The time has come.
I stand in an elevator with my main mentor, Jo, as we talk about last tips before the game.
"Since you're one of the careers now and how you have pretty awesome skills, I think you should be able to make it out alive in the Cornucopia Blood-Bath," Jo says. "However, though you're in an alliance, you can't always trust anyone. Remember that!"
"Got it!" I answer. The elevator door opens and I give her one last hug before a good-bye.
"Good luck, and may the odds be in your favor," Johanna says as I exit the elevator and the door closes. There I meet up with my stylist, Amanda, where I apply my uniform and receive my token…or I thought I was getting my token.
Then, she walks me to the pod. As I stand before it, she finally hands me my token and clutch my hand when I least expected it.
"It's not much, but it should be enough to cheer things up. I heard you normally use this to calm you down, or brighten you up if you're feeling down. I'm not sure if I'm even allowed to give you this, but apparently the Peacekeepers approved of it so…here," Amanda said, finally letting go, revealing my MP3 before hugging me. "Good luck," she whispers.
Ian and I each got an MP3 from a friend in district three when we were twelve. We've been receiving electronics since we were seven, as our birthday gifts from our family friends in district three.
"Thank you, and don't worry, I will win. I know it," I said before blow kissing her good-bye as I rise up from the pod.
As I appear from the pod with the other tributes, the countdown was already at ten. I look around and see that almost everyone was prepping to run towards the Cornucopia. So, I prepare myself too.
"Let the 74th annual Hunger Games commence, and may the odds be ever in your favor. 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1."
I can spot Ian just two pods away from me. He and I both rush straight towards the Cornucopia after the signal. After that, I blacked out. I don't remember a thing during that bloody event.
Ian's POV
I rush in with Ruby to get our weapons first before anyone else does, but Clove was the first to get her weapons. Luckily, she chose not to harm Ruby, nor me, but in a matter of seconds she has already killed the district nine male tribute with her throwing knife.
I scout the Cornucopia and spot Marvel stabbing the district eight male with a kukri, Ruby shooting a dagger at the district ten female, Glimmer ferociously stabbing the district six female, and Cato finding some equipment before killing some other tributes.
I find the district nine female and take the chance to stab her in the back while I can. After a second scope, the district five male cleaves the district three female on the forehead with a sickle, but then being pinned down and stabbed by Glimmer.
I then see Cato, tripping the district six male and then being slashed with a knife. He then equips his machete and then slices the district four male's throat. I turn to Ruby as she slices the district four girl in half, cutting between the torso and the pelvis. Finally, the Cornucopia Blood-Bath is over, and the forest became silent. The endless sounds of cannons began to surround the arena.
We grabbed everything we could before we had out to the forest, hunting for other tributes. When morning struck to night, the portraits of all the tributes that died in the Blood-Bath began appearing among the sky, but then we spot a fire in the forest. Of course, we sneak towards it and find the district eight female sitting among the campfire. Cato injures the girl before handing his sword to Glimmer to finish her off.
BOOM!
As we continue wandering among the trees, Ruby and I listen to the sudden whistling of grass nearby. She stops me for a moment and look towards some shaking shrubs. She slowly rushes over to it, raises her sword up high, and slices through the shrubs along with a splat of blood scattering all over the place. I walk towards the scene and find the district ten male's torso sticking out of the bush.
BOOM!
After that sight, I can hear branches be crushed from a few yards away. "Wait here, I'll be right back," I whisper to Ruby before heading out. She nods at me and watches me climb the trees and hop off.
As I stay high up in the trees I spot a figure beneath me. It was the district twelve boy, Peeta. I lick my lips as I pull out my knife. The first time I feel bloodthirsty.
Trying my best to be as quiet as possible while climbing down, I manage to land on a perfect branch above my target to assassinate my prey. As he leans on the tree looking as if there is no one around, I take this advantage and jump up from the branch, landing right on top of him, pinning him down.
"Any last words, Lover-boy?" I tease.
He doesn't answer; instead his heavy breathing speaks up for it. I guess I might as well end his life before he gets a heart attack.
"Well, I guess you'll meet your beloved Catnip at the other side," I said before stabbing him continuously in the face. That felt good! Wait…what have I become?
