N/A: Hello, it's okay with you?
Sorry if I'm taking too long to update. :)
Chapter 7: The Bloodbath
It took me some time to fall into a deep sleep, but after a while I suddenly woke up before dawn.
The first thing I thought was that other poorer tributes should not even have gotten stale because it is today that the Hunger Games begin. This is good because it will be easier to dominate them. A few years ago, a tribute was three days without sleep and passed out in open space. They were soon found and killed by Careers. I quickly realized that soon I will be killing one of them. To encourage me, I remember three things I learned on the first day of training, four years ago.
The first is that no matter what we decide, those who were selected randomly from other districts are already doomed anyway.
The second is that they do not see us as human beings, after all we are so privileged by Capitol and therefore we will not hesitate to kill. I've wanted to laugh at the hypocrisy of the poorest districts because for a week before games, all the tributes receive some training and food, even if insufficient to match us. Furthermore, why shouldn't they fight for their lives like us?
And the last thing is that one the district can survive the power of the Capitol. If we are complaining about the situation, they would prohibit the training and perhaps even refuse volunteers. And so, eventually sending many more new tributes... Of course, I doubt that the other districts were to scared to care about it, because for them we are just animals and the easiest of them we kill, the better for them. The reason I'm here is because I need to promote my district and to redeem the honor of my family, I need to prove I'm as strong as the other victors of my district. I woke up when someone knocks on my door and listen to the voice of Kornelious.
"Wake up, our Hovercraft will arrive soon."
I change my clothes quickly and then I am led to the roof where the Hovercraft is. That's what will take me to the arena, as I have not seen Cato on the floor where we were, he's probably already there with the other tributes. Once I go they put a tracker in my forearm. That was remotely for tributes not try to escape, but then served to facilitate traps from the Gamemakers and locate the tributes when the cameras would not that work.
I've never seen anyone try to escape the arena, but to improve the "safety" they put a force field. But Enobaria told me that since an incident last Quarter Quell, many tributes that have come close to the wall of force have been removed or killed by Gamemakers. The hovercraft soon descends into an underground place and we left, and soon Kornelious and I are walking down a tunnel. The place, called Launch Room, which is actually a catacomb beneath the arena, is where we will prepare it for the games.
They often use a completely new arena for all Hunger Games, so that the vault has never been used before. After a quick shower, Kornelious hands me a package that has the clothes that I will use in the arena. I open the package knowing that the clothes can be some hint of how will be the arena. For example, if a wetsuit arena will probably be underwater in certain parts. A few years ago, all tributes had to wear winter clothes just because the arena was very cold, snowy and even had snow storms and hail.
Lucky for me, the dress was a blouse and dark red jacket, green pants and boots that were great for running and this implies that the arena is perhaps a forest or something stable. I also notice that they thankfully agreed and gave me my token with my clothes. As sometimes a token can be used as an unfair weapon. They do a survey to see if the object is actually dangerous or not.
All what Kornelious have to tell me is:
"Try not to die because, otherwise, I will have lost my time preparing the dress for your victory."
Great, I was not expecting any incentive for him to trust me. Soon I'm covered by a glass cylinder that starts climbing into the arena. I realize that I was right; the arena is a forest. It seems a quiet place, but still can be dangerous traps scattered throughout areas to entertain Capitol people. I hear the announcer Claudius Templesmith announce lively:
"Ladies and gentlemen, let us start the seventy-fourth Hunger Games!"
Soon I hear a voice doing the countdown. No one will leave the pedestal before the countdown ends or it will explode.
60 ... 59 ... 58 ... 57 ... 56...
And then I see the golden cornucopia in front of me and I realize that all tributes are around it from a distance. Behind and to the left of me has a lake. In front of me, I see a pine forest which is where the weak tributes who are smart enough will the run. The right has a cliff.
48 ... 47 ... 46 ...
But what strikes me are the weapons in the Cornucopia, just in front of the mouth I see a set of knives upon a pouch. There is also a large amount of luggage should contain medicines, blankets or food and that means many tributes are trying to run up the Cornucopia.
35 ... 34 ... 33 ... 32...
