Nightmare Plot

[the_effect_she_has]

Who: Katniss and You!
What: Welcome to the 77th Annual Hunger Games ...
When: Nightmare plot
Where: The Arena (and for those familiar with it, The Seam.)
Rating: Definitely R for blood, gore, and the death of children.



The first thing you hear booming is the voice, from your glass tube as you slowly rise up from ...where? You're not sure. All you know is that you are trapped in a glass tube and you are going up. And there's that man - that so jovial man calling out over a loudspeaker from somewhere.

"Welcome to the 77th Annual Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor! It's time for the countdown .... "

And there you are, finally, in the light, in a giant semi-circle where the dirt is suspiciously piled high. There's a long, green field, cut off by a fence that says 'High Voltage'. There are woods to one side of the fence, and to the other, a low valley filled with wooden houses. Somewhere, smoke is rising from the coal mines.

"10..."

When you look around - you see ... children. Dozens and dozens of children on similar pillars. Some look scared. Some look determined. Some look ... well you never really thought a child could look murderous. They range from eleven to seventeen, and you might even recognize Clove.

"9...."

On one end, there is Katniss. Looking pale, sick, but there's a fire in her eyes that says she knows what this fight is. When your eyes lock, she looks surprised to see you there, but all she does is tap her nose once, then jerk towards the field in front of you.

"8 ...."

There you will see the cornucopia - a broad, metal one. Filled with supplies, and supplies are spread out all around it. Weapons are right inside, and backpacks are spread in a ever-widening circle around. Katniss nods towards the packs - go for the supplies. She'll get the weapons.

"7...."

She looks to the woods after that.

"6...."

First rule of the Games - always know where to run.

"5 ... 4 ...3 ... 2...1....Let The Games Begin!"

Katniss jumped off the pillar like a gazelle and sprinted right towards the bow and arrows. A large muscled boy came at her from the left; she feints, then jumps, flipping to grab him by the neck with her legs and slam him to the ground, before rolling to her feet and keep running. She grabs a sword, and the bow and arrows, taking the arrow in hand as she sprints back towards you, screaming, "RUN! RUN!"

The Clove-look-alike comes at her from the side, and Katniss doesn't even hesitate, she steps smoothly back and slices her throat open with one smooth, soldierly motion, before running forward again.

Comments

[the_effect_she_has]

"Yeah, I knew it reminded me of home..." She murmured to herself, as she kept them going to the stream.

She let him rest, while she filled their canteen to the brim, and drank herself. "I'd drink, if I were you. Who knows when we'll get the chance again." She paused, then said roughly. "I'm Katniss."

[is0latedthinker]

Alan kneels down and cups his hands to drink from the stream. If she thinks it's safe to drink, that's enough for him - she clearly knows something about survival in the wild that Alan doesn't. The occasional camping trip doesn't make up for anything out here.

He wipes his mouth on the back of his sleeve as she introduces herself. "Alan," he says with a nod. Not 'Grandpa'. "Good to meet you, considering the circumstances." On the one hand he'd've preferred to meet elsewhere, somewhere safe. Or as safe as the Castle could get. On the other hand, if she hadn't followed him, he'd be dead.

[the_effect_she_has]

She would thank her father for that - but that was too personal too soon. Especially when they were fighting for their lives.

Her lips quirked up in silent appreciation of the steel in his gaze. "Considering the circumstances. Although I seem to make all my best friends when we're in life or death situations - so there you go." She eyed the stream. "If we follow this up, this will get us to the gap in the fence, and once we're in the village I can get you to the train station."

[is0latedthinker]

"Nothing like a little threat of death to bring people together," he mutters, taking another drink of water before readjusting the backpack again. He's had enough of a rest to catch his breath and the water has also helped to revive him.

He nods. "Alright, I'm ready. Let's go." He's mindful of where he puts his feet on the stream's bank; a misstep could end up with him - and their supplies - toppling over and into the water.

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss looked over at him at the corner of her eye, her lips curving up into a faint smirk of appreciation on her face. She shouldered her own weapons, making sure the sword was strapped on properly, before drinking her own water.

"Follow me - try to keep to the banks." She advised, moving across the stony shore with alacrity.

[is0latedthinker]

Alan nods again, following Katniss's advice and nearly mimicking her steps, moving as carefully as he can while still keeping pace.

He freezes when he hears a noise off in the distance, a loud bang. The canon continues to fire, and he turns around to face the direction they'd come from. "What's going on?"

[the_effect_she_has]

She turned her head towards the noise, her expression paling. "They've started shooting the cannon. That's how you know how many of the tributes have died. We have to move - once the Career Tributes have finished their kills they'll be coming for the rest."

[is0latedthinker]

If she's nervous, it's not a good sign. Alan grimaces as she explains what's going on, the back of his mind counting the shots of the cannon without asking him if he really wants to know. Fifteen shots. Fifteen deaths of fifteen kids. He feels sick.

It's hard for him to move, despite her urging, but he eventually wrenches himself back around, starting up again. He doesn't say anything.

The sooner they're out of here, the better.

[the_effect_she_has]

She listens to the last cannon burst, and tightens her grip on the weapons. She knows what happens next. They're coming for 11, the girl from District 12. She falls back so she's closer to Alan, so she can protect him, use herself as a shield.

No one else is going to die because of her. No one.

[is0latedthinker]

Alan eventually manages to focus on where he's putting his feet instead of the cannon fire and its meaning. The deaths will surely haunt him later, but right now his own survival - and Katniss's - is at stake. He speeds up a little, noticing that Katniss has also stopped pressing ahead quite so far. She's on the lookout.

He doesn't know whether that's comforting or sickening. She shouldn't have to fight like this. Not for her life, nor anyone else's.

"How much further?"

[the_effect_she_has]

"Not far - about another half mile to the fence. It used to be electrified, but not any more."

She states simply, before stopping. She puts out her hand, listening for a moment, before some of the tension leaves her. "Rabbit."

One corner of her mouth lifted wryly, "I hate missing good hunting."

She's right, though. About a half a mile up the way there is a massive fence - stretching as far as the eye can see.

[is0latedthinker]

Alan nods, but immediately freezes at Katniss's cue. He visibly relaxes once she confirms it's prey that's causing the noise, not a predator.

Her comment draws a nervous, half-hearted chuckle from Alan. In the cases of those who'd been pursuing them earlier - and the new ones who were likely after them now - Katniss had had some 'good hunting' already.

The fence is imposing, and the programmer is glad that the hum of electricity is absent. "Can we get under it?" There's no way he's climbing over this thing.