Becoming Adamant [#1]

Chapter 15 - Escaping, sort of

So there it goes, the gong I mean, and I feel like I’m the slowest person in the world to get off my pod. After a second or two, I know that I’m not, but still. I guess it’s just the thought of not wanting to get blown to pieces before the Games actually start…yeah, that happens if you try to step off the pod before the time is up. But back to me: I’m standing still on the pod for a few seconds, observing what everybody else does. As predicted, many of the boys try to get their hands on a weapon. The smart ones, they get the backpack and then run off in a random direction. I should be one of those. The thing is I’m still on my pod.  Well, not anymore, I make my move to the backpack and I look up to see how the Careers slaughter one tribute after the other. My eyes meet with Talon as he can see I’m slightly paralyzed by all of it. He tells me to run.

Right, I should stick to the plan. I can hear the Careers as they chase off other tributes. Those bastards are laughing while they do it. God, they make me so sick. As I get up on my feet, with the backpack in place, I see the bitch from 1 just got to the bow. Oh crap, that’s my queue to get the hell out of here. I run past the pod and I’ve totally forgotten where I was going to go. Damn it! Thank you so freaking much for that, Capitol-asses!

However I do decide to stick to the road ahead of me. I can’t afford to waste more time on this. I’m just inviting the Careers at this point. “Hey, 7, where do think you’re going?” I hear the bitch yell after me. Well, isn’t it obvious? I’m trying to get the hell away from you.

As I take a quick look behind me, I can see that they’re busy enough with other tributes. Phew, at least that gives me a head-start…although I have no clue as to where I’m actually going. And what the hell is it with this heavy-ass backpack? I glance quickly around as I find a spot in the shadows, where I’m sure nobody will see me. I just make this really quick as I’m sure the Careers will come this way pretty fast. One of the things that catch my interest is a small pocket-knife. Probably more suitable for surviving and stuff, but I take it out as it is the only ‘weapon’ that I have at this point. I get up and I continue walking with the knife in my hand. I’m ready to either throw it at the first person I see, or stab someone as I walk around the corners. By the way, the corners in this place are unbearable! I always walk tightly next to them in case there’s someone on the other side. This is costing me time!

I follow the path until I come to cross-roads. Hmm…left or right….left or right? I’ve never been good with this. Sure I can disarm somebody, but this thing right here gives my head a real headache. This takes the smarts and when it comes to situations like these, I don’t always have it. Especially now that Snow wants me dead and the Careers are somewhere behind me trying to find me and make that happen. God, I hate not knowing where these paths will take me! If there was only one of those signs saying ‘go this way’ I’d gladly follow it, but of course, there isn’t. In here, it’s just run, don’t get killed and try to get out. That’s very ‘Capitol’ if you ask me.

I hear something behind me and that immediately gets my motor running. I start running as fast as I can, no matter how much noise I make, I take the chance at running. If it gets me away from trouble, it’ll be worth it. I end up at another cross-road where I simply follow my gut and go the right, and then at a second split where I also go right. I don’t think this through really well as I’m almost certain that somebody’s on my tail. I can’t waste time debating on where to go. That’ll do me no good if there are Careers behind me. I’d rather be safe than sorry. If I end up in a dead-end at least I’m gonna make sure that whoever’s chasing me is going to have to fight hard to get me. I’m gonna make sure they’re scarred for life. I’m gonna haunt your ass if anybody ever gets to me.

Back to the ‘chase’, I take the right turn once more before I start recognizing the path. I see my own footprints in the mud and I look around me, from right to left and from left to right. I know I’ve been here before…that’s when dawn hits me. This is a freaking maze! I knew the Gamemakers would pull a trick on us in the Arena, but seriously, a maze? That’s just way too far to go! I’ve been walking in a goddamn circle thinking something or somebody has been chasing me. Whoever that was, he or she would’ve caught up with me by now. Damn it, Mason! That’s a good way to stay alive…and waste energy. But hold on…now I’m sure I’m hearing someone in the distance. It’s from the direction of the Cornucopia. I bunch of male and female voices…