Welcome to the eighteenth chapter of the Untold Hunger Games.
Finally, the last chapter before the Games begin. Did I think it would take this long? No. Am I upset it did? No. I know the chapters are long and it is taking 18 chapters to get to the arena, but I promised each chapter is just the way I planned it to be. Thank you to all who have stuck with me this long. We're more than halfway done :"3
Now why don't we get ready to enter the arena with Chapter Eighteen of the Untold Hunger Games.
I entered my room with little enthusiasm in my heart. Soon I would be collected and brought to the hanger. Then I would have but a short time before I would enter the arena and begin the fight for my life. I headed straight towards the bathroom, might as well indulge in a final shower before my trip to the arena. When I entered I found a black t-shirt and brownish-gray pants with a utility belt hanging on the hooks. Underneath them were a pair of good quality hiking boots with reinforced toes and rubber soles and treads. Someone must have brought them in either while I was sleeping or up on the roof. I assumed, as I had with the training uniform, that it was Cinna, seeing as he took care of all my fashion needs both in and out of the arena.
I stepped into the shower and let the water rain down over my olive skin and dark hair. I would miss this indulgence, of course. It was a luxury few people in my district knew and even then, none had a shower like this in their homes.
I sighed after I started to see my fingers begin to wrinkle and regretfully exited the shower to dry off and change into what may be the last clothes I'll ever wear.
"Katniss," Haymitch's voice echoed from behind the door, "It's time to go." His tone was unusually quiet. I knew why, unless a miracle happened he would be losing one or more of his tributes in the arena within the next five days.
I took in a deep breath and left the room I had stayed in for the past few days.
Awaiting me in the hallway was Effie Trinket, Haymitch and, dressed in the same outfit as me, Peeta. We weren't the only ones leaving the apartment for good. Jerikan, with Twill and Wes behind them, were leading Diane and Trevor to the elevator as well.
We were silent all the way down to the grand entrance, where we split up to exit through separate doors leading to different hanger bays. All the tributes would be taken to the arena in one of the four hovercrafts awaiting us. Haymitch pulled Peeta and I off to the side to give us our last instructions from him, "I have four final pieces of advice for you both. One: When the gong sounds, grab the closest thing to you and run like hell. The Cornucopia is just a bloodbath to rid the Games of weaker tributes; only stupid tributes and Careers go for supplies closer or inside the Cornucopia, if you want to stay smart and alive, do what I say.
"Two: Find water. You can hunt all you like, but no matter how many plants and animals you rack up; you'll only be able to survive if you're near water.
"Three: Get rid of the Careers food supply. They'll likely keep their supplies near the Cornucopia. Destroy the supplies, and you destroy the Careers.
"And four: Don't group up with each other until the last eight standing. You'll be able to remember who you want to look out for by then and two is better than one. Good luck to you both." Haymitch left us then just as a loud noise rang through the corridors. The hovercrafts were all landing, ready to fly us to the arena. I stared at the gray machine, watching as a ramp descended to the ground.
"Katniss, Peeta." Jérémie dressed in his ambassador colours of red and white stepped forward to shake our hands, "Bonne chance, mes tributs. Et puisse le sort vous être favorable." Somehow that classic phrase seemed different when Jérémie spoke it. Though it was slightly different, it meant may fate be favourable to you and maybe fate would be favourable, in its own way.
"Merci beaucoup, mon ami. Puisse le sort vous être aussi favorable." I said hoping I spoke the words correctly, he said nothing but smiled as he walked away to where he would watch the games with the other ambassadors.
Soon we were all loaded into the hovercraft without any more delay. The Peacekeepers strapped myself, Peeta and the other four tributes into the seats of the machine's passenger hold before lifting into the skies of Panem to the unknown location of this year's arena.
It was like that for all arenas, every location was the most guarded secret in Panem known to only the highest ranking Gamemakers. President Snow didn't even know the location. Those who worked on building the arena were ferried by black windowed hovercrafts with automated flight plans. The locations were only given out after the end of the Games. It was a popular holiday retreat for Capitol citizens. They would visit the sites staying in lavishly built quarters. During this time they'd re-watch the games, see where their favourite events took place, watch virtual reenactments of the deaths of all the tributes and even take part in them. According to Effie Trinket, the food was incredibly delicious at the arena her parents had taken her to one summer when she was a young girl.
