Peter's Hunger Games

The Arena

"Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games begin!"

My eyes take a moment to adjust to the bright sunlight shining on the flat plain surrounding the Cornucopia. The large horn sits grandly in the centre, precious supplies spilling out of it mouth. That's where I need to go. Haymitch's warning echoes in my head, but I push it away. Running won't save her, killing the tributes will. And gathering supplies.

I glance around, careful not to step off my plate. My eyes scan the tributes, searching for Katniss. All twenty-four tributes are spaced around the Cornucopia, waiting for the cannon. A piney forest is off the one side, the wind blowing its earthly scent my way. A lake is behind me, a possible water source. Over the other side of the Cornucopia the earth drops off. It would be beautiful, if we weren't all here to die. I turn and spot Katniss. She's also scanning the supplies. It suddenly occurs to me she might disobey Haymitch too. She looks my way and I quickly shake my head. She can't run into the blood bath. She's strong but the Careers are stronger.

I turn back to the Cornucopia just as the cannon sounds, and my body spikes with adrenaline. I lock into action and sprint towards the shining gold. I grab a blunt looking dagger from the ground metres from the Cornucopia. As I stand, I catch a flutter of movement from the corner of my eye before I suddenly slam into the ground. My face pressed against the dirt, a knee in my back. I panic and stab the blunt knife randomly at my attacker. Then, suddenly, their weight is lifted off me.

I look up to see the boy from District 4 and Marvel, the tribute from 1, yelling angrily. They fall to the ground, dirt plumes rising as they throw punches. They have been trained to kill. Trained to fight for their lives. All Careers are.
This fight would be starred briefly in the Capitol, before they scan over the other, more bloodthirsty fights. The Gamemakers love the first fight over the supplies. Lots of blood and gore, betrayal and alliances. It enhances the excitement of the Games, creating tension. The hope that the families had for their son or daughter fails when they die quickly in the hands of a strong Career.

I keep moving, hoping to grab some more supplies before someone finds me again. I spot Katniss running with a bright orange backpack, standing out from the others. What was she doing? I spot the girl from District 2, Clove, running after her, knives at the ready. Panic hits me hard and I start running towards her. Clove throws a knife and it lands in Katniss's backpack just as she reaches the woods. Clove readies another knife. This time I'm close enough to reach her.

I jump on her back. She yells, flashing her knife over my arm. The sharp sting of pain makes me release my grip. She twists out from under me and jumps up to continue her chase. Terror suddenly grips me, and I yell; "You won't catch her that way! She's too fast!".
This grabs Clove's attention and she spins turning to face me. Recognition registers in her eyes and she cocks her head.
"I won't catch her that way? How will I catch her? Do you know?" she sneers, slowly stepping closer. I lump rises in my throat, my heart pounding in my chest. What could I do now? Clove could kill me easily with the throw of a knife. At least Katniss isn't her main target anymore. I can't see her backpack in trees so I assume she is a safe distance away now, following Haymitch's advice. Unlike me.

"You trained with her, didn't you? You know her strengths," Clove says softly, "and her weaknesses." I look up and meet her cold gaze.
"What about you help us, huh?" she whispers, "Help us find her and we'll repay you."
I could lead them away, keep them away from where Katniss might be. I could try. I had too. Right now, it was that or death. Death by Clove's sharp knife slicing my throat, spilling my blood over the dusty ground.
"I will"
"Cato!" she yells, keeping her eyes locked with mine. The Careers are heading our way anyway, most of tributes having fled or are dead. The Career from 4 is missing, probably killed by Marvel.
With them is also the young boy from District 3. I briefly wonder why he's there before realising he's probably the same as me. Forced to make a deal with the Careers. Doomed to be dead once served his purpose.
"He says help find the girl with the eleven training score, Katniss!" Clove yells.
Marvel reaches me first and kneels near my face.
"Does he?" he says, smirking "Well why don't we give him a chance? Get up Lover Boy, time to find your princess." He and the Careers laugh and step away to examine the supplies. My surprise at their speed to recruit me must register on my face because they snigger, and the pretty girl from District 1 yells;
"Come on! We haven't got all day. Get over here!"
I scramble to my feet and walk over to Cornucopia, avoiding the gruesome remains of the tributes. Silver jars, huge bulging sacks, a huge variety of knifes, swords, axes and sleet silver bow and arrows are piled around the mouth to the horn. The girl from District 4 grabs the bow, testing its weight in her hands. The girl from 1 grabs it off her and slings it over her back.
"This is mine!"
They continue to bicker over the supplies, bargaining over the lethal objects. The boy from District 3 walks over, a small pack of white, sterile patches in his hands.
"Here," he said, pointing at my arm and handing me a patch "for your cut." Then her turns and walks away.
I take the patch and turn it over in my hands. The packaging is white and shiny. It's a Capitol medicine, perfectly engineered. I rip open the package and a sharp chemical scent stings my nostrils. I gingerly press it down on my cut. It stings briefly but the pain subsides as quickly as it came. I pull the patch away and reveal a thin layer of soft skin where the cut used to be.

Cato stalks over and hands me a short blade, sharp, with a curved handle, also a small folded piece of fabric and a full water skin.
"There you go Lover Boy, supplies for the day" he says, a lethal looking sword hanging by his side.
I take the supplies and follow him back the other Careers.
"We're going to head in the forest," says Cato, pointing into the trees, "and kill off any stragglers. We'll search your girlfriend when night falls. You -" He points to the boy from 3 "can set up the mines while we're gone"
Mines? This must be the deal the young boy made. District 3 makes technology; he might be able to reactivate the mines around the plates. The Careers all shoulder their backpacks and start to head off. One of them throws me a small backpack, and I shove my supplies in and head after them. It occurs to me as I'm walking that they could kill me if they wanted to. One slash of a sword. One slice of a knife. One throw of a spear. I probably wouldn't even know what happened. I push those thoughts from my mind. This is for Katniss. To help her, to save her. To keep the Careers off her trail as best I can.
"For Katniss" I whisper under my breath, the Gamemakers would have caught it, letting the Capitol know I still love her. I still love the girl on fire.