chapter eighteen: the arena
UNEDITED—
KANG Y/N
Sixty seconds and then all hell would break loose. The game would officially start.
23 of us will die and one will make it out alive at the end of the game that was about to start.
Welcome to the 125th hunger games Y/n.
I searched my surroundings, trying to spot Jungkook. No, he was on the other side of the cornucopia.
We were standing in a field, it looked completely normal. Around us there were woods and I shivered as soon as I saw the wind rustle the leaves.
It was kinda cold. Actually, it was very cold.
40 seconds.
Okay, the cornucopia is right in front of you Y/n, all you have to do is fight through the long grass. And of course the other tributes.
On my side of the cornucopia I could make out Byun Baekhyun, Kim Jennie, Lee Taeyong, and Song Xiomi. The others were too far away for me to see.
Food was sprinkled around the cornucopia and I immediately zoned in on a small blue package. There was also a small knife next to it, a perfect fit for my small hands.
I'm going to manage this... I'll survive the day Jisung, I promise you that much.
Baekhyun was readying to his stance, but it looked like he was going to run into the woods. Good, I didn't want to see him die.
Jennie and Taeyong were obviously planning to reach the cornucopia and part of me hoped that they would survive. But that meant me dying, that meant Jungkook dying.
Song Xiomi's expression was terrifying, bloodthirsty, and full of pure hate. I shuddered looking into her ice-cold eyes. She was going to kill people and enjoy it.
I felt sick. I didn't want to do this, I was just fourteen.
You're the older sibling Y/n! You have to do this, for your younger brother... He would definitely try for you.
20 seconds
I looked at my surroundings again and I couldn't help but let out a tear. It silently slid down my cheeks.
The time before the arena was fun and I made friends. I, the unsocial girl made friends.
And now everything is about to be taken away from me.
Thank you Jungkook, Hana, Baekhyun, and Lili for being my friends.
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The horn sounded and I sprinted towards the blue pack, ignoring all sounds around me.
Get the pack and get out of here!
Get the pack and get out of here!
The same goal repeated in my head and I willed myself to go faster.
I quickly snatched up the blue pack and the knife, turning around to see if anyone had followed me. No one had.
I could see Jungkook standing in the cornucopia and he- he was slitting open the throat of one tribute. Blood splattered everywhere and I could make out the wild look in his eyes.
He was a murderer now and maybe I would also be one shortly.
Wack!
The sound of the water-bottle hitting my head half-heartedly as the pain coming from that blow snapped me out of my thoughts.
Who?
It was Hana, small innocent Hana. She was standing in front of me, a long knife and a bag full of food in her hands. Tears were running down her face and she was sobbing while raising the knife to stab me.
"I have someone special back home, I love him Y/n. I'm sorry, but I have to get home." Hana choked out.
I wasn't angry or sad, I was feeling strangely light-headed.
Ah... the water bottle did hit my head quite hard.
"I'm sorry Y/-" Hana was cut off by her violent coughs. Blood was coming out of her mouth.
"Hana! No!" I screamed even though the girl had just tried to kill me. She was still my best friend.
About ten meters behind Hana stood Kim Seokjin, twirling a set of beautifully made throwing knives.
He mouthed at me to run, but I didn't listen.
I rushed towards Hana and I put her head on my lap, stroking her bangs.
She was a young and beautiful girl that would have had a right future if it weren't for the games.
My heart clenched at the sight of her licking her bloody lips, tears still streaming down her face.
She was definitely dying and I knew that nothing I would do, would ever help.
"I'm sorry Y/n... I just wanted to go back to him." She whispered and I just nodded.
I was not mad, why would I be? If it came down to it, I probably would do the same for Jisung.
She was going to die no matter what, that much was sure.
"Could you take care of his name for me? I want someone to remember him, we didn't really have friends or family."
Him? She probably meant her boyfriend, the person she always described as the one true love.
"Yes, what's his name?" I asked quietly leaning close.
"His name is Jeno. When you remember me, please remember him as well." She whispered and slowly closed her eyes. I nodded in conformation, but she of course didn't see.
I didn't scream or cry for her to wake up, she was dead. There was no use for that.
Sluggishly I stood up, taking her supplies as well as mine and turning to run into the Forrest.
Someone like Seokjin would get her things otherwise and I would not bear to see her killer in possession of her things.
Up ahead at the cornucopia, I could make out Jin fighting with Jennie and Jungkook fighting with both of the twins.
May all of you rot in hell. Especially you Jin.
I sprinted towards the Forrest, not daring to look back.
The Forrest was green and seemed somewhat empty.
At home in our little Forrest, the trees were always so close to one another, but here they stood far away from each other.
That would be bad for hiding, maybe that's why the capital made them grow like that.
The ground was soft and it made it easy to run. I was always good at running, running away from problems, and now running away from death and grief.
But wasn't there a saying, that someday everything would catch up or something?
I had a feeling that everything was going to catch up to me pretty soon.
After about two hours of me jogging through the woods, the canons started. The fighting at the cornucopia had now ended and the bodies were going to be collected soon.
Hana's body was going to be sent home. Home to her boyfriend, Jeno.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Seven tributes died at the bloodbath and that meant that seven tributes became Murderers today.