Arena One

A cluster of abandoned ruins surrounded by forests containing scattered tracker jacker nests. The tracker jackers are genetically altered wasps created in the Capitol during the Dark Days. Disturbing the nest causes them to chase or 'track' the offender, and the stings bring on extreme pain, hallucinations and often death. The ivy is poisonous to the touch. There are razor sharp spikes hidden in the walls, floor, and ground outside that are triggered by movement.

They had us in an airplane, taking us to the Arena. Peacekeepers came around and grabbed our arms, sticking a needle in and pushing the plunger down. "What the fuck is this for?" They said it was so we could be found and I rolled my eyes. So that's how it was done. I leaned back against my seat, rubbing my arm and trying to calm myself, just wishing this was over already.

He drove the needle into my arm and inserted the locator "Thanks for being gentle." I muttered, and looked away. The District two tributes had been watching me all morning with that look in their eye. I guess I know who my first victims are.

I saw how the district 2's were looking at Aurora and caught her eye, trying to figure out how to convey with my eyes that we could work together.

I caught Ezra's eyes and understood their meaning, I locked my gaze on her for just a moment, hoping she would catch on to it.

I nodded just slightly then turned my head away, staring straight ahead, just waiting for us to land. The sooner we started, the sooner we got this over with.

I few seconds later the plane started to land, once we were on the ground we were taken underground where we would be put into the tubes.

We were all led into separate rooms. I was given a jumpsuit-type outfit with my district number on the back, that I knew would look like everyone else's. I changed quickly then walked slowly over to the open tube. I hesitated then slowly stepped inside, my heart hammering in my chest. I had to calm down, I had to, I could do this, everything was going to be okay.....

I stepped inside of my tube, I reached up and tightened my pony tail then my hand fell around Quin's necklace as I held it. I had to make it through this, I had to stay alert and positive no matter what.

The tube closed and I shut my eyes, trying to get my bearings. It started to move upwards and I opened my eyes quickly, putting my hands on the glass to steady myself. I emerged into an open space, a wide expanse of forest covering two and a half sides, a bunch of ruined buildings stretching the other one and a half. The open square was huge, and I watched the other eleven tributes rise up from the ground, Wes beside me, Bastian a few spaces to my right, Aurora a few spaces to my left. We were in a circle, in the middle was a large pile of packs and weapons. I could see a bow and arrow right in the middle. I had to get that. There were two packs right beside it. I looked over and caught Aurora's eyes, looked at the packs and bow and arrow, looked back at her, and raised my eyebrows, silently asking her if she'd go for it with me. A voice came out of nowhere, loudly counting the seconds, from 60 down. I didn't take my eyes from her, waiting to see if she'd nod or shake her head, yes or no.

I nodded to Ezra after I followed her eyes and seen what she was referring too. I was starting to sweat and my hands felt a little clammy...I had to hold it together. I thought to myself before a booming voice announced that we had 15 more seconds. I wrapped my hand around Quin's necklace again, I didn't know if he was watching at this point.

I nodded back to her then turned my head back, focusing on those packs and that bow and arrow. I had to get it, no ifs ands or buts. It was almost time.... Ten... nine... eight... breathe Ezra, breathe... six... five... four... you can do this... two... one.... A buzzer sounded and I took off like a shot, dodging I didn't know who as they tried to take me down, I hadn't even gone five feet. I sped up, running hard, and made it to the pile. I grabbed the bow and arrows, flung one of the packs over my back, and grabbed a knife.

I ran beside of Ezra as hard as I could, I snatched up the other pack and put it around my shoulders and thank heavens there was a spear. I grabbed it too and that's when I seen him coming out of the corner of my eye with a sword. He swung at me and jumped back quickly, bringing my leg up so fast he didn't know what hit him when I kicked him in the abdomen.

I swung out with the knife and heard him cry out as I caught him with the chest. He came at me and I pulled and arrow out and loaded my bow and shot at him, freezing when the arrow went straight through his eye and he fell to the ground. I just killed someone.... Aurora grabbed my arm and I snapped out of it, grabbing the knife up off the ground. "We have to get out of here! Now!" I ran over to the guy, not taking the time to notice who he was, I just knew he wasn't Wes or Bastian. I yanked the arrow out of his head and put it in my pack. "I'm gonna need this," I said and took Aurora's hand. "Don't let go of my hand, run!"

