DISTRICT 1

------------

DROPPED OUT

-----

Valour Goller

It's 1:00am and a strange sound woke me, I can tell it was a bee or mosquito sound.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

There's again. I don't understand... Something just bit me and it left me a huge rash with a little pump. It itches but I'm sure I should not scratch it. Now, I have 8. One in my nose, another one in my forehead, two in my left ear, two in my right arm, one in my left shin and one I don't know how in my left toe. In one minute the sun came out; and then I saw that it wasn't just a mosquito, it was a swarm of mosquitoes. So I began to run, because they were trying to kill, NO JOKE. I was about one kilometer away from the Winter Arena, and I could hear the people screaming from something that the gamemakers deliberate. I'm scared to look behind, but I bet they are not trying to chase me. So I run through the maze. I'm sure this maze is nothing good but if my destiny is to die, I'll die. It takes about three hours to get out side of this GIGANTIC maze. I see some weird people talking near, what I think is the Cornucopia. They realize something is spying on them, so they run to an opposite directions to me. So, those minutes are perfect to get another backpack so I run and I grab one. So I get into the maze and something behind. Do not know if it was part of my imagination or not, but I felt like something was behind. So I entered a hallway that I realized it had no way out. I wait there for at least fifty minutes, and nothing happened. Then I walked outside of the hallway to check if it was still there. But, he or she or it wasn't there. I do not know if it left, because he was bored or because another reason. But, the thing was that there was not even a mutt. NOTHING. Maybe I'm going crazy. Yes or not I'm thinking that. I don't want to think that something is chasing me.

-------------------------------

DISTRICT 2

------------

Taryn Beyt

I woke up to a loud bang. I saw Evan had his weapon ready. Even though he looked tired he still looked pretty intimidating. I though that is why he is the perfect ally, but a perfect threat. I know I shouldn't think like this. I mean I trust him with my life, but I don't know if he trusts me with his.

Evan seem to noticed that I was awake and saw my expression. He came over and sat down by me. "Taryn, I know I might not win these games. I know I could die soon. But one thing is sure. I know I would not be able to last as long as I could without your help," he took a breath and continued on, "You should know I trust you. You could have cut off my head, but you didn't. So if I die, win for me."

"I-i promise," I replied back realising the truth of his words I could have killed him, but I didn't and we could die if the Capital wanted us to. "If I die win for me," I told him "Okay," was all he said. We then sat in a calm silence. Almost forgetting that we were in the Hunger Games.

Our peace was interrupted by a hiss and then something bit me. "Ow!" I yelped. Evan looked at me with worry. Then, I started seeing black spots. All I heard was my heart pounding, but the scary part was that it was getting weaker. A beeping noise soon came into my ears.

I wondered if all dying people heard a beep before dying. Evan soon left my vision. Now I thought I am all alone. I could barely hear Evan when he said, "We have a sponsor Taryn! Your going to make it." Before I could comprehend what he ment, I felt a sharp pain in my side.

The black spots started to clear and I saw Evan sitting before me smiling from ear to ear. "What happened?" I asked in a small voice. "This," was all he said as he held up a snake that I remembered was very poisonous and you can die in 60 seconds unless was treated by Capital medicine.

I turn to a camera and said "Thank you." Not like they cared too much. All they want is a good show. Well since they saved my life I guess I will try to give them one.

I turned to Evan and asked, "How about we go tribute hunting in a little bit?" "Sure," he answered with some doubt. "Just for the Capital for a thanks for the medicine. You know all they want is a show and also do you want their new special attraction going after us first?"

I could tell what he was going to say before he said, "Okay, lets go tribute hunting."

=========Time Break========

"Backpack?" "Check." "Five canteens full of water?" "Check." Sleeping bags?" "Check?." "Food?" "Check." "Weapons?" "Check." "14 cows?" "Ch- wait what?" "Just kidding," I laughed as I saw Evan's face turn from confusion into a smile. "Okay we are ready lets go," he said after our laughing fit.

We looked out side and I asked "How about we go to the summer looking place? The tributes would be dehydrated and easy to kill," "Okay, onward to victory," Evan yelled. "Shh, we can celebrate latter. Now come on I want to be back before tomorrow," I said.

We started walking for about an hour or two before we saw the district 6 girl Frostine. She had a whip with her I threw a knife that went through both of her hands and coming out the other side. She started looking around and saw us. She tried to run, but tripped and fell on her hands. I walked slowly over to her and took out my sword and started cutting open her arms and legs slowly. Not a second after I finished a cannon went off.

I turned to se Evan have a knife sticking out his arm. I could tell he saw something behind me. I slowly got my knife out and threw it once I turned around. It hit the girl from 10, Madison right below the heart. Then I ran over to her and pulled out the knife. She was dying and I could see it. Blood was pooling out of her wound and onto Tue ground around her.

