Through the Struggle (Through the Eyes Sequel)

Chapter 6

Once we stepped out of the elevator, bags were thrown over Hummer and I heads. I react to take it off, but someone holds my arms behind my back.

"Ariston!" Hummer yells but I can't see him.

"Hummer!" I scream back, still fighting. What's happening, and why?

After a few minutes, my body gets sore and tired and I give up. Whoever is taking us wants us gone, and there's no changing their mindset.

I can hear the rustling near me. Probably Hummer still trying to get away. After they calm him down, they begin to move us. We walk around for a while. We go up, down, left, and right. I don't know where I am by the time we sit down.

"What's going on?" I hear a familiar voice ask. It's Malia. She's not right next to me, but she's near.

"Malia?!" I call out, hoping for an answer.

"Ariston!" She calls back and I feel the tightness in my chest loosen. I know now that they have all of us, all the tributes, in a room together. They're probably just sending us to an unknown place so that we have little time to gather our surroundings. They're sending us into the arena blind.

Suddenly, the room we're sitting in starts to shake and the sound of a hovercraft surrounds us.

"What's happening?" Hummer's voice echoes.

"They're blinding us and sending us in, sorta like a test." An unfamiliar voice answers. Good. Someone else has caught on.

Silence fills the rest of the ride as each tributes begins mentally preparing their minds for what's to come. All the capital is doing is wanting to see how we react. I just have to be strong and stick to our alliance's plan. Kyan, Lawson, and I are to run into the cornucopia, get the things we needed, then meet up with Amma, Hummer, and Malia.

Finally, after what seems like forever, the hovercraft lands and I feel strong arms lift me up and begin to walk me off. I'm taken all the way inside. I can feel the temperature change. We walk straight for a while and I hear them open a door. He takes me inside and the door closes behind us. Then I'm shoved into the tube; I can feel the circular walls around me.

"Don't take your blindfold off until instructed. Stay in here until the plate rises." He says and a few seconds later I hear the door open and close again. I'm alone. I sigh and wait.

I can't help but wonder what the arena will be like. I'm not trained and not in shape, and I know these next few hours will be very hard on me.

Finally I hear the cylinder door slide close and the plate begins to rise. My heart rate picks up and I stand strong, ready to look like a true threat and a competitor.

I feel sunshine hit my body and feel the sound of waves. My stomach twists and I feel like I'm going to throw up. A tropical themed arena.

I feel the plate stop and wait patiently.

"Tributes, remove your blindfolds." A robotic voice says and I snatch it off as quick as I can. My eyes adjust to the light and I look around. We're surrounded by water. There's an island far behind me, but it's a long swim. Kyan is to my left. Everyone else is scattered a few people away. The creep from District Four is to my right. He's chuckling at the people who are crying. Some didn't take being blindfolded too well.

The timer reads 10 seconds. I look at Kyan and he nods to me. I nod back. My eyes scan the cornucopia, trying to find what I need. I need a bow and throwing knives for myself. I find the tint of the bow in the car corner and I prepare myself to get it first, before Eight does.