The Quater Quell: 50th Hunger Games

Chapter 25

          The rainstorm ended after a short while. I stripped down my extra layers and laid them out to dry in the warm sun. Haymitch and I decided to make camp here for the evening. We made small talk about and dreamed of our homes. We talked about what we would do if we made it back home. "If I make it back home....I would probably...hmm.." Haymitch pondered then light a crooked smile. "If I make it back home, I am going to get smashed. Drink until I'm drunk." "I've never been drunk." I say sheepishly. "Me neither." He admits.

           "Then how would you know if you want to get drunk or not!" I laugh. With a small chuckle he just shrugs his shoulders. "Seems like what you are supposed to do I guess. The local drunks seem to think it's a good idea." I shake my head and smile. "So, were you friends with the other tributes in your group?"

       "Not really. They were all just another face really." He stares off. I could tell he was lying. "Who was that blonde girl who volunteered for her friend?" "Maysilee Donner? She was a nice girl. Quiet. She volunteered for her best friend." "That was nice of her." Again, I think of how my best friend jade didn't volunteer for me. But, who would anyway. This is the Hunger Games after all. "Yeah, I don't think I would volunteer for anyone. She was a good girl."

      "How did she, uh, how did she go?" I think that Demetria probably killed her but I was wrong. "This, this weird pink bird with a needle nose beak ripped her throat out. Probably the same time of bird that attacked you." By his tone, I knew the conversation was over. The sky was turning dark and the warm air was starting to get chilly. Great. "So, what's the plan for tomorrow? Are we going to try to hunt tributes or scavenge for food?" there's something I wanna do. I've always wondered every year the Games are on. Now that I'm here, I finally get the chance to see for myself."

          Haymitch takes out an apple and begins to cut it. I look at it longingly and he must have noticed because he offers me a slice or two. "And what's that?" I ask confused. He laughs a little like I asked him the most ridiculous question. He turns to me, munching on his apple, and answers "Haven't you wondered where this thing goes?" he looks all around him. "It must end somewhere right? Otherwise we could just, like, walk home or something. It's got to end somewhere or somehow. It's an arena. And I wanna see for myself, at least before I die. I gotta know."

         He was right. I had never thought of that before. I didn't really care. I only ever thought about survival for myself and prayed that the tributes from my district would have a quick death. Was he seriously about to just go off on a blind mission? There were things that needed to be done and people that needed to die. Whether it be myself of anyone else. These were the Games and you couldn't just put them off because you wanted to embark on your own quest. Was he nuts?

        I guess it didn't matter. He was my ally now and I was going to stick with him. For now at least. There were only 5 tributes out there, not counting Haymitch and myself. The game makers were sure to push us together sooner rather than latter for a grand finale. I have a feeling Haymitch might not ever find out what is at the edge of the arena. I'm not going to lie, I am curious too. I hope this isn't a mistake.

        I drift in and out of sleep. I was shivering all night while Haymitch kept the first watch. Haymitch must have noticed because when I woke up, I was warm and covered by his jacket. I take over watch for him so he can squeeze in a few hours of sleep before we take off on our journey tomorrow to find whatever lies at the edge of the arena.