The 25th Hunger Games
Chapter 9
I unfortunately wake up that morning. How I was able to sleep last night at all escapes me. I could be dead, flat out dead, in mere hours. In breakfast I barely even touch the food. No one, not even the Careers, seem to enjoy being in the games anymore. The factories of District 1. The quarries of District 2. The piers and boats of District 4. None of them are accompanied to a large city. And from what I could see in the video, District 3 dwarves in comparison. The Careers are still going to try. Like it or not, one of them will probably end up winning.
And as quick as the moments of my life flash before my eyes, we are on the plane heading to the arena. The Capitol finds a nice looking area and puts a forcefield around it. Then they rig it so they control everything. That's how Arenas work. So the Capitol did not build that city.
Once upon a time, many years ago, Panem didn't exist. In its place was North America. A couple of countries stood on North America. But the main one was called America. According to our history books they stood proud and strong, a fair one where the power was spread. But nature can be unforgiving. Terrible things happened. Nature's fury was unleashed. Entire cities crumbled to ashes. I am 100% sure that our arena is one of those cities. A city where everyone died in, but the shadows of the buildings remain. Shadows ready to welcome 23 more dead bodies.
I see a slight advantage for me. Raw materials will be scattered all over the place. Materials only a person from District 3 could use. There are a few other advantages, but they are all from the disadvantage of many of the other Tributes. The Careers will survive. Most of the other Tributes wont. Then the Pack will go around, hunting Tributes like rabbits. Then around the final 8, the Pack will snap and the remaining Career finishes off the remaining Tributes.
I spend the entire time on the aircraft gazing out the window, thinking of those thoughts. I had never been in the air before. That sort of thing is only for District 6 workers, who have the job of transporting everything essentially. I don't like being up in the air. What goes up must come down, whether or not it slowly lands or crashes with alarms blaring.
Our aircraft lands without a hitch. They wont let their precious Tributes die early. I'm rushed with a somber looking Luna to the launch room. She dresses me in a light jacket, made of a synthetic black material that I can't easily identify. The pants and underclothes are all the same color too. Not jet black, more of an ashy black. I find it odd that she's the one crying. But I quickly get over that and try to comfort her. I keep telling her things will turn for the better. But she refuses.
"It's not about life or death, Ethan. It's about who you are living for." She chokes out in between sobs.
Who am I living for?
A pleasant female voice informs me it's time to stand on the launch plate. Luna reminds me that a counter will start and at the end a gong will sound. Do not get off the plate before the gong. Keep and eye on Diane as she might be sending you signals on where to run.
"Oh and Ethan," she says barely composing herself, "You forgot your Token."
She holds up a small plush object in her hands. A Teddy Bear; Danny's Teddy Bear.
Who am I living for?
She places it on my left hand and reminds me to not lose it. A glass cylinder encloses the launch plate. She places her hand on the clear unbreakable tube. I suddenly remember to thank her and try thanking her from behind soundproof glass. Luna is apparently a good lip reader and smiles.
I hear a countdown begin. 60, 59, 58…
The plate begins to rise. And the question hits me again.
42, 41, 40…
The sudden light blinds me. I look up and find only clouds so the light is artificial. Soon I can get a glimpse at my surroundings. I find myself in a sports arena, one with an open roof and empty run down chairs. At least I think it's a sports arena. It's to ruined to tell. 30 seconds.
I look around the circle and catch Diane make a slight gesture towards a huge hole in the sports arena. It's one of many, and I am surprised that the thing even stands.
20, 19, 18, 17…
I look at the Cornucopia. All of the supply backpacks are lighter colored the closer they get to the center. I pick one that I'll go for, one that bears a dark shade of orange. I feel like it's the right one for me. Although I feel biased as the shade the pack takes is my favorite color.
