Pretty Little Games



"Two can keep a secret

 if one of them is dead."



~

The Pretty Little Games is a Hunger Games written by Hannah and Aria, based off of the ABC drama Pretty Little Liars.

Information

 * You may submit up to five tributes liars, and they cannot all be the same gender.
 * Edit to the above rule: Three additional males may be submitted.
 * If your tributes liars are flat characters or boring characters, we have the ability to reject them. The same goes for incompleted tributes liars that do not contain important items such as a backstory or personality.
 * Uncropped Lunaiis that do not have a background are required for this Hunger Games. They also must be saved in a .PNG format.
 * The only alliances are the Careers, District partners, and family members. However, new ones may be formed during the Games. But, always be careful of betrayals.
 * To prove you read this, please add in your comment, "34 can keep a secret if 33 of them are dead."
 * Reserves last up to two hours. No more, no less.
 * Links only. I cannot express this enough.
 * This Hunger Games will be more or less about mystery than murder.
 * Have fun!

Introduction
Welcome to the Pretty Little Games! Thirty-four tributes liars, a boy and a girl from each District, will be trapped in an arena for these Games, until one surviving tribute liar remains. Sounds like a pretty standard Hunger Games, right?

Wrong.

The Twist
The twist of these Games is that one tribute liar will be selected before the Games begin and called the "-A". -A must keep this secret while surviving in the Games. However, -A will be kept alive until the very end.

The objective for the other tributes liars is to find out who the -A is, through secrets and lies. The victor, or victors, of the Games will be the ones to discover -A. However, if -A manages to kill the remaining tributes liars, then -A will be crowned victor.

Tributes Liars must survive the Hunger Games while keeping a secret to die for...

Alliances
CAREERS:  Solomon (C), Christina Parthenon (2),   Korrey Arlington (4),   Pharmacy Ombra (6),   Brett Brawl (7),   Dixie Timery Perfona (14),   Belle Curran (15)

CAREERS SPLIT-OFF #1: Yuri Harris (0), Nutmeg Spica (1)

CAREERS SPLIT-OFF #2: Lucia Duvall (3)

REIDS ALLIANCE: Chloe Reids (5), Oscar Reids (5)

THORBURN ALLIANCE:  Kim Thorburn (11),   Tim Thorburn (11)

0 AND 13 ALLIANCE: Alluria Nexus (0), Julian Veritas (13), Taylor Astrid (13)

UNLIKELY ALLIANCE:  Peyton Applebee (7), Julio Zethes (9),   Artemis Moonsliver (12)

ALONE: Miyako Sada (C),   Auro Falcon (1),   Gabriel van Helsing (2),   Signors Stalingrad (3),   Venus Valentine (4),   Ryan Dennis (6), Cassie Wynn (8),  Hazel Maize (9),  Irene Watson (10),  Caesar Thompson (12),  Harmony Abbot (14),  Adrian Lexus (15)

Venus Valentine (4F) - Aria
All I see is darkness.

As the tube launches me into a nightmarish landscape, President DiLaurentis’ words keep ringing in my head: Secrets can make you do terrible things.

Why, though? Why does a secret have to change who you are?

As I am lost in my thoughts, the timer keeps counting down.

Fifty seconds left until the nightmare begins.

Yuri Harris (0M) - Hannah
The landscape surrounding me is rather gloomy, and the overcast sky adds a dismal attitude. Perfect.

The area in front of me is a graveyard. I see no sign to indicate the name, since we’re already inside the gates. About a hundred yards in front of me is an onyx Cornucopia, filled with weapons and backpacks. A few feet in front of me is a chain. Not too much of a weapon, but I could easily use it to choke somebody.

I glance to my right and see the Eight male. I didn’t get to know him at all, and he received a five in training. I could kill him easily.

To my left is Alluria (0). She’s my District partner, so I can’t kill her. Yet.

My eyes dart to the top of the Cornucopia, where numbers go down on a clock. It’s already at fifty, and the numbers continue to fall.

Something shakes the arena and I turn my head towards the noise. A girl screams. The Ten male has fallen off his platform—or jumped, I’m not sure—and his arm is on Chloe’s (5) plate. One of his legs is in Lucia’s (3) arms, but she doesn’t seem to care. She just has to hold on to it until the minute is up.

I crack my knuckles and stare at the Cornucopia. There isn’t any water over here, but there’s a sickle in the Cornucopia. I can just run fast enough to grab it before somebody else does.

“I know your secret,” a monotonous voice says. I turn in horror to see Alluria (0) looking at me. The colour drains from my face. How does she know I drown people? No, she can’t know that. The only person who knows is my sister, Zoey, and she lives in a mental institution.

I turn my fear into anger as the clock shows forty seconds.

Kim Thorburn (11F) - Aria
Panic fills me as the Ten male fell with a sickening thud on Chloe’s (5) and Lucia’s (3) plates. The first death has already occurred, and the Games haven’t even started yet.

To be honest, I’m not the least afraid of -A. All I’m worrying about is keeping Tim (11) alive.

As I scan the Cornucopia for my brother, my eyes land on a scythe. It’ll be risky to go for it, especially since I need help Tim out of the Cornucopia, too, but I think it’s worth it.

I look around for Tim (11) again, but instead, I find a tombstone in the middle of the graveyard-Cornucopia. I don’t know why, but it catches my attention. I can’t read the name on it, but it’s certainly something of interest.

My eyes dart back to the timer reading thirty seconds.

Julian Veritas (13M) - Hannah
I rapidly take deep breaths in and out of my nose. I can’t die. I want to win—need to win—for Jolee. Poor Jolee, so happy but so broken. I wonder if she can see me now, wanting me to win. I wonder if Jane is watching or if she’s too scared to.

My eyes dart next to me to see Korrey (4) on my right and Belle (15) on my left. They both have nothing to worry about, being with the Careers and all. I’m in an alliance unlike the majority—with my District partner—but that doesn’t mean the Careers won’t be stronger than all the loners if they bonded together. There’s what? Ten or so of them?

I look at the Cornucopia, which seems to be a building modeled slightly after a mausoleum. Bags of black, white, gray and red are spread out, more densely towards the mouth, and weapons and various supplies are strewn all over.

I try to calm myself and keep my eyes on a machete lying on top of a crimson bag as the timer gets to twenty seconds.

Oscar Reids (5M) - Aria
I flinch when the Ten male’s body falls on Chloe’s (5) plate as she yelps. -A is much more dangerous than I thought.

That’s why instead of scanning for weapons (I can’t use any), I scan the tributes to try to figure out which one is hiding the dirty secret. The only way to keep Chloe (5) alive is if I keep her away from -A.

I look around. I see Nutmeg (1), eyeing Brett (7) with a vicious glare, Pharmacy (6) staring intently into the Cornucopia, Christina (2) looking seductive yet vicious as always, Solomon (C) flicking his forked tongue at me as he notices me looking at him. I look away immediately, and pretend to focus on the timer.

I have absolutely no clue of who could be -A. I guess I would find out soon. In the meantime, I have to worry about fleeing the Cornucopia alive with Chloe (5).

Grimly, I look back to the timer. Ten seconds left until the massacre begins.

-A (??) - Hannah/Aria
The poor Ten male explodes because of a little accident I caused. Oops. Sorry. Thirty-two more tributes to go.

All the tributes around me either have determined faces or are scared out of their wits. I, however, am just thinking ways to get rid of each one of them. Especially the ones who have a chance of finding out. I look at my next potential victim. Starting with that one.

I decide whether to jump into the Cornucopia or get out of it. Making my decision, I wear my mask and look into the timer. It's down to ten seconds.

9... Victims lying dead around the Cornucopia.

8... Everyone set against each other in suspicion of being -A.

7... One less tribute to silence after every death.

6... The only one who knows the secret.

5... Them realising too late it's not worth finding out.

4... Lying for your dear life.

3... A secret to take to the grave.

2... Can keep a secret if one of them is dead.

1.

Time to bring my -A game.

Korrey Arlington (4M) - Hannah
A gong rings, and I jump into the grass. I furrow my eyebrows as I sink into the ground, and I look around. The other tributes seem to be going through the same thing. It looks like ground... this must be another lie. Fitting for these games, though.

I look around to see the Eight male making his way towards me. I smirk and run to meet him. It's a bit easier for me to manage water and other fluids, being from Four and all. I'm strong enough to walk through it faster. The tribute looks at me in panic and tries to run the other way. But I latch onto his neck from behind.

He thrashes in my arms, but he's smaller than me and less experienced. I wrap my hands around his frail neck and squeeze. His face turns red and his claws at my hands become more weak. I can't help but smile when he falls limp.

I couldn't care less who -A is. I can probably kill them easily.

Adrian Lexus (15M) - Aria
After a bit of struggling to get out of the quicksand-like ground, I manage to run into the Cornucopia and grab a dagger. Looking around for a potential victim, I find Dixie (14) battling Peyton (7). He’s too distracted in trying to spear her, so I take a chance and plunge my dagger into him.

Dixie goes limp, and falls to the ground. I hear his cannon and face Peyton (7), who smirks at me. But, her eyes suddenly widen as if she’s looking through me. She yells, “Fifteen, look out!”

I turn around too late. Christina (2) thrusts a spiked mace into me, and now she’s the one smirking.

I feel nothing as land on the ground in a pool of my own blood. The last words I hear are Christina (2) snapping, “Next time, don’t try to attack a Career.”

I hear my own cannon boom.

Peyton Applebee (7F) - Aria
Slightly horrified at the sudden death of someone who would’ve made a good ally, I decide not to attack the Careers. But that doesn’t mean I won’t attack anyone.

I run the opposite direction of Christina (2) and look for a potential victim. Then, my eyes fall on a certain tribute from 12. Caesar (12). This is my chance to avenge my brother.

I run at him, crying for his blood. He turns around, bewildered. He aims his crossbow at me and shoots. I try to dodge it, but it gets in my arm. I fall to my knees and my vision starts to blur. No. I was not going to die to a weakling from 12.

