May the odds be ever in your favour

Chapter 13

The impact with the hard ground takes away my breath. My backpack does little to soften the blow. Thankfully, my quiver has caught on my elbow saving my shoulder from great damage and my bow is firmly in my grasp.

The ground still shakes with explosions. I can't hear them. I can't hear anything at the moment. The apples must have set off enough mines that left over debris activates the remaining ones. I cover my face with my hands as left over shattered bits of supplies, some of them burning, rain down over me. An acidic smoke surrounds the perimeter which is not the best for someone who is still trying to regain the ability to breath after having survived a fire recently.

A few minutes later, the ground stops vibrating. I roll to my side and allow myself a moment of a triumphant victory at the sight of the wreckage before me. The Careers won't be able to salvage anything out of that. It's best I get going, I think to myself, they are likely dashing towards my direction like wild animals. Once I'm on my feet, I realise that I can't run away easily. I'm dizzy. Dizzy with the definition that the trees seem like they are about to swoop down and grab me and the ground moves like waves in a sea filled with tides.

I'm about to make a step forward but instead I fall back down again on my hands and knees. Panic consumes me. I can't stay here. I have to flee. But neither my movement nor my hearing is sufficient for that. I put my hand on my right ear that was nearest to the explosions and it comes out bloody. Fear creeps in my mind. Have I gone deaf? Tears start forming in my eyes at the thought of that. I've always been dependent on my hearing . . .

I try to take a deep breath and calm down. I can't let my fear show. I'm positively sure I'm being broadcasted right now on all of Panem. I won't let them see me scared. Especially after such a victory. I won't give them the satisfaction.

Don't leave proof, I tell myself and put on the hood of my jacket tying a knot as hard as I can to prevent any blood leakage. Walking is not an option anymore. But crawling is. I crawl a few centimetres away and I realise I'm right. If I go slowly, I can crawl out of here. My only hope is making it towards Rue's hiding place. I surely can't be found here on my hands and knees. Not only will my death be sealed but it's going to be a torturous one at Cato's hand. The thought of my parents having to watch such a sight motivates me even more to get to the hideout.

Another blast knocks me flat on my face, caused by a left over crate. This happens twice more. To say that I make it in the nick of time is an understatement. I've literally just dragged myself to the thick bushes at the start of the woods, when I see Cato storming off towards the destroyed plain, soon followed by his companions. He is in a frenzy of rage. His face is red with fury and I can see veins popping out in his neck and forehead.

Who would have thought, people really do tear out their hair and beat the ground when they are so enraged. The sight is almost comical. But I'm sure Cato doesn't find this comical at all. I also know his reaction is aimed at me and being so close to proximity is making me feel at an unease. With the addition of my inability to run or to defend myself, I begin to feel terrified to the bone.

I'm so glad that the cameras are unable to capture my face in the thick foliage of the bushes because I'm biting my lips as hard as I can in order to prevent my teeth from chattering, to the point where I can taste blood in my mouth.

The boy from District 3 is throwing some stones towards the wreckage and must have announced all the mines activated since the Careers begin approaching it.

Cato is finished with the first stage of his tantrum and proceeds to take out his anger on the smoking remains by kicking various containers. The others are looking at the ruins in search of something to salvage, but there is nothing. The boy from District 3 must have done his job very well. Some would say excellent even. That thought must occur to Cato as well, as he storms off towards the tribute. The boy from District 3 doesn't have time to do anything but turn around before he is trapped in a headlock. I can see the muscles in Cato's arm ripple as he vigorously jerks the boy's head to the side.