We just turned around and headed back to the cornucopia, but not before hearing one word. Thanks. Finally, about midnight they got back to the cornucopia. Right when the dead was showing. It was the girl from boy from 1, girl from 6, and Madison. When her picture show, Taryn remembered what she said, "Thanks." She was really happy that she was leaving the Hunger Games.

Stop it Taryn it is just a word. Remember your family, don't fail them. "Taryn is it okay if I go to sleep?" A tired Evan asked. "Sure," I said. I took a sword and a few knives and stayed at the opening of the cornucopia and waited knowing something big was going to happen tomorrow.

-----

Evan Walker

My body bolts awake and I look around for snowy mutts. After a second I realize I was dreaming. Well not really dreaming. More like having a nightmare.

Taryn turns around and she has black bags under her eyes and looks as tired as can be.

"Did something happen?" I ask frantically. I don't want her to go through everything alone.

"Nothing big. Silla came by and threatened to kill me. I killed her though. It didn't take long but she sure was feisty," Taryn says with a ton of sass.

"You should have woke me. You said you would if anything happened," I say getting mad.

"Well this wasn't big. It took 5 seconds."

"It still happened though. And I could have died because I wasn't alert."

"Well I could have died too," Taryn snaps. This shuts me up. Anyone can die in these games.

We look over all of the supplies and pick out some stuff to eat. Taryn grabs a black baggy sweater and throws it over her shoulders. I put in extra socks. All we do is wait.

"We need to do something," I decide.

"Yeah no kidding this has gotten bo-ring!" Taryn agrees. I spread out on my sleeping bag and start to think.

"Do you want to start challenging yet? Or do you want to wait and see what other natural things happen?"

"Let's wait just a little bit lon-" Taryn stops talking and turns around. "I thought I heard something pounding on the Cornucopia! Rain!!!"

I bolt up immediately. No more snow. "Yessssss!" I shout.

"Evan shut up someone could be coming by!" Taryn whisper- yells.

"Oh yeah right!" I apologize.

"Well I think the rain beat me you to it. It's coming for you!" Taryn shouts. The rain comes pounding down even harder. Finally.

Taryn and I walk outside and start to walk around. If we weren't in a fight to the death, I would be skipping like a five year old girl.

"Ow!" Taryn cries out in pain over and over. 5 huge icicles are in her leg. There's blood all around her. One jabs into my leg. "Evan! Help me!!"

"Taryn focus on me. Breath in and out. I'm taking us back to the Cornucopia," I say frantically. Another icicle shoots in my arm.

Taryn's body drags across the snow while I try to get us back. Her moans continue as do the pain in my leg and arm.

"Taryn, we're at the Cornucopia. No more icicles. Please listen to me. I have to take the icicles out of your leg. Put this towel in your mouth to muffle the screams," I instruct.

"Ok Evan. Ok."

"Good," I say. I roll the towel up and put it in her mouth. "One two three!" I yank the icicle from her leg.

"Evan! No! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Taryn screams at the top of her lungs.

"It's ok," I say, which I hope sounds comforting. I smooth her hazel hair out and pet it over and over. She doesn't seem to be screaming as much and her breathing has slowed. She smiles and faint smile and shuts her eyes before I can pull out anymore icicles.

Taryn still hasn't waken up. The only thing that keeps me from not freaking out is that the cannon hadn't sounded.

-------------------------------

DISTRICT 3

------------

Electra Waters

I wake up and feel a scorching hot blaze on my cheeks, Emma who is right beside me is burnt on her face and in obvious pain.

"Emms! Wake up! Your burning!" I screech and she jumps up bangs her head on the overhead tree branch and falls onto the sand and summer grass below.

"Hot!Hot!" Emma shouts and I try to stifle a laugh as she bounces from foot to foot, looking like she just got an electric shock. I get out of the tree and head to the river, which I find evaporated over night and I curse, these game makers sure are tough. I call for Emma and we sit around debating what we are going to do, we finally decide to go to the winter place-where I was first off- and get the snow in there, then head to the fall place that you can just see over the tops of the palm trees. So we set off with no water and burnt shoes, on the way I tripped over a tree root and twisted my ankle but it was nothing serious so we continued walking. Just before sunset and just as we were entering the snow section District 1 jumped us so I killed the tribute with my bow, the tribute was a girl,I think . We just got to the edge of the pine trees and scooped up snow before I remembered a bit of survival training.

*FLASHBACK*

"If you dig beneath the sand then there will be a source of water somewhere just dig down." Atlas said as she demonstrated and it worked.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

"Dang! We didn't need to come here!" I say to Emma and she looks startled.

"How?" She asks and I reply easily.

"Because there is water beneath sand." I say and we both fall down next to a pine tree and wait for night to fall so that we can travel under the cover of darkness.

