And the only thing sure from the start
Is the song that's inside of your heart
Don't let
It leave
Conifer "Connie" Smith
District 7, She/Her, 16
(The Arena)
...
I clutch at my stomach as my platform soars downward, falling and falling, and I am surrounded by a deep darkness.
I don't know what to think or how to feel, with sheer terror consuming every part of me and forcing me to drop to my knees as I continue to drop without any sign of stopping. I close my eyes and hold my legs against my stomach, rocking myself back and forth to create even the smallest sense of comfort.
Before long, a sudden burst of light flashes, and my eyes flick open in an attempt to take in my surroundings. I remain in a tube with glass walls circling me, and I sit upon the same metal platform with an identical one used as the ceiling. It's then that I realise I'm 500 feet in the air and hurtling towards the ground. Twenty-three other tubes containing terrified tributes are in a similar position.
Suddenly, without knowing it, I'm screaming as I watch the ground quickly approach. About 250 feet in the air, a parachute pops out from above my tube and sends it flying into the air. The sudden lurch into the air throws me into the top of my tube, and I feel a pop in my shoulder as it hits against the ceiling. Fortunately, my tube begins to float steadily to the ground, with Enver and Sky beside me, both of them looking equally horrified.
Eventually, my tube hits the ground, miraculously staying upright, and I force myself to stand with shaking legs. The countdown begins.
60.
I look around; we're in a simple square room with 500-foot-tall walls.
50.
In the centre is the golden cornucopia, with weapons and supplies lying around it.
40.
Rowan must be far away, as I can't see him among the other tubes.
30.
We prepared for this, though, both planning on running to the north of the cornucopia's entrance.
20.
The cornucopia's entrance stands right in front of me, meaning I only have to run behind me and through a pale, pink door.
10.
But leaning beside the entrance to the cornucopia is an axe. My mind is conflicted, knowing that having that axe is my best chance of survival in the long term, but running from the bloodbath will keep me safe for now.
5... 4... 3...
I have to make a split-second decision, thinking of Willow and my parents back home.
2... 1... 0...
If I want to get back to them, I need a weapon. The door to the tube that I entered just a few minutes ago slides open, and, without a second thought, I sprint towards the cornucopia. Towards the axe
I'm forced to catch myself from tripping several times, using my legs faster than I ever have before. Once I reach the axe, I feel a sudden sense of relief that I'm no longer helpless with the weapon in my hands. I look towards the door that I was supposed to run to and see Rowan racing for it. I laugh in disbelief that the two of us may have made it out of here alive as I rush towards him.
Although it seems I laughed too soon. The pain doesn't even register—just a strange warmth as three points are shoved through my back.
I watch Rowan turn, and his mouth opens in a scream.
One that never reaches my ears.
Quincy Abraham
District 4, He/Him, 18
(The Arena)
...
As the gong sounds, I charge into the cornucopia with a battle cry. I ignore the backpacks and knives as I rush past them, my mind solely focused on the sword directly in front of me.
As my hand wraps around the golden hilt, adrenaline pumps through my body with a violent urgency. Scouring the Cornucopia, I watch as others dive for packs before darting toward the doors stationed at each of the four walls. Some already lay dead, blood surrounding them, but I pay no attention to the faces of the fallen as I search for the first victim of my sword.
A bloodcurdling scream pierces my ears, and my eyes snap to the boy from Three, standing at the wall behind me. He's alive and simply seems horrified by the deaths occurring around him. He's a perfect victim. My body takes over, rushing towards him with an unnatural speed, and my lips curl into a smile as his eyes widen with shock.
I slam into him, knocking him to the floor and placing my sword on his neck. He cries out in pain, his eyes glistening with tears, and only one feral thought crosses my mind.
I am made for this.
I slice his neck open with my sword, blood splashing across my face. His body goes limp, and I let out a laugh at the beauty of it all.
Suddenly, I'm slammed off him. My head thumps with excruciating pain, but I force myself to ignore it and stand to face my attacker.
"Hello, Quincy," Scylla says, trident in hand.
Now this will be fun.
Odalis Witherell
District 11, He/Him, 14
(The Arena)
...
