A Collection of my Writer's Games Entries

Misfortune: Task 5 (Tessa Whitlens) D7 *Semi Finals*

** Task - Jetpack Joyride **

Aaron made us walk all night. No more canons had sounded which meant only one thing - the Gamemakers would be getting bored. I think that we all thought it. Every Games, no one would die in the last few days so new twists were put in, I mean, how could polar bears live in the desert? Last Games were desert themed and polar bears ate a few towards the end. I wasn't stupid, the Capitol people were vicious and cruel. When we woke up this morning, Aaron made us walk again. I've almost lost track of direction now. I had my slingshot in my hand still, Niles had his axe, Zane had the bow and Aaron had his knife. We were fully armed. I'm surprised I'm here. I was certain that I would be in the bloodbath, but I've made it. Aaron and Niles both protect me so much even though they are grumps half the time, and Zane, well, he's off in his own world. Lucky Aaron saved him or he'd be gone for sure, mind you, Zane did tackle the girl from 1 for Aaron, who in turn had saved me. A crackle of lightening struck the ground in the center of the arena, the ground shook. I squealed a little but it soon stopped. I heard Aaron curse.

"Probably that Whytte guy," Niles shrugged,
"Only one way to find out," Aaron walked the way we came,
"Woah, woah," Niles stopped him, "I didn't walk all this way just to turn around and go back to the walking dead,"
"You want to let his contraption ruin the arena and kill us all," Aaron snapped at him, Niles stayed silent, "I didn't think so, so unless you want your throat slit by Whytt, or possibly me, I suggest that you help. Otherwise you can shove this alliance up your big fat ar-"
"I think we've heard enough," Niles hissed, "Lead the way, almighty one,"
"Can't you guys stop fighting for just one minute?" I sighed, following Aaron, "Seriously, you're like two little girls arguing,"
"You just got told," Zane laughed. I think I even caught Niles and Aaron smiling. We all followed Aaron, I was walking side by side with him and Niles and Zane were behind us.

We got to the edge of the Cornocopia by midday. Back to our clearing. I couldn't see the dead man, he must have gone. Niles and Aaron were whispering about something that I couldn't be quite sure of. Suddenly, a boy ran out of the forest into the center of the machine. A beam shot up into the sky and he disappeared. I glanced at Aaron. His eyes were curious.
"We're going in?" he said. Zane's eyes went wide and he opened his mouth but Aaron covered it quickly, "Look, no canons have gone, so I'm going to assume that it is safe. Besides, we have to get out somehow,"
It went silent.
"He's right," Niles sighed, "We have to go fast though, I'll take Zane. We have to sprint,"
"Okay," Aaron nodded, I took Aaron's hand in mine,
"No one will shoot, right?" I asked,
"You'll be safe," his eyes twinkled at me. My brother really cared about me. I knew it then and there. He took a breath and sprinted, dragging me in the tow. It felt like forever to get there, Niles and Zane jumped on after us. The beam of light shone down at us and the world suddenly went white. I didn't realise I had closed my eyes. I opened them, I felt a weight on my back. The was some kind of metal thing on me. A note in my hand.

Reach the end. Jump to start, lean to turn. Use the levers to steer and turn off.

