District Eight Male

Norris Manning

Day Two, 8:45 AM

22 Hours, 45 Minutes since Game Commencement

It's so hot out here. The pavement is absolutely baking in the sun. It hurts to walk on it. My bare feet feel like they're being roasted. That's what I get for taking off my shoes, and then leaving them behind during the bloodbath yesterday.

I tend to be more comfortable when I'm not wearing shoes. I like my feet to be able to move properly. Having them be all sweaty and cramped in the confines of shoes does not appeal to me in the slightest. That's why I took them off during the bloodbath. I had to balance carefully on my pedestal while doing so, so I didn't fall to the mines below.

I ended up dropping them during the chaos that commenced upon the gong's ring. I really regret that now.

My feet feel like they've been set on fire. I'm practically hopping as I make my way down the street.

The arena's a ruined city this year. There are lots of old and crumbling buildings surrounding the street I'm on. Most of them are very tall. Earlier I passed by one that was covered in windows, most of which were cracked or broken in some way. I stopped for a while to look at myself, passing the time by pulling funny faces at my own reflection before I got bored of that and kept on moving.

This place is actually quite boring. None of the buildings I've been in had anything particularly interesting in them. A lot of them were near-empty. This is what they don't tell you about the Hunger Games: they're so unbelievably boring most of the time.

I wonder if those back home are just as bored watching as I am actually experiencing it. I bet they are, especially my brother, Eliot. He could never sit still for more than a few minutes at a time. He was always restless when he was bored. I get pretty restless, too... Well, I've been walking around for quite a while and I would actually like to take a rest now, for once.

That's a little ironic.

I come across a mechanic's workshop, or whatever they're called. Those places where they fix up cars. I look in through the wide entranceway and can see all sorts of tools laying about, as well as two rusted cars still parked inside. I grin as I make my way towards them. Maybe I can lay down in the back seat of one of them and actually sleep on a nice soft surface.

The concrete floor, cooled by the shade, is refreshing and feels good on my side feet. I walk over to the nearest car, which may have once been white or silver but is now covered in rust, and peer through the window. The back seat is made of leather, and it seems to have a big rip down the middle, revealing the stuffing inside. Looks as good a place as any to rest. I'm exhausted and not feeling particularly picky. I go to open the door.

I only register the rapid footsteps coming up behind me once I catch sight of something reflected in the window, but by then it's too late.

I slam against the side of the car then drop to the floor as I scream in pain, my head hurting horribly! I struggle to my feet, only to be knocked down by only god-knows-what.

I want to get out of here, away from whoever is attacking me. I drag myself across the floor as quickly as I can, hoping I can escape. I can feel something gross and sticky and unpleasant dripping down the back of my head and neck and it makes me even more terrified, knowing that I'm injured and might die because of it.

I hear footsteps behind me once more, and I move faster, as fast as I can. The burning sunlight is approaching, I'm almost there, I can make it-

But then something slams into my head again, and I realise with a horrifying fright that I'll never make it.