Evon: -Saw Voice- Wanna play a game? Devon: Uh... Sure? Evon: Alright... Let the Games, begin! -Random Hunger Games horn- Devon: -Kicks Evon's head off and wins- That was easy! ANYWAY, don't you wish it was that easy? I hope Devon doesn't have too tough of a time in the Arena. But here it is... The day... You've all been waiting for... Good luck. :3 Enjoy! ~Squintz

Chapter 11

I'm sitting in a low light room, looking out to the wall, when Cadderrick walks in. He strides across the room in silence, and presses his lips to the top of my head. I stand up, pulling him into a bear hug. He squeezes me tight, and then pulls away. Pulling out a light gray jacket, he slides it on over my white shirt. Then, he takes a tank top and stuffs it in my pocket. He zips the jacket up, making sure the tank top is hidden well, then hugs me again.

I look to the corner, seeing the plastic tube just waiting for me. I walk over, pressing my fingers against the surface. It's cold, and I turn to see Cadderrick smiling sadly at me. I step inside the tube, looking up. All I see is sunlight. The tube begins to lift, and all the Tributes come into view. As well as the Arena. It's an enormous ring of jungle, surrounded by desert. Basically, a giant O, is what it looks like. My eyes immediately go to Wes, who is searching for me. The girl from District 3 is having a full blown panic attack. She wheezes and screams and cries, trembling in place and yelling that she doesn't want to die.

Poor thing... I would do the same if I was only 12, and I was about 4 feet tall, going into the Games with a bunch of towering mutants like this year's Tributes. My eyes then shift to the golden Cornucopia. It's overflowing with supplies, weapons, and packs. I come up with a daring plan that just might work... My mind shifts gears, and I nod slowly. As soon as the countdown reaches two seconds, I'll jump. As far as I can. The plates only go off when you step onto the grass... Right? So if I jump, I might be able to make it.

I'll be able to grab the jacket full of knives that hangs over a box, completely opened up. Then, I'll take off for the desert... Yeah. The countdown reaches five seconds, and I wait... 4... 3... 2... I dive right there, covering my neck and my head. I hear the explosion behind me, and my feet dig into the damp soil. I take off running, and then the gong sounds. The Tributes begin running after me, and Evon is heading my way. I soar over the grass, diving as I grab the jacket. I pull it over me, then feel someone tackle me. It's the girl from 12...

She grabs a knife from the arm of my jacket, grinning at me. She slowly pushes the knife against my neck, and the blade is freezing cold. I squeal, and try to shake her off. But since she's taller, and her knees are digging into my palms, I can't move. I yell louder, fighting for my strength, but adrenaline has fled my body in a hurry. I then feel a shower coming from above, and I instantly close my mouth. The taste of blood... Ugh, gross. The District 12 girl collapses on me, blood covering my face.

I shove her off, then stand and see Evon charging for me. "That's my kill!" She screams.

I grab my knife and her pack from Ember's lifeless carcass, and take off. I pant and wheeze as I continue to run, not daring to look back or even stop running. I dash across a fallen log, then crash through some bushes, going tumbling down a hill into a random river. I yelp, standing up as the freezing cold water soaks my clothes. I shiver, then dig through Ember's pack and get two water bottles out of the first compartment.

I fill the water, fishing out the iodine, and drip a few drops in the water. I shake up the waters, and set them inside my pack. I sigh, then begin up the other side of the little hill. The desert sits at my feet, and I walk on. I search through my pack again, continuing my walk, and pull out a little bag of raspberries. I dump a few in my hand, close the bag, and put it back in my pack. I eat the raspberries one by one, savoring every bite. I've never enjoyed raspberries so much in my life...

I find myself lost in thought, thinking of Wes and my home, the District 3 girl, Evon, and her gang. When I notice it's already dusk. I frown, then shake my head. To think it's actually scarier in the Arena is ironic, really. Since they broadcast it all around Panem. I don't feel too alone. Snapped out of thought once more, I feel a yank on my ankle, and my toes are dangling over a giant gaping hole in the ground.

