I stand in the Launch Room, with Battus. I'm wearing what is essentially a two piece swimsuit, covered by a light jacket, a longsleeved shirt and breeches. My feet are encased in stretchy shoes, with a pattern on the bottom that is gripping. Battus has brought me a headband, to keep my hair out of my face.

She pulls out a small box. "The Review Board was very thorough and noticed your threadcutter has an interior blade. You can't bring it into the Arena."

"I'm not surprised."

Battus gives the box to me. I open it and see a steel ring with a dimpled surface.

"I had this made for you," Battus tells me. "It's an antique thimble reshaped into a ring."

I slip it onto the ring finger of my right hand. It's a perfect fit. Moved, I spontaneously hug Battus.

She grabs my shoulders and squeezes, looking me in the eyes. "My dear sweet Cecelia, you have a bright spirit and you're smart. Have faith in yourself and you'll do well."

I nod.

"Fifteen seconds," a voice announces.

I look at the launch tube and back at Battus. She smiles, sadly.

"Hold onto the threadcutter," I say, before turning and entering the tube. I stand and face her, as the walls close and I begin to rise.

The trip in the launch tube takes much longer than I expected. It feels like ten or fifteen minutes have passed, before I'm suddenly thrust into the Arena.

I gasp. We're in a structure. A rope ladder in front of me rises slightly, leading to the cornucopia in the middle. All of the tribute pedestals are arranged in a circle around the cornucopia, connected by the ropes. Behind us are rings of trees, deciduous trees with thick trunks. I look up and see a series of rope circles climbing to the sky. There are ten to twelve levels above us, with some ropes crossing the middle space. Then I look at the ropes in front of me. We're perched on top of a giant body of water. The ropes are about two feet above the body of water.

My eyes seek out supplies. There are brightly colored bags scattered around. The cornucopia has weapons and sleeping bags and bags of fruit. Just waiting to be fought over.

I'm one of the first Tributes. I watch as more and more pop up and try to get their bearings in this structure.

I see Johnny's small figure far off, to my left. His platform is close to the District 1 girl. I avert my eyes and look around me. To my left is the tall thin boy from 12. The boy from District 4 is to my right. He looks at me and snarls.

The countdown starts. I look again at the backpacks. They're out in the open, making me an easy target if I try to take one. But there are gaps between the ladders for the Tributes, that I could slip through. My upper body strength is good, from the factory.

The gun goes off and I jump off my platform, running up the ladder , to the left. The boy from 12 is running towards me. I dive into a gap, reaching for the edge as I fall. I miss the edge and land in the water. The water is really shallow, I'm able to stand on the bottom. I move towards a large blue backpack. I jump up and I slip my arm through one of the straps, and then I pull it down towards me.

The screams are starting. I drop down again and move towards the edge of the ropes, snagging a small yellow bag on the way. I pull myself up through a gap and sprint to the dark forest, without looking back. I leap over a large root and weave my way through the trees. I look back, once, and slam into a tree. I fall down onto the soft needles of the forest floor. The sky is nearly obliterated by the thick branches above. I hear birdsong and howls of pain.

I scramble to my feet. I look around and I see … footholds carved into a nearby tree. I fling myself at that tree, scrambling up and up. About ten feet up, I see some rope ladders connecting to other trees. I look up again, closer. There are branches that serve as bridges, and a couple more rope ladders. We're meant to climb.

So I climb up another 20 feet. There is some kind of feces here, from a small animal. The cannons start. One blast for each dead Tribute. I count eleven blasts. I see a hollow tree and I enter it.

I look in the small yellow bag. It contains beef jerky and a pair of leather gloves. I open the blue backpack and quickly find a large water bottle. There are iodine pills in it. I pull on the backpack and attach the yellow bag to my belt.

I exit the hollow and look around. I only hear birdsong. I find another tree to climb and go up three levels. Then I carefully balance on a log and walk towards the center. This is one of the few levels that has ropes crossing the open interior. I refuse to walk on something that exposes me to the other Tributes. Unless I'm really desperate.

I lie down and peer over the edge. The tributes from 1 and 4 are sorting through a pile of weapons. The girl from 2 is making a pile of bags.

I try to not to look at the bodies. I don't want to see Johnny's. The water at the bottom is already filthy.

There's movement closer to me. I see a girl two levels below me, also peering down at the bloodbath. I think she's from 9. I slowly back up for a few feet, before standing. I evaluate my environment. There appear to be four more levels above me.

I decide to look for a safe space and maybe a source of water. I walk around, trying to be quiet. There are a few hollows, but nothing that would conceal me at night. I find some bushes and mushroom outcroppings. I harvest what I recognize as safe. I sit down and go through the blue backpack. Besides the water bottle, it has a rolled up mat, a flashlight, and a small box of granola bars. Best of all, there is a folding knife.

I pack everything up again. I decide to try to find shelter by walking in a zigzag pattern. I use the knife to make small marks in the trees along the route, at floor level.

I notice that there are several clumps of branches on the ceiling. They look like someone could hide in them, but I can't find an opening. After about thirty minutes, I confront a large wall of branches that must represent the edge of the Arena. This could be a dome. Or a giant fishbowl. I suppose the lower levels extend farther than mine. Maybe I made a mistake by climbing so high. Less room to hide.

I walk around the perimeter, marking my way, until I find a tree with a particularly large branch leading to a cluster of branches on the ceiling. I climb up and spot a small opening. It forms a small pocket that I can fit into. So I crawl into it.

I think about what I know. At most, there are 13 tributes alive. I saw 5 out of 6 Career tributes. We've been contained into a large structure with few hiding places. There are animals here with us. It's humid. The only water I can see is in the middle of the Arena, under the cornucopia.

Okay. I've got a hiding spot. I have a knife. I should practice throwing it. I'll need it to kill my food.

I pack the essentials into the backpack, then crawl out. I want to get the feel of the knife, but I shouldn't make marks so close to my hiding spot.

I walk around, still marking my trail, and choose random spots to throw the knife. Usually I throw it at the roots above me. Or on a tree, on the opposite side of the carved footholds.

I've gone halfway around this level before I spot an animal. A lizard, clinging to the side of a tree. I remember from Training that it's not poisonous. I throw my knife and injure it. It falls to the ground, writhing. I quickly pull out the knife and end it's life.

Then I stare at it. "How am I going to cook this?" I say aloud. I drop the knife, clapping my hands over my mouth. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I must not make a sound.

I pick up the knife and then the lizard. I didn't put anything in the backpack to wrap up my kills in. I feel the pockets of my jacket. I don't want lizard blood in them.

I stash the lizard in the front pocket of the backpack, then start making my way back to my hideout. I notice that the sky is getting dimmer.

I hear the Panem anthem and halt. How can I look at the sky for news of the Fallen?

Little virtual screens pop up around me, broadcast from the trees. I watch the projections.

The boy from 2. The girl from 5. Both Tributes from 6. Both tributes from 7. Johnny. The girl from 9. The girl from 10. Both Tributes from 11.

I sigh. I liked Johnny. I didn't want to be the one to kill him. My feelings are complicated.

I think about him as I return to my hiding spot. I hate the Hunger Games. I hate that I've been pulled from my life and dumped into the Arena to entertain people with my death. I hate that a small boy from my district has already been murdered. For the crime of being born in a District.

When I get to my spot, I pull off my backpack and stow it carefully. I put the dead lizard on top of my backpack. If I need to leave quickly, I can.

It's so humid in here. I want to pull off my pants and shoes but I don't dare. I remove my shirt and jacket, and roll them together to make a pillow. I curl up, listening to what I assume are crickets, and fall asleep.