Hunger Games 3 - closed - started

Maple Bradbury

The fire looked odd through the window. It was an orange and yellow wall that was slowly melting the door, I had to keep moving. I quickly checked my legs to see light red burn spreading across them. It was painful, but I could deal with that.

I searched for an escape from the inferno which was now creeping through the door. The temperature was rising like crazy, and beads of sweat poured down my face. the fire illuminated a colassol double staircase heading up to a door. It was my only chance that I could see, so I took it. As I approached the doors, they opened automatically, like the ones in the capitol. Inside was a small room filled with buttons. I was pretty sure it was an antique elevator. I stepped inside as the fire finally broke through the doors. The last glimpse I got was of fire consuming the large room I had just been in.

The elevator felt weird. Even after having a few rides in the capitol, I still wasn't used to the odd feeling it gave you in your stomach. It didn't help that I was now kind of jumpy from the fire. The doors finally opened on what appeared to be floor 11. I hadn't typed it in, the gamemakers must have been controlling it. I looked through the doors to see a sharp gleam, whether against a tooth, claw, or knife, I wasn't sure, but whatever it was was dangerous enough to kill me.

Claire Adamson

This is it. We're going to die. How many times have I thought that? Too many. But before it was just me. And now, I actually feel like I'm dying. Or melting. Or both. The smoke is so thick, and we lie on our faces, trying to avoid it, but it's seeping up through the boards and permeating everything. I think again of the way it hit the water, how the flames has suddenly roared up and up and up--unnatural. Where does water feed fire?

In the games, obviously. I can hear Skye coughing--no good, she should just cover her face with the cloth and try and hold it out.

Then the heat started getting worse. The flames were litterally devouring the building around us. The beams above us creaked, and I had time for another thought--its going to collapse on top of us. I don't want to die that way.

But then, just when I think my face is about to melt, the heat gradually starts to lessen. And then the smoke is gone too, for the most part. I rush to the window, burn my hand on the metal, but force it open. I look outside. Most of the water has burned off--even the lagoon seems lower, a greasy sheen covering its surface. The ground is blackened, wisps of smoke floating among puddles of melted asphalt. But most of the buildings are still standing--odd, considering how hot the fire was. Yet another oddity.

I turn back to Skye. Her face is completely black with soot, and so are her clothes. Fine, that'll make it harder to see us. I think. But she isn't moving. In fact, I can't even tell if she's breathing. Great. Taking a last gulp of the fresher air outside, I walk over to where she lies and grab her under the arms, dragging her towards the window. I've no hope of getting her downstairs--there's no way the wooden stairs survived, and she's bulky--bigger than I am, anyway. Besides, there were those crawling things... I really, really don't want to find out about those.

"Come on, breathe!" How much smoke did she breathe?

She opens her eyes, blinks weakly.

"Are you ok?" I try to say, but my voice doesn't come out--and even when I try again, all I can manage is a raspy "ok?"

"Yeah.." she whispers, and trys to cough. My throat hurts.

"I guess this is an alliance, now?" she rasps. I nod, distracted. She needs water. We both do. I can probably get some from the lagoon, but after that fire who knows if it's safe to drink, even with the iodine. But do I have a choice?

This soon after the fire, no one will be out. Probably. This might, in fact, be my only chance to explore. We're in the animal kingdom, I know, but I have no idea where. And, just maybe, someone will come and kill her while I'm gone, and I won't have to watch her.... No. No one will find her here.

But I do have to get water, and quickly, for myself as much as her. My throat feels as though it's been gouged with sandpaper.

"I'm getting wa..." my voice breaks. I hold up the empty bottle, see her eyes focus on it. Then I go for the stairs, lowering myself down. Nothing seems to be burnt in the actual frame of the building--probably a move on the Gamemaker's part. The floor is empty--hopefully what ever was down there is dead.

As I make my way out of the gaping hole where the door once was, the last of the sunlight is streaking the pavement at my feet. Then I jump as the anthem begins, a series of faces appearing in the sky.


Somewhere in the animal kingdom... Can we kill off the other boy from my district? I don't want to deal with him...Eh, and I just realized I switched to present tense. Oh well.

Lyndolin Trip

It took me a couple minutes, but I realized something. I was standing in a wooden building as a fire raged around me. It was going to catch fire as well. I ran to the nearest window and looked out and sure enough, it looked like the fire had indeed caught on the building and it was only a matter of time before it either collapsed or the fire caught on the floors where I was and I would be trapped only to die charboiled.

