My knife lodges into the tree branch next to Lucas, I hear the cannon fire and I scream almost flipping backwards out of the tree. For a moment I'm sure I've killed him and sobs begin to rocket through my body. My hands are clasped tightly over my mouth to keep me from screaming.
Its takes me a minute to realize he is still alive. I must have changed my mind at the last second and changed the direction of my knife. Sweet relief fills through me. I try to clean myself up so that Lucas won't notice that I had been crying when he wakes up. I steady my breathing and try to focus on nothing but the trees leaves swishing back and forth back and forth.
Soon enough I am calm again and all the tears have dried from my cheeks. I rest my head back against a branch when I realize that if the cannon wasn't Lucas's it meant it had to be some other tribute. One more person the capitol had murdered I think darkly in my mind. Soon the sky turns dark and the anthem begins to play.
Its then Lucas wakes up to the sound of the music. I look up at the sky with a hollow look in my eyes waiting to see the unlucky tribute that was murdered today. Lucas slowly puts his arm around me and I can tell he is trying to comfort me. I lean my head against his shoulder and watch as the picture of the district 5 girl flashes into the sky. Almost too soon her picture is gone and she, the girl, is gone from this world forever.
I bite my lip hard to keep me from crying and soon taste the salty tang of blood in my mouth. I swallow hard trying hard to keep it down. I gag on the taste but soon get it down my throat. "I'll keep watch," Lucas offers yet again. Its only then I realize how exhausted I am and give in to his offer. I can't help thinking about the girl who died as I fall asleep.
I wake up to a loud thump and a sickening snap. It must be before dawn because I can hardly see anything but I can hear them just under the tree. There's laughter and it's only then I realize that Lucas is no longer by my side. It's the second time that day I have to prevent myself from screaming.
They know I'm there I can tell. "Another down!" I hear the sound of a boy's voice as he high-fives who I'm guessing is his ally. "We know your up there" A girls voice calls menacingly from down below. "Don't worry we're not going to hurt you" the girl coos, "Were not?" I hear one of the boys ask. I'm guessing the girl punched him because a second later I hear the boy say "Ow!" I roll my eyes some people are just so stupid! I think in my mind
More laughter. How many people are down there? I wonder. But before I can answer I hear rustling and I know that one of those people is begging to climb the tree. I can hardly think as I hear the rustling leaves get louder and louder with every branch the tribute climbs. I begin to scamper up the tree like a squirrel moving my hands and legs as fast as I can.
The tree can only go on for so long though a voice in my head says. I feel my stomach clench at the thought of having the tribute reach me and me having no were to go. Worst possible ways to die are thrumming through my head making it impossible to try and plan out a plan. And I thought getting picked for the games was torture! I think if that was torture I realize I'm going to have to find a new meaning for the word.
The rustling leaves are getting louder and louder and I know I don't have much time left. I have to think fast. Its then I see one of the boys torches light up the dead crumpled body of Lucas. He looks so tiny all alone on the ground. He didn't deserve to die and neither do any of these kids that are trying to kill me right at this very moment.
But I can't help my self. Seeing Lucas's body on the ground fills me with fury that I cannot contain. I don't think I have ever felt so mad before in my life. It's all I can do not to jump off the branch I'm perched in now and go flying into whichever tribute is climbing this tree. Instead I decide to ask witty.
"Well if you want me your gonna have to come up here and get me!" I call out to them. I begin to climb higher and I know this plan could totally back fire and end up getting me killed but I have to at least try. For Lucas I think. I take a deep breath knowing it could best be the last one I ever take and begin to climb higher. "Oh don't worry I'm going to get you" I hear the voice say and I now know it is the girl tribute who is climbing the tree. I let out a small sly smile and continue to climb until I'm at the very top of the tree.
I sit there and wait until the girl's head pops up she grins a deadly grin at me. "Well well well" she smiles "Just what do we have here? A little 12 year old with nowhere to run?" she says putting on the fakest sympathetic face anyone could muster. I give her a knowing smile "I guess your right" I let out a small sigh "I do have no where to run" I shrug "Guess your gonna kill me huh?" I say. The girl knows I'm playing with her and a snarl crosses her face.
I feel the belt that is tucked inside my buckle press against my leg. I slowly get a grasp on it. I swing it out of my belt and lash it at the girl being very careful to make sure I missed her. I did miss her but it was enough to make her lose her balance and fall backwards tumbling down the 80-foot tall tree. I hear her body hit each branch and she grunts each time when she does. I hear her body hit the ground and her cannon fires and I realized I've just killed another person.
I don't have time to feel bad now I know. I stand up shakily on two legs and look at the next tree and prepare to jump. I begin to jump from tree to tree trying to get away from the girl who I just killed and the dead crumpled Lukas that I saw. I'm flying through the trees when I come to a stop. I never head Lucas's cannon I realize in complete and utter shock Lucas isn't dead! I spin around and begin flying back through the trees the way I came.