I woke up with my breath coming in short, heavy gasps. I looked around my room and then realized what today was. Today, the Hunger Games was beginning. I was going into the Arena. As I laid in bed I had a thought. All the girls that have slept in this room...including me, sixty-seven of them. And sixty-six of them are dead.
Soon, it could be sixty-seven.
And all of the other kids that have died, as well. I've never thought about the sheer number of kids that have been killed. Twenty-three every year. Nearly a hundred every four. Sixty divided by four is fifteen. Fifteen hundred. More than fifteen hundred. So many kids. Kids with families and friends and people whose lives will be damaged by their loss.
They could've been so easily saved. Just saying the word. Why do we have to be punished for what people did nearly a hundred years ago? Why do the people of the Capitol not see how horrible this is? Why are people so cruel? Why do 1, 2, and 4 train their kids to go along with this? Why do the Peacekeepers go along with this? How do the mentors deal with seeing their kids die every year? How do they deal with the memories? How does it feel to kill someone?
How does it feel to die?
Is it peaceful, and then you're gone? Or is it painful until there's nothing? Do you drift away, or stay alert until the end? How do you deal with the terror and the paranoia? Knowing that any move you make could get you killed? And what does it feel like to starve to death? Die of thirst? Heat? Cold? What does a broken bone feel like? Running until you can't breathe? Not being able to sleep because you know you might not wake up? Suffer through the cold night because a fire would be your doom?
What's entertaining about it, watching kids suffer? I've heard the word humanity before, but I think humanity is reserved for children. Small children. And not even all of them. I don't think that anybody is good. The bumbling citizens of the Capitol surely outnumber the government and the Peacekeepers. Why don't they raise their voice? Why don't they care about us, the people that provide them with everything it takes to make their lives plushy and happy?
Do they even understand? That while they're watching the Hunger Games, eating their fancy food on their luxurious couches in their soft, expensive clothing that there are people dying? That people are starving? That people are suffering for their lavish, worthless lives? I don't think they understand that we don't like the Games. They think we look at it as an honor to be chosen. How would they feel if their children were in the Reaping ball? If it was their children being taken away and slaughtered?
And we can't say anything either, or we'll be killed ourselves.
I sat up and exhaled deeply. My heart began to race, and a panicky feeling was snaking its way through my body. The Games were starting today.
Death was starting today.
Forcing myself to remain calm, I got out of bed and walked into the bathroom. I splashed water over my face and took a shower. When I stepped out, I looked around. My Avox had laid out some clothes on my bed. A simple turquoise v-neck. Brown fleece leggings. Heavy black combat boots. I get dressed and I go to the main room, to find everyone with a stone cold expression.
"Two hours to launch," Cecelia mumbled.
I stumbled backwards, my appetite gone. Ryler either finished or lost his appetite too, we are brought outside the training center to a hovercraft. The sheer size of the thing terrified me. Woof walked us underneath the monstrous vehicle, and quickly scuttled away. I looked up at the underside of the hovercraft, wondering how I'm getting up there, when we're suddenly moving up towards the opening in the vehicle. I let out a quick shriek when I couldn't move my body, and let out a sigh of relief when I'm safely inside.
I make my way to a seat, and looked out of a window when I feel a sharp pain in my arm. I turn to see a woman injecting me with something.
"Don't panic, it's just your tracker for the arena," she pulled the syringe out, leaving a visible lump.
Suddenly, the hovercraft jerked, and I watch as the candy colored city grew distant. I'd be happy to get out of there, if it weren't for the fact that I'm leaving there to die. Lucian was sitting in front of me and I could tell he wanted me dead like most Careers. He glared at me and I looked away quickly, my heartbeat starting to pick up it's pace. My chest rose and fell heavily as my stomach bounced around. All of a sudden, the aircraft went dark, and the lights inside of it switched on, making us all look around at it. The hovercraft sped up, and everything became a blur, until the windows black out.
