Ch. 11 Let the Games Begin
I opened my eyes, trying to take everything in. Peeta told us to get out of the cornucopia immediately, but without a weapon or supplies I'd be a sitting duck. The sun was already setting and the air was chilly. My surroundings seemed boring and lifeless, with nothing but corn fields surrounding us.
"3…2…1, Let the 78th Hunger Games begin!" The Game Makers voice called from somewhere unknown to me. I was ready and fast as I locked eyes on a pack nearest to me. I scooped it up along with a knife and turned to leave. Most were distracted, trying to get the best gifts first and to them I was just in the way.
A sword swung, missing me by an inch as I raced to safety in the field. Pain coursed through my body as tributes tried to take me out with quick swipes of their swords and attempts to wrestle me to the ground, but I ignored them and pushed my way farther from the middle of the arena.
Once in the field, I try to escape to something other than the dull colored maze. Within minutes though, darkness falls and I'm forced to stop. I fumble with the pack, trying to open it. With my hands, I try to uncover its content, and my fingers grasp a flashlight. Gratefully, I turn it on but what I see is horrifying. Someone is grabbing my throat.
He wrestles me to the ground and puts his hand over my mouth to muffle my screams. "Shh Cally, it's me Sam."
"What are you doing here?" I ask surprised.
"Saving your butt," he whispers back hurriedly. Taking the flashlight from me, he snaps it off. "They'll see your light from a mile away," he warns. "Once your eyes get adjusted, we'll start moving."
Slowly the darkness becomes shapes and moving objects. "They have us in a maze. The only source of water I can tell is in the cornucopia, along with the light," he explains as we walk.
"How do you know all this Sam?" I ask.
"Just guessing, but it's pretty easy to tell. While it's dark, we need to get some water. Do you remember the way you came?"
"Not exactly," I sigh.
"What's all in your pack?"
I open it and all my supplies falls to the ground. Along with the flashlight is a canteen, bottle of bug repellant, bandage, a small knife, a pair of socks, a watch, and a compass. Sam pockets the knife and holds up the compass with a smile. "Bingo," he whispers.
When we get to an opening in front of the cornucopia, we see the bloodbath is still going on. In the middle of the action is a crystal pool of water.
"Let's wait it out," I suggest and Sam nods. "Go ahead and get some rest, I'll wake you up if anything happens." Without arguing Sam drifts off into sleep as I keep look out. Absentmindedly I twirl the watch around in my hands, but when I look at the time I gasp.
It reads 4:30 P.M., but it's completely dark in the arena. Realization slowly washes over me; they took away the light. It will always be night in the arena this year.
