The First Quarter Quell: A 'The Hunger Games' Spin-Off

An Accident

    "Ugh! These stupid branches!" I exclaim as I fumble backward, almost tripping over a rock.
    Before continuing forward, I cut them down. This is the weirdest sword I've ever seen. The edges aren't smooth. They're serrated, I guess? They cut through things weirdly. Why would anyone make a sword like that? I wonder, though. How would it go through human flesh? Not to sound violent, it just seems so strange. A serrated sword piercing through your skin like that. No, thank you.
    Last night, there was yet another sky projection. The ones organized by the game makers to show the deaths of different tributes. I doubt they care about letting us know who died. It's probably more entertaining for the viewers, especially those in the Capitol. They must love this. Love seeing a tribute fall apart after they see the face of their old, or even new, ally up there, knowing they're dead somewhere on the 5 islands they've trapped us on. It's not like they show any of us how they die, either. That's reasonable, though; a tribute would be exposed otherwise.
    Everette's face was projected up there last night, with the same blue tint over it. Another girl from District 7 was shown, too. Kiera, I think. I know a cannon went off not too long after sunset. That may have been one of them. The other one had gone off the night before, shortly after the first tribute death list. How inconvenient.
    I ran to the Cornucopia as soon as the game started to make sure Everette and I had weapons. He said he wasn't ready to go without one, so that's why I went. When I came back with this serrated sword—that's all I could grab with such a small window of time—he was gone. I guess he ran to one of the nearby islands. He couldn't have gone anywhere else, but I didn't know which one that would be, so I ran to the right of the Cornucopia, which I think is the East Island. It was the direction with the least fighting.
    In the meantime, I've managed to make it towards the South Island—or maybe the North Island. I can't tell. If we had real maps, which we don't, then I could. I haven't seen anyone since Everette left. Still, I guess that's better.
    This is a horrible game. Who does President Lavinia think she is, making all the districts fight to the death? Seriously, why can't the Capitol kids play? It would only be fair. They already have everything; why not join us? They should get the chance to feel how we do. Live how we do. They're the ones doing this, after all. They're the ones who let—
    I hate the Capitol. I've always hated the Capitol. The leaders, the government, and even the citizens from their fancy-pants celebrations and traditions to their joyful faces while they watch the children from the districts fight to their deaths. And it's all because of a war, that no one currently alive had anything to do with, from 25 years ago. My best friend died, and I probably will as well, over something we don't even discuss in school. It's not fair.

    I make my way through more bushes, still cutting past them with my awkward little sword. Suddenly, I hear a faint sound. The sound of running water.
    Am I near the beach? How's that even possible?
    I slice through a few more bushes before discovering the sound.
    A waterfall? I didn't think there would be water on these islands.
    The waterfall's quite small, and it flows into a small pond. I walk over to it and kneel on the edge of the dirt. I'm so thirsty. Any longer without water, and I'd probably die right then and there. I cup my hands and scoop up some of the pond water. Maybe it doesn't taste the best, but it's refreshing regardless.
    I make my way up the hill that the water is falling from. It's a bit steep and has a few large rocks, but it's not too bad. There are only a few more steps to the top when I hear faint whispering. No, not whispering, just quiet talking. There are two people, I guess. A boy and a girl, probably one of the assigned allied pairs. I climb a little higher, closer to the sound. Now I'm just curious.
    When I reach the top, the first I notice is a pile of 3 backpacks.
    Did they take 3 packs? How selfish. All I got was this stupid sword.
    I hold it up in front of me for a moment, to analyze it, before I put it back to my side. I start to head towards the voices since I still can't see their owners yet, but then it goes silent.
    Shit. Do they know I'm here? I was so quiet. And there's a waterfall. How did they hear me?!
    I hear a slight rustling to my left and quickly turn in that direction, simultaneously raising my sword. It goes silent again—except for the running water.
    While I'm rapidly shifting my eyes back and forth, a figure pops out from the bushes in the area I had been looking before; the side that's now my right. It's a boy, standing roughly 6 feet tall with a slender build. I don't get the chance to remember who he is because he starts charging at me like a wild bull.
    What the hell? I haven't done anything to provoke you. And where's your partner? Is she hiding in those bushes over there? Was that the rustling I heard? Or did she leave you behind?
    I lose myself in my thoughts, and he reaches me. Just as he's raising his...
    IS THAT AN AXE?!
    I can feel my eyes go wide, and I finally react. I twist my body to the left, practically throwing myself to the ground, but it doesn't work. He just barely misses my head and hits my shoulder instead. His axe penetrates through it, and I feel it hit the bone. As I fall to the ground, I scream in pain.
    NO, NO, NO. I CAN'T DIE NOW. NOT THIS EARLY. NOT TO HIM . . . GOD THIS HURTS.
    From the ground, I see his shadow repeat the same motion as before—the swing of the axe. I have to react fast this time or I'm dead. I decide that the best way to take him out is by hurting his balance. And I do just that. I swing my right leg at his calf as hard as I can and, without having to try again, he falls forward. Only, he lands on my legs. Luckily, his axe doesn't. Instead, it rolls down the hill before getting stuck in a clump of dirt. I quickly use my left arm to push myself slightly off the ground and I drive my right knee into his stomach with any strength I have left. He groans as one would after being kneed in the ribs.
    I take the opportunity to run while he's on the ground in the fetal position, but it's difficult with my shoulder destroyed, and he stands up faster than I anticipated. I start running down the hill, trying to avoid the rocks. Behind me, I hear the boy picking his axe out from the dirt.
    Please, stop. Please...

    I start to slow down. I can't run forever, not with my busted-up shoulder. But this boy's getting closer and he won't back down.
    C'mon, you have to do something. You have to do something or you're dead, I think to myself.
    Seeing him running running down the hill towards me, it's like a lightbulb pops up over my head. I run at him with my sword in its sheath and my arms wide, as if I'm about to hug him, except I'm not. His reaction helps too—scared and confused. He stops in his tracks, lowers his axe, and waits for impact.
    I tackle him, and we both fall to the ground. I try to pin him, but he won't stop trying to squirm free and hits my injured shoulder. In response, I grit my teeth and lift off of him. I groan in pain and frustration.
   Just die already! Why won't you just die?

    He stands up again, seemingly unfazed. I'm already exhausted, but his ally isn't here, so this should be an easy—
    Wait. Where did his partner go? She could still be here, watching us. Watching me.

    I start running down the hill again. I can't risk it. Fighting two tributes like this? Count me out. The boy follows me again.
    Wow, you're really not giving up, huh?
    I slow down again and wait for him to get closer—at this point, this is all just continuous déjà vu. I have a new tactic this time. I don't need to tackle him. I don't need to kill him, and it would be hard anyway. I just need to knock him out. Over the wallfall, since we're closer now, I can't hear much of his movements, but it doesn't matter. All he has to do is trip... with my help, of course.
    Oh look, there's your shadow.
    I take my good arm, my left one, and shove my elbow into his stomach. Then I used my knee again, just like I did earlier. He doesn't groan this time, he just tenses up and his eyes turn angry. It's his fault. He just doesn't learn from his mistakes. He hasn't fallen over yet, I need to punch him. But he's so tall. I push my knee into his stomach again, causing him to bend over slightly. And then I take my left hand and punch him, right in the nose. He fumbles backward, rapidly blinking his eyes and occasionally squeezing them shut, probably to regain sight. And then he falls forward, tumbling down the hill, passed out. But then he hits a rock, and, even over the waterfall, I hear a crack. Blood starts oozing from his head onto the rock.
    The boom of a cannon fills the air, and I begin to run.

12 Tributes Remain