A/N: Hey guys sorry for the delay on this one! I've been working on it for a while... I just wanted to make sure it was good. It's kinda hard to write this all since i don't have much of a plan... Anyways I hope you read this and review please! I may possibly have another contest if enough people review (at least five!) If not then you probably won't hear from me, it's hard to want to keep writing without much support... But I won't give up I PROMISE! Well, here's the chapter read and then use that nifty box at the bottom to tell me your thoughts good, bad, whatever :)
Derena Reid POV
An eerie beeping wakes me with a start. I look around trying to find the source in the complete darkness. I slowly get to my feet hands never letting go of the knife I was grasping while I slept. I move off the wall in silent creeping steps.
I make it to about the middle of the path, or so I think, before my foot hits something hard and heavy. I bend down to touch it and immediately the beeping ceases. I pick it up it's a pretty large metal round box and it takes me a few moments but I recognize it, a sponsor gift. It seems a little early in the games to receive one, I mean we haven't been in here for 24 hours! Not that I'm complaining if someone noticed me in the bloodbath and wants to help me I am perfectly fine with it.
I spend a little while trying to figure out how to open it in the dark but I eventually it pops open. I feel in the little hole in the center and grab a small bottle. I shake it, full of liquid, I wonder what kind, better wait until it's lighter out in case it's poison not water.
I sit awake sloshing the liquid around for a while until the sky starts to turn grey and I can start to see outlines. A few minutes later there is enough light to clearly see what I've received; it's a small clear glass bottle with some purple-black liquid inside. On one face there is a label of a skull and crossbones, poison, good thing I didn't drink it last night. I look into the metal container for some clue of how best to use it and I find a small piece of paper with my mentor, Rosa's writing on it.
For your knives- use it well.
No worries Rosa, I will.
Ruthie Gallows POV
An unfamiliar metallic buzzing brings me to wakefulness after a calm night of dreams of home and running through the grain with Josie. My heart twists as I think of my twin sister and parents who are surely up watching the games right now, maybe even seeing my face on the screen. I wish I could comfort them I have no hope of getting out of here though. Not because I can't survive, because I can, but if my plan goes through there's no way I will be let off the hook. If it doesn't I'll definitely be killed by some creative gamemaker invention that looks like an accident. That's how it always works.
I push myself off the cold stone floor of the maze and brush my short haircut just the way I like it putting in my signature headband, kindly saved by my stylist and given to me to wear in the arena. A goodbye present she said, like she knew I wasn't going to make it out. I have bigger plans but the gesture was nice, so I kept it. I brush the slight stone-dust off of my plain beige cargo pants and grey windbreaker jacket. Better get moving I don't want the careers catching up to me.
Just the thought of them makes me shudder but on a positive note one of them was killed yesterday, the boy from four, his face was up in the sky. I bet that shocked the capitol, the careers hardly ever die before day three definitely not in the bloodbath.
I grab my small spear and head onward, at least I think it's the right direction, this whole maze is a problem. First it's disorienting and there's no way to spy on the other tributes since the walls are super tall and made of solid stone. And second, there's no way to know where I'm going or if there really is a way to get out of this thing and gather the supplies I'll need for my plan. It might be helpful with destroying the arena though; the stone would do a lot of damage if I exploded it. I'll keep that in mind.
After a good hour of walking I come across a fork in the path I take the left after some consideration hoping it won't be a dead end. As I wander around the twists and turns of the maze I let my mind wander. I wonder how big the maze is if it is the whole arena then I will never get out, not good, but if it's not I should be reaching an exit some time s-
All of a sudden I am falling towards the ground very fast I put my arms out in front of me to break my fall but still hit the ground with a sizeable thud. Pain shoots up my left arm but quickly fades and after a little examination I determine that it's not broken. That was lucky.
I sigh and look at my surroundings; I have finally exited the maze and apparently entered some sort of sub-arctic mountain wasteland. I might as well explore, there's plenty of daylight left and maybe I'll find a shelter worth staying in.
I wander around the base of the mountain searching for a path and after a long search I find a very small one, if not in the hunger games I would assume it to be made by a mountain goat, but since I am it makes me slightly nervous. I grip my spear more tightly and head up along the path.
Eventually I reach a small cave carved out of the rock and just visible from the path. I proceed slowly and cautiously, I don't want to end up cornered by some gamemaker mutt that would ruin everything. I reach the cave and carefully peer inside, no snarling beasts or torrents of water hit me so I figure it's safe.