5, 4, 3, 2… 1
A heavy gong sounds and I launch myself off the plate. I was always a fast runner. Never knew why. I'm one of the first there. Unfortunately, Pummel is too. I hear the string of a bow tense and hear the arrow fly, barely missing my ear. I watch it lodge into the back of another Tribute. And down the District 10 girl goes.
I grab the backpack and make a swift change in movement. The dead grass at my feet provides an easier gripping for me. I'm bolting towards the giant hole. I take a quick glance at the Cornucopia. I can see the District 12 boy, lying on the ground. I see Bash look my way, eyes even redder with hate. I see him reach for a knife.
Instinct takes over and I duck. It lodges itself into the wall. I make an effort to pick it up along the way. I look outward beyond the ruined stadium and see little comfort. The rest of the place is almost the same. I see a bright purple backpack moving swiftly along the debris. It's the District 4 girl, Gabriela. I see another moving object and bolt towards it.
She lets out a yelp once I catch up to her. But relief instantly flows into her face when she sees it's me. She survived the bloodbath. Our alliance still stands. Without a word we both go in a different direction than Gabriela is going. Eventually we tire and stop around a plant covered building, far from harm. Both of us are hyperventilating. We sit around a while; I really don't feel like talking. But apparently she doesn't feel the same.
"How'd I do?" she asks smiling.
"Great, you're still breathing." I say with a chuckle. We go over our supplies. I got the knife from Bash, a canteen, a small brown container filled with something, rope, and a couple of batteries.
Diane makes off much better. Two knives, a sleeping bag, a pack of beef jerky, a few cans of food, and a suspicious vial filled with a grey shiny powder. Just as we finish the inventory check, the Cannons fire. 7 shots, 16 to go.
"Who do you think survived?" she asks as she tosses a chunk of concrete out of boredom.
"I saw the District 4 girl alive… That's all I'm sure about" I respond while I glance around the area.
"I saw Chris die first…" she says sadly.
"Is that the name of the District 10 girl?" I say, after all, Chris can be a girl name too.
"No, it's the District 12 boy." She mumbles somberly. I'm starting to wonder why she's taken such an affinity to the boy.
"He died saving me, Ethan. I was right next to a Career. He probably would have killed me if Chris didn't tackle him first." She says almost in tears, "He snapped his neck…"
Suddenly, I feel anxious, I remember one other face that I wanted to see leave the Cornucopia.
"Did Cassandra, his District partner survive?" I ask weakly. She puts my fears to rest and then we hear a rustling. We climb to the second floor of the fragile building and sneakily look out of a surprisingly intact window.
Two Tributes walk in the streets. They appear to be talking about something. I recognize them as the District 6 Tributes. Their black hair blends in with the rubble lining the streets but their pale white faces seem like a diamond among a pile of coal.
"Maybe we should ask them to join our alliance?" Diane whispers. I reply with the shake of my head. I just don't feel right about the situation.
Suddenly, I can hear the girl scream and run away pulling on the boy's arm. But the boy trips on a bit of rubble sending the pair to the ground. They stumble their way up from the ground and try to run, but it's obvious the boy broke injured his leg. The girl runs off ahead.
I turn to Diane, we're both deathly quiet and we could hear our hearts pounding in our ears. A glimpse of blond forces our gaze outside the window. And what they fear becomes obvious. The boy turns to his attackers, eyes widened with fear. And before he has enough time to scream, his head rolls around on the floor.
We both turn away from the grizzly sight. A Cannon fires, no one could survive that injury. I dare to look outside again. And watch in horror as another Career sends a spear through the screaming girls heart.
The thud of a Cannon fires, and our hearts skip a beat. Eventually a new fear over shadows the horror at their loss. Careers steps away from us. Death beyond a doorway. I grip Danny's Teddy Bear in a way you shouldn't hold something soft.
"Okay! Back to the Cornucopia." Barks a deep a menacing voice. I hear agreements and soon the sounds fade away. But even as the sun goes down, we do not dare leave our spot.