I’m starting to wish I was from District 4. The water was refreshing, and helped to release me from the sweltering heat of the desert section. Datura, Onyx and I were lucky enough to make our way through the endless sand dunes without encountering the maniacal old man Claudius Templesmith identified as “Mr. Hyde” at the beginning of the Games.
Our swim was peaceful, even involving a small splash fight. I don’t know if there was a clash going on elsewhere in the arena or if our frivolities were featured on television screens everywhere, but it doesn't matter. For the first time since the gong rang, I felt truly carefree, honestly happy. The three of us had let our guard down encouraged by the beautiful weather and crystal clear water.
We had been making our way back to the coast in peels of laughter when the shift occurred. Almost instantly the sky turned a warning shade of gray and the birds on shore went silent.
I locked eyes with Detour our faces mirror dread.
“It's the calm before the storm… Go! To alnd!” Onyx, the closest to the beach warned.
I turned, securing my backpack and then let out a bloodcurdling scream. Before I had time to react tentacles were wrapping around my legs, my torso, my arms and pulling me away from shore and towards the deep chasm of open water. My struggling becomes more and more frantic the father we get from land. I know that if the squid gets me out far enough that it will drag me down into one of the many undersea services where it makes its home. The thought scares me even more than the other tributes for it is harder to fight then a knife, especially as you lose oxygen. Twisting, I see Detour and Onyx on the beach. I can see my best friend jumping up and down, screaming something desperate but the words don’t make it to the sight of my nearly certain demise. This is a battle I will have to fight on my own.
Turning to face the squid, I set my face in determination, hoping to attract aid from sponsors by staying “brave” - even in the face of man eating sea creatures. I slip the one hand into the backpack, groping for useful supplies, while the other wipes salt form my eyes and my legs kick, trying to keep me afloat and kand a good one on the monster gripping me.
“Aha!” I pull the power surge that until this moment had seemed useless as well as a full can of bug spray into the fray. I feel powerful in this moment with my supplies in hand and perseverance flooding my veins.
Of course, the gamemakers decide that now is the absolute ideal time to crank up the wind speed, until I’m bobbing about in the midst of terrific hurricane. The winds buffet me around on the end of a tentacle, sometimes pulling me towards shore and teasing safety. Other moments I’m shoved towards the squid and desperately dodge its pointed beak that snaps at my limbs, my face, my everything. Waves are crashing down everywhere I can see, although water constantly being thrown into my eyes. I’m essentially blinking constantly in an attempt to stop the burning caused by the salt.
Gritting my teeth, I raise the surge protector, preparing to end this war once and for all. Suddenly, I’m plunging down into darkness, water pressing in on my every side.I had just enough time to gulp in a breath of air with only a minimal amount of ocean water before the squid took a dive with its brunch- Me!