I looked at Aaron, Niles and Zane. They looked up from their notes.
"A new game, I guess," Niles said,
"I can't take it. Change is bad. Nothing good ever comes from change.." he was saying to himself.
I only just noticed the weapons lining the walls, and the people in different coloured coats. They carried funny looking bottles of different colours. Similar bottles were scattered on the wall, not many though. People with different coloured clothes ran through the place.
"Tributes," a voiced crackled, "A new games for you all, dodge the obstacles, and careful, some of those potions are best left undiscovered. And as always, may the odds be ever in your favour," Other tributes were with us. We all jumped at the same time, launching into action. I took off to the wall, all my belongings were gone, I had to get a weapon. I could see a small knife, that was all I needed. I steered towards it, having a little trouble. I heard Zane's all too familiar scream. I was still going forward, the direction of the arrows, and to the knife. But I still wished that I didn't look, I don't know why I did. His foot was the size of his body. I was almost sick at the sight. How could they do this? My own screaming filled the place we were in. A blue coated scientist was running away from him. Have to keep an eye on them. Niles was pulling Zane along, the foot was like a huge tree. A sudden disgusting smell filled my nose. Smoke and something else. A flaming human caught my eye, I crashed into the wall. The person was running around, shouting, their entire body was on fire. It was like there was skin dripping off them.
"Go Tessa!" I heard Aaron shout, "You have to get out of here," a canon finished his words. The person was still running around. Who died? I checked on Niles and Zane. Still there - alive. The flaming human being fell down to the ground, a canon ended their life. Two canons already.
"Tessa!" he sounded anrgy, "Get out of here!"
"I don't want to leave you," I shouted back. I saw another blue coat heading towards them, "Watch out!" I cried. I lost view of them for a moment, the lights flickered on and off until we were left in a dim haze of light.
"Aaron!" my voice echoed through the chaos,
"Please, Tessa! Run!" Aaron shouted back. Sadness waas in his voice. I grabbed my knife and a green liquid and zoomed off. A canon boomed. Please, not Aaron. Not Niles. Not Zane. It can't be them. They have to live. A sudden pain shot through my body. I looked down to see my foot shrinking in size. I screamed. I could feel the snapping in my body. I started to feel sick. My head started spinning. I was falling, and all I thought was 'I'm going to die'. I wasn't going to make it back to Rohan, Clara and Dad. Would I see them in spirit? Or would I never see their smiles again? The air whipped around me as I fell. I thought I'd smash into the ground, but I landed lightly. I blacked out from the pain for a moment. I saw a blue coat. Maybe he could help, he made Zane's foot big, he could fix mine.
"Hey, pin head," I shouted, "Do they pay you to be a lazy blue coat? Or do you have to do something? Maybe you could be a Capitol snub-brain," I was getting his attention. He stormed towards me. I could see the bottle in his hand. Just as he threw it I lifted my leg up. I screamed as the glass cut into me, but my foot started growing. Tears leaked down my face. Bluey was aiming again. I forced myself upwards and flew away. My foot. Why was it still hurting? Boom! Another canon. Green is the colour of leaves, yes? Green leaves always helped. I drank the green stuff. It tasted horrid but it might help. I held onto the wall. Relief spread through me. My foot was still aching, but it felt better. I heard a whooshing sound coming near me. A huge red thing was coming at me. I jumped off the wall, dodging it. I went forward. There had to be an end. Once I found it, we could all get out. No more dying. A beam of red light swam beneath me. I felt the heat from where I was, that couldn't be good. I could see a shadow of someone in front of me, flying. I saw a small red dot in front of me. I went down.
"Watch out!" I called to the person that was in front of me, but I knew it was too late. The beam went straight through them. Boom! Split into two pieces, the body - bodies - fell to the ground beneath me. That was four people, we haven't even been in here for long. I saw another lab coat. Black. I had to stay away. I went up high, watching for any obstacles. A shadow zoomed past me. I swear I could hear another one, I did. It smashed into my face. I let out a strangled cry. I was being choked. I clawed at the person. Lack of air, the first thing I felt. The second, falling. Again, I was falling. I kicked and heard a groan. I gasped like a fish and kicked and punched. Niles taught me well. I twisted my body around. I could see the floor, I was too close for my liking. I pushed off the body, just in time. The thing on my back kept me floating. The person splattered to the ground. There was no canon. A rush of black, blue and red coats headed for the person. It, he, was groaning. I went away, not looking back. I heard the snapping, the screaming and smelled the burning flesh. I glanced at him. Half his body was as big as several bush trees, the other was as small as a mouse. Yet, his whole body was in flames. The smell was overwhelming. I spewed, not quite sure onto what. What shocked me was that they boy was still alive. No canons had gone off. His screaming must have turned silent. His eyeballs were melting, his head was the half that was huge. I turned back. I couldn't watch. Humans never used to be so cruel, they couldn't have been.
"What was I thinking," I muttered to myself, "I'm not going to Hell, they are," 'They' being the people in the colours. I kept flying. My dream had always been flying.

"Higher Daddy, higher," I squealed. I was young, only about five. Dad was lifting me up and spinning me through the air. I laughed in delight. It made my tummy twirl.
"I'm a bird!" I laughed, "Squwak, squwack," That was the sound that the birds made in the forest. I would always whistle to them and chase them through the tress. But now, I was flying, not climbing.
"Yes, Tessy, you're flying," Dad said. He placed me gently on the ground. I frowned, I wanted to fly some more. I begged for him to do it again, he said I had to take care of my siblings while he did some jobs.
"Will we go flying tomorrow?" I asked, doubt filled my mind. We had to fly again. It couldn't end, flying was fun. I loved it. Dad loved it. It was the only time he smiled after Mum died.
"Of course, little bird, of course we will fly," he replied. He walked away from me. But I smiled, we would fly tomorrow.

We didn't fly the next day, or the day after that. It was the last time I ever flew with Dad. I took on my mothering role, and he worked. Never having enough time for me. I guess that's what drew me to Aaron. He took time with me. He cared about me. He protected me over and over again. That's why I stopped in mid air. There was a faint light at the end. But I turned around and flew back to find Aaron. Because, after all: we didn't all have the chance to take flight, and at some point, I knew that it had to end.