I silently approached the countdown tube, and stepped into it, watching Wren and Silver, who were watching me.
Suddenly, the tube slammed shut with a sharp hiss, and I started to rise.
I found myself in a huge area of scrubland; I and the other tributes were on black podia, surrounding a huge black cone filled with weapons and food – the Cornucopia.
I looked across the ring at Pommeline, who was shaking slightly, but was otherwise calm. I knew her plan already – pretend to be weak, and then be brutal. Lots of tributes did it.
There wasn't a drop of water in sight, and the scrub stretched away as far as the eye could see. No trees. No bushes. Just rocks.
The countdown started – ten… nine… eight… seven… six…
I knew my destiny, and poised to run to the centre.
Five… four… three… two…
Boom…
The girl from six, both tributes from seven, and the boy from eight were no longer on their podia.
One…