The Last Hunger Games

Chapter 21 - Attention Tributes!

I duck under arches and weave through spaces, all the while checking for anything suspicious looking that's probably a pod. I avoid alleyways at all costs, as I know that they are sure to be rammed full of pods. And any wide paths with buildings either side; I bet bullets or poison darts would shoot out of them at a seconds notice. So I stick to the main path, it's wide and there's not too many corners for someone to be hiding behind, or if there are then I carefully check. 

I keep moving for roughly half an hour and then I finally get my first glimpse of gold through a cracked window. This gives me the motivation I need to keep going, as I have been very tempted to just make camp in some of these rocky sand 'buildings.' I continue on, and eventually I reach the edge of the huge circle, where the pedestals - spaced neatly apart - surround the giant golden horn. There are also plenty of supplies left; clearly nobody has been brave enough to venture back out here, they've probably stuck to the very outer areas of the arena. 

I decide to take a quick break down by this wall, as I have been walking for ages, and oh boy, it sure is hot. Just as I'm about to sit down, the sound of Claudius Templesmith's booming voice and trumpets make me jump up and it's all I can do not to scream out loud. 

"Good morning, tributes, and congratulations to those of you who remain. This is an announcement to tell you all that there will be a Feast at the Cornucopia in precisely one hour at noon. For those of you running low on food and water, this could be your last chance to get them. I repeat: there will be a Feast at the Cornucopia in one hour." His voice cuts out and the only sound remaining is the whistling wind.

There's going to be food. 

And lots of it, too, by the sound of it. Both Nightshire's were surprisingly low on food, so I don't have much left, only a few crackers and some bread. Which means I have to go the Feast; which means definitely going to the Cornucopia. That was my plan anyway, but before the announcement there wasn't the threat of lurking tributes hiding in and around the edge of the circle as I am now. If I still want to hide in the horn, I'm going to have to go now, or else tributes will see me and could corner me easily once I'm inside. It's now or never, I guess.

Untying my dark hair from the ponytail it's in - just to give me that extra oomph for the cameras when I'm running, I let my legs take off, and before I know it I'm at the Cornucopia and wheezing. I haven't run that far that fast in a long time. After taking a long drink, I slip my water flask back into the tiny side pocket of the backpack and instead hold a spear in one hand and a mace in the other. You can never be too careful in this place.

I edge around to the mouth the horn, and I'm about to back into it, when I hear muffled footsteps and the sound of a knife being thrown, but I dodge it easily and turn to the direction it came from. 

"Drop your weapons and step so I can see you. If you're lucky I won't kill you this minute," I threaten, readying myself for a nasty fight. But the fight doesn't come. Instead, a figure appears from the gloom: small frame, much smaller than me, messy brown hair, and a face that looks much too hollow for my liking. 

"Violet?" I say, and the girl steps further into the light. Our eyes meet and a look of recognition comes onto her face. She cowers back, suddenly scared. She probably is terrified, poor girl, seeing me stood here, towering over her, carrying all kinds of deadly weapons. 

"I won't hurt you," I say, dropping my spear and mace. They land with a clatter and that makes her cower even further back.

"Ow, that's my foot!" says another voice, deep and male this time, and unfortunately I recognise it immediately. "Avita, is that you?"

"Yeah," I say. "Both of you, or however many are back there, come out where I can see you. And drop your weapons." I hear thuds as knives land on the ground; I'm surprised that they actually listened to me. Violet comes back into the light, and when a tall figure comes out behind her, my suspicions are confirmed. It's Jack.

"It's you," I say through gritted teeth. 

"Oh yes it is. Ya miss me?" he says, and if it wasn't for his twelve-year-old sister watching, I would throw this spear straight into his throat, and he would fall to the ground in a pool of blood, drowning in it, and crying out for help he wouldn't receive...

"Ha! You're smirking!" Jack says, pointing at my face. I wipe any trace of a smirk off my face instantly. "You did miss me!"

"I did not!" I exclaim. "I was just -" picturing your gory end "- thinking about winning," wow, what a great excuse, "now let's get on with this. Are we allies or what?" I say, and Violet shrugs.

(A/N: Sooo... you may or may not remember Violet Egnatia from the Reaping chapter? Anyway, that's her and her older brother. Hope you like it and there's plenty of action to come! In the meantime, may the odds be ever in your favour!)