I crouch and step fully inside it's pretty dark but the daylight from the opening provides enough light for me to make out the walls of the cave, it's rather small. There is a small trickle of running water in the corner and immediately I am hit with an overwhelming wave of thirst. I suddenly notice how parched and cracked my lips are and without considering the dangers I drop my spear and run to the water taking multiple refreshing gulps from the glorious cool stream. Satisfied I lean back and savor the last taste of cool water on my lips. If only I had some food. I close my eyes for a few moments trying to forget about my hunger and the games and their cruelty.
Before I know it I'm drifting off apparently I was more tired than I thought…
Saralina Reed POV
The brilliant light of the sun shines on my face waking me up from a restless night of nightmares. I ran as fast as I could from the bloodbath but I didn't avoid all of the blood. I close my eyes trying to wipe the memories of the killing from my mind. This whole thing is cruel and horrible and it makes me hate every single person who thinks this is a good idea.
I open my eyes and stare at the plain grey stone wall in front of me. I suddenly start to feel claustrophobic and frustrated. The maze has yet to present me with a solution and I have no food or water. If I don't find an exit by the end of the day I won't be able to last.
How I wish I was back in District 4 by the ocean with my siblings. Water, it's my favorite place to be. I'm a natural born swimmer, taught at age 1. When I'm in the water my shyness ebbs away and my fears ad worries are carried out with the ocean currents. I close my eyes and picture the scene I see my brothers tackling each other and fighting under the rolling waves. I see Leena, my sister, slowly wading into the cold water. And I see my parents sitting happily on the beach watching us all. It's so beautiful I want to cry. I miss them so much.
Pull it together Saralina, you can't show any weakness. I mentally scold myself snapping my eyes open, my happy fantasy fading quickly under the harsh reality I have been thrown into. I stand up and grab the one thing I managed to snag from the cornucopia before making my quick exit, a plain wooden spear with a razor sharp iron tip.
I can sort of use it, it's similar to the tridents we have in district 4 which boosts my confidence. Though I'm not sure I would really be able to fight someone with it if it came down to it. Even thinking of killing another person makes me feel cold and sends shivers down my spine.
I pull my legs underneath myself and use the wall to pull myself into a standing position. I shake the stiffness out of my limbs from my cold night on the hard stone. When I am sufficiently warmed up I grab my spear and head off down the path hopefully in the opposite direction as the cornucopia. They may have cleared the bodies and cleaned up the blood but the memories are still fresh in my mind and I don't want to remember what I did yesterday.
Yesterday. Funny it seems like weeks ago when the gong sounded and the frenzy of blood and fear erupted in this hell-hole. In order to prevent myself from thinking about the blood and the screams and the terror of the bloodbath I play a game with myself. It's one I've played often enough with my siblings when we were trying to forget the hardships of a meager fishing-family's life.
In my mind I picture Leena in my mind walking beside me down the sandy beach, I almost start crying but I know not to show weaknesses, you never know who might be watching. I clear my head and picture the ocean, my home. I picture the rolling waves and dazzling sunlight reflecting off of the crests of the waves as the crash into the shore. I make myself an island large with towering palm trees, plenty of wildlife and fruit growing in the fertile dirt just off of the shore. I place my family there with me in a small hut just beneath the tallest cluster of trees. I let this self-made imaginary world take up residence in my mind and in my heart until I can almost believe it's true, almost.
I wander around in the maze for a long while, the sun has finally creeped over the walls and I find myself quickly overheating from the intense direct light. I have no food and no water so my only choice is to keep walking, no matter how unpleasant.
After a long while of walking I stumble across and exit. I start to celebrate but then remember the eminent danger and slowly creep out of the maze and into the wide open space beyond. At first I am beyond happy, this place looks nice and it's cooler here and I think I can find water nearby but then I spot a large gleaming gold structure just a little ways out in the middle of the clearing and I realize where I have come.
I want to scream and cry and curl into a ball for the rest of eternity but all I can do is stare at the cornucopia and relive the events of yesterday. After a few moments I collect myself and start to move towards the shining structure, a beacon calling me closer despite the danger. I get close enough to see a plethora of supplies piled inside the gaping mouth and disregarding all caution I sprint full out to the cornucopia. I quickly locate an apple and a filled water bottle and some dried fruits and nuts. I am preparing to feast when a strange noise like the sound of metal scraping metal comes from behind and I realize my mistake.
