May the odds be ever in your favour

Chapter 9

The rest of the night, I don't get much sleep. I'm way too shaken to relax a muscle. The worry of the Careers coming back to get me is haunting my thoughts. I take deep breaths, telling myself that it's going to be alright. Telling myself they're gone. But doubt consumes me constantly. I only manage to take small naps.

My eyes are closed yet I have full consciousness. The first few rays of sunlight flush through the thick cover of the branches. The birds start chirping and the thought of having survived the first day hits me hard. I didn't think I'd make it that far. But I did. I can't stop now. A sudden rush of motivation makes me stand up from my little hiding spot. It's a new day and things ought to be done.

I grab my bag and take a good glance at my surroundings. My mind captures the scenery and I am sure that I will remember the path to come back here once I finish my today's tasks. However, once I'm about to set off, I am halted by my thoughts. How will I find water here? And then, it hits me.

The girl who lit the fire! If she decided to stay there and light a fire, she was opting to stay there. Plus, It's doubtful that the careers would still be there. They usually camp in the cornucopia every year claiming the perimeter as theirs. So, I turn left and keep on jogging to the path that Cato and his friends took last night.

As I'm walking, I finally feel my exhaustion. It's clear now that my stomach is starving for food and my throat needs water immediately. My lips have chipped. I try to moisturise them with my tongue to no avail. I quickly discover that my tongue feels like sandpaper.

It seems like I've been walking for an eternity when I finally find the small camp the girl had built last night. The woods from last night's fire are still smoking a bit. The body is nowhere to be found. A hovercraft must have taken it back to the girl's district.

It's said that when a tribute dies off in the arena, a hovercraft appears and collects the body. But before it's returned home, wherever that might be, the wounds are cleaned and the clothes are renewed. I wonder how her family copes with the loss of their child.

I didn't even know the girl yet I can't but feel guilty for not helping her with the Careers. But what could I have done either way? I don't have any weapons to stand even the tiniest chance against, say, Cato. The place the girl chose was a good one. It was a small part of the forest, hidden by enormous trees with thick trunks.

During my time in the training centre, I learned that water is most likely to be near when there's a lot of greenery. I quickly search the perimeter, hoping to find something, and thankfully, not too far away I hear the noise of running water.

I rush forward and I'm met with a stream going downwards. I can't believe my luck! Oh, I am so thirsty and dirty that I just want to throw myself in the water. But then I remember, I'm probably being broadcasted right now. Surely, it won't do me any good to be seen behaving like a savage.

The Capitol citizens would flip if they saw something like that and then even Darrion and Charlotte combined wouldn't be able to save sponsors for my sake. After all, manners are a huge deal in the Capitol. So, I open my bag and take out my flask, I place it right down at the stream and it fills all the way up. I drink one flask and a half then refill it to the top and store it in my bag.

As I'm enjoying my small accomplishment, my mind drifts to the Capitol. Especially to the sponsors. I haven't received anything until now. But then again, it's only day two and it's well-known that the goods from the sponsors cost an arm and a leg. The sponsorships are controlled solely by the mentors and something tells me that Darion is saving the sponsorships for something bigger than a need for water or food. I don't know whether Darion would be helpful. But, I have to trust his judgement if I'm to survive the Games. He's all I've got left.