Then I saw my potential salvation. Another building within jumping distance from where I was. I was a smaller building, but it wasn't wooden and it looked like the fire wasn't touching it so I thought that it was worth a shot. I ran up a couple of flights of stairs to the top floor. By this point I could feel the heat from the fire below me. I didn't slow down though and ran to what looked to be a lookout of the whole park. It was positioned perfectly over the other building but there was a problem. The District 8 girl was there.

She hadn't noticed me, in fact she looked like she was attempting the same thing I was. I watched silently as she stared over the edge. I drew my pocket knife and started to creep forward. Then I heard a loud snap followed by some crashing and the cackling of the flames as they neared even closer. The girl looked back and saw me. There was fear in her eyes. She knew that if she didn't jump, she would either die by me or the fire. She jumped.

I ran to the balcony just in time to see her grab onto a balcony on the other building. She hung there for a second before losing her grip and falling into the flames. I sighed. Great, now I knew first hand what would happen if I failed the jump. I backed up to get a running start. I could feel the heat on my back. The fire seemed to be right ontop of me. I took the jump. I soared over the flames below me and almost missed the balcony entirely. I managed to grab onto the railing and was able to hoist myself onto the balcony and relative safety.

I looked over to where I jumped from to see the flames rip out of the place where I just was a moment ago. I fell back and closed my eyes. That was too close.

District 8 girl is dead by fire

Cosette Tanner

The first thing that ran through her mind when she woke up was that she wasn't dead. why wasn't she dead? She felt dead. Well, if being sick to her stomach and hurting all over was what being dead felt like. Her empty stomach churned, and she leaned out over the side of her boat as she gagged, her body trying to purge itself, though she had nothing left to purge. the reflex hurt her stomach, and she collapsed back into the boat with a groan. Couldn't she just die already? Dying would be easier. Easier than lying here, waiting for the other tributes to either find her or kill each other off. Or maybe dehydration would get her, her mouth was dry as a desert, or starvation, even. In reply to her dark thoughts, her stomach growled hungrily.

A little click next to her boat caused her to raise her head. a small, furry yellow thing peered back at her.

"Timone." she murmured. "Like Timone and Pumba. Merecat or something." She remembered one of the richer girls from her group of friends at home talking about them, some kind of movie characters. "You look yummy." She reached out an arm, and it flinched away, but didn't get far. She took a closer look to find that the creature's tail had been caught between the concrete side and her boat.

She gently pet it's head, right between it's funny little ears. It shivered in fear.

"Don't be scared little guy," She said. "It won't hurt at all." She lowered the little head into the slimy water.

a few minutes later, it stopped twitching.

It was the most delicious thing Cos had ever eaten. she washed it down with a bottle full of the slimy water, which she added two of the tablets to. It did nothing for the slime, but the actual water tasted different, and she didn't throw up afterward, so she took that as a good sign. She reasoned that she would just rest for a bit longer, and then see if the fire had died down yet. It was weird that the gamemakers were so bored that they set fire to the arena just hours after the bloodbath. Granted, it was a quarter quell, nothing was out of the question.

I know that I should be the one over-posting, but I have been really busy lately... Anyway please just keep things going and I promise everyone I will post on Monday.

Tenchi

I awoke to the strong smell of something burning. Figures, I'd fell asleep on the floor of the building that I stopped in, I must have been too tired. Groaning, I stood up and ran a hand through my hair. It was so hot.

"What the heck?" I whipped around to the sound of something falling. There was fire everywhere! How was I just noticing this? Terrified, I backed up slowly, the fire cackled again and I turned to run, barely dodging a falling piece of the structure. I made a break for the door, and I thought I was going to make it through before a flaming piece of wood crashed in front of it. I was trapped. Great. I was going to die, and so soon!

Tears filled my eyes and spilled over as I looked for a way to escape. There was a ledge I could pull myself onto but, upon trying, I realized I was too short to reach. The fire closed in and, defeated, I fell to the ground.

Tenchi is dead by fire.

Dexter

"What the-"

"Hell!" Something sprang up from the water unexpectantly. It wasn't that big, but it sure was ugly, and all those teeth. Without really thinking about it, I brought my hand into a fist and punched hard at the slippery thing. I squealed and fell back into the water, swimming fast towards us again.

