When, I wake up in the morning, Elisabeth is shaking me hard.
"Yeah?" I ask groggily.
"He's gone!"
"What are you talking about?" I am too tired to comprehend.
"Asher's gone!" He yells
I jump up immediately. My foot is still wrapped in a bandage, but I can walk on it. It flashes through my mind that the pain killers had a major healing agent, but I return to the problem at hand: find Asher.
Uselessly, I turn in circles searching for him to no avail. We both scream his name a few times. There is no answer. I begin to panic.
"Don't freak out," Lissie tries to calm me. "Maybe he went to search for food or something."
It seems unlikely, but does help me to be slightly less worried. We sit and finish off the bread. All that remains are a few roots. I slip my shoe over the bandage. Next, I drink some water, feeling that I must have bled out some liquid. While I am putting away the canteen, I make a discovery.
"He took a knife," I whisper.
Elisabeth hears me and crosses over to where I am bent over a bag. She goes through everything, carefully removing every item and replacing them. I search the entire perimeter of the woods we have camped in. Neither of us finds the missing knife.
I know that this can mean only that Asher has left. Even Lissie knew he was uncomfortable in our alliance. But now I am separated from my partner and the chances of both of us winning have plummeted. I wonder how I can contact him, but cannot. I then ask myself where he would go in this forest, and my only guess is the lake. But I remember that he said we would meet there if Lissie dies, so he would not go yet.
"James," she tries to console me. "He's tough. He'll be alright. But we have to keep moving. The only way we can help him is to find other tributes and take them out." We both know that neither of us wants to kill. This is just another stunt for the cameras to make us look bloodthirsty.
We hike, going west this time since we have gone plenty far north and I am afraid we will just move so far away from the other tributes that the Makers try to push us back. So far, they have remained pretty quiet, but I can literally feel their newest idea. They are heating the arena.
As we walk, I notice how incredibly hot it is. The sun does not seem to be any brighter and there are no less clouds in the sky, but the air is getting hot and humid. Several times we drink from the canteens, and one is empty by the time the sun sits in the middle of the sky. I warn Elisabeth that we cannot continue like this, and that we must find water. We agree not to drink any more until sunset unless we come across a water source.
But after two or three hours, thirst is creeping up on me. I suggest we hunt for a while. I have noticed a variety of birds and wild game always was one of my favorite meals. Even though neither of us has a clue what we are doing, I let her set up a snare while I use the ax that she has been carrying to cut a few limbs in case we need to cook something. Then we begin stalking different animals, her with a knife and me with the sword.
After about half an hour, she points to a dear. It is a large doe. A whole dear would keep us well fed for a while. She, being the lighter of the two of us, creeps close to the animal with the sword, intending to throw it.
Just as she swings her arm back, a cannon fires. This startles the animal, but I am not watching it. My eyes are focused on the sky as I pray that my partner's face does not appear above me. My prayers are answered as the adult man's face flashes above, followed by the girl representing District 2 we had forgotten about. Then, it disappears and Asher is still alive. There are only eight of us remaining.
When I remember the hunt, I am amazed to see a deer with a sword lodged in its skull.
"You actually did that?" I say in awe.
She just laughs, "I'm a Peacekeeper's daughter; I know how to hunt."
"You're so amazing," I tell her as I shake my head. A quick kiss follows.
We drag the animal back to our camp where she, an experienced deer hunter, cuts the animal open and begins tearing cuts shreds of edible meat with our knife. I start a fire and clean the sword's blade with damp leaves. The dampness reminds me how hot it is and that it is so humid that the water is clinging to objects.
While I roast all of the meat she has cut out, Lissie cleans her knife. Then we eat as much of the deer as we can, filling our stomachs completely. This has not been a particularly hard Hunger Games in terms of survival.
As soon as a little food has digested, we pack up and continue west until nightfall. During this time, I think about Asher's decision.
He knows I won't choose between them, so why'd he leave. Is he mad that we had a wedding? Certainly not; he officiated. Maybe he's dead. This thought freezes me temporarily before I remind myself, You would have heard a cannon. So why isn't he here? I hope he is alright.
When it is completely dark, other than the move, we stop in a thickly wooded area. We each take a sip from the water canteen, and then replace it in the pack so the liquid does not tempt us. Wordlessly, we lay next to each other, her curled in my arms, and try to sleep. After no more than sixty seconds, though, the anthem is blaring as the symbol appears in the sky.
