The winner of this task gets a dedication on this chapter. You can also have either a shoutout, another dedication or have me read any of your stories. Your choice. :)

TASK TWO ENTRIES!!!

District 1 Male. - Castle Darkstorm. (@PurplePizzaPancake.)

I’m gonna die, oh crap I’m gonna die keeps running through my head as I step into the tube that will take me into the arena. I wish I had the courage to not get in the tube but I guess I’d rather have a 1 in 24 chance of living. As the pod slowly rises I keep my eyes wide open so that I will get my first glimpse of the arena sooner. As I rise over the top of tunnel I see that is sitting on the edge of a volcano (Cuss word, cuss word, cuss word) with long bridges spanning from each podium to the center of the volcano where the Cornucopia sits. I hear the Gamemaker’s voice telling the Tributes us about the arena and then the timer starts. I hear the noise signaling that I won’t be blown up if I step off the podium so I take off running across my bridge without looking to see what the other Tributes are doing. After running flat out for about 2 to 3 minutes I reach the Cornucopia and take a quick glance around to see that the other Tributes are still on their bridges. I grab a big, black backpack, a sword, and a small backpack. I hear sounds of fighting and realize that I’m not alone anymore. I turn and see Emerald running toward me with a knife, I guess she didn’t find a bow yet.

“Castle…” she said with a smirk.

“Emerald…” I give her a nod.

“You going to run?”

“I don’t run from things.” I say as she walks towards me. She tries to attack me and I block it. She starts to bring her knife around to stab me, I quickly dodge out of the way, the blade nicking my cheek, and swing my sword around and slice down her arm before turning and running for the exit. As I get to the bridge I hear someone behind me. I glance behind me and see Karleigh from district 10. She doesn’t seem to have any weapons, I continue running but slower this time because the bridge is becoming unstable and swaying back and forth. I suddenly hear a scream from right behind me. Turning around I see Karleigh has slid off the bridge and is trying to pull herself back onto the bridge. I look back at the Cornucopia and see that no one is anywhere near us. I sigh and run back to Karleigh. I grab her hand and pull her back up onto the bridge.

“Thanks” she says panting a little bit. I open my mouth to reply when I see Caleb district 2 running towards us waving a battle axe?! I pull out my sword as he gets closer. He swings the axe around and I duck down before thrusting my sword upwards into his stomach killing him. I pull out my sword; turn to Kareigh and yell, “RUN!” We take off running as the bridge sways back and forth. We reach the end of the bridge and start running down the side of the volcano. Suddenly as we’re running I feel my feel slip out from under me and I start sliding down the slope. My arm hits a rock and I hear a loud crack as my shoulder pops out of place, cuss word. I FINALLY reach the bottom and lay there for a second before looking up to see Karleigh making her way down.

~~~~~~~~

Killed Caleb Red - District 2.

District 1 Female. - Emerald. (@anniecrestadistrict4.)

I stand patiently in the tube waiting for the tube to put me up into the arena, so I can catch up with meegan and go and kill off some tributes.  The tube slowly lifts me up, and the feeling of anticipation bubbles up in side of me. We reach the top of the tube and it lets me out onto my platform, I am standing on a platform above a volcano, there are no trees to run for cover, just 24 rope bridges perfect, The countdown stops and I race into the cornucopia, I can see meegan running as well, but then I notice her Rope bridge break and she falls into the lava. Darn it I think to myself, but I continue running, One less person to kill. I come to the end of my rope bridge; I am the first at the cornucopia, so I quickly grab as many supplies as I can. Next to come is Castle, He quickly picks up a sword  and swings it, trying to hit me, I think he forgot I have trained with him all these years. I quickly duck his blow, picking up a knife and stab it into his abdomen, laughing at his discomfort as he pulls it out. I grab a few weapons and other things from the cornucopia and run away. But tributes are standing in my way.  This is it, I tell myself the moment when all my training gets put into use. I duck the girl tributes attack and quickly stab a small throwing knife into her neck. The boy she was with runs at me holding a spear, I quickly pull the knife out of her neck and throw it, it hits him square in the forehead, he was dead before he hit the ground. I wipe the blood of the knife, and push the bodies of the two tributes into the lava. Saying a silent prayer that they will find a safe place in heaven, I turn around, only to get a knife straight into my thigh, I scream in pain and look around for the person who threw it, It was district 3 Chanel I think her name is.

“So one” she says “where is your little friend to come and help you know?”

“I don’t need her to be able to kill you” I say. Throwing a knife and running away, I don’t look back. I just continue running as far away as possible.

District 2 Male. - Caleb Red. (@merthurisawesome.)

A whole cauldron of emotions are bubbling up inside me. Every step further through the tube feels like i'm edging closer and closer to my death. As per usual i am clueless in what to expect. I look around and share worried glances with the other tributes. After what felt like years we reached the arena. I stared up in awe and fear at the towering volcano that loomed over me, blocking out the sun like an eclipse. This was definately impressive but the sight did worry me...

I stared down in pure horror as Meegan, Maecro, Menetts, Micheal, Alfonso and Aranger plummeted into the bubbling lava. Their screams and wails of pain rang out in the air like a warning, a warning that, that could have been me. I stared down at the lava which had just engulfed the bodies, the smell of burning flesh wafting in the air. I wiped a stray tear from my face, i had grown up with Meegan and now she was dead. I squinted to see the cornocopia infront of me. I looked to see dead shrubs and grassesand the only sign of life was the volcano and that of the other tributes. I looked around hastily for any form of weapon to arm my self with. I had a few poision darts that i snook in but that was it. I then saw a stone which i could easily sharpen and use for cutting and lighting. I grabbed it greedily, this protection made me feel a little safer than before.

I began to briskly walk down the swaying bridge, other tributes slightly infront of me. I did not dare look down as i had an unfortunate fear of hights and were pretty high up! I tried to spread my weight evenly across the bridge to prevent swinging. To be honest it was going perfectly well until there was a sudden gust of wind that i hadn't been expecting. The bridgenswung violently to the right. I yelped as i lost my footing and began to slide off the bridge. Panic rose into me and my heart began pounding. Desperately scrambling, i clung onto the ropes. I tensed as the rope began to cut into my hand rubbing it raw and bloody. I gritted my teeth as an immense searing flared in my hands. The other tributes did not bat an eyelid as i strugled to cling on. Searching for the strength i hauled myself up. I sighed with relief. I looked down to see a deep gash on my shin, probably from when i slipped. The volcano rumbled slightly. I was running out of time

My pace began to quicken as the volcano began to rumble louder and louder, angrier and angrier. I could feel the bridge weakening as every minute ticked. The cornocopia was in sight and getting closer and closer. I smiled victoriously. But suddenly the volcano let out an almighty rumble and smoke was rising increasingly quickly out of the volcano. Making a snap decision i ran. The bridge giving way beneath me. I sprinted the final 50 metres. I just reached the top as the bridge snapped. I felt myself falling then the sensation that i was dangling in mid air. I looked up to see Emerald and Trev holding onto my hands. With some effort they hauled me up. I lay on the ground regainingnmy breath. "Thank you." i smiled, "So much." "anytime." they replied and helped me up. At least someone cared about me.

I didn't kill anyone as i was to busy dangling off the bridge. But i'm glad, i would feel to much like a monster.

District 2 Female. - Meegan. (@rueandprimforever.)

KILLED BY THE GAMEMAKERS!!!

District 3 Male. - Maecro Menetts. (@mockingjayfire26.)

KILLED BY THE GAMEMAKERS!!!!

District 3 Female. - Chanel Lyal. (@Freedom606.)

This was it. I was in the tube. Waiting and waiting. As the lights flickered on I felt my breath hitch. So many thoughts were running through my head. What would the arena be like? What district would it favour? I hope I have to run. I'm the best at it. My hair had been back braided into a bun and I could feel my suit sticking to me as I sweated in nerves. I had to do this. I had to prove everyone wrong. No one wanted to be my Allie. I had no one to trust. Except maybe that district 11 boy. I cannot believe he went out there and said he loved me. I don't know how I feel about him but I would never say it at interviews.

I was finally in the arena. I could see all the competitors clearly. The ten second countdown had begun.  10 Emryless Hawke from district nine begins to fidget. 9  She reaches her hand forward as if longing for a weapon.  8 She lifts her left foot.  7  She puts it back down.  6  She lifts her right foot.  5  She puts it down.  4 "Do it!" I yell.  3   And she does.  2 She is blown to pieces and the cannon sounds. 1 I look over to Renarch. He mouths, "Left," 0 I run to the left of the cornucopia and see Renarch go to the right. I see that the right side is closer and it has all of the bows, arrows and bags. The left however is further away and has swords, brass knuckles and knives. I run until I come to the rope bridge. When I was still in district one I had to make a rope bridge and go across it. I take each step lightly and only think about taking the step in front of me. I make my way over to the cornucopia, out running everyone else except for a young man who I think is called Caleb Red. Making no noise I sneak up behind. With adrenalin running through my body I put a chock hold around his neck. Unfortunately I had taken too long and given him the opportunity to make a deep cut on the back I my hand. In anger I snap the poor boys neck. Grabbing a knack sack I put two double edge swords, 6 throwing knives, 5 poison darts and 2 small hand guns inside. I grab a pair of brass knuckles and put them on. I hear someone approach me from behind. I turn around and see Jason Brookes. I throw one of the poison darts at him and he drops to the ground. I look over to see Renarch motioning for me to hurry up. I hear the ground rumble under my feet and sprint ahead.

After 3 hours we finally stop for a breather.  When we had gotten to the bottom of the volcano it erupted. We ran as fast as we could hoping to out run it. We did that successfully but we did hear many cannons sound.  We later out our things once we had shelter.  I laid out mine and saw what Renarch had brought. He had two bow and arrow sets and 4 different back packs. He had chucked two to me as we started running. There was a red, yellow, blue and green backpack.   The red contained: 1 sleeping bag 2 packets of jerkey 2 litres of water 1 tube of antiseptic cream   The yellow contained: 3 loaves of bread 1 tarp 2 thick scarves 1 tube of burn cream  The blue contained: 1 block of cheese 2 compression bandages 2 apples 2 bottles of poison  The green contained: 1 box of panadol 2 liters of water 1 sleeping bag 1 tarp  "This is amazing!" I exclaimed, " I can't believe you got all this!"  "We have to work together if we want to live," he tells me rubbing the back of his neck. "Give me your hand and I'll clean it up."  I put my hand out to him and he begins to take off my brass knuckles. We look into each others eyes and I begin to get lost in the blackness of his. I hear a rustling just outside and jump up, pulling my hand away. I see a young boy carrying a bottle of water. He places it next to our shelter and puts to drops of poison in it.  "That stupid kid is trying to poison us!" I think to myself.  I sprint over and slam my fist into the side of his face. I hear Renarch run out and just watch. Again and again I make my brass knuckles connect with the boys flesh. He stops breathing and his heart stops beating.  I have blood all over my knuckles. It's my fault 4 people have died already. What have I let myself become?!

