The Alliance Of Six: The 29th Hunger Games.

The Alliance Of Six: The 29th Hunger Games. Chapter 12.

CHAPTER TWELVE: CYN'S P.O.V.

I rise into up on my metal plate until it stops at the surface of the arena and the countdown begins, with 60 seconds on the timer. The first thing I do is look around the arena to see what i'm up against.

Oh, the arena. I've never seen anything like it, or what's left of it. The tall dull buildings with broken windows and big chunks of the buildings missing. The cloudy grey skies with the gentle sound of distant thunder. The streets are cracked and old, leading in every direction. Cars smashed, broken glass scattered. It's a ruined city, but like no city I've ever seen. Not like any District, not like the Capitol. I recognize this this place from somewhere though....

The Dark Days.

The country that Panem was built on, North America, was in ruins from the war until the Capitol and the Districts rose up out of the ashes. This must have been North America...

Next I focus on the tributes, standing on their metal plates in a big circle around the golden cornucopia. I find Princeton, quite a few tributes to my right. We make eye contact, and keeping his hands low, he points at the cornucopia. I look at it to see what he means, when I see what he is pointing at.

It's a gun. I don't know what kind of gun it is, I've never seen one like it. It's big and black, the technology is advanced, but I'm guessing it's supposed to fit the theme of the arena. There is a small box of amunition right next to the gun, and a red backpack just a few feet away, right at the mouth of the cornucopia.

A sweet little package just for me.

I turn back to Princeton and give him a small nod, meaning I'm going for the gun. I ready myself on my metal plate, in a position ready to jump and sprint, watching the timer.

5

4

3

2

1

The gong sounds. I jump off of my metal plate, catching a quick glance at Princeton, I see him doing the same. I don't focus on anyone else as I try to outrun everyone. Princeton and I actually make it to the cornucopia first.

I can't believe we made it first... I can't believe we made it first!

I can barely think of anything else.

My shoes digging into the gravel of the street, I grab the red backpack and swing it around my shoulders. Next I grab the gun and load it as fast I ever have, while Princeton covers me, shooting with an already-loaded pistol he picked up, and a couple knives. I click the bullet into place just as a District 6 tribute comes running right at me. I point my gun right at the tribute and pull the trigger. The bullet hits him right in the chest and he falls to the ground, dead. I'm momentarily stunned, It's the first time I've ever killed someone.

Princeton grabs my arm and we start running in one direction, toward a tall building far away from the cornucopia. We climb over the gaping hole that used to be the door, into the remains of the building. Princeton and I climb a few flights of rusty stairs just to make sure we are safe. Once we find ourselves in a fairly hidden room, we sit down in one of the corners, carefully avoiding broken glass. We examine what we have.

Princeton managed to pick up a silver bow with a quiver of arrows, along with his pistol and two knives. I have a machine gun with lots of ammunition, my backpack contains a flask for water, a backup pistol with only the bullets inside it, and a very small pack of dried meat.

I never even thought about food or water...

How are we supossed to find food and water out here? I think.

Sponsors, I guess. I may have gained a few sponsors by being the first District to get to the cornucopia. I take my jacket and shirt off and stuff them in my backpack, I just leave my bandeau on, making it easier to move around in.

“Not bad I guess.” I say, after we get done examining our supplies.

“So, how are we going to win the games?” I ask Princeton, half joking. He looks up at the top of the ceiling.

“Let's go to the very top of the roof, that way we'll have a good view of everything.” Princeton says. I grab my backpack and gun and we climb the remaining stairs and come out a door onto the roof and into the dull grey light that the arena provides.

We look out from the edge, the city goes on for a long time and the buildings get smaller and smaller the closer you get to the edge of the arena. The entire arena is surrounded by a huge body of water, as far as I can see, It's ocean water, so not good for drinking. I don't see water anywhere else, perhaps a fountain, or puddles. Otherwise we'll have to wait for rainwater, and judging by the looks of the sky, it should rain often. There could also be water flowing through pipes these buildings.

We have options for water, but food?

“Look.” Princeton points in a few different directions, and I see a few different animals scattered around the city. Deer, wild dogs, rabbits, squirrels, small wild cats, wolves, and lots of birds.

“Let's go find water, then try and hunt something.” Princeton suggests.

I sigh in relief. Maybe the odds are in our favor.