THE 68TH HUNGER GAMES - Book 1: Tribute

Chapter 17 - Signed and Sealed to the Devil

I am Hyora Coco and I am a fierce warrior! I am flawless! Is what I think on the way towards the centre of the arena. After all I’ve been through in the games, I realise that I have nothing left to lose. I walk with my head held high and my knife held firmly between my dainty, yet deadly hands ready for attack. My now naturally messy brown hair flows ferociously behind my slender body and my overgrown, dirt covered nails make me appear vicious. As I strut confidently towards the centre of the arena, I mutter a few confidence building phrases. Besides, I am Hyora Coco and I am a fierce warrior.

My journey towards the flooded centre of the arena proves to be uneventful, only with the rare occasion of a jabberjay mimicking the sounds of Meliano’s last words. Even now, her voice sounds all too real.

I finally make it to the centre of the arena after about half an hour and I realise that the centre has flooded even more. Only the horned tip of the cornucopia is visible in the murky waters. I scan my surroundings very carefully to find where the feast is and I realise that it’s nowhere to be found. The sky begins to grow dark and I begin to debate whether I should stay or not. I swiftly turn around and hide myself in a cluster of dark bushes

Waiting for a more experienced tribute to arrive and reveal the location of the feast. I only have to stay in my secluded spot for a few minutes before a tribute arrives. I only see the backside of this tribute’s body but it suddenly becomes evident that it is district 1’s male tribute, Ryone Diamonte. His brown and gold hair looks frazzled and his formerly white outfit is now dirt and blood stained. He tightens his grip on his thin blade and sighs.

“Argh!” he exclaims, looking frustrated at the missing feast.

I plan an attack in my head but before I can execute it, I hear the faint footsteps of another tribute only a few metres away from me. I take a small glimpse at the scene and realise that Treesar Limm from district 9 is nearby. Thankfully, Ryone hasn’t noticed him.

“Psst!” I whisper in Treesar’s direction. He looks around confused, but finally spots me. I quietly point towards Ryone and Treesar suddenly realises the situation and quickly ducks down. He swiftly crouches towards me with a look of thanks on his face.

“You here for the silver immunity card too?” Treesar whispers.

I nod and turn back to look at Ryone, hoping he will spot the feast. I hear more footsteps further away from me and I look up and notice the mature looking Hannah Raivo appear out of the bushes with a spiked club in her hands.

“Hello, Hannah,” Ryone says calmly, “I wonder where the immunity card is?”

Hannah gives Ryone a menacing stare, “I don’t know where it is, but wherever it is, I’ll find it first.”

Ryone smiles and chuckles sarcastically, but this still doesn’t throw off Hannah’s focus.

“Where’s your little Cassara Shine?” Hannah smirks.

Ryone’s smile disappears.

“In the end, she’s not gonna care about you! She’ll slaughter you like she did to everyone else,” Hannah says.

“Oh, I doubt she’ll kill me,” Ryone smirks, “I’ll be doing all the killing from now on.”

Before Hannah has time to reply, Ryone launches himself onto Hannah, trying his best to aim his knife at Hannah’s throat. Hannah grabs Ryone by the arm and twists it causing it to make a cracking sound.

“Shit!” Ryone shouts, “Cassara! Help!”

“She’s not coming,” Hannah says vindictively while continuing twisting Ryone’s already mangled right arm.