~~~~~~~~~

Killed:

Emryless Hawke- pressured to step off, blown to bits. 

Caleb Red- fight over weapons, neck snapped. 

Jason Brookes- tried to attack, poison dart. N

Hunter Barnes- tried to poison, beaten to death.

District 4 Male. - Jason Brooke. (@CrazyElfPrincess.)

How come I am about to be thrown into an arena where I will probably die a horrific death and all I can think about is how cold I am? I am absolutely freezing! I’m shaking uncontrollably and by the way my freakish stylist is looking at me she thinks it’s because I’m scared. I’m not scared. I can’t be. I chose to be here, I knew what would happen when I volunteered for my brother, my twin.

Couldn’t they make this place a little less sterile? After all, this is probably the last place I will ever be where I don’t have to be on edge in case someone comes at me with a knife. Not that I’m exactly relaxed. My entire body is tense. An inhuman voice announces that I have ten seconds and suddenly I can’t move. My stylist places her pink and purple tattooed hand on my shoulder, she may not look very human but the simple gesture comforts me slightly. Without a word I walk towards the clear tube and step onto the platform which will take me into my arena.  Time is so slow now, every second is precious. As the tube begins to rise upwards I try to steady me breath. I wrap my jacket around me tightly to try and stop myself shivering. Down there, with my stylist, it doesn’t matter if I look scared, up there the whole of Panem is watching and everything I do counts. I can’t show weakness.

I’m slowly lifted out of the ground and a gust of warm air hits my face. Oh My God! Is that… a volcano? Ok… ok, ok, ok. I’m on a volcano. The voice of the head GameMaker booms out across the arena, telling us that any form of shelter is three hours away and we have little under an hour to get away from here before the volcano erupts. So I have to run. That’s my only chance. I suppose they will get a good show out of this, it’s a really clever arena I’ll give them that. That only makes it worse for me I suppose. And far, far too soon the clock is counting down 10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… That last second seems to take an hour. The tributes around me all look either terrified or sickeningly excited. I take one final breath and...

1.

There is a long, drawn out sound as the klaxon sounds and without me even thinking about it my legs spring into action. Everything goes from being like a dream to suddenly being horrifically real. There are rope bridges across the volcano to the center where the cornucopia is. I don’t hesitate on my bridge as all around me I see people falling to their deaths as their bridges crumble beneath them. I force my legs to go faster than they’ve ever gone before and it pays off because just after I fling myself from the bridge it falls away and into the lava. My heart is pounding and my breath is already coming in gasps but I can’t rest. I’m at the cornucopia now, there is a huge pile of weapons in front of it and there are also tributes everywhere, dead and alive. Now isn’t the time to think so I run straight at the pile. I grab a belt of vicious looking knives and swing it round my waist, fastening it with one hand as I set my eyes on a pair of swords a couple of meters away. I grab the swords and I also swing a small, bright blue bag filled with some small, spiked balls and a slingshot over my back.

As I turn to run my path is blocked by another tribute. District 12, I think her name is Angela. She is armed with a selection of terrifying weapons and I don’t have time to think because one of her knives is coming at me. Relying solely on instinct, I dodge and slash at her with one of my swords. I pound the handle down on her skull and grimace as I feel her bones break. I throw her now limp body to the ground and deliver a final stab into her back to finish her and then I run.

Out of the corner of my eye I see two people struggling. I give a quick glance to my right and see the girl from my district, Calypso Arvin, fighting with the male tribute from district 6 and she looks like she’s loosing. I don’t know why but I decide to help her. I run up behind the other tribute and tackle him to the ground. We grapple for a moment but I draw one of my knives and stab him again and again. When I’m finally satisfied that he’s dead I shove his body away and jump to my feet, my adrenaline flowing.

“Thanks” Calypso says.

“Don’t mention it”

“Do you maybe want to be allies?” She asks, looking kind of scared and lost. I consider this for a brief moment. I know that having an ally is just something else the arena can take away from me but I don’t want to be alone.

“Sure” I say and before she can say anything else I grab her wrist and pull her into a run.

Tributes I killed: District 12 female tribute, Angela Kopperstone.

                              District 6 male tribute, Trev.

District 4 Female. - Calypso Arvin. (@HazelJ.)

The glass cylinder lowers down around me, trapping me. I try desperately to stop hyperventilating but I can't, my lungs just won't listen, they just leave me like a fish out of water. I can feel myself slowly begin to rise, rising up towards certain death. Death; I am going to die; I could be dead in five minutes; dead. My heart feels as if it is trying to break my ribs and I close my eyes, hoping that I will wake up at home, that this will have just been an extra-long reaping dream, but I know it's useless. Slowly light begins to stream from the top of the cylinder as it begins to emerge. My heart is in my stomach, and my stomach is in my mouth as I look around at my slaughter house and feel the lump form in my throat. There are sounds but I can’t hear anything, it’s as if I am underwater. I look down, trying to gather myself together. I can’t help but gasp as I see where I am stood, at the crater just inches in front of me and at the boiling red liquid in the bottom. Suddenly my sense over drive; smoke billows around me, filling my lungs and clogging up my eyes, the intense heat rising up from under me as if I am being cooked over a fire, sound blurs around me and I try desperately to focus on the wooden rope bridge in front of me. I can hear numbers ringing out around me and it takes a moment for me to register what they are; the countdown. My heartbeat suddenly multiples by 100 and I try desperately to keep breathing. "...5...4...3..." I stare straight ahead, trying to look anywhere other than my fellow tributes and the bubbling red liquid below me. I set eyes on the Cornucopia at the end of the bridge and position myself to run. "...2..." I close my eyes, wishing one final silent farewell to Percy and Serena before I meet my fate. "...1..."

it takes a moment for the word to process in my mind, leaving me stood blankly for a moment before realisation kicks in. I scramble off the podium, careful not to lose my footing and onto the bridge. I immediately feel it creak unhealthily under my weight and panic shoots through me. Before I know what I am doing run as fast as my legs will carry me towards the Cornucopia. "Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down." I chant quietly under my breath as I run. When my feet finally meet solid ground again I feel as if my legs will give way; it's the feeling you get after a few days on a boat when you finally get back to land; jellyfish legs. This feeling is not at all helped by the people in front of me, grabbing weapons, slashing, wrestling, stabbing at each other. I stand in shock for a moment; the true horror of the Games dropping by to slap me in the face. I have to get out! Suddenly, something catches my eye; at the side of the huge pile of supplies is a small blue bag. From where it is lying I guess it has been dropped by another tribute in their rush to escape or in battle but that doesn't matter now, all that matters is that bag is on route to my exit, that bag might contain something useful, that bag must be mine. I quickly scan my route; in my way are three people in the middle of a full scale fight. I take a moment to consider what to do; just run, or wait for the right moment? Suddenly there is a whooshing sound as a knife flies past the right side of my head. I don't even wait to see who threw it; I take it as a sign and just run. I dodge past the fight and draw closer and closer to the bag. I am just inches away when the ground falls away from under my feet. I land with a thud on my front, biting my lip to stop an exclamation of pain and shock escaping me. Suddenly a chill runs right through my body, scaring me stone still. There is a hand on my ankle.

