— CADENCE —

I STARE at the notebook in front of me, imagining the surroundings of the arena, recollecting my memories of the Games.

I picture the cornucopia where two of my friends had been lost, and sketch it out with pencil. Andros and Tze Kiu. I see me walking through the forests, telling myself that they were in a better place. Now that I think back at it, that wasn't grief. That was nowhere near true grief. I flip to the next page.

Then I paint the image of the fight outside the cave in my brain. Kunboss' wide grin, Eunice's deadly bow and arrow, Zoey's war cry-it's all flooding back to me. Three of my friends had fallen there, and I had run away. I had run away, through the thick foliage, trying to convince myself that they'd be okay, but that night I saw their faces in the sky, all I felt was utter and complete numbness. I draw that scene out too, and just like before my interview, the pencil moves by itself, continuing on to a blank sheet. 

After that, I dream of Ariel's death, with Rylie's sword at her throat. Just seconds before that, I was delighted, having reunited with my best friend in the arena. And there it was, another old friend of mine, lost, gone with the cold, emotionless wind. I let my pencil flow on the page, creating yet another line of memories.

After what seems like an hour, I find the notebook filled with detailed illustrations of my time in the arena.

Andros and Tze Kiu's bodies laying in the Cornucopia. Me and my friends trudging in the forests. The cave and the lost souls. Kacey's face in the sky, smiling as if to tell me she'd lived her dream life. Ariel's severed head. Confronting Rylie. Our agreement. My change into a killer. Memphis' death. Finding Aiden. The three of us, happily venturing through the arena. Joseph and Joshua. The dagger sticking out of Kunboss' gut. Then...

Rylie's glassy eyes fixed on me. I didn't realise I drew that moment too. I exhale shakily, caressing the part of the paper where I sketched his face.

And the rest, fighting with the Hale siblings. Andy's sacrifice. Aiden and I gazing into the horizon. The sudden determination. The lake of feigned death. Eunice basking in the Sun. Our final fight. And lastly, the force field breaking apart, along with the streaks of lightning.

My brain fills with questions and I wonder why this always happens. First with the letter to my sister, Cynthia, now the drawings of my key moments in the arena.

I start sobbing like a child. Why did I do this? Why did I remind myself of it all? Why would I torture myself like this?

The answer comes to me, true and strong.

It's a part of me now. And it's too late to turn back.

— ZOEY —

I look over at Eunice's sleeping body, lying on the sleeping bag next to mine. She snores lightly, and I adjust my form to be more comfortable. 

But after almost half an hour of struggling against my sleeping bag, I decide I can't sleep. I silently slip out of my blanket, careful not to wake her, and softly pad against the hard wood floor into the kitchen. I pour myself a cup of tea. 

The light in the living room is on, and I rub my eyes lots of times to get used to the brightness. Cadence sits there cross-legged on the couch, sleepless. Dark circles are under her eyes, and she clutches a cup of hot chocolate in her hands, seemingly desperate to break free. She yawns and I slip next to her, settling onto the recliner.

"Can't sleep?" I ask, and Cadence nods, turning away. I breathe, patiently waiting.

"Zoey," she begins, murmuring. "I-I'm sorry... for everything," Cadence glances at the ceiling, unable to look at me.

"What?" I ask, even though I probably know what she's thinking.

"I killed him," Cadence says softly. "I killed Kunboss, and I felt happy about it."

"He's back now," I reply. "The one who should be apologising is me. I killed your friends, and I didn't even know their names. Kunboss is back, they'll never be." 

My eyes flicker to hers where they meet, and she smiles bitterly.

"Their names were Kacey and Ariana," she mutters under her breath. "They've only been with me for four years, but we've gotten so close it's like we're blood related."

I nod, not wanting to interrupt her. She's mourning and it only makes sense for me to listen. Like a friend. Or maybe an older sister.

"I went to Ariana's house once," Cadence continues. She closes her eyes and smiles, tears forming at the corners of her eyes like little pearls. "It was the best night in the world.. but that was the week before the reaping, the day before the arena twists were announced. I remember sitting on the couch together watching the announcement after the sleepover, and hoping we wouldn't be picked."

