Chapter 10: Countdown and Bloodbath


Paintie Barker, 18: District 1 POV

"It's so cold in here," I said as I walked into the metal room, my breath freezing in front of me.

"We have to make it like that, so you can't tell the temperature of the arena," My stylist Beia said with a smile. She was awfully chirpy considering I could be going to my death. Then again, I had never seen her sad.

"What on earth are these costumes?" I questioned, pointing to the green dress I was wearing. The long sleeved dress had a sleeveless top that fastened over the shoulder with long, leather cuffs. Three golden belts were tied round my waist and my strawberry blonde hair was slicked back. Beia shrugged as she passed me knee high, leather boots.

"Not a clue, they are ghastly, I do know that due to how they are made, the temperature won't be cold or hot, in between and you will be on land," land was good, I was never a water child unless, like, it was drinking water.

I sighed as I sat down to put my shoes on. I volunteered for this but I was frightened. I didn't want to die, I just wanted to go home and see my mother. She was a victor and up until now, I had been sure that I would see her again. We didn't even say goodbye to each other, she just wished me good luck. I wanted to see her, I wanted to run up to her and bury my face into her shoulder and cry. Even if I was to win this, I would have to go through pain like I had ever known.

"One minute to launch," a robotic voice bellowed as I stood up, echoing around the room and bouncing off the walls. I looked at the glass tube that would lead me up to my battleground. I felt like screaming, breaking everything in the room before crying into the slate flooring.

"Good look Pain," Beia said with a sigh as she grabbed my face to get a good look at me. Her pink eyes narrowed as she wiped a small tear away. "I look forward to dressing you up for your victory tour," she mumbled shakily, placing the golden bracelet from my mother on my wrist.

"Thank you," I sniffed, forcing a smile on my face as I turned around to face the tube. I had made the biggest mistake of my life but I couldn't show it. I had to be the victor I knew I could be.


Kainna Frost, 18: District 4 POV

"Do you think I can make it?" I asked Boe as I twirled in my arena outfit. It was a tight, blue, long sleeved dress that ended just above my knee. The dress was zipped up across my shoulder with a dark blue ribbon tying it off. I had a leather coat that went over my shoulders and ended just below my hips. It was held in place by a thick, leather strip that went around my waist. Under the dress, I had leather pants and fur covered knee high boots. My hair was in a bun above my head with a stick going through it. I looked beautiful.

"Yes, but only if you leave Arno behind, he will just hurt you. I suggest you leave the careers after the bloodbath and go off on your own-" I cut him off my slapping him across the face, tears falling from my eyes. He rubbed his cheek as he looked at me in shock.

"You don't know anything so don't try and give me advice...I promise I would protect Arno," I shouted as I stormed over to the other end of the room. The green haired man just simply laughed as he walked towards me.

"Then you will never be a victor," he seethed before walking over to the door and waiting for it to open.

"Ten seconds till launch" a voice spoke, shaking the room and forcing me to move. I walked over to the tubes. The door opened with a wave of a hand, allowing me to step inside. In a few minutes, I was going to be able to see Arno again and I would able to put his plan into action. I wasn't bothered about winning, as long as I survived to the end to protect Arno, I was good.

The door startled me as it closed, making a whooshing sound as it did so. I looked over to Boe and gave him a smug smile. The short man just gave me a shrug before leaving the room and leaving me alone. I was glad he didn't care, I would only disappoint him when I died. I hated disappointing people but it's all I had ever done. That's why I wouldn't let Arno down. I would make him the victor.

As the tube moved towards the light, I couldn't help but smile. I was going to die but at least I would die to do something right. Saving the boy I loved.


Grain Hudsbeth, 18: District 9 POV

The tuberose, right into the blinding light. My hand shot up to my eyes to shield them. However, once I came to a stop, I didn't want to open my eyes. I didn't want to see the place I would die, I didn't want to see the career that would be next to me. I had no other choice. Sometimes in life, you have to see death before you can live.

I removed my hand to find the sun wasn't as bright as it seemed. However, it was extremely hot, compared to the air conditioned room I was in a few seconds ago. The bloodbath would be quick, the Career's wouldn't be able to keep up with the heat. They would lose too much water.

