Shine

Chapter 24

The Bloodbath

A/N: The Games are afoot! By the end of them, twenty-three Tributes will have perished. Who will survive? Who will not? These are all good questions, but now… it's time to start the Games!

Also, this chapter contains descriptions of violence and death, cause, you know, the Hunger Games. And I do not own the Hunger Games, all rights belong to Suzanne Collins. Now that we've gotten that out of the way…

As the Tributes rise into the Arena, in brown long sleeve t-shirts and pants, they all take in the layout of the Arena. It is largely forested, with a ring of hills surrounding the clearing for the Cornucopia. The platforms are separated by a small river, but while it prevents Tributes from walking sideways to attack each other, it is still possible to reach the other platforms from either the front or the back, which would most likely be a more desirable strategy. The various allies exchange glances as the timer counts down the last few seconds, then brace themselves to run.

5.

4.

3.

2.

1.

GO!

Kayra Dawnbreeze –13- -D10- POV

I take off of my platform as quickly I can, running right for the center of the Cornucopia. It's not out of hope for the best supplies, rather, it's my hope that it will qualify as an extraordinary act of bravery. Char also runs in, and we meet in the center. We look at each other, before starting to grab supplies and weapons. I quickly pick up a dagger and a small pack of supplies. Char walks away from me, heading for a pile of weapons. I hear footsteps and look up to see the boy from two casually walking towards me, holding a long sword. He twirls it, almost absentmindedly. Except that he's coming for me, I can tell. I try to turn and run, but I stumble over a strap of the pack. He comes ever closer. I try to scramble back to my feet and succeed, raising my dagger to defend myself. He swings his sword at me.

Ares Moretti POV

I walk off of my platform slowly, walking into the Cornucopia, towards where I see a nice sword laying. There's no point in running. I could kill anyone I wanted with my bare hands. I grab the sword and look around for targets. Most people seem to be fleeing the area. Boring. I see one girl, the one from ten, in the center of the Cornucopia, grabbing supplies. I think I'll kill her first. I walk towards her slowly, raising my sword. She doesn't stand a chance, pitiful thing. Except I have no pity. I swing my sword and her, and she raises her dagger to block it.

Kayra Dawnbreeze POV

I block Ares's blow, but the force of the impact pushes me back off my feet and onto the ground. My arms fall to my sides, and my dagger falls out of my hand. I grasp for the dagger with my hand, looking up to see Ares above me. He raises his sword to stab me and I roll to the side, away from his strike, grasping the dagger. But not away enough. I feel a sharp pain in my ribcage.

Ares Moretti POV

The girl thought she could escape. Like that could ever happen. I start to pull my sword out of her as she begins to cough out blood only to hear a scream from my right. I instinctively duck, which turns out to end up saving my life, as a knife thrown by the boy from twelve flies over my head. I wrench my sword free from Kayra's body and start towards the boy, but I'm distracted by a scream from somewhere else. By the time I look back, the boy is gone. Oh well. He will die at some point. He is easy prey.

Char Alfand POV

I hear a gurgle. Not a scream, just a gurgle. I look behind me, to where Kayra should have been. I see Ares standing, with his sword in her side.

"No!" I shout. I throw one of the knives I had grabbed at Ares's head, but he ducks, and it misses. Stupid me. I shouldn't have screamed. I look at Kayra's eyes. There's nothing I can do for her, she's dead, her blood already staining the grass under her. I'll just have to survive on my own. While Ares is distracted, I run. I run as fast as I can, in a straight line away from the Cornucopia. This apparently isn't a good idea, as just before I crest a nearby hill, a knife grazes my leg. It must have missed its intended target, but looking down after I'm safely away from the Bloodbath, I see that it's a pretty bad cut. This could be problematic.

Clear Palatino –12- -D3- POV

I grab a bag that was laying right next to my platform and look at Bec. He nods, and we turn and run towards a forested hill directly behind our platforms.

Becquerel 'Bec' Grey –15- -D3- POV

I manage to grab a small knife, no more than a kitchen knife by the looks of it before I run off towards the forest with Clear. We pant as we come down the other side of the hill, stopping to consider our next move.

Silk Daisly –16- -D8- POV

I run a few feet towards the Cornucopia, grabbing a backpack and what looks like a fairly decent hunting knife, before making a beeline out of there. Amazingly, I escape without any wounds.

Thia Zollis –15- -D4- POV

I run into the Cornucopia, grabbing a dagger I had seen at the edge of it. I look around for a bow or maybe a trident. A bow, right over there! It's only slightly inside the Cornucopia. I dash in and grab it, then look around for Rhylee and Harper. I see Rhylee, waiting for me and Harper. I run towards her, and Harper comes from another direction. The three of us race towards a forest behind Rhylee's platform.

