Task Description:

The tribute's partner won't wake up, Mayla announces that they must retrieve the antidote from the cornucopia.

I have made a lot of mistakes in my life, that much I think has become fairly obvious about me over the course of the games. Each day has uncovered my faults just a little bit more than the day before and time and time again, Revere has managed to compensate for my faults, and I for his. It wasn't until yesterday when he wasn't there that I realized how important he was... How much we were a team.

I studied the stars that sprinkled the artificial sky the morning following the fateful lava troll invasion of the arena. They twinkled brightly, a small rainbow flickering like a prism across certain stars every now and then. Real stars weren't like that. I missed the real night sky. I miss it's depth, it's stars that shone white as pure as fresh snow and were sprinkled across the night's face like freckles.

I glanced over at Revere who had worked late into the night on his prosthetic leg. His head bobbed up and down as he clutched the unfinished wooden limb to his chest like a security blanket. After he had passed out from exhaustion I had strapped his body to the tree we were in so he wouldn't fall out of the tree during the night and mutilate his other leg. Which, lets face it, would be our luck.

After we had taken refuge in our tree, the fire trolls had retreated to the volcano, which collapsed on itself and retreated back into the sea. I was relieved it was gone, though knowing Mayla, the bitch had something worse on the way. Though I had no idea how she would top human sacrifices by fire trolls.

The stars began to fade and the sun began to inch its way upwards. I wanted to go back to the tree we had been in before the fire troll attack to reclaim the backpack and my axes that we had been forced to abandon by the fire trolls when they attacked us. I figured we had better get going soon before the other tributes woke up.

I reached over and pushed Revere's shoulder roughly. "Wake up, stupid." I grunted, as his torso tipped forward, the rope was the only thing keeping him from falling the entire way.

I shook his shoulder roughly, "Revere, wake up. Wake up or I'm going to slap you." I threatened glancing around, nervously. What if his leg wound had become infected overnight? Or what if this was his bizarre sense of humor? I slapped him brutally to be good on my word.

Still no movement.

I rolled up the limp material of his pants to see the wound. It looked fine, no giant red swelling or green ooze. I shrugged, Revere was weird. Maybe his body had collapsed into some type of hibernation. I'd deal with this when I got back. I grabbed the sickle that I had picked up in my skirmish with Ashlar the other day and jumped from the tree, landing in a crouch. My feet stinging from the impact.

Ok, so Mayla had said that we could go 30 yards away from our partner without dying. I didn't think we were more than 20 from that other tree, so I should be able to do this on my own, I figured. Lucky for me I was correct, as it turns out. I wandered around the area for a while, in the end what helped me find it was a reflection catching my eye. It turned out to be one of my axes, which I lovingly embraced (Well not really, but I was pretty glad to see it.) as I slung the backpack over my shoulder and headed back. I was about halfway to the tree when a booming voice echoed through the arena. I jumped, shrieking in shock and sending an ax into a tree.

"Now those of you who are awake can see that your partner has been...." I let out a breath of relief. It was only stupid Mayla. "Deactivated." She stifled a laugh as if sharing a secret joke with herself. "The cures are at the cornucopia, the only way to save your partner is to retrieve one. Don't take two or you will die. You will be allowed to leave your partner, but if you do not return by nightfall you will both die." Crap. Well that ruled out my hibernation theory.

I dropped the backpack at the base of the tree and started toward the ocean, I wasn't exactly sure how I was suppose to get in the cavern where the bloodbath had taken place as it was flooded, but I decided I could start by checking out the place that Revere had blown open.

I reached the treeline and stopped, shrinking backwards into the brush as I watched the redheaded career along with the blond girl ride his shark toward the shallows of the coral reef. They jumped off their shark into the clear waters, then dived downwards. I watched for a few minutes, then they didn't resurface it became pretty obvious that they had found an entrance. Of course they had also left their stupid shark guarding the entrance, which was a problem. I personally didn't want to lose a limb. I was pretty attached to all four of them.

I racked my slightly smaller than average brain for a solution. Suddenly I heard loud, clumsy footsteps crashing through the woods. Instinctively I shrunk into the brush as I watched the handicapped 3 male trudge past me. He looked so confused and lost, in that second I knew I had found my answer.

