Prim in the Games

Chapter Ten

I say one last good bye to Effie in the Penthouse. She really was the only Capitol person I could tolerate. I say good bye to Peeta's stylist, Portia. Although I really didn't know her well.

Haymitch is with Peeta and me until we board the hovercraft with the other tributes. He is finally giving us some useful advice.

"Don't get anything from the cornucopia." He says. "It's a bloodbath, and they are trying to pull you in. Find water. Water is your new best friend. And whatever you do, don't step off your pedestal early or they'll blow you sky-high. You understand?" We both nod.

We say our good byes to Haymitch. It's bitter sweet. But I really wished he helped us more in the beginning. We board the hovercraft and sit among all the other tributes.

There are people their to inject trackers in our arms. We are all waiting anxiously to get in the games. We all have the same things on our minds. Only one tribute on this hovercraft will make it out alive. The real question is, which one of us will it be?

Once we land we are separated into rooms underground to be launched into the arena. Cinna is there to add a few things to my outfit. A warm jacket, and my token. I almost completely forgot about it.

The mockingjay pin that the mayor's daughter wanted delivered to me. I wonder why. I'm not all that important. I don't know her. Maybe it was because of Katniss. Oh well, I guess I'll never know.

I hear a voice say "Ten seconds." in other words it means get into the tube or you die. So I do what I'm told. I say good bye to Cinna and step into my launching tube.

Cinna looks at me with sorrowful eyes as I'm being launched into the arena. This is the big moment. Soon I will be dead, I just know it. Maybe I'll go somewhere better than this awful place.

I look at my surroundings. The arena is a forest this year. Just a normal hunger games arena. I'm glad there are trees. I have 60 seconds to think about what to do. Should I grab a pack? Or just run away from the cornucopia like Haymitch said?

50...49...48... Time is slowly ticking to my death. Will it be today? Or will I last just for the right person to come and kill me? All these questions run through my head.

32...31...30... Less than a minute now. Think Prim! What are you going to do? How will you survive this place? Should you even try? Well yes, I promised everyone I would. How are the Capitol people reacting now? Probably mocking us.

15...14...13... Will I end up killing anyone? Which one of these tributes will kill me? Or will I die of natural causes? How will my family and my district react to my death?

8...7...6... Oh what to do, what to do. I wish I was born in a different time when these games did not exist.

3... Almost here! 2... Wait, I still don't know what to do! 1... Here we go!

And I take off running straight to the cornucopia, ignoring Haymitch's advice.