"Enjoying your hard-earned meal thief?" A harsh but surprisingly feminine voice purrs from just behind my ear. I scramble frantic to find my spear but I must have dropped it in my haste to find food and water. I turn to face Ruby and the two other career boys all with sharp swords and daggers smiling malevolently creeping closer and closer.
I back up as fast as possible crab style on the ground. I only make it a few feet before my back hits something large and hard and I know I'm dead. I shield my face with my arms and prepare for the blow, but none comes.
"Come now, that's no fun, don't you want to have some fun?" Cane croons. I pull my hands back to see him still smiling his face only a meager foot from my own. "Stand up" He growls and I comply as quickly as possible.
"Come on Cane, just finish this I want to go tribute hunting." Ruby whines. Skanner just stares at his sword absently, maybe he's not as bad as I thought.
"Fine, you guys never let me have any fun." Cane grumbles. I see a flash of bright steel and then nothing. I fade into the darkness trying to scream but nothing comes out. I failed, I didn't survive I think of my family and my beloved ocean one last time before it all goes away and I become nothing.
Boom.
Malcom Hansen POV
Jack seemed like the perfect ally at first but she has been really getting on my nerves. She's all go, no stop one minute and then the next she can't decide what to do. I constantly tried reasoning with her to take a break, I don't want to run out of energy and not have supplies the first day but all she cared about was finding an exit. And where has that left us? I ask myself angrily, in the middle of a desert with half a water bottle and one medium sized, quarter-eaten bag of dried fruits and nuts, in the middle of the night. At least the sun should be coming up soon and then we can find out if there's anything useful in this sandy wasteland.
I sit silently for a while until the rising sun draws my attention from the bloody axe sitting in my lap, a stark reminder of the death I caused. The sky turns from grey to a bloody pink matching my mood. As I stare it turns a fiery orange and then the sun peeks over the horizon just out in front of me.
It takes me a while to figure out what seems off but once I figure it out it makes perfect sense. The sun set off far to my right last might so it shouldn't be rising directly above us now and there's only one explanation that makes sense, the arena shifts every night making it hard to retrace steps and to find a location again, just another challenge.
The sun is now fully in the sky and I decide now's the time to wake Jack and tell her what I've realized, we are allies after all.
Jack awakes muttering a few choice words and rubbing her eyes sullenly. I smile sarcastically and welcome her to day two of the hunger games, we aren't dead yet. Thank God.
"So anything new?" She questions groggily.
"Actually yes." I state happily.
"And?..."
"Oh yeah, the sun, it rose out in front of our campsite this morning." I smile again.
"So?"
"It set to the right of the campsite last night do you know what that means?"
"No. Care to enlighten me?" Geez, Jack sure is a morning glory.
"The arena, it shifts every night. The maze won't be the same today as it was yesterday. We can't retrace our steps." Jack's face lights up with understanding, finally, she stands up and paces across the campsite for a few minutes I let the news sink in.
"Well I suppose we don't have a choice do we? I mean we can't stay here, it's all just one big sand pile!" She ends with a shout and stops pacing facing the desert which appears to have no end. I sigh but agree with her there is no way we can stay here.
I turn and start packing the bags the sooner we get moving the better I am ready to get out of here. I turn to yell at Jack to come help me but instead I hear a blood-curdling scream.
A giant mutant scorpion is rising out of the sand just feet from Jack's petrified form. I grab my axe and rush to her side. I have no idea what I'm going to do but someone has to save Jack. She must really be scared out of her wits; I didn't even think she could ever scream like that. I watch silently as the scorpion digs its way out of the sand and faces us. Here comes a battle. I grab my axe and rush to Jack's side ready to face this abomination together. We cannot lose because there is no way I'm letting anyone else take that victor's crown. I am going to win these games, I have to.
Deaths (In order of death):
Felicity Lilia
Desiree Wyverna
Colton Redfield
Orson Clee
Tasi Merkava
Cynthia Evans
Flyn Bronzing
Ronan Bane
Marigold Lennox
Saralina Reed (District 4)- I actually really liked her, she seemed sweet and resourceful but she didn't have much of a backstory or a strategy and she wasn't in an alliance. At least she had a nice long POV and saw some action. Sorry!