Rue's Fight

Chapter 7 - Run for it

Chapter 7 - Run for it

Fonda doesn't need to knock on my door to wake me, the second I'm awake I hurry for a shower. This may be the last wash I ever have, I don't want to think like this but I must be realistic. I always feel human again after a wash, we don't have baths often back home. Hot water is expensive.

I eat as much ad I can at breakfast. I have to force it down, because theyre a large lump in mu throat. I eat far after i am full, i will need the energy foe the coming days. If im lucky enough to make it that long. Thresh seems to have the same idea. Seeder sits an eats in silence, it must be hard for her. Watching tributes walk to their deaths every year, and even when she isn't the chosen mentor for that year she will have to be present at the reapings. It bring back horrible memories for her, i don't know hoe she manages to hold it all in.

Fonda still seems in a bright, cherry mood dispite what day it happens to be.

" Oh my tributes! How proud i am of you! Go out there and make me even more proud!"

We just give her the thumbs up and a reassuring smile. I suppose for once shes been given decent tributes from district 11 but she must be furious at not being given district 13. Ive heard her saying to the other escorts how lucky Effie Trinket is. Effie trinket is Katniss and Peeta's escort this year, and there id only one alive victor from district 12 who is Haymitch Abernathy. He's famous for taking to drink after the games, and no one blames him really.

Cindy appears and ushers me down to my room. There she gives me my assined tribute outfit. It's more of a jumble of clothes than an outfit. Water proof trousers, a black t-shirt, a loose rain jacket that covers the top of my body, heavy winter boots and a pair of black gloves. Usually the tribute outfit offers you an idea to what the arena will be like. I'm guessing a rainforest, or at least an environment that is wet and damp underfoot.

" Not what i would of picked, obviously." Cindy says.

" Course. I'm sure yours would have been much more nicer." I say.

She smiles and fastens the buttons on my jacket together. I will head to the arena with Cindy, so i say my goodbyes to Fonda and Seeder.

When i hug Seeder she whispers in my ear,

" Find water, and shelter. Don't go towards the cornucopia the career tributes will slaughter anyone near it."

The cornucopia is an enormous area where weapons, supplies and useful materials are placed at the start of the games. Its always been a death trap, the tributes rush in and begin to fight over what equipment and weapons they want. Usually the opening day is the day the most tributes die, and its the day alliances are formed between the careers. They never take anyone from the outside districts, they will only accept their own.

Fonda embraces me in her stiff hug and i thank them both. Thresh does the same, and Fonda seems quite shuffed with herself. As if she did all the hard work to train us, and give us advice. But i guess its not her fault, shes been raised in a world that's perfect. When really our entire world is falling around at our feet. And the best part? President Snow knows that, and so does Seneca Crane.

We are lead out into a hovercraft, the windows have been blacked out so we cannot see where we are being taken to. I don't see the point really, only one comes out anyone. And theyre hardly going to try to find the arena after all the horrific events that happened there. Are they?

Cindy is taken in a different hovercraft with all the other stylists. I can imagine they're having exciting conversations right now, about what one if their tributes shall wear if crowned victor. Suddenly, i am aware of a woman standing infront of me, asking for my arm. She holds what looks like an injection in her hand, but it is much too big for that. I tentatively hold out my arm and she inserts a glowing thing into my skin. At the puzzled look on my face she says,