Presenting – chapter 6, where the Games begin!

I wake up to Sapphira shaking me roughly. "Get up, you idiot, the games are today!" Oh, yeah, now I remember. Training was shortened.

I get out of bed, throw some clothes on, and walk down to breakfast. Marcellus is already there, talking to Cianah and chowing down on something with an odd purple-ish color. Plunking down in a seat, I order a big cup of chocolate milk, this really tasty chicken covered in four different cheeses, and a tiny personal cake. Sapphira stares at us. I stare back and ask "What?".

She flicks her hair back. "I heard you want to be allies with the girls from 7 and 9. I can understand 7, but you really shouldn't trust 9. It'll blow up in your face. Anyways, when you get out there, I want you, Cassia," she points a finger at me, "to get a spear if they have one, and some knives. Maybe a bow and some arrows if they have them. But I want one thing burned into your brain. This goes for both of you."

"Okay…?"

"Your best bet is getting a knife. They almost always have those. And also, you should both try to get a personal sized backpack if they have them." Leaning her head back, Sapphira throws a strawberry in the air and catches it in her mouth.

Marcellus and I nod, and continue eating. I have to force myself to eat because my stomach churns just thinking about the Games. Will I die? Will I win? Only time can tell. I wonder what the arena will be like. Something dreadful, most likely. Deserts, snow-capped mountains, and gigantic man-eating plants in jungles whirl inside my head.

My plate is whisked away and I go down to see Theon. His face isn't turned upward with a smile as it usually is. He pulls out a pair of baggy tan pants with numerous pockets, a thin long sleeve black shirt with some type of chainmail as the shirt underneath, and black combat boots. After slipping all of them on, Theon ties back my hair in pigtails with weird styles he calls a fishtail, and hugs me.

"Listen, good luck out there," He smoothes back my hair. "Try to stay alive, all right? 5 could use another winner, and I'm sure your family wants you back." He gives me a sort of half-smile. "I'll miss you," I choke out. "It's the same with me." He stares back at me, and directs me toward a tube.

I have always hated small places, and this tub is only big enough for me to stand in with my arms extended only a little. I press my hands against the glass, and the tube starts to move. "Theon!" I cry out, slamming my fists against the glass. He looks at me for a last moment and right before the tub flies up, I see him press a silky handkerchief against his mouth.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, let the 64th Hunger Games begin!"

I rise up into a bright light. Squinting, I see that this year's Cornucopia is made out of wood, with weapons glinting in the sunlight. We seem to be in some sort of caveman arena. Looking into the mouth, I see a spear that would work perfectly for me.

A few feet in front of me there is a canteen and some sort of small, hand-sized bag that undoubtedly holds food. And right at my feet there is a tiny string of chains. Looking around, I find Mila, and jerk my head towards the Cornucopia. She nods, and repeats my actions to Septima, who is closer to her than I am. I look around and take in the faces of the other tributes. From 1, there is an arrogant boy named Caelius, his eyes locked on the Cornucopia. From 4, there is a girl named Phillida with one foot in front of her, ready to take off the second the gong sounds. From 8, there is the boy Isolde, and the only other people I recognize are the girls from 2 and 3, Verinia and Zelina.

With a bang the gong sounds and I launch myself off the stand, grabbing the chain, bag, and canteen as I run. Farther up near the Cornucopia I see a set of knives pushed into a pack that will serve its purpose if I grab them. Septima is already at the Cornucopia, taking a sword and one of the three spears that lay there. I grab the knife set and launch myself into the mouth, grabbing the two spears and a medium-sized backpack.

Whirling around, I start run towards the east, screaming for Mila to follow. "Cassia! Help me!" She screams. I turn around just in time to see Septima, laughing as she drives her sword into Mila's shoulder. That traitor! I start to run, to get to her, but Caelius is in front of me, flinging his throwing stars into my stomach. I dive sideways as one hits me in the leg. His fellow Career tribute lets an arrow fly, and it lands in my arm.

Running and yanking the arrow out, I chuck a spear at Septima, and watch it bury itself into her throat. Mila jumps up and, hoisting a bow and a sheath of arrows on her shoulder along with a tiny bag, and we start to sprint. Yanking my 2nd spear out of Septima's throat, Mila and I head towards the east, flying faster than the wind.

What feels like an hour later, Mila and I stumble upon a small clearing surrounded by thick trees and plants. I chuck down my knives and spears, dropping my backpack with a loud thud. Mila lets her things fall, and she and I collapse.

"What happened out there?" I wheeze out. Mila gasps for air, then finally answers. "I had two backpacks, when someone comes up behind me and starts trying to stab me. While they were doing that, someone who I think was the guy's ally came up and cut the backpack straps. They took those, so I ran back up towards the Cornucopia and got this stuff." She gestures to the small pack and the bow and arrows. I smile encouragingly. "Well, it's good that you got those. Can you use the bow and arrow?" Unzipping the backpack, Mila nods. "Let's see what we got in the packs."

Mila managed to get one with crackers, some sort of beef, and an empty small water bottle in it, along with a small spool of string and a tiny hook. I have gotten one with numerous food items, two large water bottle filled to bursting, a spool of heavy-duty rope, some type of tiny bottle that claims to purify water, bandages, a sleeping bag, and a spool of – wire?

As for our weapons, we have a bow and a sheath of 15 arrows, 2 spears, a set of 6 knives, and a large hunting knife.

"Wow, we got a lot. I had a bad feeling we would leave with only, like, a knife and a tiny pack or something." Mila laughs. "So what?" I say. "Even then, I'd say… HOORAY FOR FAILURE!" I screech, and we both laugh despite the wounds we have and the fact that we're in the Games.

I patch up Mila's shoulder and she takes care of my arm, leg, and stomach. We decide this is where we'll stay for the night, and I spread out the sleeping bag, unzipping it so we'll both fit and have something soft to lay on. Night has fallen, so Mila hooks her bow around her shoulder and lays on her side with the sheath of arrows next to her. I use the tiny bag I had grabbed from the arena, and tie it around my waist using the rope we had gotten. Sliding the knife into it, I grab one of our spears, and put it down next to my side of the sleeping bag.

I put the canteen and whatnot into the big backpack, and chain our remaining knives and spear to the pack. I lay down, grab my spear, and close my eyes to succumb to the claws of sleep.

But I find it hard to sleep when the Careers come crashing through the bushes.