Голодные игры

           Iknowhecouldn’thaveforeseenthis,mustbehurtingformebecause,infact,Ibelievehecaresaboutme.Butallinall,maybeshowingupstarknakedinthatchariotwouldhavebeensaferforme.

           Theattackisnowover.TheGamemakersdon’twantmedead.Notyetanyway.Everyoneknowstheycoulddestroyusallwithinsecondsoftheopeninggong.TherealsportoftheHungerGamesiswatchingthetributeskilloneanother.Everysooften,theydokillatributejusttoremindtheplayerstheycan.Butmostly,theymanipulateusintoconfrontingoneanotherface-to-face.Whichmeans,ifIamnolongerbeingfiredat,thereisatleastoneothertributecloseathand.

           IwoulddragmyselfintoatreeandtakecovernowifIcould,butthesmokeisstillthickenoughtokillme.Imakemyselfstandandbegintolimpawayfromthewallofflamesthatlightsupthesky.Itdoesnotseemtobepursuingmeanylonger,exceptwithitsstinkingblackclouds.

           Anotherlight,daylight,beginstosoftlyemerge.Swirlsofsmokecatchthesunbeams.Myvisibilityispoor.Icanseemaybefifteenyardsinanydirection.Atributecouldeasilybeconcealedfrommehere.Ishoulddrawmyknifeasaprecaution,butIdoubtmyabilitytoholditforlong.Thepaininmyhandscaninnowaycompetewiththatinmycalf.Ihateburns,havealwayshatedthem,evenasmallonegottenfrompullingapanofbreadfromtheoven.Itistheworstkindofpaintome,butIhaveneverexperiencedanythinglikethis.

           I’msowearyIdon’tevennoticeI’minthepooluntilI’mankle-deep.