Let the Games Begin
A/N: Yay! It's the chapter we have all been waiting for! The Games are starting and I will try to keep the story going as long as possible without drawing out. Remember cast your votes through PMs or reviews for your favorite tributes so they can get Sponsor points for a better chance of survival to get the items they need.
Warning: I hope you guys like bloodshed because that's what you are getting. I excel at writing bloodbaths and deaths. You will clearly see throughout the chapters from here on.
X
The whole arena was deathly silent save the Tribute's breathing. All twenty-six platforms rose as one and the Tributes began to surface. The counter started to chime and counted down the first few agonizing seconds. When the counter reached the last five seconds the ground rumbled and quaked shaking the pedestals.
Laury tensed as the earth cracked and imploded leaving a massive hole surrounding the Cornucopia crumbling pillars of stone left several paths to the Cornucopia. The counter buzzed down to the last remaining two seconds. Velvet kept her eyes on the prize directly in front of her searching for a suitable weapon.
Genesis found a spear gleaming deep inside the Cornucopia shooting glances at the awaiting Tributes daring them to try to take it once the signal fired. Leon's eyes watched Estelle standing three pedestals to his left and the signal finally fired. Leon leapt from his pedestal snatching Estelle's hand and racing over to the Cornucopia. He cleared the path in a few bounds and snatched up a two packs and tossed two knives into one of the packs.
He jumped back across dodging the other tributes and raced away with Estelle at his side feet pounding across the meadow and disappearing into the brush.
Laury snatched up a bow and a quiver of arrows along with a small pack, her hat protecting her skin from the sun. She nocked an arrow anticipating a Career and made her way back to the path cautiously. She spotted the Careers crossing the path across the gorge from her and she nimbly left from stone to stone until she reached the meadow once more. She raced away towards the evergreen forest leaving the Cornucopia in the distance.
Genesis reached the mouth of the Cornucopia picking up the jagged spear he spotted earlier and slinging several packs of supplies over his shoulder. He whirled on the tributes desperately crossing and hurled the spear within their ranks. The spear struck home ramming through the male tribute from District 3. He let out a small gasp of pain before losing his balance and plummeting into the gorge. His howls of pain echoed back up to the Cornucopia and Genesis peered over seeing him vanish beneath the liquid fire fifty feet below.
The cannon sounded signaling the start of the bloodbath. Velvet raced into the mouth of the Cornucopia and strapped a black leather quiver to her back full of short javelins and grinned wickedly at Genesis. Orion entered next with Kyle close behind each searching for their own suitable weapons. Kyle climbed the stack of crates and snatched up a pack stowed away in the shadows and turned to leave. His attention snapped back towards the glittering glow of sleek metal and he found his prize. He snatched the blade out of the corner and leapt off the pile of supplies. He twirled the blade and marveled at the unique J-shape it made. (A/N: Bleach fans, think of Kira's zanpaktou)
He ran forward and burst out of the mouth of the Cornucopia and delivered a stinging blow to the side of a tribute's face. She rolled over to the edge of the plateau and peered down into the gorge. Frightened, she jumped to her feet and pulled out a small knife and lashed out at Kyle in terror. He laughed and swung swiftly for her arm leaving a shallow cut and she dropped the knife and clutched at the bleeding cut.
Kyle kicked the blade into the gorge and advanced on her and swiftly sidestepped as she flew at him flailing at him. He spun the blade around and placed her neck in the curve and pulled cutting off her shrieks. The cannon sounded and Kyle nudged the decapitated head and body with his feet knocking them into the gorge.
"Damn Kyle that was fucked up" said Orion with a feral smile. He returned to searching for a weapon. His eyes fell upon two large hammers resting between two crates and he eagerly snatched them up weighing them in his hands. Arden dropped down from the crates with a sheath of throwing stars and attached a huge dagger to her belt.
"Grab as much stuff as you can guys," she said, "I have a bad feeling about this place."
"Why?" asked Velvet.
"Because I have a feeling the Gamemakers have a few tricks up their sleeves this year," said Arden quietly. Genesis quickly snatched up as many packs as possible and followed Velvet out as she snatched up a few of her own. Arden tossed a couple each down to Orion and Kyle.
