Chapter 8
"Wake up! Wake up!" cries from Mercy called, "we have no time to lose!" She bore down on my arm which made my eyes snap open. I caught sight of faint white boulders rolling down from the side of the hill and further up the white pathway. Darilus grabbed my arm and yanked me up.
"Let's go!" I listened closely and just ran. How could I have not heard anything sooner? As I looked back the boulders continued towards us while running down the hill. Mercy clutched at Darilus' hand and he hung on tightly. The boulders came closer and grew larger as they picked up more snow. Soon, the first attack of boulders sped past us just missing. The next rolled off the side as we turned the path.
"Go off the side!" Darilus roared.
"Are you crazy?" I called back still sprinting.
"It's not that steep, the snow is deep!"
"No!" But he mustn't have heard me, he ran sideways pulling Mercy as he did so, right over the edge, right to probable death. She looked at me as she fell, tears in her eyes. But I mustn't stop to mourn yet, I still had my life. I knew the game makers would have done something, we let our guards down. But who even cares, as I said we're only district 6.
The boulders were hot on my heels but I continued slipping and dodging down the pathway when necessary. I could soon see the bottom, safety away from the balls of death. I still couldn't believe that had happened, last night was all fine. Today, Mercy and Darilus dead and no safe place to stay. Back to other tributes, back to death. SLAM! As I lost control of my steps more little snowballs hit me causing me to stumble and fall. I turned instantly but not hurt and saw more boulders, but ones that could kill. Crawling intently, I managed to flip myself into the deep snow just to the side of the path. It wasn't steep anymore.
The last team of them sped past me right on down and into the river just down from me. They blocked the river and instantly they caused a dam and made the water overflow around the sides. All I could think of was to run, but I haven't got the energy. I knew cameras were probably on me but I didn't want to move. It must have been only around nine o'clock because the sun was only just peaking over the forest of pines which I had run through at the start of this hell pit.
Mercy flicked into my head again. The blonde locks, that pretty face. Why had she grabbed his hand? Why? If only she hadn't, if only. No, I must survive for her and for district 6. The first time district 6 will win in over 29 years. Getting up I feel the crisp wind batter my face, I'm frozen. Step after step I walk towards the forest and decide that I'll hide there. I soon realised that as I walked the bodies from yesterdays fight had been removed to, only blood stained snow prevailed. Turning my head away I enter the forest. But I knew today was far from over, my tears had just begun.