And considering that the closer the most useful Cornucopia seem to be, it is obvious that this year they are wishing a great Bloodbath. Some pedestals for my right, I can see Cato and Meena, but I do not see the two tributes of 12 that I really should try to kill now. I do not worry about it, being the poorest districts; they really will not resist and perhaps will even try to get into the cornucopia. And I'm faster than other tributes, so I have time to grab the knives and try to find them, but if she runs we will have to save the boy for some time. Anyway, I prepare myself for the fact that now I'll have a big risk against eighteen people and maybe five if my colleagues careers resolve to kill me this time.
3 ... 2 ... 1
I hear the gong sound and quickly jump off my pedestal. I run quickly to the front of the Cornucopia and caught six knifes, which had large sharp and serrated blades, then I look quickly to the field and I see that most of the tributes was already picking up what was closest and fleeing while still others ran the most supplies that were in the mouth of the Cornucopia.
There, thirty feet from where I was I catch sight of a girl of 12 who seems to have delayed the time to move and I was rushing to catch a backpack, which seems to have much value on the ground. I do not waste time and run towards it. And then she takes the bag along with the boy from District 9 and begin fight each other forgetting that another twenty- two people could enjoy and kill them at that time. Typical poor tributes... I threw a knife toward the girl, but the boy jerked and ended up taking a hit on the coat. And while I realized that I had killed for the first time, I could not sit still and so the boy fell, I quickly advanced on the girl, to my satisfaction, she was scared of me and she runs off putting the backpack on the coast her.
I threw a knife toward her head, but to my amazement she raises her backpack and and protected herself in time. I growl of rage and almost run after her when I remember that I should not risk running into the arena alone, even if I wanted to counteract that. But before she could disappear by the trees, I try to throw another knife, but I did not want to end up giving her another weapon to use against us. And then I see a girl, who I soon realize is not in our group stupidly going my way and then I take a chance by throwing a knife at her shoulder, and then she ended up falling.
I look at the Cornucopia and see what other tributes already started trying to grab things and run away or else futilely resisting my allies. I spot Cato impaling the boy from District 7 in the abdomen; Meena running into a tribute crouched on the floor that looked like something is stirring. And inside the Cornucopia seemed to have two tributes fighting, I think one of them was the ugly 11. And then I realized that the girl was still alive and trying to crawl seemed, though I knew the wound was severe enough to kill her in less than an hour, I could not risk it. I had to act fast, so I pulled the knife from the coast of the girl scream in pain and doing before she turned, I went on shore and cut her throat behind ensuring that she will die faster.
I quickly stood up and saw that the boy of 9 had not moved one bit, which meant he was probably already dead. I turn to the Cornucopia and ran towards the site. I see Marvel throwing a spear against the boy of 5, who was already impaled and bleeding while Meena was stabbing the girl who I think was 10. I realized that the boy of 6 was entering the Cornucopia and was going after Cato who had killed a tribute. Without waiting to see if he would dare to attack Cato behind, I throw a knife on his coast. Cato turns and made me realize:
"Good work." He replies.
"We have not much time, we have to hunt down the other tributes . "
But once we got out of the Cornucopia, I see the remains of the already clustered careers before us. Marvel and Glimmer wore light scratches, Meena was bloody, but it did not appear her and was not hurt them. So Cato and I looked good, although a little tired.
"The fight here is over, but there's more for the rest of the arena." Marvel said.
"Where's the boy of 4?" Glimmer said.
And then we saw Seabrook dragging the bottom of the Cornucopia bleeding a little below the neck and then he fell to his knees, unable to speak. Cato said only:
"He was attacked by ugly of 11, he had already escaped when I arrived. "
"Well, he is a useless weight and going to die anyway, but we can not let that guy win sponsors for having been lucky to kill a career. " Meena said.
Meena had barely finished speaking and then she took a short sword and thrust through Seabrooks's chest and then struck him in the head, killing him quickly. Nobody said anything about her killing her own partner so coldly. So we look for the field around the Cornucopia, I realized the damage we did. Had at least eleven dead tributes scattered across the floor. Cato said:
"I killed both of 7 tributes that seemed are working together; furthermore I killed the girl of 9 who got into the Cornucopia. I need to know the efficacies of you. How many you killed? "
"I killed two. I killed girl of 10 and my partner. Actually I impaled the boy of 5 while he strangled the girl of 10, but when she tried to escape, I went behind her and Marvel finished my work with that of 5." Meena replied as if it was common for her to kill.
