The Hanging Tree. *ON HOLD*

Chapter Thirteen ~ The Games

THE GAMES

Chapter Thirteen ~ The Games 

Prim’s POV.

‘Ready Primmy,’ I heard Dad’s voice behind me, mixed up in a million emotions.

‘I’m so scared daddy!’ I cried, holding back a sob and throwing my arms around my father. We were down in the launch room, waiting to go into the arena. Usually our stylists were supposed to come down with us to get us kitted out in our arena outfits, but my parents put up the argument ‘they aren’t kids anymore, they can get dressed themselves.’ and of course with my mother’s skills of persuasion she managed to convince whoever she had to convince so mum and dad were allowed to come down with us. They had already decided that dad would go with me, and mum would go with Finnick. I had already said my goodbyes to mum, trying to avoid the way her eyes were overflowing and the whimpering’s coming from her mouth. I hugged her, hard, and tried my hardest to hold back my sobs. It wasn’t easy and as soon as she let go I almost went sprinting off in the other direction just so she couldn’t see my tears. I sort of wished Terragon was down here with me, so that I could feel angry and annoyed at her, instead of feeling distraught and depressed.

A loud booming voice, that told me to stand in the tube, forced me to break off from my Dad’s embrace.

‘I love you so much Primrose, so much.’ He whispered, his hand stroking my cheek.

‘I love you too Daddy.’ I whispered, my throat closing up, my heart wanting to cling to him for dear life, like I was a little girl again.

‘You be good now, alright?’ He mumbled, tears spilling from his eyes and landing on my head.

‘Yeah Daddy, I’ll be good. I love you.’ I said one last time before stepping towards the tube that would raise me into the arena. I stepped inside, catching a whiff of antibacterial spray. The doors of the tube slid shut as soon as I stepped in. Inside there was a little screen, counting down the seconds till I would be lifted into the arena. I looked out of the tube to see my Father, tears streaming down his face, and the bravest smile I have ever seen on his face. I put my hand against the cool glass tube and stared at him, trying to memorise his every feature. The way he leaned slightly to the side because of his dodgy leg, the freckle dotted on the side of his nose, the way his blue eyes held so much pain. I said the words I had already said twice, knowing he couldn’t hear me and equally that he knew what I was saying.

I love you.

Suddenly the tube began to shudder and I realised I was going to be ripped from my father, forever. I started to scream, whacking my fists against the glass, tears streaming down my face.

No!

I screamed that single word, over and over again, no.

Just as the tube began to rise into the earth and my Dad thought I couldn’t see him anymore he collapsed into tears, I could see him shouting, swearing. I shook my head from side to side, heart-broken seeing my father in tears.

Suddenly fresh air hit my nostrils and I knew I was near the top, although in the pitch blackness of the tunnel I had no idea where I was. I felt a breeze on my face and I opened my eyes, not even remembering having shut them.

My eyes adjusted, even though the light wasn’t much better than that in the tube, and there in front of me stood a gigantic… house?

I looked across at the other tributes and was satisfied to see they looked just as confused as I was. I looked at Finnick and he caught my eye. His grey ones seemed to linger between determination and tears. Then my eyes drifted to my right and I saw Caden, far, far away, looking straight at me. I looked away, back to the arena. By my feet was lush green grass perfectly trimmed, dandelions and daises sprouted up from the green. I smiled as I saw the dandelion, remembering the story Mum told me about her dandelion in the spring. Then I looked at the house, still trying to get my head around the prospect. It stood tall and proud, towers spiralling along the sides, large windows and brick walls. The roof looked like it went past the clouds and I couldn't see around the side because of how vast it was. Behind me, and I'm guessing circling the house, were trees packed closely together, a small forest.

The house was so humongous it blocked the sun from shining down on the 26 tributes, but right at the moment that I realised the clouds were moving in a strange pattern a boom sounded and the countdown began, the huge orange numbers projected onto the front of the house. The sudden sound of the countdown caused most of the tributes to jump, including me, but an enormous BANG rang out, and suddenly the arena was flooded with the toxic lights of an explosion. I covered my ears, my heart speeding up. Someone had stepped off the pedestal too early. I looked to my right, thinking that was where the explosion had originated and sure enough there was a gaping hole where the District 8 girl, Caprice, was standing.

40, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, My heart beat quickened, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11,

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3

This was where I was going to die.

2

Not a bad place to die.

1.