Sudden rage motivates me to get up, ignore the pain and run at Twelve. (Caesar (12), whatever.)

As he tries to shoot at me again, I avoid it this time and I come close enough to him to knock his crossbow off his hands with my axe. He tries to run this time, but I raise my axe and let it land blissfully in his back.

I grin viciously as his cannon goes off.

Lucia Duvall (3F) - Aria
Nearly bored, I roll my eyes and grab a dagger at my leisure and turn around to face the carnage. All the corpses are slowly being swallowed by the ground and tributes were starting to leave.

I look around for any tribute besides the Careers, and spot my District partner, Signors (3). I run to him, but he doesn’t try to flee. He has his own dagger in his hand, and soon we’re in a fight, dagger against dagger. But, I overpowered him and caught him off balance. He falls to the ground, and it’s already swallowing him up. I am about to stab him, but I think I’d better give a more painful, more entertaining death.

I dropped to my knees just enough so the ground doesn’t swallow me, and press Signors (3) more to the ground. He starts to suffocate and scrambles to get out but I push him deeper into the quicksand. I can see that his body starts to disappear and he gradually stops moving. I smile as I hear a cannon go off.

I get up, dust myself off and turn around to see more chaos. My eyes focus on Miyako (C). She’s about to leave the Cornucopia, but I won’t let that happen.

I look at my dagger. It’s not for throwing, but hey, what’s the difference between that and a throwing dagger?

I swing my hand towards her and let the dagger fly until it hit Miyako (C) square in the chest. She dropped her pack and fell to the ground as her cannon boomed.

That cannon is music to my ears.

Cassie Wynn (8F) - Hannah
Getting away from the Bloodbath is a lot easier than getting in.

It seems that after a minute or so, the ground closed up. I quickly run on the dirt past the tombstones, but I drop my backpack and lean down to pick it up. In the second it takes me to do so, an arrow grazes my shoulder. I wince in pain and watch Nutmeg (1) load another arrow. As she shoots it, I hold up my backpack and it is knocked back as the arrow flies into it. I sling the bag on my back and run away from the Bloodbath.

Into the town I run, and escape into a place labeled as the Applewood Grille. I push a table against a door and sit down behind the counter.

I open the dull orange backpack. Inside is a slip of paper. I widen my eyes in fear and turn around.

Irene Watson (10F) - Aria
Pacing through the woods with a butcher knife in hand, I look out for anyone around me as I keep moving away from the Cornucopia.

Finally, when I think I’ve gone far enough, I sit on a branch of a tree and check out the supplies I got.

I open the backpack to reveal a flask of water. Water! I take a few sips and cap the bottle again. I continue going through the supplies. I find a small loaf of bread and decide I should save it for later.

There isn’t any more that’s too important (for me, at least) in the backpack. I look around in the environment. It is still day. I don’t have much to do, so I just sit on the tree branch and sigh, watching the sky.

And before I even know it, I doze off.

I wake up minutes later, only to hear a cannon. Who could’ve died already? It’s impossible to tell with -A on everyone’s tails. I calm myself and settle into the branch again. But, suddenly, the tree I’m in starts to shake. I’m alert and have my butcher knife in hand. But how will I fight the fact that I’m about to fall off?

The tree shakes again, as if someone is purposely doing this. I grab the branch tightly, but the tree keeps moving as if it were in an earthquake. Soon, my grip loosens and I fall to the ground, face-first. I turn around dizzily and try to take in my surroundings. Nothing has changed, except for the fact a figure is walking towards me, but I’m too lightheaded to scream at myself to move. Only then do I realize who’s in front of me.

“This should make up for the loss of bloodbath kills,” -A growls, and raises something—I can’t tell if it’s a dagger or a knife—as I start to panic and regain control of myself, but it’s too late. Whatever-it-is hits my stomach and I let out a small gasp. I can hear my own heartbeat slowing down, and I can see my vision blurring as -A walks away as if nothing happened and melts into the darkness.

And I do, too.

Alluria Nexus (0F) - Aria
Flail ready to smack someone, I run through the woods labeled Ravenswood cautiously. Night is falling, and two deaths have already occurred after the bloodbath. Who is -A? Whoever they are, they’re way more dangerous than I thought.

-A isn’t the only killer out here, though. This is the Hunger Games. There are way more people than -A who want each other dead. Especially since there aren’t many alliances here.

Alliances… I should try to join one.

I suddenly trip on something and quickly get up to see what I tripped on. I scream at the sight. It’s Irene Watson (10). She is sitting on the tree trunk with eyes wide open and smiling while wearing… lipstick? No, it was blood. Her face is caked with makeshift makeup. But something about her seems very… dead. I can tell from the huge wound in her stomach. I don’t understand what’s going on. Only then do I realize -A did this, and prettied her up.

I hear multiple footsteps coming towards me. Careers. I jump off from the ground and whip around, flail ready. But only two, very un-Career-like people face me. Julian (13) and Taylor (13).

I am about to say, “Don’t come any closer,” and leave, but an idea triggers in my mind. I lower my flail, and ask, “Could—could I maybe join your alliance?”

Julian (13) scratches his head. “You’re Alluria, right?” I nod.

Julian (13) and Taylor (13) look at each other. “Welcome to the alliance,” Taylor (13) says warmly. Then, her head tilts to Irene’s (10) dead body.

Julian (13) creases his eyebrows. “We should leave.”

Venus Valentine (4F) - Aria
It’s dark. Night has fallen. And all I can do is run.

I don’t know who is chasing me, but they’re on my tails. It might be -A. That thought doesn’t reassure me.

I only have a dagger in my hand, but I will not attack my pursuer. I don’t want to hurt anything. I just want to live.

Unfortunately, I wind up in front of a large tree, and there’s no other way out unless I fight. But I’d rather die than kill someone.

My pursuer comes to me and I can recognize him. Ryan Dennis (6). And he looks angry. I don’t know why—he seems like a nice guy—but he’s murderous now.

I back into the tree more, if it’s even possible. “D—don’t hurt me…”

Ryan (6) raises his sword, and I panic. In that moment of panic, my dagger slips out of my hand and flies into Ryan’s (6) chest and I close my eyes. I hear a thud and a cannon. I scream.

Tears flood my face. I never wanted to kill anyone, but I just killed Ryan (6). I sob until my tear glands refuse to function.

“I didn’t mean to…” I start muttering. “I’m sorry.”

I don’t know how long it’s been, but I get up from crying and take my bloody dagger out of Ryan (6). I whimper at the sight, but I clean it on the grass and run from Ryan’s (6) body. I wish I didn’t have to kill him.

Nutmeg Spica (1F) - Aria
I scream, and the rest of the Careers wake up.

“Nutmeg, what’s going on?” Pharmacy (6) asks. I don’t say anything. I only point at Brett’s (7) mutilated body.

“Oh, God,” Korrey (4) mutters and examines the body. The rest of the Careers follow.

“Wasn’t Brett on watch last?” Lucia (3) asks. “I think he was stabbed, and then whoever did this took their time to make him look like this,” she explains with a vacant expression.

“You sure seem to know a lot about how he was killed,” Yuri (0) interjects. “And you need a knife or a dagger to stab somebody. You carry a dagger.”

Lucia (3) smiles sarcastically. “I’m not -A. Move along.”

“Anyway,” Pharmacy (6) snaps at the two staring daggers at each other. “He’s dead, so he’s dead. What did you see, Nutmeg?”

I sigh. “I don’t know, I just heard some muffling voices and someone walking off. When I opened my eyes, all I saw was a shadowy figure leaving Brett’s corpse. And now we’re here.”

Christina (2) walks around Brett’s (7) body, obviously disgusted at the sight. “Well,” she says in her sickly-sweet voice, “now that he’s dead, we need someone else on watch for the night. And I need my sleep now, so it’s not going to be me.”

“Nutmeg,” Pharmacy (6) interjects, “why don’t you keep watch?”

“I’m fine with that,” I say as my allies disperse and go back to sleep. I wait until they’re all sound asleep, and look around.

Someone throws something at me. I quickly turn around and look out for anyone, but no one’s there. I look at the rock whoever-they-are threw at me, except, it’s not a rock. It’s a crumpled up paper.

I open the paper, and there is a note written inside:

Did you really think I wouldn’t see you kill Brett?

It’s a matter of time before they know, too.

''Kisses, -A''

-A (??) - Aria
My feet are up on the countertop of the Applewood Grille and I recline back into the stool. After a long day out and about, I’m back at a site of crime I committed. A perfect day.

I tilt my head to the right and see bloody brown hair on an even messier body. Cassie Wynn (8). I’d followed her from the bloodbath.

I hear music. It’s the Capitol anthem. They must be showing images of ‘the fallen’. It’s just a sugarcoated version of the people who were brutally murdered, mostly by me.

I look up and see who else died.

~ The Fallen~

'''Miyako Sada, Capitol Female Signors Stalingrad, District Three Male Ryan Dennis, District Six Male Brett Brawl, District Seven Male Cassie Wynn, District Eight Female District Eight Male Irene Watson, District Ten Female District Ten Male Caesar Thompson, District Twelve Male Dixie Timery Perfona, District Fourteen Male Adrian Lexus, District Fifteen Male'''

Eleven people dead on the first day. Twenty-two more to go. I played big parts in some of the deaths. I grin.

I wonder who’s next on my target list. Maybe I can freak some people out with just one death. I pose a threat to everyone, after all. No matter how tough they are or how smart they are, I’m always ten steps ahead. I’m unbeatable.

If you think otherwise, watch me make a liar disappear.

Julian Veritas (13M) - Aria
I wake up on my own. Taylor (13) is supposed to wake me up, but I guess I wake before she is supposed to wake us all up.

“Guys?” I say.

Alluria (0) says something in a sleepy voice, and soon she wakes as well. “So glad it’s day.”

I nod. “Where’s Taylor?”

Alluria (0) shrugs. “She was on watch last.” I begin to tense. This is the Hunger Games; I can’t trust anyone and need to always be on guard.

“We should search for Jolee.” I get up and start to search.

