Lily

 A tiny creek without fish swims by us, water flowing from it quickly, as opposed to my falling tears. I can't stop staring at the picture that Aspen gave me before passing away.

His body must've been picked up by a hovercraft by now; Eisley and I gave him and the Careers the space, retreating back to this place, but we haven't stopped grieving yet. Aspen was the center core of us all, the main leader. Well, he never really bossed us around like Hazel, but instead tried to get us together and settle arguments. Now, I really wish Aspen was here; Eisley and I just can't get along.

Eisley suddenly picks up a rock and throws it, barely missing my head. "Why'd that stupid asshole have to go?"

"Don't call him that, bitch!" I yell at her. "If you want to join him, then why don't you fucking kill yourself now, brat! I'm sick of dealing with you, anyway!"

"Shut up!"

"Will not!"

"Fine! How 'bout we split up and never see each other again? Treat this like the actual Games and fight each other to the death when we see each other again?!" Eisley growls.

"Sounds good to me!" I fire back, eyes blazing. "Bye, won't miss ya!"

"Same to you, jackass!" She smiles sweetly.

Both of us stand up, staring daggers at each other for an eternity. Our eyes fiercely gaze at each other like fire and ice, trying to outlast their opponent.

"Well?" I ask. "Aren't you gonna go? I ain't got all day, sweetheart."

"Nope," Eisley shrugs. "You're the one who's going to leave, Lily."

"FINE!" I shout. "This argument is useless anyway, and I hope to leave for an area without any actual idiots like you." Then, I pick up a bag of supplies and a couple knives, turning and running in the direction of the cornucopia, my old tears returning.

I don't stop fleeing until my right arm slams into the hard gray metal of the cornucopia, which is when I pause to catch my breath, realizing how tired I am. I clutch my stomach, the place a cramp has formed, sitting down on the soft cool grass and forming a plan, but only one idea forms in my mind:

Kill Eisley.

Kill the little devil who I always hated. At first, when I joined the alliance, I was okay with her, thinking she was just that annoying joker you ran into every once in a while. However, I realized she was so much more. Eisley was, and still is, an urchin who always managed to win arguments and get people to do her bidding, and got angry-super angry-at sometimes the strangest things in the world. And speaking of strange, that's what she sometimes was.

That's when I notice my breath getting ragged and face turning red, so I take a couple long breaths in an attempt to calm down. The last thing I need is me becoming ballistic over a tiny delinquent and accidentally killing myself out of madness in these Hunger Games.

I start thinking of what to do. According to all the cannons I heard in the air before, there are only three people alive: Me, Eisley, and Mackenzie's district partner from Eight; I think his name is River.

Grabbing a knife, I jog into the nearby woods, unrealistically hoping to catch a stag or a boar. After a million tries, I retreat back to my camp with just a squirrel and a lizard. Whatever, it's not like I'll share this with anyone.

I finish my meal very quickly, taking the bones and scattering them off in a trail somewhere far away to mislead Eisley and River, then return to the cornucopia, crouching down at the dark entrance.

The sun has set much earlier than before; the Gamemakers must want some action going on. But nope, not happening. As much as I hate Eisley, there's no way I'll sneak out at the pitch of midnight to go on a wild goose chase in order to kill her in her sleep or something.

My stomach growls. I'm hungry again; I don't know why. I gaze at the sunset; it's not too dark yet, so I guess I can get some berries or mint leaves.

Jogging to the edge of the forest, I search the bushes and trees for any source of food, but no luck. I go further. Still no food. I'm starting to lose hope. Go deeper into the woods; you'll get them. My heart pleads, opposing my mind.

And that's when I see them: Dark red juicy strawberries that seem to shimmer in the nightfall, each scarlet ruby woven with thin strings of precious platinum that form a little seed in the fruit. Never have I ever seen such wondrous strawberries in my whole life. I'm dying to just put the tip of my tongue on one of them.

A rustle in the bushes sounds, making my mind whirl with worry. Bear? Tribute? River? Eisley?

No, whoever my opponent is will NOT get my beautiful strawberries. I'll wait and hide instead. I see a tall shadow with flame colored hair the color of a vivacious bonfire, carrying an axe, approach.

"Where are those darn strawberries?" Eisley mutters. "They've got to be here; I want one. I've never tasted one in my whole life, opposed to that stupid Lily. She probably grew up with all the precious fruit and riches you could ever imagine. Ugh, Careers."

It takes all my might not to pulverize that fool.

"FOUND EM!" She yells with glee, gently plucking each ruby fruit out with care. She grabs a whole handful before saying, "I'll take these to my camp, and eat 'em with the rabbit I caught. It'll taste great!" Eisley runs off.

Finally, it's my turn. Gently caressing a large vermillion strawberry, I rip it off with happiness. I grab about ten more, then gather them all in my sleeve, running off back to my camp.

