The Hunger Games: Retold

Chapter 11

I have sixty seconds. In sixty seconds I have to make my plan work or I will have died and Katniss will be on her own. I steel myself and scan the scene, taking in as much information as I can. The Cornucopia stands at the center of a ring of us, hard packed earth between us. Supplies are strewn all over the ground, the most valuable right inside the mouth, lesser items toward our pedestals. The Careers will fight all comers for those items inside the mouth, weapons and food and protection. There is a lake behind me and to my right a steep drop-off. To the left a scrubby forest leads away and I huff a sigh of relief. Katniss will be safe in there.

Scanning the circle I find her to my left. My precious time is ticking away. I see what I need about 20 feet from the tribute to my right. A long, serrated blade is right next to what looks like a well provisioned pack. I'm quick, and I'm strong. I don't think I can take a Career, but the frightened looking boy from 9 is perfect, I bet I can scare him away from even trying to fight me. I lean forward, putting my weight onto the balls of my feet, ready to spring. I glance back to my left at Katniss and see her gaze fixed on the Cornucopia. I follow her line of sight and I see it. A bow, perched right on top of a pile of blankets about two-thirds of the way to the mouth. She can't possibly be thinking of trying to get it? Even if she reaches it, how will she get out of there? I look uselessly at the sky, trying to gauge how much time is left, I can't go for the knife and her at the same time. While I try to decide my course of action, she meets my eyes. Frantically, I shake my head at her, trying to burn my message into her mind. Run!

The gong sounds and all hell breaks loose. Tributes stream from the pedestals, either toward or away from the Cornucopia. Katniss has started running toward a pack and the boy from 7 is chasing her. I spring after him and bring him down with the simple act of grabbing him around the knees. He rolls and swings frantically at me, catching me across the cheek. My eye feels like it's trying to explode out of its socket, but I aim for his jaw and a quick powerful jab shakes him loose. A swift uppercut lays him out. I look up frantically, trying to find Katniss and then I see her. She is running for the woods with the pack secure, a knife sticking out from it. She's safe for now, do I still have time? The fighting is fierce and bloody but I've gone relatively unnoticed. I bolt for the knife I'd seen earlier, leaping over the body of the boy from 9. I scoop up the knife and pack and dash for the woods. I've almost made it to the tree line when the boy from 6 looms up in front of me. I nearly crash into him as he whips an arm out to stop me and we both tumble to the ground. I push up onto my hands and knees and lunge for him, grabbing him around the waist and pinning him backward onto the ground. He flails his legs around until he reaches a stump and shoves off. I feel my ankle roll, making me lose my hold on him. He flips quickly and jabs, my head snaps back and I see stars for a minute. I swing blindly, putting all my strength behind it and feel my fist connect. He slumps over away from me and I grope for my pack, sliding it on my back as I stumble to my feet, shaking my head to clear it. I limp away into the woods.

Desperately, I run from the noise behind me. I need a spot to hide, but I can't get too far from the Careers. I need time. Scanning the woods, I wonder what kind of animals are out here, how dangerous is it? Real and dreamed-up threats could be around every bend as I try to find a place to wait, out of sight. Finally, I find a rocky outcrop with a deep recess behind it and I squeeze into it. This should keep me safe until the initial fighting dies down. Panting, I put my head in my hands and try to calm my breathing. I shake my head to clear it of visions of the boy from 9 lying on the ground, lifeless eyes staring at the blue sky. I left the boy from 7 lying unconscious and defenseless in the field and the boy from 6 was groggy at best. If someone attacked them it's my fault they're dead. I try to be grateful I haven't had to outright kill anyone yet. Judging from the events of the morning, I don't know if I have it in me. I assumed I'd just do it when it came time, but I left the boy from 6 even though I had my knife and could easily have finished him off. It simply didn't seem possible, he was just lying there as dazed as I was. How could I slit his throat? Another human being, as scared and defenseless as I am. I can't think about it right now, I have to concentrate. If I miss my moment, all my plans will be lost.