Ethan Rhode’s POV:

We walk cautiously down the embankment from the housing area, leaving the cluster of collapsing houses behind us. We move at a steady pace, eager to find someone or something that will give our day meaning. There have been two deaths so far today; my guess is that it is Phox and Blossom. There’s no way the two of them could still be alive halfway through day two.

‘’ What do you think is going to happen with us?’’ I ask Ellie as we walk, Caspian and Lilly are a few paces ahead of us, talking between themselves.

‘’ What do you mean?’’ She replies.

‘’ I mean what’s going to happen if we make it to the last day, and it’s just the four of us left?’’ I reiterate, despite how many times we’ve talked about this, I still feel the question is unanswered.

‘’ We’ve discussed this.’’ She replies.

‘’ I know, I know...but what if it doesn’t go to plan. What if Caspian does something and you end up dead?’’

‘’ Don’t worry about the ‘if’s and ‘but’s. Everything will be fine.’’ She assures.

I am not convinced.

‘’ What do you think mum and dad are doing now?’’ She questions, changing the topic completely.

‘’ Sitting watching us on tv and wondering how someone like you can be related to someone as beautiful as me.’’ I smirk and she thumps me playfully. ‘’ And now they’re probably laughing.’’

We walk on after Caspian and Lilly for another five minutes before anything else is said.

‘’ Can I ask you something?’’ Asks Ellie and I nod. ‘’ What did you wish for when you blew out the candles?’’

‘’ It doesn’t matter.’’ I mutter and keep walking.

‘’ Dad?’’ She guesses and after a few seconds, I nod – reluctantly.

‘’ He didn’t see us before the Reaping. On our birthday. He’s never going to see one of us again. I hope he’s proud of that.’’

‘’ Ethan stop-‘’ She begins but I continue.

‘’ I hope he’s proud that his only children have been sent into the Hunger Games, and he was too busy working to even say goodbye.’’

‘’ Ethan he works to put food on our table. You know that.’’ She explains.

‘’ Whatever.’’

‘’ No Ethan. It is whatever. One of us isn’t going home, that much is certain. That means that the other person is going to die. If that is you, don’t die angry with dad.’’ She scolds.

I don’t reply, I just sigh and keep walking.

Stitch Gable’s POV:

I walk alongside Min, with Max to my left.

‘’ So what’s he like?’’ Questions Min.

‘’ He’s like me I guess. We’re twins.’’ I explain.

‘’ Can he see me?’’ She questions.

Max laughs beside me. ‘’ Of course I can see you, you-‘’

‘’ Yeah, he can.’’ I answer. ‘’ And hear you too.’’

‘’ That’s so weird. Who is he? What is he?’’

‘’ What am I? Is this girl serious?’’ Questions Max impatiently.

‘’ He was my twin, he died at birth though. I’ve been able to see him all my life, I thought he was just an imaginary friend or something stupid like that, but he’s clearly so much more.’’ I explain.

We walk on for about ten more minutes in silence, then we come to a halt.

‘’ Do you see that?’’ She questions.

I nod as she takes out her weapon. ‘’ Dinner.’’

We both stare hungrily at a fox about ten meters away from us, facing away from us. It is clearly unaware of our presence, because it does not flee as we approach. Min has a grip on her sword, and as we creep up on the fox slowly, it glints in the sunlight.

Just as she gets in swinging distance of the fox, it notices us and attempts to dart from us, however Min acts faster and lunges forwards. The blade pierces the creature in the upper torso and it cries out in pain. It falls to the ground and to save it the misery of a slow and painful death, Min beheads it in one fluid movement.

We head deep into the forest of oaks and evergreens – to where the leaves block out the sunshine – and set up camp. I work on the fire whilst Min skins the fox, and although my initial thought is that a fire would attract other tributes, we are too well hidden in the forest for them to be able to track us down. The smoke will just indicate that we are in the forest, not our exact location.

Within half an hour, we have a fire going and the fox is cooking away on it. For a brief moment, I forget where I am. This doesn’t feel like what I thought the Hunger Games would be like. I have food and water, and the comfort of another tribute, a strong tribute.

