The next day passed in a blur of frantic stylists and speedy makeup brushes. I watched once again as they transformed Riley into a new person. Roberta tamed her wild hair into soft curls and brought out her features with subtle pastel colours, highlighting the youth of her face and the innocence her eyes held. The dress she wore was a work of art, a floor length gown with a scatter of maple leaves on the collar. Soft transparent material hung over Riley’s arms decoratively. But for once, Riley had nothing to say at all. In fact, I was worried about her. She was acting differently. Perhaps reality had finally struck her. She stayed silent all day, barely responding to Roberta’s light hearted comments and jokes, her teeth digging into her painted lips nervously. Shadows hid beneath layers of makeup under her eyes, and I wondered whether she’d slept much.

 The time came to escort her to the stage where the interviews took place, and she clung to my hand like a frightened child the whole way. I guess that’s what she was. I took her aside gently when we reached the backstage area, cupping her small face in my hands. She looked up at me, her eyes piercing and swimming with unshed tears.

 “Are you OK?” I asked gently, aware that it was a stupid question. She sniffed, a tear sliding down her cheek.

 “I’m scared, Ari. I just want to go home,” she whimpered, shaking uncontrollably. I pulled her into a hug, her tears making a wet patch on my shirt.

 “You’re being so brave, little Whirlwind,” I soothed “Just a while longer, sweetheart. You can do it, I know you can. I believe in you.” I felt her nod against me, and we pulled apart. I used the sleeve of my shirt to wipe her tears away, though I suspected they would reappear during her interview. The final call from the director for tributes to step onto stage came, and I pressed my lips to Riley’s forehead lovingly.

 “Knock them dead.”

 Riley smiled weakly, clenching her fists and lightly tapping my chin in a punching motion. Then she scurried away, hitching her dress as a man helped her onto the stage. Antonia appeared behind me, taking my hand and squeezing it gently. She stared thoughtfully at a backstage screen which allowed us to see the stage. Riley was seating herself next to Otto, who was dressed in a white suit pattered with the same leaves as Riley’s dress, and we watched her share a secretive smile with Milo.

 “Do you think you may have children some day? Even if there is the possibility of them being reaped?” Antonia asked me. I smiled, imagining Pandora cradling a baby in her arms, a serene expression set on her perfect features.

 “I’ll marry that girl someday,” I murmured to myself “Pandora, I mean. It will be a small affair, just close friends and family. We don’t need anything fancy. Grandmother would give Pandora away, and you and Raven could be bridesmaids. And yes, I know we’d want children. I don’t know how many. In my mind, I always saw myself with three. Two girls and a boy. They’d have Pandora’s beauty, the guts of my Grandmother and the selflessness my parents had before they died. I’d love to teach them to swim and climb trees in District 10, though I know it’s not ideal. We’d have to live in 13, of course. Pandora could teach them sign language, at least, and how to read and write. I want them to be educated, you know? Raven’s husband could teach them the true history of Panem. Who knows? Someday they may be the future of the rebellion. They could play and train with Raven’s children-”

 “You have it all figured out, don’t you?” she said quietly. I blinked in surprise, brought back to the present. I’d forgotten I was voicing my dreams aloud.

 “Don’t you?” I asked.

 “I thought I did. But I had to fall for you, didn’t I? The one I can’t have,” Antonia sniffed. The applause of the Capitol crowd began just as she dropped my hand coldly. We stood in awkward silence as Venus Swift appeared on the screen, waving to the adoring audience.

 “Hello! Hello and welcome to another year of the Hunger Games. Aren’t this year’s tributes just stunning?”

 The crowd called back replies in excitement, deprived of their best entertainment for nearly a year and thirsty for bloodshed and tributes. What a circus, I thought.

 “Without further ado, let’s make our first tribute feel very welcome. Please put your hands together for Cassia of District One!”