As I looked around the arena, I felt my heart sink. The cornucopia was in some sort of clearing at the top of a mountain. We weren't that high and from what I could see, the sides were not steep. They looked more like a steady decline onto level land, something you could walk down without slipping. Off in the distance, I could see another clearing, full of small huts and a large lake.

I knew where I was going.


Alexandrite Musgravite, 18: District 1 POV

Everyone was going to head towards the lake, it was a hot arena and that seemed to be the only freshwater source. I was placed next to the males from seven and twelve, Timber Jones and Asher Trist. Neither really concerned me on their own but their Alliances did.

I watched as Arc signaled to Timber, Netra, Juncta, Elva, Cooter and Fousa and then pointed towards the lake. I smiled at Painte and Jean, the two boys giving me a thumb ups. It seemed mean, picking on a single alliance but it had to be done. They were the only alliance strong enough to take us on. They had to go. All of the alliances had to go, that was our main aim in the bloodbath, wipe out every alliance.

"FIVE," my alliance was ready.

"FOUR," and so was I.

"THREE," I wasn't going to like everything I did.

"TWO," but that was life.

"ONE," that was the life of a victor.

"LET THE 80TH ANNUAL HUNGER GAMES BEGIN!" It was time..

Kyroic Stelson, 15: District 11 POV

The second the gong went off, I lept off my platform and ran for the centre of the cornucopia. I ran past the pieces of tarps and backpacks and went straight for the weapons, my brown eyes falling on the rack of large, oversized knives. The smaller things were for Rye, Lia and Kyra, I was the man and that meant I had to do the hard stuff.

I was shocked that I was first to reach the cornucopia, sure, I was the fastest runner in my school but faster than the Careers? It seemed alien. I laughed to myself as I pulled the large knives off their hooks, one by one and stuffed them into a brown, leather bag.

Two hands snaked over my ears, the nails digging into the side of my face, just as I tied the bag. I opened my mouth to scream when my head was forced to the side and with a snap, everything went black.

Rye Simmons, 12: District 10 POV

I watched in shock as Kyroic went down, falling at Jean's feet. The dark haired boy looked around before quickly pulling a knife out the bag and running after Kalie, who ran as fast as she could away from him.

My attention was drawn back to the leather bag full of knives that Kyroic had packed. I needed a knife, otherwise, I was dead. I looked over to find Lia looking at me, her brown eyes full of tears. I pointed with anger towards the tree's where Kyroic told us to meet. If she wasn't going to do anything, she might as well go and wait for us. She nodded and started running towards the tree line. I turned my attention back towards the bag and decided to run for it. Tunnel vision took over as my main focus was the bag. I slipped slightly as I came to a halt and picked up the leather bag by the strings, closing it again.

I turned to run towards Lia when a fist struck me in my face, breaking the skin on my cheek. I fell backwards, hitting my head on a wooden crate. My head seemed to pulsate as I looked up to see Arno Kennedy Looking down at me, a smug smirk on his face.

"This is what you get for carving my name in that station you peice of shit-" He screamed in pain as I kicked him in the knee, sending him tumbling onto the floor. I quickly pulled myself up to my feet and despite my blurred vision, tried my best to run away from the short, blonde male. I pushed myself as much as I could, panic setting in as I heard Arno's footsteps chasing after me. I glanced back to see him full of rage, holding one of the large knives in his hand.

I pushed with all my strength to run faster, my lungs screaming out in pain as my legs started to feel like jelly. I didn't stop until I got to the tree line and leaped down the hill, allowing myself to roll until I stopped. By the time I had stopped, I couldn't even see the peak anymore and Arno was nowhere to be seen.

Lia Goodfellow, 13: District 12 POV

Tears spilled from my eyes as I watched Arno punch Rye then chase him round the other side of the cornucopia. He couldn't of been leaving me, he was going to be coming back. I held my hand over my mouth to silence my whimpers as I waited for Rye's return. I had seen Asher being chased away from me by Alexandrite and Chug and Kyra were nowhere to be seen. He was the only ally I had left.

After a few moments, Arno returned, his knife covered in blood and a smirk on his face. That was it. I was alone. I watched as the blood of Rye dripped onto the green grass, something that once kept the bouncing boy alive was now nothing but stain on a blade. Only then, did I realise how real it was.

