Hunger Games 1

Chapter 21 The Horn of Zeus (1)
60 seconds.We were required to stand inside the circular metal plate for 60 seconds until we heard the sound of the gong before we could leave.One second earlier, the landmine would blow off the leg.During these 60 seconds, all the "tributes" form a circle and stand equidistant from the Horn of Zeus.The Horn of Zeus is a huge golden cone with a spiral at the end.The opening of the Horn of Zeus is at least twenty feet high, and it is filled with the supplies we use in the arena: food, water vessels, weapons, medicines, clothing, firearms.The Horn of Zeus is surrounded by other supplies that become less valuable the farther they are from the Horn.Example: There is a three-foot-wide plastic sheet just a few steps away from me.Of course, it will come in handy when it rains heavily.But at the opening of the Horn of Zeus, I saw a tent that can handle almost all weathers.Only if I have the courage to fight desperately with the other 23 "tributes" can I get it.But my order is not to take it.

We were standing on an open, flat field with hard, firm ground.Behind the "tribute" opposite me, there is nothing, which shows that behind him is either a steep slope or a cliff.To my right is a lake, to my left and behind, a sparse pine forest.This is the direction Haymitch wants me to run.be quick!
His commands still ring in my ears. "Evacuate quickly, you two should try to stay away from each other and others as much as possible, and then find a source of water."

But those rich items in front of me are too tempting for me.I knew that if I couldn't get it, someone else would, and that the "pros" who survived the shopping would share those life-sustaining items.One of those items that particularly appealed to me was the bow and arrows in a silver sheath, already stringed and ready to be shot. "That's mine," I thought, "for me."

I run very fast.Among the girls at school, except for one or two who could beat me in the long-distance race, I was the first in all other races.These forty yards are the most suitable distance for me to run fast.I know I can get it, I can get there first.But then the question is, can I get a quick run from there?By the time I've climbed up that pile of stuff and grabbed the weapon, the others run to the Horn of Zeus, one or two I might be able to take care of, but if there's a dozen of them, at that close range, they can use a spear or A stick or my own mighty fist knocked me down.

However, I'm not the only target they attack, I think they may ignore a small girl, even if she scored eleven points in training, they may deal with stronger opponents.

Haymitch has never seen me run, otherwise maybe he would have sent me to get the bow because it was the only weapon that would have saved my life.And among that pile of things, the only thing I saw in my eyes was the bow and arrow.The seconds were ticking, I had to make a quick decision, and I found myself ready to run, not to the pine forest but to the Horn of Zeus, to the bow and arrow.That's when I suddenly see Peeta, who's about five "tributes" to my right, which is a fair distance.I could feel him looking at me, he seemed to be shaking his head at me.But the sun was dazzling, and when I was thinking about it, the gong had already sounded.

At that moment, I missed it, missed the best time!The first few seconds of my unpreparedness were enough to change my mind about rushing to the Horn of Zeus.I hesitated, not knowing which direction to run.Immediately afterwards, I ran forward and picked up the plastic sheet and a piece of bread on the ground.I have so little stuff, I really hate Peeta for distracting me at this point.I sprinted another twenty yards to get a bright orange backpack because I couldn't bear to walk away with almost nothing.

A boy, I think from District [-], ran to the backpack at the same time as me, and the moment we grabbed the bag at the same time, he coughed and my face was immediately splattered with blood.I staggered back a step, the sticky hot blood made me sick.Then, the boy fell to the ground slumped, and at this moment, I saw a knife stuck in his back.

The other "tributes" have reached the Horn of Zeus, and they start fighting each other.Yep, that District Two girl was ten yards away, running towards me with six knives in her hand.When I was training, I saw her throw a knife, she never missed it, and I was her next target.

The previous fear of everything turned into a fear of this one girl, a predator who could kill me in seconds.Adrenaline was secreting rapidly in my body, I put my bag on one shoulder and ran towards the woods with all my strength.I heard the whizzing of knives behind me and lifted my bag over my head.The knife was stuck in the backpack.At this time, I had my bag on my shoulders and ran towards the woods as hard as I could.Somehow, I knew that girl would stop chasing me, that she would run back to the Horn of Zeus before everything was taken.I grinned, "Thanks for having this knife." I thought.

