The Hunger Games: Catching Niam

Chapter 6

I quickly stood up from my puddle of sweat as I noticed my surroundings had changed. I frantically looked for an exit as I felt myself become self conscious of everything around me. I started to bang onto the walls as I let myself fall on the floor, cradling myself in tears. "No more dreams! No more kills! No more deaths! No more booms! No more goodbyes!" I shouted as I let all my dreams replay through my brain like a nonstop film. As I continues to sob I heard a door opening followed by footsteps. I could hear gasps escaping mouths as I tried to block out everything around me.

"It's alright Niall. You're alright. No ones going to hurt you, just calm down." I heard a familiar voice sooth me as they clung their body close to my shivering one. "Hush Nialler, I'm here to protect you. No ones going to hurt you." The voice continued as I started to calm down. In a few minutes; my sobs became calmer and softer as I stood up from the ball that I had been cradling in for the past twenty-five minutes. I opened my eyes slightly as I noticed Greg's face. I hugged him tightly as I let all my emotions escape as they formed into tear stains on his shirt. "There, there. Everything will be ok." Greg soothed as he rubbed circles on my back.

"Want me to go get some tissues, Greg?" A voice spoke up, realizing we weren't alone. "No, I'm fine now." I softly said as I got up and stood up on my feet.

"Well, you hit you're self pretty hard. You pretty much went blank for the whole training yesterday. Oh, that reminds me. We need to get going." Ruth said. "Let's all go together." Liam added as they went walking out the sliding doors. I stood there for a few seconds before running towards them to catch up.

As we got there, they had all gotten in before me as I was still trying to catch up. "Hey, Niall." A voice shouted out. "Yes?" I answered in response to see Edward and the other three of them standing behind him. "We saw what you called you're so called "climbing" and we really didn't like it. We've been thinking and we want you to..." Edward stopped as one of the girls finished his sentence. "Leave the group! You're cruddy and you're probably going to slow us down. Now go back to you're peasant group of friends!" The girl said before they all walked away besides one of the boys leaving me in utter confusion. The boys stood there in shock as to what selfish words the girl had spoken to him. "I'm sorry she spoke to you in that way. Finix can be a total jerk. Just don't let them bother you and you're not cruddy; you're actually talented with a bow." He smiled softly. "Jake, get over here now!" The girl shouted loudly. "Nice meeting you mate, and don't consider me as a boy from District 1, consider me as a friend." He gave another small smile before running back to his group.

I started walking to Greg and the others as I thought deeply as to why that boy was so nice to me. I hadn't spoken much to him and I surely didn't bother to think about his existence till now.

Once I had gotten there Greg motioned me to follow him towards the archery arena. I did as he motioned me to do,grabbing myself a bow towards the way. Ruth punched some numbers in and asked us what level we wanted to enter at. After a few minutes of silence I spoke up. "10." They all put there attention on me as Greg told me that it would be extremely hard. I softly nodded but stood my ground. Ruth softly shrugged as she clicked enter and the doors opened for us.

We all walked in steadily before the doors shortly closed themselves. We were in pure darkness for at lease five seconds before we could feel the arena shape and form. Soon enough, the room lit up as I noticed I wasn't in the same arena as before. The ground was rough, unlike the other arena which was surrounded by grass. I as well noticed that there were plenty of pebbles, rocks, and boulders around us which made it much more difficult to keep balance. The clock slowly started to tick before it stops and made a loud tock noise, signaling us to get ready.

