A Hunger Games Story Chapter 9
The next morning, Emily woke up well rested. She stretched away and sat up. She got up and had breakfast. She filled her plate, eating as much as she could.
"Goodness gracious girl," Ainsley said. "Have some composer."
Adam slowly went over to the table. He examined the food available and picked up an apple.
As they left their tribute room for the last time, Adam walked ahead, right behind Ainsley. Violet walked beside Emily and held her shoulders.
"I know you drugged me last night." Emily said.
"You were stressed and needed your sleep." Violet said. "You won't be ready if you're tired."
"I think the people chasing me with knives will keep me alert." Emily said.
"You feel fine don't you? If it helps, I drank it too."
"You take sleeping drought?"
Violet nodded. "Every since my game, the Capitol has provided me with any ailment. Given my situation, I had trouble sleeping. So they gave me this sleeping powder and it's really effective. Just a small dose in a cup of tea and I'm out."
They went in the elevator and were silent the entire journey down. Emily took deep breaths quietly. She glanced over at Adam. It was like they were enemies already. Once the elevator opened, Ainsley led the way.
Before going in the room with the pod that would lift them up into the game, Violet gave Emily a hug. "Good luck. Run fast. Stay alive." She whispered in her ear.
Alone in the pod, Emily waited for it to lift up. She jumped as it lifted her and stumbled, trying to gain her balance. Her thoughts were rushing with everything Violet had told her. Stay alive. Run. Don't go for the weapons. Water can be found in unlikely places. Hide.
The sun shined in her eyes as she reached the surface. She eyes squinted, being blinded by the light. The pod stopped, finishing its elevation.
The countdown began, starting from 60. Emily looked around seeing all the other tributes around her. She could see Cato and Clove across from her. Clove was glaring at her with a smile on her face. They were positioned near the cornucopia, with all the weapons. Adam and Thresh, from 11, were on each side of her.
30 seconds. Emily stood in position, ready to move. She took a breath and whispered to herself. "Run. Don't go for the weapons. Run out of sight."
10 seconds. Emily glanced at Adam, who was staring at the cornucopia.
"Don't." Emily said.
Adam shot a look at her and sneered. He turned back to his original position.
3, 2, 1.
Adam dashed forward, towards the cornucopia.
Emily gasped as everyone around her ran in the direction of the weapons. Emily took a moment to move her feet. She turned around and sprinted into the woods. She ran as fast as her little legs could carry her.
At the cornucopia, the careers killed many of the tributes, including Adam. He reached a knife just as Cato impaled him with a machete. Adam fell to the grass, with his knife in hand.
Emily ran for about 10 minutes before slowing down. She kept moving as she thought of her next move. Climb a tree... not that one. Too tall... Can't reach those branches... Ooh, squirrel-no time. Find somewhere to hide. Cave? No cave. That tree might work.
Emily ran up to the tree and jumped up, reaching for the branch. She missed by a whole foot. Emily huffed and moved on. She kept running, distancing herself from other tributes.
Emily began to lose her energy, slowing down her pace. She spun around as she ran to see if anyone was nearby. She was alone. Emily took a breath, leaning against a tree. She tried to jump up to reach a branch, but was way off. "Ugh, They did not make these games for short people." She whispered.
She wrapped her arms and legs around the tree and tried to climb up it that way. She moved her arms up and fell back. Emily quickly got up and hid behind the tree. She at down and whimpered. "What am I gonna do?"
She looked ahead at the dirt in front of her. She lunges forward and began digging with her hands. After a few minutes she realized how little progress she had made.
Emily stood up and looked around. There was a small and skinny tree nearby that was too weak for climbing. Emily pulled the branch off the tree and looked at the end. It was slanted and curved.
Emily used the stick to help dig the hole. She looked all around her, making sure no one was around. It was quiet and still.
When she finished digging the deep hole, she broke some leafy branches off the small tree and placed them near the tree.
She broke off another branch and tested the pointed end. It was too soft, easily bending. Emily yanked off another branch that broke off perfectly. The end was pretty sharp and strong.
Emily slowly placed herself inside the deep hole. She grabbed her shark stick and placed it beside her. She reached up and moved the leafy branches over the hole.
Emily could just barely see the nighttime announcement of the fallen tributes. She saw Adam up there and covered her mouth to avoid letting out a gasp.
When the announcement was over, Emily sat down in her hole, and tried to get as comfortable as possible. It was completely silent in the hole. All she could hear was her own breathing. She held the pointed stick in hand as she fell asleep.