Eleven

Encounters

    Author's note: I want to dedicate this to princessa2822, because she made me a cover that is really amazing. It's on the side. So, a shout out to her if she's reading this: Thank you so much for the cover; it means a lot!   

     Slowly, every few days, a tribute is killed by the disease. We are very cautious, in case we catch it. So far, two tributes have gone. District 12 boy, and District 9 girl.

     I try to start a fire by banging flint against my knife, hoping it'll create a spark that will land on the pile of dead leaves I gathered.  Sienna is gone looking for plants to eat, and Cypress is fixing up the defenses.  Rylan and Asher are sorting weapons. I have a weird feeling in my stomach, a deep, murky, uncomfortable feeling, like something bad is going to happen.

    I look around, until my eyes land on the dead trees behind the clearing where we set up camp. But I'm not looking at the trees. I'm looking at a long strip of air that seems to be shimmering slightly. It pulls around us, making the circle it's forming around the arena smaller. It's a force field, like the ones last year during the Quarter Quell.  At the same time,  Sienna jumps over the wall and tells us that there wasn't any plants she could find. Rylan, who doesn't seem to notice the force field, stands up and says, "I'm going to go gather some fire wood, guys. Be right back."

"No!" Asher and I say it at the same time and look at each other. Asher continues.

"Look over there. See that shimmering piece of air? That's a force field."

"Okay." Rylan looks at us strangely.

"So, remember last year?" I ask. "Peeta Mellark? What happened to him when he ran in to one? His heart stopped. So, best stay away."

Rylan's eyes widen. "Oh. Okay."

    All this time, the force field was inching toward us, and that's when we hear it. A loud, moaning, sound. A sound that no human could possibly make. A sound of an animal.

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         We stare at each other thinking the same thing. An animal could only mean one thing. Meat. And we were pretty tired of being vegetarians. Without saying anything, we grab our weapons and head in the direction of the sound and where the force field is pushing us. We walk for a while, but we're to worked up to walk. We break in to a jog, then a run.

      The source of the noise is right smack dab in the center of the arena. And, yes, it's an animal. A large, but very vulnerable one. It has tiny horns and a large fur coat.  I look around the clearing and as it turns out, we aren't alone. 

     Almost all tributes have gathered, hearing the noise. I scan the eleven tributes that have gathered. Some I recognize, some I don't.  North, Orion and Celeste have came, although Celeste has a terrible jagged scar on the side of her face. It takes a second for me to realize that I did it. I'm also surprised it didn't crust up like cuts like Rylan's do. But they have sponsors, so it was probably treated with ointment. At least I ruined her face. 

    My eyes take in other tributes I don't know. A girl with curly wild hair. A boy with large green eyes and hair so blond it's white. Another tribute with a rather squashed nose. Finally, my eyes land on Blaze.

    Blaze, who I had completely forgot. Blaze, who seems to have teamed up with the District Seven boy, who I vaguely remember as Javier.  When Blaze looks at me, he smiles. A cruel, spiteful smile, with bitterness in his eyes. His ally glances at me too, raising his eyebrows in a unnatural manner, with just a shade of a sadistic smirk. A chill runs up my spine and I quickly turn away.

   All of the tributes, including us, here have gathered for a reason, I think. To fight for the animal. I realize something and add to my reasons.  And to fight each other.

     All at once, tributes charge towards the animal, hoping to be the ones who kill it and eat it. It's the blood bath all over again.  While I fight some girl who is going slightly hysterical, I see Blaze and Javier slashing and fighting their way through the crowd. It's five minutes in to the fight when I realize the animal is gone. Disappeared.

   The girl makes one final slash with her nails, and she sinks to the ground with a arrow in her back. I look around to see who did it. Definitely not one of my allies, they don't use the bow and arrow.

   I spin around to see Blaze standing with that creepy smile. Involuntarily, I step backwards. He spins his machete around and narrows his eyes. "You know, I never really liked you," He steps forward. "And I kind of want you to go away. I also don't like it when things aren't going my way. So, I'm gonna change that now."

   Blaze grips his machete and  prepares to strike. I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for the blow. It never comes. I open an eye to see Blaze doubling over and him clutching his stomach. It reminds me horribly of Rue, when she was hit by a spear. I look up to see Asher, who is holding a crossbow and has a grim expression. A cannon fires. My district partner is dead.

     I breathe a sigh of relief. I try to say thank you but can't seem to get it out, I'm so relieved. I finally manage a "Thanks." Asher just brushes it off and says, "No big deal." 

   By now, all the tributes have either died, are injured, or have left. The animal was long gone. I now know that the animal wasn't actually genuine. Just another thing sent by the Capitol to give them entertainment.

   Rylan and Cypress stagger toward us, with cuts and bruises. Sienna limps over, having apparently twisted her ankle badly. Javier is left. He saunters toward us, wearing a cold smile. "Hey. So, I was wondering, if you guys needed a new addition to your group. Can I join? I mean, seeing as my ally is gone." At this point, Javier shoots Asher a glare.

"Of course! It's fine. Right, guys?" Sienna looks at all of us.

"Don't worry. I'll be a great addition. You guys can trust me completely." Javier smiles an eerie smile. A smile that haunts my mind for a long time.