When I ran to the edge of the woods, I looked back.About a dozen "tributes" were scrambling over the pile of supplies, and some were lying on the ground, killed.Those lucky enough to escape have disappeared into the woods or ran to the field opposite me.I kept running until I was out of sight of the other tributes, and then I jogged to last a little longer.For the next few hours, I jogged and walked briskly, keeping as far away from my opponent as possible.I lost the bread in a bag fight with the boys from District [-], but I was trying to tuck the plastic up my sleeves as best I could.I folded it into neat little pieces as I went.I also took the knife out and put it on my belt.It's a nice knife with a long, sharp edge and serrations near the handle for easy cutting.I haven't dared to stop to check the contents of the bag, just keep walking forward, stopping occasionally to see if anyone is following me.

I can walk for a long time, I knew that when I was in the jungles of District [-].But I still need water.This is Haymitch's second order.I didn't follow his first order very well, so I paid special attention to the water source at this time.no trace.Bad luck!

The forest belt began to change, and many other species appeared among the pines, some I knew and others I didn't know.When I got to a place, I suddenly heard a sound, pulled out the knife, and prepared to defend myself.But I soon found out that I just scared away a rabbit. "Nice to meet you." I said softly.If one rabbit is found in the forest, it means that there can be hundreds of rabbits to hunt.

Downhill ahead, I don't like downhill very much.The canyon made me feel claustrophobic.I like high ground, like the hillsides of District [-], where I can see approaching prey.Here, I have no choice but to keep moving forward.

The funny thing is, I don't feel too bad about it.The previous period of eating and drinking has paid off, and even with less sleep, I am full of energy, because the jungle has infused me with vitality.I like to be alone, even if only imaginatively, because maybe I'm on the screen right now.Not continuously, of course, but intermittently.So many people died on the first day, it's nothing to see a "tribute" walking alone in the forest.But there will also be a little bit of footage of me to reassure the audience that I'm alive, unharmed, and moving forward.The first day of the Hunger Games was the day when the most wagers were wagered and the first casualties occurred.But none of this is as thrilling as the battle of a few players at the end of the game.

Towards dusk, I heard cannon fire, each one representing a dead tribute.The battle over the Horn of Zeus is certainly over.Only after the killers had dispersed completely would they carry away the bloody dead.On the first day of the Hunger Games, the cannons were not fired until the battle was over because the number of dead was difficult to track.I stopped in my tracks, my heart pounding, and I counted the cannons, one, two, three... The cannons lasted eleven times before they stopped.In all, eleven died.Thirteen remained to continue the game.I scratched the blood that the boys from District [-] had spattered on my face with my nails.Of course he's dead, what about Peeta?Did he survive today?I'll know in a few hours, when they'll beam images of the dead into the air for other "tributes" to see.

Thinking of this, I suddenly shivered, and I felt that Peeta may be dead, bleeding and pale, he has been carried away, and he is being transported back to the Capitol to be washed, dressed, and then packed in a simple wooden box. The coffin was sent back to District [-].He is no longer here, on his way home.

I managed to recall if I saw him when the action began, but the last impression I could piece together was that he was shaking his head at me as the gong struck.

Maybe it's better for him to go, he doesn't have the confidence to win, and I don't have to worry so much about finally having to kill him.Perhaps it was a blessing for him to be out of the fight for good.

I was so exhausted that I fell to the ground with my backpack beside me. Anyway, I had to finish the hard trek before dark.Let's see what else I can do.I opened the pack, and I found it was sturdy, but the color was awful, the orange would glow at night, and I secretly reminded myself to camouflage it first thing in the morning.

I opened the backpack lid, and what I needed most at this time was water.Haymitch's order to find water as soon as possible wasn't random.I couldn't last long without water, and within a few days I would be dehydrated and sick, and then it would get worse until I was dead a week later, a week at most.

I carefully removed the supplies inside: a thin sleeping bag that reflects body heat, a box of matches, a small coil of string, a pair of sunglasses, an empty plastic half-gallon water jug.

(End of this chapter)