60 SECONDS TO GO
They're big. That's the first thing I noticed. Big and strong: there's no way I could ever take them on. Not even that girl from 7. I think she's hiding something.
I observed them in training. 10 of them (not including the Career Tributes) could kill me instantly.
I look over at the weapons radiating from that hideous, demonic Cornucopia. Axes. Maces. Nail bombs. There's hardly any food.
I can see Sam, my district partner, looking at them too. We'd never met before the Games- District 10 being so big and all, but I like him lots. He's plucky and friendly and gave me this huge smile at the reaping. On the train he leaned over as if to confer confidentially.
"Don't worry, Alexa" he whispered, "We'll be fine."
He's my friend, is Sam, he really is- but he's wrong. It won't be fine. They tried to hide them from me, but I saw them. I saw the odds. I have no sponsors. They don't care.
The situation has become serious. The seconds are ticking by and I need to make a decision and fast.
I've had enough. I have no choice. Either I am bludgeoned to death, frozen by fear, in the arena. Or I live, as a glorified puppet of the Capitol's making, indebted to them and totally dependent.
I look down at my metal plate
It gives me an idea. A crazy, seditious idea. But it's the only one I've got.
I'm not going to play the Hunger Games. I'm not going to die on the Capitol's terms, but my own. I run my life, there's only so much President Snow can do. However they spin it, whatever they say about me, I'm still my own person. And I'll never let anyone take that away from me.
Sam will understand. We've talked about the games before, a lot actually.
I smile at him. He smiled in hello. I smile goodbye.
I can feel my small wooden ball edging out of my fingers. It's been with me all my life and by taking me into death; it's taking me where the Capitol can never harm me.
I've seen landmines in operation. I hated them, but misery makes strange bedfellows.
I'm still staring at Sam, when the weight of the ball is touching my fingertips. I don't want to see it fall. I mouth my last words to Sam.
And then I drop it.
