Author's note: I am sorry this chapter took so long. Thank you for the kind comments. :)

Next morning came way too early. Daryl woke up before the alarm clock went off. For a while, he kept staring at ceiling, images of what may happen in the next 24 hours were flashing through his mind. Eventually he manage to get up and take shower, he couldn't help but think what if this is his last shower ever?

Afterwards, he went to the dining room. Rainbow was nowhere to be seen, but Beth was already sitting there. She had her hair in ponytail, he notice, that she put one braid into it. She looked up to him, she was unnaturally pale, her hands were shaking and for the first time since he met her, she looked like she may start crying. Not knowing how to comfort her, he sat opposite to her.

Quickly, before he could change his mind, he patted one of her hands with the words. „Well, well. It's going to be fine, I promise." She locked her big blue eyes on him, slowly nodding, but he could see that his words did not calm her down.

Before he could say something more, the elevator dinged and Rainbow emerged, followed by both Daryl's and Beth's stylists.

„Good morning!" She exclaimed with big smile on her face. Of course, people of the Capitol couldn't wait for his day. This was so sick. Daryl got the urge to stand up and punch Rainbow, but he noticed Beth slowly shaking her head at him, as if she knew exactly what he was thinking about.

Breakfast was quiet. Beth didn't eat anything, their escort was sitting in living room, whispering something, and Daryl was trying to eat as much as he could. Of course, he was used to being hungry most of the time, but gaining some extra power from food would only be good.

Afterwards, Rainbow said it was time to say goodbye, Beth was standing closer to her, so Rainbow hurled her into her arms, patting her on shoulder, whispering something. Beth kept standing still, she didn't hug her back, or anything. She almost looked relieved, when Rainbow finally let go of her. Her stylist was reaching for her, trying to push her towards the elevator, but Beth broke free from him, quickly turning towards Daryl and before he could do something, she leaped and throw her hands around him. He felt uncomfortable at first, but this was Beth, something about her calmed him down. So he took his hands and put it around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

„You're gonna be okay." He whispered. Daryl could feel Beth shaking her head.

„Our plan still stands?" She asked.

„Yeah."

When she finally let go of him, she kept eye contact for a while, before she turned back and walked to the elevator.

Once the door closed, Rainbow stretched her hand to Daryl. He was certainly glad she didn't try to hug him, he still refused to shake her hand though. So she let her hand between them for a while, before she dropped it again. „Well.." She cleared her throat. „Good luck."

„Mh-hmm."

When the empty elevator cabin opened again, he and his stylist got in. It took them to the roof, where was hovercraft waiting just for them. Each tribute was escorted alone. On board, they immediately put tracker into his arm. The journey was deadly quiet. The stylist didn't talk and neither did Daryl. He closed his eyes in hope of catching some more sleep, but he felt so nervous, that he couldn't. He didn't know how long the journey took, the minutes were speading ahead, so it felt only like a few minutes, before they landed.

Two peacekeepers were waiting for him, so they could escorted him with his stylist into the dressing-room labeled as „Male tribute – District 12." They always made new arena and new everything so he knew that he will be the only one ever, using this.

There was almost nothing, except one table, where was some food and clothes he was supposed to put on. His stylist was the first one who went to the table, without speaking, she picked up the clothes and handed it to Daryl. „You should change." She said. He nodded, headed to the cabin that was standing there.

He was relieved that the clothes looked normal. It was dark pants, dark shirt and black jacket, Daryl wore this kind of clothes quite normally, so at least he won't feel stupid in it. Once he changed, he stepped out. His stylist were leaning on table, once she saw him, she pointed at the food. „Wanna eat?"

„Nah."

„Fine."

So they felt into a silence again. But the silence didn't last long thought, it took only few minutes, before somebody spoke through radio. „You have five minutes tributes, please get ready."

Each minute the woman in the speaker said something similar, when there was only one minute left, she finally change it. „Please all tributes go to the tubes, prepared for your transport into the arena."

Daryl looked over his shoulder, there was an transparent tube, that looked almost like a shower, but without a showerhead. Then he turned back to his stylist, not knowing what to say. She solved it for him. She cleared her throat. „So, I guess this is goodbye. And good luck."

„Thanks." Daryl grunted as an answer. It was pretty clear she didn't like him and the feeling was mutual, so this wasn't time for any heartbreaking goodbye. He looked at her again, then turned and walked towards the tube. It was open, so he stepped right inside. When he took place in the middle, the tube closed behind him.

„10 seconds, tributes."

Daryl looked up into the tunnel that now opened above his head, he could see blue sky, but that was all, nothing that could hint him on what's coming. 10 seconds were a short time, so before he could gathered all his mind, the platform beneath his legs, started moving up. There was a quite long tunnel and then they emerged into the arena.

Daryl had to blink few times as the sudden light blinded him. The same voice that he heard from the speakers, spoke again.

„Dear tributes, the 100th Hunger Games had now just began. Wait one minute, before stepping down the platform and may the odds be ever in your favor."

Daryl was standing on a platform that was directed on the front of a cornucopia. Good. That should give him advantage to outrun everyone and grabbed some weapon before the bloodbath.

The cornucopia was standing on something that looked like a town square, there were building standing around them, but they were all ruined as if some bombs bombarded this town. Daryl tried to look over the buildings looking if there's something more then this ruins. To his comfort, he learned, that he see something green beyond the city. Woods maybe. That wasn't that bad. Maybe he and Beth could make it, after all. Beth!

He felt a little guilty for not remembering her sooner. So immediately afterwards, he started looking around the other platforms to see if she is on this side of cornucopia. She was. Beth was standing on other side than Daryl, there was building standing right beyond her. She was looking right at him, small smile crossed her lips once Daryl made an eye contact with her. He moved his head, trying to point at the ruins standing there. Beth looked behind her back and then turned her head back to him. He could see the question marks on her face. As if he could read her mind, he knew she was asking if she is supposed to hide there. He nodded. Then Beth nodded back that she understands.

Daryl took his eyes off of her and looked at the cornucopia, where was the countdown from the minute. Only 20 seconds were remaining now. Daryl mentally prepared himself for jumping down the second the countdown ends.

With only 10 seconds left, there was a big bang from the other side of the cornucopia. Big smoke appeared and something was falling down from it. Few metres from Daryl something fell down too. It was an arm, not attached to anything. Somebody probably stepped down from the platform before he was supposed to. Daryl felt that this could cause enough distraction for everyone, he looked back at the countdown. It was now 4 seconds down. 3,2,1. Once the number one disappeared, Daryl didn't wait for anything anymore.

He jumped down and started running.