Rora Hitchens's POV
The morning nears towards the afternoon as the careers and I venture through the arena. The center is supposed to be the Capitol, with the tidy roads and sparkling buildings. The rest of the arena is divided into twelve sections, one for each district. We've already passed through three of them, One, Two, and Twelve.
When we were in District One, my eyes watered with tears of homesickness. They captured home perfectly. The town square was spot on, along with the market place. Many times, I just wanted to run to where my house should be, curl up with one of the books in the shop and read until my mind is no longer in this horrible place. But this is reality. This is the Hunger Games.
I was shocked when we went through Twelve. In comparison to the jewels and luxury of District One, Twelve was just shacks and dusty coal mines. I pity Heaven and Freaton, who had to live there every day of their lives. But I guess they never have to go back there, now that they're dead.
I couldn't believe my ears when Mace said that Heaven was killed in the bloodbath. Heaven, my only friend and ally who was only fourteen, dead. But the Games can only have one victor. And it will be me.
When the group finally arrives at its destination, District Two, chosen by Mace, we go into the town hall, which Mace said was the nicest place in the District. Expecting to find satin couches and mahogany tables, we are all met with a great surprise. The room is basically a warehouse. I can't decide if the Gamemakers were too lazy to decorate or if they knew that we would use the luxury to our advantage. Before I can decide, Mace begins to bark orders.
"Starr, Crystal! You two take the tarp and blankets and set up some tents. James and Rora, you go to the bakery across the street and get some food! Marble and I will analyze everything we got from the Center."
Not wanting to disobey our malevolent leader, James and I walk out the door and head down the street, where we find a bakery.
"This is too good to be true. There's probably nothing in the bakery. It's called the Hunger Games for a reason," James states bluntly. We're about to enter the cutesy little shop when I reply,
"I know, but we need to check. If Mace thinks that we're slacking, we could have to pay with our lives." Proving my point, I grab the doorknob and enter. There is a counter and a table in the front, so we go behind where the kitchen should be, but we are met with another blank room with no food. I sigh, exasperated.
"Well, that was a waste. Of course there wasn't going to be any food!" James says, fed up with this arena. We both head back to the base, empty handed.
On arrival, all of our stuff from the center is divided into piles of who grabbed what. Since I took my dagger with me to the bakery, the only thing in my pile is the empty tin water bottle I had grabbed. Marble happened to have gotten a lot more than me, including a sword and a large backpack, with two packs of crackers, a bandage, another empty water bottle, two knives, and a box of matches. However, he has one more thing that interests me. He is no longer wearing his interview suit. Instead, he has a black jumpsuit with silver and gold stripes on it, much like the ones at the training centre. Mace is wearing the same thing.
"No fair! How come you don't have to wear your Capital clothes?" I shout at Mace.
"Shut up! You'll give away our spot. As for the training outfits, we grabbed them first. You snooze, you lose," he snaps at me. Mace' pile of loots is fairly large, much like Marble's. He also has a sword, but in addition to that, he has an open first aid kit, containing pain killers, a sling, burn cream, and a full water bottle.
Starr has a few strips of jerky, which of course I won't eat because I'm a vegetarian. But she also has some matches and an army knife. The Rivers kids have a combined pile, with knives, a golden trident, a loaf of bread, a net, and a roll of silver duct tape. Well, it seems like everyone has better stuff than me, but whatever, I'm sure they'll share.
"Rora and Starr, can you guys go outside and just, like, scavenge for stuff?" Marble asks.
"Um... Sure," I responds Starr and I make our way to the door. However, I can't help but notice that Starr grabs all of her stuff and takes it with her.
As the two of us wander through the streets if District Two, we look for things to take back to base. I can't help but wonder if Mace and Marble just wanted us out of their hair for a little while. After about forty five minutes of non stop searching, we are still empty handed. Finally, Starr speaks for the first time since we left. The unexpected happens.
"Listen, Rora, I'm sorry. I don't want to do this to you. You've been a great friend, but I have to go," Starr tells me, her voice trembling slightly.
"Wha- what do you mean?" I ask her, panicking.
"They're going to kill me. Tonight. For sure. I messed up really bad and there's nothing I can do to fix it. They're going to kill you too, eventually. There can only be one winner. That's why I'm leaving. To stand a chance."
"Please! Please don't leave me alone!" I plead with her. But before I ca. Finish, she's gone.
This is it. This is the moment where I have to face my fear. I stand, my pulse racing and sweat pooling on my forehead. I am still, not knowing what to do as the sun begins to set.
"I'm all alone... Keep calm, Rora, you can do this," I whisper to myself.
"Oh, sweetie, don't worry. You're not alone, " A voice from the building next to me giggles eerily.
A/N
Duh duh duuuuh! Sorry! I'm so evil. The next chapter will be up later tonight, don't worry. Spoiler alert: Two deaths in the next chapter! Who's it gonna be?
Recap
Careers- District Two
Scarlett and Jazmine- District Two
Athena- District Four
Heaven- District Four
Outer District Pack- District Eleven
Dannin, Lacey- District Six
Cyra- Unknown
Deaths (8)
24. Trevor Yaksin, D6, shot by Scarlett D2
23. Freaton Gefle, D12, stabbed by Mace, D2
22. Edward Gear, D3, stabbed by James, D4
21. Rye Fields, D9, clobbered by Phan, D7
20. Astar Fiew, D8, stabbed by Jazmine, D7
19. Gertrude Chambers, D5, stabbed by Marble, D1
18. Justice Blain, D6, clawed by mutts, Capital
Trivia: What factor gives Heaven LaFratta an advantage over the Gamemakers?
Thanks and please review!
Angelofmusic4ever
