Gasping, I try something I've only done once before.
I get into the best position I can, push off the tree and go flying to the tree on my left. The spear he hurls at me misses me by an inch, not even, because it scrapes my side. A stinging feeling comes from my side- which makes two injuries in 2 days.
I land in the tree, not perfectly, because I almost fall out, but my arms swing around random branches and I'm hanging off the side. Struggling to push myself back up, I grit my teeth and squeeze my eyes shut.
I'm still not prepared to die.
Eyes flying open, I look down, Kirel is pulling his spear out of the ground.
My arms hurt weak from starvation, even though I just had the finest food in the world, I haven't eaten in two and a half days. My legs are what the problem is. I ran all day yesterday as fast as I could, and they're so sore.
I squeeze my eyes shut, and pull myself into the tree. Why? Why don't I just let go, give up on life, accept defeat?
Because I'm Johanna Mason. And that's not what I do.
Kirel look shocked I managed to pull myself back.
The shock on his face quickly turns back into a scowl, and he turns, aiming his spear at me.
I feel like in idiot for what I do next. Jumping out of the tree, I try one of the only things I can do: run. Escape. Get out of there.
Kirel tries to pursue me, but he's all muscles in the arms, well fed, so he isn't as fast as me. I zigzag through trees which I know how to swoop around them, unlike him, and try to catch my breathe and ignore the jabbing pain in my side.
When I turn for a moment, I don't notice the log in front of me. I jump at the last second. Not enough. My entire body slams into the ground, ankle first. Ouch. Looks like a sprain.
But there's no time to think about it or do anything about it. I spring to my feet and try to stop thinking about Kirel in pursuit, because he's not that far away.
The pain on my ankle is unbearable, but I grit my teeth and continue running. Like I thought before over and over, I simply refuse to die. I'm too stubborn. Yeah, I've got a lot of nerve, guts, whatever you want to say.
I'm pretty proud of it.
Kirel is right on my heels, and I scale a tree quickly. Climb it as high as I can until the branches are too thin for comfort. Take a deep breathe, and prepare for my first kill.
I look down at my belt and pull out one of my axes.
That's when Kirel is at the bottom of my tree. He notices the axe I'm holding.
Laughing hysterically, he says, "You are going to try and kill me?"
No.
I'm not.
I jump from tree to tree like I did before, realizing I'm not too bad at this. Perspiration runs down my face.
Win the Games, Johanna.
Kirel loses me. Or maybe I lose Kirel.
Something appears out of the corner of my eye.
I gasp.
It's Amarack!
He hears my gasp and turns, thinking he's about to die, and approaches my tree. I lean in, try to disguise myself in the trees, something I know won't work well.
Then he gasps, noticing me. My shoulders tense up and I turn around, hating this moment.
"Amarack..." I say, and my voice fades.
"Johanna," He says angrily, crossing his arms.
"What?" I demand, glaring at him. Why is he angry at me. This is his fault!
"I'm going to kill you know," He says simply.
What?" I say.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Four cannons. All Careers, because I can (barely) see camp far away, and Kirel standing there with a bloody knife.
Crazy he could kill them all like that. That's so many deaths for a Day 2, I'm shocked.
Now who's left?
Both from 11. Girl from 9. Kirel. Amarack. Me. Boy from 8. One other Career..
Amarack is counting on his fingers, and I swallow a bunch of air.
He looks at me. I look at him. Our eyes meet each other for only a moment before I flicker mine to somewhere else: A tree. Behind him. If I don't jump up high enough, he might grab my ankle, which is already throbbing painfully.
And then he'll kill me.
Well, sorry, Amarack, you can't kill me. Not on my watch.
I get into a position like a frog. This seems to confuse and infuriate him.
My ankle is killing me in this position, adrenaline rushes through me, and I push off with my arms and feet.
In my slow motion stage, I fly right over Amarack. He looks up, mouth agape, and I breathe in as best I foot lands on a good area and I wrap my arms around it, pull myself up, and look down at Amarack.
"Wha- Johanna. I know you're not going to win. You are so weak. Get over it."
He lifts an axe and throws it at me. I flinch for only a moment, swerve to the side, and catch it.
Then I look at him, and continue jumping from tree to tree, with his axe. I lose him like I lost Kirel.
I'm still going to kill him. Just not yet.
For me, surviving is second nature.
The Games are just a part of my life. I can still go on and live. I refuse to accept defeat!
It's not too late, you know.