Prim's Games

Chapter Ten

Finding the special plant ends up being easy. We find it in less than half an hour. By two hours, the boy from District 1, Marvel is his name, is resting and looks like he could be back to normal in no time.

The boy from District 2, Cato, approaches me. I instantly feel threatened. He's double the size of me, and could kill me in less than a second if he wanted to.

"We've taken a group vote," he says,"And decided to let you join our alliance for the time being."
"Thank you." I reply, though I don't feel very reassured.

He glares at me. "Just so you know, I voted that we should just kill you. It's the others that are softies."

The rest of the day, I follow all of them around. Most of the time they just talk to each other, waving their weapons around threateningly whenever they hear the slightest sound. Marvel, the boy from District 1, is always looking at me curiously, as if he is deciding something. At the end of the day, just before the sun goes down, he approaches me.

"You don't look like your enjoying yourself." He comments.
"Well, it was only earlier today that you all were trying to kill me." I state. Marvel just laughs.
"Hey guys." Clove yells."I think that there is something over here."

All of them slowly make their way over there, weapons raised. I pick up a large stone off the ground for protection, but stay in the same place. When they come together as a group, Clove leads them to the place where the sound apparently came from. But they don't see a tribute coming at them from behind.
"Lookout!" I scream, purely on instinct. But as he swings the sword at Marvel's neck, I throw the stone. It hits the tribute hard in the temple, and he drops dead like a fly. The cannon sounds.

The careers just stand there, shocked.
"Wow." Says Marvel.
"You saved his life!" Glimmer says, surprised. Cato just grunts. Clove, however, just stares at the body of the tribute I just killed.
"I recognise him." Clove says."He's the boy from District 3." Everyone turns to me.
"Well done." They all say in unison. Then they commence walking, a bit more cautious this time.

Marvel smiles and stays behind with me."You've earned their trust now."
"But I thought..." I start, but, am interrupted by him.
"They would never have trusted you if you hadn't proved yourself. Now you're probably going to stay alive a little longer."
"A little?" I whisper. He nods.
"Which is why we are going to have to kill them all, tonight." He says firmly.

I am about to just go along with what he is saying when I realise something. This is probably a test. He might stab me if I get the wrong answer.
"No." I say, trying to sound sure of myself."I trust them."
"Then you are making a huge mistake."

*************************************

I have one of the best nights since I've been in the games that night. We all stay up and talk by the lake. We don't bother to keep our voices down because we know everyone is too scared to take us on. I learn so much about all of them as they share their stories.

The two from District 1 are very humorous and actually alright people. The others from District 2 are a bit strange, but still show some heart. I am so surprised how kind all four of them can be. They laugh at each other and share jokes. Most of them are very interested in what my life was like back in District 12.

Eventually they drop off one by one to get some sleep. Soon, it is just Marvel and I still awake.
"Did you have any close friends in your District 1?" I asked.
"One." Marvel replies."But I won't be seeing him ever again."
"Why not?" I question.
"Because..." Marvel drifts off to sleep before he finishes.

I'm left alone, but I can't fall asleep. I try but then I remember something. It's the locket that Jice gave me. So I leave the place we have by the lake, and walk into the forest. Once I feel deep enough in I pick a tree and climb up it. Once I choose a branch I reach deep into my pocket and bring my locket into view.

I admire how beautiful it is. I soon notice that I can open it up. The feeling of excitement creeps into my mind. He might have left a message, or a small gift. So I open it and discover a small piece of paper. Written across it are these four words:
I am an avox.

What?! Jice is an Avox. I guess it made sense, how he couldn't talk and all. But how didn't I notice that he didn't even have a tongue. It was only a couple of months ago that my mother and I saw him and saved his life. This meant he probably won't be there if I ever go home. They will find him by then. All the escape Avoxes are severely punished. And if the Gamemakers have seen this note, he's gone.

"Oh, Jice!" I cry.

Then I climb down the tree and start walking back to my.......friends.

I realise that they are friends, and besides Rue, the closest I've had since I've been in the games.

Friends that will probably kill me soon, but still.