The grip tightens and I panic, trying to wrench my foot free. I spin round, kicking out in a desperate panic. I see his face, the owner of the hand, his skin blood splattered, his leg savaged, but a hint of a smile on his face. "Get off me!" I yell, trying to sound fierce but am fully aware of the fear in my voice. His smile merely widens and I feel my blood freeze in my veins. I begin to try and pull with my arms, trying to drag myself free but as I do, I feel sharp stabs of pain run down my leg. The boy carves into them with his fingernails, scratching like a cat. I don't know what he is hoping to achieve but whatever it is, it's probably working. His hand moves up to my knee and no matter how much I squirm I can't get free. He pulls himself up, dragging his dead leg behind him. In his right hand he holds a knife, already blood staining the steal. I cross my arm over my face to try and block him; block his blow and block that smile of his. He tries to move my arm, forcing it back down towards my body. This is the end isn't it? I didn't even make it past the Cornucopia. Is this really my fate? To die here? At the hands of this mad man? It can't be, I don't want it to be! I try to force my arm back, resisting as much as I can. Then, there is a sparkle in his eye, just as cold and manic as his smile, as he moves his knife slightly. I realise what he is about to do but I can't do anything to stop him. He pushes back against my arm with the knife, the cold steal slashing open my skin. I can't help the cries of pain escaping my lips as blood begins to ooze down my arm. This really is my fate then, I really am going to die, right here, right now, in front of the whole of Panem, in front of Percy and Serena.

I am just about to drop my arm, stop resisting, when a force drags the boy from me, throwing him aside and smashing him into the ground. I take a moment to breathe again before I shakily pull myself to my feet. I look around me, the body of the boy lies on the ground next to me but his killer is lost in the midst of the battle. I turn, grabbing the small blue bag and shoving it onto my shoulder before cradling my bleeding arm and beginning to run. I don't know where I am going, all I can think is somebody just saved my life.

District 5 Male. - Thomas. (@beckamccullough.)

SURPRISE IN STORE COURTESY OF THE GAMEMAKERS!!!!

District 5 Female. - Arangaer. (@Story_Creator.)

KILLED BY THE GAMEMAKERS!!!!

District 6 Male. - Trev. (@aiush2001.)

ENTRY NOT HANDED IN. HAS EXTRA TIME. IF NOT HANDED IN BY THE TIME THE THIRD TASK IS POSTED. TRIBUTE WILL FACE A SURPRISE COURTESY OF THE GAMEMAKERS!!!!

District 6 Female. - Indigo Night. (@Indigo_Night.)

A sharp slant of sunlight falls through the blinds and onto my face causing me to cringe. I force myself out of bead with a groan, today is the day of the games and it is way to early to start daydreaming about killing the careers.

Ever since Liam died in the games I've been planning out each and every one of their deaths and you can bet I'll make a real show out of it. I plan on killing all of the tributes from 1 and 2 first and then I'll go after the boy from 4, but I'm saving the girl from 4 for last. Her counter part was the one to personally kill Liam and I want to make sure this new girl sees all of her allies die before I kill her. I want her to know what it's like to fear for your life, to know that someone is hunting you down at all costs. Her death will be the real show.

"All for the show," Julius says to himself like he can't wait to see me slaughter innocent children.

"All for revenge," I say to myself as the image of the careers enters my mind.

The hovercraft lands and we enter the catacombs. Julius hands me my outfit for the arena and explains that it regulates temperature and is water proof. I slip it on along with the clay bracelet Liam made me for my birthday the year he died in the games. I press my lips against the smooth beads and remind myself why I'm here, to serve justice where it is do.

As I sit with Julius I show no signs of fear or feel any for that matter, I don't feel much of anything. My fingers don't tremor, my lip is stif, and no tears well in my eyes. I feel nothing.

A voice announces that it's time to prepare for launch and I step into my tube. Julius smiles at me and gives me a thumbs up, signs of reassurance, but I can see the bloodlust in his eyes.

"Launch in 15 seconds," the voice tells me and I square my shoulders.

"Launch in 10 seconds." I put on my best scowl.

"Launch in 5 seconds." A cruel grin flickers onto my face.

The plate begins to rise.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let the first annual Writers' Games begin," a thunderous voice booms across the arena.

Sharp sunlight and biting sand come at me and I'm forced to shield my eyes to see anything. I'm on a volcano and the Cornucopia hangs over the lava, the only way to get there is a dangerous looking bridge. Behind me is a desert island, not a single tree anywhere, and an ocean that could be made of ink, I don't want to know what kind of horrible mutts lurk in those waters. The last 10 seconds whirl by and the gong rings out.

I'm the first one off my podium as I sprint for the bridge. The bridge is creaky and I'm tempted to go across it at a slower pace, but then I see several bridges break sending the tributes on them into the lava and I run faster.

My long legs gave me a huge advantage and I make it to the Cornucopia at the same time as Rowan, we give each other a quick look and he gestures to the bottom of the volcano, we will meet there.

The girl from 1 arrives next and I start scrabbling for a weapon. I grab four tomahawks, a pack, and a long rope. I place the rope and two of the tomahawks in my belt, the pack slides over my shoulders, and the other two tomahawks are gripped tightly in my hand.

I move to attack this girl, but am yanked to the ground from behind. The District 2 boy pins me to the ground a pulls out a deadly looking axe. My arms and legs kick and squirm, the first sign of fear I've shown, as he runs his finger along the blade. Right when he's about to remove my head from my body a black arrow pierces his neck and he falls over dead.

Once I've shoved his dead corpse off of me I see the girl from 1 with a black bow in her hands, she killed another career to save me.

"Allies?" she asks with a cunning smile.

"Yeah," I answer without hesitation, I may hate careers, but this girl could be very helpful in getting my revenge.

A shadow appears behind the girl, a boy with a knife in his hand. He's shaking with fear, but he still has the guts to kill. My tomahawk is buried in his skull before he even gets close to my new ally. It was the boy from 8.

The girl looks surprised to see the dead boy, but I grab her arm and the tomahawk and start running before she can say anything,

"I'm Emerald," she tells me as we sprint towards the place where I'm supposed to meet Rowan and Hunter.

"I'm Indigo," I begin but I stop talking when I hear a horrible scream from behind me.

When I turn Hunter has a spear buried in his stomach and the girl holding the spear is the one from District 4. Blood seeps from the wound and I start running back to save him, Hunter reminds me so much of Liam and I have to save him, but Emerald grabs my arm.

"It's too late," she tells me and I know she's right.

Hunter collapses to the ground, dead, and the girl pushes his body into the lava. His body sizzles as it hits the lava and in that moment I know I will kill that girl at all costs, even my own life.

Emerald and I run to the place where we were supposed to meet Rowan. He stands next to boulder with a look of shock on his face.

"Who's this? And where is Hunter?" he demands.

"This is Emerald, she saved my life and killed the boy from 2. And Hunter is..." I can't get the words out.

"Dead," Rowan finishes for me.

I nod my head and he asks, "Who killed him?"

"The girl from 4," I tell him.

His eyes light up with fury, "I'm going to kill her."

"No, I will," I say with certainty.

A sharp knock on my door pulls me out of this bloody daydream and my mentor, Lucia, enters the room. "You should eat breakfast before the hovercraft gets here."

I nod and pull on whatever clothes I find knowing that I'll receive my outfit for the arena in the catacombs. I sit at the a small table to eat breakfast with Lucia and my stylist, Julius.

When the steaming plates of food come out I immediately  begin shoveling heapings piles of eggs and ham into my mouth and then laugh at the disgusted look on Julius' face. Most tributes are probably to scared to eat, sitting in their chairs shaking and crying like the weaklings they are.

When I'm done Julius and I head to the roof to catch the hovercraft. I'm frozen to a ladder and pulled onto the hovercraft where a woman places a tracker in my arm. It would be a shame to have a tribute die and not get it on camera. The windows go black and I sit proudly next to Julius.

"Aren't you scared?" Julius asks me.

I laugh at this. "No, I'm just excited to get my hands on those weapons." My fingers flex as if they were wrapping around the hands of one of my precious tomahawks.

