Chapter 15- Click, Click, Boom!

Prim POV

I threw on my white robe as I heard the voice talking in hurried tones outside Seneca's apartments here. I couldn't quite get the gist of what was being said, but I guess it was Games related. I stepped out on the balcony so I could hear well. Sen was standing by Lucia looking at something she was moving in to place on the digital map of the arena. "Perfect, that's great," he was saying.

I walked down the steps to come stand on the other side of Lucia. "What are those?" I asked.

"They're balls of hail that when they hit the ground and all goes according to the design, they're supposed to explode," she explained.

"Wow, that must have taken tons of time to design," I said. I turned my head and smiled at Seneca over Lucia's shoulder. He was mouthing something to me: You okay?

I thought a moment. I was better than okay, I was great. Happier than I'd ever been. I stretched my arms a little to see if I was sore at all, nope.

Good as ever I made my lips form my reply and then grinned.

Katniss POV

"So, uprisings in 5? How serious?" I asked Gale after a minute of letting that news sink in.

"Apparently it was pretty intense. They attempted to set fire to the power plants and went through the streets with torches burning Peacekeepers alive," Gale was saying.

"That's pretty brutal," Peeta said. You know, I was in total agreement with that.

"Anything going on like that in other districts?' I asked.

"I heard of a few minor ones in 6, 7, and 9. They weren't as brutal though, they just attempted to attack their industry building. I'm sure more will start soon, with the Games and all."

"Anything in 12?" Peeta asked.

'Doubt it;" I said after a sip of coco, "we're the poorest and least populated district. People are afraid of starting something."

"Wanna start on bets for the next one?' Gale asked.

My face hardened. Peeta spoke up, "All right, fifty bucks on District 12." I stared at him with awe, and then slapped him.

"Peeta!"

"Aw, come on Katniss. That takes the fun out of it. At least it's better than betting on the next death in the Games," he motioned to the TV.

All right, I see his point.

Moss POV

I was walking slowly. It had noticeably gotten colder since I'd started my trek from my safe tree to find water. I needed some more. I wrapped my body deeper in to my coat and pulled the hood up to conceal my face from a potential foe.

As I was climbing up a hill, that's when the hail started.

I'm running now, as fast as I can. Good thing I was small for my age. As one hail ball headed for me, I hid behind a bush as it made the tree it hit blow up. Holy crud, I mean, this is intense.

I was on my feet again once I saw one of the icy balls of death head for my bush.

I was
knocked off my feet as my bush exploded too. The blast sent me back possibly twenty feet. It sure was lucky I had thought to put my hood on. It was either that, or I'd be deaf for life.

A boom shook the ground, but it wasn't the hail this time. It was the cannon. It rang out twice.

Nicki POV

Dual cannon fire? Which two were killed in the attack? Surely it must not be Boggs, but then again it could very well be. Juniper and I had no idea where he was, and neither of us had seen him once. I secretly hoped it wasn't Moss. She was too young to be killed.

I guess we'd find out tonight.

Seneca POV

'Mr. Crane? Two are gone," Lucia informed me as I stood on the balcony, watching and figuring. Prim was beside me, still in her white robe I'd put her in after… that. She looked up at me as if for some explanation.

"Who?" she asked.

"Lucia, can I get the names of the fallen for today?" I asked.

"One was Lint of District 1; the other was Sage of 9."

"Thank you Lucia," I said as I came down the steps of the balcony and headed for the big map of the arena. Prim held on to my hand. "Should we make it colder there?"

She thought, "Depends on the current temperature."

"Its fifteen degrees," I said, checking the thermostat. I looked at her as her face scrunched up in concentration.

"Lower it by a degree or two."

"You heard the young woman, lower it boys," I said. It would now be thirteen degrees in that arena, not too much of a drop. Besides, I thought the citizens had gotten too good of a show today. The rest of the day would be smooth, allowing for regrouping.