The 73rd (A Hunger Games FanFiction)

Chapter 1

I staggered forwards, further into the cavernous depths of the volcano. I had barely survived the Bloodbath, leaving with a deep gash on my ankle, and now I was looking for a hiding place. The humid atmosphere felt as if it was draining my strength, even though I knew not even the Gamemakers could do that. Everything around me was giving out a pungent steam - the floor, the rocks, the ceiling. Everywhere felt dangerous, there was nowhere to hide. The only food and water available were from my pack, I was sure, as I could see no source of nourishment, only burning lava and steaming rock. I had no idea how mortifying this volcano was, but I was going to keep on running.

My hand went to my throat as thick acrid smoke filled my mouth and lungs. My eyes creased up because a burning sensation had suddenly started. Who knew what was waiting for me in this volcano? I could only guess. I curled my body into a ball and knelt on my pack, trying to hide and escape this cruel reality.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching.

I grabbed my pack and dived behind a shelf of rock, unaware of the searing temperature as my mind was filled with the danger the sound of those steps brought to my ears. The footsteps were much clearer now. I prayed I was shielded from view, so I could only hear what they were saying and the direction they were going.

"Is anybody here?" I heard a harsh male voice call across the ashes.

"Of course not," a high, impatient female voice answered. Her voice was sweet, yet sharp, so I could only imagine it belonged to a small figure. "How could anyone survive in this blasted place?"

I heard them all laughing together - they must have been unaware of her ironic tone. I knew that they were Careers. Nobody else would be so loud and confident, but they were all brawn and no brains. I wondered where my District partner was. I hardly knew him, but I couldn't help wondering.

A noise startled my silent ritual of thoughts. I froze, still and alert - terrified.

"I know you're there," a female voice said quietly. "You may have fooled the Careers, but you're not fooling me. Get up and fight."

I got up slowly, afraid of what awaited me. I turned around to face my opponent. My palms were sweating desperately and my heart was pounding out of my chest. I had thought that I'd escaped my deadly rivals, but I must have been wrong.

I raised my eyes to see a girl of around my age, maybe a bit older. She had sleek, dark hair and a tall, lean frame. Her beady green eyes stared into my soul. Her face was proud and commanding, but her eyes showed her inner terror behind the prowess. I raised my single knife before she had time to react.

"You throw that spear, and I throw this knife," I told her quickly. She understood that there was no point fighting as we would both die, so we both dropped our weapons, hers reluctantly.

"What will we do now?" she asked me, annoyed. "They'll kill us if we don't kill each other."

I couldn't quite decide whether she meant the Careers or the Gamemakers.

"Well. we could be allies," I asked cautiously, yet hopefully. It would be a godsend if I had this capable ally. "The Careers aren't the only ones. Remember, there are no rules here. We can do what we want."

"Apart from one rule," she said dryly. "Kill or be killed."

Our eyes met, and I knew we had a deal.

"Well, come on then," she said briskly. "We need to know each other's name. Mine's Talea. What's yours?"

"Rush," I told her quietly. Even thinking of my name made me think of home. The peaceful crops we would sow, and my mother and my brother. I missed my brother so much. If only he was here. If only I wasn't here. No, if he was here, he would be in this death tournament, and I would never wish that.

"What are your strengths?" I heard Talea's sharp voice cutting into my reverie like a knife.

"Umm...well..." I wasn't really sure. I wasn't particularly bad at anything, but I had no real strengths. I was small and lithe though, so I guessed I could be good and stealth.

"Stealth?" I guessed, unsure. "I've not really got any real strengths." Talea didn't look impressed, but from what I'd seen of her, she never did.

"I'm strong," she told me confidently. "I can throw a spear and a knife pretty well, and I've got surefire aim."

"What District are you from?" I asked. It was hard to tell - she obviously wasn't a Career, but it seemed like she was great in combat, so I didn't know what to think.

"4," she replied simply. I was confused. The Careers always stuck together in one big, bullying crowd, picking off all the other tributes as they went along; it was one of the unwritten laws of the Hunger Games. I had no idea whether she was doing this for the right or wrong reasons.

"Why?" I asked after a pause.

"What?" she asked absently, falling from her train of thoughts.

"Why didn't you join the Careers?" I asked curiously.

She sat down slowly, and poked at a few stray rocks with her foot. If she was with me for the right reasons, then the Capitol would not be a good audience for what she had to say.

"I wanted to go it alone," she said quietly. "I have been, and still are, a Career in my background and ability, but not mentally. I want to be like all the other tributes, and not have an unfair advantage by being in the Career pack. I don't want to be like those bloodthirsty bullies who only care about winning, and will kill as many tributes as they can to just so they can win. I'm sticking to my decision, even though I know it will cost me my life."

Admiration for Talea blossomed in my heart like a flower. So she wasn't just the sour, brisk and capable ally I had thought she was. She was actually a brave and decent person, who had a staunch opinion on right and wrong, and didn't care what happened to her - she would always stick to her beliefs.

"You are so brave," I murmured to her. "I will help you in any way I can."

For the first time, she gave me a small smile.

"Thank you," she said quietly.