To the Death

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"Time to wake up." I felt a gentle hand shake my groggy form, willing me to wake up. I slowly opened my eyes and looked up. The entire room was still blurry and all the colours in the room blended together. I looked to my left to see the same guard that put me to sleep last night.

He smiled warmly at me. "Good morning."

I took a breath and smiled. "Hi." I turned my head and looked around a bit more. My vision was starting to clear up. I turned my head to face him. I could see his face clearly now. He had dirty blonde hair and bright green eyes. He was probably about 22 and he was very handsome. He held his calloused hand out to shake mine. I took his hand as he began to speak.

"I'm Aiden Taylor. I'm not from here, but the ministry sent me here for these games. I was sent down here to retrieve you. They told me to tell you that you need to get yourself ready. The games start today. You're being put in the arena this morning." My heart stopped. No. I wasn't ready for this! I only finished training yesterday! I wasn't mentally prepared for this!

All these thoughts raced through my mind. I wanted to protest, I wanted to say something. But all I did was nod and sit up.

Aiden stood to his feet and nodded, backing out of the room. "They're giving you about 10 minutes."

"Okay." I said. I looked around the room as he shut the door to give me some privacy. Everything was the same as it was when I was brought into the room. Except for one thing.

There was a small photograph sitting on my bedside table. Tears filled my eyes as I picked it up with shaking hands. It was small, very small. It was about 5 inches by 5 inches. It was such a small picture but it brought such a giant wave of comfort that only it could provide.

The entire Weasley family stood in the sitting room of the burrow, all of them smiling. Molly and Arthur stood, their fingers intertwined, so much love in their eyes as they gazed vacantly at the camera. The rest of the family surrounded the small sofa that sat inconveniently in the middle of the room. Harry and Ron sat on the sofa, both of them wearing an encouraging smile, as if to tell me that I was going to be fine.

I was crying freely now. I turned the picture over, about to start getting dressed when I noticed something on the back of the picture. My heart gave a lurch as I saw what it was. All of them signed the back of the photograph under a small note written by Ron.

Tears sprung to my eyes as I began to read.

Dear Hermione,

All of the other tributes got to bring something from home because all of their families got their in time to see them off. We're all so sorry that we didn't get to say goodbye. We all love you so much and we're all so proud of you. You're going to be okay, sweetheart. If you ever find yourself in a dangerous situation, or if those disgusting people make you question why you're even alive, then look at this picture. We are the reason you're here. Hermione, you are so loved by all of us. I love you so much, and we're all praying that you get back here safely.

I love you,

Ron.

Tears were flowing freely from my eyes as I put the picture down with shaking hands. I wrapped my arms around my body and rocked back and forth, sobbing loudly. I cried for myself, I cried for my family, I cried over the fact that I had to murder. To cause pain. I began to think of the what ifs… which upset me even more. I thought of my family's reaction as they watched me die a gruesome death… on public television.

Aiden knocked on the door, probably as a sign that I didn't have much time left to get ready. I quickly threw on a tight black shirt and gray pants. I quickly put my hair into a messy side braid. I didn't bother with makeup. I didn't think I needed to look fantastic for this. I picked up the photograph, pressing it to my lips before putting it gently into my pants pocket.

As I walked into the long hallway, I noticed the other tributes leaving at the same time. Aiden took my arm and began to escort me out. My heart thudded with anxiety as I walked down the long and winding hallway. Further down the hallway, I could see several little circular platforms with long, clear tubes running out of them, big enough to fit a person inside.

My brow furrowed as Aiden and I walked up to a large tube. I noticed a small sensor type thing attached to the front of the tube, just outside the door of it.

Aiden hesitantly took my shoulders and turned me around so that my lower back was in front of the sensor. He lifted the back of my shirt and pressed my lower back against the sensor. That was why I was branded. I could feel heat radiating from the machine as it began to scan the M on my lower back.

I must have been shaking because Aiden rubbed my arms in a comforting manner. "You're doing just fine." He said in a gentle voice. I smiled at him with appreciation. He was really treating me very well. He wasn't like the rest of them.

"Thank you, Aiden." He looked up at me and smiled. "I really appreciate you treating me so well."

He smiled and nodded. "Of course."

Suddenly the glass door of the tube raised up. Aiden gently guided me into the tube and pressed a few buttons. My heart filled with panic as the door began to close. As the door was closed, I heard him say something.

"I'll pray for you." He held his wooden necklace that was shaped like a cross. "You're going to be okay."

Tears filled my eyes. "Thank you." I whispered. The door closed completely, and I could feel myself being raised up. The platform under me moving me toward the ceiling of the tube. My heart wept with terror as the ceiling opened up to a bright blue sky. I snorted at the irony. The sky was so perfect, so beautiful, so… happy. It was as if it didn't know that its beauty was being cast over such a gruesome and unhappy event. The event that would take many lives. Including mine.

I was suddenly submersed in the bright light that was just a mere image only seconds ago. My heart jumped into my throat as I looked around me. We were in a forest. The entire arena was filled with trees as far as I could see. There were 8 backpacks laying down, each laying in front of their owner. I looked down, expecting to see my own backpack. There was nothing there.

Suddenly I heard something that made me want to vomit. Lucius Malfoy's voice boomed through the entire arena.

"Hello, mudbloods. This is the Hunger Games. To eight of you, this will be your final resting place. To one of you, this is where you will gain eternal glory." I wanted to punch something. I shook my head in fury as he began to speak again.

"In front of you is a backpack. This backpack contains the weapons that you will need to survive. All of you except one have one in front of you. The person without one was chosen by random draw." I snorted with disgust. I was not chosen by random draw. No. Lucius was trying to do everything in his power to make sure I died.

"Hermione Weasley. Your backpack is placed in a clearing about one mile ahead. You have to retrieve it immediately if you wish to survive." My blood boiled with anger as he spoke again. "All of you with backpacks, you may take out one of your weapons. Hermione Weasley, you are defenseless until you retrieve your bag. Therefore I would suggest that you…. Run fast." I shook my head. I was going to die first! All of the other tributes had either a spear, a bow and arrow, or a dagger. I had nothing to defend myself with.

"I speak to all of you now." He paused for a moment. "May the odds.. be ever in your favor."

The second he said this, I readied myself for the fastest run I've ever done in my life. A loud, deep voice rang through the arena.

"10, 9, 8." I looked at Dean, who was wearing a look of no remorse.

"7, 6, 5, 4." Dean began to shuffle closer to me, ready to stick the knife in my side.

"3." I can do this.

"2." Don't think, just run.

"1."