Alluria (0) tilts her head. “Jolee?”

“Taylor,” I quickly say and continue looking around. I don’t need to be reminded of my dead sister.

Alluria (0) helps in my search, but there’s no luck. As I search for my District partner, I try to figure out who might be -A. Whichever conclusion I end up in, I have a nagging suspicion I was right beside -A.

“Julian?” Alluria (0) calls out in a shaky voice.

“What?” I say and approach her. Alluria (0) doesn’t say anything else. She only points at the middle of the lake we camped beside.

I see what she means and horror strikes me. In the middle of the lake is a body with arms spread out and face submerged, floating farther and farther away. The body’s black hair is messy and tinged with blood. -A killed Taylor (13).

Alluria (0) muttered something, then says, “I think I know who -A is.”

I think so, too.

Kim Thorburn (11F) - Hannah
Tim (11) is still asleep, so I feel obligated to go retrieve our breakfast. We're in the middle of a small town, Rosewood, it's called, and we're right next to a cupcake shop. If I could just slip in and slip out then I'd get us something sweet.

I heave my dull red bag - the one thing I got from the Bloodbath - over my shoulder, then retrieve the knife from the side pocket and squeeze the handle.

A creak in the floor makes me gasp, but Tim's (11) breaths are kept steady as I creep to the door and quietly open it, shielding as much of the cold air as I can with my body as not to alarm my brother.

The cupcake shop seems further away than last night, but it was probably just because we were running and so everything seemed closer in relativity to our steps. I creep out, only to run into Auro (1). He holds up his knife, and my heart dives into stomach. He's a Career, isn't he? He's more muscular than I am, and he's more skilled in his weapon. I don't even have one from home.

He swings down, but I just barely dodge the weapon and thrust my hand upward. "F***!" I hear him scream, and he sinks to the ground. I pant, taking deep breaths until I feel calm enough to flip him over.

It takes a moment to turn his back to the sky. I pull his backpack off his shoulders, and just as I'm unzipping the main compartment, I feel myself pinned to the ground. I look up to see Auro (1). Blood drips from his wound. The only thing keeping him from stabbing me is my hand.

"Please don't hurt me!" I try to say confidently, but it ends up sounding shaky.

"Oh, sweetheart, begging won't get you anywhere here. Maybe it did back home."

My eyes widen. Suddenly, his eyes widen, too, and blood spills out his mouth and nose. He falls off me, and I sit up to see silver hair running away. A cannon goes off.

I walk into the cupcake shop and retrieve some food. Then I hurry back to Tim (11).

"Who was that cannon?" he asks.

"I don't know," I lie. "Some tribute, I guess." I hear a slight tapping outside and hold up my one finger to him. "I'll be right back." I open the door to find a note taped to the windows. Written in bloodred ink, it reads

''I know you killed Auro. You kill Tim, or I spill it to him.''

''Kisses, -A''

I drop the note and let out a bloodcurling scream.

Hazel Maize (9F) - Aria
Walking through the woods with absolutely no supplies at all, I decide to try and steal them from others, or I’d die. I haven’t had food or water in days. I feel like I’m going insane.

I keep walking until I am able to see a girl sitting against a tree trunk. She looks asleep. I can snatch her things.

Quietly, I creep up to her and see a backpack near her. It looks stuffed. Yes! I’m close enough to grab it and run now. Just to be sure, I look to see if the girl is asleep. I don’t know who she is, but she has red hair and is definitely asleep.

As I reach for her supplies, something wet but heavy falls on me and I shriek. I turn around and see the redhead who’s covered in blood and has used dirt as makeup. She fell on top of me and I quickly threw her off me and got up. I’m covered in her blood now.

That’s when I realize that the girl in front of me is Irene (10), who died a day ago.

Once I recover from my sudden outburst and realize she is dead, I take her pack and run off to a different area of the woods.

Driven insane by hunger, I immediately open the pack and see a loaf of bread. Food! I wolf it down and I’m satisfied enough.

But, there’s a feeling in my stomach that’s clawing up to my throat and limbs. I drop the bag, unable to move and I realize what’s happening. Whoever killed Irene (10)—most probably -A—must’ve poisoned her food and left it for someone else to pick up. And I am stupid enough to do so.

I feel the poison crawling into my heart and my heartbeat grows slower until it stops.

Yuri Harris (0M) - Aria
I wake up before the rest of my allies as Nutmeg (1) goes around waking everyone else from their slumber.

“It’s the second day,” Lucia (3) observes.

“No kidding,” I spit at her. I don’t trust Lucia (3). She glares at me and I give her a menacing smirk, making her turn back.

“Alright, guys,” Pharmacy (6) calls out, “I guess we can start hunting tributes today.”

I smile. I can drown more people today. “Let’s head out to the lakeside now—”

There is a shuffling noise close to us.

Belle (15) slowly walks toward the source, mace in hand. The noise grows louder and more and more close to Belle (15). She’s the only one who could possibly see the tribute walking around. She grins and launches her mace at him/her.

We can’t see anything because of the dense foliage, but Belle (15) can see just enough. There is a sound of a thud, like a body falling to the ground.

Belle’s (15) eyes widen in glee. “I killed -A!” she shouted in a singsong voice. “I killed—”

Belle’s (15) mace sprouted from her own chest this time, and Belle (15), shocked, falls to the ground with a cannon booming behind her. -A just killed her.

“There’s a note,” Pharmacy (6) says and plucks the mace out of Belle (15). She opens the note, which seems to be smeared in blood, and reads out:

''“I’m still here, bitches. And I know everything!''

''Kisses, -A”''

I pale. I feel like -A put the last sentence for me. Pharmacy (6) crumples up the note and throws it to the ground and makes a disgruntled noise.

“Well,” she says at last, “we can go hunting for tributes that aren’t -A. Let’s move.” People nod in agreement and gather their weapons, following Pharmacy (6).

Before I leave with them, I open a note from my pocket. I’ve read it before and followed it in fear, but I read it again, just in case:

''Robot Girl isn’t the only one who knows your secret. Get rid of her friend or I’ll get rid of you.''

''Kisses, -A''

Artemis Moonsliver (12F) - Aria
I’m running as fast as I can. I just shot Auro (1) and Kim (11) saw me. Who’s to say she’s not going to come after me?

I hear shuffling noises coming from two directions—one behind me and another to my left. Who can be the other tribute?

“-A?” I wonder aloud as my heartbeat rises.

I’m pretty sure Kim (11) and -A are on my tail. I decide to change direction to avoid them.

Even as I run, the footsteps follow me. I guess I have no choice but to fight.

I stop in my tracks, and run towards the direction of one pair, which seemed to try to get away from me. I’m getting really confused.

The other pair of footsteps was also on my tail. I had to move to another direction.

I move into a clearing and see the tribute I was pursuing. It’s Julio (9), and he’s panting as he walks over to a tree. He doesn’t have a weapon and he’s weak and vulnerable. I can take him out easily.

I aim at him, and he notices me right as I am about to let go of the string. His eyes widen and he shouts, “Wait! Don’t shoot!”

I hesitate at first, but Julio (9) looks like a good guy. And, he can’t hurt me. I lower my bow. “Do you want to ally?” I ask him.

“Actually,” he says, relieved, “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

I laugh a little, and it’s a start of a new alliance.

Out of the blue, I feel something long—an axe or a tomahawk—graze my shoulder and I fall to the ground.

“Damn!” I hear a feminine voice call out. I immediately grab my bow and point at the source. Julio (9) looks around cautiously.

I spot someone. It’s Peyton (7). I let go of the string and aim at her heart. Peyton (7) dodges and runs at me. I am ready to launch another arrow.

“Hold on!” Julio (9) says, and we both stop in our tracks. He faces Peyton (7) and says, “You’re Peyton, right?” Peyton (7) nods. “Do you want to join our alliance?”

“Er,” Peyton (7) looks at the two of us, then directly at me. “Aren’t you from District 12?” I nod cautiously, and notice a glint in Peyton’s eyes. “Well, I guess we could all ally.”

Julio (9) smiles. “We could set camp here. Now…”

We start talking and relaxing a bit, but I don’t think I made an ally today.

Oscar Reids (5M) - Aria
Chloe (5) and I sit in the Applewood Grille, wondering what to do next. We were camping before near the lakeside, but when I heard some voices we left immediately. This place seems deserted, which is a good thing. No one can hurt Chloe (5).

“So,” Chloe (5) tries to make conversation, “what now?”

I respond with a sigh. I really don’t know what to do next. “Let’s try to narrow down who’s -A.”

“Alright. So, who could be -A?”

I crease my eyebrows. “It’s probably one of the Careers. They’re all sneaky and deceitful liars.”

“Yeah, but which Career?”

I don’t respond for a few seconds. “I don’t think it’s Solomon. He’s not even human.”

Chloe (5) nods. “I don’t think it’s Nutmeg, either. She doesn’t seem sneaky enough.”

“And that about ends my list for the Careers,” I give a small laugh. “Now, which of the loners or people in alliances could be -A?”

“Alluria Nexus,” Chloe (5) says, almost too fast. “I just have a nagging suspicion it’s her. Or Peyton from District 7. I don’t know, it could be anyone. Can we stop now?”

Chloe (5) seems oddly bothered. I don’t know why. I know that I’m not -A, but who’s to say I’m protecting -A from getting killed?

As a test, I ask her, “You’d tell me if you were -A, wouldn’t you?”

Chloe (5) giggles. “Why would you even think that? Of course I’d tell.”

“Yeah,” I smile to hide the fact that I’m wondering if I allied with -A.

“I’m going to look for any supplies here.” On that note, Chloe (5) gets off the stool next to mine and starts opening cupboards and drawers, leaving me to contemplate who’s -A.

Chloe (5) has been acting strange lately, right after the Games began. Either she got something from -A and didn’t tell me, or she is -A. I think I’ll take watch tonight, just in case.

Suddenly, Chloe (5) screams.

“Chloe!” I run to her and see what happened.