We arrive at the fall section at midnight after safely traveling under the darkness. Well, not ENTIRELY safely more like I nearly got my head chopped off by a tribute safe. I keep pressing the bandage the my neck the bleeding has slowly stopped, and now we are face to face with the fall section, I step in cautiously and immediately my sight is blurred and I hear the hissing and rattling of snakes, I scream and Emma grabs my arm and drags me out immediately again we are engulfed in cold.

"Which section blindness or cold?" I ask her.

"Definitely cold one." She says quickly and I get to work lighting a fire, by the time I have got a spark another tribute jumps me and I am tackled to the ground, so much for my cut not bleeding actually this is the same tribute. I struggle and her grip tightens, I gasp in pain as I feel my leg brake under the pressure, I see Emma coming up behind her with her trident and she lunges her trident sinks into the flesh of the tribute and she let's out a blood curdling scream, Emma releases her trident from the tributes back and the tribute falls. Dead. A strangled cry escapes my lips as Emma puts pressure on my broken leg, I think back to my district and my home and that the only person who awaits my return is my fiance George, who was the only one who accepted me after what I did. My parents abandoned me despite my attempts to say it was an accident, I killed my brother by accident. I was broken when I killed him, he was helping me with a trap I was devising, something to help us. It malfunctioned and it blew up my device hut and since it was full of small but powerful explosives it set off a chain reaction, Killing my brother but sparing me. Once or twice I tried to kill myself because it was me that survived but George helped me.

Emma started the fire while I was thinking and now she is tightly binding my leg, I wince as she pokes my leg.

"I need to move the bone. This is gonna hurt." She says, I close my eyes then Scream and pass out.

-----

DROPPED OUT

-------------------------------

DISTRICT 4

------------

(DEAD)

-----

Jake

I wake up thirsty. Really thirsty. That's all I can think about when I get up. I want water. I need water. I must find water. Somebody, get me water before I freaking die. My thoughts aren't even working. My brain's all fogged up. I seriously need water. What was I thinking yesterday, running around when I was already dehydrated? Why was I even running around in the first place? Oh yeah, I figured out the arena. Oh yeah.......oh yeah. Oh right, I'd figured out the arena. I jumped up. I'D FIGURED OUT THE ARENA!!! Wow, how'd I even forget? God I'm thirsty. Right, need water...dehydration...thirsty...right. So, water. That stupid bitch, never there when I need it.

I try to get my brain to actually work, despite the fact that it didn't know the difference between left and right at that moment. Okay, so I need to go towards the summer sector, to make sure that my whole "Four seasons theory" was correct.

"So winter was...that way," I say pointing to my left.

"Which means summer time is...erm....that way," I say pointing forward.

"Wait, no, that's where the death flowers live." I feel myself becoming delirious. Imagine if I die by insanity, caused by a lack of water. Wow, that would be the biggest fail of a death ever seen. Ever. I turn 180 degrees.

"That way! No wait, that's the maze....so...that way!" I turn 90 degrees counter clockwise, opposite of the winter sector, right of the death flowers.

"Yes, that way!" I swing my pack around my shoulders and start marching in that direction.

After twenty minutes of marching, I start to regain my sanity, as walking seems to help me forget about the fact that I desperately need water. But that strange delirious feeling starts to come back as the weather starts becomes warmer. Scorching even. I walked for maybe forty minutes. That's the bugs started showing up. Those were probably the worst. Of course the bugs would all be hanging out around here. Hot, but not 'I'm-going-to-die-hot.' Just the normal July-August, 90 degree, too-much-sun hot. So yeah, A lot of bugs. A lot of bites. A lot of itches and rashes and scratches. I thought about the possibility of the bugs being the source of my deleriousnous, but I figured that if that were the case, I would have already been dead. So I kept walking for another five minutes or so, before deciding to sit on a rock and rest for maybe ten minutes.

It was really hot. And I was really thirsty. I take out my water bottle and take a long sip of water. But then I realize that I'm not actually drinking anything. Wait, why am I here again? Right, I need to prove that this is the summer sector. Yeah, yeah it's twenty degrees warmer here. Wait, so what am I doing here? Oh my god I am losing my mind, I need water. Fast.

I am about to start moving back towards the center of the spring sector, when the real trouble arrives. A huge swarm of bugs; flies, mosquitos, cicadas, bees, and a bunch more, just come from the middle of fucking nowhere and attack. Now, these aren't your average bugs. Not only do they sting, they bite. And not the normal kind of bite that leaves you all itchy, no. A bite, as in if a dog bit you. Yeah, real bites. And the worst part? They itch too.

So what do I do? I grab my stuff and run. Now I know, people are always like, "If you stand still, they won't notice you." Fuck that logic, I'm in the Hunger Games! These...these THINGS were probably designed just to kill me and only me. I just run back to the heart of the spring section, I don't even think. About five of the bugs get me, and leave me screaming and cursing all over the place. My whole arm is pretty much dripping with blood. But I don't stop running. All I can do is run.