I hastily clamber out of my tube, which had toppled over during the landing.
I'm one of the last to start running with absolutely no idea where I'm going. The cornucopia stands in front of me, and I already see blood splattered over it.
With a gasp, I run in the other direction and desperately search for Malory, Enver, or Cybill.
"Odalis, over here!" Malory cries, a purple pack slung across her shoulder. I let out a sigh of relief and began to run towards her when someone pushes past me, shoving me out of the way. I stumble backwards, falling on my back. The boy who pushed me, the one from Ten, screams something at me and points behind him.
Then, a spear pierces its way through his heart, and he falls to the ground. My head turns to where he is pointing, and I find the cyborg from Two approaching with a sword in hand. I scurry back, attempting to get away but not being able to stand. I don't know where Malory is, but she can't help me now, not against a Career.
"Please." I choke out through the sob that's forming in my throat. "I want to live."
"So do I." They say this before slicing me open.
My last thought is a wish.
A wish to be reborn.
Wells "Weft" Bobbin
District 8, He/Him, 17
(The Arena)
...
My entire body shakes as the timer counts down, and tears clutch tightly to the corners of my eyes.
The fall was horrifying, but my mind reminds me that it's about to get so much worse.
5... 4... 3... 2... 1...
As the gong sounds, I stumble out of my tube and towards the cornucopia. If I had an option, I would go nowhere near the cursed thing, but Quincy and Felix insisted that we had to get control of the cornucopia, and I was in no position to argue against them.
Immediately, I'm searching for Felix, knowing I'd be a lot more comfortable with him by my side, but he's nowhere to be seen. The sudden sound of a scream causes me to jump back into action, picking up a knife from the floor and swinging a pack across my shoulder.
We don't leave the cornucopia until it's ours. That is what Quincy said last night, but with a pack on my shoulder and a weapon in hand, I can't help but consider the temptation of flight and begin to back away from the madness of the bloodbath.
"Not so fast." Someone says behind me, and I jump, spinning around. It's Aisling.
"Please, Aisling. I'm going to run." I say as they approach me, sword in hand. When they show no signs of stopping, I hold out my knife towards them and back away.
"This is my chance to prove myself." They say. "Sorry."
Then, before I can take another step back, they pounce towards me and tackle me to the floor. I let out a cry of pain as their sword cuts across my neck, although it's not deep enough to kill.
"Please." I whimper, attempting to grab the knife that slid away from me after the fall.
Suddenly, blood is everywhere, and my eyes close in an attempt at peace before I go.
"Get up!" Someone shouts, and I flash my eyes open. The blood isn't mine.
I shove Aisling's limp body off of me and take the hand of my saviour.
"Thanks," I say.
"No problem," Felix replies, pulling a knife from Aisling's back.
Robert Smith
District 1, He/Him, 18
(The Arena)
...
I roll my shoulders as the numbers tick down, preparing myself for what's to come.
Trust in your training, Smith.
With a couple of deep breaths, I focus in on the sword leaning against the cornucopia. Its black hilt and shining blade are already so familiar that once I get ahold of them, there will be no opportunity for death to catch me.
So, when the gong sounds, I run faster than I ever have before. Dodging backpacks scattered across the floor along with the odd knife and sprinting towards the weapon that will solidify my chances of winning
Once it's in my hand, I feel a sudden calm wash over me and search for my target. Felix. His tube was only a few inches over mine, but there's no sign of him.
"Fuck." I mutter, knowing that letting my eyes off him may be my fatal mistake.
I rush around the cornucopia and inside, but it isn't Felix that I find there. It's the girl from Three, fiddling with wires.
"What the hell are you doing?" I ask, stepping towards her. Her head snaps towards me, her eyes widening in alarm. Before she can respond, I slice with my sword and blood splatters. I don't take the time to admire my kill and rush outside, still searching for Felix.
It isn't hard to find him. There are only six people left at the cornucopia. Scylla stands opposite Wells, Felix, and Quincy with a trident she uses to push them back.
"Ranger! Come on, it's two against three. We need you." I shout to where they stand off to the side. They turn to me, face expressionless as always.
