PREDATOR | THE HUNGER GAMES

FEAR IS POWER

"How are they doing it?"

For the past two days, Lara had been stalking her prey-the remaining tributes.

The alliance of District 1 and 2 careers were sitting pretty at the cornucopia, blessed with all the resources one might need. The alliance between Districts 3 and 4 had remained at their initial campsite despite Lara's infiltration. Instead of moving they simply fortified the outside of their perimeter and kept two guards awake at all times.

The remaining alliances she couldn't pinpoint exactly. She knew that they were spread out far and thin, with half of them on the other side of the lake she hadn't dared to cross. She could only tell by the occasional smoke that arose from their side. The other half remained hiding and wandering with her in the forest, hoping to wait out the worst of the killing.

As for herself, she stayed at the center of the action. She made herself a hideout in the trees right on the outskirts of the cornucopia-close enough to spy yet far enough to remain concealed.

She wanted a way into the cornucopia, but the careers had figured out a way to keep everyone out. Even the camp of District 3 and 4 tributes didn't dare to cross the tree line.

Something was blocking them.

Lara was crouched low on a high tree branch, watching as curious tributes below peered out to view the cornucopia hill-utter silence was necessary. She could've guessed it was the tributes from District 7 from the brown color of their jackets and the axe in the girl's hand.

The girl seemed to debate with her partner. Both of them had no supplies other than their sole weapon. The bones on their body were pointy and nimble; no muscle to fight or hunt. They were desperate for food just as much as the rest of them.

In the end, their argument ended with their retreat to wherever they'd been hiding. They deemed it not worthy enough to risk their lives for a couple of rotten birds the careers had managed to capture and throw away.

Good thing. The careers would kill them before they even made it up the hill.

It was ingenious on the gamemakers part; the rocky hill made it so where no tribute could see each other on any side until they were at the top. From there, they could see everything and immediately shoot down their enemies before they could reach them.

It was a symbolic superiority that every tribute so desperately wanted-especially Lara.

The only way she could see them was from the trees. What she needed to get a way inside to take them down, but she was only one person against four.

The odds were not in her favor...they hardly ever were.

The gamemakers decided to be especially cruel today. They'd decided that since none of them were killing each other, then the elements would. What was once considered bad weather turned to completely unbearable. As soon as the tributes below had scattered back to their hiding place, it began to downpour.

The rain was thick and heavy; nearly forceful enough to knock her out of the tree. The others around her creaked and threatened to uproot. She only had the jacket she'd stolen to keep her warm. The rest of her was simply soaked all the way through. The trees provided little cover.

Lara saw the careers huddle together under the cornucopia, safe and warm by their dying fire. The blood from the cornucopia bloodbath persisted despite the rain, still leaving pools and streaks of blood down the jagged rocks.

The downpour continued late into the night, seemingly never ending. She sat there shivering, knees tucked into her chest for maximum warmth. Bones quaked and lips quivered. She refused to sleep because it would be impossible to anyway. Instead, she continued to study the home base of the careers through the thick raindrops that flooded her eyes.