I felt a warm liquid seep out from between my legs as my whimpers became muffled screams. My body shook I pushed my head towards the ground,the smell of urine filling my nostrils.

"I just want to go home," I cried to myself. I just wanted my mum, my brother, my dad. Was they watching me now? Was they worried for me or was they disappointed I wasn't fighting?. I guess I was never going to get an Answer because at the moment, something pulled me out from the tree line by the bun on my head.

Lime Wickham, 18: District 2 POV

I watched with sympathy as Jean dragged dragged the small girl from twelve out from the tree line. The girl was a mess. She was thrashing and screaming with all of her might. Even after Jean let go of her.

"Just let me go home" she screamed as she clawed and punched the ground. She screamed as her body shook, her brown eyes so teared up, she most likely couldn't see out of them. Jean looked towards me and nodded as I strung up the ancient looking bow and arrow.

I aimed it at the girl's right eye as she looked up and saw me. She stumbled to her feet and screamed just as I let the arrow go. The force throwing her backwards and back into the tree line. Jean looked at her body with sadness, shook his head and walked away.

A girl that young shouldn't be in the Games. It should be fourteen to eighteen year olds. I gave her the best death she would of got in the Games. I just hope her family understood that.

"Lime, get here," Alexandrite shouted as she pointed to the short girl from seven who was running from the cornucopia. At least this girl was old enough.

Fousa Long, 16: District 3 POV

When the gong sounded, I jumped off my platform and sped towards the woods. I wouldn't be able to handle the bloodbath and after hours of convincing Arc, the alliance agreed to allow me to escape it and meet up later.

My legs carried as fast they could until I got to the start of the forest that circled the cornucopia stood in. My chest started to burn as she collapsed at the base of a large tree and looked out to the torture that was unfolding before my eyes. My brown eyes widened as she saw the short blonde from one swing her bat at the back of Elva's legs. Elva fell to the floor with a crack as her head impacted the rock, blood spattering everywhere. I wasn't the brightest tool in the shed but I knew Elva had survived. Well that blow anyway.

I tore her eyes away from the scene just a few metres away from me and shakely ripped apart a leaf. The sound of Elva's skull breaking under the blows of the career's metal bat filling my ears. The sound was so loud and distracting that I didn't even hear the footsteps in the soft mud behind me.

A large, sudden blow to my back sent me flying forward and landing face first in the mud. My chest heaved to get air as I scrambled to turn around. Before I even had chance to look at my attacker, something metalic came into view and struck me in the face. Pain shot through my body as I felt my eyeball explode on impact and my ears filled with blood, a high pitch buzzing sound was all I could hear. As I was pulled to my feet, my body slumped forward and it took all my strength to sit up. My brain wasn't even able to comprehend the amount of pain or look at the situation before the girl from One swung her bat again with enough force to cave in my skull.

Netra Evans, 17: District 5 POV

I didn't have a clue where anybody was, hell, I didn't even know if anyone was left. Maybe I was the only one. I took deep breaths as I shakily held a knife in my hands, I leant my head back against the cornucopia walls. I was safe for the time being, my presence hidden by by a wall of large crates. But I couldn't stay here forever.

"Please," I whimpered "I don't want to die-," a large mass flew over the wall of crates and landed across from me. I held back a scream as I pointed my knife towards it. The mass turned out to be a tall blonde man, who look flustered and frightened.

"Timber?" I gasped as the boy looked over to me, a small smile forming on his face. He was covered in mud and he held a large, double edged sword in his hand.

"Netra you're alive!" He laughed, crawling over to me, his chest muscles seeming restricted by the leather jacket that was over his long, brown, dress like clothes. He grabbed my face and looked me up and now. "You ain't hurt...how?" He said looking deep into my eyes.

"Same as you I guess, haven't stayed near anyone long enough to get hurt," I giggled, pushing the large boy off me. Timber smiled at me before looking down at his sword.

"I'm glad I have someone from my alliance, we just need to find everyone else," He sighed, getting on his knees for a second to peek over the wall of crates. His eyebrows knotted as he sat back down, looking defeated. "I honestly don't see how we are going to get out of this-," Timber reeled back, letting out the girliest scream I had ever heard as a shadow blocked out the sunlight.

