Let the 65th Hunger Games begin Chapter 9: The Arena, a hunger games fanfic

Here comes the next chapter. Finally the Games begin. I hope you´ll enjoy it:)

The Arena

It´s 6 o´clock but I can´t really sleep. Only 4 hours separate me from the Games.

I shower one last time to feel the water, maybe it´s the last time I´ll ever feel it runnung down my skin and I don´t want to forget this feeling.

I think about my family, my friends and District 4. Then I close my eyes and imagine the beach with the sand and salty sea water.

But I can´t relax, I´m just too nervous about the Games.

I sigh, get up and wander off to the dining room. There I meet Mags.

"Oh, I didn´t know someone would be here", I say surprised.

"No problem, want to talk?", Mags asks me.

"I´m scared. Scared and nervous", I admit, "I want to talk with my family again, want to see them again. Just once."

"I know", Mags responses and strokes my head, "That´s normal but you have to remember you can make it.

"You don´t know that", I say.

"Hope. You have to hope. Remeber what fighting for.", Mags tells me.

Mags and I continue to talk, she tries to lighten my mood and tells me funny stories but I just can´t laugh.

Soon enough it´s 8 o´clock. Byron, Twiksi and Leanne come in and the breakfast starts. 2 hours. Everything is so clear right now, I close my eyes to remember this moment: the delicious bread I eat, how the sun is shining through the window and how Mags smiles at me warmly. It´s the last meal I´ll get before the Games start. Thank goodness Leanne decides not to insult me today and so through the whole meal it´s very silent. Even Twiksi doesn´t talk.

It´s quarter to 9 and Byron, Mags and Twiksi say goodbye.

Byron pats me on the back and Twiksi says: "You´ll make it, I´m sure about it", while smilimg at me.

The hardest is Mags: I hug her and don´t want to let go. "Thank you", I say , "For everything".

"Good boy, you´ll come back", Mags replies, "Remember what you´re fighting for."

I let go of her and nod. "I will".

Then Peacekeepers come and bring me to a big Hovercraft where I meet all of the others. Many of them will be dead in 2 hours. I try not to look at them.

We arrive and then everyone of us goes to a separate room where our stylists are waiting for me.

I enter the room slighly shaking, I´m scared and nervous. Augustus brings me the clothes I´ll wear in the Arena and I dress.

"It´s waterproof", Augustus comments, "Either it will rain very much or there is many water, like a sea."

I smile at him, it´s nice that he tries to help me.

He hands me a glass with water. "Here, drink. That´s the last you´ll get before the Games", he states.

While I´m drinking he says: "I believe in you, Finnick, I know you can win. Just try, will you?"

"Yes, I´ll try", I response., "Thanks, for everything".

"No problem, that´s what I´m there for.", he responses.

Then a voice tells us to go to the elevators, which I do. The glass closes and the platform slowly begins to rise.

The first thing I notice is the lot of water which surrounds us. Then the countdown starts.

The platforms,which are in the water, are connected with rope which leads to an island where the golden Cornucopia is standing. As well each platform is connected with one other island. So with the Cornucopia there are 25 islands. The island are very different: some look like deserts, on some there are forests, on some mountains. I think the rope is for the tributes who can´t swim: they have the possibility to get into the water and then hold on the rope and try to get to one island.

So the weak tributes will either drown or later be killed at the Cornucopia in the bloodbath. I think there will be many deads today. Should I try to swim to the Cornucopia? I mean I know this wasn´t my plan but I´m one of the fastest swimmers here and I could get some supplies. I´m not sure about it yet.

I decide to take the risk and swim to the Cornucopia: there are different kind of weapons as well as food and backpacks. Sadly there aren´t any tridents but I see spears and knives which I can handle.

The other tributes stand on platforms all around the main island with the Cornucopia in a circle and I notice that Robert is just 2 platforms next to me.

Robert looks up to me and points at the island behind him. I nod. We´ll later meet there. On the island there is a forest which is good for hiding and probably there will be plants, berries and animals we can eat. As well You have a good view over the Arena when you climb the trees up.

I still try to decide wether to go to the Cornucopia or not. Leanne isn´t far away from me. She could be at the Cornucopia as fast as me but I have to take the risk if I want to get any weapons and food. I curse myself: I really don´t know how fast Leanne can swim. Why don´t I know this? But now it´s too late. I wonder if any of the others can swim. The Careers probably but certainly not as good as me or Leanne. And the others?

I have to admit the Arena suits me pretty well and gives me an advantage.

I get ready to swim as fast as I can.

Mags. I try to remember her tips.

Find water.

Find shelter.

Remeber what you´re fighting for.

Otto, Leslie, Mom, Dad,

I´ll try.

I´ll try to come back to you.

The Games have started.

Thank you for reading:)