Day 3: A Feast, Chapter 10

I woke up to a loud, echoing boom! Another dead tribute. That meant a feast.

I quickly shook Karis awake as the Games' announcer was projected into the sky.

"Tributes! Congratulations on making it this far into the Games! These have been rather short, and we are now down to eight tributes! This afternoon, there will be a feast at the Cornucopia. At this feast will be a new Cornucopia, stuffed with supplies. Each of you need more weapons, medicine, food, or supplies. This is your opportunity to get it. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"

I blinked slowly as the announcer's voice faded. Karis and I needed food and water. My stomach was rumbling like crazy, and hunting here was difficult, not to mention draining. Karis and I needed that feast.

I grabbed my small throwing axe and gripped the hilt tightly. "They're trying to draw us in," I remarked.

"Yep," Karis replied, seemingly unconcerned.

I turned to her. "Aren't you afraid? These feasts usually result in more casualties."

Karis shrugged. "Not too concerned. We're clever enough to get in and get out. Let the other tributes battle it out. We'll grab what we need and be on our merry way."

I bit my lip. "All right. I only hope it's that simple."

The rest of the morning, Karis and I stuffed the tiny bit of remaining food that we had left into our mouths, and drank the last drops of water. We rested and pooled our energy for the feast. We'd need it if we were going to get what we needed.

All Karis and I had left now were our weapons. She had her sword, and I had my axe. I hoped we could get out of the Cornucopia before all of the fighting began.

About two hours before the feast was due to begin, Karis and I started our trek all the way back to the Cornucopia. We had traveled a long way, and we jogged for a while before reaching the outskirts of the woods. Immediately, we crouched down, surveying the Cornucopia area. The golden Cornucopia was sitting in the middle of the field, surrounded by our raised plates. I peered anxiously through the grass. I hoped that this feast would start soon. I wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Almost as though on cue, a table began to rise out of the ground in front of the Cornucopia. On it were piles of weapons, food and supplies. Food. And the nicest, sturdiest axe I'd ever seen in my life sat on the top of the pile.

"Go, go, go!" Karis whispered, darting out of the tall grasses on the outskirts of the Cornucopia area. I clumsily got to my feet and hurried after her, legs pounding towards the Cornucopia.

We made it there just as the other tributes were running towards us. I grabbed the axe that sat on the pile of goods and was about to make a run for it when I felt a tug on my shoulder and I flipped onto the ground.

When my sight straightened itself out, I looked up, expecting to see Felix's or one of the Career's grinning faces, but instead seeing Karis's snakelike eyes, evilly grinning at me. I gulped. "Karis. Get off me. We've gotta get out of here!"

She rolled her eyes and pointed her sword at my throat, stepping on my arm and crushing it beneath her boot. "Sorry. Can't do that." She glanced around at the other tributes, who were distracted in their own scuffles. I could see Jack Shan's, the District 12 boy tribute, body on the ground, lying in a pool of blood that was scarily large.

I turned back to Karis. "Stop, Karis. I thought we were allies!"

Karis snorted. "You wish. I'm a Career, Asher. You didn't really expect me to keep my promises, did you? You were good for the time that I used you. You helped me survive, and I really managed to trick you! I must be a pretty good actress." She looked over at Ripper and Faith before continuing. "Well, bye-bye, District 7. At least you put on a good show."

I whimpered as she dug her sword into my shoulder blade, the pain seemingly unbearable. I had been betrayed by the one girl I thought was my friend. My ally.

I breathed in deeply, refusing to scream. Refusing to show weakness. I couldn't, and I wouldn't. With one last heave, I slid my smaller throwing axe out of my belt and threw it at Karis, hoping it would hit her.

"Ow!" She yelped, and I knew I had hit her. Using this moment of distraction for my benefit, I stood up, my breathing getting heavier, blood soaking through my shirt. I saw that my axe had landed in her leg, and that she was bleeding.

I grabbed my larger axe from the Cornucopia, took a pack of supplies, and ran for my life. I could hear more fighting behind me, but I didn't dare stop in fear of being killed. I ran and ran, never looking around, just running.

Finally, I slowed to a walk and the sky began to dim. I breathed in deeply and glanced at my shoulder. It was bleeding heavily. I couldn't even feel it anymore, which was bad. It had numbed, and I needed medicine now.

I quickly scurried up a tree, going to the slenderest branch I saw. It was very high up, and with just an axe and some supplies, I didn't have much to help me if I fell. But it was the safest area, and if Karis found me, she wouldn't be able to climb it. She could climb, but only to a certain extent.

I laid back against the tree trunk, looking at the sky. I peeked next to me, seeing my pack and opened it. Inside was two apples, a small canteen of water, and some bandages. I knew the bandages would help for now, but they wouldn't last. Nevertheless, I wrapped the gauzy bandage around my arm, which staunched the flow of blood leaking out of my body. At least I'd last a bit longer with this.

I was just beginning to doze off when the Anthem began. Oh, great. Faces began to decorate the sky. Two faces were broadcast throughout the Arena. Surprisingly, the District 1 girl, Faith Mortemer's face was in the sky. I guessed that someone had killed her before going down. There was also the District 10 boy, Roran Cooper, and the District 12 boy, Jack Shan. Tomorrow, Ripper, Felix and Karis would hunt me. Jessica was still alive. But for how much longer?

Oh well, I thought. Tomorrow is a new day.

DEAD:

The Bloodbath:

-District 3 male: Cordin Smith

-District 4 female: Charlotte Parks

-District 5 male: Viktor Murr

-District 6 female: Ciara Morris

-District 8 male: Brendan Corwin

-District 8 female: Peggy Lynn

-District 9 male: Ian Stork

-District 9 female: Maria Lancer

-District 11 male: Andrew Larr

-District 11 female: Leila Shard

Day 1:

-District 2 male: Lander Kavis

-District 4 male: Allan Viper

-District 12 female: Shing Curren

Day 2:

-District 3 female: Sasha Rhine

-District 6 male: Darren Hills

-District 10 female: Mary-Grace Hodnett

Day 3:

District 1 female: Faith Mortemer

District 10 male: Roran Cooper

District 12 male: Jack Shan

TOTAL OF DEAD: 16 TRIBUTES

ALIVE:

-District 1 male: Ripper Vinard

-District 1 female: Faith Mortemer

-District 2 female: Karis Montfort

-District 5 female: Jessica Lerva

-District 7 male: Felix Jameson

-District 7 female: Asher Mills

TOTAL OF ALIVE: 5

Author's Note: I know you're probably thinking, 'A Feast already?'

Well, this year's Games go quickly. Don't worry though, the Finale will be phenomenal.

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