The Chamber [Sequel to Silence]

18

 “Let the 36th Hunger Games begin!” Claudius Templesmith boomed, teeth shining as he grinned at the cameras, as though sickly fascinated by what was about to come. I located Riley once again, struggling to keep focus on her when the cameras had no interest in her. She looked terrified from what I could see, but I couldn’t tell whether she was putting it on. She, along with the other tributes, was required to wait sixty seconds before leaving her podium, and I could see her scanning the Cornucopia’s goods. The golden horn had a lot to offer that year, with packs and food scattered far and wide, but it wasn’t particularly reassuring. In fact, it was unnerving. It suggested to me that there was very little on offer outside the Cornucopia, and I think Riley realised it too. If she was to survive in the long term, she’d have to participate in the blood bath.

 Thirty seconds.

 I saw Riley wipe a tear from her eye, the camera focusing on her for a moment. Her lips moved, forming words without sound as she glanced up at the dark sky, her hands briefly touching the wooden necklace around her neck. I realised what she was saying to herself. God help me.

 Ten seconds.

  The camera moved to show all the tributes at once. They were all poised to run. And suddenly, they were off, their boots sloshing in the mud as they made their way to the Cornucopia. I spotted Milo ahead of most of them, sprinting so fast he was barely even a blur. I couldn’t see Riley for a moment. And then, a woman suddenly gasped and pointed at the screen.

 “Look in the corner! It’s the little one that cries a lot! Look at her! She’s ahead of everyone else!”

 Heads turned to the right hand corner of the screen, and there Riley was, two knives in her hand and a large pack strapped to her back. She must have run incredibly fast, because she’d arrived at the golden horn unnoticed before everyone else. Not to mention that she was unscathed and ready to fight. Attaching the knives to her belt quickly, she lunged for a spear and quickly span, throwing it straight off. A piercing cry was heard as the head of the spear buried itself in the abdomen of District 2’s male. The cameras quickly zoomed in on Riley, her first kill making her the one to beat. She grinned, knowing she had the Capitol’s attention.

 “I fooled you all!” she yelled, her hands grabbing another rucksack at the mouth of the Cornucopia. And then Milo was at her side. They shared a secretive smile and ran off together, Milo’s hands filled with all the weapons he could carry and a bag on his back.

 The screen began to split, showing individual battles and those leaving the bloodbath. One camera followed Milo and Riley, another watching Elianna escaping alone in the opposite direction. Cassia was in the process of cornering the girl from District 12 in the Cornucopia, and Otto was fuming at Riley’s speedy escape, slashing several weedy tributes as compensation. But it didn’t matter to me. As harsh as it sounds, all I could care about was Riley. And she was safe. For now.

 With most of the excitement over for a while, I quickly retreated to my bedroom to continue watching in peace. The next day would be hectic, persuading sponsors and advising people on bets, but I had the time of the first day to keep a close eye on Riley. Antonia and I had agreed that we’d take it in turns to watch whilst the other convinced sponsors that Riley was worth routing for.

 Each District had its own channel, so you could closely monitor your own tribute from the Capitol without bothering with the others. Riley’s channel was 7, to match her District number, and I flicked to the channel, the screen still in two halves so I could watch both her and Otto at the same time. Muting Otto for a while, I let my eyes drift to Riley and Milo. They were slowing down to a jog, their head start giving them a major advantage. But it was clear to see that Riley was distressed, the dark making her blind and afraid. She kept looking around her with darting eyes. As though she was afraid someone was watching her.