*Lystra's POV*
That night, I forced myself to eat, take a shower, and sleep like Nich had said. My dreams were filled with nightmares very similar to those of the night before. When I groggily woke to Emerald calling my name, I wondered what horrors the day would hold.
The day seemed to inch slowly, in horrid anticipation of what was to come. Tanner and I spoke little, but when we were separated to go into the helicopters, I instinctively clutched his hand. "N-n-no," I stuttered, feeling unsteady, head spinning. "D-d-d-don't go."
He smiled at me comfortingly, and, for a moment, the world made sense again. "Don't worry. I'll see you soon."
I looked into his eyes a moment, and the feeling came back. I let go and grabbed the rope ladder, muttering, "Soon, soon, soon." When the ladder froze me, I was still looking into Tanner's eyes. I broke contact only when I entered the plane and they placed the tracker in me.
Then the flight. It took what seemed forever. I only sat quietly, managing to eat some small morsels, remembering what Nich had said about staying calm. But I didn't feel calm. I tried to conceal it. I drank some water. Tried to relax.
It didn't work.
Eventually, Vincent, my companion for this leg of the journey, just reached across the table to me and touched my hand. That one motion calmed me, and I smiled at him slightly before he pulled away.
The rest of the ride, I just looked at Vincent, desperately trying not to go mad.
When the helicopter landed, I was taken to the brand new launch pad. I knew it was completely bugged – that Capitol people would vacation here for years – following in my footsteps. They might even reenact the Games.
How typical.
I tried to dink some more water, but I dropped the cup. The glass shattered on the floor. Shaking, I moved to clean it up and throw it away, but there was no trashcan. I glanced at Vincent, eyebrow raised. He shook his head at it and said,
"It'll stay here. Part of the attraction."
I only nodded and walked away from the glass.
Vincent brought out the outfit that we would all be wearing into the arena – a bright red tank top, deep brown knee-length khaki pants, a dull green hat, and a black jacket.
"Wow," I said, my mouth dropping at the sight of the mix-matched outfit, and I looked up at Vincent. "Are they trying to make us look like fools?"
He smiled slightly, and said, "Might not be a fashion statement, but the Gamemakers surely have their reasons."
I fingered the bright red material of the cloth, thinking I would have to camouflage it. "And these reasons are . . . ?"
He smiled again. "Well, expect warm days and cold nights," he pointed at the tank top and the jacket, then turning to the hat. "And a bright sun."
I nodded deftly as the cold rock settled again, and allowed Vincent to help me put on the ridiculous outfit. Then we sat in silence until Vincent stood and looked me over, saying only,
"It is time."
I stepped onto the metal disk, but immediately stepped off. "I can't do this." I told Vincent. "I can't throw my life away."
Vincent pressed his hand lightly on my shoulder. "Think of Estella."
I hadn't ever heard Vincent speak of Estella before. I had assumed he didn't know, but of course he did. The whole Capitol did. The whole of Panem did.
Think of Estella.
I closed my eyes and imagined for a moment that Estella was standing here with Vincent, and that I was back in District 11, selling apples to the people, worrying about her. I shivered involuntarily. I didn't like that idea. But was this better?
I didn't know, but what I did know was I had to get onto that metal disk. But could I throw my life away for this?
I glanced at Vincent, and, tears in my eyes, I hugged him.
Taken by surprise, he hesitated a moment, but hugged me back. Then he directed me onto the metal disk. The glass secured itself around me, and I was going up, up, up . . .
Then I was in the arena.
At first, dazed, I keep looking at the last spot I saw Vincent. Then, shaking my head, sense returns and I looked around.
All the tributes were arranged in a circle around the huge, golden Cornucopia. Supplies were scattered about it strategically; the best being at the Cornucopia, the worst closest to us.
I quickly glanced about myself; snapping into action mode. About four feet on either side of me was the girl from 1, Elvatorix Fox, a Career. On the other side was the girl from 6, Fallen Surk. Elvatorix was poised, ready to run to the Cornucopia, while Fallen was eyeing a bag about 10 feet away.
Thinking of the plan, I looked for other alliance members. We were scattered about pretty randomly, and I managed to catch Nich's eye, and she smiled brilliantly. She nodded to the Cornucopia, and we both got ready to run.
The sixty seconds were surely almost up.
The gong sounded – loud and clear, ear-shattering. I assume everyone took off, running either away from the Cornucopia or towards it. But I'm not looking. I'm running as fast as I can, the wind whistling through me hair, towards the Cornucopia.
I arrive first, and immediately begin shuffling around for a weapon. C'mon, c'mon, c'mon! I shuffled and shuffled, and then, I found it. A bag full of knives.
Chuckling darkly, I took one out and looked around me. Nich had taken out a sword and was standing near me, guarding Echo and Tomas, who were digging through backpacks, and stuffing the supplies into a few bags so it would be easier to carry. Spade (who had managed to find his own spade – a shovel) and Tanner stood nearby, over Lillibet and Tomas. I inched towards them, waving my knives threateningly. They had all seen me in training. They knew to stay away.
I risked a glance at the outer edge of the Cornucopia, where Luna, Nicholas, Peter, Julius, Rayne, and Totsie should have been running to the forest. They were trying, but Armondo Rippet was advancing with a sword.
