A/N: Thanks to kiliflower, mangesboy01, RealFiction, beauthg and krikanalo for reviewing the last chapter!
I hope you all enjoy today's chapter :)
"A fire burns today
Of blasphemy and genocide
The sirens of decay
Will infiltrate the faith fanatics."
- Billie-Joe Armstrong, 2009.
The 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Third Quarter Quell) - Day 1, 10.00 am
Jacob 'Woof' Harley (76), District 8 Male (victor of the 16th Annual Hunger Games)
Green Day - East Jesus Nowhere (2009)
Despite my being hard of hearing in my old age, I can still faintly hear the gong ring out over the noise of the water at my feet. I watch as the other tribute in my wedge, Katniss, dives into the water quickly, skimming along the water to the sand strip on her left. I used to be a decent swimmer, back when I was a young man. I'd attempt the swim towards the supplies if I didn't remind myself of my age. It's been many summers since I last found myself in the water, and I doubt I've still got what it takes. I'd be no use at the cornucopia, anyway. I might as well wait out here for my allies to reach me, ready to move out.
Plutarch says that the plan is to break us out of the arena. Get as many of us out alive as possible. I know that not all of us who signed up for his rebellious schemes will leave this arena alive. It just won't be possible. But hopefully most of us will. Beetee, doubtedly the most intelligent victor and undoubtedly the greatest inventor of the victors, is in charge of formulating the plan. He knows what he is doing, even if all of us haven't been filled in on the intricacies of the plan. One thing is clear to me, though.
Protect Beetee.
Once he's safe, protect the mockingjay.
As I stand on my metal plate spectating the beginning of the bloodbath, my attention returns to Katniss, who is talking with Finnick at the pile of supplies at the front of the cornucopia. I hope that he manages to get her on his side. Eventually I see Finnick show her something on his wrist - it glints brightly in the hot morning sun - and she turns away from him, ducking as Finnick throws a trident into the body of Luke Ford, who had just pulled himself ashore.
One down, twenty-two to go.
I avert my attention to find my young district partner Cecelia, but she hasn't moved from her pedestal. I don't blame her; it's best to let the better fighters - Finnick, Johanna, Chaff and the like - support the alliance. Speaking of Johanna, I catch a glimpse of her pulling an injured Beetee towards the water, Blight keeping guard, but the Careers aren't after them.
Cashmere's yet to be seen, but the other three are advancing on Katniss and Finnick. As arrows fly, Enobaria drops into the water, and Gloss follows her much less gracefully, an arrow sunk into his calf. They look back at the battle on land, where Brutus has blocked one of Katniss' arrows and is fumbling with the oil coming out of his punctured belt, before setting their sights on a new target.
Me.
Well, not just me. Cecelia and Yvonne and Indiana and all the tributes who are yet to move from their pedestals. The weaklings. Those with no defence.
I look on as Yvonne of District 5 dives into th water, swimming away from the cornucopia without bothering to collect any supplies. It may be a risk in the long run, but for now her life is safe.
Turning back to face the oncoming Careers, I find myself looking straight into the eyes of Gloss, the young man from District 1.
I'm his next target.
There's only one hope for me, and that is to attempt an escape similar to the one that Yvonne just pulled off. I'm just going to have to swim for it. Even so, I'm tentative as I first drop off the pedestal into the warm water. I'm still able to float easily, but as I start my swim towards the shore, I know that I'll be lucky to reach it. I'm far too slow. I'm just an old man.
It is often painful to accept that one is no longer able to do some of the things that one could do when he or she was younger, but this occasion is excruciating. Sound in mind, but not in body.
Despite my dogged, desperate determination, it takes me far too long to get close to the shore, and it takes far too little time for the athletic, well-built figure of Gloss Adlington to catch up with me.
At least, when death finally comes, I'm grateful that he makes it quick.
A/N: If you liked this chapter, please review! Constructive criticism is welcomed :)
I apologise again if anyone is getting bored of bloodbath chapters, but there are only two left now :)
In other news, the poll to decide which story should follow this has been so close that I'm actually going to publish both stories. Both are going to be community projects, and more information on how to enter chapters for either '75 Games: After the Mockingjay' or '75 Games: The Forgotten' is available on my profile.
I hope that you all wish to get involved, and I look forward to reading all of your chapters :)
P.S. I'm going to be writing a lot of chapters myself too, and I'll be posting Chapter 1 of both stories in the next couple of days :)