"What the hell is that," I yelled. Elle shrugged and punched at the thing too,, trying to at least keep it away from Luna, who fell unconscious. With a frustrated sigh, I swan over and tried to help her get rid of the thing.

Skye Sorry, i couldn't get on much!

I cough a few more times out the window, black flying out of my mouth. Taking a huge breath, I stagger over to the hold Claire dissapeared in. Lowering myself. I gently hit bottom and followed Clair out the door.

"This place is ... a mess." I stammer, looking around. I could hear the end of the anthem, with the faces of the killed streaming across the sky.

"Yes...' She said, coughing up soot.I glance over at the lagoon. I shook myself.

"No!" She said hurriedly. "It's a disguise." We slowly but surly walk, then crawl a bit, into the remains of the lake. I plunged my head in immedietly. It burns like heck!

I rose quickly from the water.

"Watch out! That's hot." I advised.

"Do we really have time for it to cool down?" She rasped. I shook my head weakly, lowering just my lips into the water. I gulp the liquid fire, feeling releived. She drank then filled her water bottle.

"Should we get some more stuff, make shelter, while we can?" I asked. She nodded. WE climbed from the crater like thing, staggering off to find some stuff.

With Claire, in Animal Kingdom.

Claire

I knew not to drink the water. I knew it, and I did it anyway. It was delicious--the lake water, while murky, isn't slimy like the puddles were. As I finished drinking, I knew I'd regret it, but lay on my back in the sun, anyway. The names are fading off the sky. I try to look at the numbers instead of the faces. It's easier that way.

District one--he's dead. District two--he's dead too. I shudder, trying to feel remorse for my fellow district 2 tribute. But I can't. District six. That's Tenchi. Met her in training. No, don't think about that. Next, District 8. Only one dead. I'd've thought the other would be, too. They sucked in training. And then, surprise surprise, District 12.

It's a lot. But not enough. Still nineteen to go, and the blood bath is over. I don't remember any Games where there were this many still alive after the first day.

Fifteen minutes later, the stomach cramps start. We'd stood up, going to find shelter, supplies, anything. I'm hungry now, and my throat hurts, but that suddenly doesn't matter. It seems to last forever. I retch into a burnt bush by a ice cream stand, over and over until nothing's left in my stomach and my throat is even more on fire.

"No... more... drinking water... that hasn't been purified" I gasp, nearly retching again. I fill the bottle, grateful that it's over, and add the dark orange iodine. It smells, but it's a familiar smell and I welcome it. The sun is well and truly gone now, last rays sinking out of sight.

"We need cover."

She nods, and we turn around in a circle--where is there to go? The fire burnt all the living cover, and everything is covered in ash.

"Wait... Did you hear that?"

"No, what?" I ask, annoyed that, once again, she's noticed somethig first.

"Someone screamed."

"Great, they're killing eachother off. We still need to hide."

"No, something's not right... I hear growling."

"I don't hear anything."

But she's already off, breaking into a labored jog among the burnt building husks. Again, I hear it soon after. It is an animal. A big one. We round a corner, see a huge brown shape. Skye pulls up short. "Bear," she whispers. It takes a minute for the word to register in my mind--have I ever even seen a video of one? But then it does, and I want to move back, but Skye's still standing there, frozen.

There's a boy underneath it. Another of his shrill screams tears through the dusky air as he writhes. His hair is black, I realize, but stained with blood. His legs are twisted under him. He's dying. But there's a dagger in his hand, and it catches the light as he raises it and slam's it into the bear's chest, over and over and over again. But it isn't enough. It's too late. Beside me, Skye gives a low cry as the bear, without warning, stumbles to the side, bleeding heavily but showing no signs of stopping. I find the pocket knife in my hand. What good could it do? I ask myself. It could distract it long enough for the boy to get out. I throw the knife.

It lodges itself in the bear's flank, almost disappearing in the rippling muscle. He turns, whips around and bites at it. I feel sick. I've hit his heart. And then it's over. He lies down on his side, weak and unmoving. Without thinking, I run to the boy. He's from District 8. And he isn't breathing. My hands itch--I could resesitate him, save his life. But instead I just watch him die.

"Look at this, Skye," I say, pointing at where, a few feet from his body, his supplies are laying. Two daggers. A bottle of water. Asprin. Bandaids. A backback. Wire. We're rich.

