Posse & Co Hunger Games

Week 2, Day 3 (Part 1)

The first thing Max heard when he woke up was not something anyone would want to awaken to.

"Wake up or I'll shoot you." Timtam threatened Max. He opened his eyes and found a gun pointed in between his eyes. Max freaked out and pushed the gun out of his face. He refrained from saying anything, just in case Timtam acted on his threat. Max got to his feet and joined the other four in a line at the entrance of the cornucopia. His leg still stung a little as he moved, but he had mostly recovered over the nine days.

Since he had been shot in the leg, Timtam had only gone madder with power. Every morning he would make them stand in a line military style at the entrance of the cornucopia, and ask them some abstract question about himself, and whoever got it wrong didn't get lunch.

This morning was no exception, and he asked each person a riddle about himself. Yash and Michael answered correctly, but Ricky was next, and he got it wrong.

"Incorrect, no lunch for you." Timtam said remorselessly. Ricky took a step towards him, attempting to intimidate him.

"I swear, if you don't give me lunch again -" Ricky began, his face inches away from Timtam's. He was interrupted by Timtam before he could finish his threat.

"You'll what?" Timtam asked rhetorically. "I'll tell you what. You'll get shot. Now do 10 laps from here to the forest." Timtam yelled, and Ricky reluctantly set off jogging towards the forest. Max facepalmed in his head. Why did Ricky have to challenge Timtam every single morning? It was just a terrible idea.

Timtam continued asking the absurd riddles, and luckily, TK and Max both got it correct. Then they got to work, and TK and Max had the first patrol shift. As they took off they discussed the momentous event that would go on today.

"So we're doing it today?" Max whispered to TK, who nodded in response. "When?" Max inquired, about to split off from TK.

"Sunset." TK answered and began walking the other direction. Max and TK had regretted their hasty attempt at a getaway nine days ago, resulting in a bullet to the leg, and since then had been planning an escape, which this time would work. They were ready to put it into action, but they couldn't deny they were terrified. With everything they would have to do before the plan, if they didn't get away in time, they would most definitely get shot, and not in the leg this time.

So TK and Max waited. They served on Timtam's hand and foot, for the last time, and went on their shifts for patrol for the last time. They were done with Timtam's reign of tyranny, and it was time to run away.

"Timtam, would you like your dinner now?" Max asked, more kindly than usual. Timtam nodded at him, quite disgusted with him for some reason. Max went to the very back of the cornucopia, where they had set up a kitchen. Ricky handed him the dish he had cooked: Roasted chicken with a side of wild herbs. Max took it, and sprinkled some of the poison he had taken in the middle of the night the night before.

"Here you are." Max said, handing the dish to Timtam, who sat and ate it at the top of his throne. Yash and Michael were off on patrol, while TK and Max were on  break. TK and Max sat together and whispered about the plan, making sure to keep away from Ricky, who was not too far away, cooking the much smaller meals for the others.

The poison Max had slipped into Timtam's meal was not fatal. In fact, Timtam had taken all the poison and hidden it, but had forgotten a tiny bottle that was hidden in the corner. It was a poison that made someone very tired, but made it impossible for them to sleep. In addition, it slowed their movements down a lot. In fact, In the middle of the night a few nights ago, TK had tried it, to make sure it would fit to the plan, and it made every movement he made about half as slow.

However, it wouldn't kick in for a long time, so until then, Max and TK waited. Finally, they saw Timtam show all the symptoms of the potion gaining effect, and they were ready to make a break for it.

"Max, I don't know if I can do this." TK whispered to Max, just outside the cornucopia.

"TK, you can't back out now. We can do it." Max reassured him, and after some convincing they were ready. They took one final look at Timtam, who yawned in exhaustion.

Then they ran. Together, TK and Max sprinted towards the forest. They ran as fast as their legs could carry them, but Timtam noticed them instantly and yelled at Ricky to go after them. Ricky, fueled with rage, managed to catch up with TK and Max. He swung his sword at TK, who ducked to the ground. He continued to swing for TK, who managed to swiftly dodge each attack. Then, Max grabbed Ricky by the head and pulled him to the ground.

Ricky quickly recovered and rolled backwards, kicking his feet hard into Max's chest. Max fell to the ground and Ricky was back on his feet in one swift motion.

Max looked back at the cornucopia for a quick second, and saw Yash hand Timtam a glass of something, and Timtam drank it. Max was unsure of what it was, but he did not like the look of it.

Just as Ricky raised his sword to pierce Max's heart, TK reached for it and wrenched it out of Ricky's hand. TK had the perfect opportunity to stab Ricky through the chest, but somehow, he couldn't do it. So instead, he swung downwards, and the sword sliced through Ricky's leg, chopping it clean off.

Ricky let out a bloodcurdling scream as blood sprayed the area around him. He fell to the ground and clutched the stump of what once was his leg. Max, shoved Ricky off of himself and began running once again with TK. But then, a thought crossed Max's mind. Had Yash, handed Timtam the antidote?

Max pushed the thought to the back of his mind, and continued running, adrenaline pumping through his veins more than blood. He soon began to feel a sharp pain in his side; a growing stitch. He held it, attempting to quell the strangely intense stitch. When he lifted his hands up, he saw it. Blood. He looked down and slowed down his run. There was blood seeping out of him like a river. He turned back and came to a stop. Timtam was gaining on them, the gun in his hand.

Max had been shot in the side. He collapsed to the ground, saying nothing to TK, to allow him the escape they had so carefully planned. He deserved to get away, more than Max thought he deserved a goodbye. Soon, TK turned around, and noticed Max, a good bit behind, expressionless, in a pool of his own blood.

TK ran back froze. He was unable to comprehend what had just happened. He was no longer running from Timtam. He was no longer running to safety. He was no longer in the games. He was no where. He felt as if suddenly the entire world had gained a strange non-realism. Timtam was getting closer, but TK was not aware.

TK was still. Not responding to any of the thoughts his head was telling him. It felt like he had been shot, not Max. But it was the opposite. Max had been shot, leaving TK without his love.

But TK did listen to one of his thoughts. Max would of wanted him to continue, thats why he didn't call out for help.

And so, TK blinked back the tears, turned on his foot and continued sprinting.