Chapter 8

Snow's P.O.V.

The gong rang. I immediately grabbed hold of the ropes and started climbing toward the center. Some of the Careers did the same. Kern immediately jumped down because he was too big for the ropes to hold his weight.

I saw Orchid swing just as fast as I was. I smiled.

Before too long, I felt my feet land on the platform the Cornucopia was on. Most of the people were still trying to swing from the ropes. Others had dropped down and were starting to run away into the forest.

Orchid was the only other one in the Cornucopia other than me. I pretended not to see her. Orchid grabbed a knife, a backpack, food, and some other supplies. 

At the same time, I ran over into the Cornucopia and grabbed a set of knives off the wall. 

Using one, I flung it like a boomerang at the tribute who was the closet to the Cornucopia. Only, I didn't throw it at him.

I threw it at the ropes he was holding on to.

It cut them and the tribute fell into the water below. Perhaps slightly injured, but his death wouldn't be on my list.

People were getting dangerously close. I didn't have much time left. I grabbed a backpack but didn't check the supplies it contained. I grabbed some food. 

Only then did I notice some packages hanging on the ropes that led to the Cornucopia. I had left several hanging on the ropes from my platform.

"Stupid." I muttered to myself.

I managed to snatch a dart gun as well as a sleeping bag. I stuffed those into my backpack along with the food.

A Career, Jerome, landed onto the platform. I could've easily killed him with one of the several knives that were attached to the belt around my waist.

But I didn't.

He flashed me a smile as he grabbed a spear from the stack of supplies. I grinned back before jumping into the water below.

***

How long had I been running?

An hour at least.

But this is what I was trained for. Long treks through woods with no time to take a break.

I hadn't eat anything, hoping the hunger would give me a little boost. I was thirsty but I hadn't opened my backpack to see if there was water in it. 

I heard a scream.

And then a cannon.

Who could that have been?

The scream sounded female. I hoped to God it wasn't Orchid.

"Oh, my, god. I'm an idiot." I muttered. If I could hear a scream, that meant someone had killed someone. And that meant at least one person was near me.

My legs tensed and I started running. I made no noise as I ran through the forest. 

Another scream.

Another cannon.

What was going on?

Screams of pain filled my ears.

A boy ran into the clearing. He grinned at me and hefted his huge spear.

I watched in horror as the spear hit me in the chest.

And then I woke up.

***

My head spun. I was lying in a bed of leaves. Fatigue overwhelmed me. Had I passed out?

I sat up. I didn't feel thirsty or hungry anymore. Unless that was part of the dream. A groan escaped me.

No, the hunger and thirst weren't part of the dream. I could still feel the effects though they had worn off. 

I finally picked up my backpack and looked at the supplies. 

Matches, a water bottle, some dried fruit and jerky, some iodine, rope, bandages, and a bottle of poison.

I picked up the poison and studied it.

Why would the Game makers put a bottle poison in a backpack?

The water bottle was opened and some of it was missing. As was some of the fruit and jerky.

I immediately stood up and moved my hand toward the knives around my belt. But if someone had taken my food, why hadn't the killed me as well?

It made no sense. 

Cannons went off. I assumed it was the Blood Bath aftermath. The night was dark meaning it was late, I certainly couldn't have been asleep for more than a couple hours.

Ten. Eleven.

Nine people dead.

Fourteen people to go.

Their faces appeared in the sky one by one.

 Silver,

Septima,

Garric,

Otto,

Baron,

Wren,

Dixie,

Prine,  

and Fawn.

All dead.

I took a deep breath and grabbed my sleeping bag out of my backpack.

Slowly and carefully, I climbed up a tall tree and tied myself to it.

I fell asleep with the stars shining above me. 

And the Game makers prepared to kill me.

Jason's P.O.V.

I trudged through the forest, not able to see more than five feet in front of me. I only had time to grab a sword and a small package of food at the Cornucopia before I was forced to run. I didn't even have water.

The affects of dehydration were starting to hit me. I had been walking for over four hours without taking more than a five minute break.

My legs felt numb. I'm sure in District 2, people like Snow and Kern (especially Snow) were trained to do this kind of stuff. In District 3, all we did was create new technology for the Capitol.

I paused and took a deep breath. 

"One minute. That's all you get." I instructed myself. I had to find a place to stay for the night.

Suddenly, the sound of a rope snapping filled my ears. I heard a loud creak and the noise of a heavy object in motion.

I looked up.

And screamed.

A tree was falling, and it was about to land on top of me. 

I was too tired and in too much shock to move.

Hey, at least I'll get it over with it.

So I stayed there and didn't move a muscle.

It all happened so fast. 

Someone ran out of the other side of the forest. I couldn't see their face, couldn't tell if it was a guy or a girl. They were just a blur. 

"What are you doing?!?! Move!" the voice screamed.

I was still.

The person kept screaming but I didn't hear a thing. The tree was dangerously close now.

Something collided with my side and I felt my back hit something hard. 

The tree collided with the ground with a thud. My head spun. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to thank the stranger who had saved my life.

A hand covered my mouth before I could speak.

"Shh, don't alert anyone that we're here more than you already have."

My head stopped spinning.

Only then did I realize who had saved me. 

Because I would recognize those coal black eyes anywhere.

Snow.