  Cassia stood, dressed in a sickly sweet pink dress studded with jewels. Tossing her hair in a way no twelve year old should, she grinned toothily at the crowd, who cooed at her. I saw Riley roll her eyes subtly and I chuckled. I soon shut up when I saw Antonia glaring at me. This will be a long night, I thought.

 We watched several interviews, none of the Careers particularly putting up a good show, until District 4’s girl, Elianna, stepped up. She struck me once again with her utter beauty, dazzling in a short dress made of green tassels to represent seaweed. She smiled shyly as she seated herself beside Venus, nervously brushing her long hair off her face. As Venus asked her questions, she answered politely and modestly, downplaying her impressive ten in training and complementing her stylist for her fantastic designs. What struck me was that it all seemed very genuine on her part. Often, a mentor with experience can see through the acts of tributes, with girls like Riley as an exception. But the way she spoke softly and her shyness were too natural to be an act. Riley was watching her in awe as she talked about her life in District 4, timid and yet impressive. The audience had been relatively quiet whilst she was being interviewed, perhaps in consideration of Elianna’s shy nature, but as she returned to her seat, they cried wildly, waving to her with crazed hands. She waved back timidly, but they didn’t quiet down until Milo’s interview more than ten minutes later. Riley supressed a smile as he stepped up, handsome in his black suit with lightning bolts on the sleeves and trouser legs. I swear she blushed as he glanced over his shoulder to smile at her, his bronze hair shimmering in the stage lights. He shook hands with Venus, smiling at the crowd warmly as he took his seat.

 “Hello Milo! You look very dashing! Tell us. Is that your natural hair colour? It’s simply beautiful!”

 The crowd all whooped in agreement. I had images of them all going out and dying their hair bronze to match him. Milo smiled.

 “Yes, it’s natural. I’m the only red head in my family,” he chuckled.

 “Well, we’re all loving it here at the Capitol! So tell me, Milo. What has been the highlight of your time here?”

 “It’s an amazing city. It’s interesting because everything we make in our District ends up here, so although this place is foreign to me, there is a lot of familiarity in other ways,” Milo said.

 “What sort of thing do you make?”

 “Well, as you know, most things are made by District 3, but our District makes power boxes for houses and things like that. It’s cool knowing that our District powers the whole city.”

 “How interesting! Now, onto the Games. Do you plan to work alone, or have you got an ally in mind?”

 Milo blushed slightly “I have a friend here. I haven’t actually asked them to be my ally…but I hope they want to.”

 “Do you think they’re a strong tribute?”

 Milo smiled, “The strongest of them all. And the best ally I could ask for.”

 I couldn’t stop myself grinning as I watched Riley bow her head to hide her blush. The interview ended a minute later and the crowd gave him a very respectable amount of applause. I tuned out for a while, keeping an eye out for potential threats, but finding no one from District 6 to be of any interest. And then Riley was stepping up, sniffing convincingly as she made her way to the couch. The crowd was clearly uncomfortable with Riley’s presence, almost silent as she took her turn. As promised, just as she’d almost managed to reach the couch safely, she tripped, almost in slow motion and landed on Venus’ lap, her nose squished into the couch awkwardly. The crowd let out a ripple of shocked gasps and nervous laughter, and I bit my thumb to stop myself laughing at her. She scrambled back up, tangled in her long dress and clumsily fell into the seat beside Venus, who looked horrified at the young girl before her. She managed to compose herself and dredge up her winning smile, turning awkwardly to face Riley.

 “Hello Riley, dear. Are you feeling a bit of stage fright?”

 “Yes,” Riley mumbled, shoving her thumb in her mouth childishly.

 “Well don’t worry. Everyone has had an embarrassing moment at some point. One time I fell over on stage and ripped my dress!” Venus said, encouraging some laughter from the audience. Riley kept her face sullen, refusing to smile.

 “OK, Riley. Can you tell us what happened at the Opening Ceremonies? What was going through your mind when you fell from the carriage?”

 Riley said something unintelligible, her thumb still wedged into her mouth.

