The Capital Games (a writer games)

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~IN THE ARENA~

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•SPÍTHA•

The water hit home. Literally. I spent years as a child in district four by the ocean. I knew how to swim, but this brought back memories of everything... My family, the boat accident that killed my father and the frenzy of sharks and large fish that devoured his body before we even understood what happened. My mom and I had been watching... this was a new wound to our family.. my older brother had been lost to the games, cut down by a career in the bloodbath... she had gone insane and i had become an avox all because of water....

Stop it! I snapped at myself. Just concentrate on running. the waterlevel will decrease, the plain can't go on forever. Just run.

I took my own advice and ran until the water merely swirled about my knees, then I stopped, panting, It is difficult to pant when you have no tongue, trust me.

A movement on the horizon started me to attention. I squinted at it, straining my ears and eye. A telltale limp told me it was Xavren. I could easily sneak up on him and drown him... but i didn't want to.. If circumstances had been different, I may have been allies with the cripple. Even though i'll probably have to kill him soon, as is the nature of the games, now was not the time.

I watched him lurch off, over the horizon. I new someone inexpirienced with water was nearing. Ripples lapped against my legs, growing larger the closer she drew. I say she because the only one left was Kasia. As much as I'd feel guilty about killing the kid, she was from the capitol. And she seemed dangerous despite her size.

As the ripples grew, doubts filled my mind. I didn't need to do this, I could drop below the water level, let her find Xavren and them fight it out. They could have the bloody hands, and mine could remain mostly untarnished.. I didn't have to..THUNK!!

A hard, hollow bludgeon struck me in the shoulder blade, sending me staggering forward, sloshing the water. I whirled around and my eyes met the lilac ones of Kasia's glare.

Her countenance was set. She was determined to kill me. The decision was made and wrote in the steely frown. She tossed a metal water bottle from hand to hand, keeping herself loose and ready to strike.

I raised my arms in a defensive position, ready to block her strikes. She brings the water bottle down on my arms, I counterswing and bruise my arm upon it. A curse word runs through my head and I swing my arm at her. It collides with her shoulder and we both fall sideways into the water.

I hold her under, but she knees me in the stumach and I recoil, she leaps on me and holds me down, I can't imitate her because she is sitting above me knees, I feel my lungs burn, pleading to be released, and the buzz of unconscousness threatens to engulf my brain.

Summoning the last of my strength I force myself up and slam my head against hers. A loud crack! ensues and we both reel from it.

The water bottle falls from her hands. I loose track of it in the swill. She lunges at me, scrabbling with her nails. I slap her. If we're going to fight to the death, I at least want to be dignified about it.

Dignity. My family had been big on it. I walked with grace, fought with honor, and spoke and listened with respect. And then I came here. To the capitol. And it was now a struggle to keep my Dignity.

"Can you just die already?" The green and blond haired girl muttered. She appeared to be getting frustrated with this fight.

I shrugged my silent reply and lunged at her, grabbed her and half threw, half pushed her backwards. She popped up a moment later and blew water from her mouth. Her eyes glowing with irate fire, she pulled my legs from under me.