Chapter 10
"Dean… Dean…" Sam shook my shoulder, trying to wake me. "Wake up."
"Mmmm?" I asked, slowly waking. It had been a rainy day, actually, the district was flooded. Rain was dripping though the ceiling even as I had been sleeping. I thought maybe another part of the ceiling had given in. "What's wrong?"
Sam hugged me and I held my baby brother.
"Happy birthday."
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I was woken up with Metatron turning the lights on and ranting about how excited he was. I frankly did not give a crap. I rolled out of bed and slowly got ready.
Today was the day.
I finished getting ready and walked out to the living quarters and sat down with the district 13 team for the final meal. Everyone was eating lightly, even Jo, but I scarfed down as much food as I could get.
Charlie came in a bit later and had Jo and I follow her after breakfast. We followed her and she led us to an air-landing pad, where a jet was waiting. I could see the other tributes with their stylists and trainers there as well. Bobby said that he would catch up with us later and that he had some business to take care of.
A black man was looking over the tributes. "Tributes line up in order of districts, girls and then boys." The man said.
As the man said, we worked and got in order, of course, that meant I was dead last.
The man talked to a girl that looked like a nurse.
I looked at Charlie. "Who is that man?"
"That is Raphael. He is the game master."
"I thought Chuck was the game master." I said.
"Honey, it's not good for you to think." She teased me.
"Haha." I said, very sarcastically.
"Chuck and Raphael are two very separate people. While you are in the games, it will be Raphael, who is going to throw the different obstacles at you. Chuck is more of a figure-head."
I nodded. I looked ahead and could see a nurse take the arm of each tribute and put a gun-like machine to it. "What is going on?"
"You are getting your tracker."
"What?"
"It's your tracker and health monitor." She explained.
I still looked at her clueless. "Huh?"
"The game monitors use it to keep track of you in the arena. It also serves a double-purpose and monitors your health. If your vitals fail or your heart stops, the monitor will know and alert the game monitors when you officially pass-on."
That was a pleasant thought.
The nurse injected Jo and I was next. I gave her my arm.
She rolled up my sleeve and injected the tracker. It hurt for a second, and I gently touched my arm. I could feel the small bump beneath the skin.
Raphael cleared his throat for everyone's attention. "Now, by districts, we are going to load you into the jet to be transferred to the arena."
It was a slow process, but they eventually got us all into the jet and strapped in.
I looked over at Jo, who was gently shaking beside me. I held her hand. "You will be okay."
"Let's not be sweet to each other now." Jo said softly and met my eyes.
I gently let her hand go. I could feel us move as the jet took off. I glanced down the aisle at everyone. All the careers looked angrier than ever, the others just looked scared.
Cas looked at me, he was holding Hannah's hand, like I had been holding Jo's.
The jets landed and the doors opened.
We were met by our stylists and trainers, who apparently got their before us.
Charlie escorted me and Jo to the district 13 preparation rooms. "Alright I got both of your outfits laid out. Call me when you finish getting dressed." She walked out and gave us privacy in our own chambers.
In my room, I had a pair of jeans, boots, a plain t-shirt, a dark long sleeve, and a leather jacket. I had just finished dressing when Charlie came in.
"Hi." She said.
"Hey." I responded.
"I just wanted to say good luck." She said and fixed the collars
"Thanks."
"And before I forget…" Charlie pulled out a little box from her pocket and opened it.
The little amulet Sam gave me was inside.
"What?"
"Shhhh." She whispered. She gently put in around my neck and tucked it under my shirt. "I knew you would want that."
I hugged her. "Thank you."
"Go out there and win."
Bobby came in. "Charlie, can you be with Jo for a bit?" He asked.
"Yeah, sure. Alright. This is good bye then." Charlie smiled. "Peace out bitches." She said as she walked out.
I laughed. She was like the sister I never wanted. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I need you to be careful." Bobby instructed.
"I kinda got that." I said.
"No, you don't. What I mean is that I want you to watch your back, even around allies."
I was confused.
"I already got sponsors for you and Castiel, his trainer, Ezekiel is working with me. We are going to get you two into the finals, but we need you two to play up the love, even on the field." Bobby instructed.
I nodded. I already knew all of that.
"This will help you, but will hinder you when you get closer to the finals."
I was silent.
"Do you get me boy?"
I was still silent.
"When the time comes. I would rather Ezekiel take home an extra body than me."
"I know. One of us is going to have to die in the end." I said.
An alarm rang and a countdown initiated.
"A few more things."
"Countdown is ticking Bobby." I said.
"Listen carefully then. When you get up there. Do not, for the love of God, do not step off that pedestal until the countdown reaches 0. If you do, you will be blown sky high. Next, in front of you will be a structure called the Cornucopia, in it will be everything you need to survive."
How come I was only hearing about this now? That was perfect!
"Forget about it." Bobby instructed.
"What? Why?"
"It's a blood bath. Everyone is going to go for it, even the careers. You, Joe, and Castiel are going to get your little asses back."
The alarm got louder at 30 seconds.
"Alright. Better get in the pod. Good luck."
I pulled out a letter and handed it to Bobby. "Can you hold onto this?"
Bobby looked at it. "What is it?"
"It's a letter, for my little brother. Can you get it to him if I don't make it?"
"I should give this letter right back to you. You will make it. I believe in you. But I will hold onto it if that is what you want."
I smiled. "Thank you Bobby."
Bobby hugged me. "Get out there boy."
I nodded and stepped into the pod and it closed. The platform lifted me up. For a second, I was blinded. The darkness of the jet and the underground bunker had thrown my senses off. When my sight was back, I looked around.
The other tributes were on their own pedestals. In front of us was a strange metallic structure, but in it was all sorts of survival gear. I could already see the glint of light off the serrated blade of a dagger. Beyond the structure and all around us were these buildings that looked like ruins.
I looked at the countdown at my feet.
5…4…3…2…1…..
It was like slow motion. Everyone jumped off their pedestals and ran. I saw Joe, who was right beside me, run the opposite direction than me as I ran toward the cornucopia. I knew Bobby would kick my ass for this, but there was no way we could survive without anything. I grabbed the first thing I came across and kept running. It was a backpack, so I slid it over one shoulder and continued to run toward the ruins, not staying for the blood bath. I ran through the buildings, it looked like some of the cities I came across beyond the fence. I ran, I don't know for how long, but I ran. I eventually had to stop. I tucked into a room of a building and set my bag down and opened it which was when I noticed that the bag was a bit wet. I turned it around to see a knife sticking out of the back.
Shit!
I pulled the knife out and opened the bag to see the damage done. In my bag, I now had a mostly empty bottle of water, a cereal bar, 3 wet matches, a soaked roll of bandages, and a piece of rope.
Damn. It was all crap! I risked my life for shit!
I threw the water bottle across the room, the one thing I needed!
I packed up the bag and strapped it on, at least I had a knife now. I now needed to find Joe and Cas. I peeked out from around the corner and back tracked my steps.