𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐍 | 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀

TWELVE

The countdown is antagonising as I keep my eyes on the Cornucopia. We're required to stand on our metal circles for sixty seconds before the sound of a gong releases us. Step off before then? The land mines will blow your legs off. Adrenaline is running through my veins as I listen to the countdown as the seconds go down, all I can focus on is getting to the Cornucopia as soon as possible to grab some knives and some food supplies. The Cornucopia is iridescent under the harsh sun, it's shaped rather oddly with spikes but you can make out the rough shape of it– a cone with a curved tail and a mouth. It's shaped differently every year but it doesn't matter to me. There are weapons in the very middle and as I look at them, the more I want to snatch every one of them. They're all calling out to me. Then, I recall Ms Bronte's words to me before I left for the Capitol which I magically manage to remember in the intensity of everything. They don't have tridents, but they have knives, which I'm apparently deadly with. I spot a bow and a dozen arrows in the middle as well. Around the Cornucopia are other supplies and the further out from the horn they are, the less of value they are. I don't care about those, though, I care more about the weapons although I figure I'd pick up a backpack.

Behind me is a body of water and another island– it's the same for the other sides. The only place to run to would be the other islands but most of the tributes won't know how to get there as they have no idea how to swim. This is where I have an advantage. My heart is racing and my nerves have turned into adrenaline as the countdown gets closer to zero.

I hear Finnick's voice in my head. "Do it scared." I'm a fast runner, probably a faster runner than most of the tributes, I can grab the knives and bow and arrows before a bag. I know I'm likely to be a target, most of the high-scoring tributes are. I watch as the final ten seconds approach and adjust my stance.

Nine...Eight...Seven...Six...Five...Four

This is it.

Three...Two...One.

I sprint as fast as I can to the middle and I keep my eyes on the dozen knives which I quickly snatch. Everything is a blur as I watch as tributes try to scramble away with bags of supplies. My mind goes blank and I'm not thinking when I start throwing my knives at them. I watch as they fall to the ground one by one. Slinging a backpack on my shoulders, I turn around to look for the bow and arrow which is now gone. There is no time to mourn the loss of it, though. There is a red-headed girl charging towards me but before she can reach me, I've thrown a knife at her and she collapses to the ground.

"Oceana, duck!" I hear a shout from not too far away and do as they say, watching as a spear flies over me and hits a tribute square in the chest, causing him to collapse backwards.

My breathing is rapid as I collect all the good things in the Cornucopia with the help of Gill who had just saved my life. By now, everything is a blurry mess but I can make out that all the other tributes are trying to run as fast as they can to the other islands. I'm contemplating if I should pursue them but decide against it. No, I'm not thinking properly. I know I'm not in the right state of mind as of now. My breathing continues to quicken as everything around me now seems more overwhelming than it actually is. Then, I feel someone take hold of me and in instinct, I throw a punch at whoever it is.

"Ouch!" I hear Gill's voice as he releases me as he stumbles back.

"Oh!" I exclaim as suddenly everything clears up and I'm aware of what's going on. "I'm so sorry, Gill," I say as he nods, telling me that it was okay.

"You okay?" He asks and I nod. "Well, good job just now," he praises and I'm confused until I look down at my hands holding knives and then around me.

The red-headed girl is lying motionless on the ground, a knife plunged into her chest as a pool of blood surrounds her. I feel nauseous as I look at her, had I done that? Then, I look into the distance where four other tributes all lie on the ground, lifeless and limb, all with knives sticking out. Shakily, I approach the girl which is closest to me, pulling the knife out from her chest, thick red liquid coating the metal blade. "Oh my goodness." I cover my mouth as my eyes widen, looking at her pale face. Scared, I turn to Gill who looks at me rather concerned. "Did I do this?" He stays quiet and I raise my voice. I'm exasperated. "Gill Wade, did I do this! Did I kill her? Did I kill all of them?" He nods slowly and I stare at him in horror.