Sorry it took so long to upload.

I'm planning on getting the next chapter up in a jiffy :]

I hope you enjoy chapter 6.

Up at long last.

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Mostly those of you who've stuck with me.

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For the past few years of my life I have had an odd version of the angel and the devil people use to illustrate their conscience. I am in no way a goody two shoes. The thrill of sneaking food back home is the highlight of my day. But I love people. Rill says I'm too nice, that there are people out there who deserve a prank or a mean glare. I disagree. I believe in goodness and second chances for everyone. How I'm going to kill in the arena is beyond me, but I digress. What I'm saying is that Rill enjoys- to put it lightly- pranking people. I have kept her from this form of enjoyment for years now, but seeing as my life span has been shortened many a year, I see no harm in having some "fun" with the capitol people who look and act more like aliens to me.

"We're going to start out small," Rill said so I could hear the smile in her voice. She'd been much happier since Thresh knew the truth. It was almost scary in these circumstances.

"Just cause a little turmoil, nothing big," she continued mysteriously. I groaned inwardly.

"What are we doing?" I ask, scared of what was coming.

"YOU my dear, are hiding"

"Where? I wouldn't fit into the drawers and hiding underneath the chair would seem a bit childish…." We chuckle a bit at the thought of a big guard from the capitol finding me hiding underneath a chair as I turn my head towards the window. The sun was coming up and I knew breakfast would start in a half an hour. They would be coming in soon to wake me. Rill had to hurry up.

"I'm hurrying, I'm hurrying," she says defensively," If you noticed last night, you had to jump to get on your bed-"

"Big whoop Rill, I'm short. I'm glad you noticed"

"No. Not that Rue. It's that the bed is tall for something that has nothing underneath. Okay, just trust me here… No, I am not crazy… Just kick the bed… DO IT!" she said though I continued to be skeptical.

I kicked the bed. Hard. I started hopping around the room on one foot "Not THAT hard. My god, it's like talking to a rock," she said, obviously joking. She didn't want to hurt my feelings.

"So, what was the point of that, other than to insult and hurt me" I ask, trying out sarcasm. It didn't work very much for me apparently because Rill groaned a bit at my attempt.

"Didn't you hear it?" she inquired incredulously, " The hollowness?"

What she was trying to do dawned on me. I jumped on the bed and lifted the mattress to find little wood bars, but below that, emptiness. It was actually huge. I could sit up without bumping my head. I quickly pulled away a few of the wood bars and climbed in, replacing them and lowering the mattress. That's when I realized how dark it was. I didn't mind though. It was just odd. My eyes adjusted and I saw how dusty it was in here. There were multiple cobwebs and some sawdust near the corners. It was hard to realize that something so beautiful and inviting could be so ugly underneath. "Maybe even deadly" thought Rill, mentally glaring at the poisonous looking spider looming in a dark corner. She always hated spiders and since she's been in my head, I've grown to share that fear.

We waited a few more minutes in silence until we heard the guard come in to wake me up.

"District 11! Breakfast" he growled. You'd think they'd be nicer to the children who are about to die. Then he turns around and slams the door.

Oh no! Oh no, no, no! They aren't going to notice I'm gone. I'm no good at pranks-

Big scary capitol guard walks back in. Well, I guess he noticed I wasn't there. He murmurs something and leaves again, but he acknowledged I wasn't there. I hear a little bit of scrambling outside then around 5 sets of footsteps come in. They're knocking over the chairs and the dresser. "Where'd she go!?" they were all yelling. Rill was snickering inside my head and I was trying not to do the same. All of a sudden the train lurched. I didn't ever expect something made by the capitol could have flaws. Usually this would bother me, but everything seemed funny. I heard the guards bump into one another and fall. By this point I had to stuff my fist into my mouth to stop from being heard. Rill was howling inside my head, which didn't really help my situation. Rill's giggle could make me smile on even my worst day. The guards were screaming from all sides of the train. There must have been over thirty looking for me at this point. One who sounded big and grumpy- probably one of the ones who hurt himself- yelled, "SHE'S NOT IN HERE! She probably jumped out the window. I wear she's so tiny she could fit through the little windows…." He mumbled as everyone exited the room. Usually when people made fun of my size I laughed, annoyed while Rill cursed them out in my head. Now, Rill and I were laughing harder than we ever had, not annoyed in the least. We waited, occasionally giggling to make sure no one was coming back.

"Okay" Rill said, " Now, just climb back into bed and act like you've been there the whole time."

I laughed, "You think they'll buy it?"

"No!" she continued, laughing so hard she had to talk between gasps. "But…. What… other…. Choice…. Do they have? I mean…. It's not like you… disappeared!"

We laughed for a while and I began to push the wooden bars out of the way still smiling, but they wouldn't move. The smile was wiped off my face.

"It won't move," I said, sobering.

"What?" Rill asked, still chortling.

"It. Won't. Budge!"

"What!?" she said, completely aware of the enormity of the situation. That was a great thing about Rill. She adapted easily to any situation. I envied her. "Try pushing harder!"

Knowing it wouldn't work, I still pushed harder.

"Still not moving" I sighed.

Rill sighed too and I slumped against a corner.

" We'll just have to… wait for…. Someone" we said together.

We waited for what seemed like a half an hour not moving. Halfway through we realized the train had been stopped for some time. "What have I done?" I silently asked Rill. "It's not your fault Rue, don't worry. Just stay calm. We'll get out of here…" though she didn't sound convinced. She was still glaring murderously at the scary spider in the corner. I scooted further into my corner, away from the eight-legged monster.

That's when I heard footsteps and Thresh's voice. Thresh! He could save us. Rill silently agreed.

"Thresh!" I whispered. I tried a little louder, "Thresh!". The voice stopped. "THRESH!" I cried. The mattress over my moved and some light crept into my alcove, illuminating even more spider webs. Then big hands moved the wood blocks out of the way and I could see Thresh's face. "Oh, thank goodness you showed up Thresh, I don't know what I would have done if-"

Murugan and someone I had never met show up at Thresh's side. The stranger sends me such a scary glare, I cower. The unknown person speaks, "I am Enyo. Your mentor." Oh god. "And you are-"

"Rue", I interrupt her.

"-in big trouble" she continues. I guess we know how she won the Games, because from here, she looks murderous.

That's when I realize my tie to the outside world; the person who lines up my sponsors, and sends me gifts is now glaring at me like no one ever has before.

The person who is difference the between life and death in the arena is the first person in this world, ever, to hate me.

Up next: Costumes. Those are always fun. And since they didn't describe the opening costume, I'm going crazy with ideas. Just not all of them are exactly "good" :P

Hope you enjoyed, oh, and click on the little button (that has apparently changed colors over the years) that says "Review this Story/Chapter".

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Love always,

Hollabelle.