Midnight ✔️ ||Peeta Mallark x OC|| ( A Hunger Games Short story)

They say who murdered three

The mood  is solemn at the table. As I slowly eat little bits of my breakfast, I can't help but wonder how I got into this situation.

The reaping was only a few days ago.... How am I already about to go into the arena?

"So" Effie breaks the silence "I just wanted to say how incredibly sorry I am"

That catches my attention as during this whole period Effie has been the one congratulating us on getting picked at the reaping.

"What for?" Thresh says. I look up and see that he's also stopped eating.

"I picked you" she says with a sob

"Effie this is not your fault" I say as I reach over and comfort her

"Thank you Grace, but this is on me" she says with a sniff.

"I'm glad you picked me" Thresh says and both Effie and my heads turn to him.

I swallow

"Yeah, me too" I say "I wouldn't want anyone else suffering in our position" I say

He nods.

"And that is why I picked the worst people possible" she concludes "you are the sweetest tributes I've ever escorted out of district 11" she tells us with a sigh

I smile, no more words leaving me.

I look down at my meal not feeling hungry anymore.

————————————

I stand in the room with my stylist. He fixes my hair, not that it's any use at all considering what is about to unfold.

He goes to put my jacket on me, but I stop him.

"It's ok" I say as I take it off him and put it on myself

After I've placed the material on me, I sigh

"So this is it-" I start

He cuts me off "darling you are one of the best dressed tributes I've ever seen"

He hugs me and I laugh with him

"Now" he steps back "go out there and WIN!"

I nod, a new found confidence in me.

I will not let the people I care about down.

I can't.

I walk over to the tube and the glass compartment shuts me in.

I blow a kiss to my stylist and he smiles, blowing one back just as I begin to rise.

The sun hits my eyes, momentarily blinding me as the podium hits level with the arena floor.

I blink rapidly until I regain my vision.

Suddenly I'm aware of a countdown happening.

59

58

57

56

I glance around me, the first thing I'm aware of is the others.

I see the girl I recognise as Clove. She got a 10.

Then I look to the other side of me and I see Foxface. She looks scared but prepared as she readies herself.

25

24

23

22

Next I see Thresh. He stands taller then most of the others. He sees me staring and gives me a nod.

Then I turn my head and see Peeta.

I haven't seen him since the interview. I hope he's not too mad at the stunt they pulled.... What if he thinks it's my fault?

5

4

3

2

I grow aware of the situation I'm in and the last thing I do is glance at the structure in front of me: the cornucopia.

I look closely and I spot some katanas hanging on the back wall.

1

With no time to think, I spring over to the knives.

I'm barely aware of Cato already starting his killing spree.

I cringe at the sight of a fallen body in front of me.

Luckily, he seems occupied with killing someone else and I manage to keep up my pace until I reach my goal and pick up a Katana.

I make sure to grab some small throwing stars and a dagger.

I go to turn around and I come face to face with Cato as he clearly wanted to get the knives first.

He tries to pin me to the wall as he throws a small dagger at me.

It skims the side of my face.

We both look at each other before I kick him backwards, not as far as I would have liked as he is a lot stronger then I thought, and I manage to run away from him.

I glance to my side and I see someone sprint past and grab a backpack off the floor.

I run as I make my way over to do the same.

Just as I'm picking up a bag, I stumble over as the floor gets kicked from under me.

I manage to roll out the way just in time as Glimmer tries to crawl on top of me In order to stab me.

Suddenly she gets a knife thrown to her shoulder blade, it doenst kill her but it freaks her out enough to jump off me and run into the trees.

I look up to see who through the knife and I see Clove aiming her dagger at me this time.

I quickly lift the backpack in self defence and it sticks straight into it.

I jump up as I see her running at me.

I'm grateful as I see her turn to fight someone else who's attacking her.

I stumble as I run into the woods, praying that there is good things in the backpack.

I run for as long as I can, wanting to stay as far away from the others as possible.

My heart beat races and I almost feel as if I'm hyperventilating. I probably am.

My body keeps telling me to stop but my legs keep moving faster and faster until I reach a secluded spot.

I stand for a minute, not believing that the spot is clear.

I listen out, but all I hear is birds.

I collapse to the floor, making sure to hide myself in the foliage just Incase.

I take a moment to breath before checking inside the backpack.

It contained one thin black sleeping bag, a pack of crackers, a pack of dried beef strips, a bottle of iodine, a box of wooden matches, a bit of coiled wire, glasses, and an empty black water bottle.

I try on the glasses and I make a small sound as everywhere around me looks green. I realise that I can see clearer as the sun starts to set. Night vision glasses. Hmmm might come in handy.

I lean against the tree and I realise why we were dressed with jackets. It's quite cold.

I shiver as I move myself to directly under a bush.

I take out the sleeping bag, careful not to make any noise and I slip inside.

I guess the first thing I will do in the morning is to try and find someone to ally with.