Deadly Game - Chapter 29

Okay here it is :)

I'm not sure about the next upload, but prob not before Saturday... Tried not to leave a too evil cliffy there.

Anyone esle SOOOO EXITED about THG movie??? Gonna go watch it on Friday... :))) *sighs dreamily*

ALSO THIS WHOLE EXTRA-THINGY TO DG CONTAINS FOUR PARTS RIGHT NOW, FIND IT ON MY PROFILE!!! Read if you like to :) There might be some hints about things Cassie never knew...

Please, as always, comment vote and fan!

<3 Anna (editing soon... to tired now.)

Chapter 29

The next day, I hunt. Both for food and tributes, because I'm over the shock of my first kill and just feel cold. This needs to end, and therefore I might need to kill.

 I decide to go back over to the Cornucopia, see if Marco is still there, if I can possibly find any food. I lost the squirrels when we fell into the water.

I walk through the silent forest, letting my feet find the way, and soon come to the river. I've made sure to keep away from the force-field, because I don't really feel like getting fried today.

Or any other day, for that matter.

I try to remember the short distance this time and keep my steps light, staying as silent as possible. I don't feel the need to alert any other tributes. I've practiced with the bow though, so I'm getting better and better at shooting, and my aim is great, though I still prefer my knives. But I only have four now - I've lost some knives along the way, but I got both Faith's and Axara's knives. So I don't really want to use them. Only if necessary.

I climb into a tree by the edge of the Cornucopia-clearing, hoping to see something, but the tree is not high, and no others have branches low and thick enough for climbing.

So I have to walk into there by foot, just prepared for anything. I have no idea who is there, why, and if they will see me and attack.

Suddenly I realize - heck, why am I even asking myself? It's either Andie, who I'm on okay terms with, I think. Or then it's Swan, who will probably try to avoid a fight and flee, from what I know about her. She's weak when it comes to anything physical, but she has to be smart to survive this long. Well, of course she's smart. She's from District 3.

The third option is Marco.

I know if it's him, I'll have the urge to kill him instantly. Finish him off quickly. And that's what the Capitol wants from me. They want me to become a Career, a quick killer.

I refuse.

So, whoever it is there - if there's anybody - I'll try to stay unnoticed, and put some distance between us.

I peak through the bushes, only to find the area around the Cornucopia empty. I sigh, then cautiously step out of the forest.

I check for traps, but there are none. It seems like Marco decided to go hunting, knowing no tributes would ever want to come even close to here. That's great for me.

The day passes by slowly, and I hear some weird noises from the rocks on the other side of the river, probably something the Gamemakers created. I wonder who's the target. Andie? Swan? Or Marco?

There are only four of us. Twenty gone. And three more, soon. I just wish I will be the lucky one.

If you really can call it lucky.

I have killed. Only two people, yes, but two are two too much. I'll have their blood on my hands forever. I know I had to do it - Clarie was in self-defense, and Rino to save Andie. But still, how can I go on the victory tour, look into the eyes of all the parents and siblings of the dead tributes? Look at Axara's sisters, the children from Faith's orphanage.

Look into the eyes of Rino's parents, his brother. I'm relieved that I at least can move into the Victor's Village if I win - far away from Rino's family.

I knew Rino, of course. I've seen him in school sometimes, watched him and his brother leave with other boys and girls after school, going to the Island Academy for training. I never thought I would be the one to end his life.

Never thought I'd kill anyone but myself.

That brings my thoughts to Riccy again, and I force them away. I need to concentrate now.

I decide to catch some sleep before nightfall - it's dangerous to sleep in the darkness. I have time, though, 'cause it's only a few hours past mid-day. I climb into the tree that wasn't high enough to see anything, and fall asleep almost immediately.

Trumpets and the cheerful voice of Claudius Templesmith awakens me.

"We're hosting a feast by the Cornucopia tonight for you! There will be something worth saving for all of you, something you can not leave be. Someone, actually."

I freeze.

No.

He can't mean it, can he?

Yes, he can. I almost fall out of the tree.

"If you don't show up, they're in very much danger of getting killed. The rules are simple - get your person out of there, and a hover-craft shall appear to pick them up. But you can also stay to fight. Hurting is allowed. I repeat - at nightfall today! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"

Who is it? Which one of them does he have? I wish for Riccy. Or Brendt, or Will. Any of those three can fight. They can probably even make it out of there themselves. But Denlay, or Pearly, Willow or Melli... that will be dangerous. I'll have a really hard job protecting myself, and protecting someone else will be hard.

This isn't right. No one's supposed to be involved in the games. The tributes are on their own...

But not anymore, I guess.

I search for a better tree, and choose one close to the place where I rose into the Arena, then sit and wait with the questions spinning in my head.

When it becomes darker, I get ready. Backpack on, weapons at hand... I decide to do this now. Get whoever it is out of there, then finish this game.

The darkness is slowly creeping closer, but Northern light's keep the clearing lit.

Suddenly, without warning, four people rise on discs into the Arena.

"Sixty. Fifty-nine. Fifty-eight..." The voice counts down, and I realize that the persons came up on the same discs as their tributes. The mines are there again. I try to see who it is on my disc.

I frown. All the people are small... too small.

Children.

My breath catches as Adina's head spins around, panic rising in my chest. Then a cold feeling settles over me.

No one will touch my sister.

The Capitol has gone too far, crossed the line.

Somehow I though it would be a person eligible for the reaping. But no. They search for our vulnerable spots. I see that the other people are children too. No older than seven.

A small girl with red hair, no doubt Swan's sister, 'cause I hear her calling out Swan's name, over and over again.

A boy with brownish hair, his eyes wide as they search the surroundings. He's Marco's brother, they have the same shape of their faces.

Then there is a pretty girl, about Adina's age, with dark skin and black hair. She seems more fearless than the others, standing there, looking like she knows what to do next. Brave girl, Andie's sister.

Adina is paralyzed with fear, shivering in the cold wind. I see that they are dressed like we are. I need to think straight, have a plan.

I'm right behind her.

"Adi-bird!" I shout, knowing the wind will make sure to transport my words to her. "Seashell behind you! As fast as you can when the cannon goes off!"

I see her nod. She doesn't know exactly where I am, but she hears me, trusts me.

I know I pretty much gave away my location right now, but I soon hear the others shouting to their siblings too. Except Andie. I don't hear a word from him. Maybe he isn't here. I want to feel sorry for the girl, but I can't afford to.

The counting is down to twenty, and I strip off my backpack. I'm invisible here in the tree, out of everybody's reach.

I have my knives in my belt, all four of them, and bow and arrows ready. When the cannon sounds, Adina is immediately spurting towards my voice, and I climb down to meet her, grab her by the waist, place her on my back and climb up the tree. I go as far as I dare, then place her safely on a branch.

"Keep still, Adi," I tell her, then grab the backpack and take it up. She curls to my side, and I let her hide her face away. I don't say anything, don't say everything's okay. It isn't.

I never wanted Adi into this.

I seems like a good strategy to stay here, wait for everyone else to leave. Everyone will think I ran with Adi, so if they chase us - which I doubt they do - they will run past us.

We can only wait and be silent.