23Chapter 19
Finnick POV.
I sit there in the Mentor's lounge in the training center, watching Annie in her launch room, preparing to rise into the arena. The only advice I could give her was to run as fast as possible away from the madness at the cornucopia. All I can do now is hope that she listens to my advice, mostly because I don't want her to die. It seems inevitable, though. I watch, heart pounding, as she rises up into the arena. She looks around, taking in her surroundings. A landscape speckled with caves and crevices stretches in most all directions. A mountain rises up several miles in front of her, and the same to the back. She is in a valley, no trees or water in sight.
Annie POV.
The clock counts down from sixty.
Fifty-nine. I hope I don't die.
Fifty-eight. I could be dead within an hour.
Fifty-six. I think about Finnick's kiss. Does he really love me? Or am I just another girl to him.
Forty-nine. What do I do?
Forty What the hell do I do? There isn't a single hiding place in sight, accept for the dark openings in the distant mountains, which could hide any terror.
Thirty. Should I run.
Twenty-nine. Should I run into the cornucopia and just get it over with fast?
Twenty. Run.
Eighteen Fight.
Ten. Run.
Seven. I love you, mom and dad.
Five. I love you, Finnick.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Run.
I turn, sprinting as fast as I can away from the cornucopia. Crap. All I have now are the clothes on my back, and my shell that Finnick returned to me for good luck in the arena. What good would a shell do right now? All I can do right now is just to get the heck out of here. I run as far and fast as I can. My legs ache, and my chest is heaving. After about an hour of flat out running, I know I'm in trouble. Sharp pains are knifing through my chest, causing my breath to come in short, shallow gasps. I can barely feel my feet anymore, and the skin on my face is already pealing from excruciating sunburn. I guess the gamemakers have cranked up the temperature.
I attempt to stay on my feet, stumbling with the effort of it. Suddenly, my foot is flailing in midair, and I'm falling, falling, falling.
Finnick POV.
I watch her fall into the deep hole. Her ankle lands beneath her, and I hear it break with an unnatural-sounding crack. Crap. Why did I let this happen to her? I watch her for a second longer, then decide to send her something, since it's obvious to me that there is no way to climb the stone walls of the hole. I press a red button on control panel and watch a list of options appear on the screen "What the heck," I mutter to myself, deciding to blow most of the sponsor money in one shot. I select some options, then press the send button. My screen flashes back to the image of Annie, and I relax a little, waiting for her to receive her gifts.
Annie POV.
"Ow!" I tried not to sound too loud, but I guess why you break your ankle, you kind of deserve to say something like that. "God," I mutter. Sitting back on my good leg, I cradle injured ankle in my hand. How the (insert swear word of your choice here) am I going to even have a chance at coming out alive? Just as I'm beginning to feel more and more sorry for myself, I make out two parachutes floating slowly down toward me. I catch them when they get closer, and open one of them to examine the contents. It contained medicine and a note which read:
Annie, put this on your ankle. It's high-tech medicine and it will practically heal it.
Good luck,
Finnick
The medicine turns out to be a patch, which I stick on ankle. The burning pain hits me instantly. The second parachute contains a meal. I guess Finnick guessed I wouldn't be coming out of this hole anytime soon. As I dig in, I look at the slick, smooth stone sides of the hole. He was definitely right.
The meal fills me up quickly, and I save what I don't eat for later. Who knows how much money this cost. As I'm settling down on the stone floor, I hear the first cannon. One, two, three... On and on until fifteen cannons have fired. Fifteen? I think that's a record for number of deaths in one day. At least it isn't likely that any of the remaining eight tributes will find me because of my location.
Days pass, with me sitting here, worrying, running through possible deaths in my head. How will I die? From hunger? Thirst? Finnick's food has kept me remarkably hydrated and feeling full, but what happens when hunger replaces the fullness? The day passes like this, in a daze of worry. Just as the sun is setting, I see the first droplets of water rising from the ground.
Ooo, cliffy? I guess? Sorry it's sooo short. I'm writing this in Algebra class, so don't want to get caught. That's just how bored I am right now... Algebra really, really sucks. Anyway, thanks for sticking with me, and please r and r! Laters, awesome readers.
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