I'm left in darkness until the hovercraft stopped. It went dark, because we have entered the arena. The tributes turned a shade paler, including me and I'm lead out by the woman that injected me. When I see the room she's brought me to, my heart catches in my throat. I'm in the launch room. A simple grey room with a seat, and a platform in the corner. A voice rang out saying that we have half an hour before launch.
My body racked with fear, and all the emotions that have been building up over the past few days explode out of me. I began to sob and shudder. I screamed, punching the sofa, wailing about how I miss home, until the door opened. It was Valeria, carrying some clothes. The arena outfit that'll be worn by all the tributes. She had her hair in a high ponytail and, for the first time, I noticed her high cheek bones. She dropped the clothes on the silver table and walked towards me and hugged me.
"Don't be scared," She said to me in a hushed whisper.
"I will try not to be scared, but I can't promise anything," I croaked, she giggled, but then released me.
"Just come back to us, Paige . I really liked you here. We don't want you to die in there, even if we are Capitol citizens," That reassured me and I smiled at her.
"Thanks," I said barely audible, because I'm on the verge of tears again.
Valeria pulling my hair back into a bun, tying a fresh purple bow around it. She walked back to the clothes that are being covered and she zipped it down revealing the outfit. The outfit is composed of khaki colored pants made of durable material, a navy blue plain turtleneck shirt with a silky fiber, sturdy brown belt. I took shaky breaths, as Valeria helped me into a hooded black jacket that stopped at my thighs and was water repellent, kept you warm in the cold, but cool in heat. My outfit was pretty light, and I really hope the arena isn't a desert.
Valeria held up a little mirror for me and I recoiled slightly, unable to recognize myself. Because that is what she's made me, myself again. A little terrified fourteen year old girl.
"The jacket reflects body heat so I will guess it will have some cold nights," Valeria informed.
She then handed me the boots that are soft leather and narrow flexible rubber soles, good for running. The boots are not big leather boots more like a ankle high which is over the white skintight socks.
I can't help but think, these are the clothes that I am going to die in.
When I am done putting the clothes on Valeria asked if it felt comfortable. I walked and run in a circle and then sway my arms about. I nodded and she grinned a little bit. She handed me a glass of water and I drank it in tiny sips. I'm taking long gulps from the glass of water. I don't know when my next drink will be, so I want to be as hydrated as I can. Then we just sat in silence, Valeria playing with my hair.
Suddenly, a voice announced we have 30 seconds to get into the tube that leads to the Arena. I started trembling again, and Valeria took the water out of my hands and embraced me.
"I will see you after this, I have a gorgeous dress waiting for you," Valeria whispered in my ear.
I nodded, not able to speak.
20 seconds.
"Oh I almost forgot," Valeria said, as she dug through her pocket.
In her hand appeared my District token, they took it from me on the hovercraft and never returned it. She handed me it and I enclosed it in my hand. This is the little piece of my home I have left with me. I put it around my neck and I start thinking of my family and friends back home.
"Goodbye Paige . Give them hell in there, for me," Valeria encouraged with a small smile, she hugged me tightly and I hugged her back.
"Thank you. And thank you for all your work and making me look amazing," I said, before the tube closes.
I waved to Valeria. She waved back, and I thought I saw a tear spill onto her cheek. Valeria placed her hand over her heart and then lifted her hand crossing her index and middle finger together, giving the District 8 goodbye salute. I was surprised to see a Capitol person do. It's a farewell symbol in District 8 and I returned it.
"Paige! Don't let yourself get pulled in. Run away, okay? Just run away!" Valeria yelled.
The lift slowly started to rise up and I saw Valeria disappear. All thoughts were gone too. My mind was blank but my feelings were going hay-wire. Panic, sadness, fear, homesickness, and everything in between.
The sun blinded me when I felt fresh air. I finally got the chance to see the arena for what it is. There is a waterfall to my left and either a cliff or a downward slope to my right. Directly in front of me is the mouth of the Cornucopia and the remaining area of the arena is an autumn forest with multi-colored leaves like yellow, orange, and red. Being from District 8, I know absolutely nothing about nature so any arena that is not a polluted factory would ultimately kill me. We are on a flat, open stretch of ground like a plain creating a circular area with trees that makes up the Cornucopia area.