I picture how different my situation would be if there were no pairings. I could be running around alone on the island, or worse, I could be dead. I glance at Min, I am so unbelievably lucky to have been paired with someone like her. She is the reason I am still alive.

‘’ Everything OK?’’ She asks, obviously sensing my eyes on her.

‘’ Fine.’’ I smile weakly; I really hope we get out of this. There is still so much more I need to find out about Max from my mother. I also can’t leave her alone with my father, he is not good for her.

Adaline Trunkette’s POV:

‘’ Quick! Go! Get out of here!’’ I warn in a half shout half whisper. ‘’ Ravina is back there, she’ll see you if you don’t run.’’

‘’ Where is she?’’ Questions Phox.

‘’ She’s going toilet but if you don’t move now she’ll-‘’ I begin, but I am interrupted, indicating one thing.

‘’ I’ll what? Kill them?’’ Laughs Ravina with a maniacal giggle.

‘’ Run!’’ I scream again and the two twelve year olds sprint away from us.

‘’ You little bitch! I’ll get you for this!’’ Roars Ravina and sprints after them.

I stand rooted to the spot, in the hope that if I remain where I am Ravina will have to stay with me – through fear of our collars acting on the fact that we are outside the distance they allow. However she simply locks her hand in a vice-like grip around my wrist and pulls me after the two poor girls.

We chase them for a solid five minutes, Ravina roars like a wolf excitedly as she hunts down the two little piggies that squeal in fear as they realise they are going to die. I can tell Ravina is playing with them, she is not running as fast as I know she can. Perhaps it is the fact that I am holding her back, hopefully that is the reason but deep down I know she is messing with these girls – letting them believe they have a chance against her.

‘’ Please Ravina, don’t do this.’’ I plead as we run after the two girls, now crying as we enter a small clearing with a river.

‘’ Shut up! What else are we supposed to do? This is a game, to win you have to kill. End of.’’ She snaps back and releases my arm as she lunges forwards.

She grips Phox by the hair and tugs her backwards. The girl roars in pain and flies towards Ravina who laughs crazily as it all goes on. Ravina holds her by her shoulders so they are face to face, Phox is crying heavily now. Ravina pulls her close and head butts the poor girl. Her eyes roll back into her head as she falls unconscious.

Perhaps my words reached Ravina and she realises how cruel she was being. Now she is going to knock them unconscious so they have a quick and painless death. She places Phox on the ground at my feet and approaches Blossom – who slowly backs away, tears in her eyes because she knows she cannot run, not with Phox like that.

‘’ Come here.’’ Orders Ravina, grabbing Blossom around the wrist like she had held me.

‘’ Please. No.’’ Begs Blossom as Ravina pulls her towards the river.

‘’ Ravina no!’’ I shout but she glares at me.

Ravina approach the river, Blossom wriggles in her grasp. Ravina kneels down beside it and grips Blossom by the scruff of her neck and shoves her head downwards into the water. My draw drops and I stand frozen to the spot as I witness the horrific sight play out before me.

‘’ You know what Blossom?’’ Begins Ravina as she pulls the girls head out of the water momentarily. ‘’ You’re pretty pathetic for a granddaughter of a Victor.’’

‘’ Please-‘’ She begins but Ravina shoves her head under the water again.

Her body wriggles in Ravina’s grasp as the water floods her lungs, but Ravina has no mercy. She laughs like a deranged lunatic as she slowly drowns the District Eleven girl.

‘’ Ravina stop! Just kill her! Get it over with!’’ I roar, stepping forwards and trying to pull Blossom from the water.

I manage to, however Ravina spins around and slaps me across the face, causing me to lose my footing and fall flat on my back a few feet away from Phox’s unconscious body. I stare at it; I know what I have to do. I gulp and grab my dagger, approaching her body as Ravina drives Blossom’s head back into the water.

I kneel down beside the girl and force my small dagger through her skull, puncturing the skin below her jaw in her throat and driving it up through her. She lets a short spasm movement and goes still again. Ravina doesn’t even notice until the cannon fires and she turns to see me crying and covered in blood beside Phox.

