Not Just A Game

Chapter 22

I gasp when I finally take in my surroundings.

All of the tributes surround the cornucopia which lies atop a small rocky plateau. The plateau is an island with a beach at the bottom.

Past the water that surrounds it, another beach leads into a vast forest, which turns into mountains in the distance.

The sides are steep as I look over the edge of the plateau, and I realize I'll have to climb to get away from the cornucopia. It'll make me an easy target to tributes with weapons.

Nice move, Game Makers.

I start to wonder if the second cornucopia is in such an extreme spot in the arena.

I frantically whip my head around, back and forth, looking for Dustin. He's looking my way, and we make eye contact.

I nod and mouth, "Good luck."

He nods back and I focus my attention on the cornucopia.

I notice a bag of knives resting on a wooden crate. A large backpack lies a few feet from it.

Several backpacks are strewn across the sand. I focus on the clock.

42...41...40...

Dustin catches my eye again, and I nod my head ever so slightly in the direction of the knives.

He takes a quick glance and turns his head back to me and nods in understanding.

We'll head that way, after the bloodbath.

I see a smaller pack in the path that we'll be taking, so I decide to try to hurry to pick that up also, if possible.

In front of Dustin's pedestal, he has a backpack within a few feet.

If I can get to the knives and backpacks, assuming we survive, we could be okay on supplies for a few days before resorting to hunting.

I hope my interviews last night earned me a few sponsors.

32...31...30...29...

What is Dustin going to grab besides a pack? He was fairly good with close combat knives.

A few are set out along the crates. I hope he can get some.

25...24...23...22...

It's almost time.

I set one foot in front of me, preparing to sprint. My hands are shaking, but I try to tuck my terrified feelings away. I'll need them later.

15...14...13...12

I run through my hasty plan in my head one more time.

I only have ten other tributes to get away from. It's a terrible thought, but if I'm lucky, half will die in the bloodbath, and it'll be less tributes to kill later.

I actually resent the thought of having to kill these people, but I honestly will if the time comes for me to defend myself.

5...4...3...

I almost believe I'm ready.

Almost.

Gong!

Without a second thought, I sprint toward the throwing knives as fast as my legs can pump against the hard stony sand. I reach them within seconds and waste no time grabbing them, then heading off to sling the pack over my shoulder hastily.

I catch a glimpse of Dustin scooping up combat knives by their handles on the crates beside me. He already has a backpack.

The adrenalin racing through me sets me on edge.