I'm back! Sorry for the wait :( I have a couple essays I need to write, as well as a big test to be terrified for… Thank you so much to everyone who read and reviewed, especially those I can't reply to, like ihavenoaccount :)

Well, here it is, the Cornucopia battle!

I stare at the sky, willing it to be anyone but Violet. –Alder Zane

Chapter 14

I've never been so grateful I can swim. The water isn't the only way to or from the Cornucopia, but it's my best option. For the tributes who aren't strong swimmers, there are two narrow land bridges running across the wide lake, one straight to the golden horn, and one straight into the forest. I can see the girl from District 2, Celestina, standing three of four pedestals away from me. She's eyeing one of the bridges, positioning her feet to make a leap for it when the time comes. I feel sorry for the tributes who know that bridge is their only hope, since they'll have to go through Celestina, who will undoubtedly be guarding it.

I don't see any more of the Careers on my side of the Cornucopia. I don't see Violet, either. The only others I recognize are the two tributes from 11, and the constantly trembling boy from 3. I should be able to swim to the Cornucopia's small island in a relatively short amount of time. I'm truly surprised at myself for preparing to run right into a bloodbath. But the dangers of being caught by the Careers, all of whom will most likely make it there before I do, are forgotten when I catch sight of a spear, leaning against a crate of supplies at the edge of the island. I focus on the countdown and get ready to swim, my eyes never leaving my weapon.

The Cornucopia is a trap, designed to lure us in with all the supplies we can't get on our own, like medicine and sleeping bags. The funny thing is that everyone who goes into the bloodbath is aware of that, even me. It's like a rabbit watching someone set a snare, and then stepping right into it.

"Ten…nine…eight…" says the voice of Augustus Silverwood, who will be safe in the Capitol while we're dying in the wilderness. His biggest worry right now is whether or not he can pronounce all sixty numbers of the countdown, which is just a way of saying he's got nothing to worry about at all.

"Five…four…three…" I glance down to the blue-green surface of the lake and wonder for a moment if I should have spent more time at the fishing station.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let the 6th Hunger Games begin!" The jarringly loud sound of a gong rings out, and there's a huge splash as I, along with most of the other tributes, leap into the water.

It isn't the cold that slows me down so much as the heavy clothes I'm wearing. By the time I climb up onto the Cornucopia's island, the majority of the tributes are already there. I start to run for the spear, but another tribute elbows me out of the way as she darts past to pick up a long metal blowgun. It's the girl from 11. She doesn't turn to see who she knocked down, with only enough time to grab her weapon and a backpack before jumping back into the water.

I start to get to my feet, and am nearly decapitated by the blade of an oversized axe. Thankfully, the boy from 2 is taking no notice of me, preoccupied with trying to lodge his weapon in the boy from District 6. I scramble out of the way just before his weapon swings by in what would have been a fatal blow.

I'm too late to get my spear. Julius reached the supply crate just before I did, picking up my weapon and forcing me to retreat to the other side of the island. I spot a few other spears, but much farther in than I want to risk going. I'm thinking about how I can't afford to leave empty handed when I nearly trip over a small backpack. I put it on and start running for the water. Moments after the splash, I hear Prime's voice, and think of how glad I am the Gamemakers decided to put us on opposite sides of the circle.

I make it to land again safely, washing up on a sandless beach in a matter of minutes. No one has followed me. I take a moment to catch my breath and check for injuries. I've actually managed to make it out of the bloodbath with only a few scrapes and bruises to show for it. I celebrate by allowing myself a few minutes more to recover.

After I rest as long as I can afford to, I drag myself from the soggy dirt into a standing position. It's time to put as much distance between myself and the other tributes as possible.

Nearly a minute after I've started walking through the woods, five cannon blasts rock the arena. Five? I'm in disbelief. There has never been less. Never from the bloodbath.

I'm still walking, still wondering how so many could have escaped, when the sun starts to sink lower in the sky. I decide I've traveled far enough to risk stopping for the night. Before I sleep, though, I have to sort through my supplies. I may not have a chance to in the morning. The Gamemakers can't be pleased with the unsatisfactory Cornucopia battle, and are probably planning a punishment for us.

The contents of my backpack are spread out on the ground by the time the sun disappears below the horizon. I find knife with a short, serrated blade, an empty water bottle, a length of rope, a packet of dried apple slices. The most valuable item inside the pack is a collapsible fishing pole, which will be remarkably useful in an arena like this.

As I'm packing away my supplies, Panem's national anthem begins to play. I look up to see the Capitol seal has appeared in the night sky. Just like watching the death recap at home. I wonder if they'll play the footage of their deaths for us. Probably not, since it might tell tributes too much about their competition. Some people want to keep their talents hidden from the others.

The first face I see is the girl from District 3, followed by her district partner. Next comes the boy from District 6, and the girl from 7. I wonder vaguely how the boy from the elevator has taken her death, if he's still alive to see her face in the sky.

There's only one more tribute to go. I'm surprised. It means most, if not all of the tributes from the outer districts have made it through the day. I stare at the sky, willing it to be anyone but Violet.

It isn't Violet. She's made it past the bloodbath. The final dead tribute is Gloria, the District 9 girl from the knot-tying station. Before it's replaced by the Capitol seal, I notice her picture is one of the few headshots where the tribute is smiling.

Five dead. What seemed like so little before is unimaginable now. They aren't just faces on a screen, like they'd seem if I were watching this at home. They're all people, who struggled through the reaping, training, and interviews just as I did. And now, all five of them are gone.

So why am I still here?

Thanks for reading, please tell me what you think of the first arena scene! XD