I hated the thought of the citizens coming to this arena to see where everyone would die, I just hoped that Peeta wouldn't be among that number. I looked around at the four other tributes beside myself and Peeta. Cato and Clove were seated beside each other with Peeta sitting across from me. On my side sat Gunnar and Eunia who both looked nervous as hell. I couldn't blame them.
About five minutes into the flight a woman in a white suit, most likely a Hunger Games nurse, walked up to each of us and injected a needle into our forearm, "What's that?" I asked, not giving her my forearms until she explained.
I knew by her expression that she could tell I was going to be difficult if she didn't answer. With an audible sigh she said, in a monotone voice, "It's your tracker. The Gamemakers need to know your whereabouts in the arena so they can find you." I extended my arm after that, wincing as she stabbed the sharp needle into my arm, "It's easier to put it in your skin so you don't lose it." She took the needle out and sprayed my arm with something that stung but also kept the puncture wound from bleeding.
As the ride continued Peeta kept mouthing soothing phrases to me and himself, I knew he wanted desperately to hold my hand right now and I felt the same. Finally, after what felt like hours, the hovercraft landed with a small jerk and the Peacekeepers escorted us down the ramp and into a brightly lit tunnel. I assume we're under the arena judging by the sleep slope of the tunnel and the hum of electricity above us.
It made sense for the launch rooms to be underground, that way no tribute would know what the arena looked like until we were inside. As we entered a new corridor we broke off into two groups, the girls following three Peacekeepers, while the boys followed three more. They would escort us to our personal launch rooms where our stylists waited to look us over for any final touches.
Cinna was standing in front of a cluster of hangers when I was pushed into the room. I tried not to look at the far end were the launch tube stood, awaiting my entrance to ascend me into the arena above. I instead walked straight to Cinna, hugging him tightly.
He stroked my hair, smiling at me with his eyes flickering with gold in the light of the room, "Let's get your jacket on." With a nod from me, Cinna grabbed the pure black jacket with reflective red trim sewn into the edge. The coat fell just past my thighs and felt quite warm against my skin. I was surprised there weren't any flames on the sleeves, but it might have been that Cinna wasn't allowed to tamper with the colour and design of the jacket.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, pressing down the collar of the coat.
"Scared, frightened, nervous, a bit nauseous." I joked trying to relieve tension in my body.
Cinna chuckled, "I wouldn't be. You're a strong, smart girl, Katniss. One of the things prep team members aren't allowed to do is put a bet in the games. If I could though, I'd bet on you." He smiled, his words cheering me up. Just then he pulled something out of his pocket and pinned it to my jacket.
"My pin. Where did you get it?" I asked, completely forgetting that I had left it in my room.
"I picked it up when I dropped off your outfit, I know it's your token." He smoothed down my collar again, "I was almost not allowed to give it to you. The Gamemakers thought the pin could be used as a weapon, giving you an unfair advantage. They eventually let it through, after Jérémie intervened. Ambassadors have a lot more pull around here than I originally thought." He chuckled.
"Why would they think it could be used as a weapon?" I asked, stunned by the thought as it had never occurred to me.
"That Azura-Shine girl had hers eliminated. If you twisted the gemstone, a poisonous spike would pop out from the center. She claimed she didn't know the ring transformed, but even still, she lost her token." Before I could ask Cinna calmly added, "The Gamemakers cleared Peeta's token during the interviews. Said there would be an uproar if he wasn't wearing it in the arena."
"Good." I breathed out in relief, "I'm worried about him, Cinna."
Cinna smiled at me, his refreshed golden eyeliner flashing and gleaming. Then his expression turned into something a little more, for lack of a better term, contemplative, "You know, I remember during the 81st Hunger Games, a brother and sister, twins, were drawn from District Eight. I was fifteen at the time, the same age as them. They made a huge impression on the Capitol. They received the same score from training, and dressed to match during the interviews. When they got to the arena they survived until only themselves and a boy from District One were the last standing."