After about ten minutes, I consider taking a quick look behind me. I quickly turn around, deciding to take the risk. Huh, no bugs. They must've disappeared a while ago. Should've checked a couple of minutes earlier. I lean against a nearby tree, trying to catch my breath. Well at least it's cooler again now. I hear a familiar sound coming from behind me. Running water. Huh, that's nice. Sounds like home. Wait- WHAT? I don't even think, I just run, all over again. But this time I'm running towards, not away from something.

I get there in about five minutes. There's a huge lake. But I know better than trusting that. Finally, coming from District Four has its uses. I scan the lake and find a small stream on the left, connecting to the river. I follow the stream for about five minutes, until I decide that the water there's safe. I fill up my water bottle, and take a long sip. Then I let the water rest for a few minutes in my stomach before taking another. I do this for the next five minutes. Then I wash out my arm, getting rid of all the blood. There are a few cuts, and they sting when they first hit the water. But I keep it in the water regardless, and wait for the pain to subdue. I find some seaweed lying around. Which really makes no sense since this is fresh and not salt water, but I'm still grateful for it and use it as a bandage.

When I finally come to the conclusion that I've had enough, I fill up my bottle one last time and head down to the lake to see if there's any fish down there. That's when I hear a strange noise coming from behind me. I spin around, whipping out my knife. And then I'm tackled to the ground.

"EVEN, I GOT HIM!" The girl above me shouts. I look up at her. She has her hair long brown hair tied up in a high ponytail, and she's giving me a funny look. She also has my arms pinned down to my sides has a knife against my neck, so I don't dare to move.

I still attempt to keep my cool. "Taryn Beyt, District Two," I say, giving her a lopsided grin. She rolls her eyes at me.

"Yeah, yeah, I know you know me Jake."

I wink at her. She spits in my face. Then I see her partner come up.

"Even Walker," I say. "How nice to see you again!"

He glares at me, but doesn't say anything.

"What, so are you going to kill me or not?" I ask them. They look at eachother.

"Actually, we were wondering if you would join us," Taryn explained.

"I thought you had Artemis on your side. She told me that I wouldn't make it past day one," I told Taryn, referring back to my District partner. "Or is my memory simply failing me?"

"Oh quit it with your smart ass talk Jake," Even said. "Are you with us or not?"

"Seeing as the alternative would be death, why not," I say.

Taryn releases me and I get up, brushing the dirt of my clothes.

"We've set up camp up ahead," Even says, and he starts walking. Taryn follows, and I make sure to fall into step with her.

"You know, you look hot when you hold knives to other people's throats. You do that very often?"

"I should've just killed you," she says.

I simply chuckle and walk ahead of her.

The "camp" turned out to be a small cave, about a five minute walk from the lake. I find that the two tributes from District One are here too. Oh great, I'm with the careers now. Exactly what I DIDN'T want to happen.

"So," I asked. "Seriously, where's Artemis?" She was my District partner. The rest of the boys and the Capitol were heads over heals for her, because of her supposed "good looks." I personally never saw it. Sure, she wasn't ugly, but I never saw what the rest of the guys were fantasizing over about.

"She didn't make it," said the District One guy. I forget his name, but it was a really weird one, one you'd only find in District One. Or maybe the Capitol.

"Oh, what happened?"

Evan snickered. "What, did'ya have a li'l crush on her or something."

I rolled my eyes. "I knew her for a while back home. What, do I not have the right to know?"

"She got killed at the bloodbath," the girl from One murmured. I think her name was Lake or something. I dunno, they all had really weird names. "Snow was really heavy, she was being careless and a bit greedy, someone from 3 got her."

So they started off in the winter sector. I made sure to keep that in mind. That must've meant that there was more than one Cornucopia too. This arena just kept getting stranger and stranger.

"Hey, anyone hungy?" Taryn asked after a few minutes.

"Thought you'd never ask," said Even.

I watch as Even and the guy from District One get a bag from the corner of the cave. The Lake girl from One gets a bunch of sticks and twigs, and handed them off to Taryn who made the fire. I watched as Taryn's nimble yet strong fingers quickly worked through the wood, twisting and pulling apart each twig, before placing it in a pile for the fire.

"Need help?" I asked her as I approached.

"No, you'll just make this even worse," she said.

"Shit," Taryn muttered after a few seconds. Her finger was bleeding. She sucked on it, then continued on with her work as if nothing happened. I sat down next to her and grabbed a few twigs.

"I'll take that as a yes," I said. She didn't object.

Ten minutes later, the fire was ready, and Lakin (I had finally learned her name) was cooking up two pretty big birds for us to eat.

"Grooslings," she had called them.