He grabbed onto my arm as we both looked up to see the boy from 9, Quinoa. He smiled down at us softly before holding out his hand.

"Follow me I know a way to get out of here," He voice was just above a whisper. "All you have to do is-," I guess we will never know what the way out was because soon after that, me and Timber were showered in his blood.

Arno Kennedy, 15: District 4 POV

I laughed, spinning around in a circle, my second kill of these Games and both older tributes. I had the most and best kills of any career so far. I had to, I was doing amazing. I had killed Juncta and Quinoa both in less than ten minutes. Soon I would get that little brat from ten as well.

"Timber?" A small voice whispered from behind the wall of crates Quinoa was leaning over. I walked over to the creates, whistling a happy tune as I did so. Two more kills for me? Yes please. I held my sword at my side as I peered over.

I couldn't help but smile as two tributes came into view, there was so much blood covering them, I could only tell one one a male due to his short, buff nature. Maybe the dude from Seven?

"Hey there, cute couple," I scoffed as I started to move a crate out the way. The girl just narrowed her eyes at me as blood dripped down from her fringe.

"Eat shit dickhead!" She screamed at the top of her voice as she leaped towards me, dragging her blade across my face as she did so. I screamed out in pain and stumbled backwards until I was on the ground. I tried to opened my eyes but I could only see out of one, the other was sliced open. I screamed out in pain even more, rolling about on the floor. I didn't know it would hurt this bad, if this hurt, what does being stabbed feel like?

"What happened?" a deep voice boomed. I looked up, blood spilling from the deep gash on my face.

"Jean, help me, that bitch-," The bearded man nodded.

"I will just take the top off for you," He sighed. I went to say thank you when he swung hisaxe and cut my head off.


24th: Kyroic Stelson, 15 from District 11- Killed By Having Neck Snapped By Jean.

23rd: Lia Goodfellow, 13 from District 12- Killed By Lime Shooting An Arrow in her eye.

22nd: Elva White, 16 from District 7- Killed by Alexandrite Beating Her To Death.

21st: Fousa Long, 16 from District 3- Killed by Alexandrite Beating Her To Death.

20th: Quinoa Croft, 18 from District 9- Killed by Arno Cutting His Head Off.

19th: Arno Kennedy, 15 from District 4- Killed by Jean Chopping His Head Off.

You will notice, Rye and Juncta are not on here. That's because they are not dead. Yet.

Tributes who have Four hours to find another partner before they are killed:

Kianna Frost (D4)

Grain Hudsbeth (D9)

Cooter Brumby (D5)

Cammo Cundell (D8)

Kyra Pascal (D11)

Rhy Simmons (D10)

Alliances as of Now:

Careers:

Jean Deco (D2)

Alexandrite Musgravite (D1)

Pentie Barker (D1)

Kalie Jackson (D10)

Lime Wickham (D2)

Kianna Frost (D4)

McGoods:

Arc Good (D3)

Cooter Brumby (D5)

Kyra Pascal (D11)

Cammo Cundell (D8)

BreakAways:

Timber Jones (D7)

Netra Evans (D5)

Twelve:

Asher Trist (D12)

Tailor Jackson (D8)

Loners:

Juncta Broughton (D6)

Chug Johnson (D6)

Grain Hudsbeth (D9)

The Pairs (Ones in bold are dead, ones in italics have four hours to find a new partner):

Asher Trist (D12)-Tailor Jackson (D8)

Kyroic Stelson (D11)- Kyra Pascal (D11)

Rye Simmons (D10)- Lia Goodfellow (D12)

Quinoa Croft (D9)-Grain Hudsbeth (D9)

Cammo Cundell (D8)-Elva White (D7)

Timber Jones (D7)-Netra Evans (D5)

Chug Johnson (D6)- Juncta Broughton (D6)

Cooter Brumby (D5)- Fousa Long (D3)

Arno Kennady (D4)- Kianna Frost (D4)

Arc Good (D3)- Lime Wickham (D2)

Jean Deco (D2)- Alexandrite Musgravite (D1)

Painite Barker (D1)- Kalie Jackson (D10)

What are your thoughts on the deaths? Did you see them going down? Who do you think will be able to find a new partner?