We all sprinted to the Cornucopia, the anticipation of what was inside too great for us to walk to it. Once we got there we saw that it had been ransacked, but still some food leftover. Food that no one else would think to bring; dried fruit, beef jerky, and some bruised fruits. There wasn't much left in terms of other supplies, but there was a sleeping bag, a small flashlight, a small first aid kit, and a sword. I gave the sword to Bates, because he would most likely be the most suited one for it, to which he responded with a nod.

I felt as safe as I could possibly be in the arena. Because of the arena being a maze, it was near impossible for anyone else, namely the Careers, to come and find us. The anthem brought me out of my thoughts. I looked up to the sky and tried to remember if anyone had died today. I couldn't think of anyone that had, and the sky supported my thoughts. No faces shined in the sky tonight. I suppose that could be a good thing, because no one had to murder another person, yet a bad thing, because it doesn't help me get back home sooner.

Drifting off to sleep, I realized that as much as I wanted to win, I didn't deserve to win. I hadn't done anything to help my allies, except figure out the note we had that led us to the Cornucopia. Bates took me under his wing, helped me survive, and was almost like a brother to me. Lyla was too innocent, had no reason to die. I would have to figure out a way to sacrifice myself in order for them to survive. I eventually fell asleep, and was greeted with a dreamless sleep.

The next morning, I could tell that something was going to happen soon. Since nothing had happened the day before, something had to happen today. I could only hope that it wouldn't involve us. I still hadn't fully recovered from what happened to Cristoff and Rosetta. I don't think I ever would, now that I think about it.

The day was actually quite pretty. Then we heard it. A cannon went off. Then another. This was making me nervous. What was going on? Was it a mutt? Was it headed our way? Was I going to die? I knew that the night before I was going to be noble and die for my friends, but I didn't want to die just yet. Certainly not from a mutt either.

I couldn't sit still. Bates and Lyla were trying to take inventory of what we had. I could do that with them. I couldn't concentrate on that; only on how to face our imminent threats. Careers? Avoid them at all costs. If we had to confront them, sacrifice myself in order to save my allies lives. If it was a mutt, there's nothing we can really do besides attempt to outrun it. If it corners us, fight it? That didn't seem like a great idea. Mutts are generally incredibly strong, so fighting it would essentially be suicide. My thoughts intruded into my game plans, whether I liked it or not. But that's essentially what you're going to do, right? You're going to die, willingly, so that your friends live.

I told my thoughts to go away. I didn't have the time or patience for them at that moment. I had to focus on my thoughts. I realized that Bates and Lyla were staring at me in a strange way, and I had no idea what was going on.

"What?"

"You just looked so much older than twelve... you seemed as if you were an adult. You were really deep in thought, and muttering to yourself as well. Lyla here was a little freaked out." Bates was then punched by Lyla, and I think it hurt her hand more than it did him. I laughed a bit.

"Just trying to think of all the different situations we might have to face at the moment. Those two cannons were definitely not accidental, so I was attempting to think of different things to do in order to prepare us for what killed two tributes."

"Good thinking." Bates talked to me a bit about my thoughts, and contributed some himself. We decided that no matter what, we would end up fighting something, so we each needed to have some form of a weapon on us, if not multiples. Lyla was just about to hand us each our allotted weapons when we heard something.

"You're so stupid Daniel! Your stupid 'code' only got us to a dead end! Why did I ever listen to you? Now we're lost and are nowhere close to finding that stupid girl from Eleven that did better than me with the knives! Knives are my thing, hear me? My. Thing."

We froze in place. That voice belonged to none other than Astrita, the Career that I believed to be the worst. While it's usually the Tributes from Two that are the most bloodthirsty, it was definitely her this year. Trying to be as quiet as I could, I motioned for Lyla and Bates to get into the Cornucopia and hide as best they could. I figured that at that moment it would be my final stand. I would die to protect them. Somehow though, I made a noise while motioning for them to hide.