I yelled, taking a knife and throwing it at Armondo, who turned and deflected it with his sword. Completely ineffective, but it gave the others time to run away. Armondo bellowed, gave me a look that clearly said, I'll deal with you later and turned to the others. Nicholas, stumbling under the weight of the many bags and other items, had fallen behind.
Armondo bellowed and charged forward, swinging his sword . . .
I yelled and threw another knife . . .
I turned and covered my eyes, and when I turned back, I saw Armondo standing over Nicholas, who was obviously dead, covered in blood and cut in gruesome ways. I glared at Armondo and saw with satisfaction that my knife had cut deeply into his upper arm, and he was wailing. I had a feeling I had struck bone.
He looked up and me and snarled, pulling the knife from his arm and letting it drop to the ground. He had a wild look in his eyes, and I swear there was steam coming from his nostrils. I shifted over towards Nich.
"How we doing?" I asked.
"Good here," she swung the sword at a close loaner, who yelped and backed away. Nich glanced over her shoulder at me, and saw Armondo. "What's got him in the butt?"
"Me," I said bashfully. "He was going after the others – managed to take Nicholas down. I threw a knife, and I think I hit a bone."
"Wait," Nich said. "Nicholas' dead?"
"I think so," I said "They don't fire cannons yet, though . . ." I looked at Armondo, who was pawing the ground with his feet like an angry bull. "We should get out of here, though."
"All right. Tanner! Spade!" Both boys glanced at us, and I motioned to Armondo. Tanner's eyes widened slightly "What did you do?" he demanded.
"Long story," I decided "No time. We have to go."
"You got everything?" Tanner asked Lillibet
"Yeah – yeah, I think so." Lillibet zipped up a bag, took a look at Armondo, and stood, swinging the bags over her shoulder. "Let's go."
Tanner, Spade, Nich, and I stayed behind as Lillibet, Echo, Tomas, and Steven ran towards the forest where the others had disappeared. Tanner swung a spear at the boy from one, who backed up right into the raging Armondo, who promptly ripped him to shreds (and I do mean quite literally).
"Time to go," I decided, and, each of us grabbing a remaining backpack, we ran for the trees. We were almost there when Carrie and Elvatorix stepped in front of us.
"You're not going nowhere," said a voice from behind us. I knew without turning that it was Armondo. Part of me was itching to correct his grammar, but I pushed it away.
I pulled out a knife. "Oh, yes we are," I said, and I threw the knife at him. He hissed and leaped out of the way, fearing the knife as he well should. He raised his sword and came closer, I stumbling back. Nich appeared out of nowhere and began to fight Armondo brilliantly. I considered helping her, but I knew I could just as easily hit Nich as Armondo, and besides, she was doing perfectly find on her own.
I turned to the others. Elvatorix was fighting Spade, sword to spade. Lillibet, Echo, Tomas, and Steven were struggling to find a way to the trees, trying to keep the supplies safe. But the next thing I saw was Tanner being pinned down by Carrie. My heart stopped.
"Ahhhhgggg!" I screamed, and threw a knife at Carrie, who deflected it, giving Tanner just enough time to scramble away. I tossed him another spear, and took a knife in one hand and a short sword in the other.
"What are you doing, little girl?" Carrie teased me. I didn't listened, only sucked in my breath, snarling. "Don't you want to go put on a pretty golden dress? Put down the weapons."
I flung myself at Carrie, and we fought – swinging and thrashing and stabbing and blocking. Tanner stepped in too, and we were all part of a complicated dance, whirling and twirling. And here's the craziest part :
None of us got hurt.
We only stopped when I heard Spade call, "No!" and I turned. He was on the ground, bleeding horribly, and Elvatorix had broken away, hurrying towards the others with the bags. "No!" I cried, and ran towards them. Elvatorix beat me.
With two quick shashes, the people that had once been Tomas and Steven were gone.
I yelled again in my anger, and began to fight with Elvatorix in an angry, frenzied manner that seemed to take her off guard. I cut her several times before I was satisfied that she couldn't move, and broke away. I glanced at the dead bodies of Tomas and Steven, and, once I was sure they were gone, I spoke to Echo and Lillibet.
"C'mon. We've got to get out of here. Now."
The three of us scrambled into the safety of the trees. They crouched behind me, as I had the weapons, and I scanned the forest. "Safe." I said after a moment, and glanced out at the Cornucopia. Carrie, Armondo, and Elvatorix had apparently decided to head back to the Cornucopia before everything was gone because Nich and Tanner were heading towards us, supporting a bloody Spade between them.
"Where are the others?" Tanner asked as they reached us. I was about to shrug when Totsie whispered,
"We're right here."
I jumped slightly, and looked them over. "You all okay?"
"Pretty much," Rayne shrugged. "A few scratches, nothing more. You?"
"Spade's pretty beat up," Nich said, "but we have to get away from here. We can carry him. You lose anybody?"
Totsie raised an eyebrow. "Nobody's lost . . . but I'm assuming you mean dead?" Nich inclined her head slightly, and Totsie lowered her head slightly. "One. Peter. Peter Sumlan."
Nich nodded slightly. "We lost Tomas, Steven, and Nicholas." We all sat there for a moment, absorbing this. Tomas, Steven, Nicholas, and Peter were all gone. Dead.
"We'll mourn later," Nich said. "Right now we've got to go." She was right. Yells and screams were coming from the Cornicopia. We all muttered agreement and turned into the trees, walking away . . .
. . . and straight into a nightmare in the nightmare.
