I run.
And run.
Eight cannons fire in the distance, marking the death of eight tributes, lives gone, gone like their families' hopes. Hope that they might just become this year's victor. But, no, feelings aside. I can't have pity if I'm going to go home.
While I run, this blur of reds and oranges makes me dizzy, so I stop, making sure that nobody's following me. Then, I remember the pack. I open it fast to see the the contents, which the Capitol has been generous with this year.
There's some matches, a full ½ litre water bottle, some jerky and crackers and wire. And I found a weird object in the outskirts of the Cornucopia that confuses me.
It's a gold metal ''pen''. The edges are sharpened, and on the side, there's a glass window so you can see the contents inside. Inside, a clear liquid bubbles. I suppose it's a weapon and put it in the pack again.
As I look around me, all I can see are trees. Trees, trees and trees. To be honest, if I win the Games, I never want to see the colour red again. Ever. In the distance, a tall, snowy mountain with glaciers and blue sparkling rivers dominates the horizon. What a shame, it looks pretty with the crimson sunset backdrop, but this is the Games. Anything pretty here doesn't really belong here.
Then, the death recap starts. First up is the girl from Two. Shocking. Normally all the careers make it through the first day, but I saw them go to the tropical section. Who knows what awaits there? Then, the boy from Three, and the girl from Five: When she appears, I'm filled with guilt. I took her life, for god's sake. But her death means one step closer to going home. After her, both from 6, the boy from 9 and both from Twelve appears. Then the anthem plays, and the screen disappears.
I turn around and try to get some sleep under a tree. I'm concealed by some trees and leaves in a pit, so it's hard to spot me here.
I get some sleep before I'm woken up by ''yip'' noises. I jerk up. I have to squint because of the night to see about six foxes with red eyes and extremely sharp teeth staring at me.
An owl hoots.
A fox steps forward.
A cannon fires.