"Everything changed though, it was like God wanted to mess with my wish. I don't blame you though, all you wanted to do was survive. I really don't. But I really really hope they could be here with me right now."

She finishes, inhaling deeply, and I nod.

I turn to Cadence with eyes full of tears and embrace her in a tight hug. She doesn't sob or shake, and Cadence pats herself instead.

"Zoey, I know I'm in no place to give you advice, but through the TV screen, I understand you more than you could ever imagine. You and Kunboss? The two of you are our school sweethearts, and I know how horrible it must've felt, having to survive in the arena, knowing at least one of you will end up in Death's hands."

Cadence raises her head, her eyes shimmering in tears of maturity. But underneath that, I see the carefree and childish glint of the twelve-year-old that she's supposed to be. "It's hard to get by right now, I get it, because I'm also experiencing what you are right now. But you're at an advantage. You have the one closest to your heart with you right now."

I stare at her in confusion, not knowing where the conversation is going. "Treasure Kunboss, Gwyneth and Eunice. You know that they're willing to do anything for you." Cadence sighs and I - finally - know who she's thinking of. "I took his friendship for granted. Now I might never see him again. Hold them close, Zoey. They're your family."

Then the wistful voice disappears, replaced by the cunning one. "And you and Kunboss..." Cadence cooes playfully. "I'm somewhat expecting a relationship from you two."

I manage a pained chuckle. She's only twelve and she's had to go though so much pain, so much torture, so much heartbreak, yet it's her teaching me and not me teaching her. So I have to redeem myself.

I pull away. "Do you trust me, Cadence?" I ask, and even then, I see the hesitant gaze in her eyes before she nods.

"Yes. Up till now, you've been the only person who has actually listened to what I think," but she seemingly knows what I want to say next.

"I'm not ready for that, Zoey," she admits, the playful side gone. "I'm not ready to face Eunice and Kunboss. I'm sorry."

"It's fine," I say. "I trust you, and I trust them too."

But what I didn't know was that: our lives would soon change, and this time for the better - not the worse.

— GWYNETH —

= AN HOUR LATER =

So no one in Byrok actually supports Byrok. What a weird country.

Natalia tells me that the other leaders of Aurore are working hard to fight for their rights against Rochbok, whose believers are already scarce. If they succeed, Prime Minister James will be brought back to Byrok as a war criminal and the Adelaide Woods will become a free country, but I'm not actually paying attention to her words. 

Eunice is alive. Eunice is alive. Zoey and Kunboss are alive. They are alive and well, and they walked out of that building safe and sound. Natalia watched them, but... I can't help but think it's all a gimmick. Come to think of it, Aurore's a part of Byrok after all. Would they really be as venom-hearted as to trick me to get my trust then betray me? 

All I can think about, are my friends. I know that I should feel happy that my best friends are back, but now is not the time. Even if the New Regime disappears, what about the other tributes? What about the other forty-one people who died in the so-called Games? Why were their lives taken without even a brief explanation? 

Right. They've all been revived? They're all on life support?

I want to hold on to that bit of hope. But the victor has been announced, the revivals have been finalized. And Natalia watched Eunice, Zoey, and Kunboss walk out of that building alive. As much as I want to continue thinking that the other tributes are all alive, deep down inside I know, the New Regime might have turned off their life support and left them to die. 

That's even worse than torture. That's like telling them they had a chance at life and abandoning them, telling they weren't worthy to live. No one deserves that.

At this moment, I genuinely think I made the wrong choice.

Then, it hits me. 

The New Regime.. is no more. They are the only people left who strongly stand by Rochbok of Byrok. With this amount of protests and chaos, they have probably not managed to get to the life support in the Capitol labs just yet, especially because it's in an almost-full-on-rebellion. 

I must believe this is true.. and I must get to the other forty-one people as soon as possible.. before they die in Byrok's hands. 

I must let the New Regime pay for their actions.