So, next chapter is now.
Day 9
Rio Blackpoint
District 12
I try to count how many tributes are left in these Games. There are three Careers, Alec and Stella, and me. Six tributes remaining. The storm is still going, making me unable to leave my hiding place in a pitfall that had been used by the Careers. Using a sponsor's gift, I'd covered the hole with a camoflauge blanket, and dug a bit to the side so if anyone fell down, I wouldn't be crushed.
I'd laid someblankets and some pillows. I made some grip holds that would support my weight, but not the Career's, except maybe Glisten, but she's dead. I decide to get out of my hole. I might take some Careers, maybe. I climb out of the hole, my swords on my back. When I get out, something hits me on the back of my head, and I fall over. A hazy figure stands over me as I lose consciousness.
I wake up several hours later tied to a tree. A slim figure is standing with his back to me. As my eyes adjust, I see the figure has a mop of red hair. Quiro. "You..." I say. He turns around and smiles. "You've woken up," he says. "Let me go!" I yell at him. He walks toward me, circling the tree I'm tied to.
"You know, we have a lot in common, Rio," he says, still circling the tree. "I hope not," I say back, and he chuckles. "We do, whether you like it or not," he says coming to a stop in my vision. "First off, we both had siblings who died in the 21st Hunger Games." I look at him. The two tributes last year were siblings, and if what he said was true....
A wave of anger surges through me. His sister, his sister killed my brother. His thin grin widens some more, seeing that I've realized the point. "That's right. Rela and Orson were my older brother and sister. My sister killed your brother." I struggle to get free of my bonds, but it's no use. It's too tight.
He continues. "When Zordo came to you, he was injured. I volunteered to injure him because his namesake killed Rela. So, like your anger at me, it is a form of justified revenge." He turns away from me. "Which is what the Capitol wants, what Chailyn and the rest of the Careers want, to give a show."
"You talk about the Careers like you aren't one," I note. He turns back to face me and raises both his eyebrows. "No matter what I say, matter what I am," he murmurs. It's my turn to raise my eyebrows. Then voices call out in the swamp. "Quiro! Quiro!" He turns, and Maria and Chailyn come into view.
Chailyn smiles. "We'd been wondering where you'd been," she says. "So we decided to look for you." She looks at me with contempt. "So, you caught a fish," she says absentmindedly. He nods. "Kill him then," she says, gesturing to me. "We don't have all day." He pulls out his knife. This scene reminds me of something days ago, when Zordo betrayed the Careers.
He's hesitating, just like that day. Then, I swear I see his knife drop a bit when I smell something. Smoke. He turns to see a flame coming in the direction of me and the Careers. "Run!" he yells, and the Careers scatter. I remember fire in some of the other Games, it must be Gamemaker made, no fire would move through a swamp.
"Help!" I yell, but of course, no one comes. The tree I'm tied to catches fire, and the flames travel down the tree. I can feel the heat on my back. I struggle to break free, but the bonds are too tight. I see my swords lying on a log several feet away. If only I could reach the stupid things.
I feel something in my pocket. A pocket knife. I must have left it there. I manage to get it into my hands, and saw through the rope. I try to move faster as the flames get ever closer to my body. I finally cut through it just as the flames reach my body. I run, and as soon as I'm out of the swamp and into the prairie, I watch the swamp burn.
Eventually, it dies out. It has served its purpose. It was meant to stall a confrontation between me and the Careers. And stall it did.
But this is getting better as it progresses (and it was good from the start). I'm intriqued to see the winner. Any idea how many more chapters there will be?
I get that all the time in real life, as well.