"Tributes," comes the woman's voice. "My name is Johanna Mason and I am a Gamemaker serving under Haymitch Abernathy. He could not make this announcement due to a pressing matter here in the Capitol, but has asked me to continue as planned." The Capitol's symbol changes into a digital clock that tells me it is after ten.
"This clock will remain in the sky until six o'clock tomorrow morning. At this time, a feast will be held at the cornucopia, which has been moved into this arena. To find it, follow the green beam in the sky." A green beam of light shoots out of the forest and straight up.
"But be warned, a force field protects the cornucopia until the designated hour. The field will lift only once a tribute has been slaughtered after six in the morning. At this time, you may enter. At the feast each of you will find a plethora of items. There will be at least one thing that you yourself need. An example of this item will be sent to you soon. Until morning, good luck and Happy Hunger Games!"
After she has finished speaking, two silver parachutes materialize above us, blinking. The first to reach the ground is labeled "4" telling us it is for Lissie. The other is marked "12." We both catch the proper one. Lissie opens hers first.
From the metal box, she takes a black, glass bottle, roughly two inches tall. On the lid, in white, the Peacekeepers' symbol shines.
"What is it?" I ask.
Still looking at the bottle, she answers very slowly. "It's a bottle from the Peacekeepers' infirmary. Maybe it's medicine for your foot?"
"My foot is fine, hun," I tell her.
"Then I have no clue what it means." Something about the way she speaks is strange, but I choose not to mention it because I am curious as to what is in my box.
I open the lid to my box. Inside, there is a single slip of paper. I pick it up, realizing it is completely blank, just a white piece of parchment. But when I flip it over, I discover a picture. In the darkness, I can just barely make out a single face with a silver star on the right cheek. Asher.
We move silently through the woods, but as swift as we can. Elisabeth follows me for the two miles to the force field. It takes about two hours because, though we move fast, occasional breaks are required to hide us from tributes nearby. Neither of us wants to kill right now, unless someone attacks. So, we hide.
I have the sword ready for use at any moment, while my ally carries the ax, with the knife tucked in her belt. When I see the cornucopia, I stop abruptly. The golden horn is surrounded by a green force field. I have studied colorful fields and know that the color reveals the intensity of the power running through it. Green is the third most powerful. It is used even by the military because of the severe amounts of electricity is produces.
Inside, several objects are displayed in a circle around the cornucopia. I set of knives. A canteen of water. A roasted bird. A jar. Elisabeth's bottle. But Asher is not here. Slowly, in my mind, I work up the Makers' plan:
Asher must need one of these things, probably the water or food. They knew he would come for his prize, and therefore I would find him. But what if he does not come? Then their plan has failed. And what if he is the one that dies after six? Then I have put myself and Lissie in danger for nothing.
For now, I must keep us as safe as is possible in arena. I scan the area of the woods around us. The force field is fifty yards away, and the cornucopia is probably fifty feet in from there. Around us, the trees are bigger than usual, like those of a rain forest. They seem sturdy, so I decide to climb one.
In my grandfather's rose gardens, there were usually some shade trees that I enjoyed climbing to read a book. Now, I can use the skills I learned to save lives. I pull Elisabeth up with me, which is difficult but manageable. We climb fifteen feet before she wants to stop, scared of heights. I know we should go at least ten feet higher, but we are pretty well protected where we are.
She drifts to sleep as soon as I assure her we are safe, leaning against the trunk on a thick branch. I keep watch all night long. Tiredness never approaches me all night, just the anxiety of meeting up with Asher and punching him in the jaw for disserting me.
At five thirty, I wake Elisabeth who is fully aware of what is to come. I make sure I have the sword ready, she adjusts the knife and grabs her new ax, and I can almost feel the other tributes. But there is something else in the air. Something I cannot put my finger one.
At six in the morning, a gong sounds. I tense but nothing happens. We go ten minutes, but still, nothing happens. What did you expect? I ask myself. Did I honestly think that someone would just jump out of the shrubbery, attack a hidden person, and the force field would go down? How stupid.
But that is when I hear it. Below me. Or above me? Is it beside me? As I look all around, Elisabeth points behind us where it is jumping from tree to tree. A few dozen feet away, a mutant is approaching on tree branches.
I have seen many of these, even had small ones as family pets. Grandfather Coreolanus always allowed enjoyed showing me and Ariana (my cousin) his scientists' creations. This one is like a spider monkey, but so far from. There is no fur covering its skin, only wet green scales. The things has no eyes, but its mouth covers most of what appears to be its face. And that mouth is full of razor sharp teeth, similar to those that surround its tail. It is coming straight for us.
