Arianna Winslow’s POV:

I run alongside Alistair, we are making are way towards the cornucopia area, the trees are in sight – however the third and final special attraction is due any second now if my timing is accurate.

‘’ We should stop somewhere near here, we need to get ready to hide the body of whichever one of us collapses or else we’ll be easy targets for any passing tributes.’’ I suggest.

He nods.

‘’ Let’s go look for some bushes. We’ll have shelter there.’’ He suggests and I follow him as he heads to the left of where the cornucopia is – surrounded by trees – and down a small embankment.

As we reach the bottom, the voice of the President sounds and booms throughout the arena.

‘’ Tributes! The time has come! It is now time for the last of the special attractions voted for by the Capitol. Like I mentioned yesterday, the Capitol sent us in suggestions of which of you they want to see go into the coma. So effectively, they have sealed your fate. I will now announce that the tributes that will be falling into the comas are; Arianna, Bliss, Min and Echo.

This means that all four girls will be going into the deep sleep, and they will be dependent on their male partners to retrieve the antidote for them from the cornucopia area – which all of you were smart enough to approach prior to now. As you all know, the antidotes will not be easy to retrieve and there will not be one for each of you, so it is a contest to see who will bring home the antidote for their partner.

As I mentioned yesterday, the collar setting that prohibits you from leaving a certain distance will be disabled for this. So it will be OK to leave your partner to retrieve the antidote, there is no need to be carrying them around with you if you know what I mean.

Again though, make sure your partner is hidden well or else another tribute may find them and take the opportunity to kill them,

Oh and one more thing, we have yet another surprise for you all...we have called back some old friends to help spice things up a little bit. You will see them later. That’s all I have to say to you all for now, I will talk to you all again soon. Until then, Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour!’’

No sooner have the words left his mouth when I feel light-headed. I stumble forwards and Alistair catches me in mid air. He lays me gentle on the ground beside him and gets to work quickly covering me up with the hedges – ensuring I am not visible.

‘’ Don’t worry, I will make sure you get out of this. I love you.’’ He vows and as he kisses me on the forehead, I feel myself slip from the world.

He is my last and only hope.

Alistair Winslow’s POV:

I jog towards the trees with my bow in hand. All I can think about is what the President said about bringing back some ‘old friends’...If that is what I think it is, then we are in for quite a shock. The last time they brought tributes back from the dead as zombies was during the first Ultimate Games, and it was quite disturbing. To think they may be doing something like that again is scary.

I break through the tree line and begin making my way through the trees and towards the cornucopia clearing. I haven’t been anywhere near this area since day one, it’s weird coming back. I stand on the edge of the tree-line and observe the inside of the clearing. The cornucopia is gone. It has been replaced by a golden table.

On the table sits three small vials of a purple liquid – the antidote that will bring back Arianna. Surrounding the small table are four figures who – unfortunately – I recognise immediately. They stand with weapons in their hand and at attention, like peacekeepers guarding the President’s mansion in the Capitol.

I watch the figures, the fallen tributes. There are three males and one female. One grips a sword, the other a trident, the third a spear and the fourth – the female – an axe. I glare at Brutis, Caspian, Pious and Ravina. They either haven’t noticed me yet or are pretending not to. All I know is they are not the people they used to be. Their skin is a pale shade of grey, and their eyes are completely white and glazed over. They still have wounds all over their bodies from their time in the arena. The only thing different is the fact that none of them are wearing a collar.

‘’ Tributes!’’ Booms the voice of the President and I nearly jump with surprise.

I sigh, we’re about to hear bad news.

‘’ Since you are all at the cornucopia area now, you will have noticed we brought back some old friends, four in fact. Each past tribute is assigned to one of you, and will attack as soon as you step inside the clearing. However, one you get the antidote out of the clearing, the tribute will pick a new target. Good luck once again!’’

His voice echoes through the arena until it fades completely.

OK...I think quietly to myself. I just have to figure out which one of them is mine and take them out with the bow.

