Here's chapter 6, I hope you like it - its the start of the Games.
Quick shout-out to my guest reviewer, Strawberryluv, who has reviewed every chapter and been really supportive. Kisses xxxxxxxx
6
Katniss
Thank god that's over. My interview went really well, despite Peeta's declaration of love in the middle of his. I managed to get one over on Cato as well, something he'll get me for in the Games. Oh well. I want to savour this moment but I'm being hurried away as Glimmer comes off stage, eyes gleaming. I wave at her as I leave, infuriating her even more, and when I get in the lift, Haymitch high-fives me. Our plan is working. They're getting more and more pissed off, until they're going to be blinded by anger. Yay! I need to get some sleep now before the Games start in the morning.
It's time. I kiss Haymitch goodbye, hug Cinna and promise to see them both soon. We are put in our special glass tubes and rise into the arena. I see all the Careers narrowing their eyes as they spot me and know I have no choice but to run for cover and find water. The forest is closest to me, which is lucky because this is my domain. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. I run towards the nearest bag, scoop it up and head to the forest quickly, sprinting through the trees for what feels like hours, never stopping. Soon I reach a stream and realise that, although it would be ridiculous to stop now, I need water and so I follow it away from the Cornucopia. I must be miles away by now, and so I stop and fill my canteen with water. I climb a tree and tie myself to it, using rope from my bag. From up here, I can see quite a lot and I freak as I see the Careers approaching. I struggle to remain quiet but I remember the plan and keep my cool. Soon enough they catch sight of me and I wave prettily. By now, Clove and Glimmer are growling and Cato and Marvel are sprinting towards my tree, Peeta lagging behind. Peeta?! Oh. That must be Marvel, honouring our side of the bargain. It's definitely not the girls and Cato… well, Cato betrayed me. He reaches the bottom first and begins to climb. If he reaches me, I'm screwed.
Cato
I'm climbing, quite slowly but with enough speed to make it look urgent. Since my talk with Haymitch, I can see straight through her bravado and I can tell she's afraid. I could get to her with two more easy steps and she knows it but despite everything, I can't bring myself to do it. I grab onto an unstable branch and slip down. Glimmer starts to shoot arrows at her, but her aim is crap and Katniss is collecting the arrows she sends up, so she stops. Clove is fuming because she can't throw accurately enough over such a great height. We're just about to plan our next course of action when a booming voice echoes around the arena. "Tributes… Slight problem… The Games are on hiatus…" Suddenly, there is an ear-piercing scream over the intercom and the whole arena falls silent. Everyone looks at each other suspiciously, before each drawing their weapon. We're all on edge and ready to kill, something I've been waiting to do since I joined the academy. I think we probably would have too, if it had been for the peal of laughter that came from the trees.
"What's so funny scum?" Clove screams, and Katniss continues to laugh, "You are. We're on hiatus, there's no-one watching, because all the cameras are down, yet you are all still going to kill each other. It makes no sense. You can't survive without each other and it's not like you're getting out of here any quicker if you kill everyone now. So why do it?" We all fall silent, assessing what she's said. Glimmer speaks first, "I hate to admit it, but she's right. 12 come down here." Katniss laughs again, "Oh no. I don't trust you as far as I can throw you. If you can survive the night without killing each other, I'll come down and join you." Clove nods, "Fair enough. I like a challenge. Now Cato, take her some food, please."
I attempt to climb the tree again and make it this time, sitting on a branch next to her, handing over the dried food rations Clove gave me. "Good job, 12. I'm impressed. I thought Peeta was the people person." She rolls her eyes, and nods in agreement, "Look, the next thing to do is to head back to the Cornucopia. That's where the supplies are, and where people will come back to, in order to find out what's happening. That's if you didn't kill them all," she says curtly. I nod and she dismisses me, "Well, if that's all. Thanks for the food Cato, goodnight." I look up at her as I begin to climb down and I whisper, "Katniss, I'm so so sorry." She doesn't look at me but nods to acknowledge she's heard me speak. That's the first step to forgiveness – and I will spend my whole life making it up to her if I have to. "I know," she says, and I groan as I realise I said my thoughts aloud. At least she understands how I feel now. And I really do regret it….