, and sits down again.

"Eat." He commands.

"I'm not hungry," I grit my teeth.

"It wasn't a choice. Eat." He says sternly. I mutter incoherent words under my breath, sending them his way. I eat a bite of a roll, half of a baked potato, a few spoons of salad, and a fourth of my steak.

"I'm full," I state.

"C'mon, eat more than that." Bane argues.

"Bane, I did like you said, and ate. Now stop," I glare, feeling eyes on us again. "Will you guys please inform me on why the hell you're staring at us?"

"It's nothing, dear," Krystal dismisses it

"Whatever. I'm going to bed." I announce, and walk away.

"Goodnight, princess." Paul grins.

My nostrils flare, and I give him 'the finger' without even looking back. I hear chuckles as I close my door behind me. I decide to take a shower, since I feel wide awake. I walk into the bathroom, shut the door, and strip down, getting underneath the hot water. I sigh as the water flows to my scalp and back. My muscles loosen up at the contact.

After finishing my shower, I blow dry my hair, and put it into a messy bun. I slip on my booty shorts and tank top for bed. When I walk out of the bathroom, I see Bane sitting on my bed.

"What are you doing in here?" I ask. He looks over at me, and his eyes look me up and down. He smirks.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." I say with a smirk of my own.

"I would, but I don't have my phone." He says, full of confidence. My smirk drops, making me huff in annoyance.

"What do you want?" I snap with narrowed eyes.

"Wow, didn't know it was shark week." He says. I slap him on the shoulder. "Ow, jeez woman. I just wanted to know if you want to watch a few reapings with me before bed."

"Oh, okay. Sure." I say. He smiles, and throws me over his shoulder. "Bane, what the hell?" I yell.

I smack his back, and kick my legs. I yelp when he slaps my butt. "Put me down!" I screech as he chuckles.

"Shut up, you'll wake everyone up. Well, except for Paul. He's watching the reapings with us."

"Bane, put me down. My blood is rushing to my head. If you kill me now, you won't be able to slaughter me in the games." I offer. He sits me down on the couch softly, before kneeling down in front of me.

"I won't slaughter you in the games. I won't kill you." He says, triggering an eye roll from me.

"Oh please, you practically thirst for blood. You're a killing machine, I'm probably the first one on your kill list." I snort.

He sighs, and sits next to me. I'm taking it that I'm correct. A pain hits my chest. Not physically, but mentally. Bane wants to kill me. Well, he didn't confirm it. But he didn't deny it either. I guess we'll see.

"Okay, prince and princess. We have some reapings to watch." Paul says, sitting down on the other side of me. I don't even react to the nickname, he's just trying to annoy me.

Paul turns on the tv, and the reapings start with District one. The tributes are Triton and Raley, and they both volunteered for fun. I watch the reenactment of me volunteering for Christiana. It breaks my heart again. Paul rubs my back as I let a stray tear fall, and Bane holds my hand.

District three has weaklings. District four has Seth and Grace, volunteers. District five has a vicious girl, and a guy that is scared of her; Laila and Nason. District six has weaklings.

District seven has Jonah and Leane, who both look a bit intimidating. District eight has Chris and Deedee, but Chris is the stronger one. District nine has Maria and Lance, of which I decided I'd keep my eye on.

District ten has one strong guy; Tristan. District eleven has weaklings. District twelve has Lily and Trent. District thirteen has been added to the games (they have to send two tributes like the other districts). They have Creve. Then the reapings are over.

Paul sighs, and turns off the tv. He stands up, and leans on the wall across from us, leaving Bane and I on the couch. "So, who do you want as allies, other than the career districts?"

"You pick, Lana." Bane says.

"Who said I want allies?" I question with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, you can just stick with the careers, if that's what you want." Paul suggests.

"Who said I want the careers as allies?" I clench my jaw. Paul chuckles, and Bane looks at me like I have two heads and a tail.

"I'm serious, princess." Paul says pointedly.

"I'm serious, too. What's the point in having allies when they just turn on you?" I throw my hand in the air. "I'd rather die alone!"

"Lana, we need allies." Bane says clearly.

"Then you can have allies. I'll find my own if I want them." I cross my arms over my chest defiantly.

"I promised your family that I would protect you. You have to stick with me," He states.

"No I don't, I can defend myself. And the last time I checked, you're not my father, you can't tell me what to do." I hiss. Bane rolls his eyes in response.

"You're being ridiculous. You need allies to stay alive." Paul says, butting into the conversation.

"I'm not being ridiculous! I just don't want to get attached to someone and loose them! It's already happened before, and I definitely won't let it happen again!" I yell, and storm out of the room.

I got attached to Hollon, and look what happened to him. It broke me, and I had to put myself back together again. I don't have to have allies, nor trust anyone other than myself. I walk into my room, and see that the avoxes have already fixed my door. I shut the door, and lock it. I turn off the lights, and slip onto the bed, burying myself in the comfy blankets.

I don't need allies, they'll only slow me down. I can take care of myself. I hear talking, and I know it's Bane and Paul. I scoff. They're being ridiculous. Did they not see how I pinned Paul against the wall?

And for the second time tonight, I fall asleep. But this time, I don't have Bane by my side, soothing me.

But I wish I did.

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