"Quick, pick it up! Skye?" She hasn't responded. I turn.

"The bear is still alive." Her voice is quiet, muted.

"Kill it," I answer quietly.

"No!"

Still in the Animal Kingdom. District 8 boy is dead. I know this is long; I won't be online for the next few days either. Good luck!

Spoiler

<The 'who's dead' list doesn't seem to be up to date. Here it is, as far as I can tell...>

District 1 (Luxury Goods for the Capitol)
Girl - Funkymomo - Sparkle Tourmaline
Guy - DEAD
District 2 (Medicine)
Girl - canislupis - Claire Adamson
Guy - DEAD
District 3 (Machinery/Factories)
Girl -
Guy - Blueskysummer - Specs Wyre
District 4 (Fishing)
Girl - Calligraphy - Charlie Carter
Guy - Skins - Austin André
District 5 (Livestock)
Girl - ultraviolet - Ellette Brynn
Guy - ReisePiecey - Dexter Roland
District 6 (Scientific Research)
Girl - ReisePiecey - Tenchi Langlasar DEAD
Guy - Mazzi - Eric Sparrow
District 7 (Lumber)
Girl - MilkNCookies - Skye Jershome
Guy - Iiscraftywriter - Red Ferning
District 8 (Weaving/ Clothes-making)
Girl - DEAD (She died twice, actually. XD)
Guy - DEAD (just killed him)
District 9 (Hunters)
Girl - Funkymomo - Luna Jasmine
Guy - Cspr - Dammar Asarin
District 10 (Mathematical Research)
Girl - Blueskysummer - Cosette Tanner
Guy - TheGreatIthy - Victor Marks
District 11 (Agriculture)
Girl - Roadnevertravelled - Maple Bradbury
Guy - IsebellaLynnette - James Haltinger
District 12 (Coal)
Girl - TheGreatIthy - Lyndolin Trip
Guy - DEAD

((I apologise in advance for the long post!))

Austin André

I watch as Sparkle stares out of the window, her eyes filled with determaination, tinted with a hint of fear, not that she'll ever admit it. We left the girl downstairs, unconscious. She'll be dead by now, I'm sure. Kind of sick really. It doesn't make any sense. Why does she die, but Sparkle and I live? Is there actually some kind of God? Does he choose who lives and dies?

I don't like the thought of someone else controlling my life.

God's like my dad then, I guess. He's basically controlled my entire fricking life, so far. He's a complete bastard. I suppose that makes God a bastard. I doubt all of those bible bashers out there would appreciate me saying that. Why am I even doing this? I know they're all going to be okay for me simply entering this: my brothers and sisters. They're out of my father's reach, and he can't hurt them anymore.

Should I just give up?

I lean against the ice cold wall, my eyes staring aimlessley at Sparkle as she remains standing by the murky window. She'll be better off without me, won't she? All that I'm doing is holding her back. The girl downstairs, for example. Me wanting to let her live, knowing that she'd end up dead anyway, held us back. I can't believe it. My father was right all these years.

I am just some pathetic kid. I left that girl down there because I'm not man enough to have just killed her there and then. I couldn't shove a knife down her throat because I'm too weak. I'm eveything my father told me I ever was. No way can I win this shit. No fricking way. Do I even want to?

Who knew the thought of death could be so enticing? To never have to hurt again, to never have to feel like crap, never have to force a smile again. The mere thought sends a wave of pleasure through my body. It won't take much. There's a pretty good drop from where I am to the ground below us. It would be quick too. I glance at Sparkle and the window. The flames are rising. There's no stairs left t run up.

"Shit!" she groans, pacing towards me.

She points at the window, preparing to state the obvious. "They're rising, and they're gonna fricking kill us!"

I don't say anything, I just nod. Her eyes widen, gazing me at though I'm insane. Maybe I am? Death can't be that bad. Why is she so scared? That's when I realise something. Sparkle's not me. She might have something to live for. All that I care about is better off without me - all of my siblings are better off without me.

I can't let her die. I just can't. If there's one thing I'm determained to do before I let myself die, it's helping someone who doesn't deserve death. The heat is burning me now. I look up, desperate for some kind of escape route. No stairs, no ladders, nothing. Shit.

