Hi, everyone! As promised, I changed the cover image, since there's a brief description of the arena at the end of this chapter. The 99th annual Hunger Games are about to begin!
Enjoy your reading :)
The morning of the Games
Adam Thorn (18)- District 9 male tribute
The Fiancé
I wake up. What an awful night I spent! A never-ending wheel of sleep and wakefulness. When I was awake, I tried all the possible strategies in order to fall asleep- from changing position to closing my eyes and trying to think of nothing. When I finally fell asleep, my slumber was haunted by horrible nightmares. I don't remember any of them, but, honestly, guessing what they were about is not that hard: what else but the Games? Today, I'll be sent to the arena, from which I might not come back alive. Therefore, I should be at my best, but this lack of sleep could be a problem.
I get up. I feel a bit drowsy, but a strong coffee will help me. On a chair before my closet, I find the outfit I have to wear in the arena: a long-sleeved, grey-green top; a wool jacket some shades darker; brown trousers; high socks; black hiking boots. These hiking boots may imply that the ground is uneven like in the mountains or in the hills. As for the wool jacket, it certainly means that the weather is cold in the arena. Another frozen landscape like last year? I hope not. There's nothing else I can deduce for the moment.
Once dressed, I go to the dining room to have breakfast. Rebecca is already there.
"Good morning," I greet her.
"Good morning," she greets me back.
She sounds rather nervous, and I cannot blame her. Who would stay calm knowing that they'll be sent to their death soon?
Anyway, I need energy, so I ask one of the avoxes to prepare me a large portion of bacon and eggs, while I'm pouring coffee from a thermos. Who knows when I'll have another decent meal? I sit at the table, next to Rebecca.
"How are you?" I ask her just to break silence.
"I'm fine," she answers, without looking at me.
"Glad to hear that. You're ready, then."
"No one can be ready for this, but my allies and I will do our best to survive. You should do the same," she rebuts.
I raise an eyebrow. "Do you think I won't?"
"I just think that you shouldn't focus on protecting me. You swore to do it during your interview, but you know you can't, not in the arena of the Hunger Games, don't you?"
"What else could I say? That I'm angry 'cause you betrayed me? That I feel so silly volunteering for you?" I retort, annoyed.
She watches me. She's angry as well. "I've never asked you to risk your life for me!"
"I love you, Rebecca! When you were reaped, I… I don't know… I couldn't reason, I… I acted on instinct. I can accept that you don't love me, but I might lose my life, and you don't care… that's what I cannot accept!"
"You're wrong, Adam! I do care about you, that's why I didn't want you to volunteer! I don't want you to die!"
"If I don't die, you will! Do you think I could stand that?"
"If you really loved me, you wouldn't speak of sacrificing your life as if it was worthless! You're not a hero, Adam, you're just selfish!"
That said, she stands up and then leaves me alone. This was my last conversation with Rebecca before the arena, and it ended so badly. Jeez, it hurts! Where have I gone wrong with that girl?
…...
Alexa Steel (17)- District 6 female tribute
The Peacekeeper
Immediately after breakfast, I take a lift to the roof of the Training Center. Christopher is with me, and he's listening carefully to all the last tips our mentor is blurting out. These tips could be lifesaving for him, but I don't need them for my part, I already know what I have to do. Besides, Christopher may even listen to our mentor until he's fed up, but he won't survive a whole day in the arena, no matter if he belongs to a gang. As a recruit, I faced some gang members in the past, but, honestly, their fighting skills always pale compared to the better training and armaments of peacekeepers.