 “Sorry, honey, could you speak up? Everyone wants to hear from you.”

 Riley looked up with her little blue eyes, staring at the crowd as though only just realising they were there. They stared back, as though Riley was an animal in a cage.

 “It was scary. Everything was so bright and loud and I felt so dizzy,” Riley whispered. You could have heard a pin drop in the room at that moment. The strange thing was, she seemed to be getting the audience to feel sorry for her. “And then I fell. And when I woke up it was all blurry and I was so scared. I don’t want to do that again. I just want to go home,” Riley said, a single tear falling down her cheek. The crowd sighed sympathetically in unison, a woman at the front dabbing her cheeks with a handkerchief.

 “Maybe you can win, Riley, and go home,” Venus said, patting her, but not sounding very convincing.

 “I won’t. I’m not good at anything,” Riley replied pessimistically.

 “Now, I’m sure that’s not true,” Venus lied, changing the subject quickly, “Why don’t you tell us about your life at home?”

 Riley sniffed, wiping her nose dramatically with her hand. “Well…I love it at home. I love all the trees and the flowers that bloom in summer time. Near my house, we have a little apple tree, and if we can afford it, sometimes my brother makes us apple pie in the summer from the fresh fruit. I have a big family, but my parents…my parents are dead.” Riley let out a huge sob, and I was almost certain it was genuine “My brother takes good care of us, though. I don’t know what we’d all do without him.” The crowd was quiet as she finished talking, upset by her story. Venus sniffed slightly, overcome by the interview.

 “Such a heart wrenching story, Riley. I hope you get home to them. Thank you for sharing. Panem, I give you Riley Swan of District 7!”

 The mood was sombre as Riley returned to her seat, but the applause went on for a long time, eating into Otto’s interview time. He looked angry that Riley was making such an impression, sitting beside Venus angrily. Venus called for quiet and turned to face Otto, more comfortable with him than with Riley.

 “Hello, Otto! You’ve been a very impressive tribute so far! Tell us about that fantastic training score.”

 “I think I deserved it,” Otto said. Not modest at all, I thought “I put on a good show for the Gamemakers and they liked what they saw. I assure you all, though, that I have more up my sleeve for the Games,” he said. The crowd murmured in excitement, the serious mood from the previous interview lifting. Riley was back in her seat and hanging her head once more.

 “I’m sure you do. I certainly can’t wait to see you in action. Are allies something you might consider in the Games?”

 “Possibly. We’ll have to see. I don’t want other people to slow me down,” Otto said, his eyebrow raised. Venus nodded, as though in understanding, but to me it was clear that she’d taken a dislike to him.

 “Well, that is certainly something to consider. But is there no possibility of you and your District partner becoming a team? I’m sure you could use each other to your own advantage,” she said, trying to extract something controversial from Otto and liven up the potential rivalry portrayals. She must have known he’d never team up with Riley, and wanted him to make it clear to the audience. Otto chuckled.

 “Riley and I don’t see eye to eye. I don’t want to waste my time with someone like her. She has no skills that she could bring to a team effort, which I believe reflects in her training score, don’t you?”

 “Perhaps,” Venus said awkwardly. Cameras were zooming in on Riley, desperate to see her reaction. She lifted her head, eyes filled with tears and her lip quivering. She was presenting herself perfectly. Otto looked even more agitated that people seemed to be taking a liking to Riley and her weakness. It was as though they had adopted her as their own, their hearts reaching out to the poor lost girl from District 7. They couldn’t have been more wrong about Riley. She wasn’t weak. They don’t know the Whirlwind I thought.

 “So,” Venus continued, shifting in her seat “Your stylists have done a good job. But if you had to choose one costume to compliment, whose would it be? You can’t choose yourself!”