There are weapons of all sorts on the ground filling inside the golden cornucopia. For the Hunger Games they provide water, food, medicine, and weapons to trick the tributes into going in the bloodbath. I was about to listen to Valeria's advice and head to the woods when at the corner of my eye I see a perfect set of throwing knives for the taking. I need them because if I don't go for it now I will never get them again. I looked around and searching for tributes eyeing the throwing knives but, nobody looked at them.
A sound of a cannon jolted almost making me fall of the podium myself. I looked around and blood and guts strewn everywhere. Someone killed themselves, it was the boy from 12. He was only three spots to my right. My ears are ringing and I feel dazed. Seeing pieces of flesh that were moments ago once a human being made me pale and I almost lost my non-existent breakfast, but I forced myself to focus on the Cornucopia. The Games can have so much power over a person it changes them before it even starts.
The clock above the Cornucopia counted down. 60, 59, 58, 57, 56, 55...
Everyone was jumpy and I felt my stomach turn by the second. I looked over to Ryler. He stood on his plate looking sturdy enough. The seconds ticked down. 50, 49, 48, 47, 46...
I carefully examined the Cornucopia again. Weapons of everyone's liking are strewn about. Bags are also laid about. Some are larger than others and some can fit on my wrist. I get poised to run, making sure my foot doesn't slip onto the landmines. 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30…
Will I kill anyone in these Games? I know Mather, Aidan, Indira, and Micah are watching. How will they feel if their sister is a killer? Will they hate me when I go home? I shook that thought away. They couldn't care less if I kill one or ten tributes, as long as I return home safely. 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15…
My stomach is churning, my throat is dry, and I begin to sweat. The clock beats with every second gone. The beat pounds on my chest, making my heart beat twice as fast. I wiped my palms on my pants as the final seconds count down. 5, 4, 3, 2…1
"Let the 67th Hunger Games begin!" Claudius Templesmith's booming voice rang out.
The gong ringed loudly deafening the huffing of those around me. I sprinted off my plate and run as fast as I can towards the knives. I reached the Cornucopia before everybody else and I grabbed the knives and examined them. They are stainless steel metal for the blade and black handles all in a row, you can put them on the inside of your jacket and hide it there. Before I am able to put them away I see a person behind me in the metal of the blade. I darted around knife in my hand and launched it in their direction. The knife landed in the thigh of the boy from 7, he fell quickly on the ground. I stole my knife back and kept it in hand. When I look back around the bloodbath has begun. Tributes dying one by one as I spotted a green pack not far away from me.
I ran to and grabbed it and try to sprint away until I feel someone yanked my hair causing me to stumble back. I gave the person a hit in the gut with my elbow and when I turn around I see it's Cavail. He glared at me and tried to hit me with his own knife. I ducked and punched him in the genitals. While he was distracted with his own pain. I sprinted into the woods until I tripped over a twig. I fell face-flat in the dirt.
I can't get the graphic thoughts out of my head of what I saw at the bloodbath. The girl from District 9 had her head get cut off by Vika. And I also saw the two kids from 6 kill each other. It was scarring, most definitely.
Off in the distance, I can still hear the tortured screams from the bloodbath. I climbed a tree next to me to get a view of the Cornucopia, and observed the bloodbath was almost over now. It's hard to count the dead but there seems to be less than previous years. There was only the Career pack now, for a second there is hostility between them. Then they seem to relax and I realized that they at least are working together. They begin to sort through the supplies they have gathered, splitting up food and weapons. It took them longer than expected. Normally you don't get to see this bit. The camera would focus on the survivors, showing their escape and showing off the arena. I wonder what the audience will think of me hiding? Will they think I'm a coward? I continued watching the Careers, praying they don't find me.