For a while nobody said anything, we all just stared at the meat cooking. Finally, I ruined the silence.

"So. Why'd you guys even want me here anyways."

At first no one responded. Then Taryn finally spoke up.

"You're the only one who can fish," she said. We're almost out of food.

I got the feeling that there was more to it than just "you know how to fish," but I didn't dare say anything. These guys could all kill me in seconds if they wanted to. I didn't belong here. Sure, I was from a career district. That doesn't make me a career. I might as well have been from District Ten or something, for all that its worth. I was never specially trained or anything. I was made fun of in school, I didn't have any friends. Sure, I've had girlfriends. I've kissed more girls than I could name, but I was never really close with any of them. Hell, I was probably closer with the fish that I caught than any actual living human.

We ate in silence. Then the guys put out the fire and we all got ready for bed.

"Okay, I've got first watch," Evan said, giving me a strange look. I guess that he didn't trust me. Which is stupid, he must have had at least forty pounds on me.

I shrugged. "Whatever. Just don't wake me up 'til its my turn to take watch."

If they needed me for food, like they had said, I really doubt that he would kill me while I slept.

I dragged my bag to the edge of the cave wall, and rested my head against it. I was about to go to sleep, when a small voice next to me said, "Mind if I join you?"

I opened one eye, still half asleep. Taryn was standing above me.

"No no, help yourself. She shrugged and sat down next to me, setting up a warm looking blanket on top of her. Now, I thought, where can I get myself one of those.

She looked at me. "Are you cold?"

"I'm fine," I said, not looking at her.

"Bullshit. You're shivering. And you've got goose bumps all over."

I looked at her. "I'm cold. So what?"

"Wanna share the blanket?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh knock it off, not like that," she said. "It's not like I have cooties or something.

Seeing no reason to refuse, I scooted a little closer and got under the blanket with her.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

God she smelled good. And it didn't even make sense, she should've smelled like dirt and sand. But she somehow managed to smell like fresh pinecones and trees and good smelling flowers. Like you just walked into a cozy forest on a nice spring day. I scooted a little closer to her. Her hair laid inches from my face. She had let her hair out to sleep a bit earlier, and it had framed her face very nicely. I found myself staring at her hair in the dark, where nobody could watch me watching her.

"Night Jake," she murmured into my ear after a few minutes.

"Night." And I fell asleep with the somehow comforting thought of Taryn Beyts sleeping next to me.

-------------------------------

DISTRICT 5

------------

DIDN'T TURN IN

----

DEAD

-------------------------------

DISTRICT 6

------------

DROPPED OUT

-----

DEAD

-------------------------------

DISTRICT 7

-----------

Avia Suns Summit

We are still in the winter section. I mean, I don't exactly know that there are sections, but judging by how fast the strummer section turned to winter, I bet there are. I am still allies with Lucas, but it's not doing much good, considering the fact that he does nothing. He is only twelve or thirteen, I'm not quite sure which, but he is kinda smart. Might as well protect him for a little while longer, until I can find a new ally.

I think of all this while laying in my tree branch. Lucas is still asleep, and today I simply don't feel like waking him up. Might as well enjoy the peace while we can, right?

I think it must be at least nine in the morning by now, but who knows, it is super cloudy out anyways.

I see a tribute, I'm not sure who, but I think it might be a girl. She, or possibly he, turns around and heads back to where she came from.

I feel rain drops. It then starts getting colder. Then much colder. Then the rain comes down harder. Suddenly the rain doesn't feel like rain anymore. The rain feels like blocks. It feels like freezing cold marbles are hitting my skin.

Lucas wakes up.

The marbles are getting larger. The marbles are getting much larger. Now the marbles are the size of your average pool ball. The marble rain keeps growing, and now the pool balls are the size of soccer balls. The soccer balls are now starting to get pointy.

I grab Lucas' arm, and yank him up to my branch. We put his sheet of plastic, and my blanket over us. However, if you had raindrops (that are now more like ice drops) the size of soccer balls, with points, do you think you would feel it through a blanket and a plastic cape?

The answer is yes.

The soccer balls aren't growing anymore, but they are getting pointier. They are getting thiner around the middle, larger at the top, and skinnier at the bottom. They are shaped sort of like ice sickles.

They are ice sickles.

I see a boy, and he is running In front of our tree, and he gets hit by a ice sickle, and he falls to the ground, as if he fainted. I would have thought he died, but no cannon went off.

The ice rain must have been going on for six hours or more by now, but the boy still hasn't woken up.

The sun starts to set. We only get about seven hours of daylight here in the arena. And Lucas and I like to sleep, so I let him take his cape, but it keep my blanket, and we fall asleep.

-----

Lucas Roy Aver

I wake up to notice the snow monsters are gone. Avia is still in the branch above me, and it is raining. It is raining very cold, hard drops. The drops get harder, and colder. Avia pulls me up onto her branch.

