“Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems there has been quite a turn of events! How are Riley and Milo going to get out of this one? What are your thoughts, Claudius?” Venus asked.

 “It’s not going to be easy, Venus, I’ll give you that. But I’m sure our new star tribute will pull something out of the bag. Literally, perhaps! She’s proven to be resourceful and she gained a lot at the Cornocopia. Maybe that will help her out. The question is, how is she going to do this?”

 A good question indeed, I thought, watching Riley struggle. She now had one arm wrapped around the trunk of a tree desperately, her other hand fumbling in her backpack as it hung on her shoulder. Milo was getting weaker against the waters, floating dangerously close to the edge, which now resembled a waterfall as the arena flooded. I wanted to yell at Riley. What are you doing? Milo’s going to die! my mind screamed. But then Riley’s hand grasped something in her bag. She pulled it out eagerly, tendrils of her wet hair falling in her face. She’d found the rope from her pack.

 She worked swiftly then, wrapping the rope around her skinny waist and tying it tight with a knot. Then she tied the other end to the tree hastily. The length was long enough for her to move a considerable distance in any direction, but forwards was the way she was headed. She surged forwards as fast as she could and managed to dive and grab Milo’s ankle just before he tumbled over the edge.

 Her fingers clung desperately to her friend, her face contorted as she strained to keep hold of him. He hung upside down from the edge, eyes closed. Riley gasped for breath, water lapping around her face.

 “She’s looking beat, Claudius.”

 “I hate to say it, but I agree,” Venus said, her tone sad. Riley gave one last tug and collapsed, almost dropping Milo’s foot. Suddenly, through the mist and water, a girl came running. It was Elianna. Once again, her strength shone through, the muscles in her arms and legs rippling as she ran. She caught sight of Riley and grabbed the rope, battling against the wild weather and pulling Riley up. Slowly, Milo came back over the edge, limp and somewhat lifeless, but safer than he had been, and still alive. Elianna threw him over her shoulder with, seemingly, ease, and pulled Riley to her feet too. I leaned forward, intrigued by her dramatic rescue.

 “Come on. We need to get out of here,” Elianna said “I know somewhere safer.”

 The ground still shook beneath their feet, but together, Riley and Elianna seemed unstoppable. Their boots sloshed in the water as they ran, all possibilities of death forgotten. Venus and Claudius commented on the unusual new alliance, and I was able to breathe easy again. Antonia reached for my hand and I took it, sighing with relief.

 “That was horrible,” I breathed.

 “Is this what it is like every year?” Antonia asked “I mean, do you normally get this jumpy and scared?”

 I shook my head “To an extent, I’ve learned to control it. Riley is an exception. As were you. Because it’s much harder to keep a level head when…when someone you love is battling for their lives. I feel so powerless.”

 “Hey. Don’t worry. She’s going to get through. We’re going to get her through. I promise.”

 I nodded, pulling her in for a quick hug. Her floral smell lingered on my skin long after I pulled away.

 “Is it time to swap over?”

 “Yeah. Go get some sponsors. I’ll let you know if anything big happens.”

 “OK. See you later.”

 I threw on some clothes and headed into the Capitol. The plaza was filled with the chatter of a thousand voices and the sound of coins clinking in pockets. People were getting ready to spend. A lot. And I had to persuade them that Riley was worth putting their money on.

 There was a woman sat in a bar, dressed from head to toe in different shades of blue. Her hair was tied in a plait and fell down her back. Dark blue eyebrows shaded her azure eyes as she flicked through a copy of the tribute guide, a glossy magazine which gives information and guidance to sponsoring tributes. It was open at Riley’s page, and no doubt said something about Riley being one of the weakest tributes, having been written before the Games actually started. The woman frowned, her thick dark eyebrows knitting together as her gaze turned to a big screen, showing Riley running. I decided to approach her, sitting beside her on a bar stool and ordering a coffee.

 “Hi,” I said, extending my hand for her to shake. She looked at it snootily before shaking it.

 “Hello. Do I know you?”

 “Probably not,” I admitted “My name is Arrian Rider. I’m one of the mentors for District 7.”

 “Ahh, yes! I thought you looked familiar,” the woman said “My name is Angelica. This is my first year of sponsoring. How can I help you, Mr Rider?”

 “Actually, it’s not me I want you to help. I want you to help my tribute, Riley. I see you’ve been reading up on her.”

 “Yes,” Angelica murmured “But I’m not sure. I keep looking at this guide and thinking back to how she behaved on the chariots and in her interview…Mr Rider, I’m just not sure she’s reliable enough for me to put my money on. I would, however, be willing to put money on your other tribute…” she said, flipping the page to show Otto’s face, his cold eyes jumping out from the page. I frowned.

 “I…I don’t recommend that,” I said quietly.

 “Why not?” Angelica said in annoyance.

 “Otto…Otto isn’t a nice boy.”

 “So what? This is the Hunger Games, not a compassion test.”

 She was right on some level. I waved my arms around, exasperated.

 “You’re right. I understand that. But each year, twenty-four children go in. Only one can come out. Would you rather it was a monster or someone who truly deserves to live?”

 Angelica shrugged, sipping her blue cocktail “I couldn’t really care less,” she told me bluntly. Then she seemed to reconsider, examining her aqua nails carefully “OK, Mr Rider. I will give you a deal. You have to give me three reasons why I should sponsor young Riley. Perhaps you can make me change my mind.”

 I nodded. She’d given me a chance, and I wasn’t going to waste it. I stared up at the screen, Riley still running alongside Elianna. What could I say about her?

 “OK,” I said, taking a deep  breath “Riley is reckless and wild, but she’s also brave and strong. She can hit a moving target with any long distance weapon, I’ve seen her do it. Not to mention that she is extremely skilled in hand to hand combat. And she hasn’t shown her best yet.”

 Angelica yawned slightly, sipping her drink. I sighed. I needed to step it up a bit.

 “Secondly,” I continued “She isn’t callous, but she’s willing to kill. She’s a safe bet because she is prepared to take on her enemies, but still have sympathy.”

 I could see that Angelica wasn’t really very interested, but somehow, I knew that my last reason would convince her.

 “And thirdly. If Riley won, her family would be safe. They would move into the Victor’s Village, and escape the poverty of the District 7 slums. She would be able to be a child for once, have some fun perhaps. If Otto won, he’d be the same as ever. Cruel hearted and unloving. Riley has spent her whole life caring for her family. Otto spends his time caring for himself alone. Riley is loved, and needed, and wanted. If people don’t help her, her family is deprived of her. But you can change that.”

 Angelica looked up at me, her eyes swimming. She sniffed and dabbed her eyes delicately with a cobalt handkerchief.

 “You’ve won me. How do I sponsor?”

 I grinned, taking Angelica by the arm and leading her to the sponsoring stations. As we walked, I repeated one phrase over and over to myself.

 Riley is going to win.

Hey guys! I know this isn't the best, but anyway. Thanks for sticking with me this far! I just wanted to say that I think I'm going to stick with Arrian's POV. I don't want to complicate things with a change of perspective, especially when it's all been in Arrian's so far. Another thing, if you have time please check out my story, Stripes :D It's a dystopian story in a kind of alternate universe where gay is right and straight is wrong.

 Anyways. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please read, vote and comment! :)