Young Writers Society

His mind zeroed in on the important things. Twelve other tributes stood stock-still, all in a ring. A mound of supplies was gathered in the mouth of the golden cave, less valuable possessions scattered out toward the tributes. Sharp weapons were laid out, all in a row. I’m going to die! He screamed in his mind. Then the gong was sounded and all hell broke loose.

A chaotic battle unfolded in front of him as he rushed forward to gather supplies. He quickly checked behind himself to make sure no one was coming and dove forward to scoop up a backpack. Hard metal smashed into his face. His sight blurred red with pain. Blood spattered onto the ground and stained his shirt red in seconds. Pools of it gathered everywhere around him. He could barely move his mouth, full of splintered and useless teeth; he started choking on hot, salty blood that dripped down the back of his throat and into his lungs.

His eyes opened for a brief second and everything felt and looked wrong. Everything was twisted and out of proportion. He was on the ground in a flood of red puddles, contorted in pain. His hands felt his forehead, trying to staunch the increasing flow of fiery blood, but they only felt a crater, an indentation. He was filled with pain, only pain, nothing else. He raised a feeble, stuttering hand covered in steamy blood, begging for someone to have mercy and to end his life.

Then, someone finally threw a blade. It landed right on target, burying its shaft in Kristofer’s head. His pain ended as he died instantly.

Emma had put herself to work sorting through the packs. She found sterile bandages in Justin’s, basic first aid supplies in her own, advanced first aid materials in Katie’s and borrowed one of Jordan’s short knives.
Katie had finally gotten a small fire blazing. “Perfect!” Emma had cheered. “Now comes the bad part.”
“What bad part?” inquired Justin, slightly nervous.
“Dealing with the injuries.”
Justin had hobbled over, each step bringing a fresh wave of agonizing pain, and seated himself on the smooth stone. “How bad is it?” He asked Emma, biting his lip.
“Not too bad. From what I can tell it didn’t hit the bone.” Justin had just felt the tip of it touching the bone, but the arrowhead wasn’t embedded in it. Emma picked up a knife she had borrowed.
“What are you going to do with that?” he questioned.
“Well, after I pull the arrow out, it’s going to bleed really bad. Since I’m not prepared to deal with extensive blood loss, I’ll cauterize the wound.”
Katie sucked in her breath. “That’s going to hurt.”
“What does ‘cauterize’ mean?” Justin asked, not sure if he really wanted to know.
“It means,” Katie stated, “That after she pulls the arrow out, she places the knife blade that was in the fire on your skin to stop the bleeding.”
“That sounds like fun.” Sarcasm was the only answer he could give to a statement like that.
“No,” Jordan said over his shoulder, “not really.”
“Just be glad we have lots of water. Katie, could I get you to fill all the containers we have with spring water?” Katie got up, grabbing the nearly empty water containers. Emma continued talking to Justin. “The water is to pour on the wound after I cauterize it so it stops burning the flesh.”
“Just be gentle, okay?” Justin asked.
Sucking in a breath, Emma said, “No promises.” Awkward silence filled the minutes in which Katie was retrieving water. Justin leaned back on his elbows, keeping the throbbing, damaged leg as straight as possible. Upon Katie’s arrival, Emma said, “Oh, thanks. But I have a difficult job for both of you.” She stated, pointing at Katie and Jordan. “I have to pull this out and cauterize it and if he jumps, I could hurt him more. So I need Katie to hold his arms down and Jordan to hold his legs down.”
Gulping, Justin allowed Katie and Jordan to pin him to the ground. Katie was gentle with his damaged shoulder, but still put enough pressure on that he wouldn't be able to get up.
“Here,” Emma said, shoving something in his direction, “I found this pair of extra socks. Put it in your mouth.”
“Why?” questioned Justin, just before Emma shoved them in his mouth.
“We don’t want anyone to know our location because of your screaming, do we?” Justin didn’t answer, perturbed. “I’m sorry, but it’s for your own good.” Emma paused, a note of pity in her voice. “Ready?” she asked in a take charge manner.
“Ready.” replied Katie and Jordan at the same time.
“Whatever you do, don’t tense up your leg, okay, Justin?” She put a hand on his shoulder when she said this, making sure he understood. He nodded quickly, eyes shut tight, teeth clenched on the pair of socks.
He felt a slight pressure inside his leg as Emma placed a firm grasp on the arrow shaft right near the red, inflamed skin. Pain contorted his body as she yanked it out. He didn’t unseat Katie or Jordan, but tears threatened to squeeze out of his eyes as Emma placed the glowing knife tip onto the blood-gushing hole. Blood spurted out of the wound as Justin tried not to tense up, the steamy liquid bubbling down his leg and onto the stone floor. A strangled noise rose in his throat. Cold water splashed onto the sizzling wound. Before Emma poured water over it, he swore he smelt burning flesh. The cold numbed the pain away.
“There.” Emma breathed. “That wasn’t so bad.” She wiped her hands as Katie and Jordan lifted their hands and let Justin up. “Could you guys help him to his bed? I’m going to find the pills and bandages.”
“Don’t worry Katie, I got this.” said Jordan. Jordan dragged him to the bed, Justin’s body unwilling to move from the stress and tension.
Emma came over a minute later and carefully applied medicinal concoctions to the open wound and wrapped it tightly with a sterile bandage. She gave him two tiny oval pills and a bottle of water. “Take these. They’ll reduce the swelling.” Thanking her, he swallowed them eagerly. While he sipped on the water he marveled to himself, That was probably the worst thing I've ever been through.
He watched as Emma quickly tore off strips of white medical tape to wrap over the bandage around Jordan’s arm. She worked methodically and effortlessly. As soon as Jordan’s arm was as good as new, she returned her attention to Justin’s injuries. “Let’s take a look at your shoulder.” Justin slipped off his jacket. A throng of tiny holes were threaded through the shoulder of his jacket and shirt, accompanied by dried bloodstains. Emma rubbed some disinfectant into the wounds, producing a terrible stinging in the worst of them. The pain soon faded as she placed a dab of medicine on each one from a metal tube. The tube came from inside one of the medical bags. She hurriedly put a Band-Aid over the very worst of them, a jagged slice an inch deep on the back of his right shoulder. In another minute she was finished.