This wasn't what they told us it would be. When the gong sounded, all of the Careers exploded off their platforms and got to work. I'd been looking forward to it all my life, and I couldn't believe it was finally here. I ran for the weapons.
Venus got there ahead of me. She picked up a knife and threw it at the brother from Five. It thought it would kill him right away, but something awful happened. It sliced through his neck and blood shot into the water. He bent over and pressed at his neck, and he started making terrible noises. Even over the chaos of the Bloodbath I could hear his choking gurgles. His little sister clung to him and tried to drag him away. He waved her off and shoved her back. Another knife thudded into his head and he fell into the water. I saw Venus smiling as the little girl fell into the water after him and started crawling away. Venus took out another knife, then sneered and turned toward a bigger target.
They didn't tell us it would be like this. In training, we fought holograms. A hologram just dissolved when you killed it, and another one took its place. It didn't scream or beg for mercy. It didn't bleed like the blood that stained the water red around me. I felt my face drain of blood and my nose start to run as I looked at the carnage. All but one of us were going to end up like the boy in the water, or the girl on the end of Royal's sword. I realized someone was shouting at me.
"Thompson! What are you doing? Get to work!" Valencia was saying. She threw a sword at me, but I let it fall into the water. I looked at Venus, who was aiming a knife at another fleeing Tribute. As soon as she saw me, she'd know what I was. I ran before I gave her the chance.
I fled through the trees, checking over my shoulder for the hunters that would come after me. I was crying like the coward I was, and I'd never imagined anyone could be so scared. I didn't want the honor or the victory anymore. The Games were nothing but blood and pain and fear. Even winning wouldn't stop the fear.
I was alone that first night. I'd run away from the pack, and I knew I was alone even back home. I was a coward- the worst thing anyone in Two could be. I was the worst of the worst. I shivered and shifted on the hard ground during the cold night.
Why did they do this to us? Our own parents and everyone we knew told us to come here. Did they not know how awful it was? They couldn't know. No one would make a child go through this much fear. Or maybe it was just me. Maybe all the others enjoyed it and there was something wrong with me. I wished I'd found out before it was too late.
They only told us one thing about the Games: killing. Everything else they left out. They didn't tell about how the skin would peel off my feet and they'd turn to mush. They didn't tell about my clothes sticking to me like damp rags. They didn't tell about eating leaves and twigs and grubs I found squirming in a rotten log. Most of all, they didn't tell about the fear.
Every day I ran. I knew the others were hunting for me. Day after day, cannons went off and I wondered what killed someone. Was it Venus and the others? Some awful muttation? Just starvation or exhaustion? Mine would come evetually. Soon I lost count.
I ran again when the fire started. It must have been the Gamemakers. No one else could make such a wet Arena catch fire. There was nowhere to go. They tell you to get underneath the smoke, but there was nothing there but water. I ducked under until my lungs couldn't take it, then broke the surface and filled them with scorching air. They were trying to drive us together. Either the fire would kill me or the others would.
Some screamed, a harsh and ragged noise. She must have been running, since the noise moved like a wailing siren. It got louder, and then it was like it burned out. It faded away like a dying wind, and another cannon went off. Soot and tears streaked my face as I submerged again.
Far away, I heard a sound. When I next came up for air, I realized it was the Anthem. The smoke was already clearing, like some giant vaccuum sucked it away. The girl I'd heard must have been the last one. Somehow, I was the Victor. So why was I still scared?