2:7 Toasted tribute
The easy course of action would be for me to let Finnick, and anyone who wants to follow him, make their own way from here. We are close enough to our destination to make the map unnecessary. But I trust the black cat to warn me of danger, which it has just done. Crossing the intersection ahead will be dangerous and I must convince Finnick to follow me.
"You chose me as your leader for this mission, Finnick," I say. "As your leader, I say we take a safer route across this intersection. You saw how helpless you were to protect yourself in the square. You can't fight or outrun those creatures."
"But how do you know the creatures aren't lurking along the route you are about to take us," replies Finnick. "You tell us there is danger ahead, yet none of us can see it."
"I simply trust my instincts, Finnick. I can only do what I think is right. If you don't like it, then next time … if there is a next time … you should choose another leader. Now follow me."
I don't wait for Finnick's reply before walking off in the direction the black cat took. The trail leads us into a building and down a wide staircase. The black cat waits patiently at the bottom of the stairs. It's very dim down here but a hole in ceiling a short distance ahead lets in enough light to see a tunnel ahead. From the experience I gained exploring the disused underground railway tunnels in District Eight, I think this tunnel leads to the other side of the intersection. I wait a few moments for anyone following me to catch up. Cecelia and Mags soon join me, followed a short while later by Woof and Haymitch. Finally Finnick joins us.
Without any further words I lead the way along the tunnel. The light from the collapsed ceiling doesn't stretch far enough to see the other end of the tunnel. Before long we have to grope our way along the tunnel. Without any order from me we link hands so as not to leave anyone behind. I follow the faint mewing sound from the black cat, which is a metre or so ahead of me. After five minutes of walking at a snail's pace I notice the tunnel is getting lighter. I can just make out the white tiled walls and before long I can detect some stairs leading up.
By the time we reach the bottom of the stairs we can all see well enough to no longer need to hold onto each other. The cat doesn't hesitate to go up the stairs and I follow. The others quickly join me. The top of the stairs is inside another ruined building and we carefully work our way through the rubble towards the exit to the street outside. I tell the others to remain hidden while Finnick and I take a quick look around.
Sure enough, we are on the opposite side of the main intersection and our destination is only a hundred metres away along the street to our left. We are about to rejoin the others when we see another team of tributes on the other side of the intersection. I recognise Gloss and Cashmere, which means it must be the red team. I can only see four of them crossing the intersection though. They must have lost two of their team.
The way the team is moving suggests that they too have previously encountered some of the creatures. They are continually scanning their surroundings and the air above them. They are half way across when a bellowing sound shatters the silence. I can't tear my eyes away as a four metre long dragon lands in front of their path. The team turns and runs back towards the relative safety of the rubble on the other side of the road. The dragon spits a wide stream of flaming liquid in their direction. I can't see whether all of them were caught, but it would be instant death for anyone who was hit by the wall of flame. Finnick and I return to the others while the dragon is busy on the other side of the road.
"We need to leave at once," I say. "There's a dragon out there, but it is busy for the moment."
The cat leads the way at a brisk pace and we follow at a steady jog. We cover the hundred metres to the place which the map says is our destination. There's a short section of what must have once been a two metre high wall. But I can't see any marker to say we have found our goal. We are still inside the simulation, so there must be something more to be done.
"Now what?" asks Haymitch. "Are you sure we are in the right place?"
I look at the map. I read the instructions again. I'm certain we are in the right place and with ten minutes to spare.
"Read the instructions to us again," says Cecelia. I do as she asks.
"… reach the destination two hours after you start," I read out aloud.
"Wait!" says Mags. "It doesn't say within two hours. It simply says two hours. Perhaps we are too early."
What Mags says makes sense. But it means we must find somewhere to hide for the next ten minutes. The cat has disappeared so is no longer any help to me. The area around us looks like a small park or gardens that have reverted to nature. There's nowhere useful for us to hide from the creatures that roam this arena. It we move too far away we may not be able to get back here in time.
We settle for hiding in the low bushes about twenty metres from where the map says our goal is located. A few minutes later we hear something approaching. We let out a collective sigh of relief when we see that it isn't a creature but three other tributes. Cato, Enobaria and the male tribute from District Ten; the survivors of the blue team. They seem equally relieved to see us. Enobaria is sporting a nasty gash on her arm and Mags uses our first aid kit to tend to her wound. Their own kit was lost in their flight from one of the creatures.
Exactly two hours after we started a door appears in the wall. The nine of us don't hesitate to run to the door. The next thing we know we are back in the real world. We are the only tributes to make it through the simulation alive, although in reality all the tributes are unharmed. Those who 'died' simply woke up in their cylinder and were taken to the debriefing room to wait for the rest of us.
There's a lot of discussion about our experience in the arena. If this training didn't have a sinister purpose I think several tributes would be willing to make another attempt. A Gamemaker joins our discussion.
"The creatures you faced were from ancient mythology," answers the Gamemaker to Beetee's question. "As several of you discovered, your chances of fighting them and winning were practically non-existent. Those of you who evaded the creatures were the only ones who survived. I hope you learned the lessons taught in this simulation, because you enter an equally challenging arena in two days time. Only with the Hunger Games arena there will only be one person leaving it alive."
We finish our discussion and go for lunch. Finnick comes over to the table where Cato and I are eating.
"I want to apologise for doubting your leadership, Katniss," says Finnick. "You can rely on my support in future."
"Thank you, Finnick. But next time I suggest you give more thought to who should be leader. People are more likely to follow you than me."
"If I had been leader, our team would have probably suffered the same fate as the red and green teams."
Finnick leaves Cato and I to ourselves.
"You did well to bring all your team through that exercise," says Cato.
"I had help from the black cat," I admit.
"Me too," replies Cato. "The three of us nearly didn't make it. The black cat guided me to safety. The other two simply followed me."
We share a kiss and allow our relief at surviving the simulation to wash over us. If only we can survive the Hunger Games arena as easily. We enjoy our moment of intimacy; there may not be many more of them.
[end of episode 2]