Chapter 57

Peeta

Five, four, three, two, one. I listen to the gong sounding, but nothing else. It's as if I've lost all hearing in both ears. My eyes are focused on the television displayed in front of me. I watch a blur of kids run at each other and to the cornucopia. Some scamper into it to grab weapons, brutally kill the others. Their friends. The people they know, dropping dead in the arena.

I look to Katniss to see her hunched over, staring at the screen intently. Does she want to watch? Or is it so horrendous she can't look away?

I finally realize what the arena is. It's split into four sectors; woods, desert, mountains, and salt water. I know the woods will probably be safest. The mountain could give off landslides and wipe out many of the tributes, you could die of thirst in the desert, plus there isn't much to keep you hidden. And you obviously can't hide in the Ocean forever. But I'm sure the gamemakers realize that. And I'm almost certain that they're planning something horrible for the tributes in the woods.

The sound of a cannon awakens me from my thoughts. We sit in silence, listening to the canons that represent the deaths of the kids we know--or knew. I count eleven in all. That means thirteen are still alive. "We all know what that sad, sad sound of a canon means," I hear Caesar say.

"Yes, yes," says Claudius Templesmith. They both have gloomy looks on their faces. I can't seem to tell if they were real or fake.

"Did you see any of yours?" Katniss asks me.

"I couldn't tell. It was all a blur," I reply. She nods and turns her attention back to the screen.

It isn't much after a while. The cameras focus in on some of the tributes. Most are trying to find water or any food. So far, they'd shown two of my tributes alive, three of Katniss', two of Johanna's, and three of Haymitch's. There are three left they haven't shown.

The camera zooms in on two tributes. I recognize them immediately. Ty and Talia are sitting on the ground. My stomach drops when I realize what's happening. Ty is holding Talia in his arms, begging for her to stay with him. "Talia, please!" he whispers. She rests a pale hand on his cheek.

"I love you. . ." she whispers. And then the crease between her eyebrows disappears and her brown eyes turn glossy.

"No! Talia! Please. . .Please. . ." he whimpers, but we all know she's gone. Ty leans down and kisses Talia's lips. He stands, tears in his eyes, staring down at her seemingly small looking body. "I'm so sorry."

I didn't catch what happened to her. She doesn't have a wound, so it must have been of natural causes. I take a deep breath and sat back. I now only have Ty and Diamond left. I can see now that there is probably no hope for my tributes to come out alive. Katniss still has four, Johanna three, and Haymitch three. I only have two.

"I'm sorry, Peeta," I hear Katniss whisper. I shake my head and brush her off. I can't help but feel angry with Katniss. Somehow, I almost blame her. If she had just voted no, Talia could have lived. These kids didn't have to die. If the Games didn't happen, Ty and Talia could have possibly gotten married and started a family. But now there's no chance of that. I know Ty will not want to live anymore if he's anything like me. He will die. He'll be with Talia again. I have to tell myself that. It's the only thing keeping me sane.

"Miss Everdeen," We turn to see a bulky guard standing in the doorway. "There's someone here to see you." Katniss glances at me, a confused look on her face. I give her a reassuring nod. She stands and walks out of the room, followed by the guard.