Vance Blue's P.O.V. (D5)

Cally and I sit on the edge of the island, dangling our legs over the side and staring at the fake stars in the sky. It's so good to be in the fresher air. That jungle air is so thick, sometimes so thick it's hard to breathe.

I wonder how much farther Cally and I will make it. To be honest, I didn't think we'd even make it past the Bloodbath. Now, it's us and a ton of big tributes. Wonderful.

Suddenly, I hear a faint rumble. Cally must've heard it too, because she turns around and looks for the source of the sound. Then we hear it again, but louder this time.

"What could that be?" Cally says aloud.

We stand up cautiously. Suddenly, the ground beneath our very feet starts to shake and crack. To our right, a huge chunk of the island falls off.

"The whole island is having an earthquake!" I shout over the rumbling, "We have to get off the island, fast!"

Without protest, Cally follows me as I race into the jungle. The ledge, where we were just sitting, breaks to pieces behind us. Huge cracks form in the ground as we pass by. Some of the cracks are so big that whole trees and boulders can fit easily into them.

Someone screams to our left. I spare a second to glance over to see Blake Richard fall into a crack. Somehow, I hear his canon go off over the roaring of the earthquake.

BOOM!

"Who was that?" Cally yells as we jump over a gigantic hole that formed in the island.

"Blake!" I shout back.

We are the last ones on this island I think. That is, unless Mason and Brenda are still here or not. I guess the Gamemakers think there isn't a use for this island anymore, since there are only fifteen tributes left.

The ground is disappearing quicker and quicker as we approach the cable bridge.

"There's the bridge!" Cally shouts, pointing at the bridge.

"You go first!" I order, moving aside for Cally.

She jumps onto the bridge and starts running across. I follow her. The bridge rocks back and forth as we clatter across. Cally reaches the other side just as the bridge suddenly jerks. I whip around. To my horror, the jungle island is completely gone, and the other end of the bridge has nothing holding it up.

I run faster, but then I begin slipping as the bridge falls. My fingers slip into a crack between two metal boards and I hold on for dear life as the bridge dangles straight up and down from the cornucopia island. Cally is at the top of the bridge screaming for me to climb. I can do it, I urge myself. It's so close.

I reach for the next crack and haul myself up. It's like climbing a ladder, but there's no ground. I can't find enough strength to pull myself up again.

"Vance!" Cally screams down at me, "Use the boots!"

She's right! I lift my leg up and my fingers fumble around for the red button. I press it, then I do the same with my other boot. My weight disappears immediately and I can easily climb to the top.

"Now, climb! Climb, Vance!"

I reach for the next crevice, and easily pull myself upwards. I repeat the process until I finally reach Cally's open arms. She holds me so tight, it feels like she is about to squish me, but I don't stop her. I feel her press the green  buttons on my boots and I magnet back to the island.

Then we both sit there, panting and looking at where the jungle island was just a few moments ago. I wonder if the forest island will also fall apart. Maybe it takes a certain amount of time for each island. Which makes me wonder, what happens when all the islands collapse, if they do? Does the Capitol expect to have a Victor this year or not?

"Now what?" Cally breaks the silence.

I look at my twin and shrug, "I don't know. I didn't make plans for in case something like this happened."

"Maybe we can go to the forest island?" Cally offers.

"No, we should stay here. There are more tributes on that island now."

Suddenly, the sky bursts into light from the Capitol seal with the anthem accompanying it.

Jean Lawren's face appears first.

Thank goodness! At least there's one less Career on this island to worry about. Jean was one of the bad ones too. That makes me wonder who could've killed her.

The next and last face belongs to Blake Richard from District Three. Then everything goes back to its normal state.

I still can't believe that he was the only other tribute on the jungle island besides us.

Now, Cally and I stand up and climb up a nearby tree. It's really high, so it should keep us hidden from other tributes for awhile, but we can see the cornucopia from here too.

It's strange, nobody is posted outside the gleaming horn. Usually, the Careers have someone guard it during the night. I hope they aren't out hunting.

I try to wipe my thoughts away. I stare up at the moon, and let the soft chirps of insects lull me to sleep.