We were awakened at 8:30 pm.

Syracuse and Utica were the ones to greet me that morning. They were uncharacteristically quiet. I noticed that Utica's normally perfect purple eyeliner was smeared a little bit. As though she was holding back tears. Even Syracuse's green Mohawk seemed a little deflated. Did they go through this every year? Prep and prune a tribute and then send them off every year to only watch them die?

I felt pity for them at that moment. Even though they lived with everything they could ever want and had a life of plenty. Somehow amidst that I found I was pitiful to them.

They brought me to a separate room where an Avox came and served me breakfast. It consisted of freshly scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, freshly cut fruits, toast, and muffins. I knew it would be a good idea to eat as much as possible as to make it last as long as possible but I only managed to get down some egg and sweet oranges that reminded me of home. I reduced to just nibbling on an English muffin.

My stylists then dressed me in a rather simple outfit. Black pants that were soft but held warmth and cotton shirt on top of that. A black jacket went over the shirt that had several pockets and zippers. My blonde hair was put up into a braid. This was all done in a silence that resonated around the room.

Bronx soon appeared in the room and I suspected he was checking in on each of the Tributes. We didn't converse much. He did his best to give me extra tips such as not getting to close to the cornucopia and that water was priority. But I found it hard to speak, my mouth seemed dry even though I had been drinking plenty of water.

I soon found myself looking at his rings. He wore several and each was almost gothic in appearance.

Black and grey.

Metallic and chrome.

My favorite was the pinky ring of his that was a simple black band with a single blue gem in the center. I had noticed it the day I had met him on the train.

He must have noticed my curious eyes and smiled softly. " You can have one if you want" he offered. And I shook my head not intending on being greedy. He grinned " Go ahead take one" Bronx pressed on and took off the very pinky ring I had been eyeing and handed it to me.

I took it tentatively feeling unusually precautions. It was light in weight and fit upon right ring finger perfectly. I gave a soft smile " Thank you" I said and he nodded. I saw a flash of something go across his eyes. It seemed to be sorrow.

Similar to the stylists he had to prepare the tributes every single year. To go into the very games he had once participated in. To watch them and hope for them, just to see them die at the end of the day. It was like the games never really ended for him. He couldn't settle away in some far off palace and forget about what happened in the arena. No, he was brought back every year to be reminded.

Suddenly the intercom came on and a woman's voice spoke. She told us it was time to go. Time to load the hover crafts so we could go to the Arena. I felt my stomach drop in fear. Dread coursed through my fiends as I stood up. But my legs felt like lead, it took most of the my willpower to get out of the door.

But before I left I made sure to hug both of my stylists. Utica now wept freely as she hugged me and they each told me how honored they had been to have been my stylists. I thanked them both and only let one tear slip as I said my farewells.

I walked with Bronx to the hovercraft and saw there was a single filed line waiting to get onto the hovercraft. Each tribute was stopped at the entrance to the hovercraft and had a tracker placed into their arm. I stood stoically behind a boy from 5 who was sweating profusely and wiped his perspiring palms nervously against his jacket.

Soon enough I made it to the front front of the line and a peace keeper held a gun like Tool to the bottom of my arm just below the elbow and injected some sort of small device right into the skin. I nearly hissed in pain since it felt like someone just burned my skin. However I only let a muscle in my jaw strain I held the pain at bay.

I walked onto the hovercraft that was dull compared to the rest of the Capitol. With grey metal floors and drab grey walls. There were dozens of seats lining the wall as well. I half expected fluffy cushioned seats with headrests and jewel encrusted arm rests. But no. This was the sign that the luxury of the Capitol was now long gone.

I sat down in one of the many seats along the walls not looking at anyone. It was Stark silent as the hovercraft lifted and I felt a strange feeling of weightless. It almost made me feel nauseous and even more nervous than before. There was a girl next to me who I think was silently crying. It was the red head. The one who reminded me of Rency.

I remembered my family right then. Their words of encouragement and hope. I could imagine them all huddled around around radio at home or in the town square where a jumbo screen would broadcast the games. I wondered what the other families of the tributes were doing. Were they praying and sobbing or cheering wildly and proud?

My mind lingered upon this as I prepared myself for what was to come. My mouth was practically sandpaper and my breakfast was ready to in in unhave itself. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths trying to calm myself down. I found myself subconsciously messing with the zipper of my jacket. A habit I did constantly with my hunting jacket back in 12.

