Poisoned Flower (The Hunger Games)

Thirteen: The Game Begins

            Just like the rest of Panem, Diantha watched the Hunger Games every year. All schools and non-essential jobs were suspended for its duration, and it would be shown on every screen and talked about on every radio. There was no escaping it. It was the law, so no one really had a choice.

The first game Diantha remembered was the 65th Hunger Games; aka Finnick's. At eight years old, she'd watched it reluctantly. Her tutor had watched it with her, quizzing her every so often to ensure she'd been paying attention. Diantha had no doubt that her tutor would inform her father or his officials if she hadn't been and didn't want to find out what happened if she stopped watching.

However, as the days passes by, she found herself becoming desensitized to the violence shown on screen. When the television automatically turned itself on during mandatory viewing hours on the fourth day, Diantha found herself waiting with grotesque interest. Her eyes watched the teenagers' movements intently. As Finnick's trident pierced the heart of his final competitor, Diantha felt elated.

It was only when she was older that she realised she had fallen into the same trap as the rest of the Capitol.

Over the past few years, she decided to detach herself from it. No longer cheering on any of the tributes and distancing herself from the glitz and glamour. But had to watch, and she did so, still, with some sort of attraction. It was fascinating how quickly the tributes relinquished their morals and humanity.

Though, this year was different. Diantha had never expected to watch anyone she actually knew enter the arena. The guilt gnawed at her as she was reminded that these were human beings.

As each of the Victors faces flashed across the screen, Diantha's heart was in her mouth. She tightened the grip on her glass.

"So, what's your plan?" she questioned turning to Haymitch. His eyes remained glued to the television.

"Hope they survive the bloodbath and go from there? Although I don't know if they can even swim".

"Swimming will be the easy part" Diantha thought. But the way Haymitch snapped his head to look at her made her realise that she'd said it out loud.

"What the heck is that supposed to mean?" he accused.

She shook her head. "Later" Diantha promised, tilting her head towards the crowd of people milling around. They weren't close enough to hear, instead choosing to watch from TVs closer to the refreshments. Still, she didn't want to take the risk.

The entire room fell into a sudden silence as the countdown reached ten seconds. Nerves washed over her. Part of her wanted to look away, but she found herself unable to. In the corner of her eye, Diantha noticed the liquid in her glass start to swish around. Her hands were shaking. She couldn't be doing this in public. Fear was a private thing, not something for anyone else to see. That's what her father used to tell her.

Against her better judgement she downed her drink. The liquid burned as it travelled down her throw, and she cringed at the taste. Her stomach lurched. Maybe that wasn't the best idea, but she needed to so-called 'liquid courage'.

"Five, four, three, two, one".

With the fire of a cannon, cheering and shouting erupted in the room as the 75th Hunger Games had begun. Most of the Victors immediately jumped from their pedestals and into the water below. Turns out, a lot of them could swim.

The cameras panned to the Cornucopia which rested on a rock itself in the middle of the water. Katniss, Brutus and Gloss were the first to make it and all dashed towards the weapons. Predicably Katniss picked up a bow and a quiver of arrows, promptly aiming one at Gloss. The arrow lodged into his calf and pushed him back into the water. She then aimed towards Enobaria, but she dived back into the water to avoid being hit.

Diantha held her beath as Finnick appeared behind Katniss with a trident in hand. As he raised it, she thought she'd have to watch them fight. Instead, he impaled the Victor trying to sneak up on them. The pair exchanged a few words as Finnick showed her something and Katniss lowered her bow.

"They're allies?" Diantha asked. "I didn't take Katniss as the type to want allies".

"She didn't. But the two of them need help if they stand any chance at getting out alive" Haymitch explained. Diantha caught the glint of a metal band on Finnick's arm.

"So, you made that choice for her" she mumbled. Haymitch nodded.

Diantha's eyes followed Finnick as he ran towards Mags. She was surprised, but glad the older woman was still alive. But she was pointing at something. The cameras showed two shapes clawing at each other in the water. It was Peeta and the male from District 9.

And then they both disappeared.

As they were pulled under the water, the entire room seemed fall into silence once more. When a cannon boomed a second later, Diantha flinched and watched as a body floated to the surface. Noise returned once more when Peeta, thankfully, emerged gasping for air. Diantha could hear Haymitch let out a shaky breath beside her. That was far too close.

Pulling him out of the water, the group turned to find the Careers had taken over the Cornucopia. With a few weapons in hand, they took off towards the forest and the broadcast switched to an overhead shot showcasing the entire arena.

Diantha had seen the plans, but seeing the actual completed thing was surreal. Circular in shape, it was split into twelve sections. The cornucopia stood on its own island in the middle of the water. It was so much smaller than she thought it would be. But that meant it was harder for the Victors to avoid each other.

"What the...?" Haymitch muttered. Diantha watched as his eyes scanned the screen. The Gamemakers seemed to be keeping the twist from the viewers for the time being. She reached over and tapped the watch strapped to his wrist. It wasn't a proper one, but what he used to send gifts into the arena. It wasn't even circular, but she hoped he would understand.

He didn't.

"The arena" she whispered. He stared at her; his eyebrows furrowed. With an annoyed huff, Diantha looked around them. No-one was paying them any attention; in fact, a lot had moved towards the middle of the room. But she had to be careful. She shuffled closer to him, the side of his body touching his. She could feel him tense beside her, but Diantha tried to appear as laid back as she could.

"It's a clock. I don't know the exact details, but something will happen every hour" she explained, keeping her voice low.

"And how'd you know that?".

"I spent a day with the Gamemakers. They showed me the plans".

"You have to be kidding me" Just how involved in this are you?" Haymitch asked. "Actually, what's your plan? Why are you here?".

"You have to be kidding me" Haymitch muttered angrily. "Just how involved in this are you? Actually, scrap that, what's the real reason you're here?".

"I can't say, I just need you to trust me" Diantha replied, caught off guard by his sudden change in tone.

"Well, it's pretty hard to trust you when all you're giving is vague answers. And now you're telling me you had a part in creating the arena?"

"I didn't create anything".

"But you were there. I'm going to need some answers, actually ones before I-"

They were interrupted as Katniss' scream echoed throughout the room.

 Sorry for making my come-back with such a short chapter. I actually had to split it in half. I still haven't finished writing it and its approaching 7,000 words. This seemed like an appropriate place to cut it. But things are going to start to be revealed very soon....

Thanks for your support and please stay safe!