Thanks to Ravyn Hawthorne and HunterofArtemis1136 for reviewing! By the way, the song in here is One Day by Matisyahu.
Finally, the interviews are over and we're back on our floor of the tribute tower. It's my last night here before the Games and I'm dreading going into the arena. We all depart for bed but I'm only in my room long enough to change into some pajama boxers and a t-shirt before there's a knock at my door. I open it to find Jared standing there. I swear sometimes it's like he can read my mind. Without a word he opens his arms and I rush into them burying my head in his chest. He strokes my hair gently. We both curl up in my bed together. There's nothing to say. I can hear his mind worrying a mile a minute, wondering about the arena we'll be thrown into. I want to calm him somehow. He flips over and I rub his back and start singing to him.
Sometimes I lay under the moon
And I thank God I'm breathin'
Then I pray don't take me soon
'Cause I am here for a reason
Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know someday it'll all turn around because
All my life I been waitin' for
I been prayin' for, for the people to say
That we don't want to fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play, one day
It's not about win or lose 'cause we all lose
When they feed on the souls of the innocent blood
Drenched pavement keep on movin'
Though the waters stay ragin'
And in this life you may lose your way
It might drive you crazy
But don't let it phase you, no way
Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know someday it'll all turn around because
All my life I been waitin' for
I been prayin' for, for the people to say
That we don't want to fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play, one day
One day this all will change
Treat people the same
Stop with the violence down with the hate
One day we'll all be free and proud
To be under the same sun
Singing songs of freedom like
One day, One day, One daaay…
By the time I finish the song he's asleep. This is good. He needs his sleep. I do too; I probably won't get much opportunity for it in the arena.
Analeigh comes to get me in the morning and I'm surprised to see that Jared's already gone. I guess he sneaked out earlier this morning. I'm given a simple white shift to wear and taken to the catacombs under the arena. There I'm dressed in gray cargo pants that can be turned into shorts. They're water resistant like sea birds feathers. I'm also given a white T-shirt and a heat reflecting gray hooded jacket. The shoes are sturdy hiking boots. Lastly, Analeigh gives me the seahorse necklace from Craig. I had almost forgotten about it. Apparently, we're allowed to have a token from home. I guess this is mine. The last thing Analeigh says to me is to make sure the gong sounds before I step off my plate. The plate clicks when I step on it and then starts rising.
I blink and look around. We, the tributes, are standing in a circle on a plateau high in the air, surrounded by mountains. In the middle of the circle is a giant golden Cornucopia, piled inside and scattered around are supplies, weapons, food, medicine, anything I could possibly need. "Ladies and gentlemen, let the very first Hunger Games begin!" the announcer booms. My eyes fasten on a trident in the mouth of the Cornucopia. I ready myself to sprint to the golden horn.
After about 60 seconds the gong finally sounds and I take off. I don't look around to see what the other tributes are doing. I grab the trident and whirl around, my mind open to the other tribute's thoughts. My eyes bug out in horror as I see Jared armed with a spear against the district seven tribute not five feet away from me. I don't have time to do anything though because McKayla, also from district 7 is behind me with an axe of her own is right behind me. She barely made a sound but her mind was practically screaming in panic. I shove my trident through her gut and twist it out. A cannon fires, she's dead. I fight my way over to Jared's side, killing three more tributes, not even bothering to notice which district they were from. Districts 1 and 2 were killing the most, hunting down the weaker kids to scared to climb over the cliff. I tell Jared to help me get supplies. I don't want to stick around to see what 1 & 2 might do to us. Jared guards my back as I grab a sleeping bag and load up two back packs with food, water, iodine, medicine, net, rope, and two flashlights. We each take a spear and five knives along with my trident.
We run towards the south side of the plateau and start climbing down. They don't notice our escape, they're too busy killing. The mountain we're on is impossibly high, riddled with caves and cliffs. There are pine trees dotting the rocky landscape.
After hours of silent hiking I find a secluded path. It's hidden behind a rocky outcrop and leads to a cave. I ask Jared if he wants to camp here for the night and he agrees. We sit down and take inventory of our supplies. We have enough food and water to last us a while. I lay out the sleeping bag and we slither inside. The bag is roomy and I'm so small there's room for even someone as big as Jared. The temperature is dropping as it gets dark and I'm glad I have my jacket, Jared and the sleeping bag to keep me warm.
He holds my hand. We feel the need to be quiet even though we're probably far away from the group that's killing every breathing thing in sight. Jared is wondering why we didn't stay and team up with them. I decide to answer his thoughts.
"Because; they were killing and enjoying it." I say.
"What?" he stutters, "How did you know?" I turn toward him and look into his brown eyes. I can't tell how he'll react and I don't want the Capitol and all the districts to know my secret. This is all being televised. I lean close to his ear and whisper as quietly as I can, so hopefully only he will hear,
"I can hear thoughts, Jared." I hiss. Luckily, he's a smart boy, and instead of blurting out my secret his thinks his response. Like mind reading? He thinks. I nod.
Suddenly Panem's National Anthem is blaring, echoing through the mountains. I crawl to the front of the cave and I can see the seal of the Capitol floating in the sky. The seal fades away and is replaced with headshots of the dead tributes, one after another. I count them. Eleven, on the first day. Jared offers to take first watch. I decide to let him. I lay down in the sleeping bag and he sits at the mouth of the cave gripping his spear. I rest my hand on my trident and fall asleep.