"Do you think we will be okay?" I asked.

"I sure hope so." She responds.

We gasp as we see a boy fall to the ground after being hit by one. He isn't dead, there wasn't a cannon.

"He's not dead." I say.

"I know." She replies and rolls her eyes. I notice the shade of her eyes. They are an amazing brown.

The boy is still asleep around four hours later, when the rain stops. We hear a cannon.

"He died." I say.

"I KNOW!" She yells at me.

At that moment, she grasps her backpack, slings it over her shoulder, and goes running off.

-------------------------------

DISTRICT 8

------------

DEAD

-----

DEAD

-------------------------------

DISTRICT 9

------------

Silla Novern

Stale, moist air swirled around in my nostrils as my senses began to flicker back to life, my eyelids still heavy making it almost impossible to open them. Though my mind was still in a cloudy haze, I had assumed that I could be dead. I did after all pass out in the desert, anyone could have found me. And killed me. But no, that hadn't been the case.

I willed my eyes to open, not fully, but my eyelids allowed me just a sliver of vision, just enough. I had braced myself for the prying rays of merciless sunlight, the hot sand scalding my skin. But that's not what I was greeted with as I blinked away the thin film of sleep clouding my eyesight, more of my vision being revealed as I did so. Instead, I found no sunlight at all. None. No sand, either. Only the cool, damp feel of something hard beneath me.

My muscles ached, sore beyond anything I had ever endured back home in the grain fields. From my toes, up to the very tip of my small, aching fingertip. All of it hurt, but still, I summoned the strength - all I could muster - hidden away inside me, running my hand that lied limp next to me over the surface of which I was laying on. It was dense, damp with moisture. Which didn't make any sense, since last I remember, the game makers were trying to dehydrate me to the point of death. My mind was still foggy, trying to connect the dots one at a time.

I didn't know where I was, or who had brought me here. Unless I miraculously woke, or sleepwalked to a cave that the game makers had conveniently placed right in the middle of a scorching desert. But that particular theory seemed a bit far fetched.

Once my mind becomes a bit more clear and my eyes open wide enough for me to asses my situation, I realize I'm in a cave of some sort, the air thick with moisture. I slowly propped myself up on my shoulder, a soft, almost un-audible grunt slipping through my lips. My skin scrunches along with me as I reposition, the full power of my sunburn making sure it's been acknowledged, known, felt. I grit my teeth, but my eyes still scan the surrounding gray walls.

I felt my foot pulsing in my boot, then remembering that a scuttle crab had stung me somewhere in my foot the day before. The pain inflicted by the scuttle crab sting ebbed down to a dull throb, though it was still uncomfortable. I craned my neck to the left, the hunter green of my backpack catching my sight from the corner of my eye, making it almost impossible to think about the throbbing in my foot at that point and time. My scythe was set next to it as well, propped up by the handle, the metal shiny and no longer clouded over in dry blood.

That's when I saw her. Her back was facing me, her head turned down. Her hair was handing loosely, shrouding her face in long raven locks. It was Sav. I had to be. No one else in the arena had hair with such ebony pigment, and no one else in the arena would have taken me to safety. No one but her.

Suddenly, not so tired anymore, I try to get up, quickly. But pain still courses through my veins and I grunt, coming back down on the hard surface of the cave.

"Sav," I croak, my voice raw as it comes up my throat and brushes over my cracked lips. "Saveria,"

My heart lurches as she turned around, a kind smile on her lips. Though, I'm sure i had startled her and I would apologize later, but in those few moments I was in pure bliss.

But nothing good lasts forever, and anything good in the games is short lived. Just as I caught glimpse of a white strip of bandage covering her eye, that's when little black dots invaded my vision, the world becoming a blur of colors the longer my eyes were open. The gray of the cave walls smudged together with the color of sav's jacket, and my scythe was nothing than a distorted hunk of metal.

I blinked once, then again. Nothing. Surely it was because I was pushing myself to hard, and I needed to rest. I needed water in my system, and I had just assumed I had none.

But when I said, "Sav, I can't see anything."

And she replied with, "I can't either."

That's when A cold rush of raw panic ripped away at my insides, my sunburnt skin suddenly gone cold. I felt myself go numb, starting in my fingertips and rush down my nerves into my throbbing foot. I didn't know what the game makers were doing now, but the chill that creeped down my spine assured me it wasn't going to be good. I tried to keep my mind off what might have happened is Sav hadn't saved me when she did. God knows what's going on in summer.

I ignore the dry searing pain that shoots up all over my body as I will my self to stand, leaning against the damp cave wall for minimal support. I Try to tame the mangled grunts of effort and pain as I sidle along the wall to reach my scythe, still weak from being deprived of necessary nourishment.

