Sixty seconds. That was all I had. One step over this platform and I would be blown to bits by the underground mines. I surveyed my surroundings briefly. If I was planning on surviving in here, I had to come up with a plan and fast.
I had been correct; lying in front of me was a great pine forest. Perfect camouflage. Behind me was a deep crevice-type thing. To my left laid a lake. If I had my choice, I would stay by the lake. But, I didn't have that choice. Chances were whoever won this blood bath that would happen any second now would make camp there. It was the smartest thing to do, after all, who knows where the next body of water will be.
Last but not least, was the cornucopia. It was a sight for sore eyes all right. The cornucopia was a huge, gold, funnel-like structure filled with any kind of supplies you could need, if you could get them that is. I was planning on making a break for the woods right away, but the supplies at the cornucopia looked so inviting. I surveyed the piles of supplies, looking for a dart gun, but could not find a single one. There were many knives, though. There goes my ideal weapon I grunted.
The timer was down to only fifteen seconds. Directly across from my platform I could see Dune. He was staring at something intently. I followed his gaze. There, in a pile right towards the front of the cornucopia was a bow and a sheath of arrows.
No, Dune. Don't do it! My mind was screaming at him, but the words never verbalized. What was he thinking? Even if he got to it….
But I knew nothing could change his mind. Even from this distance I could see the look of determination on his face. All I could do was hope that he was a fast runner.
3…2…1…! The horn sounded.
I booked it, but the greedy part of me stopped for a minute. I swerved to my left and picked up a small pouch that was about thirty feet from the mouth of the cornucopia. I was almost across when I saw it. A small bundle of knives, maybe three or four, tied together tightly. My mind told me to run, but my legs didn't listen. I swerved around a couple fighters and headed for the pouch. Too late. The boy from District 12 picked it up first. I felt a sudden rush of air by my right ear. Instinctively I ducked quickly, just dodging the spear that was aimed right at my head. The boy from 12 saw it coming and was able to dodge too.
I turned to face my opponent and saw that it was a career from District 4, the boy. He was a nasty looking brute. Ripped, jet black hair, and eyes like daggers. He was obviously angry that both I and the boy in love were able to avoid his attack. I ditched the knives and ran as fast as I could for the woods. I reached the tree line and looked over my shoulder one last time. From the distance I could see Dune's slender figure reaching the mouth of the cornucopia. He had gotten his bow. I whispered good luck and faced the forest again, never daring to look back again.
As I ran through the trees, I felt safer, but knew that in reality, I was not. Eventually, I would have pursuers. I wanted to get as far from that retched cornucopia as the next person, but I knew that the majority of us would have that same plan. I wanted to be different. The careers would eventually kill the other tributes at the cornucopia and start to head deep into the forest to find everyone else. Instead of running any more, I scurried up the closest tree to my right. Being as small as I was, tree climbing wasn't too difficult.
The tree I had picked was very tall. I climbed as far up as I could until I found a big, sturdy branch that would suit me for the next couple hours. The careers were tough, but most of them weren't all that smart. They would never think to check the trees closest to the cornucopia. No, tonight they would take some of their high-tech equipment from their new loot and search deep in the woods for victims. The only tributes who would be at this distance from the cornucopia are the very injured ones who managed to escape. But, chances were they were hiding on ground level, trying to nurse back to health.
From where I was sitting, I could see it, gleaming in the distance. The shining cornucopia scared the heck out of me. During the games they shoot a cannon every time someone dies, but not on the first day. The first day there are much too many casualties for them to shoot a cannon for each one. Tonight they would show the faces in the sky, and all the living would get to see who made it.
As I waited for night to come, I opened the small pack I was able to salvage from the cornucopia. Inside were a roll of crackers and a roll of gauze. A weird combination, but I'm sure both will come in handy eventually. I wanted desperately to eat the crackers, but I refrained knowing that I would need them much more later. As for thirst, my thirst level wasn't all that bad at the moment. I hadn't run too much, so my mouth was only a little dry. I leaned against the tree trunk and watched the sky expectantly. My thoughts wandered to Dune. I hope he is okay. I saw him reach those arrows, so maybe he had survived.
