The Tournament of Life

Part 9

The outskirts of the cornucopia were frozen and icy just like the rest of the arena, but easier to navigate. I stalked the whole area, and finally found a spot to hide and see what I can see.

"Oh." I sighed quietly, as Maxwell appeared from the inside of the cornucopia, followed by two other tributes who looked strong, stocky, and above all confident.

"Not for long," I whisper to myself, positioning my feet to withstand standing for a longer period of time. I knew there was more. I was waiting for them to come out.

They made Maxwell kneel, a spear to his chest, a laugh on their faces as he silently cried for me.

I was very tempted to give away my hiding spot but that's exactly what they wanted. I wasn't going to give in.

My breath shuddered and I rubbed my hands together, trying to gather some warmth in them.

About 7 other tributes pop out of nowhere, after an hour of waiting. I think they were expecting me to come out, but since I didn't they had to come up with something new.

Maxwell was pushed into his face, a knee on his back and the same spear now pointed at his lower back.

Now was the time to do something.

I grabbed a big rock and threw it a far distance to the right of me, causing a loud sound of breaking ice as it hits a frozen tree to fill the air.

Four of the Careers go sprinting with their weapons to the location of the sound, and I sit back and watch as they comb through the empty area trying to seek me out.

My feet push hard into the snow and I take off, out of the cold bushes and into the open, whistling to catch the rest of the Career's attention.

"There she is!" One exclaims. He has sandy blonde hair, tan skin, and muscles the size of mountains.

I duck and roll as an arrow comes straight for my head, and sticks into the cornucopia steel wall.

He shoots again, this time slicing into my right arm, but not hitting me directly.

I hide behind the back of the cornucopia, anticipating the Career to round the back of the structure. He does.

I grab my ax and swing it towards him the second he comes into my vision, going straight into his chest and killing him instantly.

The cannon sounds for one death.

I scramble on the ground and stand up, slipping but running around the other side of the cornucopia. I spot Maxwell and he spots me, smiling only for a brief second before his smile fades.

"Double-cross!" he yells, and I duck, just in time for two of the Careers to hit and kill each other with their own weapons.

Two cannons at once.

It was a good trick I taught Max just in case.

I grab my hands on a brunette girl, swing her around and kick the back of her leg in, causing her leg to break instantly. I leaned down and killed her by jamming a knife in her neck.

Cannon.

She was the one holding Max. Now he was free.

We stood back to back, Spear in Maxwell's hand and my ax in mine, ready for more attacks.

Complete silence.

I looked around frantically, confused as to why there was no movement, and my eyes widened as I realized what was happening.

"Jump!" I yelled at Maxwell, and I shoved him hard in one direction while I went the other.

Just as we got to safety, a bomb detonated in the exact spot we were standing.

My eyes blurred, a sharp ringing noise pierced my eardrums, and my limbs felt sore.

My arms were being roughly grabbed and my body was being dragged away as I kicked and screamed, calling for Max.

He didn't even have to do anything because in a short second the guy holding me fell to the ground, dart in his chest.

So many cannons going off in this little span of time.

I looked around and saw a small figure running towards Max, afraid it was going to kill him. But instead, the figure grabbed Max before any of the Careers could and dragged him in the woods.

I got to my feet and sprinted to where the place where my brother was dragged to, but I couldn't find anything.

A hushed "Psst.", and I looked up and all around before I spotted them; Maxwell and another boy around Max's age resting in a high tree branch.

I wonder how they got there, it's slippery.

I was pushed into the ground, hands around my neck, strong bodyweight crushing me.

"Hel-"  The guy on top of me jabbed a hand into my throat, making me shut up.

One fell swoop and the other boy was marking the back of this man on me, over and over again until he was dead.

These cannons were too much.

"Thank you," I said. He didn't say anything, but nodded.

"Three more to go." I sprint back out into the open, the brown dirt that had sprung up from the bomb spread everywhere.

I remember the tiny vial in my pocket, and I chug the whole thing, unaware of what it is.

Then I realize. It creates an invisible wall between me and my opponent.

Full speed towards the closest two Careers, and as soon as I get close I knock them both over from the invisible wall and they lie there, the wind knocked out of them.

My ax goes into the first one, the scream that comes from her satisfying to my ears. As long as they go one by one, I am happy.

She dies and the sound of another cannon makes me smile.

That means Max lives. I live.

The other one began to get up, and I had a little trouble getting my ax back from the dead girl but I finally managed to do so.

I attempted to throw it behind me but I couldn't, my arm was grabbed and I was thrust to the ground, on my back.

Several times this Tribute tried to stab me, but couldn't because of the invisible wall.

I flinched each time but he couldn't break through and you could tell it was aggravating him.

"You should be dead." He kept repeating.

"Right back at you." I grin.

I jump to my feet, turn around so I'm facing him, and he drops his weapon and runs in fear to the cornucopia.

I howl with laughter and scout my way back to the place where Max and the boy is.

They climb down when they see it is safe, and Maxwell and the boy follow me to safety back into the icy woods.

That'll teach them.