The grip on my ankle pulls me down, and I scream as I scramble back. I hate surprises! I shake my ankle viciously, and then hear a quiet, hopeless moan... It's the girl from District 3... She whispers for help in a coarse, scratchy voice. I bend down, helping her from the bloody ditch. She shimmers in crimson red liquid, soaked from the waist down. Her clothes are covered in it, and even her face. I stare down at her, and then she hugs my waist tight.

She clings to me, helplessly. Her body trembles, and she just buries her face in my arms. I look down at her, slowly deciding to hug her back. Her body shakes more violent than I've ever known humanly possible, and I slowly stroke her blood spatted hair. I slowly kneel down, being slightly shorter than her on my knee. She shakes and cries, and I move the hair from her face. She slowly looks at me, eye to eye. Her gaze is full of fear, and curiosity. Admiration, mostly.

She wipes at her tear streaked face, and I frown. "You okay?" I ask quietly.

I brush more light brown strands from her delicate, sweet face. She nods slowly, looking down.

"I fell down while I was running, and some boy had already fallen in there... I thought I was going to drown in his blood... And mine..." She whispers, bringing a pair of light green emerald optics to look at me.

I grab her hand, and lead her out to nowhere. I search until I find a weird structure of rock. The back of the structure is one big rock, sitting on top of it is another rock, and on both sides, two rocks to hold it up. It's sitting low, so the entrance is really tiny, and hard to get in. But the District 3 girl slips through with ease.

I slide the packs under to her, and then go inside myself. It's dry, and cold in there. There's a tiny opening in the ceiling, but it's big enough for you to see the sky as the Capitol anthem blares out. Both from Four are dead, both from Five, the girl from Six, the girl from Seven, the boy from Eight, the boy from Nine, and the Tributes from Twelve. Ten gone on the first day. I sigh, then turn down to the girl who sits huddled in the corner.

"Can I see what you've got in your pack?" I ask.

The girl slowly crawls over, setting her pack in front of me. I unzip the top, looking into the pack. I pull out a tiny, silver capsule, and unscrew the lid. I find a shimmering clear paste inside, and I wave her over. She lifts up the back of her shirt, and I slab the paste across the wound. The girl smiles in relief, and then takes a quiet, tiny breath.

"My name is Robin... Thank you for saving me..." She says quietly.

"You're welcome." I whisper, watching as she pulls out a sleeping bag and lies it out next to me, curling up and resting her head on my lap.

I smile at her, then look out the entrance of the cave, scooting back to lean against the wall of the cave. Robin closes her eyes, then drifts off peacefully. After a while, I get sort of hungry, and I pull out my pack, opening it up and beginning to chew on some dried meat. I take a sip of my water, and then look down to Robin. She trembles in my lap, shivering and bringing her tiny hands to her face in little fists. I watch as she curls up in a ball, her head still resting on my lap.

I pull off my jacket, resting it over her and instantly stopping her shivering. I smile, then look out to the mouth of the cave again. The night is peaceful, and the air is sweet and cool. I smile, resting my head against the cave wall, and begging to drift into the darkness... I don't remember how great sleep is, until I'm finally pulled into the dark...

A Few Hours Later -

I awake to the sound of footsteps crunching on the rocks in the sand outside the cave. Instantly, I'm wide awake, my heart pounding in my chest. The footsteps come closer, and there's not only one Tribute... It's many. Then, I hear it. The Career's voices come into range, and I fall still and silent.

"When we find her... I get to slit her throat to shreds, all by myself! Nobody even touch her!" Evon's voice sounds out, full of rage as she kicks the sand and rocks.

I watch her feet pass by the cave entrance, and then another Career begins to light a fire right outside the cave. I suck in a silent, deep breath, and begin to think up my final will. I listen harder, though. And Ethan's voice rings out.

"Fine by me." He confirms in a mellow state, just as the girl and boy from Two speak up.

"Yeah." The male says.

"Sure thing, Evon." The female voice is dark and raspy, and I look out quietly.