She jumped out and casually tossed a star at a tribute trying to reap the remainder of the rewards at the Cornucopia. The girl tried to dodge to late and took it straight to the heart. Arden raced past her pulling the star free before she hit the ground and returned it to her sheath. Arden followed the others across and heard the sound she had feared. The gorge began to crumble more and the ground holding the Cornucopia lurched knocking two fighting tributes over the edge to their deaths.
"Hurry," screeched Arden over the sound of the Cornucopia sliding into the moat of liquid fire. The paths began to implode and the empty column in front of Arden collapsed as she tensed to jump. Kyle spun around and yelled, "JUMP!"
Arden ran towards the edge of the jagged column of rock and leapt just as it gave way and collapsed into the deadly flames below. Arden missed the edge and shot her hands up desperately to catch the edge. Kyle dove and threw his arm out and pulled her up with all his strength. They jumped to the last stone together and leapt one last time to safety.
Anna and Rowan desperately raced across the solely remaining trail and she hurled the supplies and weapons she had salvaged from the Cornucopia over to the other side. Rowan jumped the last stone and sprinted towards the wood with his pack over his shoulder. Anna leapt an the ground directly behind Rowan crumbled and she missed the cliff. She quickly snatched a thick root sticking out and stabbed into the cliff with the skinning knife she had found in the pack.
She climbed back towards safety and Rowan ran to help her. His body was forced to a halt and started to turn on its own accord towards safety, "Marilyn no I have to help her."
He fought against his mind and raced towards the cliff reaching a hand down to Anna and pulled her up. Anna panted out as she laid spread eagle on the ground, "T-thanks."
She slowly got to her feet and grabbed the supplies she had thrown over. She looked up to see Rowan gone and running for the safety of the woods, "S-sorry," he cried out to her as he disappeared.
X
Rose soundlessly crept through the brush back to her hiding place as she heard voices drawing closer. She pressed herself to the ground out of sight thanks to the cover of dusk and the brush. The Careers passed by laughing, clearly pursuing someone. Orion paused and his watchful gaze flickered into the bushes and Rose suppressed the urge to shudder. He shook his head and continued on and sprinted after the others following a tribute's trail.
Rose turned away and returned to sorting the edible plants she had collected. She delicately picked them up and dropped down into a small tunnel big enough for human and skidded as she slid across the cold, smooth stone of the tiny cavern. She weaved through the stalactites and returned to where she had left the supplies she had taken from the Cornucopia.
She dropped the herbs by the sleeping bag she had found in one of the packs and dropped off into another low and cramped tunnel. She ducked down the length of the way until it opened up into a small cavern and the sound of rushing water filled her ears. She eagerly drank from the pristine oasis marveling at the clarity of the crystal spring water. "I think I found my hiding spot for the Games."
X
The moon cast its ghastly rays to illuminate the arena in a faint eerie glow. The stars twinkled high in the night sky and the sound of the anthem played and the list of deceased tributes began.
District 3: Male and Female Unknown Tributes
District 4: Male Unknown Tribute
District 5: Male Unknown Tribute
The anthem came to a close and the silence washed back over the arena.
Laury sat high up in a tree sleeping and as the moons rays descended on her pale skin her eyes snapped open. Her colorless blood-strained eyes fell upon the forest below and she dropped out of the massive pine tree and landed in a crouch she snatched her bow off of her back and nocked an arrow. A devilish smile crossed the threshold of her lips as she let the moonlight soak into her skin and she broke off into a silent sprint deeper into the woods.
A/N: Cliffhanger! I updated again to make up for how long it's been. I hope you all enjoyed this chappy and the start of the Games. I know I didn't kill off anyone's tributes because I thought everyone's at least deserved to survive one chapter. Next chapter, however, is an entirely different case. Review! Review! Review! It helps your favorite tribute's chances of survival in the next chapter and gives them sponsor points on top of that. Until next chapter, may the odds be ever in your favor!
P.S.: I know all tributes were not shown in this chapter do not take offense every tribute will have had a glimpse of the spotlight by the end of the next chapter.