I couldn't see Kayne, but I heard the cannon. Twenty minutes in, there were already seven cannons. I just hoped she wasn't one of them. I jumped over a boulder and raced into the thick brush. I ducked down behind a building and bit my lip. It was just a nervous tick thing. I looked up at the digital sky. Another cannon. I heard something storm past me angrily and tried to keep my dagger up.

"Lina?" I heard in the distance.

I turned to see Kayne's soft brown eyes. I lowered my dagger and crawled towards them.

"Kayne?"

"Hey, cuz. Sweet digs!" she whispered as she crawled into my hole.

"How'd you find me?"

"I mean, it's not rocket science. You're not as good as you think, Abelina."

I smiled. Kayne was all I had left of my dad. He'd left her mom for mine then left us both for another woman in District Eight. I learned of Kayne three days before the start of the twentieth games, and it filled my heart to know I had a sister. I had always wanted one, but once Daddy left, Mommy lost her mind and couldn't recover. I could barely take care of her, let alone a smaller person. Kayne was like my sister as soon as I met her since her mom had a similar fate.

"We should stick together," Kayne whispered to me.

"That's a good idea. Then we can win together."

Kayne smiled and nodded. She looked out of a small opening in the cave.

"It'll be dark soon," she whispered. "Then we can go hunt something."

"Okay," I murmured. "What do we do until then?"

"Stay hidden. I'll be back soon."

I nodded. Kayne helped me cover myself with leaves then grabbed her sword and went out. It was well after dark when I awoke to Kayne's voice and another masculine voice. I moved the leaves from my face to see my sister sitting in front of a fire with a boy that was at least seventeen. I squeaked out her name.

"Oh, you're awake. Come here, Lina. I want you to meet Travis."

"Who's Travis?" I murmured.

"He was a tribute with me. Do you not know who you went up with?"

I shrugged. I only knew his name was Nicosio Aberdale. We were in the same grade, but I didn't know the boy I had to leave with. We scarcely had time to meet each other, and even if we had, there was no point. No one was walking out here with their friend. Nicosio died first anyway, and at home, now he's known as a winner. It was only a matter of time before we were next. I sat next to her and shook Travis's hand. He lingered before finally letting me go and helping my sister cook whatever meat she'd caught.

"So, how old are you?"

"I'm twelve," I murmured.

He nodded. There was no use in small talk. I knew he'd kill me as soon as the time came. I shifted uneasily and laid my head on Kayne's shoulder. She smiled and wrapped her arm around me.

"Could you even tell we're sisters?" she joked.

Travis smiled sheepishly. "You have the same hair I guess?"

Kayne laughed. Her hand was playing with my hair. It was calming. I could feel my eyes closing slowly.

"What do you think? Think she's a good one?" I heard Kayne whisper a couple minutes after my eyes closed.

"But, she's your sister," he murmured.

"My dad has like thirty kids. I'm sure he wouldn't miss one."

"This is sick, Kay. I can't do this."

I heard something drop. Kayne groaned. "Travis, don't make me gut you. She's a baby anyway. She shouldn't have been alive this long. We're saving her from a worse fate."

"What's worse than what you're asking me to do? I can't, Kay. I'm sorry."

I heard silence, then footsteps, then gurgling. I cracked my eye open to see Travis puking blood. I shot up, but it was too late. Kayne smiled deviously at me, beckoning.

"Come on, babe. Let's go for a walk."

I shook my head, backing away. I tried to run but I was just deeper in the lion's den. The sword twitched in her hands, and she had a crazed look in her eyes. I screamed, and then felt it. My stomach was warm, and I could feel her breathing hard as she watched. There was a cannon in the distance, then swans were honking. I was back in District Four, a small child wearing white, braiding my mom's hair. My dad was cooking something in the kitchen and I went in to hug him because I hadn't seen him in so long. But when I walked in, all I could see was those cold brown eyes.

It doesn't matter what the arena looks like... it will be a nightmare, and I will be the first to die.

My skills are crying and sleeping.

I can't swim. I can't climb trees.

Well I can climb trees. I can't get down from trees, because I'm terrified of heights...

The only way I am going to survive this, is pure dumb luck. I'm not even sure I want to survive. I can't imagine killing another person, perhaps it will be best to die innocent. A coward, maybe, but innocent.

So, all in all, I'd rather not get picked out of the lottery. In fact, I'd rather not put my name in at all, but it's sort of the law. And it's not like all the rest of district 10 want to put their names in either...

Oh well, I just better pray that I'm not picked.

I'll find out in less than three hours... If you hear no updates from me, it's because I've been chosen as a contestant in the hungergames.