I looked at a few feet away from me and saw the boy's body impaled of 5 with two spears while the girl is 10 seemed a little further with the coast all soaked in blood . It was actually worse than seeing on the big screen in my district. Marvel continued:
"You should thank me, maybe he attacked from behind. I killed the girl of 3, who had been wounded by an arrow from Glimmer, and this boy. "
"I had shot an arrow in the leg of the girl of 3 and face the girl of seven, but then that kid of 8 attacked me and I had to struggle a bit until I grabbed my bow and hit him in the head." She said indicating the boy's body behind one of the bags.
"And that means you just killed one." Meena said.
"That kid was really stupid and tried to derail me so I left the pedestal. I would have killed even without gun, but I prefer to run straight to the Cornucopia." Marvel said.
Sometimes poor districts have tributes that are so stupid that besides going to Bloodbath, they try to kill a career because they can guarantee much attention from sponsors . And that boy of 11 tried to do the same thing. So I remember the tributes that I killed, I realized that I had killed both District 6 and I quickly spoke.
"Both tributes of 6 and boy of 9. I tried to kill the girl of 12, but she escaped by sheer luck", I said "And that means total, we have thirteen tributes still alive,then six tributes to hunt."
"But where is the boy of 12? I thought he was going to ally with us. "Meena said.
Before Cato spoke what he would do with him when he found him, the boy came toward us quietly.
"Now you show up?" Cato said fiercely.
"It would be extremely risky. I could have been killed by a poor tribute or you and so obviously I could not help you to go behind my partner."
Be killed by one of us... as if we do not pay much attention when we're attacking.
"You were not far from it on the pedestal, and then you could have just attacked her while she was taking against that boy of 9." I replied.
"I was too close and I would have done it if it were not that crazy boy of 8." Marvel said.
"But then I would lose the chance to continue this trick crossed lovers and would not have any sponsors, and that if she died here, you would kill me immediately. "
Well, he is not as dumb as it sounds. Cato scolded the boy.
"I'll let it slide this time, but now you will do exactly as I say. They will get the bodies in a few minutes, but if we mess up we try to pick the supplies near the bodies, then we will help you collect all this away and leave the Cornucopia."
"All right." Lover boy replied impassively, as he was turning I realized that his hand was covered with tape, but I said nothing.
So he was a little distant, taking the girl's body of 10, Meena said:
"They always take time to drop the canons."
"It is because there are many deaths happening quickly and then they are doing a recap to the end of the day." I said.
"Well, let's start gathering the bodies away from here." Cato still maintaining the authority as he spoke.
After we moved the bodies of the dead tributes a few feet away from the Cornucopia, I was finally able to think calmly about all this. I killed both of District 6, who were born in the same district as that kid who killed my brother .
I was not even wanting revenge or want to discount them, but somehow I coincidentally did it . Not that I did feel satisfied because of it. Then there was the boy of 9 that I actually accidentally killed... I also see that others pretend to look very well who are only interested in winning and not give a damn about killing, but that's fine because the sponsors are still interested in us. I never really saw the Hunger Games one career demonstrate remorse or anything . And also who would take it seriously? Once we put the bodies of tributes away from the Cornucopia, side by side, we hear the noise of the guns and hovercraft appears and we drifted apart for this to catch the fallen tributes.
"And now Cato, will we join the supplies or we will hunt the other tributes?"
"We will gather the supplies and divide them among us."
"And I had thought that you would have wanted to hunt." Marvel said.
"Or you can go alone. Indeed, perhaps the arena traps and so we will consider if any further tax will die today. If so, know that there will be a threat. "
"And probably some of them will have to survive on plants that may be edible, but can be modified to be poisonous."
"It's true," confirmed Glimmer, "In addition , my mentor just to avoided plants survived."
I understand what she means; I think it should be her mentor Cashmere. The arena where she had a huge variety of flowers and plants with strong smell, but all poisonous and to make matters worse, there were several different poisons that caused damage and grotesque injuries. There was plenty of food in Cornucopia, but she knew she should not be risking perhaps because the District 1 works with perfumes and he can understand about odors from plants flowers, but which are not necessarily edible.