“It’s okay,” Chloe (5) breathes heavily. “I’m fine. No one’s here, at least not anyone alive.”

My eyes drift to what Chloe (5) found stashed in a cupboard: the rotting yet horrifyingly pretty corpse of Cassie Wynn (8).

This is what -A does to people? This is what my own sister might be doing behind my back? To be honest, I’m getting scared. Soon enough, I’ll be amongst these bodies.

Alluria Nexus (0F) - Aria
I stare into the glittering lake as Julian (13) snores beside me. I’m positive that Yuri (0) is -A. He drowns people. Taylor (13) was drowned. Now, unless some other psycho likes drowning people, Yuri (0) has to be -A.

I’m taking first watch. Julian (13) hesitated at first, but he let me take watch. I don’t know what that’s about. I guess he’s just a little distraught over the death of his District partner and ally.

I hug my knees and sigh. I never wanted to be in the Games. I probably wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my father. I wonder if the only person who cared about me, my sister, Electra, was watching me right now. Or if she’s even alive. I don’t know what’s happened to her after I told her to run away.

“You’ve got to win, Alluria,” someone says. Then I realize it’s in my head. Arunia, my other (dead) sister, was talking to me. It’s hard to explain. I’m technically Arunia Harrt, but I’m not Arunia. I’m Alluria Nexus.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice some tributes at the other side of the lake. I try to see who they are. I’ll be fine as long as they’re not Careers. It’s a boy and two girls. I can easily recognize the first girl, with her bright white hair: Artemis Moonsliver (12). I can’t tell who the others are, but it’s an alliance of three.

“Julian,” I whisper to wake my ally up. “Julian!” Julian (13) moves and blinks. “What?” he whispers back.

I look at the other alliance and he follows my gaze. He understands that there’s another alliance near us. “Do we move out then?” he asks.

“No,” I say, with a plan slowly growing in my head. “This is the Hunger Games. We kill to survive. We should take them on. Who knows if they even have weapons like we do?”

Julian (13), hesitant at first, slowly agrees to my plan and gets his bow out. I reach for my flail.

“Let’s get going.”

Peyton Applebee (7F) - Aria
I settle in for the night with my new allies. The rest of the day, we were talking. Well, Julio (9) and the bitch from Twelve were talking. I occasionally smiled and said a few words as well. Julio (9) is nice to the both of us, but Twelve (also known as Artemis (12), for your information) seems to be wary of me. She won’t have to do that soon enough. I’m pretty sure she’s as pathetic as the guy from Twelve who killed my brother a few years ago.

“So,” Julio (9) says, “let’s camp out here.” I nod. We’re in front of this beautiful lake, until I notice a body in the distance, right in the middle of the bloody lake. It doesn’t look so beautiful anymore.

Artemis (12) notices the dead tribute as well. “Glad that’s not one of us.” For a moment, the three of us only look out into the distance as the moon glows brighter. I squint and notice a figure at the other side of the lake. It’s probably no one.

“Alright,” I say, “I’ll take first watch.”

“No,” Artemis (12) says, almost too quickly. “I can take first watch. You should get some rest. You look tired.”

“No,” I say, “I jumped you two earlier today, so it’s best if I take watch first.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Artemis (12) counters, her kind words tinged with hostility. “We’re all allies now. And seeing as I’m not sleepy, I should take watch.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Alright, stop,” Julio (9) interrupts our staring contest. “I’ll take first watch. I’ll wake up Peyton afterwards, and then you can wake up Artemis. Now get some rest.”

On that note, I collapse onto the ground against a tree trunk. Artemis (12) gets her own place to sleep in. Julio (9) goes back to the lake and takes his place. And now, all I have to do is wait.

I sit in silence, my eyes wide open. It’s only a matter of a few minutes until Julio ‘wakes’ me up for me to take watch. He’s already rather sleepy, I suppose. He won’t notice anything. This is it.

I take my axe and slowly walk towards Artemis (12). She is sound asleep. Perfect.

I raise my axe above her neck, and just before it cuts her head off, a cold, strong hand grabs my ankle and pulls me to the ground. Artemis (12) was never asleep.

She tried calling for help. “Julio—”

I clamp my hand over her mouth, but she flips me over. She’s on top of me, trying to kill me before she’s the victim, so, before we could attract any attention, I quickly lodged my axe into her chest. Artemis’ (12) grip loosens on me and there’s a horror-struck expression on her face. She falls dead, and I quickly take my axe out of her, wipe it, put is back where it was and go back to sleep.

Julio (13) appears next to me as soon as I hear a cannon.

“Peyton,” he shakes me and I pretend to wake up sleepy.

“Yeah?” I say and follow his gaze to Artemis’ (12) body. I smirk internally, but I put on a look of horror.

“-A was here, wasn’t he?” I say. Julio (13) slowly nods.

I purse my lip. “Well, she’s already… dead. We can’t do anything about it. Take some rest. I’ll wake you up later.”

Julio (13) doesn’t look like he’ll get any rest, but he reluctantly crashes on the ground and closes his eyes with a sigh. I walk towards the lake, and look back to the place I saw the figure. I freeze. The figure isn’t there anymore.

Suddenly, a dagger flies past me and barely misses me. It grazes my ear, and I look at it lodged in the tree I was standing next to. Shaking, I slowly turn around. There’s no one there, but the dagger has a note.

''Thanks for getting rid of Artemis for me. -A''

My heart races. -A saw me kill Artemis. The figure I saw had to be -A. I killed someone for him. Now I’m next.

-A (??) - Aria
“Solomon, you keep first watch,” Pharmacy (6) is instructing. The reptilian tribute hisses in agreement and walks to the outskirts of the Cornucopia. The rest of the Careers try to go to sleep.

I returned from the lakeside to check up on the nasty Careers. It’s always easier to kill the one taking watch.

I twirl a dagger in my hand, grinning maliciously. Solomon (C) has no clue about what’s about to happen.

I hide and wait in the bushes as all of the Careers fall asleep except for my victim. It’s time to get my plan into motion.

I pick up a small rock, and throw it towards Solomon (C). He turns around immediately for the source, spear in one hand and trident in the other. He’s skilled as a Career, designed to win, but I know for a fact he won’t.

He slithers towards me, but I have already moved away from the bush into another. This bush is close by, but not as much as to have Solomon (C) poking into it.

He’s still struggling to find who threw the rock. I have to stifle a laugh. He can’t find me either way. I pick up another rock and throw it in the opposite direction. Solomon’s (C) senses are mixed up—he has no clue where I’m throwing the rocks from!

Enough playing, now, I remind myself. What could possibly entertain the Capitol more than a great build-up to a death? I’ve tormented the poor reptile enough. It’s time to go for the kill.

I stop twirling the dagger in my hand, and wrap my fingers around hilt tightly. Solomon (C) isn’t looking in my direction. Perfect.

In one swift motion, I throw the dagger at him. He hears it fly just before it hits him—almost. He blocks it with his trident and I silently curse. Solomon (C) starts snarling loudly, and some his allies stir. I need to finish him off before they wake up.

Solomon (C) marches towards me, now knowing where the dagger came from. Just before he could uncover the bush and see me, I stab his heart, and he lets out a soft hiss before crashing to the ground. His cannon booms.

“Who’s there? What’s happened?” a masculine voice calls out.

“Korrey?” a female voice says in reply. It’s Korrey (4) and Christina (2). The Careers have woken up. “Solomon? What’s going on?”

In a few minutes, all the Careers have awoken to see Solomon’s (C) corpse. While others seem distraught or bored over their ally’s death, Pharmacy (6) seems angry. “Where are you, -A?” she looks around with a murderous look. I grin. “Come out, bitch! I’ll kill you if it’s the last thing I do!”

If I don’t have to be so silent, I would be bursting out laughing. This petty Career can’t kill me. No one can. So, I scribble a short note written in Solomon’s (C) blood from the point of my dagger. I crumple it up and throw it at Pharmacy (6).

She picks up the note, and reads it aloud:

''“Heads up, bitches. I’m everywhere, and soon you’ll be nowhere. -A”''

Pharmacy (6) rips the note apart and throws it into a pool of Solomon’s (C) blood. Without looking at any of the nervous Careers, she says, “I’m taking watch now. -A’s not getting away with this.”

But I am, Miss Medicine.

And you’ll realize that right after I’m done with you.

Julian Veritas (13M) - Aria
It’s nearly dawn as we walk, and I often glance at the artificial sky to see the names of the dead.

~ The Fallen ~

'''Solomon, Capitol Male Auro Falcon, District One Male Hazel Maize, District Nine Female Artemis Moonsliver, District Twelve Female Belle Curran, District Fifteen Female''' “Come on,” Alluria (0) says, returning my attention to her. She’s acting odd. What if she killed Taylor (13)? What if she is -A? What if she is leading me to my death at this very moment?

Stop thinking like that, I tell myself. I continue following Alluria (0).

My heart is pounding. I have absolutely no idea what is about to happen. If Alluria (0) is lying, then I’m about to be tricked. If she’s not, then I’m about to be killed.

Stop that, I scold myself, ''Think positive. Think about Jane watching you right now. Think about Jolee. You wanted to be happy like Jolee, didn’t you?''

I wonder if Alluria (0) has any family herself. After all, she had a life before she became a robot…

“Stop.” I almost didn’t hear her warning because I was too busy thinking about home.

“I think I see them there,” I whisper, slowly pointing at a direction. The sun is just rising now. We’ve been walking for hours.

“Let’s go,” Alluria (0) says, and walks towards Julio (9) and Peyton (7). Gulping, I follow her lead.

It’s fully morning now. Before coming in view of the enemy tributes, I take one look at the sunshine, for it might be the last time I see it.

Peyton Applebee (7F) - Aria
''Wait until Julio finds out who really killed his ally. -A''

I’ve been panicking ever since that blood-red message came to me along with an threatening dagger past my ear.

I’m not guilty for killing Artemis (12). I have killed both weaklings from their District, and avenged my brother. I didn’t know it would come with a price like this.

Julio (9) notices my edginess. “Peyton?” I jump at his voice.

