Safeguard

Let The Games Begin

  I boarded the hovercraft and sat down. A woman asked for my arm and I gave it to her. She stuck a needle in then pulled it out. 

  My arm hurt and I asked, "What was that for?"  

  "It's your tracker," she answered, then moved on to the next tribute. 

  The windows were covered so that we couldn't see out when we got near the arena. I wonder what type of landscape it will be this year. Last year, the arena was a desert. Not very many places to hide there, so you can imagine how quick that Game was. Will this arena be a forest, desert, or something else? 

  Once the hovercraft lands we are taken to seperate rooms with our stylists. Marissa helps me put on the rest of my uniform. She doesn't say a word to me. I become more and more nervous.  

  "Rapture, it has been a pleasure working with you. I look forward to seeing you again in a few days," Marissa says as her eyes water. She blinks furousicously, trying not to cry.  

  "Thank you, Marissa. And thank you for everything you've done for me. I hope to be able to see you again," I replied. I tried to get a hold of myself. I did not want all the other tributes to see me like this.  

  "One minute," a voice announced.  

  "You'll do fine. I'm sure you'll win. No need to be nervous." 

  "Goodbye," I said. I wrapped my arms around Marissa's small frame and squeezed.  

  "Goodbye," Marissa said. Her make up was now smeared and running down her cheeks.  

  I swallowed down my nerves and stepped into the lift. The door shut behind me. I turned to look at Marissa as I started moving up. She gave me an encouraging smile and waved. I turned back around and faced the Cornucopia. All 24 of us tributes stood in a circle. The timer was now at 45 seconds to go. I looked around.  

  I was surrounded by trees. I could not recognize any of them. Vines and moss hung from the branches, creating a canopy. The ground around me was muddy and covered by an inch of water. Birds I had never heard before were singing. We were in a rainforest.  

  Bags of supplies, food, and weapons were spread around and inside the mouth of the Cornucopia. I saw a sword only a few feet ahead of me. A little closer was a bow and a quiver of arrows. A backpack was just to my right.  

  Juniper told me last night to run away from the Cornucopia. The bloodbath was for the Careers not me. But those things that I need are right next to me. Can't I grab them and then run?  

   I looked around for Lief. I spotted him on the other side of the circle. He looked like he was ready to run. We made eye contact and nodded at each other, as if to say good luck.  

  The timer goes off. Everyone runs off their platforms. I run forward and grab the backpack. I risk a few more steps and grab the bow and quiver. I turn around just as a tribute comes up behind me.  

  He held a knife in his right hand. I couldn't get an arrow out. He was to close. I looked around for Lief but couldn't find him.  

  The tribute stepped closer and threw his knife. I rolled over, barely missing the blade. He jumped on top of me, trying to pin me down. I pulled my arm loose and punched his cheek. He barely moved. I tried to push him off. He reached for his knife.  

  All of a sudden the tribute cried out in pain. A knife protruded from his back. I pushed him off and ran away from the Cornucopia. I didn't know where the knife came from, but I didn't want to stick around to find out. I ran between the trees trying to get as far away as possible. I hear footsteps close behind. Someone is chasing me. I start to zigzag through the trees, hoping to lose my attacker. 

  "Rapture!" the person chasing me yelled. It sounded like Lief, but I wasn't sure.

  I kept running. He yells my name again. I run until I reach a tree that looks climbable. I reach for the closest branch and start climbing, hoping whoever behinds me can't climb. I reach as far up as I dare. My body starts to shake. My heart beat starts to slow down. I look below me to see if the chaser climbed up the tree. A boy with black hair sat on one of the lower branches trying to catch his breath. 

  "Lief?" I half whispered. He didn't hear me. "Lief?" I asked a little louder.  

  He looks up at me. I let out a breathe I didn't realize I was holding in. He began to climb higher up the tree. Then he sat on a branch close to mine. 

  "Why'd you scare me like that?" I asked. 

  "I didn't mean to. You were running to fast," he answered. 

  "That was the point." 

  "Are you alright? I saw that guy attack you." 

  "Yeah, I'm alright. A random knife came out of no where and killed him," I said. 

  Lief smiled and chuckled. He pulled a knife out of his pocket and cleans it. 

  "What's so funny?" I asked. 

  "It wasn't a random knife. I threw it," Lief replied. 

  I gaped at him. "You saved me. I didn't know you had it in you." 

  "To kill?" 

  "Yeah. You don't seem like that kind of person." 

  "I run a butcher shop," Lief said, as if that explained everything. 

  "Those are animals. They're different than people." 

  "Not here. We're predators and prey. You choose who you're going to be," Lief said. 

  A canon is fired, signaling the death of a tribute. I nearly fall out of the tree. Lief reaches out and steadies me. More canons are fired. I counted 13.  

  "That was a lot," Lief said. 

  I nod. "Keep your voice down. We're not far enough away," I whispered. 

  "Far away from what?"  

  "The Cornucopia and the Careers." 

  I point down and start to climb back to the ground. Lief starts ahead of me. Once we reach the ground, Lief makes an "after you" motion.  

  We walked as far away as we could in one day. We rested only once, and we looked through our backpacks then. Mine held rope, matches, a container full of tea, and a blanket. Lief's backpack contained an empty thermos, binoculars, a dagger, and packets of crackers.  

  Lief handed me one of his knives. 

  "Why are you giving this to me?" I asked. 

  "To protect you. You need something in case you can't get to your bow and arrows. Keep it on you at all times," Lief answered. 

  "Thanks," I replied. 

  "Finding water shouldn't be so hard in this arena." 

  "That's one thing we don't need to worry about," I said. 

  We walked a little further after that. We climbed a tree up as far as we could go. I tied myself to the limb of the tree, just in case I fall off. I try to stay awake long enough to see which tributes are still alive. 

  A few minutes later, the national anthem of Panem starts and the sky lights up. Thirteen faces appear in the sky. One after the other. None of them I know. The girl from District 4 must still be alive. And the boy from District 3 is too. They are the only ones I'm worried about.