District 7 Male. - Hunter Barnes. (@Indigo_Night.)

ENTRY NOT HANDED IN. HAS EXTRA TIME. IF NOT HANDED IN BY THE TIME THE THIRD TASK IS POSTED. TRIBUTE WILL FACE A SURPRISE COURTESY OF THE GAMEMAKERS!!!!

District 7 Female. - Aaliyah Rivers. (@ArizonaWestwood)

I didn't even glance at the other tributes as we were in the hovercraft on the way to the arena. I just twiddled my thumbs and looked down at my feet. I was too nervous to do anything else.

After a while the hovercraft landed and every tribute was taken into the catacombs of the arena and we were all taken to a different preparation room. Jonas was there in his usual simple black trousers and shirt.

"Here's your jacket" Jonas said and he helped me put it on and zipped it up for me.

My whole outfit for the arena consisted of: a pair of dark green cargo pants, a black t-shirt, a waterproof jacket that reflected body heat and some combat boots. I also had my hair tied into a braid down my back.

"Thanks" I mumbled. I was starting to feel more scared by the minute.

"Here's your token too" Jonas said taking my arrow necklace out of his pocket and handed it to me.

"Thanks Jonas" I replied and I fastened it around my neck.

After afew minutes the voice over the arena sound system said it was time for us tributes to step into the tubes. Before I went towards the tubes Jonas stopped me...

"Good luck kid" Jonas said and I nodded.

I stepped into the tube. My palms were sweating and it may looked as if I was calm on the outside but inside I was screaming "WHY ME?!" "WHY DID NATALIE'S SISTER GO AND GET REAPED?!" "WHY IS THE CAPITAL SO UNFAIR?!".

I was just so scared. But not for myself. For my friends Natalie and Jacob and Natalie's sister Anne. But I was especially scared for my brother. I couldn't let him down. What would happen to him if I died?

After afew seconds the panel underneath me started to rise and I was brought into the arena.

It took a couple of seconds for my eyes to adjust but when they did, I was shocked by the sight in front of me. We were all inside of a volcano!

There was the 24 podiums and there was a bridge leading from each podium towards the cornucopia. the cornucopia was a silver like kind of cone shaped and inside was a large variety of weapons. Before the head game maker spoke \I took the time to scan around the cornucopia for a bow or some knives and sure enough there was a bow almost directly opposite me! Then I looked for a form of escape but it looked as if the only form of escape was by running across the bridges towards the cornucopia. My heart started pounding. I hated the arena. I hated the capital! The arena literally looked like a living hell. I looked around and I noticed that the only forms of shelter were in the distance so I'd have to move extra fast.

I jumped as the voice of the head game maker came through the sound system. He explained that we had a little under an hour to get away from the volcano before it erupted! To make things worse the head game maker explained that any form of shelter was at least 3 hours away! By then my heart was beating so fast I genuinely thought it would burst.

Just as I was getting in my ready position the countdown form 10 began...

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!

I had no idea what to do but just before I set off in the corner of my eye I saw Meegan, Maecro, Menetts, Michael Alfonso and Aranger dart across their bridges and they fell down into the lava below. They didn't even have enough time to scream before they were sucked up by the lava below.

But by the time they'd fell into the lava I had already started sprinting across the bridge. I heard the steps break afew seconds after I'd ran across but after about a minute I got to the cornucopia. As soon as I set food on the solid ground surrounding the cornucopia I quickly grabbed the nearby bow, a sheath of arrows and a backpack of supplies and started to dart to the exit. But before I could start running four other tributes started running around and fighting with the other tributes.

I tried to make a quick getaway but before I could get away the district 6 girl and district 10 boy came running towards me. I quickly got an arrow on my bow and aimed at them but I missed. I tried a second time but I also missed that time. Luckily neither of them had a bow and they were afew metres away form me.

After afew seconds I manages to go the other way and I darted over another bridge and landed on the side of the volcano. Before I could run away I saw the district 8 girl aim an arrow at me! But before I could get away the arrow hit me in the shoulder and I yelped in pain.

I knew I couldn't stay there a minute longer otherwise I'd be killed so I started running away from the volcano and down the mountain, clutching my shoulder in pain. My shoulder felt as if it was on fire and the flames were engulfing me from the inside. But I kept on running.

District 8 Male. - Michael Alfonso. (@memeloves123.)

KILLED BY THE GAMEMAKERS!!!!

District 8 Female. - Sapphire. (@theamazingsapphire.)

SURPRISE IN STORE COURTESY OF THE GAMEMAKERS!!!!

District 9 Male. - Rowan Bayer. (@RyanMo821.)

ENTRY NOT HANDED IN. HAS EXTRA TIME. IF NOT HANDED IN BY THE TIME THE THIRD TASK IS POSTED. TRIBUTE WILL FACE A SURPRISE COURTESY OF THE GAMEMAKERS!!!!

District 9 Female. - Emryselle Hawke. (@AiBella.)

Standing before the tube that would transport her to the surface and on to her eventual demise, Emryselle visibly blanched and nearly puked on her own shoes. Dellan was fussing, coiling the long braid of her raven black hair into a chignon at the back of her head. He didn’t want the competitors to have something to hold her with, if someone were to grab a handful of her hair, she wouldn’t be able to get away from the killing blow without cutting it, and THAT only if she had the presence of mind in her panic to comply with reason and actually cut it.

Dellan finally declared that there was nothing left for him to do and he wandered off to check on Rowan. The loud-speaker crackles and the words “10 seconds” followed by a count-down are droned over the air-waves. The peace-keepers herded the two district nine tributes into the tubes and Emryselle looked over at Rowan from her place with a look of panic. When she saw an identical look on Rowan’s face, she quickly schooled her features and attempted to send him a reassuring smile.

It apparently didn’t look all that reassuring because Rowan pulled a face just as the metal discs they were standing on started moving up toward the surface. Dellan hollered over the whir of the motors, “Don’t step off of the platform until the countdown is over… and don’t look down!” Emryselle wasn’t exactly sure that she’d heard that last part correctly but she tucked it away to ponder later as she looked up. The metal iris over her head was slowly opening and the overly hot, stale air of the tiny enclosed space was sucked out and replaced with the ashy smell of the outdoors. Wait, what? -Ash? That certainly isn’t a good sign.

Underlying the smell of ash was the cloying smell of rotten eggs and methane gas. It was a strong smell and as Emryselle’s eyes started stinging and watering and her stomach attempted one last good heave, she squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath. When her platform reached its apex, she opened her eyes and gasped. That was obviously the wrong move as she immediately started coughing as the toxic fumes attacked her lungs. She was in a volcano!

Not near one, not on one, but IN a freeping volcano! Panic wrapped its cold hand around her heart and squeezed hard as she began to feel light-headed from the methane. Above the very center of the volcano was the shiny façade of the cornucopia. It was at a higher level than the twenty-four platforms surrounding it. And there was only one egress from it in the form of a rickety looking rope bridge. Obviously there would be immediate deaths because there was NO way that twenty-four tributes would be getting across that narrow death-trap alive. For that matter, there was no way that twenty-four tributes would even make it to the cornucopia since the bridges from three platforms merged to one bridge forcing three tributes to fight for the right to cross to the cornucopia.

Looking over her shoulder, Emryselle marked it off the list of possibilities as she saw that the ledge her platform was one jutted out ten feet below the rim. Rickety bridges of death it was then. The bridges were fanned out in the shape of a snow-flake and as Emryselle looked at her three-bridge branch. To her right on the farthest edge of their branch of the snow-flake shape stood Rowan looking at his bridge with what could only be described as suspicion. To her left, Emryselle saw the dark, soft-spoken district eight male. Wracking her brain, she thought his name might have been Michael, but she wasn’t entirely sure of that.

Emryselle nearly jumped out of her skin as the voice of the Head GameMaker startled everyone. Suddenly feeling like a light-headed blob of quivering jello, Emryselle looked up above the Cornucopia. The face of Firein Magwhite appeared in the sky to accompany his loud boisterous voice. “Hello Tributes! Welcome to the Hunger Games!” The sound of the Head GameMaker’s chuckles echo in the bowl of the volcano and even the careers cower at the sinister tone of Firein’s voice.

“You will have noticed by now, I’m sure, that there are no trees surrounding the volcano in which you stand which means that your only form of escape is to run across the bridge toward the Cornucopia. Any and all form of shelter is three hours away from the volcano.” More sinister sounding chuckles echoed around the tributes as some of them realized for the first time what that might mean for them. “You have a little under an hour to get to the Cornucopia and away from the volcano before it erupts. The weapons will of course vanish with the erupting of the volcano, so I would highly suggest that you grab what you can as quickly as you can.”