BOOM!

‘’ You little brat!’’ She roars, tossing Blossom onto the ground beside her and approaching me.

Blossom gasps for air desperately as the collar around her throat begins to beep as Ravina reaches me. She grabs me by my throat and picks me up off the ground.

‘’ What do you think you’re doing. We are partners so we have to work together. You’re doing more things to hinder than to help!’’

I don’t respond, I simply gasp for air and after about twenty seconds Ravina releases me. I fall to the floor and grasp my throat; desperately drawing oxygen into my lungs like Blossom is a few meters away. The beeping has gotten much quicker, I stare over at her as it stops and the collar kills her.

I watch as a liquid pours from her collar, I know what it is immediately from just the smell – petrol. We used it back home to power the very few tractors we have. It douses her whole body, covering her in the liquid. I can tell what is going to happen. Despite this, I still stare in anticipation, surely they won’t do it.

As it covers Blossom, she sobs – she too understands what is about to happen. Suddenly, a spark erupts from the collar and her body bursts into flames. She screams as she erupts but her screams are short.

BOOM!

‘’ You.’’ Mutters Ravina furiously as she approaches me. ‘’ Who the fuck do you think you are?’’

‘’ I put them out of their misery, you were torturing them.’’ I explain, tears welling in my eyes.

‘’ You’re lucky you’re tethered to me, or you’d be dead too.’’ She says and slaps me again across the face.

I let out a bellow of pain and fall to my hands and knees. She kicks me twice in the gut, I curl into a ball to protect myself. She picks up the knife I used to put Phox out of her misery – and therefore Blossom and approaches me.

‘’ You can’t hurt me. Like you said, I’m your partner.’’ I explain, I hope to calm myself down more so than her. Surely she won’t hurt me. She can’t.

She grabs me by the left wrist and holds out my hand in front of me. She then runs the tip of the knife over my fingers, ever so gently and stops.

‘’ If you ever do anything like that again, I will chop your hand off.’’ She explains, her grip loosens slightly. ‘’ Don’t believe me? Try this on for size.’’

Before I have a chance to take in her words, she stabs at my ring finger with the knife and in one fluid motion chops it off. I watch as my finger falls to the floor and blood begins to spurt out. I roar in pain and fall to the ground, clutching it close to my chest. The screams that erupt from me are deafening even to me – so I can’t imagine what Ravina must feel.

‘’ Now we’re gonna cauterize it.’’ Explains Ravina and I cock an eyebrow in confusion.

She grins.

‘’ I’m gonna burn it to stop the bleeding and to kill the nerves.’’ She reiterates as she places the knife among the firing body of Blossom and lets it heat up. I roar as she approaches, grabs my hand and presses the scalding-hot steam against my bleeding finger.

Echo Spark’s POV:

‘’ Let me go!’’ Roars Osmo from the chair on the top floor of the lighthouse.

He is tied to it, unable to move from it and therefore the lighthouse. I barely got to him before he got to the water. If I had been a fraction of a second too late, he’d be dead.

‘’ I can’t Osmo, not until the things go away.’’

‘’ But they’re beautiful, they are calling me with their singing.’’ He explains. ‘’ Please.’’

‘’ I know they are, but they will be leaving soon. It’s getting dark so I think they will be going at the end of the day to make room for the new special attraction.’’ I explain, although he doesn’t seem to care.

‘’ Let me go! Let me go! LET ME GO!’’ He roars, wriggling about in the chair.

Whatever the Capitol have released into the arena has obviously done something to his mind. It must only be able to affect guys though, because I feel fine.

‘’ I’m sorry Osmo, you have to wait here.’’ I explain again, fighting back tears.

‘’ Let me go!’’ He roars again. ‘’ They’re outside, they’re calling me to them. You can’t do this!’’

They’re outside.

‘’ I’ll be back Osmo, don’t move.’’ I order, although there is not much he can do now.

