Return of the Mockingjay

Chapter 35

This must be some sort of nightmare, how can Cato be here, he's dead, killed by my arrow back in the games. My breath comes in shaky gasps and I try as best I can to calm myself but my confusion gets the better of me, if Cato's here then who else is in the games, Clove, Thresh, or Marvel maybe? Or could it even be tributes from previous games, my eyes open wide thinking that I could run into Finnick or even Haymitch!

After what seems like about 10 minutes I make the decision to move, one things certain I can't stay here, I need to find food and water. I crawl out from the rotten table I was hiding under and get to my feet all the time listening intently for any sound. I make a decision to make a break for the forest, these tall dilapidated buildings are alien to me and I need to go somewhere where I can at least feel safe. I trot quietly to the stair well and look down the between the stairs to the lobby far below, I can't see or hear anything. I make my way down, peering round each corner before committing myself to the next level and I eventually find myself in a large lobby. Large piles of rubble are everywhere blocking doors and exits but there's only one that's clear, one route out. Clearly the game makers whoever they are planned it this way. I make my way to the large glass less double doors and step out into the gloomy light. The descending mist has left the air damp and cold with a layer of moisture coating everything. I step down the stone steps into the forest but the feeling under foot is of stone or concrete, it's hard not like the soft ground I'd expect on a forest floor. I drag my foot across the floor picking up a layer of moss and foliage, exposing the asphalt surface underneath. What is this place? I look around and spot the unmistakable shape of a streetlight rising above the brambles and weeds. Below the light is a faded sign, I climb up quietly and pull away the creepers from the sign, exposing the writing. "5th Avenue" I say to myself quietly

I have absolutely no idea as to what this place is but I'm pretty sure it's from our past, maybe from an era of early Panem.

I snap my head round at the sound of running, there's yelling and shouting coming from the forest and I duck out of sight, hiding myself back among the weeds and creepers. From my hiding place I sense the passing of two people crashing through the undergrowth, both men by the sound of their voices and I stay still until they pass by. I need to move, to get among the trees where I feel safe and concealed. If I can at least climb a tree I know I'll be safe for the night, but I've gotta find water and food, that's a must. But that'll have to wait until tomorrow, I don't want to be walking around the forest in this fading light, I have no idea where the other tributes are or who they are for that matter.

I find a mature oak tree with some swollen knots that I can use as handholds to reach the lower limbs. I check around me to make sure it's safe before I start my climb and I find a good handhold, and pull myself up to my first foothold, then to the next and the next. I breath a sigh of relief when I reach the first branch and can make much faster progress going from branch to branch. It's not long before I reach the upper branches and find myself a safe spot in a Vee between branches. I straddle them and sit with my back against the trunk. Tomorrow I'll start a fresh, first I need to find water, I'm already incredibly thirsty and I can't function properly without water. Food I can live without for a few days at least although I should keep a look out for any animals that might be easy to catch. I haven't any weapons and I have no wire to make snares so I guess I'll just have to get inventive I guess.

*
I'm woken in the early hours by yelling and shouting from the forest floor below me. There's a lot of thrashing about in the undergrowth and then comes the sound of metal on metal, a sword fight. It seems to go on for ages and I can hear the shouts and cries becoming more desperate as exhaustion starts to set in.
And then there's a horrific cry of agony before there's silence, I try to peer down through the foliage but I'm too high up and the branches get in my way. Who was it that died, or are they just injured?

I try to return to my slumber but it's impossible for me, the fight below has woken my senses for survival and I feel too on edge to sleep.

At daybreak I slowly make my way down to the forest floor and find a body, I can see straight away that it's a boy but he's laying face down in the undergrowth. Rolling him onto his back I gasp in recognition, it's Marvel.

I slump back in shock. First Cato then Marvel, who's next to make an appearance in these games. So far the only tributes I've seen have been from my first games, is this some sort of rerun, that Wolfe wanted a repeat of the 74th Hunger Games?

I snap myself out if my thoughts and rush forward, checking his pockets for anything that might be of use. Other than some iodine tablets he has nothing, whatever weapon he was carrying is gone, no doubt taken by the tribute that killed him. By the look at the wound in his chest he was most likely killed by a sword of some sort, and if that's the case then there must be a Cornucopia somewhere, maybe it's further into the forest or in a clearing?

I get up and leave the body and the blood soaked earth around it, I need to find water, and soon. I walk through the trees trying to keep my movement as quiet as possible and after about 5 minutes I reach the edge of a large overgrown meadow, the grass is as tall as me and I think of crossing to the trees on the other side but something holds me back. It's as if there's something waiting in the grass for me.

I skirt round the edge, using the low hanging foliage from the surrounding trees as cover. Apart from the hostile arena it's a beautiful day, warm sunshine, clear skies and the birds chattering happily, I steal a smile, thinking of a happier time when Peeta and I spent some time in our meadow back home, the day before our wedding.

That seems such a long time ago now.

I carry on through the woods and with my mind elsewhere I walk straight into a trap. The forest floor collapses under me and I stumble into a large pit falling flat on my face. I lay still for a moment while I try and come to my senses, the only real pain is my nose which seems to be bleeding badly. I get to my feet and examine the pit. It's probably around 15 feet deep with sheer sides that can't be climbed. Roots from the surrounding trees sprout out from the sides but when I pull on them to try and climb out they just snap off in my hands, I'm stuck.

I continue to look around for something, anything that might be useful to help my escape when I sense someone looking down from above. I slowly raise my head and look into the eyes of a young boy who's probably no older than 16. I can tell by the colour of his skin that he's from District 8 and when I look closer I notice a scar on his left cheek. He smiles at me with a look of triumph on his face and when I see his white teeth I remember who this is. I've met him before but that was an older version, the real victor. This is Chaff, but he's younger, no doubt a mutt grown by Wolfe but that must be it, all these tributes are Mutts, all except me of course.

"Chaff, help me get out, please" I say quietly, hoping there's some part of the old victor inside his conscious somewhere that might help me.

He laughs loudly "nah, ah don't think so 12, I'm gonna kill ya and eat ya, ain't no food anywhere round here"
A handmade spear appears in his hand and his smile fades as he lifts the spear above his head, getting ready to throw it. I close my eyes and turn my head away not wanting to see my death but nothing happens, there's a gurgling  sound from above and a splatter of blood hits the floor of the pit next to me, I turn back to see chaff having dropped the spear clutching a large gash across his neck where his throat has been cut. Blood spews out between his fingers, a look of shock written across his face, his eyes bulging in his last moments as he slumps forward onto his knees and then onto his face, dead. I look on in panic, who did this, am I next?

My heart sinks as Cato steps to the edge of the pit, a bloody sword held loosely in his hand. Once again I step away with my back to the wall when something happens which completely shocks me.
Cato drops to his knees and reaches down with his free hand.

"Here take my hand, I'll pull you up"