“You will notice that your bridges do not look entirely safe, that’s because they aren’t. They will begin to break as you run across them, so be quick! Remember, if you do not brave the bridges, you will be caught in the eruption.” The face in the sky smirked as if this was all his personal joke and he’d just delivered the best punch-line ever. “May the odds be ever in your favour!”

Emryselle began to take shallow breaths as the countdown began over the Cornucopia.

10……….. 9………. 8………. 7………. 6………. The light-headed feeling and the blurry vision persisted as she crouched into a ready stance and slowed her breathing even further….. 3………. 2………. 1……….. a loud gong rings out as the number finally hits 0. Emryselle launches her body onto her bridge finding quick grab-and-release grips on her ropes as the bridge sways with the weight of three bodies. She see that immediately the planks start falling into the lava behind her as if the bridge itself is racing her across.

About two-thirds of the way across Emryselle was thrown side-ways as her bridge rocked maniacally. Michael’s bridge had snapped when he was only a few yards from the junction in the bridges. The sound of his screams as he fell to his death mingled with her own as she was pitched over the side of her bridge, and barely grabbed on in time to not join him in his death. The falling planks had nearly caught up to her position and she scrambled back over the edge of her bridge and stumbled into a limping run as the whole volcano shuddered.

Frantic with panic, Emryselle made it to the junction of the bridge and paused just long enough to glance behind her at Rowan. He was only four feet away and the falling bridge was quickly eating up the space behind them both. Reaching behind her she grabbed his hand, and harnessing a power she hadn’t realized she possessed, she sling-shot his bulky form past her and pushed him to run faster. They were both panting and wheezing as they threw themselves from the bridge onto the rock on which the Cornucopia sat.

“Your hands, they’re bleeding!” Rowan hollered as he pulled Emryselle back to her feet. Looking down at her hands, she saw that the flesh of her palms was ripped open and bleeding profusely. How would she hold a weapon now? As if reading her mind, Rowan grabbed a couple of sleeping bags and a wicked looking mace before asking what she wanted to take. Emryselle looked toward the loot around them and grinned when she spotted the slender curved blade she knew would be there. Pointing at it she had a moment of panic as the district four boy grabbed for it. Her panic subsided as Jason’s reaching arm was suddenly bashed away from the skikar by the business end of Rowan’s spiky mace.

Rowan lightly tossed her the blade, which she caught neatly in spite of the open wound in her hand. Clutching his shattered arm, Jason stumbled over to her and practically fell into the blade as she brought it up into his abdomen. Tears fell from her eyes as she watched the blood bubble out of his mouth and his dilated eyes glazed over. A loud cannon blast sounded through the air as his body fell to the ground. Pulling her blade almost reverently from the corpse she whispered a quick, “I’m sorry,” before swinging toward Rowan.

He was positively screeching for her to get a move on, and so she stumbled to him. The knife in her hand was so heavy as she broke into a run for the large smooth shield in front of her. She knew she couldn’t wield the heavy shield herself, but an idea was forming in her mind as she threw it over her shoulders and strapped it over her back. Rowan was shaking his head in disbelief as he grabbed her torn hand and pulled her behind him toward their last obstacle before they could get off this mountain. -The last bridge. For one heart-stopping moment, they were met by the enraged face of yet another tribute who was trying to make it across the bridge before them.

The blonde’s eyes were glowing a bright green as she knocked an arrow and shot it right at Rowan’s heart. Emryselle threw her body between Emerald’s arrow and Rowan and squeezed her eyes shut. An enraged scream sounded behind her as the arrow glanced off of the shield on her back and buried itself into the throat of the district two boy who was poised with an axe about to brain Rowan from behind.

With a roar, Emryselle pulled the shield in front of her and charged at her green-eyed opponent. Caught off-guard, Emerald caught the shield in the chest and was knocked over the edge and into the lava. Emryselle didn’t shed a tear for the girl’s death as the sound of the cannon boomed throughout the arena. She’d attacked first.

Rowan looked a bit dazed as Emryselle readjusted the shield to lay across her back once again. She snapped her fingers in front of his face and winced as the pain in her palm lanced all the way up her arm. His gaze snapped to her eyes and she lifted an eyebrow. “Let’s go! We’re running out of time!” she called out as the volcano shuddered once again. There was nothing between them and their way out of here.

They finally made it across the bridge between the increasingly frequent shaking of the mountain beneath them. Looking down the mountain, they could see a few people running like hell to get away in time. Rowan’s face fell, “We’ll never make it, we’re going to die.”

“I swear by all that is within the scope of my voice, if you give up I will drag your body behind me until someone finally finds me and kills me or the lava catches me and burns us both to cinders!” Emryselle raged. Throwing the shield off of her back she pointed at it and bellowed, “Now get on!” The quizzical look on Rowan’s face would have been comical if it weren’t for the fact that they were about to die. He quickly complied with her demands and she gave it a hefty shove, swearing as the shield bit into her broken palms. Jumping onto the shield herself the makeshift toboggan tore off down the steep slope. There were no trees, just as Firein Magwhite had promised, so she held onto Rowan for dear life as they careened wildly down the side of the mountain.

When they reached the bottom they were within shouting distance from a brawl between the remaining careers and their unfortunate prey. A body fell to the ground and just a few moments later the sound of the cannon fired off. Emryselle didn’t wait around to see who had fallen to the careers; the rumbling of the mountain was getting louder and the shaking was getting more violent. They had to get away from here now!

Rowan pointed to a copse of woods that appeared to be miles away across the hot cracked landscape. Without a second thought they both started running for it. Emryselle’s right ankle throbbed with pain from being flipped over the side of her bridge, and her hands were slick with her blood, but she tucked the blade into a strap on the outside of her boot and continued to run. She had thought about leaving the shield, it really had served its purpose and then some, but she just couldn’t bring herself to leave it behind. The extra weight on her back surely slowed her down and before she knew it, Rowan was far ahead of her and not looking back.

Glancing back, herself, Emryselle saw that she was not alone. The frantic faces of a few more surviving tributes were racing down the mountain behind her. She had just reached the edge of the trees and looked back from the relative safety of her position when the volcano blew it’s top and the lava coursed hot and thick down the sides of the mountain. She had passed the edge of the old lava-flow about an hour back, so there was no way she’d be caught, right?

The figures on the side of the mountain disappeared like wisps as the lava flowed over and around them. Emryselle shuddered and turned on her heal. She was still feeling light headed from the volcanic gas and the air was cooling significantly with the addition of the extra ash over the artificial sun. She still had to find somewhere safe to sleep. She couldn’t just keep wandering around in the dark. And dusk seemed to have fallen suddenly. Emryselle briefly wondered what had become of Rowan.

Finally finding a place to hunker down and hide for the night, Emryselle watched the faces and names of the death-toll scroll across the sky. Rowan wasn’t among them, and she breathed a quiet sigh of relief as she tucked herself under her shield. She had covered it with moss and leaves and hidden it between the large roots of a huge tree. If she could be quiet she should be safe for a few hours at least.

Crying silently, Emryselle slipped into a deep sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*District ONE Female: Emerald (death by lava)

*District TWO Male: Caleb Red (arrow to the throat)

*District FOUR Male: Jason Brookes (knife to the solo-plexus and into the lung)

District 10 Male. - Jonas Green. (@Startrekvoyagerfan22.)

I put my hand against the glass of the tube. It was cold. I felt the plate move under my feet, my hand was dragged up the glass. I quickly let it fall as it hit dirt. The sunlight blinded me for a second. I glanced around at my surroundings. We were at the edge of a crater. The heat was scorching. A volcano. Rickety wooden bridges lead to the cornucopia. I quickly scanned the goodies up for grabs. I spotted a bow and quiver of arrows. I was a fast runner so I would be able to grab them and make a mad dash for the exit. The count down began and I prepared to leap off the plate and sprint for my weapon. 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 47. My sense of trepidation grew. 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Run.

The wooden bridge swayed slightly as I ran. I glanced to my right and saw Meegan fall into the lava below. I sprinted. I reached the Bow and Arrows. I slung them over my shoulder and made a hasty retreat. The boy from district four ran towards me. Thinking quickly I shot him through the head, he fell into the lava below. A sick rush filled my body. My first kill. I felt a sharp pain in my arm. A knife was sticking out of it. I didn't look up. I ran. I grabbed a large black rucksack on my way past. I felt the bridge break as I ran across it, I out on an extra burst of speed. I scrambled out of the volcano and ran.

