The Bloodbath: District 3 Mentor's POV
I watch as my tributes board the hovercraft. Cable is shaking slightly, but he's trying to look calm. I do catch the girl from 4 eyeing him though. She's looking at him as if he were a meal. I can relate to the poor kid. When I was in my Games, I had the same looks. The Careers are looking at Dayta to, but in a much different way. The two from 1 look confused, but I see the girl from 2 with a look of hatred on her face. That's understandable. Dayta just received one of the highest scores in District 3 history. I definitely have faith in her. She's fast, and a prodigy when it comes to traps. I'm worried about Cable, though.
After fifteen years of mentoring, I still feel a pang of sadness as the hovercraft lifts off. I don't think anyone can truly understand the sadness of mentoring two children, only to have them die days later. It's been so long since District 3 had a victor. I follow Wiress, the other district mentor back inside to watch the Bloodbath play out on the screen in our quarters.
I'm settled on a leather couch next to Ariannus, our ridiculous Capital escort. The screen lights up and I see the tributes lined up on their plates. It looks like they're in a jungle. That's good for Dayta, who can use the vines for all kinds of snares. The countdown begins, and I hear Wiress give a slight whimper nest to me. The poor woman always does this right before the Games, as they've messed with her mind, just like the rest of us. As the clock goes down, my hand grips the edge of the seat so hard that my knuckles turn white. 3….2….1….
Boom! The entire arena seems to shake. The boy from 12 stepped off his platform a split second too early. In the split second of confusion that follows, Dayta darts into the foliage. I think the girl from 9 has the same plan, and takes of a split second behind her. She manages to swoop down and get a dart gun, as well as a water bottle. She's picking up speed, and gaining on Dayta. She could fire the gun, which certainly wouldn't kill Dayta, but it would slow her down and mean death by a Career. But she doesn't. I can't think why, but she just bolts around Dayta, and they both make it to safety.
I force myself to turn back to the Bloodbath. The girls from 6 and 10 already lay dead, hardly far from their platforms. Agate is sending a spear to the girl from 8's stomach, while the boy watches helplessly as coral raises her trident. I have to find Cable. He catches my eye, by the Cornucopia. That wasn't the plan! He was supposed to run. It's too late now, and Jett sends a dagger straight through his stomach. Wiress lets out a sigh. At least it was fast.
The boy from 7 is in a battle with the boy from 6, while Elana grabs a box of granola and takes to the jungle. Chase from 9 joins her with a canteen of water as well as two scythes. Bracken from 11 has managed to grab a bow and arrow which is likely for Laurel, his partner. I see that Lyndon from 7 has cleanly decapitated Henry with his axe, and they all sprint to the jungle together. They'll all form one tough alliance. Dayta will have to watch her back.
Marius, the idiot from 4 ahs just picked up a spear, when one of Agate's spears sends its way through his throat. Upon seeing the look of confusion on Chardonnay's face, she simply says "he was going to slow us down." The others nod, and go to the jungle to find water and make camp.
The Fallen:
3. Cable Jones-stabbed by Jett
4. Marius Ender-speared by Agate
5. Marissa Daniels-stabbed by Mason
6. Jenna Ferrell-sword through heart by Chardonnay
6. Henry Aston-decapitated by Lyndon
8. Lacey Evans-speared by Agate
8. Duroy Jenners-killed with trident by Coral
10. Emma Equine-neck snapped by Jett
10. Nirel Nelson-stabbed by Chardonnay
12. Hanna Yarrow- killed with trident by Coral
12. Emory Nair-stepped off platform too early