"What was that? Is there someone there?" This time it was Hazel speaking, Tribute from Two. I'm a little surprised that the Careers are still together at this point; they usually kill each other or break off by this point in the Games.

"I wonder if..." There was a pause, and I watched as a hand went through the same wall that we came through. It was a boy's strong hand. "Guys, did you see that? It's a fake wall! There has to be some silly little Tributes on the other side trying to hide from us!" The voice turned out to belong to Edward, fellow Two Tribute. I could figure that out when I saw him emerge fully through the wall, followed by Astrita, Hazel, Daniel, and Brittney.

My heart dropped. Any sense of security I had felt before was completely lost. It would be my final stand; us against the Careers.

"Oh my gosh is that you Bates?" Astrita wiggled her fingers in some sort of a wave. What was she doing? Why weren't they trying to kill us? Behind me I heard a shuffling noise and watched as Lyla started to run into another entrance into the maze. Daniel raised his spear, ready to throw it, when Brittney grabbed his hand.

"Don't waste your spear on her; she'll die soon anyways without anyone else." Lyla didn't even stop for us. She just ran away. I couldn't believe it. She was willing to betray us while I was willing to risk my life for them.

"Now... as for you..." She pointed at me. Why was she pointing at me? Oh, that's right, because I was about to die. "You get to stay and hang out with me and Bates! Come on, little closer now!" She motioned me to go over to where she was standing. I didn't want to move. Edward shoved me forward, snickering when I almost fell over.

"That's right... now, Bates. The strongest person I've ever met! Can I come and feel your muscles? I would love to feel your muscles." Astrita giggled and sashayed over to where Bates was at. She started stroking his arms. What in the world was she doing? "How would you like to be my boyfriend Bates?"

Bates looked as uncomfortable and as on edge as he could possibly be. "Um. Thanks, but no thanks."

Astrita smiled evilly. "Aw, well that's just too bad! Violet, come over here. I want you to see this." I walked over to her, my legs trembling with every step.

"Now, do you think Bates and I would make a good couple? Because I think we would!" She twirled her hair around her finger. Now that it was out of her face, I could see her eyes. They were cornflower blue, pretty in most cases, but on her they made her look evil.

I was too scared to speak.

"Do you?" Her voice was calm, but terrifying at the same time. I had no idea what she was about to do.

My voice cracked as I spoke. "I-I suppose, but..."

"But what? There's nothing wrong with us!" She wrapped her arms around his waist. Edward started chuckling, but was quickly silenced by a glare from Astrita.

"B-b-but it's the Hunger Games and only one person comes out alive."

She put on a fake look of sadness. Lips puckered into a pout, she said, "Well, then I guess I'll have to make the most of it then." She leaned in and planted a kiss onto Bates' mouth. I didn't see that she had a knife in her hand. I didn't see her hand making its way to his heart. I only saw the knife enter and leave his body, saw him fall, heard his cannon.

"No!" A cry of pure agony left my mouth before I could stop it. My whole body was trembling, from both anger and extreme sadness.

"That," Astrita said while wiping Bates' blood off of her knife, "was for showing off in the Training Center. No one is better than a Career. No one."

I then remembered the dagger I had hidden in my sleeve. But could I really do it? Kill a Career?

Astrita started making her way over to me.

It was now or never. I had to make a decision. What were my options? Kill Astrita, and either get killed by the rest of the Careers or escape. Attempt to run out of the area. But Astrita is a very good knife thrower; she would probably peg me down on the way out. But then again, I'm a fairly good sprinter. And then there was the fact that she killed Bates, because of me. But do I need to kill her to avenge his life?

Astrita was twenty feet away. The Careers were evilly laughing.

What would my sister want me to do? What would Rosetta want me to do? Cristoff even? Ly-No. She betrayed us. I can't think of her as an ally anymore.

"Ready to die Violet?" I looked up and saw that she was only ten feet away. She could easily kill me from how close she was to me.

I realized I wasn't ready to die. She wouldn't kill me, at least not without me going down fighting.

I had made my decision.

"Never."