As I'm about to look back at Sparkle, something catches my eye. There's a hole. In the ceiling, there's a hole. There's no way I can reach it, and no way in hell that Sparkle can reach it. There must be a way... There has to be a fricking way. Then it hits me. I can get what I want, saving Sprakle in the process.

"There!" I point at the hole in the roof, shoving Sparkle out of the way as I run to it. "That has to lead to the top of the roof somehow."

"That?" Sparkle snaps, following me. "And how in hell are we getting up there? I can't reach that."

"I'm not." I shrug. "You are."

Sparkle simply stares at me, utterly confused. She observes the hole, clearly trying to figure out what I mean. Oh, come on, it's simple. Never ending sweat particles are racing down every inch of my body, begging for the heat to vanish. I grit my teeth, ignoring it. Rolling my eyes at Sparkle, I bend down slightly.

"Get on my shoulders," I say, glancing at her.

She opens her mouth to say something, but soon closes it again. Lifting her one leg over my back, she manages to get herself onto my shoulders as I stand up. Perfect. She can reach the hole fine. It seems to lead into the attic, so there's bound to be a way to the roof from there.

Without saying a word, Sparkle stands slightly, grabbing onto whatever she can. Yes! She grasps firmly onto the attic floor, pulling herself up. After some struggling, she's firmly standing on in the attic. I see her face through the hole, watching me.

"Here," she says, reaching her hand out. "I'll try and pull you up."

I don't say anything, I just smile and shake my head. I'm good, thanks. She stays there for a while, unsure of what to do next. Even if she tries pulling me up, it won't work. There's not any point anyway. I can't be bothered for this anymore.

Sparkle's gone now. I hope she's alright. She's a pretty independant chick, so she should be fine. The flames are in the room and they're damn hot. They're creeping towards me, taunting me before they kill me. My whole life is full of taunting; it would be silly really if I didn't die with some taunting included. I'm boiling, but I don't care. My brothers and sisters are safe, and they're away from my father. That's all I give a shit about.

Not much longer now. I almost drowned once, and this intense heat right now is suprisingly similar. I can't breathe much. There's the odd cough her and there, but they're weak. Breathe in. Breathe out. It's a lot harder than it looks right now. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Cough. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. The flames are right in front of me. They're beautiful. They promise death. For that, they are glorious. Cough.

Death. It can rest on a single blade, a single action. One decision, one movement, and death can welcome you. I'm still not scared of death. Death is death. There are no details, beautiful or ghastly, to it. It is as simple as life. One day you are not here, and the next you are. Then one day you are here, and the next you are not.

From tonight onwards, I'm no longer here. Simple.

Spoiler

Austin's dead. He's kicked the bucket, snuffed it, or whatever you want to call it. I've had permission from Calligraphy to kill him, so it's all good. Sorry for the long post... but hey, he's dying and that. He deseves it. xD

Sparkle Tourmaline

Why didn't he climb? I could've helped him up, done something to save him. Now he died with me owing him my life. I hate owing people, and now one day when I see him in heaven, he's gonna bring this up, his sacrafice. Now I'm alone in the games, but maybe that's for the better. I don't have to worry about anyone else, just myself. Alone. In the games. He wouldn't be here anymore, I had to forget him, or at least put him out of my mind.

Tears stung my eyes as I started running. It was dark, with only the flickering light from the fire under the hole lighting my way. I looked for a way out to the roof, and soon came upon a staircase. it was long and dark, but free of the heat that meant fire. I climbed to the top, where there was another door. It opened onto the roof, which was free of flames. I felt the cool night air brush past me and climg to the drops of sweat glistening on my arms and face. Austin should be right behind me, making a joke. He'd say, " We survived because we have the three most important things in the games, Skill, style, and me." Now I only had two.

I walked over to the edge to see fire licking the tops of shorter buildings all around ours, and sure enough I saw other tributes on roofs. If only I had a spear or something, I could kill them, and win. Not just for me now, but for Austin. HE helped me, now I'm gonna win for him so his sacrifice wasn't pointless.

I settled down for the night. It was getting cold and the fire was receeding, so I'd have to rough it. Good thing I'm tough. I looked up at the sky at all the stars there twinkling for me. That's what my mom would say. She'd make up stories when I was younger and hadn't understood the games to help me. Orion the archer was a Career who'd killed every single person in the games, and when he died he got but up in heaven to show all the people like me that we could win. The big dipper was a ladle that was sent my a sponser, and if it wasn't for that ladle that tribute would've died. I look up at Orion now, and hope that Austin gets his own constilation up there, for sacrificing himself to save me.

