Every year I watched the Hunger Games, the tributes would fall in slow motion. In real life, that's not what happens, in real life you fall fast. I reach down, and grab a knife. If I kill her, I'm hoping I live. I fire the knife… and watch as it goes flying at her.
I've got it, there's no way she's going to live, the knife is going straight at her throat. Then, in one quick moment all my hope disappears. A breeze moves the knife, only one inch, but in knife throwing, one inch is everything.
The knife thuds into the face of the cliff, missing her by less than a centimeter. The Capitol made that breeze, they want me dead, and the Capitol always gets what they want. The only question left is how much longer do I have until I die?
I've given up, I can't win. The Hunger Games is bigger than me. Then, I remember Delleg, I've got to win, if not just for her. I paw at the cliff face, looking for something to grab, but there's nothing. I've been falling for about five seconds now, how much farther can I fall?
I risk a look down, and see the ground rushing up to meet me. Woah, I didn't need my question answered that quickly. I make one last desperate attempt to grab something, and manage to get something.
My right shoulder is just about yanked out of it's socket, but I've got a handhold. I fumble around, and find a foothold too. It's over a hundred feet to get back up, but I have to try.
Fifty feet later, my arm's feel like they're on fire, and I can barely move my legs. I keep urging myself upwards though, I have to reach the top.
Another thirty feet, and I'm so close. I'm close to blacking out, but nothing can stop me now, there's only about thirty feet more, I can do it. Each foot feels like being shot with an arrow, but I'm making steady progress.
Ten more feet now, I've got this now, a new burst of confidence and hope helps me up, and I start climbing with renewed vigor. Then, I see the two sides of the cliff start to close. The Capitol can't do this to me! Not when I'm so close!
Funny how being faced with death always gives you a burst of adrenaline. I take off like a squirrel, climbing for all I'm worth. Nine more feet, eight, seven…
I've got eight seconds left, a foot per second is what I have to do to make it out in time. A foot per second is an okay time when you start, it's impossible after climbing over a hundred feet.
I can't stop now though, I take off, five more feet, four, my head and shoulders burst out. My stomach is now out too. I lift up my left leg, only my right leg is still in. I can feel the wall on my right leg now, it's going to come down to the last split second.
I use all the strength I've ever gotten, all that endurance training, pain, and strength training from martial arts. All of them are pain to the test, in this one moment, will I be strong enough?
Yes! I push out, I actually made it out! With that, I fall and pass out.
I'm so tired I don't even dream. I slowly awake, still in the realm of sleep, but getting out. I take a minute to savor the feeling of being half awake half asleep, before tipping the balance. I stretch out, and open my eyes.
As far as I can see there's sand. After an initial moment of confusion, the obvious question pops into my mind, where am I?
Sorry guys, I know it's a short chapter; I just had to get that out of the way before I continue. My next chapter will be longer.