"And then it will be only their problems, at least we apparently have plenty of food here." Cato said.
He was right , we had eighteen bottles of water , and twelve large bags of food like pieces of meat, salted and dried fruits. The rest was blankets, medicine, clothing, bags, tents and luckily night vision goggles, perfect for hunting other tributes in the evening. We linger few hours to stack everything in front of the Cornucopia at the end we are all tired and sweaty.
"We should also pay attention on the lake, because it is likely that somebody might come around here to drink." Meena warned, when she put the last of the huge bags of 12 the boy was helping to load.
To avoid attention in the arena and also protect against infection, we used the water from the lake to take some blood stains off of our clothes. Not that it works very well for me and Cato because our shirts are now dark red. I can understand the desire for victory and gain food for a year, but I do not understand why people were so fond of the victors. There was nothing rewarding about what just happened, I just knew I would have to keep fighting .
Then we ate and rested a bit , we took turns up every hour to do surveillance, to prevent an intruder, while the rest of us rested. Anyway, to keep myself safe, I sleep holding my best knife. I was already asleep when I suddenly woke up listening to the anthem of Panem, when they would show in the sky, images of fallen tributes.
We all agreed we had so showed the shimmering image of the girl of 3 , Seabrook , the boy of 5 , both of 6 , both of 7 , the boy of 8 , both of 9 , both of 10. Once the images vanished in the sky, I just think it's obvious that the districts that lost both tributes already lost hope of gaining food or have back tributes. My brother and Cato would have remembered that these tributes would be convicted anyway. But I cannot lose my concentration on them; I should concentrate on my competitors who are alive.
"There probably is not much danger in the arena." Cato said.
Surely, all tributes that escaped also survived the first day. I'm not too worried about the survivors of 3 , 5, 8 and 10 , but it is strange to see that both the 11 and 12 tributes survived the first day. Moreover, the boy of 10 was not a bad leg? If he managed to escape, then probably he immediately ran to the forest rather than participate in the Bloodbath.
The little girl of 11 having survived only implies that the arena is not very challenging, while her partner is almost a real threat. The boy of 12 is alive because of his agreement and the girl from 12 ... I already start to feel angry for accidentally giving a knife to her.
"I do not even remember how they were some of the left over." Meena said.
"Neither have I, what matters is that they are out there and we have to kill them." Marvel said.
"We cannot waste any more time, we should go hunting tributes, especially that girl now."
"And who will get to watch our food supplies?"
"And why do you think we will hunt at night? The majority of the tributes will be resting and will not venture to come here on the first night."
"Yes , if they can not find something to eat in the arena, so after a couple of days he will feel compelled to risk coming here . And then we'll still worry about this detail." I complemented Cato.
Then we took our rucksacks, torches and night vision goggles.
"How can this work?" Glimmer said.
"Just put it like normal glasses. Nobody wears it in your district?"
"I think not, at least no one taught me."
I know vision goggles because the Peacekeepers often use this night surveillance. Cato and I learned to use it at the Training Center. As soon as I put my night vision, I see everything clearly, although green. In addition, the lights of torches and lanterns seemed much stronger.
"But in my district is required to go to deeper places, although I never dive with it." Meena said.
"I think we should leave right now. " Cato said firmly and turned to the boy of 12, "If you try to escape or you attack us, I swear I'll give you a slow and painful death.".
The boy nodded as if afraid of giving a wrong answer. I like how Cato still remained firm and authoritative. He never struck me as someone who would get desperate about something. And that was good because we did not know how long it would take for the games are over. Each of us picked a specific weapon that we knew better use and lucky for us, this year they provided a wide variety of weapons, which included swords and tridents even. Meena said:
"It's so bad that it is not enhanced as of Finnick Odair."
Of course not. In general, all weapons provided in Cornucopia are made of the same material, sharp and enough strength to kill. But sponsors can provide more enhanced versions of any weapons, as happened with Finnick Odair. On the other hand, it is very rare to happen. Then we just went to the forest in search of tributes, especially the girl of 12.
N/A: Thanks for reading. ^^