“Hey,” I say to make up for the awkwardness.

He creases his eyebrows. “Are you alright?”

I nod, and quickly turn around. I try to take in the sights of the morning to calm myself. Green trees, glittering lake… two figures walking towards us.

“Julio,” I whisper, and point to the figures. Julio (9) widens his eyes. He has no weapon to fend himself with. I have one.

I tightly grip my trusty axe and march towards the figures, Julio (9) right behind me.

As we walk, I can recognize the shapes. It’s Alluria (0) and Julian (13). As soon as I stop in my tracks, they do, too. They’ve spotted us.

Now’s my chance.

Roaring, I charge at Alluria (0) and Julian (13) along with Julio (9) behind me. He lacks defence, but makes up for it with bravery. The enemy alliance rushes towards us with equal vigour.

My axe clashes with Alluria’s (0) dangling flail. I let my axe off it, and try to chop her head off. Instead, her flail smacks me against the cheek and sends me falling to the ground. Growling, I get up before Alluria (0) manages to kill me, and with renewed strength, I start going at her with my axe without stop, and finally manage to catch her off guard. My axe scrapes her stomach—badly—and she trips and falls, face-first.

I grin, and she moves just in time before I could’ve turned her into a bloody mess. Still, the axe catches her and she groans in pain, unable to move.

Boom! I grin at Alluria’s (0) cannon, but my happiness is short-lived. I feel an arrow sprout from my thigh and I fall to my knees. I turn around and first see Julio (9), impaled with arrows and very dead, and then I see Julian (13) with his bow running towards me.

That isn’t Alluria’s (0) cannon. It’s Julio’s (9).

I’m not letting Julian (13) kill me.

Julian Veritas (13M) - Aria
I don’t have time to react about innocent Julio’s (9) death. It horrifies me, but Alluria (0) is dying. I need to finish off Peyton (7) or we’re both dead.

I launch another arrow at Peyton (7) and miss, and she takes this chance to throw her axe like a tomahawk at me. It hits my leg and agony shoots me. I fall on my back because of the pain, and I’ve unfortunately given Peyton (7) time to get up despite the arrow lodged in her thigh.

I desperately try to get up, try to move away, but the agonizing wound doesn’t let me. Peyton (7) retrieves her axe from my blood-covered leg. I am able to move now. I try to roll away, but Peyton (7) pins me down and raises her axe. I give up. I’m sorry, Jolee.

But, suddenly, Peyton (7) goes rigid. A look of horror is on her face, and I don’t understand what’s happening until she falls off of me and I notice a dagger embedded in her skull. But it’s not just any dagger.

-A shot it.

I quickly scramble myself up and run to Alluria (0), who’s clutching her bleeding stomach, unable to move. I wouldn’t have cared if she was -A or not, although now I know for certain she’s my faithful ally. I can’t leave her to die.

“Alluria, please get up,” I plead to her. She groans in response.

“I can’t…” she groans in response.

“Alluria,” I say, desperation in my voice, “I can’t leave you here to—to die. Alluria, please, listen to me.”

Bloody tears stain her eyes. I can’t do this. This time, I nearly shouted, “Alluria, -A is here, he killed Peyton, and now he’s about to kill the both of us. You can’t give him any more satisfaction. Alluria, get up!”

A dagger whizzes past the back of my head. I have no other option. I grab Alluria’s (0) arm and put it around my shoulder. We both run out of there, Alluria (0) slightly slower and clumsier due to Peyton’s (7) axe.

Another dagger nearly impales me, but we keep running. I can’t stop running. All I can do is run.

Run.

Yuri Harris (0M) - Aria
“Damn it. Damn it all!” Pharmacy (6) has been extra-cranky since Solomon’s (C) death. She’s even madder seeing Christina’s (2) dead body on the grass.

“Pharm, calm down,” Korrey (4) says.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen. None of this was supposed to happen!” She paces back and forth with fury raging in her eyes. “I’ve kept non-stop watch in this godforsaken place, and -A still manages to—to—ugh!” Pharmacy (6) makes a weird noise with her throat and walks over to cleaver. For a moment, all of us started to panic as she started towards us with a wild look on her face, that seemed quite horrifying with her wielding a weapon, but she wasn’t about to kill us. “That’s it. I’ve had enough with -A. We’re moving out. We’re hunting each and every single little liar in this damn arena, and if the Games still aren’t over, I’m killing each and every single one of you. So you better be on your best goddamn behaviour!”

Korrey (4), Nutmeg (1) and even Lucia (3) and I are too stunned to talk. I feel like my heart climbed up to my throat and started beating rapidly.

“What the hell did I just say? We’re moving out!”

We all rush to our supplies and weapons, appalled by Pharmacy (6).

I am about to grab my sickle, before someone nudges me in the shoulder. I turn my head to see Nutmeg (1) trying to tell me something.

“I got a note from -A,” she says to me under her breath, and passes me a slip of paper.

''Save yourselves and leave the Careers. Take the sadist from Zero with you. Fast.''

-A

My hands shake. I look back at Nutmeg (1), who seems equally afraid. I don’t know what to do. If we leave them, Pharmacy (6) will be out for our blood. If we don’t, we’ll be dead by morning. Plus, -A is far more dangerous than Pharmacy (6)…

“We’ve got to ditch them,” I whisper back to Nutmeg (6), who solemnly nods and takes more supplies to carry.

I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know why -A is messing with my head so much. It makes me regret ever trying to drown Zoey. Karma’s caught up to me now.

Kim Thorburn (11F) - Aria
The guilt is killing me. I’ve killed someone and I’m out and about with Tim (11) pretending it never happened. But, of course it did. -A left me a reminder to make sure I won’t forget it. Along with a reminder, he gave me a threat. If I don’t kill Tim (11), -A’ll make sure that he’ll kill me.

-A will lie to him about how I killed Auro (1), make me sound like a sick, manic monster with a lust for blood. If my beloved brother doesn’t hate me, he’ll sure be too afraid of me to stand in my presence. And he’ll be all alone, wandering about, until a fearful Career finds him and kills him. Or, I’ll have to kill him so he doesn’t have to face the harsh truth. Either way, he’ll die. And it’ll be my fault.

“What’s wrong, Kim?” Tim (11) asks me as he sees me blink back my tears.

“I just really don’t want either of us to die,” I say.

It’s true, but Tim (11) thinks it’s for any random reason, when in truth, it’s my fault. It’s all my fault.

Tim (11) gives me a weak smile. “Hey, we survived this long. We’ll make it through alive.”

You won’t, I think bitterly, but I manage a smile.

That’s when a plan struck me like lightning.

-A told me to kill Tim (11), or else he’ll tell him what I did, but he won’t tell him the true story. If I, however, confess to him, there is a chance Tim (11) will believe me and forgive me. Of course, I can’t rely on that chance, but it’s the best I’ve got.

“Hey, Tim?” I say, my voice shaking. I feel a lump forming in my throat.

Tim (11) turns his head around and looks at me warmly. “Yeah?”

“I need to tell you something.” Tim (11) walks over to me and sits down, patiently waiting for me to finish.

“I…” I mumble my words, but then I clear my throat and speak again. “That day, when we heard a cannon after I walked back to you and said I didn’t know who it was, it wasn’t true.”

Tim (11) creases his eyebrows. I already regret my plan, but there’s no going back now.

“Auro Falcon, the Career from District 1… he came here then. A-And he attacked me. There was also another tribute with silver hair, but I don’t remember much about her. But, as things progressed, I had no choice…”

As I am talking about Auro’s (1) death, Tim (11) seems quite appalled at first, but his expression softens as I go on, right up to the point where -A sent me that note.

“Kim,” he stops me from blabbering on about how sorry I was, “it’s okay! This is the Hunger Games—if you hadn’t killed that guy, we’d both be dead by now. That doesn’t make you a monster.”

I give out a sigh of relief, and I feel my cheeks sticky with dried tears. “I would never have killed you either way. -A should’ve known better than to mess with us.”

Tim (11) grins. I smile as well.

But of course, -A was always ten steps ahead. Tim’s (11) face distorted and blood started pouring out of his mouth, and his stomach. As his body crumples to the ground, I see a figure wearing a mask and holding a dagger. I start to back away, but -A approaches me. He puts a finger to his lip, and I scream.

Oscar Reids (5M) - Hannah
It's such a shame sleep ends eventually. It's such a blissful thing; you really can't worry too much if you're not consciously thinking and you can't see what's happening around you. As soon as sleep ends, though, you're immediately brought back to reality, a place of fear and anxiety. All of the feelings of perturbation end once one awakens.

And all worries are exaggerated here most of all.

I should trust Chloe; she's my sister. The only thing is that I don't. I feel as if she's been rather secretive recently, and in this time and place secrets are not alright with me.

My eyes flutter open. I see a feminine figure sitting at the bar, outlined by the moonlight. It must be Chloe, preparing for the deeds she would commit under the name of -A.

"Good morning, sweetheart." The voice comes from the figure, but sounds distorted. Nothing like Chloe's.

"Chloe, I need to ask you something." I begin to walk over to her. My foot bumps into something, and in horror I look down to find Chloe, lightly breathing. Eyes wide, I stare at the mysterious figure, who has swiveled around in the chair and is smirking at me, fingers twirling her hair. "What the hell...?" I start.

Quietly, the girl walks up to me. She has a mask on over the majority of her face, but it doesn't prevent what she says from reaching my ear before she stabs me.

"I'm not your sister, motherfucker."

Lucia Duvall (3F) - Aria
Yuri (0) is -A. It can’t be anyone else. Maybe Nutmeg (1), but I doubt it. They both have left us Careers, and for what reason? There is no possible reason for them to just leave than one of them being -A, and the other helping him. Terrible move.

“Lucia,” someone says, and I snap out of my thoughts. I turn around and see Pharmacy (6), trying to look normal. Korrey (4) and I—the only Careers left besides Pharmacy (6)—both know the act. Just under the surface, she’s absolutely boiling. First, a pathetic loner killed Dixie (14). Then, -A killed Brett (7), along with Belle (15), Solomon (C) and Christina (2). Now, nearly half of the remaining Careers split off from us. Worse than that, one of them has proved to be -A. Anyone would be furious. Pharmacy (6) is good at keeping her emotions blank to others.

