The Pit
I know the sun rises in the east. Based on that, I've calculated that that the volcano is south and the beach is north. I head toward the western cliffs. Every time I hear an animal running, I feel my heart drop to my stomach because I think it's the boy from Eight coming to chop me up. I never see the animals though because they are so fast. Looks like I won't be catching breakfast with my slingshot. I hear strange moans in the distance. I decide to fire off a few practice shots at a nearby tree to perfect my aim. I feel proud of myself for always hitting my marks, until I remember that my targets aren't moving. The tributes will be moving though, running away if they aren't running towards me with a weapon of their own. I hear the moans again but now closer. I pull out my slingshot and load it. I see a small goat run right past me. Startled, I trip over the roots of a tree beside me. Chasing the goat is a large black pig, twice the size of the goat. I lick my lips because right now I'm so hungry I would settle for either.
I tail the pig, waiting for him to catch his prey and let his guard down. Both animals are so quick, it's hard for me to keep up. I think I'm getting closer but then I feel the ground beneath me vanish. I drop almost fifteen feet into the earth below. It's a trap, and I have fallen right into it. I stand up but my right foot is in pain. I try to climb my way out but it's of no use, the dirt walls give way, dropping me back into the pit. I keep trying but hopelessness wins me over. I think my foot is broken, but it doesn't matter. I will be dead soon. Whoever set the trap will be back at any moment. All they would have to do now is bury me alive or stone me to death. I have become the sitting duck. I wonder how pathetic I must look to everyone watching. I can imagine the people in the Capitol laughing as they catch a glimpse of me on their television sets before they get back to whatever is more important. I take off my backpack and pull out the nuts. If I'm going to die, it's going to be on my own terms. I toss the whole bag in my mouth. I chew them slowly and let the nuts marinate in my mouth before swallowing them.
At first I feel nothing and am surprised by how good the nuts are. They are salty and sweet, yet do nothing to quell my hunger. Then the allergies kick in. I feel my throat start to itch. It feels like my throat is closing as breathing becomes harder but I can think of worse ways to die in the arena. I start to let out short gasps of air. I refuse to drink any of my water, in fear that it might somehow save me. I lay in the bottom of the pit, welcoming death…but it never comes. About fifteen minutes have passed and I'm already feeling back to normal. I hear footsteps above me. I lie on my stomach and play dead.
"What the hell?" the boy yells. "I come back expecting to find breakfast and look who it is."
I don't move an inch. Then I remember that there are no dead bodies in the arena. They are removed by the gamemakers via hovercraft.
"Uhh, are you playing dead Thales?" the boy ask.
I knew the voice sounded familiar but I must have been too scared to realize. I turn over and look up at the boy who is wearing glasses. His black hair almost looks white with the sun shining on top of it. It's Oscar. He tosses down a vine and tells me to climb up.