"Mr. English, we'll launch the program upon your command. It's been verified twice now, we're sure it'll work-"

A devastatingly handsome man who looked as if he were still in his twenties stood, towering over the cowering old professor stood before him. He sighed, gazing at the Capitol skyline visible through the room's floor-length glass windows, a distant look in his eyes.

"If it doesn't work, you will pay."

The professor quivered, clearly fearful of his superior. The man, or Mr. English, as his name was, sighed once again, returning to his seat at the head of a sleek, polished black table. He drummed the tabletop with his fingers, the distant look in his eyes returning.

"Very well, Sir. Mr. English. May I be excused?"

"I'd like to see the clones myself first."

The professor nodded sheepishly, holding the door to a concealed back room open for Mr. English, who walked in slowly but firmly. The professor gestured toward 12 glass pods with frost forming around them. "They have been arranged by District, Sir." Mr. English nodded, making his way toward the last pod. He raised his hand, wiping away some of the frost on this particular pod, before gasping slightly upon seeing a cloned version of his daughter. He noticed the wings that had been implanted into her back, the white dress she wore on the day she had been unknowingly cloned, and the resemblance she bore to him.

"She's beautiful. Simply beautiful. Thank you, Professor, for giving me the chance to meet my daughter."

The professor smiled, bowing deeply. "Pardon my asking, Sir, but why have the other tributes cloned and restored as well?"

"Well, I know Libra fancies the boys from Districts 1 and 4. It'll break her if she has to survive knowing they're dead. The others are just there to sweeten it up."

"Very well. I'll make arrangements for Phase 2 once you excuse me."

"Thank you, Professor. You may be excused."

Once he had been left to his own devices, Mr. English pressed a button on the side of his daughter's pod, opening it so that he could come face to face with her.

"Dearest daughter, I've always wished to meet you. To know you. And I knew the only way to do that would be to somehow make you come to the Capitol, which is why I stuffed the draw for the District 12 tribute. I'm sorry for that, dear. But, I promise you, you will live. I will bring you back to life, or I will take my own." He kissed her forehead.

"We will be reunited, be it in life or death."

"Okay, I've gotten you all zipped up, your hair is done... It's time to go, Pisces." My stylist, Alexander, pushed me toward the elevator that would take me to the Games. "I have 30 seconds!"

"20 seconds," an automated voice rushed to correct me. "Go, dear. Stay strong. Be vigilant. Show them all just how bad you can be." Alexander planted a kiss on my cheek. "Go." And with that, he closed the elevator doors on me. Stay strong. Be vigilant. I took in a shaky breath, releasing it immediately thereafter. Show them all just how bad you can be. Squaring my shoulders, I stood up tall, determined to be resilient. The terrain they had chosen for this year was really quite unique- it was a ruined high-tech city, split into 12 different regions. Some regions were ablaze, while others had drowned. Some featured flying hazards, while others housed creatures of the ground.

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1... Let the Games begin!" Every tribute rushed out of their elevator. Cancer, Scorpio and Libra made a beeline for 3 separate regions: Scorpio for one that featured raging rapids and venomous creatures, Cancer for a half-submerged city with technological hazards like bombs and haywire circuits, and Libra for a ruined city devoid of any life which featured airborne technological weapons such as killer drones and motion-activated grenades. The rest rushed toward the Cornucopia, blood already being shed as Aries slashed at someone with a sword. I noticed an underground city that had entirely submerged by water. I rushed toward it, diving into the water.

I noticed a few small islands at the surface, as well as the protruding tops of buildings that could be used as small rest islands. I also noticed some swimming supplies below the surface, such as a snorkel, fins and some scuba gear (complete with sealed oxygen.) I dove down for resources when I saw them discarding them when I saw something better. As I swam on, I felt at ease. As if I could win. It was a good feeling, and it was one I hope I could carry to the end of the Games.

I continued swimming, enjoying the feeling of the water against my body.

I knew going for the Cornucopia was a bad decision the moment I saw Aries and Gemini running in the same direction. Picking up the pace, I attempted to grab a bag of basic supplies when I felt a fist hit my back. "Going somewhere, are we?" It was Gemini, standing over me with a dagger in her right hand. "Gemini-we can talk about this-" She smirked at me. "No. You're right where I want you. On the ground, vulnerable, begging for your life. I suppose it's almost poetic that you're going to die when all you want is to live."

I scrambled up, trying to escape Gemini, but I knew it was no use at all. My death had come, whether I liked it or not. Sighing, I lay my supplies on the ground, bowing down to Gemini. "Do what you have to do." She groaned, rolling her eyes at me. "Don't just give up like that! You're being boring!" I smirked slightly. "I hear it's all us nerds are good for." Gemini growled, bringing herself face to face with myself. "I have to say, bad choice of last words."

She drove her dagger through my heart, giving me half a second to live, in which I felt a strange, blank sensation in my mind. What was-

Virgo. No.

I watched, dismayed, as Virgo's body went limp, a dagger stuck in his chest. Virgo was so soft, so outspoken.... It went without saying that I fancied him. Seeing him dead, bloody, thrown across the floor... I couldn't handle it. I'd seen him die.

And I'd seen Gemini kill him.

I rushed up to Virgo's body, pulling the dagger from his chest and covering it with a spare piece of cloth. "I'll avenge you," I whispered, before setting off after Gemini, dagger in hand. I watched the District 2 tribute pursue a blonde boy who was along his way with a bow and arrow, humming to himself as he went. Sagittarius Harrington, District 8. Not the most skilled in survival and combat, but deadly with a bow and arrow. I would have to take care that Sagittarius didn't notice me-one arrow to the heart and I would be dead.

