The Hunger Games

Survival comes first

Zoes' POV

the glow of the fires embers below gives little comfort as I try to sleep but all I can see when I close my eyes is the body of Beth falling to the ground and bleeding onto my hands, I sit up and look over at Catalina next to me, her eyes dart back and forth under her eyelids; how can she be sleeping in this place. The wind russles the trees and the embers dance with the smoke creating a dance. I close my eyes but listen: beyond the wind there is a movement I snap to grab my knife and crouch. I think if waking Cat but it would mean talking. I hear the sound again I remeber from training what a large mass moving through undergrowth sounds like. The two almost match I stand up.

"who's there?" I stammer. the russle continues and I step towards it and repeat the phrase. slowly a boy emerges from a bush and stands up.

"only me, now put that away or Ill have to kill you now and we don't want that". I lower the knife to point at the ground but don't let my guard down. At this point Cat has sat up and edging over to her blade. The boy turns to her.

"I don't want to cause trouble yet, I am looking for help and an aliance. without me you cannot prolong your suffering and without you I cannot win. so will you comply" a sneir escapes his mouth and twists it into a grin, he makes a point of showing all his wepons at this moment.

"whats in it for us" I say glancing over at Cat. 

"I want to survive I told you." He sits down and I look at the ground. this is when Cat speaks.

"Fine but any sign of you betraying us an your dead." He nods and rolls up his sleeve. Wincing in pain he reveals a long deep gash along one arm the dried blood makes it impossible to tell if its infected. Most likely.

I walk over with water and gesture for me to let him help. He nods again. I groans then tenses up. I wisper sorry as I pour the liquid over it and bind wound.

"I'm Oscar by the way."

"Charmed by first introductions. I'm Zoe and thats Cat." I say keeping my voice down so avoiding the rest of the tributes knowing where we are.

Aggies POV

I have run all night. I see the sun coming up as I near the edge of the arena, I look around as I slow to a walk. ahead there is a stream I can get water I run up to it and plunge my head in. The cool water almost takes away the burning sensation in my chest. I look up and see birds darting from tree to tree. I fill my water bottle up and put it back in that bag I picked up. I see someone emerging from the trees and I silently fall back behind a rotting branch. Its the girl who had the long plait in her hair. She swiflty carries her body to the river and dunks her head in like I did. she stays under for a while, so long that I could have walked over and slit her throat. lifting her head she stands up and moves on. It then dawns on me that I need to kill to survive as brutal as it sound sshe needs to die I need that bow and the arrows to eat. I follow her movements and track her throught the woods. Coming to a stop I duck behind a tree and dig around in the bag for the knife. I find it and break my cover

hearing a noise she looks up but not behind. I creep up. knife poised to kill. I swing to blade but she hears and turns around whipping it from my grasp. The blade landing in the leaves out of sight. I a frantic plea I swing a punch but she deflects it. I she swings a blow but I dodge sending her off balance. I get behind and use the momnetum to continue her fall to the ground, her legs buckle but her hands grab my trousers and pull me down. I fall on her feet and scramble to her bow, Twisting over grappling for the bow my finger tips resting on the string. but shes up and her hand diggs into my shoulder holding me back I kick my legs but her other hand grabs my face and I bite down. Hard. she screams and clutches her hand which is bleeding. Her eyes then snap towards me bidding revenge. I franticly crawl and grab the bow and swing it round hoping to hit her head. She jumps on me and grabs my throat her bloodied hand gripping and restricting my air. I start to cough but I swing my legs and roll over she is on her front. Shoving my hand on her face I loop the bow around her neck and pull I hear her back crack and she cries. I dont stop though I grab her neck and sqush her throat. her hourse voice seams distant as I crush her airway. her eyes bulge and her face goes from red to purple. her tonge swells in her mouth and her hands cling to my shirt begging me to stop. But the resistance lessans and I can feel the life leaving her I take my hands off her throat to reveal bruising in blotches. I stand up horrified. I should have stopped. I look at the still figure I feel tears forming; although I didnt know her I still feel ashamed I was out of control.

I can't do this I cant kill people.

I hear the cannon and a tear rolls down my face. I make the repect sign and turn to leave to beggin running again. But this time I will only deffend not kill.

I use her bow as protection not offence or attack.