Now I can wait for any last-minute vote changes and write the Bloodbath tomorrow. Looks pretty set who's dying but you never know. Tillo/Calvary and Blake/Volvo both came down to minutes. So for goodness sakes live your lives and all, but bear in mind how fast I write.
Lulu Chilcott- District Three female
The air was sweet and smelled of flowers and earth. It was cool as it swirled around me. It was so lovely, I forgot the aching tightness in my chest and the certainty that my own death was minutes away. I stood on my toes to see the Arena as soon as possible. It was everything I hoped for.
Randy Mills- District Nine male
The Arena was very pretty. There was a pale blue river that split around the Cornucopia, so the platforms were inside it. It had little rapids and I could see the bumps where the water went over rocks. A few trees were on the sides of the river. Far way, there was a really big grassy hill. Before that, there were foresty spots with mostly pine trees, but some leafy trees. It looked like a nice place to live, honestly.
59, 58, 57…
Tuilelaith Gladstone- District Four female
The Cornucopia was pure white, and longer and more slender than usual. It was overflowing with supplies and weapons- mostly weapons, I noticed. This was such a mild Arena, weather gear and food wouldn't be as pressing. My eyes skimmed the supplies until I saw a briefcase-sized box with a familiar skull and crossbones symbol. I smiled.
51, 50, 49…
Royce Triatho- District One male
Vera was six platforms away, Tuilelaith and Mico flanking her. We shouldn't have any trouble linking up and getting supplies. Then we could fight back-to-back, just in case any of our allies got ideas. They would eventually, of course. That was just the nature of the Games.
47, 46, 45…
Daffodil Starshine- District Eleven female
There was a bow in the Cornucopia. It was sleek and silver and looked lightweight but strong. It was a longbow, just the kind I liked. But I felt ashamed even thinking about going for it. At school, a bow was for targets. Here, a bow was for killing. If I ran for that bow, it would be my first step with murder as my intent.
41, 40, 39…
Edison Westbrook- District Five male
I didn't need the things in the Cornucopia. They would make life easier, but I could live without them. I would just need to work harder. I could get by with nothing, but there was a hatchet pretty close to my platform, almost on the way out toward the forest. I could build a shelter, and start a fire, and so much more.
38, 37, 36…
Cedar Hedgeson- District Seven male
I was right next to Barnaby. Talk about luck. Aspasia was four platforms away, but she wasn't unlucky either. Lulu and Penelope were on either side of her. We found each other's eyes and looked at the pine forest. It had cover and supplies. It was the obvious choice. Aspasia nodded, then looked pointedly at the bag near her feet. I pointed a finger at the wire saw near my platform, and Barnaby indicated the sack of potatoes near his.
33, 32, 31…
Laurel Pine- District Seven female
Quinoa was seven platforms away, looking at me with eyes wide with intensity and not fear. She kept peeking at the Cornucopia, and I kept making increasingly bizarre faces as I shook my head. I pointed with both hands close to my body like a T-rex toward the backpack that was a much safer distance from her. Me, I was just grabbing the container of salt by my feet. Weird, I know, but I had a reason.
27, 26, 25…
Thunderous Copper- District Twelve male
Osiris and I were next to each other. Close enough that we could talk, and I'd never heard a rule against it.
"Let's go in. We can cover each other and get some weapons," I said.
"Got it," Osiris said.
20, 19 18…
Demi Johal- District Six female
I wanted the knife.
It wasn't all the way into the Cornucopia. It was right at the edge, really, stuck at an angle into a table stacked with camping supplies. The blade was maybe six inches long, and it was iridescent blue and purple. I would look fly as hell killing someone with that. It was dangerous running into the Bloodbath, but the whole Games was dangerous. There was no safe way to play this.
13, 12, 11…
Barnaby Mercator- District Three male
I'm going to pass out. I'll pass out and fall off and blow up.
I forced my breath slower, closing my eyes and concentrating. Everyone was scared. It didn't make me weak. I just needed to push past it and act.
I had my plan. When the Games started, I would grab the potatoes and meet up with my allies in the forest. We would work from there.
9, 8, 7…
Quinoa Farmer- District Nine female
Laurel didn't want me to run in. She was bugging her eyes at me and shaking her head fit to break her neck.
I can do it, I thought, my pride rankled by her doubt. I could make it. I was fast. No one was gunning for a little girl.
But will I do it? Suppose someone did notice me, and they wanted a quick kill for their body count. Was it worth risking my life for an armful of loot? But what if that loot was what kept us alive?
5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
