** Task - The Bloodbath **
I woke up especially early. I had a few things on my mind.
Number 1: the Hunger Games would start in a few hours.
Number 2: this huge alliance that I apparently organised.
Number 3: I got an 8 as a training score.
And number 4: Phae.
I’ll walk you through so it’s not so confusing. The first is self-explanatory – the Games would begin today and who wouldn’t be nervous. The second is that I organised an alliance. As well as the Careers we also have 3 useless girls joining us – mind you they did get higher scores than the District 4 careers. And the District 6 girl – an 11! She got the same as Phae. Maybe I would have to watch my back. The third is my training score – an 8. I mean, sure I cut my finger off with that damn flying axe but that’s worth extra points, right? I didn’t mean to do that. In fact, I had a bad feeling about that axe in the first place. And last but not least, Phae. She was the one who made me look so stupid. Then again it helped my act but Careers didn’t team up with weaker Districts. What the hell? I don’t need this. I walked out the door and ran into Phae. I gritted my teeth and quickly put on a charming smile.
“Hey baby,” I said coolly. She giggled and fluttered her eye lashes, “You should have taken up my offer last night, I was a little cold all by myself,” I had expected her to keep up the act, since we both know each other’s secrets but she ignored my attempts to distract her last night.
“Sorry! But I have to get ready; I have to look perfect for the Games. Ta ta.” She gave a flimsy wave and walked off in her ridiculously short skirt. I couldn’t help but stare at her ass. It wasn’t just her looks, she was actually smart too. But her whole act said otherwise. But she knew who I was and I knew who she was so I was content to let her be. I shrugged mentally. She’d be fine. Everyone would see her true colours in the Games.
**
“1 minute remaining.” A robotic voice told me. I had already been in here for a while so I took a final drink of water.
“Tyberius, I just want you to know..” my stylist started to get teary and came towards me with open arms,
“Save it, egghead,” I shoved him away and couldn’t help but grin when I saw his shocked face. Capitol people were like humans without brains, thus the reason I refer to them as eggheads. They have eggs inside their heads – possibly scrambled eggs. I did a few warm-ups before entering the tube.
“30 seconds remaining,” the voice said.
“I’m waiting!” I hissed impatiently. Even in front of my stylist I couldn’t show the real me, but this façade I put on was almost natural to me now. The glass door trapped me inside the tube. I felt a little claustrophobic and nervous now. No matter how hard we trained, nothing could prepare us for the arena layout. I felt the tube slowly rise. I took some deep breaths to calm myself. I still gasped as I took in the arena. It was ancient. Columns went down one way and concrete debris lay around the place. It was like a green meadow where the Cornucopia was, along with concrete and stone walls. Part of me wanted to study the place so badly and find out more about it – but it wouldn’t help me. I had to be a typical Career. I was a District 1 male which meant I was in charge. I made the plans. I had control over my allies. So, ultimately, I had the biggest advantage. A small forest was between a few ruins on both sides. Enough cover to be stealthy. The countdown from 60 had already started. It was at 46 seconds. I could see my weapons. Of course, my favourite was there – the kukri knife. There was also a scythe and a spear with a silver end. I wanted them. I then searched for my allies. Phae was about six tributes to my right, I couldn’t see Eden. The District 4 tributes were several tribute to my left and Nicki or Nixie (I couldn’t be bothered to remember) was between me and Phae. The countdown was now down to 15 seconds. I got into a sprinting position. The booming began. 10, 9, 8. I was ready. My stomach was filled with butterflies. 4, 3, 2. Bring it on! The gong sounded. I leapt of the pedestal and pushed my legs to the limit, I only had to get one weapon to begin the kills. I reached the Cornucopia in no time. I picked up my scythe and a few throwing knives. Adam – the boy from 4 – was having a little trouble. I aimed and flicked my wrist. The boy on top of him fell to the ground. A glance to my right told me that Phae had her weapons. I saw an easy target – a small girl. I sprinted for and tackled her. I drew the tip of the blade down her cheek and squeezed out the blood. She screamed in my face. I stabbed her several times in the chest and her body went limp. I stood up and wiped the blood off my face. Phae was straddling a guy and I think I saw an organ out of his body. She could be so sadistic sometimes. Little Valarie was ripping another boys throat out and Nixie was browsing through the knives in the Cornucopia. All the other tributes had scattered by now. Our only company was the dead bodies that lay on the ground. I picked up a random backpack that was next to a boy and headed over to Nixie.
“Did it hurt when you fell from heaven, gorgeous?” I said putting on a charming smile,
“Angels don’t kill people, so no. But it looks like the fall really stuffed up your face,” she laughed turning around, “Tyberius, right?”
“Just Tyber,” I winked, ignoring her comment, “And don’t steal any of my knives,” I eyed her as she picked up a kindjal. Anyone would have thought it was just a fancy knife but in reality – it’s probably one of the best close combat weapons. I did listen in Career school, it wasn’t all flirting. I sauntered out of the Cornucopia to Phae.
“Did your shoes kill anyone?” I asked playfully, recalling her interview.
“Not today,” she smiled dumbly, “But they do like cuddles at night,”
“I’ll be sure to remember that.” I whispered in her ear.
**
I had a bag packed with enough food and water to last me for a while. I also snuck in some spare knives – couldn’t have Phae hogging them all – as well as an extra pair of night vision goggles. We snacked on some apples earlier and I was waiting to see some smoke. Five canons had signaled the end of the bloodbath. Five wasn’t enough. But then again, a larger Career alliance meant less kills anyways. If I had my way those District 4 tributes would be gone already and so would Fuse. I only kept Ula and Adam around to keep our numbers up – other than that, there was no other use for them. And Fuse was mental. She had already gone psycho when I touched her bum not long ago.