I see they've stopped and sat in a circle around the blazing fire that Ethan is stirring up. He pokes a stick, making the embers crack and spark, and then stands up, walking around the camp. Patrolling, probably, judging by the axe he carries on his shoulder. He whistles a casual tune, striding around in slow circles surrounding the camp.

I watch with my breath held, Evon sharpening her knives as she leans against a rock. The girl from Two, who I hear Ethan call Kage, warms her palms over the fire, revealing a silhouette of her face in a low orange hue. The boy from Two, Ace, sets up some sort of dinner for the pack, cooking it over the fire. I suddenly begin to wish I was in the Career pack, getting food and protection at no cost. And then I look down to Robin, and instantly regret thinking about that... She'd be dead without me... The poor girl.

"How'd she get a twelve, anyway?!" Kage yells, spitting into the fire and making it hiss. The flames continue to rage, though.

"Hell, wish I knew... It must've been pretty damn good to get a twelve." Evon snarls, the chilling sound of blade on blade letting out into the silence as she sharpens her knife angrily.

Goosebumps run down my spine, and I shuffle in my crouched position, almost completely falling over. I scuffle in the dirt, slowly regaining my balance. But it was too loud... Loud enough, anyway. Evon stands up, turning the knife blade over into her palm.

"Shh..." Evon smirks, "She's here..." Crossing behind Ethan, Evon begins searching around with Kage.

"Come on, Flower Girl... Come out to play... We horse around, but it will only hurt until you're dead..." Evon says in a bloodcurdling voice.

Robin slowly awakes, smacking her lips together and rubbing her vibrant brown eyes. She's made no sound, luckily, but then she talks.

"What's happening?" She asks, sending an echo through the small cave.

"Shh!" I hiss, throwing the packs over my shoulders.

I slip under the cave entrance, dragging Robin with me. I throw her over my shoulder and bolt from the scene. I head towards the jungle, hoping the thick foliage will keep them busy searching. And Evon begins to cuss and scream.

"Get her! Go!" She yells at the top of her lungs, tearing after me with the other Careers.

Robin bounces around on my shoulder, making squeaky noises while I run. I force myself to run as fast as I can, but my lungs are begging for air, and my vision is getting a little blurry. But I force myself to run in overdrive, until we get back to the jungle. I notice the footsteps behind me have only faded to three, and Evon is still leading the pack. I stumble, and collapse down a curving hill from the combined weight of the packs and Robin on my shoulders.

Robin shrieks, and I feel a pain tear through my leg. I scream out as well, and Robin quickly pulls the knife from my leg. She turns around, facing the Careers as she stands in front of me. She turns the knife over, and flings it with her eyes closed. For somebody who doesn't know what they're doing, I couldn't be more proud as the knife hits Ace right in the neck, sending him flying backwards.

The cannon booms out, filling my ears as well as Evon's screams. She collapses at his side, dislodging the knife from his neck and turning it over. Robin swiftly ducks as the knife goes flying at her.

"Go!" She screams at me.

Robin goes running at Evon, and just as she's about to lunge, a dark, tall figure snatches her up, and flees the scene. It disappears from sight, entering the darkness of the brush, and I scream and reach my hand out for a knife as Evon crushes down on my back with her combat boots.

I reach further to the air, trying to pull the figure back. Trying to get it to come and save me as well. Evon yanks my head up by the hair, sitting on my back. She has me pinned, and I know I'm doomed to die...

"Any last words for your little friend, or your best friend?" Evon asks with a twisted grin on her face.

And then, it reappears through the brush. I pant heavily, sucking in air as Evon is shoved backwards and I'm lifted up, rushed through the foliage towards Robin, and plunged into the darkness and the cool ambiance of another cave. This one is much bigger, and concealed into the ground. I look around as the light adjusts, and make out two heavily breathing figures.

Suddenly, Rowen's dark voice comes out in the dark. "I got her... You got the small one?" He asks in a panting way, setting me up against the wall of the cave.

"Yup." I hear another voice reply, and then I see, it's none other than my best friend, Wes...