Soon enough the hovercraft descended and landed gracefully. A peacekeeper came to each of our sides. Each dressed in an identical outfit holding large guns. They said nothing and one by one we exited the hovercraft. I was brought into a simply room with a couch and sat there. There was a glass of water sitting on a small table beside it.

However, in front of the couch was tube. A glass structure that would send me up into the arena. Above that was a timer that said 13:49. Counting down wards until the time that I would enter that tube and be sent to my fate. My I swallowed as I realized that now my life was down to possible minutes.

I sat on the edge of the couch, re running each of the tips Bronx had told me. To stay away from the blood bath. Find water. Hunt when possible. Look for vegetation. Keep away from the Carreers. Find shelter from the natural elements.

Get sponsors.

Each of these ran through my mind as I took small sips from the glass of water. I would most likely need it later.

Once the clock reached 3 minutes I found myself fiddling with the zipper again and my mouth went back to being bone dry.

When the clock reach 1 the peacekeeper reappeared. Just as daunting and intimidating as ever. Completely unfriendly. " Please step into the tube" He asked and I shakily stood up. Nearly losing my footing as my legs shook.

However I willed myself to the tube and it closed around me. I closed my eyes and tried to push my fear and anxiety away. I must appear fearless. Unmoved by the fact that death was staring at me in the face. I was here to put on a show.

Suddenly the tube started moving upwards and I stood bolt up right preparing for the worst. It was the Quarter Quell. They would do something extreme. Like a lonesome island in the middle of no where or city ruins like the hunger games from 39. A favorite in the Capitol mind you.

When the tube reached the top the Arena was revealed to me.

I couldn't help but let my jaw drop.

The sun shone bright as it peeked from behind an amazing snow capped mountain. A bright green meadow stood in front me dotted with yellow flowers. The Cornucopia was splayed in gleaming fashion within the meadow with supplies littered around it.A gushing stream of perfectly clear water that looked absolutely drinkable sat behind it. To my left was magnificent the woods of tall evergreens and oaks looming up high. The sky was mackerel and fluffy white clouds flowed seamlessly through the air. The air smelt wonderful. Sweet and tangy with a hint of something I had never smelt before but I almost couldn't get enough of it. It was all so picturesque. It was the kind of place you only saw in paintings.

I wasn't the only one absolutely spellbound. Many tributes were gawking and facing over the stunning scenery that laid before them in mass archs and landscapes. I noticed Haymitch, only a few platforms away from me with his eyebrows raised in admiration but he quickly returned to seriousness. His eyes trained upon something and I followed his eyes.

He was looking at a different clock just a voice the cornucopia that was counting down from 10. I almost forget that I was in the Hunger Games. The illuminating scene before me had put me into a trance.

I quickly returned myself and watched as the clocked ticked down slowly. I positioned my legs into a running stance so I could bolt off of the platform as quickly as possible. I could see a navy blue backpack just 30 some yards away that I planned on getting to first.

3.....2......1......

The gong sounded and I instantly took off at full speed and just barely saw out of the corner of my eye that some people were still completely transfixed by the arena still. I picked up the bag with no problem as my heart accelerated tenfold. I was securely around my shoulders as I made just a short stop and surveyed the scene.

Most of the Careers were at the mouth of the cornucopia and I stopped just long enough to see Crowe take a sickle sword to the face of a girl from 7. My eyes widened and I turned to run but noticed a small grey nap sack lying on the floor completely alone. Right behind that napsack was the looming forests. Why not? I thought and sprinted that way and picked up the bag. Wrapping the thin string handles around my arm before turning and going for the forest.

But I ran straight into something. Something solid and that had also been in motion. It knocked me flat on my butt and I looked up to see none other than Haymitch. He didn't fall down but he did stumble. He looked down at me with a conflicted expression. We were no longer friends, not that we really ever were but now any ties we had to each other were practically severed. We were in the Hunger Games now. No more teasing or smiles.

I stood up with cat like quickness and was preparing for him to make some sort of move he just gave a small little nod before taking off in the other direction. I was slightly confused by his actions but didn't dare stay and contemplate. I took myself and my black backpack and nap sack straight into the forests. I sprinted with adrenaline rushing through my veins. My heart was going a hundred miles per hour as I ran away from the blood bath. The sounds of yells and fighting were soon diminished as the woods surrounded me. I ran past many bushes and shrubs that were almost overgrown with fruit. Well at least I had found vegetation I thought.

I continued running and after almost a minute of straight sprinting I slowed down to a jog and continued on. Trying to put as much space between me and the blood bath as possible. I made sure to keep the stream to my left as I continued on a jog that soon diminished to a walk.