Each strawberry is like a large bag of money, so valuable and precious. With every bite you take, your teeth and tongue yearn for more. I take my time with each berry, admiring the dribble of fresh pink juice down my chin and ripe red flesh between my teeth.

After I finish them all, I think, Eisley would totally just shove these precious things in her mouth altogether; I feel bad for her strawberries. As soon as that thought dissolves, I slap myself for thinking such a silly thought.

But Eisley ...

I feel like I can get her now! I can kill her! Smash her stupid little head with my beautiful knife! Ahh, how beautiful Eisley would look if I cut off her head and stuffed it on the wall of my house back in District Four as a trophy! I'll sure get lots of praise!

So what are you waiting for? My mind demands. Go get her!

"I will!" I cry out loud. "I'm all fired up! I can beat her to a pulp!"

Grabbing one single knife, I start running as fast as I can to where I think Eisley's camp is. I can see a fire there, a burning pile of flames in the black night just downright begging me to come in and join a battle.

As soon as Eisley sees me, she stands up. "Oh hey there, Four. Ready to fight?"

"Yes, ma'am!" I salute her and bring out my knife. "Let's begin!"

"Only a little throwing knife?" She asks, the firelight giving her face an odd glow. "This will be easy; I've got an axe!"

"Don't underestimate the power of my knife; A tiny weapon can be a dangerous one, after all!" I smile.

"Very well." Eisley makes the first move, running toward me at full speed with her axe in the air, elbows bent.

I dodge her attack. "Too slow, fatso."

"Who the hell are you calling 'fatso', dummy?" She snarls, running towards me again.

I pull away again, and find a chance to tackle her. We fiercely wrestle on the ground, trying and failing to maim each other.

I manage to scramble to my feet. "This is boring; how about we take this battle out in the open, in front of the cornucopia where people can watch?"

You're the boss."

With that, we grab our weapons and take off through the forest, hate glimmering in our eyes. As we reach the open field, Eisley makes an attempt to kick me, in which I block with my hand and try to twist. She moans in pain but grunts, "This isn't over."

"I never said it was." I respond innocently. "This fight will only cease when I win."

"Ha, not happening!" Eisley snorts. She waits for me to grab a sword I found in the cornucopia, followed by me running at her at full speed with the blade in the air.

CLANG, CLANG CLANG! Our weapons bash maliciously against each other, all while we give each other small punts and kicks.

Real anger surges up in me. "This is all your fault!"

"What, Aspen's death?" Eisley asks. "I believe you were just as guilty. You didn't save him in time before he got killed. But why focus on the past, my dear friend? Let's just live in this moment right now, while we're at it!"

Tears leak out of my eyes. Between huffs and pants, I gasp, "If he, Hazel, and Mackenzie were here, they would hate you!"

"Naive little Lily," She sneers. "Don't strangle yourself like this; take some air and let those feelings out. Although I think you're actually looking forward to being dead."

"Maybe I am; it would suck to live with an idiot like you!"

"You did not!" Eisley's face reddens like a tomato. "I sacrificed everything for my brother, for Mackenzie, for Hazel, for Aspen! Now I realize that all that is useless; the Games are meant for you to make an enemy out of everyone else, and you gotta be heartless to live!"

"Coward!" I hiss. "They were your friends."

"Not anymore," Eisley's sorrowful eyes meet mine's. "Not anymore."

We stop arguing and continue fighting. Swish, slash, punch, kick, stab, block, repeat. Our eyes glare at each other with so much fury and hate that if looks could kill, we'd both be dead.

"Will you stop being so lazy?" I demand with wheezes. "I want a real battle."

"And you got one," She returns. "But I see that you actually want to get punish"

The sudden voice of a Gamemaker interrupts Eisley. "Tributes, please take note that there are only three people left, including you. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!"

Eisley and I fiercely gaze at each other. We glare so hard that time seems to pass by. We scowl so angrily that it seems to be a dream. We glower so long that finally I remember what we're doing here, right as it happens.

Eisley's axe cuts through my stomach, up into my chest.

But then, I use my sword to slash her through the neck, and we both collapse on the ground together.

And that's when it seems like my mind has just popped. I see it all: The Gamemakers tricked us. They tricked us into becoming enemies because of our different thoughts and opinions. They tricked us using those wretched strawberries that we ate so much of. They tricked us into fighting and slaughtering each other so the Capitol could have the brutal violence they longed for.

Well, actually, there is only one person who is behind all this because he forced the Capitol to kill us: Snow.

That horrible, despicable president who wanted war, wanted suffering, wanted death. No one in Panem, not even the Capitol, is safe under his terrible hands. They're all slowly dying, even though not everyone realizes it.

Eisley and I stare at each other, our eyes reading each other's mind.

"I hate him." She croaks.

I just nod, holding out my hand. And Eisley, the one girl I used to have a grudge against, the one I thought was my worst enemy, takes it. We're together now; it's like a fantasy.

The last thing we hear is the sounds of two cannons flying off into the arena night sky, before darkness consumes our visions.