Author Note: Warning violence, gore, and bloodshed. The games have finally started. I hope I do them proud.
I Own Nothing.
Chapter 14: Let The Games Begin.
Rose, Edward, and I make our way onto the roof top. We take our spots where a District 12 sign now stands. Out of nowhere a hovercraft appears, and twenty four ladders dropped down. Edward and I exchange a quick glance at each other and we each grab one of the ladders. The second my hand and foot make contact I'm frozen. Not out of fright or anything like that. No, I am literally glued in place by some sort of current that ran through the ladder itself. We are lifted into the hovercraft and only once we are safely on-board, the current let go of us. Peacekeepers guard the exits for attempted suicides. Glad our safety is so important to them.About ten minutes into the flight the Jasper comes into the room.
"Normally we land and you are each placed in a pod to be released into the arena. This year you are to jump off this hovercraft. Anyone who doesn't jump will be pushed. Anyone who, tries to jump early will be shot. You will each be given a parachute. It's a five point harness attachment, the red handle is the release for the parachute. We will be over the arena in three minutes and you will be jumping in five. I'd advise you to get those packs on quickly because, you will be pushed off regardless."
Jasper motioned to a Peacekeeper and we were all handed packs with parachutes inside. I was able to get mine on without to much hassle. I looked around. Many were still struggling. Edward was able to get his on as well. I spied Riley trying to put Bree's on. My heart sank. Even if he get's it on, who's going to pull the release for her. I saw many green faces. We were ordered to stand in the doorways. Now had to wait.
As we all stool near doorways I heard crying sobs coming from a girl I think she was the District 9 tribute. She was struggling with the straps of the pack and having no luck. She looked up for the briefest minute and we made eye contact. What I saw fear, panic, and dread but, then it all melted away and it was replaced with a look of resolve and acceptance. She turned and jumped. The loud cracks of many guns being firing at once surrounded us. I looked out the door the girl was tore apart by the bullets and a red mist of her blood filled the air. Body parts and fluids rained down into the arena. I was sure I'd have nightmares about that scene for the rest of my natural life. A cannon fired signaling the first sacrifice of the games.
"Well looks like you are down to 23. Not much sport in that kill but I'm sure you will all make up for that in the arena." Jasper announces,
"Which if you haven't noticed yet, we are now over. You may jump once I finish opening the games and give you the signal."
A camera crew is present and filmed all of this, the poor girls suicide was just aired on live T.V. They focus their cameras on Jasper and he began speaking,
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen to 'The 74th Annual Hunger Games' tributes, may the odds be ever in your favor. I now proclaim these games…Open!
You may all jump now!" he yells.
I take a deep breath and took the plunge. I count to ten then pulled my chute release, hoping I was far enough from the other tributes not to get tangled with their lines. A sharp pull of the parachutes release knocked the wind out of me. Once I get my breath back I take in my surrounding I had a great aerial view of the arena. It had three main sections, a large lake, a heavily wooded forest, and a mountainous valley. They all slightly overlapped each other. In the center the of it all the cornucopia stood in all it's glory. Tall, solid gold in the shape of a huge horn it was a sight to see.
Unfortunately, I just then I see little Bree's body falling, without the aid of the parachute she dropped like a rock. She hit the lake and never resurfaced. Another cannon fire went off. I didn't want to dwell on her death. I'll mourn for her later.
Then a bit further away from me I saw two tributes get their parachutes tangled. They were doing somersaults around each other getting even more tangled. They crashed into the mountain side, leaving a red stain down the mountain face. Again the cannon fired two more times.
By some miracle everyone else seemed to have gotten their packs on and chutes released. I could only hope Edward wasn't one of the tangled duo.
I was approaching the ground more quickly now. I aimed for the sandy shore of the lake. It was close to the cornucopia and would cushion the impacted of landing. I hit the ground with a thud, but the sand did help take the brunt of the impact. I looked around tributes were landing here and there. I released the pack from my back and took off for the gold horn.
Irina was in a battle with Benito. Gianna was battling Maria. James, Laurent, Alec and Jane were securing the cornucopia. Like most years the careers controlled and reaped the rewards that were held by the horn. I spied a loaded backpack I grabbed it and looked for Edward he had just landed near the lake. I ran up to him and handed him the pack.
