Pieces in the game. (The Hunger Games)

Chapter 11: Let the Games begin

Lilly's POV.
Sixty seconds. That's how long we're required to stand on our metal circles before the sound of the gong releases us. Step off before the minute is up, and landmines blow your legs off. Sixty seconds to take in the ring of tributes all equidistant from the Cornucopia, a giant golden horn shaped like a cone with a curved tail, the mouth of which is at least seven metres high, spilling over with things that will give us life here in the arena. Food, containers of water, weapons, medicine, garments, fire starters. Strewn around the Cornucopia are other supplies, their value decreasing the further they are from the horn. For instance, only a few steps from my feet lies a metre square of plastic. Certainly it could be of some use in a downpour. But there in the mouth, I can see a tent pack. I won't have time to go and get it for them though. We're on a flat, open stretch of ground. A plain of hard- packed dirt. Behind the tributes across from me, I can see nothing, indicating either a steep downwards slope or even a cliff, to my right lies a lake. To my left and back, sparse piney woods. This is where Kat and Gale will be going once they get their packs. I look around to see where Katniss and Gale are and I'm relieved to spot them about four tributes to my right side by side. I look over to my left and see Cato getting prepared to run.

I then look back at Kat and Gale and give them the sign to hide. I notice Peeta on the far side of Gale and he catches my eye and shakes his head. What? Suddenly the gong goes off and I jump down from my podium and sprint, grabbing the plastic, another five feet I have one pack and a quick sprint to my right and I have a second. I'm around the back of the Cornucopia now and I see a boy come running around the corner with a pack of his own. He's only 14 from what I recall and then he falls suddenly. I see a knife in his back. I quickly grab it and wipe the blood off in the grass before running over to Katniss' podium where she and Gale huddled. I threw the stuff at them and then handed the knife to Gale. "Go, quickly," I urge them. They take off and when they get to tree line they look back and I wave at them. I hear more than one voice calling my name. Ok, has to look believable. I get down on my knees beside Katniss' podium and using all my strength I hit my the side of my face off the podium. Then I lay back on the grass with my eyes closed trying to block the pain out. I can only imagine what the people in the Capitol are making of this!

A couple of minutes later I hear Belle scream for Cato. Before I know it he's kneeling beside me helping me to sit up. Then he examines the side of my face. "Who did this?" he asks. "A boy from 10 I think," I say wincing with pain. "I can't really remember". Cato just growls and picks me up bridal style, carrying me back to the mouth of the Cornucopia. "If we start hunting soon we can catch more. Go through all the packs and we'll see what we have," I hear Marvel say, before he growls too. Then Cato and I have everyone's attention. Belle freaks out and starts rummaging through the packs. "There must be one somewhere, there usually is," she mutters to herself before pulling out a clear plastic pouch with two tablets inside, the pouch was labelled painkillers. She quickly takes one out and then cuts it in half. She then hands it to me with a cup of water. "Sorry, we don't know how much there is so that's the best I can do," she says and I smile. I quickly swallow the painkiller when my eyes settle on him. What the hell is he doing? Peeta is walking back to the Cornucopia. Cato turns around and spots him. "I think I've thought of a better use for him, at least for a while," he mutters and then goes into a huddle. I hear the words "girl on fire" and "he'll lead us to her" so I move away. Though I get barely more than a step when I hear Heath call me back. "No offence guys, as much as I don't like her right now I don't want to be a part of my sister's murder. I'm gonna go see what he's up to," I say as I feel Belle slip her hand into mine and I feel Cloves presence at my back.