Chapter Ten

A/N: Thank you to Nightacadmey for reviewing!

The Arena seemed to all be a blur, as Abby began to swim across to the Cornucopia. Though she had been preparing for the Games for all those days, she had never truly imagined what it would be like to participate in it in reality. Now that it was actually happening, the girl realised something she had suspected for a long time. There was no glory in the Hunger Games.

Tributes, namely half of the Careers who had been trained in quick swimming, had already arrived on the large island a few metres away from the platforms, and had already begun to take their pick of the weapons, killing anyone who came too close to them. Her survival instinct had served her well at that moment in time, as she had taken the split second decision not to head for the Cornucopia, but to stay well away from the action, because she saw this to be the safest option.

However, as she knew that staying still would be the most terrible decision she had made, Abby stole a glance opposite her, and was shocked at the sight before her.

There, on the opposite podium to where she had stood previously, was the young blonde that the brunette could not quite remember the name of. The name Isabelle sprang to mind, so that was what she felt was right and decided to use in her own mind. She seemed to not have moved in the least, and was standing in complete stillness, observing the battle unfolding under before her eyes with a strange sort of calmness.

However, her District partner, who had also turned to face her, had also seen this fact and had decided to make the most of the opportunity, to make a quick kill before the Cornucopia stage was over. She did not quite know why, but Abby was overcome with a kind of protective instinct, and so lept into the water, beginning to swim in the direction of the frightened blonde, desperate to get to the podium before Ainsley Charleston became just like his namesake father, killing off all Tributes in sight.

Luckily, during her trips to the forest back home in District Twelve, Abby had spent as much time swimming as she had hunting, and so was extremely fast, her smaller build also giving her an advantage over the hulking young man heading to Isabelle. She arrived a good half a minute before her competitor and pulled her godmother's daughter down into the water, trying to calm her the moment she began to cry out.

"Isabelle, I'm not going to hurt you. If I was, I would have let Ainsley do it, to get it over with. I'm trying to help you!" the brunette told her, soothing the girl a little with each sentence she spoke. When the young girl replied, a couple of moments later, it was in a voice so quiet that it was hardly audible above the raging inferno of the battle on the island in the midst of it all.

"What do I do?" she asked, the tears still able to be heard in her tone.

"Come with me." came a voice from behind, where both girls turned to see Harry staying afloat in the water with ease. "We have to climb up the cliff face, and get into the caves. That way, we'll see them coming, and we can shoot them down from a height."

Both girls paused for a moment, as if in awe of his plan, before springing to action. Immediately, Abby and Harry began to swim, but Isabelle only stayed beside her podium, where Ainsley was once more coming towards her, having been delayed in the task originally as he tackled Andean below the surface and held him down until he drowned.

"Isabelle, you've got to hurry up!" the brunette exclaimed, turning her head over her shoulder at lightning speed, so as to try and persuade her to do so. "He's coming!"

"I can't swim!" she cried out, in obvious distress and fear.

"Don't worry, I'm coming for you!" Harry told the girl, swimming at a speed even quicker than the young Mellark had done, and pulling the girl to wrap her arms around his neck, floating on his back for the few moments until they reached the edge of the cliffs, ensuring that Abby was following him at all times.

The two girls immediately began to climb, keeping an eye out for any flying arrows or knives, though there seemed to be a distinct lack of them coming, as the Careers were focusing their attacks on the ground, and all other contestants were merely attempting to remain alive. However, a single knife did come in the direction of the blonde, but she nimbly maneuvered out of the way without even needing a single warning. It was a brilliant instinct to have, and the elder of the two females was in awe of the younger for it. 'Maybe she is a survivor, after all.' she thought, referencing a comment she had made in her mind at the Tributes' parade.

It only took two or three minutes to reach the first cave, approximately twenty five metres from the ground, and the two of them were exhausted, yet still buzzing with the adrenaline of the fight and unable to calm.

Five minutes later, everything had become silent. Harry had come up to the cave with them, huddled at the very back of the cavern, so as to avoid being seen by any enemies that could spot them as a target, or some easy prey. There were no sounds from beneath the cliff face, where the Cornucopia lay gleaming in the sunset, splattered with the blood of those who had died that day. Briefly, Abby wondered how many there had been, but when the anthem of the Capitol began to play, she had no doubts any longer.

Mina Luigi, District Four

Lux Nithin, District Five

Nissan Mica, District Six

Narina Larma, District Six

Tarquin McGane, District Eight

Joshua Sanders, District Nine

Jennifer Harvey, District Nine

Andean Carous, District Ten

Dairia Asling, District Eleven

When the images in the sky faded, Abby leant her head back against the wall. Nine Tributes had been killed, meaning that only fifteen remained, her included.

Though the bloodbath of the Cornucopia had passed, the bloodshed of the Hunger Games had only just begun.

A/N: A bit later than the others, but I hope you enjoy nonetheless.