"Take it and run. Good luck." I said and shoved him toward the wood.
He took off. Man that boy is fast. He made it there in no time and disappeared in a matter of seconds. I could breath a little easier. I turned back to the battle field. A few smart tributes did as Edward had and did a grab and run. However, several battles were being fought all around me. Just before I could make a move the female tribute from 8 attacked me. She was using the cord from the parachute. She keep trying to wrap it around my neck. She was doing a horrible job and I evaded her with ease. I was about to make my move when, a she dropped face first onto the ground, A knife embedded into her back. I looked up and saw Gianna a few feet away.
"Quit, playing with the girl and help us secure the fort. Irina was killed by Benito. I killed him and wounded Maria who fled. Laurent killed the lumberjack (District 7's male tribute) and James killed the male tribute from 8. Now start pulling your weight or we will cut you down, we don't need the gifts that bad." she yells at me.
I run over to where the witch twins and James were. James was barking orders.
"You two go get the District 6 tributes they stole the first aid kit. Have fun with them. You."
He turned to me and handed me a bow and arrow. Never thought it would be that easy to secure my weapon on choice.
"Guard the inventory while we eliminate the rest and lock down our fort." he says and walks off.
I stood looking around. Out of nowhere Laurent and Nahuel appeared fighting with each other. I looked around no one else seemed to notice. Laurent had a bloody nose, black eye, and he seemed to be struggling to keep standing. Nahuel was like a lion waiting for the right time to pounce on his prey. Then with one graceful move Nahuel got a hold of Laurent's head and broke his neck. Panting he looked around and spotted me.
"Are you going to shoot me now?" he say in a low voice.
I hadn't released I had my bow at the ready until he said that. I studied him. Something about him made me want to like him.
"No, but Edward is out there if you see him in trouble you must help him. Can you do that for me?" I ask.
"You have my word." he says and then runs off, just then James comes back,
"What the hell happened?" he motions to Laurent's dead body.
"That guy from District 5 sneaked up on us. He broke Laurent's neck and ran off before I could get a good shot." I hope my lie was believable.
"Shit, well pay more attention next time. Come on we need to get the bodies together for pick up." he motions for me to take Laurent's feet.
The cannon began to fire off six times. The bloodbath at the cornucopia was over. 14 tributes still remained. A hovercraft scooped up the remains of the dead tributes. Jane and Alec were still out looking for the District 6 tributes. James, Gianna, and I stockpiled the goodies that were near the horn inside the cornucopia and did inventory.
Twenty knives, three swords, two spears, five-1 gallon bottles of water, a couple dozen cans of food (canned fruit, veggies, and meats), my bow and a nice collection of arrows, rope, tarps, flashlights, two more backpacks like the one I gave Edward, matches, extra cloths, and tents. Everything you would need to survive.
I realize just how easy the careers had it every year. They didn't have to worry about food, water, shelter, or weapons. They were handed what they needed as long as they could secure the cornucopia. While everyone else scrambled to get away hoping to live to see another day.
"Gianna you take the first watch." James tells her.
She nods and grabs a half dozen knives and starts patrolling the area.
"Isabella I was given orders not to harm you as long as you worked with us. I will play nice for now but, the second you step out of line I will be there. Jane and Alec won't mind having some fun with you as well. Keep that in mind for when we find your lover boy. Oh, I'm sorry I mean husband." he said the word husband like it left a foul taste in his mouth.
"Now be a good little girl and build us a fire. After all fire is your specialty isn't it." he says.
I could tell he didn't want to play nice as he put it, but he would as long as he was reaping the rewards of whatever deal he had made. Which made me wonder what he was promised.
I built a fire. Fixed us a meal. Gianna, James, and I ate in silence. James took the next watch. He was patrolling when Jane and Alec came back with the first aid kit and the tributes from District 6. They were bound, gagged and looked beat up, but they were still alive.
James ordered me to cook for them. I kept my mouth shut and fixed them each a plate. I was about to fix the a plate for each of the 'prisoners' when James told me not to. Gianna grabbed me from behind and held me in place as James got into my face.
