Happy Halloween!

Chapter Twenty-Four

We're all seated in a large hovercraft, larger than any I'd seen before in my life or even in the Capitol. Booth and I are seated across from each other, facing one another. Michelle is next to me, her seat almost twice her size she's so small. She's looking down at her hands, twisting them nervously. I want to take on of them and hold it, try to reassure her, but I know anything I'd say or do would just be a lie.

I look over at Booth, who looks away as soon as my eyes land on him. Has he been staring at me? Creep.

A woman is stopping in front of each of us, taking each tribute's arm and sticking it with a needle. When she gets to Michelle, I ask her what it's for.

"It's your tracker," she says. "The Game Makers use it to know where you are in the arena. It doesn't hurt for too long." Michelle rubs her arm as if to disagree. The woman reloads her needle and puts her hand out for my arm. I give it to her, reluctantly.

The needle does hurt. And I can feel the tracker settle under my skin; it's not pleasant.

She does the same to Booth and I can see him wince. I feel my own jaw clench at it, but then his face turns to stone and he looks away. I can swear I see him wipe a tear from the corner of his eye, though.

Before I entered the hovercraft, Daisy had hugged me tightly wishing me good luck and kissing my forehead. If I didn't know any better, I would say she finally understood how horrible and malicious these Games are and how she would most likely never see me again.

But when she pulled back and looked me in the eyes, I could tell that that wasn't true. She was smiling brightly at me. "I'll see you later," she said, happily, before walking off. I just stared at her retreating form, shaking my head.

Hodgins came up next to me. "She's clueless, ain't she?" he said. I nodded, sighing.

"She really is," I said, turning to him. Hodgins was looking at me with a hopeless expression. He placed on hand on my shoulder, almost comfortingly.

"Remember what I taught you, okay? And when you get to the Arena, don't forget to wait a full minute before you step off that platform or you'll be blown to pieces. An-and don't go towards the Cornucopia, either. There's a fifty percent chance you won't even make it out of there alive. Got it? Run away from it. Understand?" He forced my eyes to meet his and I nodded.

"Got it." He nodded and pulled me into a hug, shocking me completely.

He must've felt the way I stiffened in his hold because he almost immediately let me go. "Just…try to come back. Okay, kid?"

I nodded and he smiled awkwardly, pushing me towards the hovercraft. I stepped on without another glance.

Now, the hovercraft is taking off, bringing us to the arena where we will fight for our lives and end up with just one survivor; one out of 24. I sigh and close my eyes, trying not to think about it.

Within a few hours we arrive at the arena and the hovercraft lands in an underground tunnel. Each tribute is led out by two guards, who are to ensure that they make it to their own specified entrance without escape.

None of us even attempt at one.

I'm led to a small room in which there is almost nothing but four bare walls, a small couch, and a large, clear tube protruding from the ceiling.

"You may sit and relax for a few moments," one of the guards says, "but as soon as the announcement is made, you must get in the tube. You have a minute and if you're still not in it by the time we return, we have authorization to kill."

I remember this happening twice before. The tributes from 6 and 11 had not been there and though it was not said why, we all knew, instinctively. They had done something that had brought their deaths on earlier than planned. This must have been it.

I nod, in compliance. Of course I'll get into the tube. The chances of me surviving in the arena are slim to none, but at least they're better than being definitely killed if I disobeyed the Capitol. Besides, I promised Angela I'd try. I can't let her down.

The guards exit and I move my hand to the doorknob on the door; it's locked from the outside. Of course. No means of escape.

I sit down on the couch in the corner, lay my head in my hands and take a deep breath.

I can do this. I'm a hunter. I've fought every day for my life since I was eleven years old. I've fought starvation, sickness, cold, you name it.

Yeah, I can do this.

The announcement snaps me out of my thoughts of Angela, Sully, and my mother.

"All tributes are now to enter their tubes. You have sixty seconds before they close."

I stand and walk towards the tube, thoughts of Angela and Sully racing through my head. I may never see them again. And my mother…what if she leaves again? What if she leaves Angela? How will my sister survive? She can't lose the last family she has. God, I wish my father was still alive…

I enter the tube, leaning against the side, take a deep breath as the countdown concludes.

"5…4…3…2…1…"

I am startled when the tube closes up and the ground beneath my feet begins to move, pushing me upwards. I reach out to steady myself on the sides of the tube, but then realize that I don't need to. My feet are perfectly balanced by a current of electricity coming through the floor. I stand perfectly still and find that my legs don't shake at all as I ascend.

Within seconds I begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel; sunlight.

My head appears aboveground and I get a good look around. The arena is a forested area that seems to stretch on for miles and I get the sudden yearning for home; to be back in my own forest outside District Twelve. All 24 of us are position in a circle around the Cornucopia, weapons and supplies scattered all around it. My heart jumps as I spot a bow and arrows-my bow and arrows.

The current that was holding my feet releases them and I shake a bit on my feet before steadying myself. I want nothing more than to run out to my bow but knowledge of what would happen to me if I did keeps me still. I look over at where Booth is standing and he's looking at me again. I think he's shaking his head, but why would he-

Oh.

Oh…

Hodgins must've told him the same thing he told me; run away from the Cornucopia, not towards it. He's seen me eying the bow and arrows. He knows what I'm planning on doing.

Well, he's not going to stop me. I'm getting that bow and those arrows; they're for me. I might also need to get one of the backpacks, as well. They're most likely filled with supplies, like food or water that I could use, at least until I find some of my own. There must be a river or a lake nearby…

The Countdown begins as the last of the tributes reach ground level. There's a large screen at the Cornucopia, so that we can see how much time is left.

Landmines are placed all around us, set to go off if any of us steps off our platform early. It's happened too many times in Hunger Games history where tributes were just too impatient and ended up being scraped from the floors.

I'm not dumb enough to risk that.

I eye all the other tributes.

Hannah and Wendell are eying the mass arsenal of weapons, while Cam is looking at the food, probably calculating how much she'll be able to carry with her. Pelant is looking around at all the others, as well. He's from Two so he's probably a volunteer. Only, unlike me, he didn't volunteer to help anybody he really cares about. He did it for the fame.

I wonder if Angela is watching right now. I know that Sully isn't. He never really enjoyed watching the Games and I'm sure he wouldn't enjoy it any more now that his best friend is taking part. Angela, though, I know she's watching; she'll want to make sure that I'm keeping my promise. And that I'm safe and alive.

I make a mental note for if I get out of here to never leave her again.

The countdown has reached ten now.

10…9…8…

I don't know if I'm ready for this.

7…6…5…

What if I get out there and get immediately stabbed by Cam or Pelant?

4…3…2…

It's too late now. Ready or not…

…1…

"The Hunger Games have begun! May the odds be ever in your favor!"

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