Odds Ever in Our Favour--Writing Games Entry Book

3. Bloodstains and Slip Pains (JQ)

I clenched my fists hard inside the pockets of my jacket as I continued to ascend, head bowed. It felt like hours ago since we left the hallway, and all I could think about was the scream that echoed through the hallway before the cannon sounded. Was it really Leviti, though? I couldn't be sure. If it was, well, suits her right for calling me weak. But then again, any girl could scream like that, right?

Stop it, Janet. I shook my head as the sounds of the bombs exploding echoed through my mind once more. How similar they both sounded, the explosion in my dream and the explosions in the hallway just then. How did the Gamemakers know? Would they continue to taunt me with more bombs? I hope not. They have been much too cruel, playing with my mind like that. My mom's voice floated back into my mind again.

"'Qiang' means 'strong and powerful.'"

"I know," I said out loud, loud enough for myself to hear. I glanced at my dragon bracelet again, staring at the intricate head of the dragon before trailing down towards the tail, turning my wrist just slightly. My parents wouldn't want me to give up. And I can't let anyone see the weak side of me that the Gamemakers almost uncovered. No, I refuse to reveal anymore of myself than I already am.

Soon, the glass receded, and next moment I was looking at what may be the prettiest or deadliest of Cornucopias in history of the Games. It seems to be made of pure ice, quite unlike the ice I saw in the maze earlier, still retaining its shape despite the fact that it was inside a mansion. Well, mansion seemed too grand of a word to call what we found ourselves in. It seemed more like a giant cabin, with a staircase up on my left and a long wide hall directly behind me. A blizzard howled in the beautiful mountainous landscape I saw outside the windows, the winds blowing so fiercely I could actually hear it whistle past all of us. I glanced at the bounty of things in the Cornucopia, and my eyebrows furrowed. Everything that laid in front of us were wrapped in colourful Christmas wrapping paper, with pretty ribbons and bows decorated over the packages.

Weapons, I thought. There's got to be some weapons in there. It came as a slight unfairness how some of the tributes already got weapons in their hands, like Maaike and Louis, while others have come here with nothing, I being one of them. At this stage, I am dying to get my hands on something. I can't afford running away with nothing.

I took a look at the other tributes currently present. There were 21 of us left, and by the look of it, three of us were missing. I couldn't exactly see who's missing from where I was standing, but eventually we'll all see once the gong sounds.

From above, a glowing red timer began to count down from 10. This time, I had no idea where to go. What if I tried to get out of the cabin? Doubtful I can, though I'm not intending to. The Gamemakers must have confined us here for a reason. And they have hidden all of our goodies in gift wrappings and bows. I wonder how long it would take for me to open one.

Just as the thought crossed my mind, the gong sounded. Quickly, I got off my plate and dove for the package right in front of me—a slim, long, rectangular package that felt quite heavy under my hands. I tore the silver wrapping paper open to see a pair of ice skate blades, shiny and smooth without a trace of rust.

"Take that, you nitwit!" I heard someone shout, swinging his fists as he charged past another younger tribute—probably the girl from 3, whose name I can't remember.

"Watch where you're going!"

"Ow! That was my hip!"

"Hands off my sister!"

I scanned the entire perimeter of the chamber we were in now, still standing in the same spot with the ice blades in my hands. I saw Brooklyn fly past one of the tributes from 11—Alicia, I think—I'm really bad with names for some reason. Anyway, I saw him fly past her with an axe in his hands, swinging it hard and fast like he was going to throw the hammer, and I saw the deadly look in his eyes as he let it loose, and it soared in my direction. Instantly, I raised one of my skate blades and ducked, and the axe glanced off of the blade, slicing about an inch of my hair in the process. I didn't see where it went, but after a while I turned around to see a boy with platinum blond hair fall forward with a final huff, dropping a huge package in his hands, the axe stuck in his back.