"Hey, Sagittarius!" Gemini called. sagittarius turned around, his guard down upon seeing someone who was supposedly his friend. "Say cheese!" Sagittarius frowned, confused. "What do you-" Within seconds, the party boy lay dead on the floor, a dagger in his chest. I looked away, disgusted, upon seeing the blood oozing from his wound, his face still. "It's been a pleasure, friend." She turned away, walking toward a ruined house, her guard finally down. Taking care to remain unnoticed, I brandished the dagger, prepared to puncture her back with it. I noticed a small Tracker Jacker flying around the area. Slicing through it neatly, I slathered the dagger in its venom.

I broke into a sprint, the dagger aimed perfectly at the most vulnerable spot on Gemini's back-

"No!" Aquarius shoved me aside, rushing toward Gemini. "You maniac! How could you just kill him like that?" Aquarius screamed through tears. Aquarius and Sagittarius had gotten romantically close during the pre-Games period. It must have been devastating for the District 11 tribute to see the boy she cared for with a dagger in his chest. Like me with Virgo..."

She hurled her trident at Gemini, who stood ready. The Career caught it, laughing. "What makes you think I won't end you just as easily as I ended your little boyfriend?" And with that, she hurled the trident toward Aquarius with frightening speed, impaling her chest and arms. Aquarius Tudor had been run into the ground, held down by a trident with tears in her eyes. "Aquarius..." I whispered softly, reaching toward the bloodied girl before realising that I'd just given myself away to Gemini. "Ooh, seconds! How exciting!" I stood, squaring my shoulders. "This... is for Virgo." I rushed forward, sticking the dagger into her torso...

When I realised she'd let it slip into the crevice between her arm and midsection. Gemini chuckled, spinning a throwing star on one finger. "Nice try, little girl. Now, my turn." I felt the throwing star impale my neck, my mind going strangely blank-

I rushed out of the Cornucopia, having managed to grab twin swords, a bag of survival tools, a portable camping tent and some aspirin. I tried to drown out the thoughts in my head of Libra by whistling the tune to one of my favourite songs, but somehow, that just didn't work. I knew Libra, and I knew she was too weak for the Games. Someone as helpless as her couldn't make it through the grueling monstrosities of this arena, or of some of her competitors. I tried to assure myself that I was just imagining it, that she was stronger than she seemed, but deep down, I had a bad feeling that she was already lying somewhere, unconscious, with a dagger in her.

I walked toward a bewilderingly hot region of the arena that featured smoldering fires overhead. I figured it would be the best option to keep warm at night. Sighing, I found myself a sheltered spot in between a cluster of ruined skyscrapers. I pulled out my camping tent from it bag, smiling as it popped up of its own accord. It was equipped with everything I would need to survive out here for a few days, with the exception of food. Brandishing my swords, I set out, ready to raid other tributes' supplies. To one side, I could see the silhouette of a person surfacing for air and a quick bite in the drowned city. I looked around, seeing a multitude of tributes powering through their arenas, before I saw her wings.

Libra. She was flying above the ruins, unplugging killer drones deceptively fast. And then I saw Aries, smiling upon seeing her alive. He held a group of crates, each filled with food and portable kitchen appliances, as well as a chest that I presumed contained weapons. I rushed toward him when his back was turned, plunging my sword into his back. I looked at Libra before turning toward him as he took his last breath. "I'm sorry, mate. There can only be one." I turned toward Libra again, only to find... that she was gone. "LIBRA!" I ran toward her region, manically searching for her. "LIBRA, NO!"

I heard a slight chuckle behind me. "Well, I couldn't! Another kill! I've already been through Virgo, Capricorn, Sagittarius, Aquarius...." I gasped upon hearing the names of my friends. Sagittarius. Aquarius. They couldn't just be... gone. I would never again hear Sagittarius scream drunkenly, or see Aquarius' silent determination. I have to be strong.

I squared my shoulders, looking Gemini dead in the eye. "Any last words?" Gemini chuckled, stepping closer to me. "Sorry, didn't get your order, darling. Suppose I'll just serve you murder with a side of fries!" I rushed forward, swords held at a lethal point. She dodged, laughing. "That all you got, pretty boy?" I rushed forward, but Gemini just stepped to the side. "You're boring. I should just end you. Then I can kill Wings, if she's even alive." I laughed, realising my advantage. "Sucks, because your boyfriend Aries is dead as can be." Gemini's eyes widened, her sword clattering to the ground. "N-no, you're lying." She laughed shakily, in just the way a lunatic would.

"He is, I killed him. You wanna come see?" Gemini inhaled sharply. She dropped to her knees, her mental health shattering. I moved forward, bringing my sword to Gemini's chest. With one push and twist, Gemini lay dead in a puddle of blood at my feet. I pulled my sword out of her body, gathering Gemini's supplies, most of which were weapons, before setting off for my own camp. Walking and humming to myself, I fell into a rhythm, feeling calm.

I set down Gemini's supplies before heading into my own tent, falling asleep in my camp.

.....

Rustling. Why could I hear rustling? Was it just a part of my dream? Me and Libra at the club, dancing away... It couldn't be. Probably just an animal outside. I rolled over, trying to ignore the rustling. It almost sounded like it was a bird. Like there were wings around.

Wings...

"Did you kill him?" I stirred, finding myself face to face with Libra.

"Kill who, Angel?"

"You know damn well who."

"I did."

Tears formed in her eyes. "I can't believe you."

She began to walk away, clearly upset. I hastened to grab her wrist, trying to pull her toward me. "I'm sorry, I had to do what I needed to do so I could survive, Angel-"

She turned slowly, a psychotic smile on her face. She pulled something from her left pocket.

A venom-covered disc.

"Don't call me Angel."

And she threw the disc at my neck, my bodily systems shutting down-

Libra walked out of Leo's tent, smiling.

"Is it done?"

"Yes."

"Good."