I take a deep breath and step into the clearing, Pious steps forwards.

Gauze Weaver’s POV:

I watch Alistair step out into the clearing and Pious begins to move towards him – spear in hand. Damn. It would have been more ideal if Alistair got one of the tougher tributes.

‘’ OK. I know how to do this.’’ I say, Osmo stares at me, he twitches twice before speaking. His eyes are distant, he can hear my words but can’t make much sense of them.

‘’ W-w-what?’’ He replies with a jittery voice.

‘’ One of them is programmed for you and one for me. If I go get my one and escape with it, then my tribute will change target. I will then return for your one and none will be after me. You just have to wait here.’’ I explain and he nods shakily.

‘’ OK.’’

As I step into the clearing, Osmo takes a seat on the ground at the edge of the clearing. He places his hands over his ears and begins to rock back and forth slightly. I watch the tributes guarding the table to see who will come towards me – Ravina.

‘’ Bring it bitch.’’

She moves towards me quickly, her walk turning rapidly into a sprint. She realises I have a long ranged weapon, and will take her out from a distance unless she closes the gap between us.

I fire a bolt at her from my crossbow, which impales her shoulder. This does nothing to her apart from knocking her shoulder back for a split second. She continues to run at me with her axe swinging in her hand.

She is too close for me to load another bolt into the crossbow, so instead I throw it over my shoulder – the strap will keep it attached – and I pull out the dagger I took of Echo. She won’t need it until later anyway. That is, if everything goes to plan here.

I duck under Ravina’s first swing and the axe slices through the air above my head. I quickly spin and slam the blade of my dagger into Ravina’s back. She makes no sound that may have indicated pain. Instead she whips around and I barely get the chance to pull the knife free.

‘’ What are you?’’ I gasp, not really expecting an answer.

She glares at me with white eyes, blood pours from the wound in her shoulder, it stains her ripped clothes and gray skin.

‘’ C’mon then.’’ I mutter, a swing the blood-stained blade of my dagger at her face. It tears across her face.

Her head whips to the side and she falls to the floor. Before she can get the chance to move, I stand on her hand and pull the axe from her grip. Thankfully this version of Ravina isn’t as strong as she was. I grab the axe and bring it down hard on Ravina’s wrist. It slices cleanly through it, severing her hand completely. She makes no noise, she simply wriggles beneath me, trying to get to her feet.

I raise my axe once more and bring it down hard on her second her, which also is chopped off completely. She lies on the ground with her two hands a few inches away from her wrists yet still struggles beneath me, trying to stand.

I leave her and run to the table in the centre of the clearing, where surprisingly all three vials still sit. I grab one of the vials and then I realise that the table is unguarded, meaning all four tributes have left to pursue their targets.

I strap the vial to my belt and turn, loading a bolt into my crossbow. I find Osmo immediately; he is being chased by Brutis who has a sword in his grasp. Osmo runs away from him weapon-less, with his hands over his ears and his lips moving silently as he mutters to himself.

‘’ Shit.’’

I raise the crossbow; take aim and fire towards Brutis. The bolt impales him in the back and he falters momentarily but continues on Osmo. Osmo maintains a steady pace; Brutis cannot swing his sword at him from the distance he is at. I sprint toward the two, loading a second bolt into my crossbow and sending Brutis down this time. The bolt hits him in the side of his face, popping his left eye as it slices through his skull.

‘’ Osmo. Take this and go hide in the bushes.’’ I order, handing him the vial. ‘’ Don’t move from there.’’

He grabs it and returns to the original place he had been hiding. I return to the table, Brutis is no longer a threat now that Osmo is outside the clearing. Alistair has just reached the table though, and has wrapped his hand around a vial. He rips it off the golden table and sprints towards the tree-line. I load a bolt and take aim, but do not fire. I cannot kill him whilst he runs. He is not a threat to me at the moment.