"What happened? Did they both die?" I asked, I had never watched those games before.
"The girl was killed by the Career while she was hunting for food. Her brother was so angry he hunted him down and killed him… brutally. He became the victor, but during his victory tour, he was found by his mentor in his room… dead." Cinna looked upset for a moment, before giving me a serious look. "Keep Peeta by your side no matter what happens in the arena. Even if he's not with you physically, find him with your heart, and search for him that way. You don't want to end up like that victor."
"Ten seconds to launch." A mechanical male voice echoed through the room from an unknown place. "Ten." The countdown began.
Cinna pulled me into a final embrace, "Good luck."
"Seven." I took a deep breath and stepped into the clear launch tube, listening as the countdown continued, "Four… three… two… one."
POV Peeta
I stepped through the door into the semi square launch room, I smiled at my stylist, "Hello Portia."
My stylist was dressed as before in black, this time she wore a puffed sleeved shirt and long pants that flared at the knees, "Hello my darling Peeta. How are you feeling?" She asked, handing me a coal black jacket with red reflectors for trim.
I slipped it on, before sitting on the stainless table beside me, "Nervous as hell." I said truthfully.
She walked over and sat beside me, "You have every right to be nervous my dear." She smiled, brushing her hand over my cheek. She always acted like a mom to me, better than my real one. I didn't want to never see her again but if Katniss was to come out of the arena alive I would have to die.
"I don't think I'll be coming back." I admitted, clenching my fists tightly, "I made a promise to myself to protect Katniss and that means I will have to die at some point."
Portia pulled me into a gentle motherly embrace, "I know, my dear. You love her with all your heart and that love will give you the strength to keep her safe." She whispered, kissing my forehead gently, "I know you'll be able to, because you're a fighter just like her and you have just as much strength, if not more."
I smiled at her, and hugged her again, "Thank you Portia, I… I needed to hear that from someone." I whispered before wiping the tears that suddenly started to flow away.
"I'm glad I could say it." she smiled then, "I hope, when my little boys get older, that they turn out just as strong and brave as you are."
I chuckled at the thought, "If they have a mother like you they will. You've helped me deal with so much. Thank you for everything and take care of your little boys. I can tell how great a mom you are."
"Ten seconds to launch."
I hugged Portia one last time, "Goodbye." she whispered into my ear before letting me enter my pod.
POV Katniss
I felt the sun on my face as I looked around at the scenery before me, what catches my eye first is the Cornucopia. It wasn't really shaped like a Cornucopia more like a plane wreck. It was silver with its horn looking similar to a tail. Why couldn't the Gamemakers ever make a realistic looking Cornucopia one of these Games?
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Ninety-ninth Hunger Games will begin in sixty seconds. May the odds be ever in your favour." Claudius Templesmith's voice boomed around us.
I looked at the large screen above the Cornucopia as it started counting down from sixty. I glanced around at the other tributes all waiting aboard their individual platforms. We dare not move though, if anyone tried we'd be blown to sky high. I remember watching a few Games where some tributes had either fallen off or slipped before the timer was through and had suffered that fate, one poor twelve year old had dropped her ball token a few years back and had stupidly stepped forward to reach for it. I gulped, not wanting to think about that, I looked past the 26 of us, standing in our circle. Beyond the clearing we stood in was a bright crystal lake and beyond that was a forest that encircled the entire arena from what I could tell.
I looked back at the supplies as the counter hit the 30 seconds mark. I saw a few weapons that caught my eye, but they were further into the circle of the Cornucopia. I was about to look at the outer supplies when something metal caught my eye. A metal bow and quiver filled with arrows was leaned up against a tall bin. It was perfect, but too far into the centre of the supplies. If I tried for it I'd probably make it, but I'd have to take out a few people on my way in. I looked at Peeta who stood several spots away from me, he shook his head as if knowing what I was thinking. I knew he was right, I pulled my gaze away from the tempting bow and found a bag close to me. I could pick it up and run within a few minutes.
I turned my eyes back to the screen, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3… 2… 1… "Tributes, let the Ninety-Ninth Hunger Games begin!"