—NATALIA —

"HELLO?"

"Yes, hello Natalia," says Felicity. "How is it over there?" 

Felicity's tone turns stern. "Is it ready?"

"Yes, Felicity," I say. "Jamison's got everything arranged." 

"Is IT ready?" she repeats. 

"Yes, Felicity." 

"There's something going on, isn't there," I ask. "The di Angelo girl.. and that Aiden boy.. they're alive, aren't they."

"Yes, dear," replies Felicity. "Watch video processed in email. 002947." 

My laptop lies open on my lap, showing the video Felicity sent me. 002947. Escape Code Video.

The screen flickers to life, showing three tributes sitting on a couch, Felicity's voice booming out through speakers. 

"Eunice Seyfield will be announced the victor, while Cadence and Aiden you two will be temporarily hiding in the Capitol when the interviews take place. Zoey Sinclair and Kunboss Bailey will be revived, and all five of you will go into hiding together until everything is sorted out." 

I watch as the two girls glare at each other. Their faces soften, and suddenly they break out into a small smile. "Yes, Felicity," they answer.

The screen goes black. 

— GWYNETH —

My phone buzzes, and I yawn before pulling it out of my pocket. 

Incoming Message from Natalia Riggs: Watch the video I sent you.

Incoming Message from Natalia Riggs: They'll be coming back soon.

I watch the video three times before I get what's happening there. 

Not only Eunice, Zoey and Kunboss, but Aiden and Cadence are also alive.

Operation Rescue Forty-One People has now downscaled to thirty-nine, and there are two more people to help me. 

A plan forms in my mind, but first, I need someone's help. 

— EUNICE —

A day has passed but everything's still. So when suddenly, a woman appears in our doorway, I grab a pillow from the bed to defend myself. The games have definitely changed part of me, but hopefully, the good part is still hidden there. I'm so much more conscious of my surroundings, who I'm around, and most of all, who I've become, but I still haven't noticed the woman handing Kunboss a phone. 

The pillow is still raised high in my hand, and she chuckles.

"Don't worry."

I lower the pillow immediately, embarrassed. And we all circle around the phone. 

On the screen, is none other than Gwyneth. 

She starts crying in hysterics. 

"I THOUGHT YOU GUYS WERE DEAD!" she exclaims. 

"Well, we were actually dead," remarks Kunboss with a smirk, and Gwyneth starts laughing and crying at the same time while trying to slap him through the screen. 

"No time for jokes, dummy," I say playfully, and help Gwyneth slap him instead. 

Gwyneth notices that Cadence seems out of place in front of us. "Cadence, how are you holding up?" she asks, seemingly knowing that Cadence looks uncomfortable with us as we are all in the same grade at school except for her.  

Cadence glances up and immediately plasters on her signature dazzling grin, just like the one from her pre-game interviews. "I'm fine!" she says, but her voice is distant.

Gwyneth nods, pursing her lips. "Whatever you need, we'll provide for you. Just give me a call whenever you need my help, okay, Cadence?"

And that's when I see the girl who's truly my best friend come back. 

Not the girl who changed because of the stupid Games. Not the girl who changed when she watched in horror as I died before her own eyes. Not the girl who changed because of the hatred from winning the Games, not the girl who struggled, killed, to get out of the arena alive.

I expected her to send help when I was sure I was going to die. But I wasn't her responsibility - she wasn't supposed to be my mentor - and that isn't wholly who she is.

She is the girl I glanced up at before taking my last breath. The girl whom I sacrificed my life for. 

The entirety of my best friend, is this kind, warm-hearted, selfless girl. Nothing else. Only Gwyneth Anderson.

I smile, and Gwyneth sees. She teases me for a short while before Aiden cuts in. "Oy, Gwyn," he says, a hand on his heart jokingly. "You've only been talking to the other four, what about me," he pouts, putting on a funny face. 

Everyone in our circle plus Gwyneth cracks up. "C'mon Aiden, look who's the weirdo here, you know I love all of you although you're, like, supercalifragilisticexplalidocious annoying." 

Zoey was zoning out, but once she heard the super-long word, she started singing and dancing to the Mary Poppins song. It made me feel at home. Like, truly at home.

"OKAY, GIRLS, AND BOYS," bellows a female voice from Gwyneth's side of the line. "Time to get SERIOUS!!" 

Her mouth isn't moving, and I wonder if Gwyneth's developed a new skill - ventriloquy. But judging by the way she's biting her tongue to stop herself from laughing, nah, it's not her. 

Gwyneth ultimately starts laughing after a few seconds of awkward silence. "C'mon Natalia," she says, looking to her right. "STOP IT!" 

"Who's Natalia?" asks Cadence in a soft voice. 

"Right. I forgot. Sorry Natalia," says Gwyneth, leaning to her side and pulling someone in. "Y'all. Meet Natalia Riggs the ALMIGHTY! She has been helping me find out about y'all and stuff about the GAMES!!!" 

"Okay, thanks Gwyneth," says this so-called Natalia girl. "As you may or may not know, I am from Byrok."

Zoey and Cadence gasp, and I want to too, but I restrain myself. But Byrok? Isn't it the worst place on earth? What business does Sophia want with us? 

"Calm down. I am from Byrok, but I am from Aurore of Byrok." 

Cadence has a sudden change in attitude, from uneasy and shy to disgust and hatred. "Doesn't make a difference to me," she remarks savagely, shrugging. and glaring at the screen.

I know she's still grieving from the loss of her allies, and the awkward silence as Natalia's unable to answer is cut off when Gwyneth cuts in.

"So basically, she's from the nice part of Byrok that does not support the Games." 

"Didn't know that existed, but okay," Cadence retorts, glowering, but Natalia seems unfazed.

"Basically, we want to help you guys come back to the Adelaide Woods as soon as possible. Martha?"

Martha ?? WHO'S MARTHA?

The lady who gave us the phone emerges from the hallway. Oh, so that's her. "Yes?" 

"Next flight, 992564." 

"Yes, we better hurry if we want to catch it," she answers.

The call cuts off before Gwyneth even has the chance to say farewell.