We ran together into the forest line and I could still hear the screams and the footsteps of others chasing us "Hit the trees!" I yelled, and we started to climb.

I threw my pack of arrows over my shoulder and grabbed onto the lowest branch, climbing quickly up as high as I dared. Aurora followed me and we sat down on a thick branch. "We should've ran farther, gotten to water," I said as the square got quiet. Everyone was probably in the woods now. I heard voices and footsteps and three figures appeared on the ground below us.

I watched them both go into the trees and laughed. I pulled out my grappling hook and threw it up into the one the District 5 girl was hiding in. I climb up into the tree and started thrashing my blade around into the branches.
-Allen Prince

He was getting closer to Ezra, I pulled my pack off and tied it to the tree I was in. I took a deep breath...here goes nothing. I jumped from the tree, grabbing the limb of another as I flipped around it "To be a guy, I always thought you were a bitch." I spat and punched him in the face, he came up with his blade and I dodged but it managed to nick my cheek. I kicked him in his knee causing it to buckle and brought my knee up into has face. He fell from the tree and I heard the snap at the bottom...my first kill.

There were two others with him. They went for Aurora and I let down our packs in case we had to run, and jumped out of the tree, drawing an arrow from my pack. They split up, one for each of us, and I pointed the arrow straight at the guy. I recognized them as the District 4 tributes. "I've already killed one, don't make me do it again." He just laughed and whipped out a huge knife.



I brought out my knife and smirked as I circled with the other girl. "Think you can take me? Do you really?" I asked, laughing again at the look on her face.

- Janice Embers

I circled around her, smirking "You aren't going to live through this, you know that right? Five and Six never make it through the first day."
-Elijah Baldwin

"Oh, I know I can take you." I glared at her and she lunged at me, I moved fast doing a back flip before she could hit me "Surprise."

"You don't know who you're messing with," I said, glaring at him as we circled. "You don't want to mess with me." I pulled out another arrow and pulled it into the bow too, so he now had two arrows pointed at his chest. "I'm a perfect shot, I never miss."



I glared at her. "Ooh, so the little bitch has some tricks up her sleeve." We circled and I got close to her bag. "Look at all these little goodies," I said and made to grab her spear. She lunged at me and I dodged her, swinging out towards her with my knife.

- Janice

"Oh, really? Funny, because I never miss either." I smirked and threw my blade into her shoulder. She released her arrows but they went wary.
-Elijah Baldwin

"I've get a few more than that." I winked at her, not baking down. I heard Ezra scream out in pain "Ezra!" I tried to go to her but Janice blocked me.

I screamed out as the pain sliced through me, spreading through my entire arm, making it hard to breathe. I dropped to the ground, holding my shoulder, then looked around to see where the arrows had gone. Not a second later Elijah was right in front of me, another knife in his hand. I fell back on my back and kicked out with one of my feet, catching him right in the crotch. He went down and I whipped out my knife, just as a horrible buzzing sounded. A second later there was a thud and the air was filled with tracker jackers. I cursed and pushed myself up with my good arm, trying my best to ignore the overwhelming pain in my shoulder. There wasn't time to take the knife out right now. I grabbed my backpack and pack of bow and arrows and threw them over my good shoulder, and saw Aurora grab her stuff too. I held my left arm firmly to my chest and took off with her, not looking back, not caring what happened to the other two, just needing to get out of there.



I grabbed Eliajah's arm and forced him to his feet, covering my head as we ran through the woods. I knew there was a creek nearby, if we could reach it we could get away from the damn things.

- Janice

We were still running when I heard other sounds start coming from the sky "Oh, fuck. What now?" I muttered when the hail started coming down "Dammit!"

"We... we need to... we need to find shelter," I said, trying to keep the weakness out of my voice. I spotted a cave and nodded at it. We went over to it quickly and had to duck down to get inside. I dropped my backpack and bow and arrows and sat down, leaning back against the wall, breathing hard. "Oh... oh shit... oh shit this hurts..." I breathed out, still holding my shoulder, blood seeping down my arm from the wound. "Come on Asher, send me something."

"He will, you know he will." I said as I started taking off my jumpsuit, I pulled my arm out, taking the knife and cutting the fabric away. I pulled it back on and started wrapping it around her wound "We have to apply pressure to slow the bleeding." I said and pressed down and she winced "Sorry, I know it hurts." I said, a few minutes later I heard the beeping and went out of the cave quick enough to grab it and hurry back in "Asher pulled through, he's fast."