I glance at the table, there is one vial left. I look over at Stitch, he is running towards it with Ravina and Pious on his tail – meaning Caspian and Brutis will soon be on mine. I run as fast as I can towards the table, willing my legs to take me faster than they have ever before. I am fighting for my life here; and Bliss’ life too. I must get back to her with the antidote, there are no other options.

Stitch pulls ahead of me; he is going to reach the vial first. I curse and take aim with my crossbow. It is not what I want to do, but I have no other choice. I aim and fire, sending a bolt towards him. It impales his lower calf and he goes down.

Stitch Gable’s POV:

I hit the ground before I feel the throbbing pain in my leg. I have been hit. Gauze.

‘’ Shit!’’ I roar, and glance up at him from the ground as he passes and approaches the table.

‘’ I’m sorry, I had no other choice.’’ He shouts as he grabs the vial from the table and flees the clearing.

‘’ Screw you!’’ I roar and then the fallen tributes that had been guarding the vials reach me.

Ravina falls on top of me and wraps her arms around my throat; she has no hands so I easily throw her off me. However, as I do she hits of the bolt in my leg and it tears across my skin. I roar in pain, and force myself to my feet.

Pious reaches me as I find my feet and stand and wallops me over the back with the hilt of his spear. The blow winds me and I fall forwards, I cry out in pain. I manage to retain my balance though, and I continue running.

I make it three steps and then I am thrown forwards as Caspian’s spear impales my body, piercing through my chest and throwing me to the ground. I land hard on my face and groan in pain.

This is the end.

Before I have a chance to register what is happening, the four tributes are on top of me, clawing at me with their nails and slicing me with their weapons, beginning at my hands and feet and slowly working their way up my limbs. I feel the life draining from me and I shut my eyes.

I’m so sorry Max...please forgive me.

There is no response.

Please.

The voice comes a few moments later.

‘’ It’s OK brother, we’re going to be together again soon.’’

I’m scared Max.

‘’ It’ll all be over soon...I promise.’’

I’m sorry.

I feel myself fading from the world, I am dying...

BOOM!

Osmo Overton’s POV:

‘’ There goes Stitch.’’ Mutters Gauze as he leads me through the trees and towards where we left Echo and Bliss.

I don’t respond to him. The voices screaming in my brain feel life jabs of a knife to my insides. I cover my ears; that helps the pain a little.

‘’ The sirens...’’ I say quietly.

‘’ What?’’

‘’ Echo killed the sirens.’’ I explain shakily, my voice hoarse and jittery.

‘’ I know, she told me all about what happened. She had no choice.’’

‘’ She killed them. They were beautiful...’’ I sob, my body succumbing to shaking again.

‘’ She had to Osmo...they were doing something to you. They got inside your head.’’

‘’ You know nothing.’’ I sob, tears appearing in my eyes. ‘’ They-th-they were my friends.’’

Gauze doesn’t say another word to me after that, and I say no more to him. He leads me to where Echo and Bliss are nestled beneath the leaves and he uncovers them as I sit and watch.

He pours the antidote down Echo’s throat first; and slowly but surely she begins to come around. She coughs first and then sits up on the ground.

‘’ You did it.’’ She smiles, wrapping her arms around Gauze.

I feel the knives on my brain again and fall to my knees; this is worse than it has ever been before. I clamp my hands over my ears and rock back and forth, willing the pain to leave me or to kill me – either would bring me piece.

‘’ Osmo!’’ She gasps, wrapping her arms around me as I shake.

BOOM!

I don’t bother fighting her, she hasn’t listened to me the past two days when I have. There is no point with her. I watch as Bliss is given the antidote.

‘’ Who was that?’’ Questions Echo as Bliss coughs and slowly sits up.

‘’ That would be Min. Stitch died a minute or two ago.’’ Explains Gauze.

‘’ We’ve made it to the final three pairs.’’ Says Echo. ‘’ What’s the plan? Do we split?’’

Gauze appears to shake his head.

‘’ What do we do then?’’ She questions.