We finally reach the roof- a flat area where a hovercraft is waiting for us. We have to queue before getting on it. They order us to roll up our sleeves so that a metal tracker can be inserted into our forearms with a syringe. Once this operation is done, we can leave. I've never taken a hovercraft before. Inside, there are thirteen seats on both sides. They aren't marked by any district number, so we can sit wherever we want, I suppose. Quite predictably, the Careers stick together. The force of numbers, the strength of the pack… a psychological strategy meant to frighten the others. Frighten your enemies, and they'll be more vulnerable and more likely to make mistakes… a smart strategy, no doubt, but this kind of stuff doesn't work on me. Part of the peacekeeper training focuses on situations in which you're outnumbered, so I'm not afraid of them… but I'm rather nervous, and when the hovercraft eventually takes off, I grow even more nervous. Am I afraid of flying? That's ridiculous! They'll certainly make sure that we arrive in the arena safe and sound!
I try to distract myself by looking around. Right in front of me, there's the girl of District 2, Scarlett Pearce. By the way she's smirking, I can tell that she's rather eager to be released into the arena. Besides, she must feel safe, given that she's part of the largest alliance of this year. During her interview, she said that she had already killed before the Games. This girl is definitely a threat. Honestly, I don't know if I'd rather have her as an ally or as an opponent. She strikes me as the type of tribute who could kill you in your sleep without second thought. The idea of being surrounded by potential killers is not that appealing, after all… and I'll be alone out there, but that's a calculated choice. At first, I thought of allying with the boy from Nine or Ten- they seemed strong enough- but then I found out that they were both too busy with their love problems to be considered reliable. Better late than never. I'll do better on my own. Everything is easier as a loner: hiding, moving, decision making, etc...
After a journey that seemed endless, the hovercraft starts finally to land. Its windows black out so that we cannot see the arena before the time. I find myself gripping the seatbelt with sweaty hands during landing, because I feel like my body was falling into the void, I feel the full weight of it. For the first time since the Reaping, I think of my family back home. What are they doing right now? Are they all in the main square, waiting for the massacre to begin?
…...
Henry Almonds (14)- District 3 male tribute
The Chemist
As soon as the hovercraft lands, they make us get off. We're assigned two peacekeepers each, who have to escort us to the Launch Room- the last safe place before entering the arena. There are twenty-six Launch Rooms; they're all underground and linked together by a circular tunnel, which we have just entered. The air is chilly. I try to think of the clues about the arena I've collected so far: cold weather, poor vegetation… maybe a tundra? Not the merriest place to die, but who cares at this stage? No matter what kind of arena Gamemakers have chosen, I must do my best in order to survive. I look around, trying to spot my allies, but I cannot see neither Ambra nor Chris. I wonder on the basis of what criteria Gamemakers establish tributes' positions around the cornucopia. Training scores? If so, I should be not too distant from Chris. Or do they simply separate allies so that they take more risks, ergo they're more likely to be killed? Ah, Henry, try to keep a cool head! Once in the arena, you'll evaluate the situation and then decide what to do! Remember… first your life, then that of your allies!
I enter the Launch Room, where the peacekeepers leave me alone. They close the door, but I'm 100% sure that now they're keeping watch right outside it. Obviously, they don't want tributes to run away. Anyway, the Launch Room is completely empty, except for a circular plate enclosed in a glass tube. I get closer to the plate, and the tube automatically opens in two. Now, I just need to stand on this plate, and it will rise up to the surface, releasing me into the arena. Now is the time, but I cannot move, I'm frozen on the spot. What are you waiting for, Henry? You'll end up in the arena in one way or another! There's nothing you can do to avoid all this!
At this stage, I hear to door open behind my back. I turn around, expecting to see the peacekeepers come to force me in the tube, but it's my stylist Hadrian, instead.
"You're so eager to be in the arena that you don't want to say goodbye!?" he says.
"I'm sorry, Hadrian," I apologize.
"I'll forgive you because it's you, and because this is the most stressful moment of the Games. Your destiny is about to unfold, my dear Henry, I hope you're ready."
"What can you tell me about my outfit?" I ask Hadrian just to change the subject.
"Well, this jacket is made of wool, but it's not that heavy, so cold weather, but not as cold as last year. In addition, your outfit doesn't seem waterproof, guess the weather is dry then," he answers, while examining my clothes.