“Yeah?” I reply.

“Mind keeping first watch?” she asks. “You know, since there’s only two others who could be taking watch now.” Her face distorted in anger for a second, but went back to normal.

“No problem,” I say, and, picking up my dagger, walk to the edge of our camping site. I occasionally turn around to see Pharmacy (6) lying down with her eyes closed, and Korrey (4) rolling on the grass, not being able to sleep.

I take a step just to look around, and feel something crunch underneath my feet. I step off it and pick it up. It’s a crumpled note.

''Catch me if you can. But I doubt it. -A''

My nostrils flare. I rip the note into pieces and let them flutter to the ground. How dare he taunt me about it? It’s as if he can read my mind… but nevermind that—now I know Yuri (0) is -A, and I’ll give him a taste of his own medicine.

I look back at my allies. Pharmacy (6) is completely asleep, and I believe Korrey (4) is, too. There’s a pack of food near the center. Without a second thought, I walk over to it and grab it. Before I can walk away with my dagger and pack, a voice stopped me.

“What are you doing?” Korrey (4) asks. He has been faking sleep the whole time. I don’t want to deal with this at the moment. I roll my eyes and say, “Just go back to sleep.” I turn around and start to walk, but he replies.

“You’re leaving the alliance, too?” He’s fully gotten up now. “Is this some plan with Nutmeg and Yuri? To leave the Careers? Because if so, you’re not getting there.”

I don’t have time for this. I walk closer to Korrey (4), who’s grabbing hold of his weapon. “Shut up. Just shut up, or I’ll shut you up.”

Before Korrey (4) can even fight, I slit his throat and he falls to the ground with a thud, dark liquid pouring out of his neck and tainting the grass. A cannon booms.

Pharmacy (6) starts to stir. She looks first at Korrey’s (4) corpse, then at me. No doubt she thinks I’m -A.

That doesn’t matter now. I know who -A is, and I’m going to kill him.

Nutmeg Spica (1F) - Aria
“Hurry,” I say, dragging Yuri (0) with me. The rest of the Careers must have found out we left by now, but we don’t really have a choice—it was either Pharmacy (6) or -A.

“Why did he make us do this?” Yuri (0) asks rhetorically. I don’t say anything and keep running, eyeing the names glowing in the sky as the eerie anthem plays.

~ The Fallen ~

'''Christina Parthenon, District Two Female Korrey Arlington, District Four Male Oscar Reids, District Five Male Peyton Applebee, District Seven Female Julio Zethes, District Nine Male Tim Thorburn, District Eleven Male'''

Huh. Korrey (4) died. That’s odd.

Nonetheless, it’s officially the fourth day now. I’ve survived three days in this arena. I’ve gotten my revenge against Brett (7). Oh, but at what a price.

“Stop,” says Yuri (0) abruptly.

“What is it?” I hiss. “We don’t have time.”

“Can’t you hear the footsteps?” he whispers back. I stop, and listen closely. There definitely is a pair of footsteps following ours, but it stops as soon as I do.

“Oh, God,” I say, “it’s -A.”

“No, he’s -A,” a dreadfully familiar voice says. Lucia (3) emerges through the foliage and faces us with her dagger. But it’s a two-against-one fight, so you’ll probably win, right? I try to tell myself, but I’m not convinced. Lucia (3) isn’t the awkward weakling I saw in training. For all I know, she’s -A. But what does she mean “he’s -A”? Yuri (0)?

“What do you mean?” Yuri (0) growls.

Lucia (3) laughs. “Stop with the act. I know you’re -A.”

Yuri (0) looks as confused as I am. “You’re -A, aren’t you?”

Lucia (3) stops laughing. “I just said that you are -A. But, either way, you two are dead.”

“Did Pharmacy send you here?” I ask.

“Pharmacy isn’t controlling my every move,” Lucia (3) sneers, “I have a will of my own. You obviously don’t.”

“Wha…” I notice the note in her hand. It’s the one -A sent me about Brett (7). They know.

“Yeah, I know how it feels to get a note personally delivered to you,” says Lucia (3), “but how does it feel to have others find it too?”

“Enough chit-chat.” Yuri (0) dashes at Lucia (3) with his sickle, but she doesn’t even flinch. A dagger protrudes Yuri’s (0) lung, which Lucia (3) takes out cleanly. A cannon goes off, and I let out a short shriek. There’s no fighting anymore.

Before I could turn around to run away, I feel an already bloodied dagger in my back. I glance down slightly, and see it sprout out of my chest. I feel like lead. I fall and hear my own cannon go off.

Kim Thorburn (11F) - Hannah
It's dark.

Too dark.

There's not even a difference between the inside of my eyelids and where I am, and I don't have a blindfold on.

Suddenly, a faint light comes from the area near my feet. I'm laying down in a confined space, but I have more room to my left than my right. I scoot over to my left a bit and hit something cold and fleshy. Another light turns on and I scream.

My dead brother's corpse is next to me, dried blood coating his mouth and a look of terror in his dead eyes.

I immediately start clawing at the structure, which appears to be a coffin. By the time I finally reach dirt, my nails are nearly completely scratched off. It doesn't take as long to get through the dirt, though, which is good.

I'm by the Cornucopia, but nobody is there and there isn't anything but a knife stuck in the ground. Gulping, I yank it up and hold it out defensively, unsure of what would come next.

I shriek in pain when my hair is pulled from behind, and I'm pushed to the ground. When I look to who assaulted me, I can't make out the tribute - they have a mask on and completely black clothing, and I can't make out their figure since it's still before sunrise.

It has to be -A.

"You!" I scream, and attempt to stab them. They dodge the blade neatly and pulls a sword out from behind their back. "You killed my brother. Mark my words, you will die today!"

"Aww, aren't you adorable?"

A pain suddenly fills my chest and I fall to the ground. Somehow, -A has managed to stab me without me noticing. As I fall, though, I yank the mask off of their face.

"Wait, you're -A?"

I don't live to see anything else.

Pharmacy Ombra (6F) - Aria
Immense fury and rage inside me has completely boiled. Not only did two of my ‘allies’ leave (or three now), the rest of them are dead. Almost all at the hands of -A.

Not on my watch.

I look over at Korrey’s (4) body, then at the missing supplies. Lucia (3) stole all of them. She’s probably -A, too, at least, that’s my best guess. She’s a psychopath, after all.

“What to do…” I wonder aloud. Looking back at the corpse of my ally, a plan formed in my head. This is the Hunger Games, after all. Kill or be killed.

So, I’m going to kill before I get killed.

I pick up my sickle. I look around at the eerie woods I’m forced to call my home for a few days, and then take a deep breath.

Everyone is going to die.

I start pacing through the woods, not really having an exact destination. I’m just searching for any and every tribute. I walk in silence with nothing but my footsteps to keep me company. And… another pair of footsteps.

I stop in my tracks. Great—now’s my chance to kill them! This stranger’s footsteps don’t stop, though. I follow them, as quiet as a mouse. A feminine voice sighs, and stops walking. I trudge on silently.

I step into a clearing, but not so much as to let my victim see me. It’s Harmony (14). She doesn’t have a weapon. Perfect.

She turns around too late and I’ve already pinned her to the ground. She’s struggling against my grasp, but not for long. I put a sickle through her neck before she could scream. She gasps, and so do I, but with glee. Then, her entire head falls to the ground and bleeds all over. Her face is unrecognizable with the blood tainting her face. Her blonde hair has turned into a sickly crimson, and her eyes bleeding. I love it.

For once, I understand why -A is doing this. He actually finds it amusing, to feel this powerful. Like he can win the Games. Like I can return. I can’t blame him for doing this.

He may be a monster, but so am I.

Julian Veritas (13M) - Hannah
I'm half-dragging Alluria's (0) body through the forest. She fell unconscious a few moments ago, and when she does speak, it sounds like she's in some sort of a drunken stupor. I silently curse Peyton for causing this predicament - she probably went insane or something.

No footsteps are following us, so I think it's safe to assume -A has decided to leave us alone. That sick bastard. He saved me and therefore Alluria (0), but at what cost? He killed Peyton, but I do think she was hiding something. She acted slightly suspicious prior to her demise. And who else could -A have killed? Any of the dead tributes - Yuri, Artemis, and Nutmeg, to name a few - could have been killed by the mysterious tribute among us.

I carefully set Alluria (0) down and lean her against a tree. She seems so peaceful in her sleep. Well, I hope it's sleep. It's gotta be, right? There hasn't been a cannon yet. That I heard, anyway. Or another cannon may have been hers. No. She would have been in the sky. Unless she was one of two deaths that have already happened today. ..

I touch my two fingers to her neck, and feel a steady pulse. Good. Even if she's in some sort of coma, she's alive. The fact reassures me a bit. She sleepily opens her closed eyes and I expect for gibberish to begin flowing out of her mouth.

"Julian," she mumbles.

"Alluria," I reply. In this moment, I realize how beautiful she is, even though she's in pain. My stomach flips as I look into her eyes, and I know I have done the unthinkable in the Hunger Games - I have fallen in love with a dying girl. I hear loud whirring, and my eyebrows knit together in confusion.

"Julian, I don't know how to describe this. The way you tried to save me and how much you care for me, it just . . . provokes something from deep inside me. I don't understand it.

"I think it's called love," Alluria (0) finishes. She reaches a shaking hand up to my cheek. Suddenly, she screams in pain.

"Alluria!" I yell, but she's convulsing on the ground.

A cannon booms.

I test for her pulse again. Her neck is burning hot.

She's not dead. She can't be.

But she is.

I drape myself across her fallen, bloody body and weep. After what feels like a millenium, I rise to my feet and look at nothing in particular. I've already lost one person in my life. Now I've lost another. And I'll kill to avenge them both.

