Chapter 11

This is it.

"Violet, remember everything I told you," Mitzey lectures. Her face is a mask of worry. "Stay close to Flame. Try to grab the axe. If someone else gets it first, forget about it, you can get it later if the person that has it is killed. Get a small backpack. Then head for the hills. Got it, kid?"

This has got to be the longest speech I've ever hear her make. "Yeah."

"Don't forget this," Star murmurs. He stops adjusting my black jacket, then kneels down. He lifts one pant-leg and puts on my mom's anklet- my District Token. He faces it so the amethyst jewels are outwards, then he rolls down my pant-leg.

"Thanks." I take in a deep breath, feeling jittery.

"Good luck," Start says softly.

I know this is always the hardest part for him, so I give him a reassuring and confident smile. Though I think my eyes are telling a different story.

"You can do this, kid. Good luck." Mitzey hugs me, which is hopefully not the last time. I step inside the clear tube. It slowly begins to rise. My heart bangs against my chest.

The arena appears before me. Hmmm. It's the Classic Arena, I've seen it before. Each section being a type of biome. Forest, Grassland, Arctic, everything. The Cornucopia shines brightly in the center.

I guess after 700 years the Gamemakers can't think of any original ideas.

Flame stands a couple feet away from me. His face is confident, determined. He has every reason to be. Caleb gives his sister a sad smile.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Harry Donnolly's voice rings. "Let the 713th Hunger Games begin!"

Sixty seconds.

I crane my neck a little bit. The Careers look as confident as ever. Wish looks totally thrilled, and Vera looks freakishly relaxed. Taylor is stoic.

Fifty seconds.

I take a look at the other tributes. It's pretty easy to tell who's won't make it past the Bloodbath.

Forty seconds.

I turn to Flame. "You okay?" I mouth. He nods and points to me, his eyebrows raised. You? I nod.

Thirty seconds.

I hope my mom isn't having a stroke or contemplating suicide. I hope Dad's comforting her.

Twenty seconds.

A scream of agony fills the air, then a cannon fires. What the hell? I turn to my left. The boy from District Five is gone. Two men are at his plate, cleaning up. Bethany, who is next to the two guys, blinks back tears.

"He dropped his token." Flame mouths.

It dawns on me. The poor kid had tried to get his token and stepped off his plate and disintegrated. My hands run through my hair. "Holy shit, holy shit..." My breathing gets faster. Calm down! A voice screams in my head.

"Well, what an interesting twist! We have already lost our first tribute, Daniel Jones of District Five. Are you two done cleaning?"

The two guys wave and leave.

"Okay! Resume the clock at eighteen seconds!" Harry commands.

18, 17, 16, 15...

I breathe slowly in and out. In and out. Good, I'm not hyperventilating anymore. I look straight ahead at the Cornucopia.

10, 9, 8, 7...

I spot a long, silver axe gleaming. It's mine.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

All the tributes sprint towards the Cornucopia. Flame sprints closer to me.

"I'll grab the supplies," I say.

"Sure, but let's focus on weapons first," he grunts.

We reach the Cornucopia. I see Electra pick up my axe. My axe! "She's got my axe!" I screech.

"No she doesn't!" Flame points and I follow his gaze. Caleb sneaks up behind her and grabs her neck, choking her. Electra's face turns a dark blue that contrasts with her red hair. Kalliope sneaks around, grabbing a small brown backpack.

I get the handle of a small black backpack, but Xia Fields of District Nine snatches the other handle. She tugs and tries to pull away from me, but I land a punch on her eye and she falls down. Flame wrestles her partner, and twists his neck. I hear a sickening crack and he drops like a stone. Xia sees her partner dead on the ground and runs.

I hold out a knife to Flame, but he yells, "Look out!" He shoves me out of the way, taking an arrow to the shoulder. He cries out in pain.

"Flame!" I look to my right and see Melody Kane of District Twelve a couple feet away. She turns to flee.

Fury floods through me. "Who do you think you are, Katniss Everdeen?" I fling the knife towards her, and it lands in her back. She tumbles to the ground.

I hear another cry of pain as Flame takes out the arrow. "Let's bail." He yells.

"To the swamp!" We sprint northeast. Flame clutches his shoulder. I wave to Caleb and Kalliope and they follow.

Within minutes, we're deep in the swamp. I lean against a tree, catching my breath. Kalliope holds her stomach and breathes heavily. Caleb has his hands on his knees.

"Everyone... okay?" He wheezes.

I check my body. I have a bruise of my hand from punching Xia, but nothing too bad. "I'm good."

"I have a cut on my chin." Kalliope points to a gash on her chin. "And I think I'm gonna throw up."

"Go over there if you have to," Caleb says. Kalliope goes over to a bush and retches. "So, any kills? Might as well ask."

"I killed the boy from Nine." Flame says.

"I think I killed the girl from Twelve," I chime in.

"No kills for me." Kalliope returns to our circle. "Oh, Violet, we got the axe for you. Caleb has it." He holds it out to me and I take it eagerly. "Kalliope grabbed it." Caleb clarifies.

"You are one sneaky little chick." I say to Kalliope. "And props to you," I say to Caleb. "You killed a Career." He fist bumps me.

"Uh, guys?" It's Flame. We turn. Kalliope gasps.

Flame's shoulder was bleeding. A lot.

Muahahahahahaha CLIFFY! Part 2 will be up soon...

Song for Chapter: Faint by Linkin Park

~LDD