I put my hands in my pockets and closed my eyes. I sat there silently until the sounds of footsteps and laughing turned my blood to ice. I peered out of my tree to see a group of careers running by. I could see six of them, but something wasn't right. I couldn't see the beastly boy from District 4 who had thrown the spear at me. Instead, I saw a blonde boy. Was that the boy from 12? Had he killed the District 4 tribute after all? If so, what was he doing with them? I would think he would be with his so called "love." Was she dead? Killed at the cornucopia? I guess I would see tonight. The careers took off in another direction, not even suspecting that they were being watched right at this very moment.
The sky was dark and the cannon fires started. I counted eleven total. Eleven people had passed. That left only thirteen of us. Almost half gone. Then the pictures appeared.
The first caught me off guard. It was the male tribute from District 4, the one who threw the spear. Maybe that District 12 boy got him. The next picture almost knocked me out of the tree. There, looking at me from the starry sky was a picture of Dune's face. His emerald green eyes bore into me, making me feel small and weak. It had to be a mistake. He couldn't be dead, he couldn't. I had seen him reach the bow and arrows myself!
My heart was in my lungs. The rest of the faces flew by: both tributes from Districts 6 and 7, the boy from 8, both from 9, and the girl from 10.
Eleven tributes and Dune was one of them. I wanted to curl up in a ball, hide, but I knew that wasn't possible. Panem could be watching me right now and if I wanted sponsors, I couldn't appear weak. It was a struggle, though. I was never able to admit the truth, but now it was apparent. I really did start to have feelings for the brown-haired boy who could never shut up. But now he was dead. Maybe it was for the best. I wouldn't have to kill him now. I wish he was here with me now, though. It would have been nice to have an ally. But now that possibility is impossible. I put my hood up and closed my eyes. I must be strong. I must be strong. As strong as I tried to remain, I couldn't help the soft choking sound that came out of my throat. All I could hope is that the cameras weren't on me.
Reluctantly, I allow myself to sleep. The careers should be long gone by now, so I should be safe for the next couple hours. My eyes drift closed until I am sound asleep. It felt as if I was only asleep for a couple hours when a cannon shot jolts me from my sleep. That was number twelve. Twelve people down. It wasn't even two full days and half of us were already gone. My confidence I had earlier is now diminished.
I can't sleep now. I know that if I plan on surviving, I need water. The problem is that I have no water bottle, nothing to keep water in. The only source of water I had seen so far was the lake, but it was very risky going there. I had no idea where the careers were at the moment. My thirst got the best of me, though and I slipped out of my tree and ran off towards the lake. It should only take me about fifteen minutes, twenty tops.
I ran and ran without stopping. The sun was starting to rise and I could see the glistening lake in the distance. And there it was; a dark shadow on the side of the lake, the pile of supplies from the careers. They are so stupid I laughed. Of course, they probably figured that all the tributes would be glued to their hiding spots, not breaking into their camp, at least not this early in the Game. I stopped in a nearby clump of bushes and scoped out my surroundings. There were no sounds of any person nearby. I took a chance and darted to the lake.
Stealing was punishable by death back in District 5, but in the Hunger Games stealing could save your life. I looked at the pile greedily, wanting badly to take everything I could, but knowing I could not. I didn't want the careers to know I was here. I picked up a water bottle and a few protein bars. Stuffing the protein bars in my pouch, I made my way to the edge of the lake and filled my bottle. I had done it. I had successfully broken into the career camp on the second night. I ran towards the woods for cover.
Just as I reached the trees, I heard a shout.
"Hey, I think I saw something!" It was obviously a girl's voice.
I took cover in a clump of thick bushes.
"What? Where?" This one belonged to a boy.
"Near the woods," the girl continued.
"Probably an animal, no idiot would try to invade our camp this early in the game. They are probably all crying for their mommies hiding off in the woods."
"True," the girl said, "It looked red, probably a fox or something."
"Wouldn't hurt to check it out though." I recognized this voice to belong to the girl from District 1. I didn't wait to see what she would do to me; I took off as fast as I could. My adrenaline was pumping faster than ever. I kept running and didn't stop until I was back up my tree again. It was a good thing I could run swiftly and quietly. I leaned against the trunk exhaustedly and sipped on my water a little, careful to save as much as I could.
If this wouldn't win me over any sponsors, I don't know what else could. From every season, I have never witnessed an un-armed tribute successfully break into a career camp on the second day without being caught. The grin on my face felt like it would freeze there.