‘’ We stay together until Alistair and Arianna are taken care of. Then we’ll decide on what comes next.’’ He replies.

Echo nods and kisses me on the head.

‘’ The sirens.’’ I whisper.

‘’ What?’’

‘’ You killed them...’’ I continue.

‘’ Do you think the Capitol have medication for him?’’ I hear Echo ask.

Gauze shrugs his shoulders. ‘’ There is no cure for psychological damage...even in the Capitol.’’

I feel a tear hit my cheek, and Echo’s grip on me tightens.

Arianna Winslow’s POV:

‘’ You did it.’’ I smile, locking my lips over Alistair’s and kissing him passionately.

‘’ You say that in surprise.’’ He grins.

‘’ No I don’t! I knew you’d do it! I’m just happy you did.’’ I laugh and he pecks me on the forehead.

‘’ I love you so much.’’ He smiles, wrapping me in a bear hug and pulling me close to him. He smells like sweat mixed with the indescribable scent I associate with him.

‘’ I love you too.’’ I smile.

‘’ There’s six of us left, from what I saw earlier Gauze and Bliss have teamed with Echo and Osmo. It’s the four of them against the two of us.’’ He explains.

‘’ Bliss isn’t a threat, if we can get a clear shot at her, we’ll take Gauze down with her. Then we just have to focus on Echo and Osmo.’’ I add and he nods.

‘’ There’s something up with Osmo, Gauze was taking care of him. He’s not right in the head. He’ll be an easy target too.’’ He says and I smile.

‘’ We can do this, we’re going home.’’

‘’ We are. We will. Just one day left.’’ He adds.

‘’ Just one day left.’’ I repeat and smile at the thought that in twenty four hours the Games will be over and we will be on our way back to the Capitol and then to our new home in the Victor’s Village of District Twelve.

For the third time today, the voice of the President sounds throughout the arena, coming from everywhere at once somehow. ‘’ Congratulations tributes on making it to the final three pairs. I am confident that tomorrow will be exciting and action-packed as it is the last day! I wanted to treat you all tonight, three sponsor gift hampers are on their way to you now, to make sure you are all ready for tomorrow and are aware of the expectations we have for all of you. Enjoy your last supper, I will speak to you again tomorrow! Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favour.’’

Neither of us say a word, we both just glance up into the sky as a giant silver package carried by an even bigger white parachute makes its way towards us. I smile broadly as the aroma of cooked food makes its way towards us and Alistair gets to his feet to pull the parcel from the air as soon as it comes into reach.

He places it on the ground before us and opens it up. There is a full quiver of arrows inside, along with two more stacks of throwing knives. There are four water bottles – all full – and an assortment of food. There is some chicken, vegetables and fruit, some energy bars and little cupcakes. I smile broadly as Alistair takes it out and we eat it like we’ll never see another piece of food again.

Bliss Dixon’s POV:

The Capitol anthem blares and the Seal appears in the sky as we eat the food from the packages. There is way too much for the four of us, although we eat as much as we can. The packages were also stocked up with two dozen new bolts for Gauze’s crossbow, a new bow and a fresh quiver of arrows for Echo and four new daggers for myself and Osmo.

We watch the sky as the faces of the dead appear above us. The first face to appear is Lilly Cullen from District Four, followed by her partner, Ethan Rhodes District Five.

The next two faces to appear are no surprise however, as Gauze was the one that shot the bolt into Stitch that cost him his life – as he explained earlier. The first of the two to appear is Min Yan, District Seven and she is quickly followed by her partner, Stitch Gable, District Eight.

After the faces have disappeared, a message appears in the sky.

‘’ Congratulations tributes, the final three pairs.’’ Says Gauze as he reads it aloud.

‘’ How nice of them.’’ Echo replies dryly and I smirk.

The anthem plays once more, the seal appears in the sky and then the arena is plunged into darkness once again.

Just one day left in this God damn arena. Win or lose tomorrow, we won’t be here in twenty four hours.

One day left.

One day.

We can do this.