Harper Satin –16- -D6- POV

I consider grabbing a backpack next to my platform but decide against it, instead opting to go closer to the Cornucopia, where I grab a few throwing knives and a dagger before turning tail and meeting up with Rhylee and Thia.

Rhylee Kaski –16- -D8- POV

I spot a sword on the path from my platform to the Cornucopia and grab it, along with a backpack that was lying next to my platform. Then I head a short distance away to wait for the others. Once they're both there, we run as quickly as we can towards one of the many forested areas ringing the Cornucopia. We crest the hill and emerge safely on the other side.

Athena Rye –14- -D9- POV

I run into the Cornucopia, grabbing a dagger and a pack of throwing knives, before running towards a forest behind the District Ten girl's platform.

Isaiah Lemont –15- -D9- POV

I grab a nearby sword and a small backpack before I run off into the forest with Athena.

Brianna 'Bri' Tribiani –16- -D11- POV

I grab a backpack and look around to see a bow or some throwing knives. I don't see any nearby, so I run towards the forest behind the District Twelve girl's platform with Aster.

Aster Ochs –17- -D7- POV

I look around and spot an ax nearby. I go for it, and grab it, along with a nearby backpack. I follow Bri into the nearby forest.

Emery Colt –17- -D5- POV

I run into the Cornucopia and grab a sword and a survival pack. I see Kayne not very far from me.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"I'm hoping that it'll be-", Kayne is cut off by a loud ding from the sky.

"Kayne Lytch has committed an extraordinary act of bravery," the announcer's voice dictates from the sky.

"Well, that's going to be annoying," Kayne says. Tontu runs in after him. Ding.

"Tontu Heinburg has committed an extraordinary act of bravery."

"If that happens every time-" I start to say, then, when I see the careers moving towards us, "-we had better get going."

Kayne Lytch –13- -D10- POV

I follow my plan. I run straight into the center of the Cornucopia. Off to one side, I see one of the careers standing over a body – oh my God. It's Kayra. I didn't really know her, but I feel bad for her. I can't think about that now. After my brief conversation with Emery, I grab a longbow and a survival kit, then follow Emery and Tontu out of the Cornucopia.

Tontu Heinburg –18- -D11- POV

I see Emery dash into the Cornucopia. He's going further than we agreed upon. He must be being brave. I decide to follow him. If we're going to be stupid to stay alive, I'll do it too. I run after him, arriving a few seconds later. The dings from the sky prove annoying, but I grab a spear, some arrows for Kayne, and a survival pack.

Camelia Lloha –12- -D12- POV

I run towards the Cornucopia. I grab a knife and decide to turn away. I hear footsteps from behind me, and turn to face them. That was probably a bad idea. I raise my dagger at the approaching person, the girl from two. She has a sword. I fend off her first strike. She strikes again, this time with an uppercut.

Giselle Serpentine POV

I quickly run into the Cornucopia and grab a sword. I see that most people are fleeing, Ares is dealing with the one who dared go into the Cornucopia. I turn around and spot the girl from twelve running away. I chase after her. She turns around and raises a small dagger to defend herself. She blocks my first strike, so I strike again, with an uppercut this time. I knock her dagger out of her hand.

Camelia Lloha POV

Giselle's pushes my dagger up and out of my hand. It flies into the air, and now I'm defenseless. Crap. I try to grab the girl's sword as she plunges it into my heart, but all I succeed in doing is blooding my hands before I feel a hot pain in my chest. I fall to the ground as she pulls her sword out.

Giselle Serpentine POV

I pull my sword out of the girl. She's dead, there's no questioning that. I start to turn around, but my sword catches, I couldn't quite pull it out. It rips through her flesh sideways, causing a spurt of blood before I wrench it free. As I see the surprised look on the girl's face as she falls back, the blood spurting from her chest and hands, the hole in her chest, and then hear the thump of her body hitting the ground, the green grass turning red, I can't look away. I can't… I'm frozen. For just a second, then I stop. Then I'm back to normal again. But… but… No. I turn away, walking back to the Cornucopia.

Serena Holden –16- -D5- POV

I run towards the Cornucopia, grabbing a pack of knives, a sword, and a backpack before running for the trees with the rest of my alliance.

Andrew Spayler –16- -D6- POV

I simply walk away from the Cornucopia. Athena had gotten my brace allowed, she told me just before we were thrown out. So I walk, jog, perhaps, as fast as I can away from the Cornucopia, while Serena and Vallory get supplies. Eventually, both of the girls catch up with me, with a surprise guest.

"Falcon?" I ask. I had heard the announcement of his act of love, but I didn't realize it had anything to do with us.

"Yeah, he decided to join us last night," Val says. "Long story, but for now-" she looks behind her, where I hear shouting, "Run!" We all take off as fast as we can for the trees.