The slope was steep. I slipped and slid down on my back. The rocks cut at my palms, chewing my flesh. The end was near, I thought I was going to die from my fall. I was surprised when I landed safely. I ran, the clinking of my arrows assured me that they were still there. I headed into the jungle. I could use a tree to hide out in. I heard a voice behind me, I turned to see one of my allies heading towards me. Hunter Barnes,He had a large gash on his shoulder and blood dripped from a gash on his head. I pulled the knife from my arm,I wiped it on my shirt and handed it to him. A yell alerted us to the tribute who was charging towards us. It was the girl from district four, she sprang at me, her hands locked around my throat. I kicked her in the stomach but her grip only tightened around my throat. I struggled to suck air into my lungs. I reached back for an arrow. My fingers curled around the shaft and I swiftly pulled it from the quiver and jammed it into her heart. Her eyes bulged before she fell away from me. I yanked my arrow out for her chest. My second kill and the games had just begun. Before I could ask Hunter what we were going to do next a loud rumble sliced through the air. We looked at each other and ran.

We ran through the thick jungle until we were far enough away from the volcano. I spotted a tree and began to climb,Hunter followed. We found separate branches. I unhooked my quiver from my arm and counted the arrows,I had 29 in total, I would have to limit myself. I unzipped my rucksack and studied the contents. I had a pack of dried meat,a pack of dried fruit, two full water bottles, a knife, a roll of wire,some matches and a small black sleeping bag. I opened the pack of dried meat and handed a strip to Hunter, he accepted it and we ate in silence. I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was sleep.   2 kills:   Jason Brooke  Calypso Arvin.

District 10 Female. - Karleigh McConyll. (@mockingjayfire26.)

This was it. My mind echoed as my shaking sweat drenched hands attempted to dome the buttons of my jacket. My hands slipped once again as I choked a sob, earning me a disapproving glare from Rozzi’s heavily made up eyes. She tutted and pushed my hands away to do the buttons herself, quickly fixing them with her nimble manicured hands. I lifted my hand to the crook of my neck to twist the little piece of amethyst and childhood that lived upon my throat; a ‘nervous habit’ my mother used to called it. My head shot up as I remembered, feeling the vacant space in the crook the weather beaten stone should hang— my pendant! I left it on the training centre dresser after my shower last night. “Damn it! I forgot it—how could I do that!” I cursed, clutching the empty air I now noticed at my throat. A slight hysterical note was present in my voice, rising in octave as my panic grew. Rozzi lifted her eyebrows worriedly, confusion striking her dark green gaze, “What have you forgotten Sweetie?” God—I hate it when she calls me that. She noticed my hand clenched tightly at my throat, in the exact place that my pendant normally hangs. A look of realisation swept across her face. “Can’t I get it somehow? Will they let me go back to the training centre—I can’t go without it!” My breaths started to come in faster, making my jaw quiver—how could have I forgotten? The one time actually took it off, would have to be the one time I forgot it, right before the one time I needed it most!

She placed her hand gently on my arm, trying to pull me back into some half-hearted form of calmness, “Shh—Karleigh sweetie, don’t worry I saw it on your bedside this morning just before leaving. I already put it in your jacket—sorry I forgot to tell you sweetie.” I grimaced slightly at the use of the word ‘sweetie’, but my sweaty hand quickly shot up to the breast pocket to grab my pendant. Rozzi closed her hand on mine and took it. I looked up at her, biting my lip—she wasn’t going to tell me the Game Makers hadn’t let it through would she? She gave me a small smile and brought the necklace around neck, tightening the knot at the back. “There you go, all set.” She stood back, pulling me with her into standing position. Her eyes narrowed scrutinizing my outfit. She cocked her head to the side, trying to capture the clothing from all angles. I stifled a laugh as she stepped forward to dust off a barely visible speck of dirt—dirt was the least of my worries, in the next few minutes I’ll be covered with blood no doubt anyway—whether it be mine or someone else’s… An automated, metallic sounding voice came over the room’s speakers, “Tributes, enter the tubes now. The Games shall commence.” I took a deep breath and looked back at Rozzi, “Thank you for remembering it.” I whispered, touching my hand to the stone. She pulled me into a tight hug, “Good luck sweetie, and may the odds be ever in your favour. I’ll be rooting for you.” I rolled my eyes at the Capitol saying—it was nice to know that someone was on my side though. I hugged her back tightly and let go as the shrill beeping for me to step into the tube went off again. “Goodbye Karleigh, I’m glad I got someone as lovely as you for my first tribute.” She gave me a small wave and I saw her blow a little kiss just as I was shot up into the arena.

My jaw dropped, letting a shocked gasp escape my lips as the arena became visible. Red liquid swirled, steamed and smoked below up as twenty of us stood upon the platforms—wait twenty? No, that can’t be right, I counted again, quickly in my heads trying to block out the loud timer counting down. I looked around again—there were only twenty. Other tributes held a variety of expressions as they noticed the missing numbers. Nausea began to set in as I located the missing tributes. Held by tractor beams above the volcano, four tributes were hanging—still alive by the sounds of the faint screams heard from the middle of the arena. The Game-Makers were just going to kill them—before the games even started! What that’s horrible—they weren’t even given a chance! The timer was still ticking—we had longer than usual I noticed. It wasn’t for us though. It was so they could make a show out of the arranged deaths. And I can’t do anything—those tributes are left helpless, puppets to the cruel, sadistic Capitol. The only possible way we could help at all would be if our getting blown to bits somehow flung them into orbit. I let out a yelp as someone decided to try this—obviously not for the reasons I was thinking though. Somewhere of the other side of the arena, a female figure stepped off her platform, causing the mines to blow her sky high. The goes my theory though. Dark red liquid and flecks of thick beige littered to the west of the platforms—and the four tributes were still—No, they weren’t. Molten lava splashed out of the volcano as the four bodies plummeted in. I close my eyes to try scour the revolting images from my sight—we hadn’t even stepped off the platforms yet and there had already been five deaths… That doesn’t seem too got. Well at least they might decide to try keep the rest of us around for a bit longer to keep the Games going. Maybe.

5…. I have to run across the rope bridge—the Cornucopia must be over the volcano. 4… They look so rickety though! Normally the tributes don’t have to go to the Cornucopia; it’s normally just if they’re a Career or, well… Just stupid, I guess. 3… The Head Game Maker’s projection head vanishes from the sky of the arena. “The volcano shall erupt in an hour, so hurry tributes. Be careful on the bridges, they’re very unstable,” God, it’s like this year’s Games were only to kill us off! Well in a quicker manner than pervious years… “And may the odds be ever in your favour tributes!” 2… I take a deep breath; I clutch my hand around my pendant one last time. 1… I run. I hold tightly to the bridge, though at the same time, move as fast as possible and try to avoid rope burn from the old tethering bridge. My eyes scan the other tributes; it seems I’m going about the average pace—or maybe slightly faster than some. Some planks slip and I sprint over them, the bridge wobbles dangerously—all in all it is a death trap—literally. The splintering wood catches on my shoe as I near the Cornucopia. I catch myself before I fall right through the boards, but still get a decent scratch down the side of my ankle. I shake it off, and force my body back into a sprint.

My eyes widen as I reach the Cornucopia—looks like I wasn’t going that fast after all or well at least tripping over slowed me slightly. A total, red soaked blood bath meets my eyes, some people still on the ground, some fighting and others scavenging for weapons. This is the sort of time when hunting, working with animals helps. Be elusive, don’t catch their eyes, stay low to the ground and grab what you can. I feel my hands about trying to stay low but despising it with the boiling ground as the lava heats the platform. I grasp my hand around something hard, and pull strongly. Bile enters my mouth, as an unidentifiable head emerges with the knife I yanked. “Oh—oh no.” I stutter as I step back. I shake my head and swallow—I need the knife, it’s the only thing I can get that’s not quite in the blood bath. I wipe the wet blood off on the side of calf material. A battle cry echoes out behind me. I shoot up, brandishing my knife as the boy from District Twelve runs towards me, brandishing a sword of some sort. I let out a startled yelp—he’s strong, and good with weapons and angry to top it off… Are the odds in my horse loving favour? Not by the look of that sword. I run backwards, but stop, noticing the edge of the lava—that reminds me, we don’t have very long to get away from here. Oh well that’s not really going to matter if Twelve kills me. I sprint to the nearest rope bridge, with Twelve in a furious tow. His burly hands swipe the glistening red blade towards me, I’m pretty sure those swords were originally silver when I come to think of it—how many people had he already killed? And I was about to be his next victim.

Oh, if the dead could help! ‘Haidon—if you’re listening now… well yes I know you’re dead and all so slim chance—but if you can? Please help me!’ I pray to my dead friend as the oaf from Twelve takes yet another swipe at me. I manage to yet again dodge—maybe avoiding running into trees for so many years while riding is actually paying off! My feet reach the bridge; Twelve is only a few meters from me now. I gulp as his beady eyes focus on my neck with his blade. He charges at me, yelling a primal battle cry. I brace myself for the pain, but it doesn’t come. I peak open an eye, and there the coalmining oaf is, clutching my knife to his side. I gasp—but how? He tries to look at me but looks off in some weird direction to the left of me. I gasp as I notice his eyes—one gouged out, the other burnt beyond repair; he must have been in quite the fight before. He yet again tries to swing the blade at me, narrowly missing my head. I quickly dodge out of the way, nursing my ankle as a sprained feeling came over it. I yank my knife out of his shoulder and close my eyes. I push him. Over the bridge. And he falls, into the lava. I killed him. My first kill. He didn’t kill me. I killed him.

