A Whole New Game: A Hunger Games Story

Chapter 16: Hostage

Athena

    After a few hours, the general excitement of Finnick and Carver's arrival had died down. Clove looks the happiest I have ever seen her, as well as every other female in the district.

    Like every day for the past week, I mechanically follow the usual routine of getting up and following the schedule printed on my arm. Ever since the first day, it has been as such: breakfast, training, reflection, training, lunch, workout, education, more training, dinner, bathing, lights out. Except for today.

    I look at my schedule and I am relieved to find that I do not have training printed on my arm. In fact, I don't even have breakfast. Instead it says 6:30- Weapons Room. Then for the rest of the day it just says Medical.

    Then I realize what this means. Today is the day I get my arm back.

    I sprint towards the Weapons room eagerly, almost running into Eleanor as I go. I ignore the indignant yell in my direction as I push open the door.

    Gale comes into view with a deadly looking gun in his hand. It suddenly lets forth a small lazer beam, which burns a nice hole in the wall just above my head. He turns it off immediately. When he puts it back down, it's gingerly, as if it might go off.

    "It's obvious I am not welcome here," I say grinning.

    "The gun is faulty," he protests somberly. He then catches my expression and a somewhat friendly smile creeps up his cheek. "Yes Athena, it is my sole purpose in life to make sure you do not make it out of this room alive."

    As if on cue, the gun goes off again and we both hit the ground as it fires in our direction.

    "What's all that noise?" Beetee's voice calls out.

    "It's just us!" Gale calls as we get up from the floor. "Athena is here."

    Beetee hobbles into view. He has thick goggles that seem to magnify his eyes so he looks like a bug. "Ah, Miss Raze! So happy to see you again!" he says, his eyes bulgin like miniature snow globes.

    "The prototype's faulty, it keeps shooting off," Gale snaps.

    "It's not a prototype," the old man replies smartly. Beetee walks over to the gun, and ignoring the warnings from Gale, he barbarically slams it against the tabletop. It hums and vibrates a moment. He then turns and shoots three beams at a spare dummy, reducing it to an ashy black torso.

    Gale makes some sort of unintelligible noise of disbelief.

    "I don't think it's faulty at all," Beetee says matter-of-factly.

    He suddenly turns toward me. "Miss Raze! Are you ready for the surgery?"

    "You mean just like that? One surgery and I have my arm back?"

    "Yes, we are ready whenever you are. I will be right alongside the surgeons the whole time."

    I begin to get nervous. For some reason I look to Gale for reassurance. He gives me a small approving look and nods.

    I turn back and face Beetee, repressing my excitement under an affirmative grin. "I'm ready."

    I am escorted to the Medical room by two assistants, where the doctor gives me a check up. Soon, I am laying down on a sterile paper sheet over a white bed, with metal rungs on either edges. The doctor leaves, saying he will be back to put me under. I lay there staring up at the ceiling. I have never been in a hospital before. I have never had surgery. I only know it means I will soon be...opened. Suddenly the door opens and my heart begins to race. I sit up only to find Beetee standing in the doorway.