Day Eight:
District 5: Teller
The water is rising. I shake my head to try to clear rainwater from my ears; when I place my feet there is a splashing sound rather than the squelch of mud.
I'm sopping wet but I can't even feel the cold anymore; the pain in my stomach has become a dull, endless ache which I can almost ignore because the Games are nearly over. I just need to survive five more booms of the cannon and I can go home. My head feels fuzzy and I stumble but I keep moving out of the rising river and towards the trees.
I spot another tribute; the boy from District Six, trudging along towards the trees. There are palpitations in my chest but I see that he is trying to keep an eyeball in its socket and realise he isn't likely to attack me. I decide to put some distance between us and sit on the ground, waiting for him to pick a direction and enter the trees. It's fortunate I am close to the floor as a tree explodes the moment the boy stands on the forest floor, ripping his head and arms from his body and throwing me back on the ground.
I look back at the rushing water and then towards the trees; I feel like a sheep being herded towards the metal box. I consider sitting here and waiting for the water to catch up with me but a wolf howl behind me makes me stand; I'll take my chances with the tributes rather than be torn apart by animals.
The Games will end today… the river, trees or wolves will find any hiding tributes and I don't think my body can take another cold night. I drop my backpack but take out my folding knife, it's not very sharp but I'd rather have it than leave it behind.
Walking is tiring but I plod onwards towards the metal box and towards the end.
District 2: Silver
I awake to the sound of cannon fire and explosions; for a brief irrational moment I wonder if I am dead.
How could I have fallen asleep?! I had intended to sit and watch the others give in to sleep and then slit their throats. My eyes dart around the camp and I see that I am not the only one to have fallen asleep or unconscious in the night: Mya's head lolls unnaturally and I see Teelo stagger his way towards her, knife in hand. What now? Do I try to stand and fight? Should I try to run towards the field?
I decide to lie back down and ready my knife under my body; how I wish I had my axe or a sword! The floor shakes slightly when the cannon signals Mya's death and I allow my head to droop on my arm, as if I am unconscious. I squint slightly and see Teelo look in my direction, I don't know if he believes my ruse or not but he advances towards Nock.
My District partner makes no attempt at subterfuge and stumbles his way to a sword which was strewn on the floor during the storm. Teelo screams as they clash and I can see that the wound in his side is causing him great pain as well as preventing him from having full range of movement.
Nock punches Teelo squarely in the jaw and the District One boy stumbles backwards but keeps his footing. Teelo recovers and brings the knife hilt down smartly on Nock's skull; I wince at the thought of his fresh stitches and admire Nock's grim determination as he stabs his sword into Teelo's foot, pinning it to the ground.
Teelo screams in pain and pushes his knife up to the hilt into Nock's shoulder; then again and again into his lower gut until his bowl spills out onto the murky floor. A cannon sounds and Teelo pulls the sword from his foot; he curses loudly before turning his head towards me.
I push myself to my feet and watch his painful progress across the clearing. I don't want to fall foul of his sword so I make a risky decision; I bend slightly at the waist and rush him with all the strength I have left. My slim body knocks Teelo to the ground; I spring upright and take the opportunity to stamp hard on his wounded foot.
"Bitch!" He screams as he tries to stand, I kick him across the face and heavily in his stomach. My axe lies temptingly to my right and I pick it up, though this gives Teelo time to right himself and stab the back of my thigh with his sword. Pain shoots through my body and my leg tries to crumble beneath me but I only fall to my knee and swing my axe, embedding it into Teelo's face.
District 5: Teller
I lean against the metal box and witness the horrific final battle of the strong tribute pack. The District Two girl is so strong that I wonder if I should just sit here, wait to be noticed and hope she'll give me a clean death.
The girl sits back on her haunches, clearly exhausted from her fight to survive. I crawl around the metal box and ready my knife; I take a deep breath and leap at the girl, stabbing her in the back. She springs upwards, screaming like a harpy, and scrabbles behind her for the weapon. I back off, if I can get away now then I can out last her!
With every bit of strength left in my body I turn and run back tow….
District 2: Silver
The axe buries itself in the District Five boy's head. The final cannon fires but the sound is muffled.
I slump forwards and see I am in a puddle of my own blood, perhaps that cannon was mine, perhaps I am already dead.
