Kenmur's POV 

I gulp, then lead everybody over to The Man. He's propped up in a chair with his legs crossed. He has a glass of bubbling champagne resting in his palm. His black hair is slicked back, not even one strand breaking from the group. His brown eyes are distant, yet could stare into your soul. The reflection of a ceiling light reflects on his black, shiny shoes. He glances at us, his eyes widening slightly. I swear I saw a glimpse of curiosity glimmer in his eyes, but it disappeared so quick that I couldn't exactly tell. My heart raced as him and I make eye contact. He motioned me and everyone else towards him. 

My palms grow sweaty as my stomach starts to turn. I hesitantly walk up the steps, making my way towards him. The others don't follow me, because it seemed he only wanted me. But why? I step onto the landing where he's perched in his egg-shaped white chair. The red flooring reflects on the chair, causing it to fall from a red to a pearly white. 

"H-Hi." I greet nervously. 

"Have the others arrived?" He asks, starring at him champagne glass as the bubbles swirl around in it. 

"What do you mean?" I ask.

 "The ones that... 'Died'." He does an air quotation with his free hand. 

He lays his hand down on the armrest, "Y-Yes, they have. How did you know?" I question. I know 

I probably shouldn't ask questions, but I can't help it, "Nobody ever dies in the Hunger Games. They just get transported through the different stages of the Hunger Games. The third round is where people actually die." He informs. 

"There's a third round?" I gulp. 

He nods, "But it's nothing like the Hunger Games. It's a test of the fittest. It may sound like the Games, but it's not. The third round if different for every group who enters it." He explains. 

Shivers shoot down my spine, my hands growing sweaty. My heart beats at a pace that would explode in any known cartoon. I just wanted to save Malachi, not be thrown into this! This is what I get for trying to help someone... I knew I was going to die in the Games anyway. But.. I haven't died yet? I will soon. I somberly trudge back down to the others. They look at me with weary eyes, most likely hearing the previous conversation. 

Dante runs up to Gene, hugging him tightly. Gene seems surprised but wraps his arms around Dante. Tears stream down Dante's eyes. He believed that his brother was dead, of course, Dante would cry. Once Dante releases from Gene, he meets eye contact with Sasha. They run to each other, wrapping their arms around each other. 

I walk over to Dante, "Are you ok?" I ask. He shakes his head no, "What's wrong?" I continue. 

"Just seeing him again... I thought he was dead!" Dante starts.

He and I start branching off from the rest of the tributes,  "He barely paid any attention to me, but hugged Sasha like she was the Queen of... I don't even know! The Lord of O'khasis or something. Just... Agh!" Dante vents. 

I hug him, trying to reassure him that everything will be ok. He sniffles once we release, then him and I walk back to the training room.

Aphmau's POV

I gulp. Katelyn stands before us, "Katelyn?" I ask. 

She comes from the shadows, but has no eyes. Aaron looks terrified, "NO! IT CAN'T BE!" Aaron yelps.

"Aaron, what's wrong?" I ask. 

"T-This-- My dream-- NO!" Aaron stumbles upon his words. 

He bolts out into the woods. I send Laurance after him, leaving me to protect Cadenza. The particles continue to radiate around me. I know this isn't the real Katelyn. I lunge for 'Katelyn'. 

"APHMAU, DON'T!" Cadenza warns. 

I ignore her, and pin the fake Katelyn to a tree. I then hear Cadenza scream. I whip my head around to see her being carried away by someone with snowy white hair. Travis. But his eyes aren't there either. 

"CADENZA, PUNCH HIM IN THE FACE!" I instruct. 

She hesitantly raises her fist, then I turn back to Katelyn. I hear an 'Oof!', most likely coming from 'Travis'. I put my sword to Katelyn's neck, "Where's the real Katelyn?" I ask sternly. 

I dig the blade deeper into her skin until she turns into a gust of smoke. I turn around to see Cadenza standing there. A gust of smoke erupts from behind her. The smoke brightens, it becoming a whirlpool of smoke. I pull Cadenza out of the way. It has a small burping noise, then the snowy white haired idiot falls from it. 

Travis falls on the ground with a Thud!, "What happened?" He asks, his emerald eyes shining bright in the night. 

There's a burping noise from behind us, then Katelyn falls from hers. She rubs her head a bit, groaning at the sudden impact on the ground. 

"Where am I?" She asks. She looks around, along with Travis. Their eyes land on Cadenza and I. As on cue, Aaron and Laurance run back. 

"KATELYN? TRAVIS?" Laurance asks loudly. Katelyn waves nervously, "What happened to their eyes?" Laurance questions. 

Travis places his palm above his eye. Katelyn looks at Laurance like he has 10 heads, "They're back to normal. Apparently, both Katelyn and Travis were.. Possessed by something that caused their eyes to disappear. We got them back though." I explain.

I look at Katelyn, and glance down at her neck where my sword was once. There wasn't a trace left, same thing on Travis. 

"They're both alright and back to normal." I inform with a fake smile. 

Before anyone can say anything, there's a rustling in the bushes. I whip my head around, then see blue particles reaching out from the bushes top. Someone jumps out of it.

His skin is pale

His eyes drained from life and replaced with a dark

dark

blue.

His hair has lost color.

His sword is held firmly in his hand.

He looks bloodthirsty.

Garroth Ro'Meave.