"Seems fair enough." They say, and I let out a huge sigh of relief as the two of us rush to Scylla's aid. I don't think about where Aisling is; I can't afford to.
"Looks like you finally picked a side." Quincy sneers and Ranger shrugs in response.
"It's three Careers against two," Ranger states. "I suggest you run."
"They're right, Quincy. Wells can't fight against one of them." Felix says, stepping backwards. Wells follows, but Quincy hesitates, staring into Scylla's eyes.
"This isn't over." He says before rushing to follow Felix and Wells.
A/N: I'm so sorry if I killed off one of your tributes! It's just the way things go and I tried to give those who died this early a storyline during the pre-Games.
But we've entered the Games! Super exciting yay.
Also, if you weren't sure, the Arena is Wonderland from Alice in Wonderland. The falling of the tributes paralleled Alice falling down the hole into Wonderland.
Alliances:
Robert, Ranger and Scylla
Marcus and Nicole
Malory and Enver
Sky, Ephron, Saxony, Marya and Smith
Quincy, Felix and Wells
Adam, Kaylee and Dahlia
THE FALLEN:
24th Place - Conifer "Connie" Smith (D7F). Stabbed through the back by Scylla Minali (D4F). Submitted by FizzNBoo.
RIP Conifer. Your backstory truly was very sad and forcing you to leave your baby sucks. However, I don't think you were made for these Games and I couldn't see you going much further than this simply because of your hesitance to kill. You were really great to write and I'm grateful for the submission, thank you FizzNBoo.
23rd Place - Ossian Rasmus (D10M). Stabbed through the heart by Ranger Saladin (D2F). Submitted by Gomex.
RIP Ossian. Truthfully, I always struggled a little to connect with your character and I was a little unsure of where to go with you so I landed you here. I tried to give you as much screen time as you deserved during the pre-Games chapter and I hope I was able to show your rebellious, if not a little hopeless, spirit. He was a fun character but he likely would've struggled to survive out here on his own and that's why he went here. Thank you Gomex for him.
22nd Place - Odalis Witherell (D11M). Torso sliced open by Ranger Saladin (D2F). Submitted by Lumi84.
RIP Odalis. I honestly really did love him, his personality was so interesting and I loved exploring his obsession with philosophy. I also really loved creating a bond between him and Malory as friends was something Odalis always struggled with and I hope he died feeling a little less lonely. The main path I wanted to take Odalis on was the one recommended by the submitter and that was considering the question of 'what happens after death?'. I feel like I did a decent job with it and I hope you think so too, thank you Lumi!
21st Place - Rowan Castro (D3M). Throat slit by Quincy Abraham (D4M). Submitted by Leafpool8788.
RIP Rowan. You were a ball of energy and fun from the start but I wanted to show through your arc how the Games suck the life out of even the most innocent and kindhearted. Your backstory was so fun to explore, and also super sad, and I'm happy with what I decided to do with your character. Of course, thank you Leafpool for him and I hope you're happy with what I did with him.
20th Place - Aisling Dagné (D1F). Stabbed in the back by Felix Quintus (D2M). Submitted by Gomex.
RIP Aising. I'm so sorry Gomex for killing off two of your tributes here. I did want a Career to go in this bloodbath to allow for Ranger to re-enter and, unfortunately, I decided it would be you. You were always a hesitant Career who unconventionally relied on their intelligence and that was something I really appreciated about you as a character. Throughout the pre-Games, I tried to show you gain some confidence in yourself through Robert which was a fun dynamic. Thank you Gomex for them.
19th Place - Cybill Kaminski (D3F). Torso sliced open by Robert Smith (D1M). Submitted by Very New To This.
RIP Cybill. Admittedly, this is probably the only bloodbath tribute that I was going back and forth with. There were a lot of places I could've taken Cybill's character but, inevitably, she was a naïve girl who felt she knew best and I feel the sudden end to her life showed that. She was a great character and I really did love writing about her but I decided that it would be best for her to go here and I hope you agree. Thanks Very New To This!
KILL COUNT:
Scylla - 1
Quincy - 1
Ranger - 2
Felix. - 1
Robert - 1
- Neb