Skyler's POV

"Run!" I yell.

"Where?!" Mitch asks in alarm.

"Follow me!" Jerome says. He begins to stumble down the mountain and Mitch and I follow. I can hear the pigs squealing angrily and snorting.

I check over my shoulder and see the pigs chasing us.

"We have to go faster!" I yell.

We continue to sprint at full speed and end up in the middle of all the tribute's platforms. The pigs were still coming, and fast.

"They're surrounding us!" Jerome yells.

"We only have one choice, and that's to fight them off," Mitch says, pulling out his bow and beginning to fire shots at the mutts.

Jerome pulls out his axe and I pull out my sword. All the mutts have the name of the fallen tribute above their heads, and I see a couple tributes that I didn't know and none of the ones I did.

I stab a mutt in the stomach and slash another. I begin growing tired, but I don't stop fighting. I need to survive, for my mom, for Mitch, for Jerome.

We get a small break from the mutts and I look over at Mitch and Jerome. Jerome's axe is hanging limply by his side and his fur is matted with sweat. Mitch is breathing heavily and looks relieved that the wave is over.

"Should we check spawn?" I ask.

"Nah, we're good. But we shouldn't stay here. Who knows how many tributes are coming?" Mitch replies.

Mitch's POV

Skyler, Jerome and I start walking away from spawn. As we are, I see three pigs standing around. We all stop walking and stare at them. The names don't lie.

Ian, Ty and Maple, the girl from Jerome's district.

"Oh no," mumbles Jerome, his face falling.

The pigs see us and start walking toward us, their fangs bared and the smell of rotten flesh in the air. As the mutts grow closer, I see Jerome tense up. He only does that when he gets nervous.

"Jerome, they're just pigs," Skyler whispers to him, trying to assure him. He groans and shakes his head. His axe drops to the ground and the pigs start to run.

No. I can't let my friends die like this. Not to a couple of mutations.

So I run. It doesn't take long for me to reach them and jump in front of the sword. I feel a burning sensation in my chest and I fall to the ground, my entire chest screaming with pain.

"Mitch!" screams Skyler. She kills the mutts and falls to her knees beside me.

"Why'd you do that, buddy? You could've won the Hunger Games," Jerome says, tears making his fur even more wet.

"No. I wasn't going to let you die," I say, my voice weak. I feel weaker and weaker by the second. "Please, win this for me."

"Mitch, don't go!" Jerome sobs.

"Biggums, it's okay, it's okay. You can win this," I say.

"I don't want to go on without you!" Jerome sobs, his entire body shaking. Skyler is crying and hugging me.

"Please, tell my family I love them. I love you guys, too. Just please, win this for me," I beg, tears in my eyes.

"Mitch..." Skyler whispers.

"I'm scared. What's after this?" I ask, tears flowing down my face.

"A better place. A place of peace and happiness. You'll see everyone again," Skyler says. I nod and close my eyes, thinking of that place.

Jerome hugs me and doesn't let go.

"I don't want to live without Benja," Jerome says softly.

"It's alright. I'll see you again," I say back, just as softly.

A white light surrounds my vision and I see my grandpa smiling at me. He reaches out his hand and I'm reluctant at first, but I take it. With that, I leave this world.

A/N: I'm sorry, okay? I cried writing this chapter. The song for this chapter is Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift. I feel like that has the right vibe.