Scars That Never Fade- A New Generation of Hunger Games

Chapter 21

"Run!" Romy and I hopped hastily out of the tree, carrying only our backpacks. Most of the supplies would be destroyed in the avalanche. I ran fast, but Romy trailed behind.

"You have to make it Romy! Don't give up!" I screamed. I could hear her panting behind me. I felt the avalanche getting closer and closer. Every step I took felt uneven and shaky. We couldn't stop now, not when we'd made it this far.

Romy eventually caught up, both of us hustling away. My knees killed me, and my entire leg felt numb, frozen. I could feel he rushing snow nipping at my heels as I ran. I tried pushing harder but... I felt my entire self engulfed in the freezing white snow. I screamed, but I didn't make a sound. Romy couldn't be seen or heard. I felt my body being tossed like a doll, hitting rocks and bumps along the way. I felt nothing. Just numb. But my mind raced, wondering where Romy was, if she was okay. I didn't hear a cannon, but my ears could be fooling me. I felt my body start to slow down, eventually stopping. I was still entirely beneath the snow. I reached my arms up, higher and higher until they were out.

Weakly, I dug myself out. Coughing and gasping for air, I looked around for Romy. I heard muffled cries a few yards away. I hurried, it had to be her. Digging madly, I uncovered her, shaking from the cold and crying.

"It's okay, Romy, you're okay," I consoled her. "You're going to be fine." She nodded, her teeth chattering. As I walked her over to a barely-standing tree, I realized that this avalanche must not have been just to eliminate some of the tributes. It was bringing them closer to one another.

My thoughts were confirmed when I saw a boy, from District 10, straggling along. He had an awful limp. He looked around, seemingly dazed when all of a sudden, he fell. I reached my neck out, seeing what had happened. The poor boy was tangled in some net. Out of the woods emerged Ivo, the so-called genius from Three.

"Kill me now," gasped the boy, "Put me out of my misery. Do it." Ivo raised his knife. He looked in pain, like killing was hard for him to do.

"I don't want to, but I need to get back to my family. They need me," Ivo said.

"Please, Mom and Dad, Greta, I love you. Don't ever forget me." Just then, Ivo slit his neck, and the boy from Ten was gone forever. Ivo ran back into the woods, his head cupped in his hands.

Romy and I huddled together, both very cold. We walked around, searching for spare food and maybe useful supplies. We weren't particularly successful, we only found some leaves and pinecones, which served little purpose. Hungry and discouraged, we sat beside a boulder to rest a while. But that rest didn't come.

A girl's scream resounded throughout the arena. The sound of running, crushing snow followed. Into the clearing ran Phoebe, looking angry and distressed. Wake trailed close behind.

"You are too much of a threat!" Wake yelled, "you cannot win! I can't let you!"

"Shut up!" yelled Phoebe. She balled her fists, weaponless, defenseless. Wake drew nearer. He carried nothing as well.

"Maybe if you weren't so full of yourself, this wouldn't be happening!" yelled Wake. Phoebe screamed, stumbling back. But she couldn't escape Wake's grip. With one swift movement, Wake broke Phoebe's neck, and she collapsed lifelessly to the ground. Wake's eyes darted, and locked on mine. I held my breath. He was going to kill me and Romy now, I knew it.

But he didn't. He nervously ran away. What was his plan anyways?

Romy and I found a new tree, with a clear view of the cornucopia, as it got rather dark outside. I nervously awaited the news of who had died today. I desperately hoped Volker's name didn't appear.

As I waited, I began to feel very sick. I hadn't eaten in over a day. I started throwing up violently, cursing myself in case I distracted attention. Romy shook me, trying to awaken me as if I'd gone into some sort of trance.

"I'm okay," I assured her when I felt a little better. Then, just like I knew, the anthem played. Phoebe's face. Then the boy from Nine, then Ten. Then Eleven. Then Volker. I cried as his face appeared. I cried so hard. As I sobbed, trying to sleep, a small package flew my way.

I opened it carelessly, eager to find it's contents. It was a cup of rice. Romy and I shared it, savor ing every small bite. Our hungers somewhat fulfilled, we went to sleep, preparing for the next day. Another day we could die.