My mind was buzzing, May brain bashing against my skull, feeling as if my head would burst any moment. There was no soft transition, no easing into my conscious state. My body ached and burned and begged, not wanting to be pushed. But I needed to push. And push I did.

I fumbled with my back pack, but eventually managed to get it safely hauled over my shoulders. Though my grip was weak, my scythe was still securely grasped in my left hand, at my disposal is needed.

There was just a brief moment where the was complete silence. Since my movements stopped, there was no small echo of my clumsy feet against the cave, the rustling of my clothes diminished with my lack of movement, as well as Sav's. It was all silent.

Then, without warning, the silence was pierced slowly. As skin crawling hiss breaking out into the clammy air, slowly seeping into my ears. A line of goosebumps rose along my feverish skin, a cold chill shooting up my spine.

Then came another hiss, two occurring at the same time.

My blood felt as if it had frozen in my veins, my heart stopping it's consistent beats. Everything was cold, quiet, and still.

My head jerked down, my feet looked blurred, like everything else. The cave floor was smudged, but it was just clear enough for me to see something long, scaly looking slithering toward my boots. And then suddenly it wasn't blood inside me anymore, my heart was pumping pure adrenaline.

I grit my teeth, ready to summon every ounce of strength still inside my frail, weak body. I lifted my scythe above my head, ready to send it down onto the snake like creature. But before I could act, I heard a shriek. A shriek that belonged to Saveria. The. Her voice followed.

"I'm bit," her voice comes out in short bursts of breath, shaky and panicked.

In that small sliver of time, my own pursuer jumped on the opportunity to take advance of my lack of concentration, a sharp pain shooting up the side of my calf, a burning sensation viciously and rapidly spreading out over the surrounding flesh.

Then the mutt disappears, as if it's very existence dispersed into the air.

As thoughts of my certain death fly through my mind, I release my scythe in defeat, the metal clattering against the cave floor. I slide down the wall until I hit the ground, the pain in my leg growing with every moment that passed.

Surely, the game makers wouldn't produce a harmless mutt, only for the sheer purpose of the capitols entertainment. Well, they probably would, but knowing the current game making team this year, they're surely make their little mutts with some sort of deadly factor. And what other deadly factor would match a snake better than venom? By then I had already accepted the fact I my face was going to show up in the sky last night. Saveria on the other hand, seemed to have other ideas.

"Sil, we need to get you medicine," she said, already at my side as she gently rolled up my pant leg, examining the bite. I didn't look down. I couldn't, and I wouldn't.

"We knew it'd happen sometime..." I say, sadness lacing my words. I'd die sooner, the venom would circulate to my heart quicker. I was smaller. The venom would kill me quicker, my death was certain.

I carefully observed Saveria's facial expression through my still slightly foggy eyes. And judging my her face, it couldn't be good.

"Well that's unfortunate," I try a weak attempt at humor, my mouth trying to twitch into a smile which turns out to look more like a grimace.

I could already feel the venom making it's way through my body, infecting my blood stream and pulsing through my veins. The burning sensation spread like a wild fire, scorching my already horribly burnt skin.

Within only a few minuets, I felt a feverish swear rise over me, and I stripped myself of my jacket and helplessly sprawled out over the cool, damp floor. It only got worse from there.

"God, Silla you're burning." Sav said, placing the back of her palm on my forehead. It was then when my legs started to go numb, like a slow death playing with me. First the fever, then the numbness, then death. And I was at the begging of stage two.

"Sav, you got bit too," I say, my words shaky. "Take care of yourself." I could see it in her eyes, she was feeling the effects of the bite too. But she was trying to cover it up. She was trying to stay strong for me. And that's something I couldn't have repaid her for.

Without any medicine or antidote at our disposal, we were forced to watch each other slowly shut down as the venom coursed through our weakening bodies. I would have said my good byes then, but I was far to weak at that point.

With the time that passed, I felt more of me fall into the Numbness, my eyes becoming heavy. It soon became a struggle to do something as simple as blink. I was too weak. And I would die. That was certain.

Eventually, Saveria heaved herself somewhere. I couldn't see where she was going. But i did see a flicker of hope pass her one uncovered eye as she forced her also weak body to where she wanted to go. Then she came back, something clutched in her hands.

"Medicine," is all she said as she fumbled around with the silver parachute, urgently trying to get to the contents inside.

She had gotten one syringe out, quickly pressing The sharp needle into her arm before taking out what I had assumed was the one for me.

I'm not sure where she poked me with the needle and I wasn't aware when she pressed the plunger, sending antidote into my system. But by then I already felt far too dead. I could almost feel my heart beats slowing down and becoming less frequent, becoming paralyzed by the poison that was meant to send me to my death.

That last thing I remember is Sav gently whispering to me that everything was going to be okay, but I didn't believe her.