Ruby's POV
The group and I wait for Ian at the spot where I killed the district ten boy. Finally a cannon fires…
BOOM!
and Peeta's picture pops up in the sky.
"Well, so much for Lover-boy," Clove said with a smirk.
"I guess he and Fire Girl are doomed to be mutt bait," I laugh. The rest of the group looks at me with a smile. A few minutes later, Ian comes by covered in blood and looks away from me. The group and I continue off in the forest, but I walk beside Ian.
Ian looks down at the floor with a look that seemed so reluctant. "You know, you had no choice Ian. You were bound to kill him sometime," I whisper. "Besides, you didn't seem so down when you killed some tributes back in the Cornucopia."
"I know, I know…but killing Peeta made me feel different. I felt power…I felt…bloodthirsty! It feels like a sin, like I've dishonored our family. You know how our family is!" he whisper-shouts.
"Don't worry; this will be over before you know it. Besides, haven't we been preparing for this since we were five? Preparing ourselves to kill others? It doesn't sound right, but if mom and dad did this for us to survive, then we shouldn't put this training to waste."
Ian's POV
Over when you know it? More like over before you know you've gone insane! I'm not like Ruby, having all this voracity for savagery, despite the family's religious beliefs. I mean, we're all humans, and we were bound to find that savagery, but this was not how I was expecting to experience it. Before I know it, I might break that promise and maybe…Though that power of overpowering someone though…it felt so good! It felt like I can overpower anything!
When the "sun" rises, we rush back to the Cornucopia, but instead of the weapons that we were expecting, we find piles, stocks, of food! We also encounter the district three boy who knew how to plant and replant mines. For now, we kept him alive.
Once we head back into the forest to hunt for more tributes, we leave the boy to keep watch for the food. A few hours later, we hear an explosion. We all run towards the sound and found the whole area of food…gone, with the remains of the markings left from the impact.
We walk around the scene to check if there is any food left, but all we found was the district three punk walking around, astonished as he pulls his hair and walks back and forth. Cato was left on a rampage and twists the neck of the boy before he could even react to anything.
However, I hear a rush of whistling bushes and cracked branches from afar. Ruby and I exchange looks, knowing she heard them too, we dash towards the bushes.
"Hurry up!" I shout without having an explanation. I didn't turn back, but then I hear the rest of the group follow behind us as we rush past plants and trees.
"We're almost there!" Ruby calls as she points out to me the district twelve girl, Katniss, climbing up the tree. "That tree ain't going save you Fire Girl!"
"How's the weather down there?" Katniss calls.
"Well enough. Yourself?" Cato replies.
"It's a bit warm down there, the breeze is better up here. Why not you come up?"
"Think I will!" Cato attempts to climb the tree, but falls due to his heavy weight. "Damn it!"
"Here, let me take care of this," Glimmer said as she takes out her bow and arrow as she attempts to shoot Katniss, but misses. Cato gets aggravated and snatches the bow and arrow. He pursuits a shot, but also misses.
I can hear Katniss heavily breathing as she clutches to one of the branches of the tree. Poor Catnip.
"Why not you throw a knife or a sword?" Katniss teases.
We all scowl at her, knowing that if we do throw a knife or a sword, will just give her another weapon. Exchanging looks at each other, we decide to wait her out. However, Ruby and I gaze at each other closely.
"I'll get the bow and shoot from a different angle," Ruby whispers. I smile and give way for her to get to Glimmer.
I watch them murmur to each other until Glimmer finally hands Ruby her bow. Then, Ruby walks around the tree, aiming for a perfect angle. Finally, letting the pro do it's work.
Unlike what Glimmer and Cato did, Ruby grabs three arrows on hand before aiming them towards Katniss. Any part of her body would be fine. She shoots with persistent speed, shooting them one at a time, but in a matter of seconds. Maybe even nanoseconds. We hear a squeal and watch as Katniss plunges to the ground. Clove, hoping to finish her off…
BOOM!
stops herself from stabbing her just after the cannon fires.
"Wow! Nice shot!" Glimmer cheers.
They all stare at Ruby, mouths gaped, but there were sudden leaves falling above us and a sound of cracking from the branches. I quickly look up at the trees and see a dark figure standing among a branch.
Ruby quickly launches another arrow towards the figure, and it drops just as the arrow landed.
BOOM!
another cannon fires.