Chloe Reids (5F) - Aria
I feel groggy. I can’t remember anything. I think I fell asleep while taking watch. All I remember is my vision going blurry when I took a sip of water…

I seem to be lying down under a table. Still half-conscious, I turn to my left and see red. Am I sleeping in my own blood? No, I am alive. But this has got to be someone’s blood.

I look further to my left and see a familiar body this time. It’s… my own brother, Oscar (5). I can’t even react to his death properly. I think I’ve been drugged.

I turn to my right, and see a knife. I crawl towards it. After a few attempts, I finally grab hold of it. I raise it above my own throat, probably not prepared for death and just under the influence of the drugs. Just before I can make this mistake, I hear a creak of the door. I put the knife down and crawl deeper under the table. Footsteps emerge and I hear Pharmacy (6) grumbling to herself. She looks around, and reaches the table. Her foot is an inch away from my face.

“There’s no one here. Damn it.” On that note, she stomps out of the Applewood Grille. I’m glad she couldn’t find me.

I lay under the table emotionless for who knows how long. It may have been a day, it may have been an hour, but I can’t tell. I can feel the drugs wear off of me. I try standing up, and my body follows.

Now, I can clearly see Oscar (5). Tears well up in my eyes. I try to force them back in, but they escape anyway. I close my eyes. I don’t think it’s worth living without my brother. But he would’ve wanted me to survive and win, wouldn’t he? I have to win. For Oscar (5).

I grab the knife I nearly killed myself with and march out the door.

Venus Valentine (4F) - Aria
There’s someone following me. They know I know they’re on my tails, so I keep running, occasionally looking back to see if they’re there. So far, they’re not. I still run.

My heart is pounding. Who is behind me? I don’t want to die. I don’t want to kill anyone, either. Either way, I’m dead.

I hear my pursuer yell in rage. I recognize the voice of Pharmacy Ombra (6). I turn around, and this time, I can see her clearly. And she’s mad.

Fearfully, I look back at my path and try to outrun Pharmacy (6). There are twigs and branches on the ground everywhere. I have to be careful not to trip over one—

“Gah!” I trip over a large branch. My leg hurts—it’s caught in a twisted branch. Slowly, I twist my foot around to get it out, but instead I catch glimpse of Pharmacy (6) looming over me.

“One less -A suspect!” she yells, and attempts to stab her sickle right into my chest, but I roll away just in time. I manage to get my foot out of the branch, and I keep running. Eventually, I end up in a space where there’s nowhere else to run. This is it. I’m doomed.

Clutching my dagger, I bravely turn around and face Pharmacy (6). I’m shaking. I’m not going down with a fight, but I’m going down brave.

Pharmacy (6) grins wickedly. She starts towards me, and I don’t move. Instead, I take a deep breath and close my eyes.

I hear Pharmacy yell, and her voice gets louder. I feel something sharp stab my stomach. I let out a cry of agony. My eyes open for one last time, and I see Pharmacy (6) neatly slide her sickle out of my body. I tumble to the ground, and hear a cannon. All I see is Pharmacy (6) walking away.

-A (??) - Aria
Anyone who would have seen me now would think I’m a lunatic. I laugh like a maniac as I swim in my own blood. A red and grey parachute sits a few feet away from me with an opened flask of medicine. The gamemakers are doing everything to make sure I’m alive. Perfect.

It’s not even a big wound. It’s pretty small, to be honest, like scraping your knees. Anyone can survive it. But I find it sweet for the Capitol to care this much for me. And I’m going to greet them gleefully after getting rid of four little liars.

I stand up and brush some dirt off myself. I grin. Four little liars turn into three, when the crimson in her veins turns her own sword bloody.

I pace through the woods, determined to find her. Two little liars left out of three, when she drowns in her tears searching for her brother’s body.

I know exactly where I’m headed, and I’m nearly there. One little liar is now left, bowshots won’t help once he is dead.

I can see the clearing. I’m right here. It’s all over for her now. The last little liar is also gone, dead in a ditch and I laugh as I won.

Pharmacy Ombra (6F) - Aria
I’m content with today’s events.

I sigh happily as I lie on the surprisingly soft grass and watch the artificial sky. I’m about to see the two names of the people I’ve killed.

Just four more people left. Once they’re gone, I’ll be crowned as the victor. I can finally leave this hell.

As the anthem starts playing, the sky is lit up with the names of the dead.

~ The Fallen ~

'''Yuri Harris, District Zero Male Alluria Nexus, District Zero Female Nutmeg Spica, District One Female Gabriel van Helsing, District Two Male Harmony Abbot, District Fourteen Female'''

Wait, what?

Where is Venus’ (4) name?

A familiar and unpleasant cackling ripples through the air. I don’t want to turn around. I hope it’s not who I think it is.

“Oh, look at me, please, Pharmacy,” the dreadful voice of the undead Venus Valentine (4) taunts me.

“You—you were supposed to be dead!” I shout, trying to be brave, but my voice comes out shaking.

Venus (4), or should I say, -A, giggles once more. She looks up at the sky. “Thank you, gamemakers, for killing poor little Gabriel in my place. For making you believe I was dead. But I’m back, bitch. Oh, how the tides have turned!”

Venus (4) breaks out into a laughing fit once more, as I gather up the courage to look at her. Her golden hair is coated with red, and in her stomach where a gaping hole should have been, is a lot of bandages, almost soaked through. But her face scares me the most. There is a new scar across her face, but that’s not the horrifying part. She’s completely insane, and equal emotions of anger, glee, and pure evil distort her face into a nightmare.

“Finally looking at me?” Venus (4) smiles mockingly, “Well, make sure it’s your last sight. It’ll be worthwhile, I suppose. I do look good, despite the blood.”

“No!” I yell, as I back towards my sickle, about to clutch it. “You’re dead, and if not, I’ll kill you again!”

I have my hands tightly wrapped around my trusty sickle, but she doesn’t even flinch. She only twirls her dagger in her hand. I hold my weapon up threateningly, and that’s when she stops laughing and looks at me with her soulless eyes.

“Oh, honey,” Venus (4) taunts, slowly making her way towards me as I keep backing up, “that sickle there won’t help anymore.”

I charge at her like I did a few hours ago, but she skillfully dodges and pulls the sickle out of my hand.

“Life is but a dream, Pharmacy,” she says in her calm voice that does not suit her glaring eyes coming closer towards me. “And I’m your nightmare.”

I turn around and run, only to feel a dreadful pain in my stomach. I look down to find my own sickle piercing through me.

“But don’t worry.” Venus (4) slides the weapon out of my body. I fall to the ground, and hear a sickening cannon go off.

“Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead.”

luciA duvAll (3F) - hAnnAh
The frail twigs and fallen leaves are no match for me as I make my way through the forest to the Cornucopia. I don't care who hears me - I know I'm stronger than all the other tributes, even -A. I don't care how many people that little bitch has killed - they're all less tributes for me to worry about.

I reach a tree and pull out my water bottle. I unscrew the top and drink it so hastily water spills out and falls down my face. I don't mind, though, for it seems unnaturally hot. The gamemakers must be scerwing with us. Again.

I zip up my bag and resume my trek. On my way, I notice a beautifully-colored butterfly. The sun - which has been above my head for at least three hours now - hits the wings in such a way that they create patterns on the tree it is perched on.

I scoff of laughter. They do this to taunt us. Some of the other tributes - the ones who are actually like my fake self - would see this as a symbol to live life and notice the smaller things. I see it, though, as a frail life that means nothing. I could kill this butterfly and nobody would care. The same applies to some of the others.

Trumpets echo around me and I look to the sky.

"Hello! All tributes and -A must move towards the Cornucopia immediately. The arena is rapidly shrinking, so I'd recommend traveling with a purpose!"

I take a deep breath and start jogging. This is the end. It has to be.

But it won't be mine.

juliAn veritAs (13M) - hAnnAh
I'm so done. I'm gonna be the one to make it out of here. If Peyton was still alive, she'd be at my mercy, and I'd kill her faster than -A actually did.

My steps slow as I reach the Cornucopia, and I mentally go through who else is alive. Venus (4) and Chloe (5), who wouldn't hurt a fly. Lucia (3) is who I'm worried about. I know she's already killed two, and she could easily be -A. I think I'll kill her first.

I stealthily jog to the opening of the Cornucopia and hide inside, bow loaded and at the ready.

After a few minutes, I hear sniffling and peek my head outside. It's one of the weak ones, Chloe (5). I raise my bow at her, and she turns around.

"No!" Chloe (5) screams. "Don't kill me! Please please please don't kill me!" I ignore her as I aim for her chest. Then she starts sobbing. "Please don't please please please don't," she repeats, and I lower my bow. I can't do this. She's just like Jolee. I can't hurt her.

"Thank you," Chloe (5) cries, sinking to the ground and shaking.

Then, there's a rustling noise, and we both turn to the area it came from.

I raise my bow.

venus vAlentine (4F)/-A (??) - both
I don't know how long my vision has been red. There has been so much blood in the past five days that I can't tell what's fury, blood, or pain. I constantly feel an adrenaline rush through my veins and I hear blood roaring in my ears. So much blood.

I've come so far—cheating death the first time when the white specks miraculously disappeared from my lungs. I still remember the feeling of fresh air after so long suffocating in the toxin. And I still want to breathe this air that I have missed throughout my whole life until very recently. The pure air and oxygen in myself is something I can't lose again. I have been given a second chance at life, and I will utilise this chance by winning the Hunger Games.

And here I was thinking tragedy struck when I was reaped for these Games. I was chosen to be the overpowered -A, to kill the rest and become victor with aid from the gamemakers themselves. After my first murder, initiated by the lovely gamemakers, it became easier to kill without guilt. So, I defeated death a second time.

I am about to defeat it for the third time and hopefully once and for all. Just three more murders and I will be home, safe and sound. Just three more people to get rid of.

I hear a shuffling noise. Dagger at the ready, I spin around to see a mutt jump out of the bushes... but it's a small puppy that doesn't attack.