Before long, my eyes shut again completely, feeling déjà vu from the previous day I spent in the scalding hot sea of sand.

My mind went blank, a never ending void of emptiness. And then I felt myself sinking into the quicksand that's well known as sleep.

Only I wasn't sure if I would be waking up again.

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DEAD

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DISTRICT 10

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DROPPED OUT

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DEAD

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DISTRICT 11

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Saveria Hunbryll

I am a light sleeper. So when something runs over my foot, my eyes snap open and look at my feet. At first, I can't see anything. My right eye is covered by the bandage and my left is clouded. I blink and blink until the clouds dissipate in the centre so I can see but the clouds still ring my vision.

A branch snaps to my right and my neck cracks as I whip around to see what caused the sound. I shut my eye when I turned so now my vision is covered in the haze. I smash the back of my hand into the crevice where my eye is and rub until an itching pain blossoms. I crack my eye open and see several snakes slithering among the fallen leaves.

"What the...?" I say under my breath but the snake's beady eyes connect with mine. They stop in their tracks without a moments hesitation and then...

They disappear. Almost as if they were made of the autumn air, they vanish. Muttations. Great, and here I was thinking that plants trying to suffocate me was the worst it was going to get. It's the Capitol, Sav. Of course their going to use mutts.

I detangle myself from the sleeping bag and Silla, pack all of the supplies that we used last night and shake Silla awake. She opens her normally vibrant green eyes but I see that an off-white, like a pillow I once saw in the markets back home. Silla obviously has the problem with her eyes as she squints to see me.

"Silla, wake up. We need to get out of here and climb a tree. There are mutts on the loose," I whisper to her with an urgent tone and she starts to clumsily pack her bag. "Tuck your trousers into your socks. Try to cover any vulnerable skin."

We both cover oursleves as much as we can with our resources but I still the tears in my jacket and shirt. I pull on the spare pants and slip the socks on my hands, shoulder my bag, grab Silla's hand, and exit the cave.

I touch the bandage on my eye and find it wet. When I inspect the sock on my hand, I find it damp with fresh blood. I take the bloody sock off and rip the bandage off the delicate skin around my eye. The blood gushes down my eye and finds home in my mouth. The metallic taste forces me to spit the liquid out and Silla looks at me. She makes a sound similar to a mouse and covers her mouth with her sock covered hands.

I must look like something out of the horror movies we learned about in school. I've got one white eye, the other eye is spurting out blood like there is no tomorrow, my clothes are ripped and bloody and my hair probably resembles a bird's nest that has just been in a tornado. A lovely sight for 12 year old to see, even with eyes that can barely see.

I use the sock to dab the blood of my face then grab the other sock off my hand and tie it around my head. I don't have time to open the first-aid kit so this is the best that I can do for the moment. We clamber through the trees, watching the ground for the mutts as best we can until I spot a good tree for climbing.

As we reach the bottom of the tree, Silla screams my name. I look over at her and see a snake crawling. I select a small dagger and throw it at the snake. It hits the muttation in the head, killing it instantly and staining the glinting metal with a purple liquid. I tear the knife out of the snake and remember something my Grandmama said when I was younger.

"Saveria, remember what I told you."

"Yes, Grandmama. Stay away from the snakes."

"Especially those with purple blood. If you get bitten, you have only half an hour to get an antidote."

Silla's only got 30 minutes. I go over to body that has slumped against the trunk of the tree and put my hands under to pick her up. As I pick her up, my right hand starts to burn then it feels as if it has turned to ice. I pull my hand from Silla's limp body and see two puncture wounds on my hand.

I curse under my breath and start to suck the blood out from the wound. I read this in a text book last year but never needed the information until now. I suck and spit for a minute or so then try to find Silla's snake bite. She's biten on her elbow so I cut away the fabric and suck out what I can.

I spit out the final mouth-full of blood and heave Silla over my shoulders. As I stand, I get dizzy and almost fall over backwards. I start to climb and as I look up the tree, I swear I see a flying pink elephant. Next, I'm sure I saw a whale swimming through the clouds.

I claw my way up the tall tree and make it to a fork of limbs and branches. I tie Silla's slightly awake body to one branch and tie myself to another. I slip the sleeping bag over her legs and pull up my own bag. I rummage the pack for a few crackers and a bottle of water. I wash my mouth out again and pour some water down a pale Silla's throat. I nibble on a cracker to keep my strength up as a panda on a unicycle floats past the tree.

As I am about to settle down into unconsciousness, a silver parachute bumps into my head. I hastily rip the parcel upon and find an antidote for the muttations bites, good for two uses. I grab the first syringe, stab it into Silla's floppy arm and push down the plunger. I do the same but inject the serum into my neck. As the medicine takes effect, I plunge into the darkness otherwise known as sleep.

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DEAD

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DISTRICT 12

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DEAD

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DEAD