 Otto and the audience chuckled, and he began to scan his fellow tributes “Well,” he said “Cassia does look lovely. But I think I’ll have to say Elianna. She’s a beautiful girl, but what I like most about her is that she’s a fighter. I’ve seen her in training. She’s good at everything, ruthless and yet still compassionate. That’s how a girl should be. What use does it do a girl to sit and cry all the time?” he asked rhetorically. The audience seemed to be considering this, though, as they all looked at Riley thoughtfully. Any respect that Riley had gained during her interview fizzled away as quickly as she’d gained it. I sighed. She’d have to start from scratch in the Games. She’d have to win their hearts again.

 “True, true,” Venus said, “Thank you very much, Otto! Put your hands together for Otto of District 7!”

 Otto waved charmingly at the crowd as he returned to his seat. Or charming for him, anyway. After that, the interviews passed in a blur and soon enough, Venus was announcing the end of the show. Antonia didn’t say a word to me as we waited for Riley to come off the stage. When she arrived, she flew into my arms, her eyes puffy from crying, but seemingly better than she’d been all day. I caught Antonia’s eye and ushered her to join the hug. It took her a moment, but reluctantly, she stepped forward, and we stayed in the three way hug for quite some time. When we all pulled apart, it was not Riley’s eyes which were wet, but Antonia’s, her blue eyes swimming with tears. She kissed Riley fondly, taking her hand.

 “Come on sweetheart. We’ll get you some dinner.”

 The dinner table was particularly full that night. Otto didn’t attend, but Marcia and the stylists did, and Riley seemed to have regained her appetite, managing a whole stuffed bird with vegetables to herself and then a large helping of ice cream with cake. She burped loudly, giggling to herself as Marcia glared steadily at her.

 “Disgusting,” she muttered, stabbing at a piece of kiwi fruit with her fork. I sniggered behind my hand, and caught Riley’s eye, sharing the humour. Even Antonia smiled as she was putting down her dessert spoon.

 “Let’s try and keep the peace, yeah? Don’t be rude, Riley. And Marcia…try not to be so stuck up for once, yeah?”

 Marcia blinked in surprise. No one had ever said anything like that to her before, no doubt. But to everyone’s astonishment, she let it go. And then, to add to the shock, after watching the replays of the interviews, Marcia patted Riley on the head awkwardly.

 “We may not meet again, Riley. But I promise to help Antonia and Arrian get you as far as we can,” she said “…may the odds be ever in your favour.”

 With that she left, her blonde hairdo bobbing as she retreated. We watched her go, knowing that it was time to say our goodbyes too. In the morning, Riley would be taken to the catacombs under the arena by Roberta to dress in her arena clothes, and we were not allowed to accompany her. But Riley didn’t seem to plan on saying goodbye then and there. She took both mine and Antonia’s hands across the dinner table, her eyes desperate.

 “Can we all be together tonight? I don’t want to be alone. Not tonight.”

 “Of course. Of course we can, Riley. Run and get changed. We can all stay in my room,” I said. She jumped up, energy filled as usual and bounded away, quickly waving to Roberta who she’d see the next morning. Antonia looked at me with reluctance in her eyes, but followed me to my room anyway. We both changed into our pyjamas and stood awkwardly on either side of the bed, aware of every move the other made. Eventually, I sighed and climbed under the sheets, accepting the silence between us. I was glad, however, when Riley broke it, bursting into the room in a floor length nightgown and chewing her thumb. Then she flung herself onto the bed, quickly crawling under the duvet and squirming childishly like a possessed worm. I raised my eyebrows with a smile. When Riley stopped messing around, she looked up at Antonia.

 “Aren’t you getting in?” she asked innocently, eyes wide and curious. Antonia sighed, glancing quickly at me as she slid under the covers, snuggling into the warmth. A peaceful silence fell over us for a moment, Riley staring at the ceiling with her hands behind her head calmly. It made me feel better seeing her less distressed, so I decided to question her on her tactics.

 “Will you go to the Cornocopia tomorrow?”

 “I think so. I wanna have a chance, you know? If there is nothing outside the Cornocopia, I won’t stand a chance. Milo is going too. We’re going to try and stick together. Do you think that’s wise?”