"Thank you."
At this point, I hear a metallic voice say: "Thirty seconds."
"I've got something for you," says Hadrian, handing me my district token.
"I thought they had impounded it," I reply, unbelieving.
"Well, technically speaking, tributes aren't allowed to have tokens that could be used as a weapon. This vial is made of glass, that's why they impounded it, but we've managed to let it through, just… keep it hidden." he explains.
"Thank you, Hadrian! It means a lot!"
"Be careful, Henry, this little flower…"
"It's safflower," I lie, interrupting him.
"I don't doubt it. But, please, be careful. Even little things may cause trouble."
I look at him. Does he know the truth? Does he know that my token is actually a deadly weapon, and not because of its material? In any case, Hadrian seems more concerned about me using it than about me having it. If the Capitol found out that this flower is poisonous, what would they do? Would they punish me? Maybe they would send mutts against me, but they could also punish my family. Now, I wish my parents hadn't given this vial to me. This responsibility is too great. I must be careful, so I'll wear my token under my wool jacket for the moment. Nobody should know that I have it.
"Ten seconds."
"Time to go," says Hadrian.
I nod in response. I'm too scared to utter a word.
"Good luck, Henry," he continues in a sad tone- is he about to cry?
"T-thanks," I reply with a slight smile.
That said, I stand on the metal plate. The tube closes. Now, I'm imprisoned in a glass trap. Eventually, the plate slowly begins to rise.
…...
Bella Page (16)- District 7 female tribute
The Storyteller
The plate is now rising and rising. The more it rises, the more I feel smothered. At first, I'm shrouded in darkness, but then a soft light coming from the top of the tube starts to be visible. I don't feel comforted, though. I know the light comes from the arena. Oh, I would like to hide in the darkness for the rest of my life! But I cannot leave Cedric alone. To be sincere, protecting him is the only thing that gives me the strength to face the Hunger Games. I must make sure that he wins this cruel competition.
When I eventually emerge in the open air, I need first to shield my eyes by my arms due to the sudden passage from darkness to daylight. When I've finally grown used to the light, I immediately look around. I recognize the kind of landscape I'm watching now, since I once saw a picture of it in a book. This is the heath. On my left, hills and hills covered by purple-green shrubberies extend as far as one can see. On my right, the hill on which the cornucopia stands slides down slowly into a valley, where a lake follows the outline of the hilly area. Actually, the cornucopia stands right on the top of the last hill before the valley. On its left, there's an imposing chestnut tree, which shades part of the ring of plates.
Now, all the tributes have emerged from the tubes, but I cannot see my brother anywhere. He must be on the other side of the cornucopia- the side where it opens. I feel a sudden pang in my stomach. The mouth of the cornucopia is the place where you can find the best supplies, but it's also the most dangerous place to be during the initial bloodbath. What should I do? Should I run in that direction, hoping to find Cedric still alive? Or should I simply grab a backpack at random and flee, hoping that he will do the same? If only I could communicate with him! Maybe we could meet halfway, but how? How can I let him know that this is my plan?
At this stage, the voice of Mircalla Blutdurst- the announcer for the Games- echoes through the arena: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 99th annual Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favour!"
And that's when the countdown begins. It will last sixty seconds… sixty seconds before dying.
Here we are, in the arena of the 99th Hunger Games. What do you think of it? In the next chapter, there gonna be the bloodbath and the first casualties of this edition (sigh). It took me one year to get to this moment, so I must really thank all those who have supported me so far. Thank you for your patience!
Submitters can assign points to: Henry (D3M), Alexa (D6F), Bella (D7F), Adam (D9M)
Specific questions about tributes:
Henry: should he use his district token?
Alexa: what do you think of her attitude?
Bella: what should she do?
Adam: where has he gone wrong with Rebecca?
Thank you a lot for reading and, please, leave a review with your impressions/suggestions, they're really helpful :)