I watch his heavy but short body fall—it wasn’t even my smarts or abilities that made him miss me, or manage to get my blade embedded into his arm. I hear someone else coming from behind me. I run, not wanting another episode of what happened before with Twelve. My ankle protests with sharp jolt at every step, I could slow down to let it rest for a second, but I’d imagine in the Hunger Games, that would ultimately end up with it being hacked off or something—possibly my head… I speed up as I hear the person catching up behind me—I survived Twelve (How in hell that happened, I’m yet to find out), I’m not dying now. My legs move faster, burning my legs and increasing the pain of my ankle. I whip my head around and see the ravenged wood and a boy with dark blonde hair—a career I think. I gulp and press on. Something catches my foot, pulling me over with such a force that the unstable wood below me starts to crack. I grab onto the nearest bit of rope as the floor gives out below me. “HELP! Please—help me!” I scream out, louder than I ever have since Father taught me that I wasn’t loud to. My hands grip tightly to the rope, but I start to slide down as my grip isn’t strong enough to hold my entire weight. I hear footsteps tread slowly towards me—probably the Career coming to make sure that I do die. I let out another bloodcurdling scream, I see the boy shake his head and hold his hand over his ears. A strong looking, tanned hand reaches down, dark blood is encrusted underneath the nails. “Karleigh take my hand—I’ll pull you up.” The voice tells me. He has a slight country lilt in his accent. I gasp in shock as the voice strikes my memory.

“Haidon?” I whisper, my eyes wide—was he really here? “No, I’m Castle from District One.” Oh. Of course it wasn’t… “Just take my hand so I can help you up! You’re slipping!” I am, my hand was slowly sliding down the rope, closer to the boiling magna. I reach my hand up and clasp on. He brings his other hand down and pulls me up. He lifts me with incredible strength, and he can’t be much older than me. As gets me half way up, I push my feet up and climb out. “Thank you.” I mumble, looking at my feet. I look up again, the ropes were crumbling—and fast. “We have to get off the bridges! The volcano’s going to erupt soon.” I cried, tugging at his strong hand. He gave me a crooked smile; I don’t know why I trusted him but I wanted to. “What was just about what I was going to say. Now come on!”

KILLED: --Jermein D12--

District 11 Male. - Renarch Falls. (@Freedom606.)

They styled my hair. With gel. It's gross. I can't stand it. I don't care if I get sponsors. It doesn't bother me. I just want to be with my sister.  I was so calm. I had a plan. Keep her safe. Come back to my sister. That's all I needed to do. My mentor spoke to me but I wasn't really listening. I had to do this for my sister. I loved her. And I love Chanel. I would pressure my biggest threat to step off the podium. Then I would get the bow, arrows and bags. Chanel would get the hand on combat weapons. I would do this. For my sister.

I was finally in the arena. I could see all the competitors clearly. The ten second countdown had begun.  10 Emryless Hawke from district nine begins to fidget. 9  She reaches her hand forward as if longing for a weapon.  8 She lifts her left foot.  7  She puts it back down.  6  She lifts her right foot.  5  She puts it down.  4 "Do it!" I yell.  3   And she does.  2 She is blown to pieces and the cannon sounds. 1 Chanel looks over to me.  I mouths, "Right," 0 I run to the left of the cornucopia and see Chanel go to the left.  I know that the right side is closer but it has all of the bows, arrows and bags. The left however is further away and has swords, brass knuckles and knives. I know that Chanel is a better runner so it was luck I suppose. I run until I come to the rope bridge. Where I hunt there is a rope bridge and I have to go across it. I take each step lightly and only think about taking the step in front of me. As I come up to the cornucopia I get pushed to the ground by Caleb Red. I slip and sprain my ankle. Crawling around to the side I see a knife. Standing up I creep up behind Caleb and stab him in the back. He drops to the ground. Grabbing 4 backpacks and two bow & arrow sets I look over to Chanel. Jason Brookes is sneaking up behind her. I grab my bow and arrow and shoot him in the head. He drops to the ground and Chanel mouths thank you. As we come to the rope bridges I chuck her two backpacks. I feel the ground rubble under my feet and carefully make my was across.