“Smoke!” Eden spoke his first words in the Games. He’d been giving us the silent treatment. I took a quick look. I spotted the smoke just beside the mini forest. It would be a ten minute jog maximum.
“Some have to stay here and some have to go and,” I began,
“I’m going with Tyber!” Phae jumped up and clutched my arm. I smile crept across my lips.
“So currently Phae and I are going. Anyone else?”
“Can’t we all go?” Valarie whined,
“No!” I snapped. These guys were true idiots. “Adam and Assly – or whatever your name is – you’re with us. Eden and Val – you two are in charge,” I ordered. I felt like it was day one in Career school all over again. I mainly wanted to take Adam because I needed him to know that I was the boss around here. And I had to make sure that I could trust him.
“It’s Assalyine,” Assa – her new nickname – said. I glared at her and she shrunk back.
“I’m going too,” Fuse stood up.
“You’re staying here!” I said and stormed off.
“Suck on that bitch!” I heard Phae tease Fuse. I grinned. Psychopaths. They all were. I moved to a jog once Phae, Adam and Assa had caught up. Assa took the lead.
“Stop checking her out,” Phae nudged me. I think she was jealous.
“She’s got a nice bum,” I shrugged innocently, “Way better than yours,” I added,
“But I’m way prettier,” she said,
“Sure, whatever you say babe,” I smirked. I moved up to a sprint. “Speed up! Or are you guys to chicken to get another kill?”
“Well if you stopped flirting we’d get there a lot quicker,” Adam grunted. I stopped in my tracks.
“What?” I snarled at him.
“Well…I think….” He stuttered.
“Well you know what?” I said, “I don’t give a shit because I’m the boss around here. Not you! And at least I like girls, don’t think I’ve noticed how you look at Eden,” I added cheekily. It was irrelevant to add but I knew he was gay and I had to keep up my bad boy act by being mean and cocky. I sprinted off again and followed the smell of smoke.
“He’s so good how he knows where we’re going,” I hear Phae talk to Assa,
“It’s pretty obvious,” Assa sighed. She was probably bored of being stuck with that dumb girl – that fake dumb girl.
“What’s obvious mean?”
I stifled a laugh. I stopped as I spotted the fire. I could smell the rabbit cooking. Everyone got the hint that someone was there. Just as well I bought Assa. This was her District partner. He was leaning against a stone wall that was half fallen down. He had a small axe beside him. It’s a wonder why he actually volunteered, such a waste. I heard her gasp as she came up behind me.
“Want to kill him?” I asked, an evil grin was on my face.
“No!” she said loudly. Jax – the boy – became alert. I raised an eyebrow.
“Are you a Career or not?” I whispered,
She nodded in reply.
“Then kill him,”
“I’ll do it!” Phae said eagerly in a quiet voice. I glared at her and she directed her gaze downwards.
“I can’t,” she whispered, it was barely audible. A tear fell down her cheek. I acted like I cared.
“Assa, it’s alright. We’ll leave him,” I kissed the tear on a cheek, “We’ll leave him with the Capitol,” I added, throwing my knife directly into his heart. Assa screamed in unison with the canon.
“Go get that, will you?” I said to Phae. She nodded and without making a sound went to Jax’s dead body.
“Let’s get out of here,” I said. Adam’s face was frozen in a shocked expression, Assa was still sobbing and Phae walked beside me like there wasn’t a better place in the world.
“It’s pretty scary when it’s dark,” I said quietly to her, it was getting late and the moon was already above the ruins, “Better hold my hand,”
“Lucky I have you then,” she smiles seductively. I noticed how she still didn’t come any closer to me, she just held my hand. I shrugged mentally. Girls were weird.
“We better hurry up,” I said. My mentor had warned me a lot about the mutations that the Gamemakers throw in here. I thought it would be interesting to create a mutt, but to do that I would need money and to get money – I’d need to win the Games. That was probably a good thing about me volunteering. I only volunteered because I saw Phae’s act on stage. She volunteered and wasn’t acting like she normally did – she was really quite intelligent and vicious. I volunteered to see how she would play out, which – in hindsight – was really stupid. But I didn’t want to be disowned by my family either. In fact, if they found out I was really smart and not a total ‘bad boy’, they would hate me too. I remember when Dione didn’t volunteer, I was disgusted. But now I know why he didn’t. Six careers go in and there is still only a 25% chance that one of us would win. Contending with five other Careers isn’t exactly something I’d like to do, but it’s necessary. Plus Eden seems like a good puppet, and as long as Phae thinks that I’m in love with her – it should be smooth sailing.
“Who’d you kill? Tell me, tell me!” Valarie jumped up from her position around the fire,
“Actually my shoe killed him….” Phae twirled her hair around her finger and plonked herself next to Eden. I think my eye may have twitched a little.
“He killed Jax,” Assa growled, “You son of a…” she shoved me to the ground. It made me look weak. I rolled around until she was underneath me. I straddled her and pinned her arms and legs down.
“Look, bitch,” I started, “You’re only alive because of us. If you wanted to go and play with your boyfriend you should have teamed up with him. So act like a Career or I’ll kill you myself, savvy?”
“Get off me, pervert!” she spat. I shoved her away.
“You know, if you want to get rid of her quickly,” Phae whispered in my ear, so close I could feel her lips, “I have a plan,”
“I’ll keep that in mind, beautiful,” I whispered back. I took a place near the fire next to Eden. So maybe days in here will be unpredictable. All I have to do is let these guys play the Game and maybe if I’m lucky, I can just sit back and watch.