Specs Wyre

The other two tributes were off in a corner, ignoring the small boy. Which was all the best for him, leaving him to explore the control room. He took out his pliers and set to exploring. the first order of business was to get some lights on... the breaker box provided that, and the out-of-date lights flickered to life overhead. This caught the attention of the other two, but now it was spec's turn to ignore them as he worked toward a wall of monitors. the wires were nibbled on and frayed, but a few twists and connections later the old monitors turned on, showing video feeds from around the building. the careers were gathered a few floors down, but didn't seem to be concerned with his group, or anything other than hiding from the fire, which, by the melted and warped external camera, seemed to be dying down now.

he leaned in towards the monitor. Something large and yellow, though not made of fire, was on the prowl. it had it's great haunches raised, creeping up on someone... there he was. the unlucky career had his back turned to the beast; Specs wondered what would happen, would the tribute even have time to scream before the beast ended him? The kid was small for a Career, he would probably only last one swipe.

Funny, he looked quite familiar... very familiar, actually...

He even had the same bag as Specs.

The realization hit him like the pointedly obvious solution to a computer bug. He turned slowly, taking in the lion's sleek frame as it looked at it's next meal.

"Victor. Charlie." He said, trying to stay as calm as possible as he contemplated his death. "There's a lion."

This caught their attention. Charlie's yelp of fear caused the lion to turn just long enough for specs to go at it with the pliers, aiming for the jugular...

But the lion turned it's head back just as he jabbed with his feeble strength. his pliers broke the skin, ust a scratch on the mighty beast, just enough to make it bleed.

and make it angry.

the lion roared, throwing it's head and sending the frail boy sliding across the room, where his leg jammed into the corner of an old piece of machinery.

He watched the skin ripple as the lower leg's bone broke and pain blossomed up his leg.

Maple Bradbury

I ducked to dodge whatever was attacking me, and rolled out of the elevator. I could see stripped fur on the creature, but I had never seen the animal before. I recall an old song, from when we were the country called America. They told us in history class about a movie called Wissing on Odd, an odd title, but that's not important. In it, they said, " Lions and tigers and bears, oh my."

Oh my indeed. This must be a tiger. It roared thunderously as it turned to see me. I was frozen in my spot, almost. It had caught me in it's yellow gaze. I could see no emotion in those eye's only needs. Hunger. I dodged again, wishing that I had got a weapon from the Cornucopia. I could see that my only chance lied on weapons in here. The elevator would proably just open up again, there's no reason for the Gamemakers to get rid of this for me. I'd have to tough it, like I did with my life usually.

The tiger charged again, teeth bared. Maybe I could get one of those I could see no weapons in here, so a tooth or claw was probably my only option. I ran down the long hall I was in towards the end and the tiger charged after me. I braced myself for it. A second before it chewed me up, I dodged. It was faster that I thought, I escaped with a long rip on my arm, dripping with blood and spit. The tigerhit the wall and lost consiousness. If only I could get some teeth and it's fur.

Tooth and fur in hand, I walked away smiling. I had hit it's head a few times to make sure it was dead, or at least had brain damage, then proceded to rip it's tooth out. I used the tooth to stab it's eye and kill it, then tried skinning it. Due to my less than satisfactory skinning skills, I only got about half a skin. but I was still happy.

I used the skin to wrap around my arm wound. Hopefully it wouldn't get infected. I settled down for the night in my warm bed of fur

You guys are truly awesome. I never thought of the animals that would be trying to get away from the fire. O.K. I will stop gushing and write the post.

Charlie Carter

I was exhausted. All I could do was lay there limp trying to breath. It was hot and stuffy in the room and the air burned as it went down my throat because of all the smoke. My whole body ached, and I knew that if I wasn’t so sluggish my wounds would be screaming. I really needed water my mouth was dry. I wished we had been more careful with the bottle Victor had. Specs was mumbling to himself. I caught a few words, camera, careers, smoke, breaker, something wire, lion. Lion! I yelped, all my senses on again at full blast. I scrambled from my slumped sitting position. Great it was heading towards me. I froze and stood there like an idiot my mouth in the shape of a lose O.