I took long breaths as I walked. Now I needed shelter. I looked around at the trees and found a tall oak with thick branches that could easily hold me. It was right beside the stream as well. I scaled the oak and began climbing. I put my nap sack around my shoulders and reached a decently high branch that was maybe 45 feet off the floor with branches to block any visual of seeing me but I had a decent view of below.

My heart rate had settled down but I was still a little jump. I positioned myself with one leg on either side of the thick branch I was upon and but my new back pack in front me. I slowly unzipped that back with tentative fingers.

The first thing I pulled out was a water canteen that I think was a quart or maybe a little more. Ironically it was filled all the way to the top. It seemed strange since there was a running stream right beside me. I took a sip just to quench my dry mouth. Then I pulled out a medical kit that was a red box with a little metal clip that kept it shut. Inside of that were about half a dozen bandages, a white bottle that contained pain relief pills, and lastly a tip of ointment to fight infection.

Next I found a pack of saltine crackers that counted up to a surprising 20 in total. Then there was also beef strips with a total of 12 within the package. It seemed also odd for there to be such generous amounts of food. I mean just about everywhere I looked there was a bushel of different fruits and boughs of plants laid heavy with berries. Why bother with all this food? Maybe I just got a lucky pack.

Next I came across a thick line of rope that was neatly wrapped. I made a mental note to title myself into the tree before I went to sleep. A little slip out of this tall oak could leave me immobilized for the rest of the games.

Lastly I pulled out the three best survival pieces yet. I was given throwing knifes. These were a little different from the ones in the training center. Instead of a red handle they were now palish yellow and a tad shorter but equally as sharp and lethal. I couldn't believe my good fortune.

I vistigously restored the items I had been given back into the pack making sure they all went in precisely. Then I moved onto the small little nap sack. Inside I found dried fruit with plums and strawberries. As well as a metal bowl that was a little strange but could be useful. There was also a small flashlight and hunting knife with a serrated blade. Good for sawing and leaving large gushing wounds.

I let out a sigh of relief at my luck. I mean I could maybe just wait out the entire games. Stay hidden up in trees. Only venture done for food and water. I had seen it done before. There had been a stringy woman from 6 who had just hid the entire games. Shes now is reduced to nothing more than a morphine addict with an occasional viewing on television but she still won.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard the first cannon. It sounded strange but the deep boom sound resonated all around the arena. I counted them each under my breath. Each of the cannons represented a fallen tribute who most likely died in the blood bath.

The booms finally stopped at 14.

14 people gone. 14 teenagers dead. The 48 that had gone in we're now down to 32 in just one day. Tonight they would show each of the dead tributes up in the sky. I hoped nobody from 12 had died yet. It was foolish to hope but I had a terrible habit of getting attached to people. There could only be one Victor and as selfish as it sounded, it had to be me.

Suddenly I heard footsteps coming from below. Unlike my trained and quiet steps this persons were heavy and loud. I figured it must be male and cautiously peered over the side of the branch. For a second I hoped it was Haymitch, it might be a good idea to form an alliance but it wasn't him. It was actually was boy from 5. He had blonde hair and a quaint red bag on his back. His name I didn't remember his name but he had short blonde hair and skinny frame. He was kind of frail actually, just tall and lanky. I think he scored like a 7 on his evaluation. I could see him through breaks in the leaves but didn't dare make a sound. I hardly even breathed.

A good tribute would figure out a way to kill him. To get that red bag that he had. But I couldn't bring myself to devise some sort of plan to dispatch the boy. He was young, maybe 14 or 13. He should have had a full life ahead of him but it was now limited to the days he had left in the games. I sourly thought that if I killed him it could get me sponsors but did I really need them?

I watched silently as the young boy took off his red backpack and unzipped it. He took out a plastic water bottle that was already half empty. I couldn't see much of anything else in his pack since I didn't want to lean too far over the edge of the branch.

The young blond boy leaned down near the stream and put the water bottle just at the surface and allowed it to fill with water. The bottle was soon filled and he took a long drink from it. He had probably been running similar to how I was but my body was better conditioned from years of hunting.

Suddenly his body started convulsing and shaking frantically as he fell to the floor on his back. His limbs shook and flailed out wildly, twisting into painful contorisions. He was having some sort of strange seizure as I watched from my vantage point. My brows furrowed in confusion as his mouth now began frothing and white foam emitted from it going down his chin and onto his neck. He tried to yell out I think but it just came out as a garbled mess as more white foam sputter from his mouth. And then just like that his body went still. His body stopped shaking. Then the cannon went off with a boom.

He was dead.....