Don't Let Go

Chapter Two

Chapter 2

I start to panic again. Why is it moving downwards? Is something wrong? The pedesal comes to a hault, and I am shocked. This year's arena is a completely underground, and is entirely made of concrete. The only light in this place is artificial. There are no signs of water, food, or shelter, which means one thing- I have to get to the cornucopia. Ten. Nine. Breathe in, breathe out. Eight. Seven. Six. Focus. You can do this. Five. Four. Three. I look around the arena, and see the careers nervously eyeing each other. Two. Get ready. One. GO!

I leap off my pedestal into a full out sprint. My lungs start to burn as everything I pass blurs together. As I get to the cornucopia, I grab a large black backpack, praying it has food and water in it. I see a sword, and grab it just as the male tribute from 10 attacks me. I swing around and slash his leg. He falls, and I stab him in the heart as I hear a cannon. My first kill. I am about to make a run for it when the careers from district 2 see me. I turn and run, but they are faster. They tackle me, and I know it's the end. I'm going to die. But instead of snapping my neck, the boy says "We saw you kill the boy from 10, and we want you as an ally." I am so shocked, all I can manage is a small nod. They help me up, and the tributes from 1, 2, and I gather as much as we can from the cornucopia, and make our way down the nearest tunnel.

"Where are we?" The girl from 1, Gleam, says.

"I don't know. This place is a labyrinth." I say. We have been walking for at least two hours, and it's the same thing over and over again: a maze of high concrete walls, and the occasional rat that scurries under our feet. Great. Rat sounds appetizing.

"Should we set up camp?" Aysel, the boy from 1 suggests.

"Sure. I'll take first watch." Gleam says.

I sit down with my back against the concrete, and unload my pack. Inside, I find three throwing knives, a box of matches, a couple bags of dried fruit, a sleeping bag, rope, and a small bottle of water. But what will we do when the water runs out? I decide not to tell the careers that I have water. Instead I say "Do you guys have any idea where to find water?"

"No" the boy from 2, Ekon, says. "But we need to find it fast." I catch myself staring at Ekon, for he is devastatingly handsome. He has tan skin and messy mop of chocolate brown hair. I silently yell at myself, for I should be focused on more important things right now. But I am a 16 year old girl, and old enough to date, so maybe just one more peek... He catches my eye, and smiles at me. But not a perfect model smile, a smile that is a little crooked, but adorable. Before I drift off to sleep, I wrap myself in my sleeping bag and take a quick swig of water. To my surprise, Ekon lays down next to me.

"So. what's your name?" He asks in a husky voice.

"Arley" I say.

"Well Arley, I'm glad you joined our pack. What district are you from?

"Nine" I answer.

"Wow! You're pretty skilled at combat for a girl from an outlying district."

"Yeah" I say. "It's a natural born talent, I guess" I giggle a little, and he flashes that crooked smile again.

"What's it like in nine?"

"Oh, it's wonderful. Well, besides the fact that most people are poor. The wide open, golden fields of wheat go on forever, and when the sun sets, it seems as though the fields are joined with the sky."

"It sounds beautiful" he says.

"It's nothing like this place" I say, while eyeing the ugly concrete walls and dimly lit corridor.

"Goodnight, Arley" he says, with a careful tone in his voice.

"Goodnight, Ekon," I respond with a smile. I drift off, only to wake to the sound of the national anthem. I look up at the ceiling and count the fallen tributes, not even bothering to look at the district numbers next to them.

"14" Ekon says, reading my mind. "Only 10 tributes left"

"Yeah. That's what I got." Says Terra, the girl from 2.

I fall asleep again, but just before I go under, I think I feel Ekon's arm wrap around me. I'm so tired that I can't be entirely sure, but I silently smile into my hands anyway.