"JUMP!" I yell to her, not worrying about hiding.
She does as I command, and I jump, too. We both land hard on the ground, but luckily neither of us seems hurt. I grab her wrist and run. We run around the edge of the field, careful not to get too close. I can hear the monster behind us, chasing. But I refuse to look back. I know that the Capitol's main reason for using mutants is fear.
As we run, basically in a circle, I see other tributes around us being hunted by the monsters as well. We must have all been here all night long, waiting for someone to break the silence. Now, these monsters have.
As I can hear the mutant catching us, and I can tell Lissie is getting tired, a life-saving event occurs. I see two monsters have cornered two nameless male tributes and simultaneously attack. I look away to avoid the gore, but know they are both dead. I grab Lissie by the wrist and pull her away from energy force field as it goes down and I hear tributes rush toward it. I figured that we did not need to lead the beast toward our valuable gifts, but I quickly realize the thing is not following us. It has run away.
We both turn and head toward the cornucopia where three other tributes have already grabbed their items, but are prepared to fight.
"Get your vial," I tell her, drawing the sword to fight the oncoming tribute, the vice president's son.
I run ahead toward him as she veers to the right and continues to the golden object. I jump and the boy uses a silver shield he has to block my blow. I am temporarily thrown back, giving him the opportunity to jab his knife at me. I dodge it, but he scrapes my arm which begins to bleed. The pain is minimal, but I have another problem. A different boy has joined him and I am now fighting two on one.
I take a leap toward the vice president's son with great strength, but again he uses his shield to block, knocking us both back. This time, though, the other boy, who must be seventeen and strong, tackles me. He has me pinned to the ground and no matter how hard I struggle, he holds me down. He sits on my left knee and holds both arms down. With my right foot, I barely manage to kick him. He knees me between the legs, stopping all resistance and causing very intense pain.
"Your grandfather ruined our nation," scowls my original opponent. "It is his fault that we're here. And now, you're going to pay for it."
He crouches down by my head, spits on my face, and then raises his knife to finish me off. I am too stunned to even blink, knowing that this will be the end of me. I hope beyond hope that Elisabeth will be alright when I am gone.
A knife whizzes above me to hit the boy that has me pinned. It goes straight into his throat and he falls over, stiff as a board. My other attacker is temporarily surprised, and during his moment of hesitation, a knife hits his neck as well. He also falls dead as Asher rushes to my side.
"You OK?" He asks.
"Yeah, where'd you get the knives?"
"A couple of tributes," he looks up. "Lissie!"
She has been pinned to the ground by Jamica at the cornucopia, over thirty feet away. Without even thinking, I scream, "JAMICA!" as I run toward her.
She grins at me before stabbing Elisabeth Homes in the stomach.
Anger fills me and I shake with rage and agony. I pass Asher, who began running before I, and approach the still-sitting murderer. I kick her across her face. I hear her knose break and see the blood pouring out. She scurries away before standing and raising her sword to me.
I will not kill her without effort, I will make her suffer for what she has done.
"Ah, sorry lover boy, but your girlfriend had to go eventually," she remarks.
"So do you!" I scream as I run at her. Our swords cling only once before President Paylor's voice booms throughout the arena.
"STOP!" She screams in a strained voice. "These Games are over! You are all Victors!"
I look at Asher quizzically. He is holding Elisabeth's head. He gives me the same look.
I barely hear Jamica's sword swing toward my face, giving me enough time to jump back so that it leaves only a cut across the golden star. Then, I ram my sword into her heart.
Breathlessly, I scream into the sky. "Self defense!"
"Yes, James," replies the president, obviously relaxing from her rushing to get the news to us.
A hover graft appears overhead. A small platform is lowered into the clearing where we are. Paramedics rush to get Lissie, telling me she is alive. I drop to my knees, the fall. I am still conscious, but worn out. Asher, Peeta, and Katniss run to my side.
"James?" Asher says, panicking.
"I'm fine," I assure him, sitting up with Peeta's help. "Elisabeth?"
"The doctors have her," Katniss tells me soothingly. "Look, they are raising her into the craft now."
"What happened to end this?" Asher asks.
"Right after the showcase in the small arena, Paylor realized that the Gamemakers never got permission to take adult tributes, or more than 24," Peeta explains. "She has been in emergency session with the council since then and they finally agreed with her. She was granted control of the Hunger Games and the Makers are under arrest for murder and abuse of authority."
"I'm tired," I tell them mindlessly. The next thing I remember is laughter before I pass out.