Then Specs was running everything was confusion for a few seconds I a saw some blood on the lions neck, but not much. What was the point in that? I wondered my brain, for some reason, still slow. The lion lunged at me. I didn’t doge. Hands pulled me away then pushed me in another direction.

“Get Specs!” It was Victor. I searched frantically for a second before I found him. He was wedged in some machinery his face deathly pale. I ran over,

“Specs” He didn’t say anything. “Specs talk to me!” It was an order.

“My leg is broken.” My mind went blank for a second, a second we couldn’t spare.

“O.K. I sounded calm for once when I needed to. This is gonna hurt, but you have to trust me. I can’t do what I need to do right now because of the cat so I am going to have to move you. A scream came from behind me and my words came out quickly now a defiantly not calm rush.
Specs interrupted me,

“I don’t care about my broken leg, you and Victor need to get into the next level. He pointed towards the stairs. I will distract the lion.” My voice was fierce,

“I’m not leaving you behind.” No ones death was going to be on my shoulders. Not today. I remembered the career and sucked in a breath. O.K. no more than one death on my shoulders. By now I was pulling the machines apart trying to find a way to get his leg out without breaking it further.

“Victor, get upstairs” I screamed. The lion was pushing him closer and closer in that direction anyway.

“Don’t worry about us. I turned back to my hands. There, If I just pushed that box to the left the tiniest bet I could squeeze his leg out. The whole time I worked Specs was arguing with me, but I toned him out. Finally I could drag him. Flames were leaping at the doorway in which the lion came in.

“Thank god you aren’t more than a hundred pounds,” I said. But, I wasn’t sure how to carry him seeing that I wanted his leg to heal.

Finally back from vacation! I apologize for this, a long post 'cause of all the time I missed.

James Haltinger

I licked my lips and briefly glanced at my partner Maple. She seemed to be ready to go, but focused on something entirely outside of the Games. Then I shook my head and prepared myself. The actions seemed automatic, almost robot-like as I told myself that this was just like any other race I'd been in before.

Except this time there was going to be a lot of blood and screaming.

Suddenly the force field lifted, and at the same time, I imagined my mother waving the flag at the start line of the race and shouting for me to go. And I pumped my legs, going as fast as I could, zigzagging so that I wouldn't offer too much of a target to any of the true sprinters.

I glanced quickly around and heard a wicked hiss behind me. Mouth dry, I somehow forced myself to fall on the ground, grab some of the nearby items (in all the rush, I didn't know what level I was at), get to my feet, and rush out of there. Then I spotted a pillar and dashed behind it, catching my breath. I saw Maple take off past the broken down monorail station and squinted my eyes to see what sort of trail she was leaving behind. Were they... flowers?

I shrugged and peeked out from behind the pillar. This place wouldn't stay safe for long. I took a deep breath and took off again, this time angling for the edges of the piles. I saw a bag and snatched it up, but someone tripped me and nearly all of the items I'd managed to grab tumbled out of my hands. I braced myself for the final blow, but it never came.

I heard a wild shriek from behind me and blindly grabbed whatever things were nearby while forcing myself to my feet. There weren't nearly as many of them as I'd had to begin with, but I didn't really care anymore as long as I just got out of here alive!

But did I have any weapons? I frantically checked, trying to use my peripheral vision to look out for other tributes. And I found out that I didn't have any weapons.

"Crap!" I shouted as I saw the rest of the items being snatched up from bodies laying deathly still on the ground. I noticed a little girl lying five feet from me, mouth open and numerous supplies around her. Quickly, I grabbed up a dagger and took off. Someone rushed towards me from my left, quite a bit shorter than average, and I easily knocked him out of the way, then looked around for the precious trail that Maple had laid for me.

"Where the devil is it?" I whispered as I zigzagged across the place, jumping to avoid any obstacles and other tributes, not daring to bend over to pick up even one more supply item. Then, at last, I saw the carefully laid out pattern and smiled. In the shape of the little hayloft back in District 11? Maple sure had some strange talents.

Then I heard someone coming up behind me, breathing hard and panting, just like me. I turned, but not quickly enough. Something hard hit my left leg, and I cursed as stars threatened to block out my vision. With some great effort I managed to hobble away, thanking God that whoever had attacked me had been distracted by someone else. I reached a field of waist-high grass and decided to rest there, sinking to my feet and rubbing the numb part of my leg.

