Catching Fire: Clove (Completed)

Chapter Nine: The Bloodbath

Silviess woke me gently. I stood out of my bed to find my outfit for the games on the floor. I put it on. It was a fitted bodysuit. Silviess looked me over.

"My guess is that this will be a water arena, seeing the fabric it's made of." she said. I liked how it fit and the color. Silviess put my hair into the ponytail with three puffs that I had worn last year. I looked in the mirror when I had finished, and realized that I was missing something.

I noticed that I wasn't wearing my necklace. I walked to my nightstand and grabbed it, along with my ring. I walked back to the bathroom. I put them both on. I looked back in the mirror. I looked the same as I had last year. I saw Cato in the mirror. I placed my hand on the mirror next to him. His hand met mine. A tear fell from my eye. I removed my hand to wipe it away, and was snapped from my fantasies. I shook my head and backed out of the bathroom.

I met Brutus in the hall and we walked to the elevator. We were met by Cashmere, Gloss, Finnick, and Mags. Mags was the female from District 4. She was elderly, and I remembered from the reaping videos that she had volunteered for Annie Cresta, the girl who won the 70th Hunger Games. Everyone was wearing the same bodysuit. I looked down and noticed that Finnick was wearing a gold bracelet around his wrist. We were escorted to a hovercraft and then to the rooms with the glass tubes. 

"Do you have district token this year?" Silviess asked me when I walked in.

"Yes actually. Have a silver necklace and a ring. Both from Cato." I said. I showed her the pieces.

"Oh Clove, I'm so sorry. For security reasons you can only bring one token inside the arena." she said sympathetically. I stopped.

"Wait, I can't take both?"I asked.

"No. I'm sorry." She held out her hand. I had to decide. I slowly took off my ring, and placed it carefully in her hand.

"This was the last thing that Cato touched. I want you to keep it safe." I paused to look at the ring. "I'll see you when I get back." I whispered to it. A tear fell out of my eye.

I hugged Silviess. When I let go, I walked into the tube. The door shut. There were ten seconds left before I would be sent up into the arena. I took a deep breath and waited. Silviess put her hand up to the glass, just as I had to the mirror. I joined her hand.

"I know you'll win." she said. I smiled. The tube began to lift me up. I was blinded by the brightness. I blinked, and began to look around. Silviess had been right. There was water. here was a line of rocks that led to the cornucopia through the water. There was one between each set of tributes. Next to me was Finnick. Next to him was Katniss. She was freaking out. I don't know what happened, but I liked it. The voice over the cornucopia announced that there were ten seconds left. I got into position as the voice counted down.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two......one." The gong sounded and the games began. 

I dove into the water and swam towards the line of rocks. When I was close enough, I stood up on them. I ran to the cornucopia. I seemed to be the first one there. Katniss wasn't far behind. I hurried to the other side of the cornucopia, where Cashmere was waiting with a spear. I grabbed a trident. I threw it at the nearest tribute I saw. District 5 male. I heard the cannon boom. I had this year's first kill.

I took the trident back and looked around the cornucopia. I grabbed a heavy backpack, a row of fifteen knives, a spear, a sword, the trident, and a sleeping bag. I snuck behind some boxes. I shoved the sleeping bag and the knives into the backpack. Then put it on my back. I put the sword into the hook on my belt, and the spear in the other one. I held the trident poised in my hand, and emerged from behind the boxes. I saw Brutus, Cashmere, and Gloss up at the mouth of the cornucopia. I walked over to them. They all had weapons and were killing tributes. I killed 8 female, 10 female, and 6 male, along with the District 5 male from earlier. The other District 8 tribute, both tributes from 9, and the female from 11 were also killed. Then I looked for Katniss. She had her bow and arrow, and Finnick was standing next to her with another trident. I don't want to kill her yet. I want to savor my moment. 

I gather the careers, who each have a backpack and a few weapons. We then all make our way to the beach that is on the other side of the water. The cornucopia makes the center, then the beach follows behind the water. Behind the beach is a thick jungle. We make our way there. I lead the group through the jungle, and we stop once we find a clearing. It is small, but concealed, so we decide to set up camp there. 

"Brutus, you go collect water. Cashmere, try and find some food. Gloss and I will sort out the supplies." I command. We split up. 

Gloss and I stay, and when Brutus and Cashmere leave, they each take a spear. Brutus lays out each backpack and I open the one that I had collected at the cornucopia. Inside were two knives, a sleeping bag, a tin of matches, a pack of crackers, and night vision googles. The night vision goggles explained why the pack was so heavy. I add the two knives to my collection. Now I have seventeen knives. When I look up, I notice that Gloss had already finished with he other three backpacks. Brutus and Cashmere came back. It was time for the strategy.