"We are going to have some fun with these two. I will have Gianna here restrain you, so your not tempted to be a goody two shoes and help them. I'm doing this for your benefit. You need to be ready for when we catch your husband. This will help desensitize your moral conscious. Now sit back and enjoy the show." he says and walks over the Jane and Alec.
I was being forced to watch these innocent kids be tortured. This wasn't for my benefit or to help me in some way. No, this was James having his fun with me without laying a finger on me. He knew I was helpless. I couldn't aid them even if I wanted to. All I could do was hope they killed them quick, but I got this horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that this would not be that simple.
Jane places one of the swords into the fire, while Alec pounds four posts into the ground.
"Sister dear which one of these yummy tributes do you prefer?" Alec asks sweetly.
Jane circles the poor tributes while licking her lips.
"I think the girl look quite taste." she purrs.
Alec and James, then tied the girl face up attaching each limb to one of the posts in the ground. All the while she sobbed trying to plead with them through the gag. Once they were satisfied she couldn't get free James sat next to me, and Alec joined his sister near the fire. They approached the defenseless girl, Alec with a maniacal smile, and Jane holding the sword by the hilt, being careful to avoid the blade which, glowed from the heat it absorbed while sitting in the fire. Alec knelt beside the girl and unzipped the jumpsuit and tore the button up shirt open. He then removed her belt and opened her pants reveling her underwear. He stood admiring his work and turned to his sister,
"Is this how you wanted her?" he asks.
"Yes that will do Brother dear." she coos as if he were a lover not a sibling.
She then placed the tip of the sword at the end of the girls sternum applied a bit of pressure and ran the blade down the center of the now screaming tribute midsection, stopping at the pelvis. Alec bent down again and shoved his hands into the gaping hole his sister made and removed the girl's bowels. He then dropped them on top of her.
"Are you in the mood for breast, thigh, or liver?" Jane asks.
"Liver, I haven't had liver in a while." he says as if ordering from a menu.
"Good choice!" Jane says excitedly.
Jane then takes the sword and pushes the girls intestines aside making them fall to the ground. She then drops the sword and pulls a knife from her belt. She opens the hole wider and proceeds to cut the girls liver out. Thankfully the girl was unconscious by this time.
"Do you want it cooked or raw?" Jane asks in a sweet voice, while holding up the tributes liver.
"Cooked." he says matter-of-factly and picked up a long stick and skewered it and proceeded to cook it over the campfire.
I was feeling sick and bent over and lost the meal I just ate.
"Oh, does itty bitty Bewa not like what she is seeing." James mocks in a baby voice.
"You're all sick. How can you sit here and watch this?" I asked Gianna.
"You do what you've got to do to survive in these games." she says but she did have a look of pure disgust on her face.
"Spoken like a true career. Well put!" James says to her.
By this time Jane was done having fun with this tribute. She walked over to were our supplies were and picked out a small bottler of oil. She poured it over the prisoner. She then bent down and tried to revive the girl. The poor thing's eyes fluttered but never opened. I guess this was good enough for Jane. She took out a match, struck it and threw it onto the poor girl. The fire must have awaken her because her bloodcurdling screams filled the air and then were silenced, the girl wouldn't utter another sound ever again. A cannon fired in the distance. A hovercraft appeared and scooped up the remains.
Alec came over with the now cooked liver. He and his sister then ate the liver like it was the most delicious of delicacies.
"Want some?" Alec offers. James and Gianna declined. All I could do is continue to dry heave.
"Suit yourself more for us." he says while taking a huge bite.
I shiver in disgust. The other tribute from 6 was whimpering. I had almost forgotten about him. I looked over and noticed the poor guy wet himself. He was scared to death and knew he was next.
What happened next surprised me. Gianna pulled a knife out of her belt and threw it at the District 6 tribute. It lodged in his cheek, he slumped. A cannon fired, a hovercraft appeared, and the boy was gone. Gianna then said to all of us,
"I was tired of hearing him whimper." and she shrugs like it was nothing.
I was sort of happy she did it. No I didn't want to watch another person die but, at least he didn't suffer at the hands of the evil twins. Jane and Alec looked put out but, didn't complain. James just laughed,
"Well that wasn't much of a show but, it was productive. One less tribute to worry about." he chuckles again.