Falcon Lockdust –17- -D4- POV

I run towards the Cornucopia. I grab a survival pack and a sword with Lustero and Diamond as Giselle and Ares take care of some stragglers. I look around carefully, considering my options. There's no way Diamond and Lustero won't notice me running away, so I covertly pick up a dagger. I walk to the far edge of the Cornucopia, then make a loud noise and point behind Diamond and Lustero. They look back, and I throw the dagger into Lustero's leg. I take off running.

Ding. "Falcon Lockdust has committed an extreme act of love," The announcer's voice says. Crap. That could be inopportune. I hear Lustero grunt as he pulls the dagger out of his leg. How do I know that? Because the dagger comes flying by my head, with a cry of "Get him!" I keep running, eventually catching up with Val, Serena, and Andrew. We run for cover.

Vallory 'Val' Stensland –16- -D7- POV

I run into the Cornucopia and grab an ax and a survival kit. I run out of the Cornucopia. I see Serena and Andrew already heading away from the Cornucopia. Then I hear, after the dings for Kayne and Emery, another ding. And it's Falcon. Crap. That means the careers know. I hear footsteps and look behind me. It's Falcon. We meet up with Andrew and Serena.

"Falcon?" Andrew asks.

"Yeah, he decided to join us last night," I say. "Long story, but for now-" I look behind us, to see Diamond chasing us down with a sword. I don't see Lustero, but one career is still a threat, with three more in the area. "Run!" We all sprint for the forest, reaching it long before Diamond and flattening ourselves on the hill.

"Diamond!" Lustero's voice shouts from the other side of the hill. "Come and help me! We'll kill them later!"

"Fine!" Diamond agrees and walks away. After a few minutes, we all carefully get up and head deeper into the forest.

Lustero Aldor –17- -D1- POV

As I'm picking through the supplies in the Cornucopia, looking for what we want to take with us on our hunting trip and what we want to leave behind – we've decided on a less aggressive path this year – I feel a sharp pain in my leg. I let out a small scream. I look up and see that Falcon is running away, and it's his dagger in my leg. Diamond looks at me, then at Falcon. She immediately runs after him. I wrench the dagger out of my leg and throw it at Falcon, but it's hard to aim through the pain and I miss. I grab a survival kit from nearby and start bandaging the wound, which is bleeding profusely. Falcon joins a group –I'm guessing that he's in love with one of the girls then. Weak. Anyways, Falcon joins a group which disappears over a hill. Diamond is still chasing them, but I doubt that she could take out four all by herself.

"Diamond!" I shout to her. "Come and help me! We'll kill them later!" We can't afford to lose someone this early, especially with having already lost Falcon. So she is helping me in a way, indirectly. Although having some help with the bandage wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

"Fine!" She shouts and walks back towards me.

Diamond Knowles –18- -D1- POV

I'm sad I didn't get to kill anyone. The ginger coward from Eleven fled before I could get to her. And the traitor Falcon – ugh. Things are not going the way I thought they would. When I get back to the Cornucopia, Giselle and Ares are both tending to Lustero's wound.

"You alright?" Giselle asks.

"Yeah," Lustero says. "I can walk."

"Good," she says. Then she turns to face me and Ares. "Let's find out what we need and what we can leave. I want us done within the hour. Then we go hunting for the traitor."

"Who put you in charge?" I ask.

"I'm okay with it," Ares says. Lustero shrugs.

"Well then," Giselle says. "Let's get to it, eh?"

"Yes, ma'am," I say sarcastically. But I do what she says because it's a good plan.

A/N: The next chapter will finish up Day One. No cannons during the Bloodbath, but there will be some later on. I know that this was a fairly bloodless Bloodbath, but only two Tributes were submitted as Bloodbaths, and I decided not to make any other Tributes Bloodbaths. Of course, most people have very little supplies as a result, considering they just ran away. This may or may not pose a problem for them in the future… Anyway, in my last story, I didn't do Dead Tribute notes, just because I had sort of forgotten that some people did them. I sort of regret that, so I'm doing them this year. Here we go.

Kayra: Kayra was submitted as a Bloodbath, which was a shame because if she hadn't been, she could have been a fun character. I didn't focus on her too much because she was a Bloodbath and we have a lot of interesting characters, but her personality wasn't very detailed, so I could have gone a lot of places with her, especially with her family history of not being allowed to take Tesserae, we could have had that impact her more. Either way, she was submitted as a Bloodbath and she served her purpose. RIP Kayra.

Camelia: Poor Camelia. She had the odds stacked against her from the beginning. She was a twelve year old from Twelve, with the odds stacked against her. Even the Capitol saw this, offering a staggering 100 times chance that she would lose. She was also submitted as a Bloodbath. I just felt bad for her, such a young, terrified girl put in such a horrible position. Rest In Peace Camelia.