"Huh?" I wondered aloud. Why would there be a muttation of a regular dog? The gamemakers never do this without reason.

The dog almost reminds me of Scuto. Poor Scuto... he died saving me. I don't know how I'm living without him. I used to be so different back then. So happy and full of life. Not someone with a lust for blood desperate to come home for nothing. What happened to me?

I turn away from the dog. No, Venus, I told myself, ''you've already come so far. You can taste victory so close. You can't stop now.''

I shouldn't stop. Besides, there are only three tributes left. Without looking back at Scuto—I mean, the dog, sorry—I trudge onwards. I don't notice my weakened pace.

The tribute from District 10. I remember how nervous I was. My mentor Spencer Hastings reassured me that the gamemakers would "take care of the first one as soon as you give the signal". The signal, that was looking straight at my victim and slightly shuffling to my right. The plate exploded as soon as I did that. I tried not to scream when blood sprayed down from the air and flesh flew to the ground. And the guilt... it oddly disappeared fast, and I got a bit more comfortable in the Games.

Cassie Wynn. My first murder on my own, without any direct help from the gamemakers. I'm not even sure how she knew to go to the Applewood Grille, but she did. I'm not sure I felt any remorse as the dagger was plunged into her heart.

Irene Watson. She was an easy target, lying asleep on a tree. When I woke her up, she was frozen with fear. The more scared the victims are, the better. And as soon as she fell dead, and I walked away, I laughed. I laughed like a maniac. I felt so giddy, committing otherwise unimaginable crimes at ease, knowing the gamemakers would always back me up.

Ryan Dennis. When he fell dead, I knew the camera was on me. I could feel its gaze. I had to put on a show, to make it look like an accident I was sorry for. The tears, though, came very easily. They were of joy, of being alive. I grew my mask at that very moment.

Brett Brawl, Taylor Astrid, Auro Falcon and Artemis Moonsliver. Not ones I killed myself, but it was when I started taking liars on a guilt trip, threatening to reveal their dirty little secrets if they didn't listen to me. I felt like President DiLaurentis, like I could do anything. And I can.

Hazel Maize. I didn't even realize I killed her, until the gamemakers notified me. I honestly didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to steal water which I had so obviously poisoned. Even when I wasn't there, I killed someone. Not only did I feel powerful, I knew for sure I was.

Belle Curran. She was nearly my closest call. I was so close to the Careers. I could've been caught easily. I was testing my luck, because it had been in my favour all the while. Fortune's still on my side, right? I thought then. Very carefully, I killed her with her own mace. Since then, the adrenaline never left me.

Solomon. The little reptalian Career. He was honestly scaring me from the start with his green skin and forked tongue. He used his teeth as a weapon for hell's sake. I was sure I'd get caught by him when he deflected the dagger. But no... I managed to get rid of one of the most powerful tributes in the arena with my trusty dagger. But I feel I'd been in a haste since then. The quick notes... the desperation of coming back alive...

Peyton Applebee. I'd threatened her before. I even managed to get rid of her. She was someone who was genuinely scared of me. I didn't have time to smile at her corpse because of Julian and Alluria. Killing became my job rather than a passion. When was it ever a passion? What's happening to me?

Christina Parthenon. I don't even remember what happened. All I remember is that I was in a rush, because the other Careers were going to wake up. I realised that killing became much harder since my first one. And honestly, the power I felt seemed to have disappeared.

Tim Thorburn. I didn't even stick to my promise with his sister and straight up killed him before he could have a happy ending. It seems cruel, now that I think of it. I know if I weren't in the Games, I would've never thought of doing such a thing.

Oscar Reids. Another brother. I don't know why I felt so bitter when he thought I was his sister. Was it because I felt I wasn't worthy of being one? That if I did have a sibling, I would've killed them just as easily as I've killed others? I shudder.

Kim Thorburn. I killed her even after the guilt of killing her brother. Wait, guilt? I'm not guilty. I was never guilty in the first place. I am a merciless killer who will return home. And killing Kim in cold blood is worth it.

Gabriel van Helsing. Despite the gamemakers' killing him to save me, I don't feel good about it. I never even met him. He never did anything. Then again, neither did the others... am I really a monster? However, it's not like he had anything waiting for him once he got out. He was probably going to go to jail if he won.

Pharmacy Ombra. She was just trying to survive the Games, like the others. And she was confused. Confused about who to trust and how to keep her allies alive, and I stabbed her with what she killed several others with. She had a reason to hate me, and even after that, I let her die.

I truly haven't felt guiltier.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't realise I stepped into a clearing. Not a clearing—the Cornucopia. And there are two tributes staring directly at me.

luciA duvAll (3F) - both
The bushes only reach my waist but if I crouch I will not only be almost invisible to the people in the clearing, but I will also be able to watch their every move. It appears that there are two tributes outside the Cornucopia and one at the edge of the woods. If only I could make them out—I can see a blonde and two brunettes. It's obvious who it must be, considering there are only a few of us left.

I can rule out Pharmacy since there isn't anybody with black hair. The blonde is Venus (4), and the brunettes are Chloe (5) and Julian (13). I'm assuming the one crying on the ground is Chloe (5). Venus (4) is staring at the two, who are looking back at her.

While they're encaptured by each other, I dart from my spot to behind the Cornucopia. None of the tributes have made noises apart from Chloe's occasional sniffle. It would be so easy to kill them all. From here I could throw one of my knives into the back of Julian's (13) cranium and smirk as crimson blood flows down his shoulders. Venus (4), who is shaking, could be taken out from a simple snap of the neck. Chloe (5) would still be crying, so I'd just slit her throat. I will win the Hunger Games, and I will be remembered for years to come.

And nobody will stop me.

But before I kill them, I may as well find out who -A is. Out of these three, who is the most cunning, ruthless, and brutal? None of them have seemed that way at all.

I stroll next to the Cornucopia and lean against it.

"So, which one of you is -A?" I casually ask as if I were pondering the time.

Everybody is silent for a moment as soon as they notice me.

"Chloe." Julian (13) accuses. Of course I'm a bit surprised at the insinuation. Chloe (5) is weak and couldn't hurt a fly. However, that was my facade during training, and I've accounted for five kills. For all I know, the other twenty-five could all be her doing. But Julian seems very uncertain about what he just said. "She's been away during the whole games. She's nimble and I know she could be a great actress if she tried. Look at her! She killed her own brother to throw her suspicion off!"

"SHUT UP!" Chloe (5) screams. "I know it's you, Lucia! You killed them all! YOU killed Oscar!" Tears fall down her face.

"So we're playing the blame game, eh?" A mask of smugness falls upon my face. "Then tell me why Miss Venus here hasn't said anything? She's somebody we wouldn't expect. Why not her?"

Everyone looks at Venus (4), who at first doesn't say a word, but her lip is quivering. "It... wasn't... m-m..." She can't utter the last word. Her eyes are bleary and she looks like she's about to cry.

To our surprise, Venus (4) starts sobbing and collapses to the ground. "I ended fourteen lives. I didn't know any of them. I killed them. Because of me. I'm so sorry. I killed them all. I can't believe I killed them all. I'd never have killed them. Wht have I done? Scuto, I'm sorry! It's all my fault you're dead! It's all my fault they're all dead!" She looks up at Julian (13) with pleading in her eyes. "Kill me." He doesn't move, but his bow is aimed at her. She crawls to me and begs at my feet. "Just kill me!"

She cowers on the ground, unmoving. All is silent.

I glance at Chloe (5) and Julian (13). Within me, I felt the tiniest tinge of sympathy. I regret it, but I know what I need to do.

I decapitate the murderer of fourteen people. But I am also killing a young girl.

There is a cannon.

No one moves. Venus's body rolls over and her blue eyes look to the sky. Her once blonde hair, now turned red from her blood, flies in the wind as three hovercrafts land.

I have won.

president Alison dilAurentis's ending Address
And that is the tale of the 550th Hunger Games, the most treacherous one indeed. One I have set up to have tributes betray their trust and feel a false security, or a lurking presence that was never there. One where each liar's secret was taken to the grave.

The three victors do not seem happy about their triumph. In fact, they are hallucinating—or actually finding—people who seemed to look like their victims in the arena, who are apparently stalking them. They seem to have been driven slightly insane.

Julian Veritas lives with his sister, Jane Veritas, in the victor's village, surprisingly close to a graveyard he visits weekly with flowers.

Chloe Reids mourns the loss of her brother nearly every day, and apparently sees his ghost, instead of comforting her, haunting her.

Lucia Duvall rarely exits her bungalow in the victor's village, and when she does, she always carries a weapon, and she seems to have gotten very wary and cautious about her supposed stalkers.

The fate of every victor.

"Got a secret, can you keep it? Swear this one you'll save," I hum to myself, "better lock it in your pocket, taking this one to the grave."

The tale of the 550th Hunger Games was a treacherous one indeed. May we congratulate our victors and mourn our losses. And from now on, this Hunger Games will be remembered as three words that will live on for centuries.

Pretty Little Games.

Trivia

 * Hannah and Aria already had certain planned for tributes even before they were submitted.


 * Originally, -A was going to be Harmony Abbot, but was later changed to Hazel Maize, until we ultimately decided on Venus Valentine.


 * Originally, the Games were supposed to end with Kim Thorburn waking up in the coffin, getting out, fighting -A and winning.
 * Besides Kim, the other victors were going to Alluria Nexus, Nutmeg Spica and Lucia Duvall, but the first three were removed due to already being victors.


 * Some messages and scenes were inspired by the show Pretty Little Liars, such as Kim waking up in the coffin as opposed to Aria Montgomery from the show waking up in a coffin with -A nearby. Most messages were from the show, such as, I'm still here, bitches. And I know everything! from the first episode.


 * Before -A was decided, it was confirmed -A would not be the victor.


 * President Alison DiLaurentis was inspired by Alison DiLaurentis from the show.


 * The whole Games were completely planned and fixed near the middle of it, and it was not changed since then.


 * This was Hannah and Aria's first collab Games, and was the most enjoyably written Games for both.