Breaking Down Bridges ▸ Hunger Games

Chapter Nineteen: Cyra Merison

Chapter Nineteen:

Cyra's POV

It's getting dark and it's all too quiet

And I can't trust anything now

And it's coming over you

Like it's all a big mistake

—Taylor Swift "Haunted"

I was finally in the arena.

Of course I was stuck with Shawn and the Careers, making nothing much better.

Don't get me wrong, I love Alia like a sister. She had truly broken the stereotype of a Career. But I was here with Shawn... and Cato. And honestly, if I had to pick one I liked better, it would be Cato.

Anyway, as soon as I appeared in the arena, the cold overwhelmed me. I was used to the brutal heat of District Four, the beaches and lack of trees causing it to be on the warm side. The cold not so much.

As I stood on my platform, my eyes glanced around at the tributes around me. Shawn, was across from me, Alia on my far right. I spotted Gale as well, because he was directly across from me, making him hard to miss.

Ten.

Nine.

I stared at him for the longest time, hoping he would give me a look, a glance, or even a slight eye movement, letting me know he wasn't entirely lost.

But he didn't look at me once.

Five.

Four.

I shoved my eyes away from Gale, as a new thought entered my mind instead,  kill.

The only way for this plan I had been informed of to work, was if only certain people were alive. I had to guarantee those people would live, and the others would not. I would refuse to turn all Cato on these Games, but I knew that in order to save myself, those I trusted and the future... The puzzle pieces had to fall a certain way.

Two.

One.

I leaped for the Cornucopia, looking for knives. If I didn't have them, I would die. Scrounging deep into the pile of tributes, snow, and weapons, I grabbed a backpack and a large case of throwing knives.

Excellent.

As I began to run for the woods, a cold hand clamped down on mine.  I glanced up to see Calypso holding tightly to my wrist, her eyes blazing. She wanted the bag, and I couldn't let her take it. Taking a knife from the pack, I swung my arm back and expertly threw it at her mouth, seeing it come out the other side. Smiling in satisfaction, two cannons fired at the same time. Pulling the knife from Calypso's mouth, I glanced in Alia's direction. She met my smile and turned to some of the other tributes.

I ran for the top of the ice, when my leg was being pulled by another tribute. I hit the ground with a thud, as I was dragged across the cold ice. I held my knife in my hand steady, and faced my attacker.

Flame smiled at me, her eyes cold as she attempted to stab me with the spear in her hands. I dodged all but one strike, it hitting me in the hip. I winced in pain for a moment before rolling over and kicking my legs over my head. Flame tumbled to the ground as I threw my knife through her head.