The Knot Is Slipping [Ares/Francesca v Argo v Moss]

Somehow, another day has gone by, and another death has happened. I was able to see another sunset. One cannon today ringing throughout the arena. Knowing people are dying while I'm living has definitely changed me, but I don't know if I could stop fighting. I'm not ready to die, and I won't go down without a fight. I wish I could have saved Luke from death, but I wasn't able to. I needed to get out of the bloodbath. I needed to flee the madness as I knew my life was placed on the line. I wish I was able to save Aurora, but nothing I did wouldn't bring any consolation for people dying.

Pain flows through my veins especially where my arm once was, phantom pain, at least that's what I was told it's called. If I try hard enough, I can still feel my fingers moving, but it's not there, and it will never be there. Slicing the knife through my arm was the worst thing I've ever done. I didn't want to sever my own arm, but it was either severing my arm or the risk of blasting my own face off. I need my face to stay on my body. I want my head to remain attached, but nothing will ever change what's going on. Somewhere throughout the arena, other tributes are hunting for me, and if they know I'm weak, I'll be an easy target, and that is the last thing that I want.

My feet carry my weak body throughout the arena as my eyes flash all around looking for anyone. My ears opened wide listening for any sound. I don't want to be caught off guard. I turn in every direction making sure nobody is following me. It is hard being alone, trapped in the arena where everyone wants me dead. They would die to have my blood on their hands as my life collapses lifeless upon the ground. It's a sight I never want to see, or feel. It's something that isn't worth dying for, but killing others is making my life worth living. What will happen if I win the games? What will happen if my feet carry me back to the district alive? Would anyone notice I exist?

I watch as the sky turns to grey signaling the end of the day. I take my bag off my shoulders before lowering myself carefully towards the ground. A nice soft place ready for me to sleep. The anthem plays and only one face appears in the sky, the face of the girl from district nine. A family that had hoped she would return home left in tears as her life was ripped away from her. The anthem stops, and I allow myself to drift off into a sleep with my knife held tightly in my hand.

My eyes flash open amazed at the night of sleep I was able to get. Nobody attacked me. I don't know if anyone tried to attack me. I watch as the sun rises high into the sky. Another sunrise. I place my bag on my back as I force myself into a standing position. I take a deep breath before moving through the arena with nowhere to go. I keep my knife held tightly in my hand as I'm prepared to fight anyone who gets in my way. My heart prances under my chest slightly as I move gently through the area. Nothing will stop me. My feet stop when something moves before my eyes. I raise my knife and pounce towards the figure.

Dear Ripred, what's happening to me?

[attacks Argonite with knife]
S4rDnJFEknife
2018 -- Block -- 0.0 damage
(Knife)

Four days, I've survived in the arena, and here I am that the fifth. Five days since I've been safe from dying. Five days since I've last ate a good meal. These leaves aren't cutting it very well. I'm hungry, my stomach is growling, but I have to do what I have to do. I have to survive to fight. It's been even longer since I've been home, since I've last saw my family. I miss them, and I want to see them again, but they'll be seeing me eventually. I'll either be coming home alive, or in a box prepared for burial. My hope is I return alive, for my family, for Aurora, and for Luke.

The first two people I saw in the clearing was the boy from one and the boy from two, the careers fighting in this arena. One of them turned against the other, and I ran in as fast as I could prepared to fight. It wasn't the smartest move I've ever made, but people need to die. I want to go home. I want to live, I don't want to die, but someone has to die. A loud roar floods the arena and fear pulses through my veins. I don't know what that was, and I don't want to know what that sound was. Someone is having a horrible day, but it doesn't compare to the feeling of being alone and trapped. I raised the knife to attack, but he blocked it.

Out of nowhere something hot flies through my arm and I can feel my arm leaving the rest of my body landing with a thud on the ground beside myself. Flames dance around on my skin as the smell of burnt flesh feels my know. The pain is unreal, worse than any pain I've ever felt before. Tears pour down my face as I turn to face who I'm trapped against, and it's the three who careers. Three of them who are in an alliance. I take a huge breath as a loud scream flows through the arena. I'm going to die here in front of everyone, and nobody is going to care. Blood pours from the stump of an arm. "You fucking bitch. Go to hell. Go to fucking hell."

What would my family think? Do they think I'm weak? What bout Luke? Can he see me now? I need him. He's gone, Aurora's gone, I'm about to be gone. I need them. I won't go down without trying to fight. I must make my family proud. The next strike nearly knocks me off my feet. Blood pours from my wounds as the world starts spinning around me. Running in to fight was the stupidest thing I've ever done. "Damn you all to hell. Every last one of you deserve to die." Blood starts pooling in mouth as the world slowly starts fading away. I can still make one more attack. Just one more attack.

Slowly, I lean forward as carefully as I possibly can. Pain shoots through my entire body making it impossible to do anything. My head spins around in circles as my eyes focus on the knife laying in front of me in my hand. Anger rages through my veins. Anger towards the Capitol. Anger towards the bitches standing in front of me. I open my mouth as wide as I possibly can before attempting to bit the handle of the knife. Dirt flies into my tear ridden eyes forcing more water to flow freely, but finally, I have the knife in my mouth. I slowly stand up and lunge towards the boy from one.

[attacks Argonite with knife]
7_Xx2Ehdknife
2011 -- Shallow Cut on Right Calf -- 3.5 damage
(Knife)
knife