I grab my bow and head outside with my quiver of arrows thrown over my shoulder. If those mermaid bitches aren’t going to leave my boyfriend alone, I’m going to have to force them away.

When I open the door, I hear Osmo’s screams from upstairs intensify. I have to kill them and put an end to this. They are making Osmo lose his mind! I load my bow and approach the edge of the water. I can see the creatures below me; they are swimming about a few meters below the water – too low for my arrows to have any effect on them.

‘’ Show yourselves!’’ I roar.

A face pops above the waterline and is followed by two more, they truly are hideous; they have greenish scaly skin, with gills in their throats. Their hair is stringy; it resembles seaweed in a weird way. Their eyes are green and they are scowling at me.

‘’ Stop whatever you’re doing.’’ I order. ‘’ Leave Osmo alone.’’

The closest of them smirk at me which reveals its teeth; they are chiselled into razor-sharp points which resemble a shark. She shrieks at me, they obviously can’t speak, but whatever she says causes Osmo to go crazy inside the lighthouse.

‘’ Stop it Echo! Stop!’’ He roars, I do my best to ignore his pleas.

The sun is beginning to go down, I don’t know if I could last a full night of this. They are doing something to him, if I don’t do something to them then they may do irreparable damage.

‘’ Leave. Now.’’ I order again, they make what seems to be a laughing noise and turn their fins, splashing water over me.

I act quickly; raising my bow again, taking aim and firing in one quick movement, sending an arrow soaring towards them too quickly to dodge. It lodges in the throat of the closest of the mermaids and black liquid begins spurting from the wound. She lets out a cry and her body floats to the surface.

This causes the remaining two creatures to lose their minds; they let out a screeching sound that resembles nails against a blackboard. From upstairs, there is a crash and Osmo roars just as load as the creatures.

‘’ Stop it!’’ I scream; my ear drums feel as though they may explode.

I send another arrow flying towards the second, however she anticipates my move and raises her hands to shield her face. Instead the arrow skewers her hands, pinning them together. She shrieks in pain and hisses, causing Osmo to scream in horror again from upstairs – there are more banging noises as he knocks things over.

I act quickly again, sending an arrow through the skull of the creature that already had its hands pinned together. More and more shrieks keep sounding from upstairs, each time I kill one of them he seems to go to a new level of crazy. I have to kill the last one, maybe then he’ll be OK.

‘’ Echo stop! Stop this right now!’’ Roars Osmo as I load my next arrow.

I have no idea why the creature isn’t moving, surely it’s natural instinct would be to run. Perhaps the Capitol has them programmed to take the hit because they see the damage they are doing to Osmo and it makes for a good show. I load my arrow and take aim, Osmo continues to scream. As I release my grip and the arrow whizzes through the air, there is a deafening crash and the sound continues – Osmo! The stairs!

I don’t even look to see if the arrow hits, I simply dash back into the lighthouse as the noise continues to sound. I rush towards the stairs just as Osmo reaches the bottom, he is covered in bruises and blood.

‘’ Echo?’’ He says, softly and I begin to cry as I wrap him tightly within my arms.

Gauze Weaver’s POV:

I sit with Bliss asleep beside me, we are in a tree. I glance up at the sky as the Capitol anthem blares and the Capitol Seal appears in the sky. Next the faces of the dead flash among them. The first face that appears shocks me.

Belle Cyrus, District One.

She is soon followed by her partner, Margo Mead, District Two.

Next is Phox Halebrooks, District Eight.

Lastly is Blossom Abernathy, from District Eleven.

Once again the anthem plays and the Seal appears, I am quite surprised Bliss manages to sleep through it – her head resting on my lap.

I gaze up at the sky after it goes dark again, day two in the arena is over and another lies ahead of us tomorrow. I can’t bring myself to think of the horrors that await. The special attraction. At least two more pairs are gone and my hands are still clean...I don’t look forward to having to kill. Hopefully I won’t have to. I sigh and rest my head on my shoulder.

Please God help us get through this. Let us go home. I can take care of Bliss, she can live with me. I will protect her. Please. Let us live. Please...