I quickly looked at my surroundings noticing that nothing was coming. "What's happening?" Greg asked as he also noticed nothing was occurring. "I think it's brok-" Ruth tried finishing her sentence but was cut off when a dagger was launched at her, but missed. In a matter of seconds dozens of them started to pop out from behind the boulders as they launched more and more weapons. "Go!" Liam shouted as we all ran away and kept shooting. They followed as they went from boulder to boulder. That's when they started popping out of the boulders as we all tried avoiding their shots. I quickly grabbed three arrows at a time as I shot them all at once, hoping they wouldn't miss. To my surprise they all got hit as they soon vanished. I had lost sight of Ruth and Greg, as I started to panic and feel more stressed. "Help! Get it off of me!" Liam shouted in pain as a strong looking training bot was on top of him with a razor blade pressed against his neck. That's when I snapped as my dream, or more like a nightmare, had been placed into reality. "Let him go!" I shouted as I ran towards Liam and shot various arrow at the training bot. By now the training bot was dead, but I continued shooting it and stabbing it strongly as I let all my locked up emotions escape. Shortly the hologram faded as it left me nothing to shoot at.

Liam looked at me for a few seconds before I could returned the stare as our eyes locked. "Thank you." He said under his breath as the room shortly faded into the air. The room's lights flashed back on as it gave us our score. I didn't bother to look as I was still replaying what I had just done in my mind.

"Hey, Niall." I heard a voice behind me as I was walking out of the arena. "Hmm?" I answered back as I placed my bow on the rack. "Thanks again." Liam smiled at me as I gave him the same expression. "It was nothing." I softly murmured, not really expecting him to hear it. "What are you talking about? The way you totally nailed that hologram was so amazing. You have a really amazing way with a bow! Also, I really was happy that even though you didn't have to help me you risked your life to." He said with a smile on his face. "Well, it was all fake. What is there to lose when nothing bad can happen to you?" I softly said. "But what if it was reality. You would've risked your life for me which I am well beyond grateful for." He continued to thank me in every different kind of way possible. "Don't sweat it Liam. I would've done it a hundred more times if I could." I smiled before I felt a body swiftly attach to mine as it hugged me tightly and it started to cry. "Thank you." He started to muffle. I softly hummed a yes, rubbing his back slowly in a circle; the way I always did when Greg was sad.

I hugged him for at least five minutes until they called the training over. I softly waved at Liam and Ruth goodbye before the elevator's doors closed. Greg punched in the number 11 into the padlock which soon enough sent us flying up.

In a matter of a week they started ending our trainings as they soon tested what we had learned. They sent all 48 tributes to a designated room as we all waited our turn to be called down. It took about two hours for every tribute in front of us to finish. Greg was called down as I looked at him walk in through the doors. It took him about ten minutes to get out and leave the room. A peace keeper escorted him out of the designated room. "District 11. Niall Horan." The speaker spoke as I made my way towards the gliding doors. I looked around and noticed a woman and a man painted on the floor. I examined it a bit closer till I realized who it was. My mum and dad. I slowly backed away as my lips quivered at the sight of them. "Excuse me, may we start?" The speaker spoke as I noticed people looking down at me. I softly nodded. "You will have ten minutes to show us what you can do." The speaker spoke one last time to me before I noticed a timer count down. I looked around me as I noticed dummies laying around. I swiftly grabbed three of them as I wrote three names down on them with a marker. I rapidly grabbed a rope as I hung all three of the dummies on the same rope and firmly tied it in place. I then quickly grabbed a bow and arrow as I shot at all three of them with two arrows, leaving me a spare one in my hand. I slightly bowed before leaving. The last thing I took a glance at were the dummies. Finix. Emily. Edward.

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Oh my holy burgers! I honesty think I added a bit of suspense. Dun dun dun.

Well my book didn't really reach the goal of 20 votes and 7 comments but aye, I got 19 votes which is pretty close to 20. (Keeping it positive).

I see all you reading but being silent readers. At least comment or vote because it really helps my self-esteem. Don't be a ghost reader. :(

Anyways, I may have made some errors because auto correct keeps correcting me for silly things. Like, I typed 'Horan' and instead it corrected me with 'Hot Bread'. I'll fix any misplaced/misspelt words on my free time.

Does anyone even read these little things?

Well anyways,

Follow, comment, and vote! :]

Stay beautiful and sassy! <3