3rd times a charm

I'm not sure how long I ran, but I had to keep going every time I thought of stopping. A million things were running through my mind. How could they do this again? Yes, I had voted to for another game but not for me to be its star. This was worse than death, I'd take a bullet to the brain before I want to spend another minute in this retched place. They didn't train any one… or at least if they did I didn't know it. Now it all made sense, the odds were in my favor. I survived this 2 times before… so 3rd time's a charm, right? Or maybe my lucks run out and this will be it, my last hurrah I guess.

I busy myself in search of a shelter and come across nothing in the dense forest of pines. I'll have to sleep in the trees, which will be obvious for anyone who saw me in the first games. Its not yet dark so I nestle myself on the ground hidden in the low hanging pine braches. I dig through the backpack and find a thin blanket, a pocket knife, a chunk of bread, matches, and yes of course an empty canteen. I wish I had the spile from the quell so I could tap these trees. I know I have to find water, and soon. I don't know how many days I was in the cell, with out food and water. I am weak, and exhausted. I look around for anything that could be a clue to water.

Through the branches of the trees I hear an eagle scream in the air. I glance a shining silver fish in its claws. I race in the direction it came from hoping that I can find a stream, lake or anything. I stealthily move through the trees trying not to disrupt the ground and the trees. The trees are becoming less dense. I use this chance to catch my breath and listen for anything. Between my ragged breaths I hear a trickling stream. I move forward and stopped suddenly as I heard a branch snap and some hiss, "careful!"

I climb into a tree and find myself looking dowm upon a clear little stream and two of my competitors. They don't look intimidating, but looks are deceiving. They are filling canteens as well. I pray that they move on, if not I have my bow trained on them ready to pick them off. I can't afford to think twice about their intents.

"Did you see Everdeen? I wonder if she made it out of the cornucopia." The girl says.

"Yeah I saw her running away" The boy shrugs it off.

"Damn… she's the one I'm worried about." She frets, yes that's right be afraid of me.

"Don't worry about her there are others much more dangerous than a wounded Mockingjay." He sneers.

I see what is coming next but the girl doesn't, he whips around and buried a knife into her neck. She screams, for a second it reminds me of Rue. She was young like her, that boy probably used her to find water. He's cleaning his knife and watching her bleed out. I climb down from the tree and burst into his view, before he can even defend himself I sink an arrow into his heart. He's dead before he hits the ground. Another cannon sounds, and I know I don't have time. I spring through the shallow creek and kneel by the helpless girl. I place my hand over the lethal wound on her neck. No herbs or bandage will save her, there is nothing I could have done but avenge her murder.

"How many started the game?" I ask as she weakens by the second.

"10" she gurgles.

I softly push her blond hair out of her eyes, "Why are you in these games?"

It's breaking my heart she's Prim and Rue, and again none of this is fair. I can't contain the tears anymore.

"Capitol." She chokes, and I sob harder.

"I did this to you." I cry, "I wanted your people to know what this feels like. I am so sorry."

She shakes her head, "No, my grandpa did this to you."

I stare into her eyes and I know who she is, Snow's granddaughter. I am speechles and unable to move.

"Let me go please." She begs, "Take my things and win."

I remove my hand from her neck and hold her hand as she dies, I continue to cry as the sound of Evangeline Snow's cannon resonates. I move swiftly to dump her backpacks contents into mine and move away from the scene after filling two bottles with water. Now I know at least 3 are dead, 2 by my own doing. I don't know how many also perished at the cornucopia, so I made it a priority to camp high in a tree to see the screen tonight.

Night is descending quickly, as I move back into the forest. I find a decent tree and scale it. Nestled on a large branch I survey the sky knowing soon enough the something will happen. Faces of the dead appear, only one other added to the 3 I knew about. 5 others stood between myself and getting out alive.

I sip water and eat only a little bread, wishing and hoping my boy with the bread was okay. Was he watching me right now? If he was I prayed he would have the sense to walk away before he watched me suffer here. It would destroy him as it did to me when Snow tortured him and presented him in the videos. Selfishly I wished he was here, having him with me made my goal clear. Save him, and get out alive. Now I feel alone and have no one to protect. But suddenly its clear. My goals… survive this, go home, and rescue the boy with the bread from his own nightmares.