Tai Hosman's P.O.V. (D4)

I take a deep breath as the glass tube closes itself with a pop, separating me from the outside world. It's just me, the twenty-three other teenage boys, and the arena.

Keep calm. Keep calm. You volunteered for this, Tai. I say to myself in my head.

Suddenly the metal plate beneath my feet begins to rise slowly. My breathing quickens in panic.

Thoughts of what the arena will be like shoot through my head. I look down at my clothes. I'm wearing simple black pants, with pockets on the sides of the legs. I have a black tank-top under my dark blue jacket, and leather boots are on my feet.

I feel a cool breeze hit my face as my head pokes through the surface. The first thing I see is water, dirty water. Then my eyes find the usual golden horn we have all learned to call the 'cornucopia'. Piles and piles if supplies and weapons are stacked on the inside and over-flowing onto the ground outside it.

At first I thought the whole arena was water, until I took a better look. The cornucopia and the pedestals are all located in what appears to be a giant puddle. The puddle is surrounded by broken down buildings, mostly wooden ones. Other smaller puddles are scattered around the empty streets and houses.

I look down at the brown water. I wonder how deep it is. I can swim if I have to, but I'm not going to risk diving into it. The mud is keeping me from seeing the bottom of the puddle.

I look to my right. Oliver Dange stands there, shaking like a leaf. On my left, Mason Paits stands ready to jump off his pedestal.

"Welcome, tributes, to the second round of the one hundred and twenty-fifth annual Hunger Games!" the voice of the President booms throughout the arena, "You have sixty seconds I wait for the gong. Ladies and gentlemen, let the second part of the fifth Quarter Quell...begin!"

59...

58...

57...

56...

55...

"Alright, alright, alright," I whisper to myself.

47...

46...

45...

44...

43...

I review our plan. Jump into the water, get to the horn, find trident, take over cornucopia.

35...

34...

33...

Suddenly, my eardrums feel like they nearly shatter as Oliver Dange steps off his pedestal, filling the air with the booming sound of an explosion. I struggle to stay on my pedestal as the force of the explosion nearly knocks me over.

When I look back to Oliver's pedestal, there's nothing there but blood and some smoke. I shake my head to try to stop my ears from ringing. I can just barely hear the countdown over the loud ringing.

10...

9...

8...

7...

I feel overcome with confusion. The explosion really threw me off. I look around frantically for my allies. They are all facing the golden horn, ready to go. I position myself the same way, but I also notice that many other tributes appear to be going to the cornucopia.

3...

2...

1...

GONG!

Everything seemed to have come out of slow-motion as every single tribute jumps off their pedestal.

I jump into the deceiving puddle as well. When I jump, it doesn't take long for my feet to hit the ground. I'm now standing in muddy water that reaches a little over my knees. Great, this will really slow everyone down.

I attempt to sprint to the cornucopia, but it doesn't work very well. The water really slows me down.

Eventually, I finally reach the small rock island the horn is resting on. I pull myself onto the island, only to see that some of the other tributes have already arrived.

My eyes immediately find a beautiful, silver trident. I stand up, and run over to it. Nobody seems to notice me at the moment, because they're all trying to get their own weapons.

Once I have my trident secure in my grip, I turn to the first tribute I see, Kiel Raxer. Without even thinking, I throw my trident full force at him. It doesn't even have enough time to look up at me, before the impact pushes him to the ground. He falls backwards, into the muddy water.

I turn to grab another trident, but I'm met with the glint of a blade instead. I duck, but not quick enough. The sword cuts a small gash on the side if my neck. I wince as I touch it. My fingers come back covered in my blood.

I look up to see Eric Polt standing over me, his sword pointing directly at my chest. He blinks at me, deciding if he should kill me or not. Finally, he drops the sword, and grabs some throwing axes. Then he takes off running in a random direction.

"Tai! What are you doing on the ground?! Get up and help!" Bryce shouts at me.

I shake my head, "Sorry."

