Chapter One
Taylor
The metal plate rises and I blink at the sudden harsh sunlight. I look around, noting the Tributes to my left and right. I see Gaia and Drake a few plates away, but the rest of the Careers, my allies, are out of sight. Next I take in my surroundings; the vast meadow and lush green grass, it's whole perimeter fringed by trees. Your typical arena. A circle of Tributes forty metres away from the golden Cornucopia. My mouth twists into a smile. Let the games begin.
Jack
The gong goes and I'm off like a shot. Running for the trees I take a few precious seconds to look around for my allies. To my right is Edilio, fighting with another Tribute over a backpack. I follow his example, scooping up the pack near me. I keep going for the trees, I want to get the hell out before the bloodbath begins. I can only hope that Quinn, Dahra and Edilio are there waiting for me.
Drake
I'm one of the first people to reach the arena. The weapons there are even better than I had imagined, even better than the ones I'd dreamt about since volunteering. My usual weapon, a whip, isn't there, so I make do my second favourite; a mace. I find one the right length and weight and turn to select a target. A boy, who's just won a backpack from another Tribute. He slings it onto his back and I see that he doesn't even have a weapon. This will be too easy. I snarl and swing my mace.
Dahra
I see Edilio, try to shout a warning, but I'm too late. The tall, dead-eyed boy from Four with the shark-like smile gets to him first. He buries the mace's spiked head in Edilio's back and there is no way to help him. But I still can't seem to look away. Edilio falls, his eyes wide, hands scrabbling uselessly on the ground as he pleads. The boy from Four just laughs and raises his weapon again- I force myself to look away, feeling sick. I start running towards the forest and Jack's disappearing figure. I resist the temptation to call out his name but I don't want to draw unnecessary attention to myself. So I force myself faster until we're running side-by-side. 'Jack' I gasp and he finally notices me and slows down. He slows enough to let me catch my breath but I keep going determinedly. I have to get as far away as possible from the bloodshed at the Cornucopia. 'Edlio?' Jack asks between breaths. I bite my lip and shake my head, refusing to look at him. 'Quinn?' He shrugs, neither of us know where my District partner is. But I know one thing for certain, if Quinn is alive he's on his own. There's no way in hell we're going back.
Sam
Dekka and I are the first Tributes in the forest. We're both strong and fast and we have a shot at winning this thing. We'd decided on the train leaving District 7 to be allies. It hadn't been hard to decide. The hard thing was excepting if either of us returned this journey, they'd be alone. I've tried not to think about this since then. But it's hard not to now, in the arena enemies all around us. I shift the strap of my rucksack higher onto my shoulders. It's heavy, I suppose that's a good thing because the heavier it is the more things we'll have. The better chance we'll have of survival. Dekka has an axe grasped in each hand from when she'd stupidly run headlong into the mouth of the Cornucopia to get them. But now isn't the time to chasten her, the risk had cost her a deep cut along her left arm and she refuses to stop and see if there are any bandages in the bag to stop the blood flow. Her jaw is clenched, her face pale. Blood loss is already taking it's toll but she's too proud to admit how hurt she is. She'll have to admit defeat soon and stop, or Dekka's first night in the arena could well be her last
Mary
'John! John!' I scream, looking around desperately for my little brother. It's been chaos from the second I stepped off the plate and I've lost John in the melee. 'Mary!' I hear him and turn, following the sound of his voice. 'John!' He's on the ground a look of terror on his innocent face. Standing over him is the monstrous boy from Two. There's a pain in my chest, like an ice-cold hand squeezing my heart as I run towards him. I'm too late. The boy punches him, opening a deep gash on his temple. Blood pools around John's head and I see that the boy's hands are gloved, a sharp point on each knuckle. 'NO!' I throw myself forward and thrust my body between my brother and the attacker, protecting his body with my own. He raises his fist again and I tense, waiting, but instead hear a girl's sweet voice. 'No, Orc. Leave her to me.' I turn to face her just as she lets the arrow fly.
A/N: Hey guys! How did you like the first chapter? I have a lot going on at the moment school-wise but I'll try to update once a week at least and twice if I can. Please favorite, follow and review and don't to forget sponsor a Tribute! :)
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