 “I think Milo is good for you. You make a good team. And he obviously agrees too,” I said smartly, referring to the comment he made in his interview. Riley scowled, her cheeks reddening.

 “Shut up.”

 “What did I say wrong?” I asked innocently. Riley sighed and rolled over, mildly irritated and  looking at Antonia instead.

 “Tell me a story.”

 “What kind of a story?”

 “I dunno. Anything. Tell me how you met Ari.”

 Antonia sucked in her breath, glancing briefly at me.

 “OK,” she said softly, shifting to get herself comfortable “I think I was four when I first met him. On Wednesday nights, every adult in the District was required to work extra hours to keep up with the higher demand of lumber that year, and so the school began to open up a sort of after school club, where children could safely stay whilst their parents were at work. But the club was tedious.”

 “Hey! I used to love it!” I chipped in.

 “That’s because all we were allowed to do was study or read. And all the books were boring. Which leads me to how I met him. I’d never been one to sit still, and this time was no exception. I was wondering aimlessly around the room when I saw him. He was in the corner of the room, all alone with his nose stuck in this huge book. Something about him intrigued me, so I went over to get a better look at him. He was so cute back then, in his little knee length shorts and white shirt,” Antonia said “It’s a shame it didn’t last really. I mean, take a look at that ugly mutt,” she teased, dodging as I reached over to swat her. Riley laughed, engrossed in the story. Antonia continued “I remember peering over to look at the page, wrinkling my nose at it. It was some boring rubbish about the history of Panem. So I snatched it off him, waving it in his face. He got really upset about it, trying to grab it back, his face crumpling in upset. I remember telling him to get a grip.”

 “Well said,” Riley said, looking over her shoulder at me with a roll of her eyes and a flash of her toothy grin. I smiled as Riley turned her attention back to Antonia.

 ““What will you give me if I give you the book back?” I’d asked him, grinning all the while. Arrian had thought about it for a moment, then looked up at me with those innocent blue eyes of his.

 “A kiss?” he’d said.

 “A kiss?” I’d repeated in horror. At that age, kissing is just unthinkable. Arrian had blushed crimson, his eyes wide.

 “I thought that’s what you’d want. I’ve got nothing else to give you,” he mumbled. So, with nothing else to gain from the bargain, I offered him my cheek, his lips touching it briefly. I pretended to be disgusted, wiping my cheek and handing him the book back. I was about to walk away when Ari caught my arm.

 “Can we be friends?” he asked. I’d glanced back at him, trying to keep myself cool, but in truth, I was excited. I’d never had a friend before. I’d always scared them off with my brash behaviour. But Ari wanted me. And I wanted him. I’ll never forget what I said next.

 “Yes. We’re friends. Forever and ever,”” Antonia finished. Riley smiled.

 “That’s adorable,” she said with a yawn “I can imagine that, down to every last detail. Neither of you have changed a bit.”

 I caught Antonia’s eye and smiled, almost shyly. She returned it, and I felt a sense of relief that she had almost forgiven me. Riley snuggled in further, reaching to poke my shoulder.

 “I’m gonna try and sleep. Goodnight, Ari. Goodnight, Antonia.”

 “Wait,” I said. “Have you got a District token?”

 “No. I didn’t have something from home,” Riley said, deflating. I reached onto my bedside table, fumbling in the drawer for the item I was searching for. I pulled out the wooden necklace that both Antonia and I had both worn in the arena, fastening it around Riley’s neck.

 “It’s brought us both home. Maybe it can bring you back too,” I whispered. Riley hugged me, trying not to cry.

 “Don’t turn of the light,” she whispered. I nodded, and she pulled away to hug Antonia. The light stayed on as she settled into a soft slumber, her breathing heavy and her lips parted. Antonia reached for my hand and I took it, both of us forming a protective barrier around Riley’s sleeping body. My eyes grew heavy and fluttered closed.  At some point, I drifted into a dreamless slumber, only waking when Riley’s body shifted. I woke with a start, screams filling my ears and Riley’s body thrashing. I realised that Antonia was trying to restrain her, Roberta stood nervously by the door. She was waiting to take Riley to the arena.

