The First Annual Hunger Games

by Callidora Medea

Following the Dark Days, the President of Panem announces the beginning of the Hunger Games. District 4 girl, Cass, District 1 girl, Silver, and District 7 girl, Oak, are all thrown into the turmoil that is the first Hunger Games, and must choose their alliances; decisions that can mean life or death in the arena. All intend to win. But there can be only one victor.

47. Chapter 47- The Feast

Chapter 47- Oak Peacewood

Aldar and I sit in a tree with a clear view of the Cornucopia. The bark is rough on my hands. One hand clutches the tree, the other the knife I got from Curia. It's still dark but I can see dawn on the horizon. We're quiet but our words from when the feast was announced run through my head.

"Do we go?" he had asked me. "I don't know. We're unarmed." "You have the knife now. We need food. This is our chance, Oak." I sat there, contemplating our options. "Ok."

So now I sit waiting for the dawn so the feast can begin. I'm scared. Aldar has a rock the size of his fist in his hand; I have my knife. I shake a little from cold and hunger. Aldar was right, what other choices did we have? We need food.

Just as the sun breaks over the arena the ground in front of the Cornucopia opens and a table with the most amazing food imaginable rises up. The other tributes will be on it soon if we don't get there first.

Aldar and I, like one, slide out of the tree and start running. Out of the corner of my eye I see Curia- and she's not running for the food. She's running for me.

"Duck!" Aldar yells and I crouch down just as a knife whistles over my head. I run again and join Aldar at the table. He's grabbing whatever he can hold and stuffing it in his jacket. Now I see our opponents and how bad an idea this was. I grip my knife but it trembles.

The boy from 11 is swinging a scythe- where he got it, I don't know. He's coming closer from the opposite side of the field. Glow's on our right with his sword. And Curia is brandishing a pair of knives that glint in the sun.

11 wastes no time; he goes after Glow who meets 11's scythe with his sword. Aldar leans into me. "When I say go, you run. Don't wait for me." "Aldar- ""Shut up. When I say go, go." I don't argue. Curia closes in.

"Aww, aren't you two sweet. The sweethearts of District 7. I can't wait to kill you both." She smiles at us. There's no humor in it, though.

"You won't," I say back. Curia cocks her head. "You're just too cute. Thinking you can come in here without protection. Are you that hungry?" This time I don't answer her.

The blows and the groans carry on behind us as Glow and 11 fight. Aldar tenses beside me. We all wait. Curia looks at her knives and picks at the tips.

Then Aldar says, "Go!" and he throws the rock at Curia. I don't look to see if it hits her, I just run. I run faster than I've ever run before and pray that Aldar is going to follow me, that we're going to be alright. That I'm going to live.

It doesn't hit Curia. It hits the ground hard and rolls. Behind me I hear Curia laugh, I hear a cannon- who's dead? I hear Aldar scream my name.

This time I don't duck. I don't have time. The knife lodges in my back and I sprawl forwards into the grass. I hear Aldar scream, I hear Curia laugh. I can only see the grass in front of me. I'm knocked breathless with the pain.

Another scream, another cannon. I think it's Curia's cannon. After the cannon goes I don't hear her anymore.

The next thing I know Aldar's pulled the knife out and he's holding me. I see the sky now, and I see Aldar.

"Damn it, Oak, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is my fault, I told you to run, I'm so sorry, Oak, I'm sorry." "Shhhh, Aldar. It's okay." I was never going to be a part in these Games. I knew I wouldn't win. But if I have to die, at least there's a chance now that Aldar is going to go home.

"Try to win, okay Aldar?" "Not without you." "Well, I'm dying here, Aldar. I'm not going to win." "Oak-" "Aldar, win for me. Okay? And give my mother my regards when you go home."

My vision is getting narrower and I don't like it. I don't want to die. I want to be home in my forest. And I'm sorry I'll never get to see anyone I love again. This is it. This is all my life is going to be.

"Oak, I love you," Aldar says. His eyes are steady looking into mine. I smile at him. "Thank you." He's crying; I've never seen him cry before. My breathing is shakier. "I love you too, Aldar."

My vision narrows even more.

"Win for me, okay?" "Okay."

I see Aldar, I see the trees, I see the sky. I hear him crying, the wind, the trees rattling.

And then I see nothing. I hear nothing. I am nothing. And all is dark.