I want to pause my retelling of today's event's long enough to tell you I didn't like it. I knew it was wrong, and even now I still feel guilty as hell. I took advantage of the last innocent figure in these games, I killed him. Why? Because I wanted to live. Because I was scared to die. Because I was ruthless. And for what? Lets face it, I have no reason to live, except for some empty dream of happiness and revenge on Mayla. These games are destroying my humanity, picking me apart one strand at a time until I will be nothing more than an empty shell.

As I sat in the bushes, a plan formulating in my head I made dozens of excuses, all of them empty and meaningless. I knew what I had to do though. I pushed the branches away and emerged from the brush. "Cody!" I called waving.

He turned around, backing up. He looked as if he were unsure of what to do. I tried to remember who his partner was... The male from 7. Grey, I think. "Cody, I'm Grey's friend! He told me to help you if he ever couldn't." I smiled trying to seem genuine while my stomach did acrobatics.

Cody's face lit up. "Grey." He repeated happily.

I continued smiling, though I was sick to my stomach. "So, did Grey not wake up this morning?" I asked, hoping I wasn't going to get throttled for hitting a sore spot.

His face saddened and he nodded."Yes....he....out....game?" His face reminded me of a lost puppy dog, afraid he'd never see his owner again.

I furrowed my brow, confused trying to piece together what he meant. Grey must not have explained the whole 'killing' thing. "No, of course not. Mayla made a special exception for you two. You just have to get a antidote thats in that cavern. The entrance is right under that shark." I smiled more, trying to look more genuine. I pointed out into the water where the shark bobbed contentedly.

He smiled at me and grabbed my wrist, tugging me toward the water with him. His grip was crushing, my wrist felt like it might snap. I flinched, "Let go, please." I requested, trying to keep from growling.

He nodded as he splashed into the shallows. I purposely fell a little behind him so the shark would attack him and not me.

I am sick, I thought, I could still stop him.... I realized.

I didn't stop him. Together we paddled out toward the shark. Cody splashed clumsily through the water, the splashing attracted its attention. I watched the fin arch through the water swimming rapidly toward us, at the last second it's head reared from the water exposing it's bloody teeth. Cody 's arms reached out one hand each grabbing a lower jaw and an upper jaw. His muscles strained as he tried to keep the jaws from closing on him.

His head snapped over to me, desperation leaked from his eyes. "H-help!" He called looking toward me. "Help!"

I resisted the urge to save him. I had to be strong. I scowled at him. Scowling always helped. "Life is tough." I growled, more to me than to him, before diving underneath the waves.

I forced my eyes open as I swam downwards. I could just make out a human sized hole in the coral. I swam through, my head breaking a surface of water- I wondered how this was possible, technically the water should be flowing through the hole, especially since I was upside down. It must have been some gamemaker trick.

I let myself drop into the now empty cavern. The ground was still damp though, and it smelled of sea water. I landed awkwardly and stood up, clutching both axes in my hands. I was alone, I didn't see anyone in here besides me.... I looked downward and saw the footprints that the two careers had left I noticed a third pair along with the other two. They all headed in one direction it seemed obvious I should follow them.

I started sprinting down the passageway as fast as I could. I knew Mayla had said that no one could take more than one antidote, but I knew there had to be some type of catch. Nothing was this easy. It didn't take long until I caught up with them. I slowed to a walk, careful not to let them see me. We walked a ways until the tunnel opened up into a cavern that held the cornucopia....

It sat facing us, in its depth was a table that held only four vials. Krista was running toward it, I glanced behind my shoulder upon hearing running footsteps. There were five of us remaining. The career drew his bow and aimed at Krista, she collapsed on the ground moaning he loaded another arrow to finish the job. I knew I needed to take them out. But 'how' became the question. If I tried to sprint past the careers they would shoot me, and while I was confident I could take out one career, two was suicidal.

I pounced, grabbing the blonde from behind and hovering my ax above her throat. During my brief time behind them it became clear the redhead had feelings for the blonde. I'd take her as hostage, get the vile, then slit her throat and run.

