— CADENCE —

CHILLS RUN DOWN MY SPINE as I enter the dark room. Our feet sweep across the floor, and dust flies up into our nostrils. It itches, and I hide my hands inside my baggy hoodie, crossing my arms to give me warmth.

I cover my nose just as Zoey lets out a loud sneeze.

Is this where all the "dead" tributes once were? Or are they here now? Time is running out. We need to get to them as soon as possible.

The room is eerie. A green halo of light fills the room, and cobwebs are scattered everywhere. I tiptoe back and forth, to try and find clues as to what this room could be.

It seems to be something like the lobby to an ancient hospital. From the ruins of everything, I can hardly make out a reception, desks, and chairs. But the rest of this building is in such good condition. Why would this room be the only one that was in ruins?

Because they wanted this room to be hidden away from the others? Maybe?

In the distance, I make out a faint white light. I hear beeps. Vitals?

I hope they are vitals.

With a shaky finger, I point towards the light, and we make our way toward it.

Once we break through the shabby reception, we find ourselves in a place that gives off totally different vibes.

This room is well-lit, and we make our way down another flight of stairs before reaching another crossway. One is labelled "Girls", and the other is labelled "Boys".

— GWYNETH —

I desperately hope the others are here. My hands shake and tremble as I push the girls' door open, unprepared for the sight before me.

I yell.

Twenty or so girls, laying in rows.

beep. beep. beep.

All in cardiac arrest.

"NO!" I scream.

The guards must have messed with the controls. We must find another way.

I slowly find my way past all the rows of girls.

Laine. Charlotte. All put to sleep, their natural beauty restored.

Are they just asleep? I wonder.

For a moment, I remain standing there, my feet stuck to the ground before Charlotte's bed.

My hand finds its way to Charlotte's forehead, then to her hand.

I take Charlotte's ice-cold hand in mine.

No pulse.

I realize she is dead.

Were all our efforts futile? Were they not revived?

I refuse. I refuse to believe that all thirty-nine are dead.

But that's not possible. They are connected to life support, and we need to turn the support back on before all the special technology leaves their bodies.

In despair, I practically flip the room upside down to find the main switch. And I fail. But I keep trying.

I cannot let these people die in vain. Not when we were just seconds away from saving them.

— AIDEN —

I run into the room which says "Boys", the door slamming open.

Rows among rows of our fellow tributes lay there, but the only person I can see is Andy.

"Andy!" I yell.

"Andy?" I take his hand in mine. It's cold, and I can still feel a slow pulse.

I shake Andy in desperation, and when he starts stirring, everything goes black.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

No more heartbeat.

"NO!"

I had just found Andy. I could have said sorry. I could have repaid him for what he did for me.

It has been taken away from me, the moment I was just about to grasp it.

Kunboss appears beside me just as I drop to the floor in despair. I sob. My tears flow down like a river.

He's dead. He's really dead.

He was alive. And yet I was too slow to save him.

Kunboss starts flipping all of the switches desperately, but all I can see is Andy looking down at me from heaven.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE ME? WHY DID YOU KILL ME IN THE FIRST PLACE?"

I grab a scalpel from the table. I'm ready to end my life here and now. I'm ready to meet him in heaven.

"STOP!" yells Kunboss, just as all the switches flicker on. He grasps my hand, knocking the scalpel down to the floor.

I bury my head in Kunboss' shoulder.

"J-just let me, Kun," I sob. "it's not worth it."

Kunboss grabs my shoulders and looks me in the eye. "Think again, Aiden. It is."

"What's going on?"

Andy. He's not dead? Is this a hallucination, or am I the one who's dead? Am I meeting him again?

I look up at the ceiling. His smiling face looks back down at me, and I scream.