There didn't seem to be anyone else around. Good. That was a relief.

I checked over everything I'd found. Some Band-aids. If only they could help the pain in my leg. One little pocketknife. Including all of its little tools. A water bottle! Thank God! Only half full, but it would be enough. And a little bag holding...sunglasses and some tweezers. Gee, those were going to help a lot. Wait, something else...not in the bag, but something that had fallen.

Another knife? Well, I wasn't complaining. Weapons were a must in the Games.

I stuffed as much as I could inside the bag except the knives. I kept those out and handy while I looked for any pockets. Crap, I forgot about the uniform. The white clothes weren't my farm workclothes. I sighed and then forced myself to get up. Maple was waiting for me somewhere right now, and I didn't like the idea of staying separate any longer than we needed to.

With a groan I got up and continued pushing my way through the field of overgrown grass, gritting my teeth as my leg throbbed and tingled with numbness. But, as I kept going and the pain in my leg intensified, I knew I wouldn't be able to make it to wherever Maple was. I glanced at the sky. The sun was setting, intensifying the shadows and the loneliness of the land.

I looked around. Some tall buildings soared up into the sky, about a half-mile off. I supposed I'd have to stay there; not that I really wanted to, with Maple undoubtedly farther off somewhere else in the Parks. But I knew I had to keep going, to make it as far as I could along the trail she'd laid for me.

I checked around another time to make sure that no one else was around. Thank goodness for that. Then I forced myself to take a couple sips of the water from the jug, wondering if it was purified or not. Seemed to be all right, because I wasn't throwing up and the water didn't look murky or polluted.

Walking, walking, and finally, more walking. I sighed. Where were those buildings I'd seen earlier? Then I looked up.

"Oh."

Right in front of me, scraping the sky in its height, was a still graceful, Virginian-era style hotel, despite the worn-down appearance and the dirt coating the place. As I looked around for a door somewhere, anywhere, I realized that I was facing the back.

So I hobbled around the building until I reached the front and walked across the patio to the front doors.

Locked.

At the same time that I realized that very unfortunate fact, I smelled something that I hadn't encountered in a long while. Let's see... yes, there was the smell of smoke in the air, and I thought I could hear something crackling and roaring.

Then I turned and saw the monstrous wave of fire bearing down on me.

With renewed panic, I jerked on the front doors, even shouldering them to try to break them open. But they still would not budge. Wildly glancing around, I finally noticed two other doors--one to my right and one to my left. I hesitated as the fire roared its way closer to me. Thirty meters...twenty...now ten....

I shook my head and forced myself to half-run, half-hobble my way towards the door to my right. If this one was locked as well...

I shook my head again. Don't think about that! I told myself as I dodged the greedy flames licking around the wooden patio, threatening to engulf the whole bottom level. I swore as a wave of them suddenly roared up in front of me, reaching for my legs.

Knowing that I didn't have much time left, I jumped over the flames blocking my way and landed hard at the foot of the doorway. Yes! I pulled myself up, painfully, but as fast as I could, reaching for the doorknob, twisting it, jerking it in every direction.

The door opened! I whispered a prayer of thanks as I threw myself inside, shut the door, and took off towards the rickety stairs I could see at one end of the hallway. Slowly, awkwardly, I went up all the way and looked out the windows. This was no ordinary fire. It was burning up the water in front of the hotel.

They seriously had to make this so hard for us when it's still the first night?

I sighed and lightly hummed a tune that I'd known from childhood--"The Little Man on the Sailboat"--to calm myself down, then I heaved myself to my feet and reluctantly looked around my floor, searching for any other tributes.

I was alone.

As I curled up to sleep in one of the long-abandoned beds, drawing the thin sheets over me as there were no blankets, my thoughts turned not to my family, like they had the night before, but instead to Maple.

Where was she? Was she hurt at all? Was she already dead? What if something had happened to her?

But I sighed and forced myself to relax as I stared out the window, waiting for the anthem to play to see the faces. Surely she wouldn't be up there; she was smarter than that. But what if...?

James has the Level One small bag holding a pair of sunglasses and tweezers, the Level Two single pocket knife with all of its little tools, the remaining Level Two dagger, the five Level Two bandaids, and a Level Two 20 oz. water jug that must have been half-emptied by someone else before he got it.

He is in the Yacht Club Resort, but he doesn't know that.

Sorry made a double post.