I quickly stand up and snatch another trident. Bryce and Damon are covering the opening of the horn, while I go to the back, where I find Liam and Brendan fighting Anthony with their swords.

There's too much movement going on right there, so I return to the mouth of the cornucopia.

"Bryce, look out!" Damon shouts, but it's too late.

I get there just in time to see an axe bury itself in Bryce's chest. He chokes up blood before falling to the ground, dead.

Mason Paits was the thrower of the axe. He is now locked in combat with Damon.

"Tai, give me a hand!" Damon yells to me through clenched teeth.

As I aim my trident, and prepare to take my shot, someone slams into me, knocking me against the cornucopia. Jarus Palmer wrenches the trident from my hands and tosses it into the water. Then he grabs the collar of my jacket and pulls me closer to him. Then, with an incredible force, he slams me back against the wall. He does it again, and again. When he finally stops, I have a steady stream of blood pouring down the side of my face, and I'm dreadfully dizzy. Jarus releases my collar, probably thinking I'm dead.

I fall to the ground as he runs to the aid of his allies.

I can see the wavy forms of retreating tributes with shining weapons in their clutches. Some tributes remain at the cornucopia still, however. It seems to be mostly Jarus's allies though.

I struggle to my feet, and stagger over to the mouth of the horn. I find the sword Eric dropped on my way there. I pick it up.

When I make it to the front of the horn, Damon and Mason are still fighting, but now, Jarus is there too. I can hear Liam and Brendan still fighting with Anthony behind the cornucopia.

I shake my head to overcome the dizziness, and throw myself at Jarus, sword in hand.

Liam Fledger's P.O.V. (D2)

My sword arches over my head, and lands with a loud clang on Anthony's sword. We press our blades together for a moment.

Brendan uses this to his advantage, and strikes. Anthony removes his sword from mine, and blocks Brendan's attack. I take a step closer to him, but when I do, he turns and kicks me in the leg. I scream and collapse. His hand wraps around my wrist and gives it a harsh twist. I shout for Brendan to help, then I hear a crack. Sharp pain shoots through my arm immediately.

Anthony releases my wrist, probably to fight Brendan. I stand up shakily, looking at my forearm. It is definitely broken. Then I bend down to pick up my sword I had dropped when Anthony broke my arm.

I creep up behind him as he is fighting Brendan. When I'm close enough, I raise my sword back, and plunge it into Anthony's back. With a sickening sound, I pull it back out. Before he hits the ground, Anthony calls for Jarus, Mason and Don.

"Liam, are you alright?" Brendan asks in concern, looking at my arm.

"Ummm not really," I reply, "We have to get away from here."

Just then, Don comes around the corner of the horn with a dagger in both hands. Once he sees Anthony's limp body on the ground, he rushes toward us, preparing to strike.

Damon Keaton's P.O.V. (D1)

Mason's metal axe clangs against my mace. He raises his axe for another attack, but I block that as well. Mason continues swinging his axe at me roughly.

Eventually, Liam and Brendan run around the cornucopia with Don behind them, and join in fighting.

"Stop!" Jarus yells loudly.

Everyone halts their fighting to look at Jarus. He's standing in the mouth of the cornucopia with Tai in a headlock.

"Our alliance is taking the cornucopia," Jarus says, "And if you don't leave now, I'll kill Tai."

I look at Liam. His left forearm is twisted in a weird angle. Then I look at Brendan. He glances at me, and nods. I lower my head, "Alright, we'll go."

Jarus smiles, "You can take two packs with you."

"What? No way!" Brendan shouts, taking a step closer to Jarus.

Jarus tightens his grip on Tai, "If any of you come any closer, he's dead."

Brendan looks at me. I bend down and grab a pack, "Alright, we'll take the two packs and leave. But Tai is coming with us."

Jarus nods. Brendan picks up another pack, "Alright, now let him go."

Mason and Don walk up to Jarus. Finally, he releases Tai from his grip. Tai stumbles forward.

Brendan is giving the three tributes a hard glare as we turn away from the cornucopia.