She shrieked- in anger- as soon as she felt the blade against neck. She jerked forward, flipping me. I tried to thrust the blade into her neck, as I tumbled forward but only pierced the side. She swung her blade downwards, our blades clashed as I blocked her blow with one ax and sending the other ax into her shoulder. She cried out in pain and I took this opportunity to jump to my feet.

I was halfway up when a voice growled, "Don't move." I looked over to see the redhead's bow trained on me. I froze, my eyes darting to one side as Ashlar emerged from the tunnel, streaking past us. The redhead dropped the bow and grabbed Ashlar's shirt to keep him from passing. The two boys toppled into a fearsome wrestle, clawing, punching and kicking each other.

The blonde stared at the fight, I sent a powerful kick to her chest, knocking her over. I turned around and pushed my legs as hard and as fast as they could go toward the viles. I jerked to a halt, grabbing one of the small glass containers and shoving it in my bra, I glanced over my shoulder towards the blond who was running at me, sword raised.

As soon as I was sure the vile wouldn't fall free I spun around and raced to face the blonde. She swung her sword at my head, I ducked as it sailed over my head. I sent one of my axes into her side, she cried out sending her sword into my shoulder. I felt the blade tear through my skin and into my bone. I bit my tongue to keep from crying out. I pulled my blade from her side and sent them both swinging toward her neck. She dodged this time swinging her sword at my ankles I jumped. Our blades clashed again, as I blocked her blow to my stomach-

That was when it happened. The blond career was suddenly lifted off the ground my her neck. I backed up, not believing what I was seeing. She shrieked as she dangled helplessly from his grip. The redheaded career slammed into him with a trident, the giant's hand lashed out sending the him flying into the wall as if he were no more than a rag doll.The giant studied the blond for a second before doing the same to her.

I looked at the giant before me knowing I was doomed. Bloodied and scowling I barely recognized him. It was Cody.

I frowned, forcing myself to crush my pride. "Cody, I'm sorry about the shark-"

"Shark... dead." He said, his voice cracking as tears began to run down his face. "You... lie. We... all... dead."

I felt any steel I had had in my heart shatter. "Cody I-" He yanked me upwards, enveloping me in his embrace, crushing me. I felt all the air squeezed out of my lungs.

"Life... is... tough. We... all... dead... Dead. Dead. Dead." He chanted squeezing harder, I felt a rib crack. I had to do something. I leaned forward sinking my teeth into his arm. He dropped me, crying out in pain. I had to be strong, I told myself slashing his stomach with my ax. But then again, what is strong? I slashed his neck and he crumpled over, dead. I felt tears clog my throat as I sprinted toward the exit.

I was a monster, was the only thought I could manage as my feet dug into the soft sand propelling me forward. I had been cracked for a very long time and anything cracked will shatter if given the wrong push. I had used a innocent kid who didn't understand the world, then I had left him for dead, and then I had killed him. I remembered the mirror I had broken before my interview, how the daggers of glass had sliced my skin and the skin of those around me so easily. That mirror was me. I was broken and lethal to anyone who stands too close.

I swam out of the tunnel and to the surface, stroking toward shore, ignoring the pain in my side. Somehow it seemed to fit, it distracted me from the deep aching in my heart. I had shut myself off for so long, everything I had pushed away and had never dealt with just came crashing down on me all at once and I couldn't take it.

I ran from the water and crashed through the trees, feeling the the misery I felt begin to leak from my eyes. I needed someone to listen. I needed someone to care.

I reached the tree as the sun was beginning to set. I painfully hoisted myself upwards to where Revere slept. I yanked the bottle from my bra, uncapping it and forcing it down his throat. I sat straddling the tree branch tentatively, waiting to see if it worked. I resisted the urge to sob, it looked over me like a dark cloud. I just wanted to be ok. I wanted everything to be ok.

Revere groggily opened his eyes after a few minutes, "My... I have the worst headache." He muttered. I ignored him and wrapped my arms around him, the tears beginning to flow faster now. I felt my sides begin to heave as I gave into the hurt.

"Uhhh...." Revere stiffened, "What is going on? You're acting as if... Well actually I don't even know what would make you act like this, but it must have been horrible." He said with concern, awkwardly placing his arms around me.

I leaned backward, trying to collect myself. I took a deep breath and told him everything.