I wake abruptly to the sound of a canon being fired. I hastily get out of my tent and look around. The warm sun bounces off my face, contrasting with the cool morning air.
The rest of the camp stirs. Another tribute dead, somewhere in the arena. Killed by what? Another tribute? Animals? Poisonous plants? Succumbed to injuries? A capitol Mutt or something equally as horrific? The list of dangers fills my mind.
We eat a breakfast of apples, bread and dried beef. Not bad. I think of how the other tributes must be dining this fine morning. I shove the thought aside.
Daimen comes back from the huge lagoon, having filled our canteens with fresh water. He could have poisoned them. I watch as Plato drinks from his, and after a few minutes I decide its safe.
Plato says we are all going to the rocky area to search for more tributes. "We should split up," suggests Cass. Plato shakes his head. "Why don't we split up?" repeats Cass. Plato backhands her across the face. She falls to the ground. A trickle of blood runs down the corner of her mouth. "We move as a group!" Yells Plato. I don't know if this sudden act of violence was caused by Plato not liking her idea, or if he just doesn't want anyone else giving orders. We obediently follow him towards the expanse of jagged rocks and cliffs. It is impossible looking terrain. Trizzy has been left as a guard. Her cruel eyes watch us go.
The Jagged rocks make travel a slow and hazardous affair. The terrain is covered in rough surfaces at uneven angles. One slip and you could break your ankle. We travel for two hours.
We have just finished climbing a 15 metre high cliff when Plato says we can rest. As Cass pulls herself over the ledge she slips. She reaches desperately for a handhold and grasps a shard of rock that slices her hand open. I leap towards the edge and manage to take hold of her wrist. I've got her, but only just. I can feel myself slipping. Half my torso is hanging over the edge of the cliff, with Cass' weight dragging me down. I am not strong enough to pull her up. My breathing becomes panicked. I look into Cass' eyes and see Aliss staring back at me. I could let Cass go to try and save myself but I can't. I just can't. As I prepare to plunge to my death I am suddenly lifted into the air. I hear a grunt from Plato as he lifts me up, taking the weight of both Cass and myself in his arms. I land with a thud on the rocks. Cass lands next to me. "Thanks" She says breathlessly.
"Thank the big guy," I say nodding in Plato's direction. Plato just scowls and starts insulting us. Calling us weak and how we were not the allies he was expecting. I don't listen. I just stare into Cass' eyes and realize they are the same as Aliss'. The rest of her is completely different but the eyes are bright green and hold the same intensity. I decide to like Cass, even if it is just because of her eyes. Hopefully someone else will have to kill her.
Daimen is already helping himself to some dried fruit. The rest of us take off our small travel packs and take out what snacks we brought with us. I nibble on some nuts and dried apricots. I take a long sip from my canteen. I look over and see Cass nursing her hand. It is badly slit open. Her whole hand is drenched in blood and her right sleeve is soaked. I pour some water onto it from my canteen. She flinches. There is no way she can continue climbing with that hand. I try not to imagine Plato slitting her throat just like Trizzy did to blaze. I take another swig and that's when I hear the canon. The group looks around, searching for a hovercraft. We can't see one. We settle down a bit. The tributes are dropping off quickly. If they keep this up, it will only be the careers left. Maybe that's not the best thing. 10 dead tributes. That means 14 of us are still alive. I have to outlive 14 tributes. I may have food, water and warmth, but the number 14 flashes in my mind, taunting me. 13 tributes still to go. 13 tributes that want to get home just as much as I do. Suddenly it feels impossible. I try to remember the promise I made myself last night on top of the Cornucopia. The promise that I would make it home.
Movement catches my eye. A silver parachute drops neatly in front of Cass. I open it for her. It contains a tiny tin. I open it up and take the salve on my fingers rubbing it into her hand. I can tell by her expression that it has dramatically reduced the pain. I take a small bandage from my pack and wrap it around her hand. Maybe she still has a chance. Plato barks an order and we are on our feet again.
We stumble and climb for another couple of hours. Cass manages to keep up. The sun is making me drowsy. I contemplate asking Plato for a break but Cass speaks first. "Can you smell that?" We all sniff the air. Smoke. I can smell smoke. I lift my finger up to test which direction the breeze is coming from. "Its coming from the north east," I say. We head in that direction. The smell gets stronger. "Stop being so noisy Plato," hisses Daimen. Plato glares at him but says nothing. We creep closer and closer until a small fire is visible. We crouch behind a large hunk of rock. I see the figure of a boy. The boy from 9, I think. About 15 yeas old by the look of him. He is roasting a small animal over the fire. He stands up to stretch his back. He probably thought he was safe in this hellhole of sharp rocks. My attention quickly changes. I start wondering how on earth we are going to make it out of here without another sliced hand, when Plato's voice lets out a booming roar. I look up to see the startled look on the boy from 9's face as Plato charges at him over the rocks. The chase is on. We all draw weapons and take pursuit of the frightened boy. We chase him for over 20 minutes. There's a lot of stumbling and tripping and we earn a lot of bruises and scrapes. Everyone begins to tire especially the boy. We're gaining on him fast.
Plato begins jeering at the boy. "Come one man!" He cries in mock sadness "We want you in our pack! Don't be shy!"
"Make it easy for yourself. It will be a quick death!" Calls out Cass in frustration.
"Ha! Don't listen to her!" Screams Daimen with a murderous smile on his face. "For all the running you've made us do, we're going to finish you off nice and slow!"
The Boy picks up the speed with one final burst but can't keep it up. He's too tired. He slips and falls almost 6 metres down a rocky crevice. We catch up to him. Blood pours from his forehead and his left leg is horribly twisted. We climb down to get to him. The boy tries to crawl away but Plato stomps down on his lower back. I'm sure I hear a crack. The boy screams out in pain. Plato holds the boys head back and pulls out a knife. He holds it against the boys exposed throat. "Let me do it!" pleads Daimen. "Stand back!" Roars Plato. Daimen does as he is told. A horrible snarl appears on Plato's face as he grips the knife tighter. He then slowly slides it across the boy's throat, creating a deep gaping cut. Just like the boy from 12. I stop looking. The horrible groaning and gurgling sound coming from the boy from 9 tells me that he felt everything. A canon fires.