After 3 hours we finally stop for a breather.  When we had gotten to the bottom of the volcano it erupted. We ran as fast as we could hoping to out run it. We did that successfully but we did hear many cannons sound.  We later out our things once we had shelter.  I laid out mine and saw what Renarch had brought. He had two bow and arrow sets and 4 different back packs. He had chucked two to me as we started running. There was a red, yellow, blue and green backpack.  The red contained: 1 sleeping bag 2 packets of jerkey 2 litres of water 1 tube of antiseptic cream   The yellow contained: 3 loaves of bread 1 tarp 2 thick scarves 1 tube of burn cream  The blue contained: 1 block of cheese 2 compression bandages 2 apples 2 bottles of poison  The green contained: 1 box of panadol 2 liters of water 1 sleeping bag 1 tarp  "This is amazing!" She exclaimed, " I can't believe you got all this!"  "We have to work together if we want to live," i tells her rubbing the back of my neck.   "Give me your ankle and I'll strap it up," she says, reach for my foot.  I put my ankle out to her and she begins to take off my shoes. We look into each others eyes and I begin to get lost in hers. I hear a rustling just outside and jump up, pulling my foot away. I see a young boy carrying a bottle of water. He places it next to our shelter and puts to drops of poison in it.  "That stupid kid is trying to poison us!" I think to myself.  I grab my bow and arrow and shoot the boy in the side. I hear Chanel run out and just watch. The boy bleeds and screams until he has bled out. He stops breathing and his heart stops beating. It's my fault 4 people have died already. What have I let myself become?!

~~~~~~~~

Killed:

Emryless Hawke- pressured to step off, blown to bits.

Caleb Red- fight over weapons, knife in the back.

Jason Brookes- tried to attack, arrow in the head.

Hunter Barnes- tried to poison, arrow in the side.

District 11 Female. - Peyton Dare. (@SeargentMC.)

I stand staring at the cornucopia, I know I'm a fast runner, however, I don't know of I can do it. Well, I'll have to if I want to survive... I look at the clock, 45 seconds. I'm so freaked out right now. I know I probably won't survive this. 20 seconds. Well, at least I won't have to go back to District 11 and be fame written for the rest of my life, but my family needs the food and money! 5 seconds. Oh gosh... 3,2,1.... The horn goes off, and I race of my pedi stool. I reach the cornucopia first surprisingly, and grab a bow, arrows, a big black backpack, and a small spear, and get out of there quick. I head towards the woods and soon enough, I find a stream. But the tribute from District 5 was there and he saw me. He came running so I took off but I trip over a tree root. I turn on my back and see him coming at me with a sword in air. I scream and shut my eyes, then after about a minuet I open then. I gasp. District 10 had killed the guy! "Go! Run!" He says. I nod and scurry away. My thanks to 11! I find a nice, climb able tree and scurry up it. Since I'm from 11, I can climb trees pretty easily. I look in the back pack. Yes! I found two throwing knives, dried beef, 5 full water bottles, 12 biscuits, and a first aid kit. I smile and cover the blanket over me that was also in the back pack. I fall asleep.

District 12 Male. - Jermein. (@aiush2001.)

ENTRY NOT HANDED IN. HAS EXTRA TIME. IF NOT HANDED IN BY THE TIME THE THIRD TASK IS POSTED. TRIBUTE WILL FACE A SURPRISE COURTESY OF THE GAMEMAKERS!!!!

District 12 Female. - Angela Kopperstone. (@AngelaKopperstone.)

This was it. My last final moments of life I had before the games officially started. Effie and Haymitch both had wished me luck and that they both would be here for me no matter what. Cinna was with me right now putting the final touches on me. Pretty soon it was time for the games to begin. Cinna handed me my jacket and said that he would be rooting for me. I simply nodded and he smiled back at me. "10 Seconds!" Said an automatic machine type voice meaning it was time to enter the tubes to enter a world where you fight to the death. I walked towards the tube and turned around to face Cinna one last time. I waved and nodded as if saying I'm gonna do this. He smiled and nodded as if replying I know you can. I have faith in you. I turned around to be ejected into the arena where everything changes; the way you think, behave, feel, act everything. Heck, even you change. I found myself wondering what the arena would be like this time. Would it be a forest, sea or desert theme? Or something else completely? I guess, I would find out soon. The tube raised and I was standing on the pedestal. I looked out to only have my jaw drop into the bottom of the volcano. We were right above the volcano meaning the cornucopia was in the middle of the volcano. No trees. Meaning we have to run and the bridges? Oh god. They overdid themselves this year. I wondered about what I should do and take or whether if I should battle or just grab stuff and run. I looked up to my left and saw Jermein. He looked at me and we just nodded wishing each other luck. Confusion was clearly written on his face but I knew he would figure it out. He was pretty smart. I looked at the other tributes to see if I could find a weakness. The careers seemed pretty satisfied, well they have training their whole lives for this nonsense so who could blame them. I looked around until my eyes found Peyton's. Peyton was my ally. She is a really athletic and dangerous tribute.

So it seemed like a good idea to befriend her besides she does seem like a nice person. We wished each other luck when suddenly a loud voice echoed throughout the arena. The head gamemaker tells us about the arena and I was somewhat right. They were looking for the kill and thrill here. Nothing else mattered. It was all entertainment. I had a minute to pull myself together before the Klaxon goes off. You can do this. I kept on telling myself until... it went off and we all raced towards the Cornucopia. I was running and running until i heard a scream then another and another and another. I looked around to see Michael, Meegan, Maecro and Arangaer fall down  into the volcano. They're bridges had collapsed making them fall right in. I said a quick prayer for them and their families and continuing to run carefully and fast. Time was an issue here. A huge one. After a while, I had reached the bloodbath. A lot of tributes were already dead; the careers were guarding the stuff and had each other's backs. This was going to be tough. Without thinking much I ran forward and this one career was busy staring down another tribute like it was it's prey that he didn't see me crawl in their circle grab a sword and this bag and crawled out and ran before they saw me. I heard footsteps behind me and then they stopped and I heard a scream. I turned around to see Peyton. She was one on one with a career, Emerald or maybe even Emersylle. I have no idea who but I knew that Peyton needed me right now.

I don't know who it was not not that I cared, the girl had her sword at Peyton's neck obviously she caught her by surprise knowing that Peyton is really good at fighting but she had a huge deep gash on her left thigh and one on her cheek. Blood was oozing from het cuts but she wasn't the one that would go down without a fight which is what I loved about her. The girl was wounded too but not as badly as Peyton.  I hurried and stepped in between Peyton and the girl and pushed Peyton back a bit, using my sword I flicked her sword away from us and kicked her in her guts she flew back and her head hit the ground with a loud thud. I quickly grabbed Peyton's sword and put my arm around her waist and she put her arm around ny shoulders and we hurried to the other side. I had this bad feeling that this was way to easy and I was proven right when someone pulled me back by my hair.

I let out a scream. I was pulled out of Peyton's grip and turned around to face some guy tribute. He had his weapon hanged from his belt meaning he was a career.  Pride and overconfidence. Yup. He was definitely a career. I took my sword and it was one on one. I had to end this fast. We were losing time and if he killed me then Peyton was as good as dead. I couldn't let that happen.  He raised his foot to step forward and his hand reached for his weapon. It was a faint I knew it. I took a step to the right and slashed my sword across his face leaving huge cuts and kicked him. He staggered a few steps back but regained his balance quickly. I didn't want to kill him right now but I didn't have a choice. I took my sword and he knew it was the end, I saw it in his eyes so I did something I didn't expect myself. I grabbed a throwing knife from the ground and threw it in his arm and he fell down to the ground in pain giving us enough time to run away. I grabbed the throwing knives that were scattered on the ground and saw that Peyton had gathered a few stuff as well and we headed off to the other side. We both were injured. My head was throbbing and I had a huge gash that was bleeding like there was no tomorrow but I knew I had to get Peyton to safety.  I don't even know how I got it. We scuttled across the bridge carefully so that we wouldn't fall in. We had very little time left and we both knew we wouldn't make it in time.

 We were alnost there, I could see the trees from where we were. We started to move faster and that was when I started to feel the ground getting hotter.  I turned around and I saw the lava coming towards us. We're going to die. I thought but then I felt like what was I doing.  Running away was not me. Getting scared was definitely not me.  I was the person who would fight and die fighting.  I turned around and continued to run. A few more steps than a few more and a few more. We were so close but the lava was right at our tails. I knew exactly what to do. It might not work but there was a chance. I put my sword into the ground and made sure it was deep and firm

. Peyton seemed to get what I was doing as she did the same and we hoisted ourselves up using our swords and the lava flowed right through the swords.  After a while the swords started to melt. Just a bit more longer. I thought. Just hold on swords.  The swords were melting and we were slowly going down. Then there was no more lava. It was starting to harden. That was pretty quick. Did they already kill who they wanted too? Or was this another trick of some sort?  Just to make sure I jumped down. It was still a bit hot but it was cooling down. Peyton was starting to jump down when I stopped her.  She seemed puzzled but did as I told her. After a few minutes I told her it was safe and she came down. She looked at me and smiled. She held out her hand and said thanks. I simply smiled and nodded. "Now let's find a place shall we?" I said.

After looking for a while we found two trees that provided good shelter and were strong enough to hold us and had sone fruit. The best part was that they were right next to each other so Peyton and I would be right next to each other. I helped her up onto the tree and she found a branch sturdy and high up and she settled there. I climbed and we sat facing each other. We decided to look at what we have. I opened the bag I grabbed to find an empty water bottle, some rope, a sleeping bag and bandages and ointment. Woah. I definitely picked the right bag.

So besides the stuff from my bag I had 5 throwing knives.  I looked over at Peyton and showed her what I had.  She smiled and nodded showing me her sleeping bag empty water bottle and she had a loaf of bread. I smiled a genuine smile.I wouldn't have to go hunting today. "Let's fix you up now shall we?" I asked her. She smiled and nodded. I had to clean up the wound first and I needed water for that. "I can wait." She said probably realizing the same thing. "No. Besides we need water to drink as well. I'll be back soon." I took both the water bottles and hung them on my belt on my left side and on my right I had 3 throwing knives as I gave the other 2 to Peyton.  Our swords were of no use they were stuck in the lava. We tried to pry them out but they wouldn't budge so we needed to get new weapons. I climbed down the tree not before helping Peyton into the sleeping bed and tying her to the branch so she wouldn't fall after reassuring her I would be back soon I left. I walked around looking for a stream. I wouldn't have to go hunting today. "Let's fix you up now shall we?" I asked her. She smiled and nodded. I had to clean up the wound first and I needed water for that. "I can wait." She said probably realizing the same thing. "No. Besides we need water to drink as well. I'll be back soon." I took both the water bottles and hung them on my belt on my left side and on my right I had 3 throwing knives as I gave the other 2 to Peyton.  Our swords were of no use they were stuck in the lava. We tried to pry them out but they wouldn't budge so we needed to get new weapons. I climbed down the tree not before helping Peyton into the sleeping bed and tying her to the branch so she wouldn't fall after reassuring her I would be back soon I left. I walked around looking for a stream.

It had been a long time when I heard the calm soothing sound of water splashing on rocks. A stream. I thought. I walked in its direction and quickly filled the bottles. I stood up to hear twigs breaking and the shuffling of leaves.  It was almost dark now and I couldn't see who it was but by the voices it was definitely two guys. They had the food and shelter and they were close to the stream. Were they careers or some other tributes? I knew Peyton was waiting and I didn't want her to come and search for me but I had to know who it was. The voices were getting closer. I was doomed. I thought I quickly ran to the nearest tree and climbed it. The two guys turned on their flashlights and searched around but I don't think they saw me.  Until I heard this really familiar voice whisper my name. Angela? Angela? Angela? It was getting closer and then I heard the sound of leaves crackling and it was really loud and a scream. Peyton.  Oh god no. I thought. She fell. Then she came to a stop thanks to gravity but right where the 2 guys were. "Peyton? Is that you?" I heard a voice. Good they won't kill her.

"Renarch?" Ger voice came out more like a whisper.  Then suddenly there was the sound of someone walking on the leaves not really as stealthily as they would have liked.  It was all okay before I saw the shadow of a bow the worst part it was pointed at Peyton.  No. Not happening. "What happened are you okay P?" They were talking and I could hear Peyton sob the shadow was moving meaning the person was readjusting their aim. I had a few seconds. My hand grabbed the throwing knife from my belt and aimed it at the shadow. Before my brain could register my hand had already done the job. The knife flew into the dark and all I heard was a grunt and a loud thud and the noise of soneone falling. The person landed at Peyton's feet causing her to gasp. I knew it was safe to come out now and I jumped off the tree and hugged Peyton as soon as my feet carried me to her. I stood before Renarch and Jermein and the dead body of god knows who. The cannon went off signaling his death.