I am really starting to hate him. James made a watch schedule. I wasn't to be left alone. So as I tended to the fire to keep it burning, Jane was patrolling. Alec was taking a nap and James was plotting the next move with Gianna.
The anthem played then images of the dead filled the sky. Laurent and Irina from District 1, the two tributes I watched die from 6, Districts 7, 8, 9 lost their tributes, Benito from District 10, and poor little Bree ended the loses for today. The Capitol must be happy. Half the tributes killed in the first 12 hours of the games. James stood and announced,
"I'm going to scout the area and see if I can figure out what direction everyone went. If I pick up a strong trail I'll follow it. I'll be back by morning. Watch her." he said to Gianna motioning towards me.
James grabbed a back pack and was off. A couple of hours later Jane came back and Alec took over patrolling. Jane also settled down to nap. I felt the weight of today hit me and I decided to try and get some sleep. I must have dozed off, I can hear hushed voices not far from were I am laying.
"I don't like it. We are keeping her alive for what? We have all we need." I recognize Jane's voice.
"Listen it can't hurt to have her close besides as soon as she has outlived her usefulness we can have some fun with her." James' voice counters.
"Fine but, you better let us have our fun as well." Alec answers.
"You can have her after I'm done having my fun with her. Now we have to hunt down Cullen. The rest shouldn't be hard to eliminate well with the exception of the male from 5." James says.
"What about Gianna?" asks Jane.
"She's been loyal so far and she is good with a knife. We stick to the plan. Kill Cullen, hunt the remaining tributes, have our fun with Swan, and then it's every person for themselves." James finishes.
They must have agreed because I didn't hear any arguments. I played sleeping until I couldn't hear any of them. So, they were going to hunt Edward first. It didn't sound like James picked up his trail. I would make sure they didn't get their hands on Edward and hopefully be able to break apart from them.
I'd bide my time just like they were. I hope Edward is doing alright, I miss him holding me as I try to sleep. I hope Rose was able to get Edward's parents out of the Capitol and I wonder if my family is alright.
Every time I tried to close my eyes and get back to sleep, all I could see is the images of the horrors I've seen today. Morning finally came and I was ordered to make breakfast. I rebuilt the fire and served canned fruit. No one complained. Gianna went to get some sleep. I'm assuming she was patrolling when I heard the others talking. James and Alec were off to try and track down Edward. They wouldn't let me come and Jane was given the go ahead to kill me if I tried to follow. Jane glared at me the whole time.
"If it weren't for you, Alec and I would have won the Kings favor. I can't wait to cut you to ribbons. You are a pest and I can't wait to squish you." she sneers at me.
"Wow, don't hold anything back now, Jane. Tell me how you really feel." I quip.
"I see nothing special about you. I just don't get the draw you have on people." she says.
"Well not having to worry I'll eat them might help. I wouldn't be so sure you'll get your hands on me either, it might be the other way around. Unlike you I'll make it quick." I answer.
She laughs, "You think you have a chance against us. We are careers. We were born and bred to be victors. You were born to shovel coal. You don't stand a chance." she says.
"Well this coal shoveling kid is going to watch you and your brother die right here in this arena." I said.
I must have taken it a step to far because, she attacks me. I dodged her causing her to stumble, but she regained her footing quickly. She pulled a knife and swung it at me. It narrowly missed. I searched for a weapon. My bow and arrow were a few feet away. As I dodged another assault from her knife I dove for my weapon. She went at me with renewed vigilance once she saw I got the bow. She was able to get a good swipe of her knife across my left upper arm. I hurt like hell but, I needed to focus on defending myself. I got a good kick in causing her to stagger back a foot or two. I was able to draw an arrow and fired. It hit it's mark. It went right through her neck. Her eyes wore a look of pure shock before she dropped to the ground dead.
A cannon fired and the hovercraft came to collect the body. A parachute came minutes later. It was medicine for my wound and bandages. On the instructions care I felt a message. 'Be Ready.' it said. I sure hope that means I can get the hell out of this hell hole soon. I bandaged myself as best I could and went over to the supplies. I packed the remaining bandages and medicine in a backpack with some other supplies. I hid it with a tarp which I would also take, and waited for the others to return. I kept my bow and arrow with me just in case.
Up Next,
Meet and Greet.