Lucian gets the lion's share, picking up a huge spear and a backpack large enough to hold a week's supply of food. Zelda and Ruby handpicked several knives, almost as if they were out buying clothes or whatever they buy in their district's. Kai keeps a tight hold of his trident, also taking a knife or two. Vika picked up a bow and arrow and started to test it out. They started talking as they dished things out, probably discussing strategies. I tried to listen, but I'm too far away. My legs started to cramp up and I began to think this was a terrible idea.
I panicked as the Careers vanished from view. I panicked even more when Ruby appeared a minute later. She's about three feet from my tree, idly playing with one of her new knives.
"Shouldn't we be hunting them down now? They'll only be getting further away," Ruby stated, twirling her knife.
"Agreed," Lucian nodded, stepping up next to her.
He's looking almost right at the tree which is hiding me. If he takes a few steps to the left he'll probably be able to see me. I swallowed nervously, well aware that the cameras will be on me now. Ready to get a close up of my death.
Steady…
"We should get more water first," Kai argued.
Despite the fact they are allies there is still a clear division between him and Zelda, Cavail and Vika, and Lucian and Ruby, "I doubt there will be any water source as good as this lake, and if we're going to be traveling we don't want to dehydrate,"
"Leave it to fish boy to think of water," Cavail smirked, and Vika laughed, like it was the funniest joke she's ever heard. Kai only scowled. Somehow I don't think this alliance will last long.
"I'm right," Kai said firmly.
"Yeah, I suppose so. Come on then," Lucian replied.
They head for the direction of the lake, disappearing from view again. I relaxed for a little while, stiffening when they come back. They have their packs on their backs now, massive ones which dwarf whatever Lucian picked up. There's one awful moment where Ruby suggested they search the trees, but thankfully they dismissed her.
"No one would be stupid enough to hide there. Let's go," Zelda stated.
They headed off towards the forest, weapons drawn and at the ready. I started to smile as I watched them go. I did it! It worked! Thrilled, I force myself to wait at least five minutes before climbing down the tree. Everything is eerily quiet now. I walked for quite a bit until I reach the first body. I almost crash into it in my haste. I glanced down, not wanting to look but being unable to ignore it. It's the District Eleven boy. The one I barely paid attention to. His eyes are open, stunned. I looked away, knowing that his gaze might haunt me forever now.
I heard a sound behind me, and I stumbled up and began to run when I heard his voice.
"It's just me, Paige! Stop running!"
I turned around and saw Bran panting, out of breath. I sighed in relief and walk over to him, "Are you hurt?" I asked him concernedly.
He nodded, "I'm fine. I barely made it away from the bloodbath. The District 1 boy, Lucian, almost got to me. But I was faster than him,"
"Where is everybody else?" I asked curiously, looking around our surroundings.
"Don't know, I just hope that they are alright," Bran replied.
Bran and I walk for awhile before finding shelter in a small cave. Bran and I go through my bag it looks stuffed to the brim, so we and hoped for the best. Inside it is...
A bottle of water
Some dried fruit
A pack of crackers
Rope
Iodine
Bandages
A blanket
A extra pair of socks
A flashlight
A box of matches
A pair of gloves
"I'm going to go and try to find Sage, Ryler, and Tera," Bran stated while picking up his spear and scythe.
"Are you crazy there are Careers roaming around?!" I exclaimed.
"I'll be okay," Bran said before leaving.
After Bran left I grabbed my blanket put it around my shoulder and grabbed a knife and sat there and waited for Bran. I was dosing off until, I heard the cannons. I counted them. 8 dead in total. I settled down under my blanket and waited for the recap of the dead to appear. And it does. The anthem played and the seal of Panem showed. I braced myself for the 8 dead tribute's faces to appear in the sky.
District 5 male: Callum Watt
District 6 female: Kiva Axle
District 6 male: Arun Rail
District 7 male: Apollo Tomer
District 9 female: Mazie Smith
District 10 male: Wyatt Timmons
District 11 male: Aster Samarkar
District 12 male: Kolton Hastings