 “No,” I whispered. It was too soon. I couldn’t let Riley go. Realising I was awake, Riley reached a desperate arm towards me, tears falling freely down her freckled cheeks. I grabbed her and pulled her into a hug, her hands digging into my back as she clung to me like a baby monkey. I realised I was crying too, sobbing hard as I held her to me.

 “They’re making me go, Ari. They’re making me leave. Don’t make me go,” she whispered, her voice cracking.

 “I’m sorry, Riley. I’m so sorry.”

 “Don’t forget me, will you Ari?” she said, pulling away in the realisation that she couldn’t stay. I patted her cheek lightly, my face soaked. I could barely see her through my tears.

 “How could I forget you, Whirlwind? Things will be different when you come back. I promise. You and your family will be safe, OK?”

 “OK,” she said, but with no hope in her voice. When she let go it felt like being ripped apart. She’d become so much a part of me that I couldn’t bear to watch her go. I forced myself to turn my back, my tears never stopping, not even after I heard the door shut and I knew that she was gone. I couldn’t stop the sobs, my body shaking as I sat down on the bed, the pain I was feeling leaking out slowly. I felt Antonia’s cold hands touch my back, massaging me gently and soothing me.

 “She’ll come back, Ari. You know she will.”

 I said nothing. Because the truth was, I could never be certain that she’d return to us. And that was the worst thing imaginable.

 “She’s like my sister,” I managed to croak more than an hour later, cradled in Antonia’s caring arms. Time was ticking. It was nearly nine and the Games began at ten. Eventually, Antonia dragged me up and shoved me fully clothed under the shower, succeeding in knocking some sense into me. After a minute, she left me under the hot waters alone to prepare myself. I needed to snap out of my silly state. Riley needed me at my best to lure in sponsors and help her in the arena.

 Thirty minutes.

 I dressed quickly in my room, feeling more alone than ever. Antonia had disappeared, Grandmother was at home, Pandora was miles away. And Riley. Riley…

 Twenty minutes.

 Straightening my tie, I headed for the plaza where all the sponsors gathered, buzzing with excitement and beginning to place bets at the gambling station. I could see Antonia frantically gesturing at a group of women, dressed in wild colours and strange hairstyles.

 Ten minutes.

It was too late to begin to snare any sponsors. The Games were about to begin. Bodies pushed and shoved to get the best view in front of the huge screen, a thousand eyes fixated on Claudius Templesmith as he announced that the tributes would be appearing in twenty seconds. A gleeful laugh escaped from the mouth of a man next to me, his eyes almost rabid as he waited for the action to begin. The screen began to fade away from Claudius Templesmith’s face.

 Ten seconds.

 The tributes were coming onto the screen now, and the arena was revealed. My heart froze as they rose into a world of darkness. The skies were black and mists circled the podiums on which the tributes stood, swallowing tribute’s legs whole. Barren trees reached their gnarled fingers out menacingly, twisted and bent at odd angles.

  The shock of the dark hit me and the rest of the spectators straight away. And it was then that I knew that the odds were not in Riley’s favour. For it was not the Games, nor Otto, or even death that Riley Swan feared. Her one and only fear was the dark.

A.N: Hey guys! I hope you like this chapter. It took me ages! So Riley is in the arena now. Let me know if any of it didn't make sense because I rushed it a little bit at the end. Just to let you know, the next chapter will not be from Riley's POV. All of her time in the arena will still be from Arrian's perspective. However, the next chapter will  not be in first person, and will involve someone who you haven't seen in a while... :)

 Also, if you have time, please check out my new story, Stripes! I'd love to know what you think. Read, Comment, Vote, Enjoy :D