Chapter 11

Third person point of view:

Seen on the television in Caesar Flickerman's studio:

"Ladies and gentlemen." said Caesar. "Our dear President of Panem, President Abraham Carson, is deceased. Apparently, he dropped dead at a party of important people earlier today. Paramedics were unable to revive him at the scene, and forensics autopsy found no evidence of foul-play. Forensics experts from the autopsy are convinced that President Carson had been, unbeknownst to anyone, suffering from an undiagnosed severe medical condition of early-organ-failure that came on very abruptly.

"President Abraham Carson, was a strong, skilled soldier and a hero to the people, who fought for the Capitol's freedom against the District rebels during the Dark Days, and contributed so much to this city, and this country. Our hearts go out to our President and national hero. There will be a mass memorial service tomorrow. Please tune in.

"The government will be run for the next thirty-six hours by the Capitol-Parliament officials until a new suitable President is elected. You are all required to go to the polls and vote on the selected candidates, TODAY."

Day 3 of the Games, 12:00 noon arena time:

Three high ranking Parliament officials that were secretly loyal to Coriolanus Snow stood around him at the television podium in formal ceremonial clothing. Snow had his right hand raised and his left hand rested on a copy of the Treaty of Treason.

"I solemnly swear," vowed Snow out loud to the camera, "to uphold my duties as President of Panem, protect the citizens of the Capitol from rebel attack, and feed the District citizens who prove they are loyal to the Capitol."

Then the Parliament official said, "Then by both your verbal and written promise in the presence of these witnesses and by majority consensus of the people, we the people now pronounce you President of Panem. Your term of presidency shall be indefinite until you otherwise choose to relinquish the presidency, or the people majority vote that you are no longer capable of performing your duties and responsibilities. Congratulations!"

Snow stepped up to the podium with tears in his eyes. He really did feel bad that he had to kill his friend. But President Carson had to be stopped, so Snow did what he had to do, and he'd do it again...and he will!

"I did not deserve this great honor." said Snow emotion in his voice. "President Carson died by an unfortunate coincidence. He died before his time. But he was loved by all. And he will be missed.

"He told me of a plan, shortly before he died, of a new system of administration that he convinced me would improve the lives of all of us. And I will do everything I can to be as good a President as he was. So my first order of business as your President, is to gain the support of the people of the Districts. As an act of Capitol forgiveness, and Capitol generosity. I am reducing the cost of food in the Districts food markets by a quarter. Secondly, I will be doubling the reaping-eligible-kids Tessera rations. Third, I am ordering the District Peacekeepers to enforce 'less-strict' laws.

"Citizens of the Capitol, I do this thing for your benefit. President Carson believed that the District citizens that he fought against during the Dark Days are unruly and require a firm hand, and I agree. But I believe that the most recent generation of District children have grown from that. And it is my belief that by making the harsh conditions in the Districts more bearable and giving the District citizens an easier life, they will work harder, happier, and less stressfully, and they will turn out more production for an easier and more comfortable life for those who live in the Capitol."

The enormous crowd cheered with applause.

"Thank you." said Snow gratefully to the crowd. "Thank you. Now, we currently have 11 strong and brave District children in an abandoned city putting on an entertaining show for us. So for the honor of President Carson, now let us do what President Carson would have wanted. Let us go to our televisions and enjoy the Hunger Games and see what our currently living tributes will do."

The people agreed, and the crowd dispersed.

Beetee's point of view:

Day 3 of the Games, 1:00 pm arena time:

Two minutes ago I had narrowly avoided being seen by the Careers. They saw all of my half built gadgets but they seemed to think nothing of them. My half built gadgets must have appeared as just ordinary leftover junk from the city to them. While I stayed out of sight, the Careers overconfidently gave my area just a cursory glace and then they quickly moved on. I knew that they would not be back for a while, for they would search areas of the arena that they had not been yet for their fellow tributes.

For the past two days I had scoured the surrounding area for old broken cars and machines that I could take apart and scavenge for workable parts to retrofit together.

I had stayed alive on the available edible plants, took the health vitamins in my backpack and nibbled on the high protein granola bars.

I had made myself a crude welding torch from some old half empty propane tanks I had found.

I had also found some big butchers-knives, in an abandoned kitchen in one of the broken buildings, that were in good condition with just a little sharpening.

I had also found some useful power-generation. Solar-panels. Solar-panels were everywhere. I then realized that just prior to the last world war, the world's population was well over ten billion and the earth's resources were depleted, so, solar power was embraced by the entire population. I managed to construct a crude but remarkably effective capacitor by retrofitting multiple parts from power-lines transformers after a few modifications. The design, which I thought up in my head, took only a few modifications from the standard District 3 factory manufactured blueprints from proper standard components.

I still had a long way to go, but I knew my plan will work.

Two hours later,

'BOOM!' went the cannon.

I looked up from the two metal panels I was welding together. Somewhere in the arena one of the tributes must have died. Well, fourteen down.

That night I waited up to see who it was. The anthem started playing and I saw the face in the sky of Sasha Quinn, the boy from District 6.

Day 4 of the Games, 2:00 pm

I had everything I need. I was setting up my elaborate trap when I then saw a wolf coming my way. I drew two of my knives and held them out in front of me, blades pointing at it. The wolf came up to me and stopped just short of the range of the blades, growling and snarling. We turned in a circle staring eachother down. I stepped forward and jabbed with both knives, the wolf stepped back to avoid getting stabbed.

I had read a book about wolves in the school library once. They are among the gentlest of predators, though strong and brave, a lone wolf will not go for a grown man, wolves usually hunt in packs. Then my guess is this animal's brain is being controlled by a Gamemaker at his console in the arena's control room. They must have decided that things are a little slow.

I took a step back and spread my arms wide to expose my torso. The wolf leapt at the opening, his teeth aiming for my throat. With my quick reaction time I dodged to the side and jabbed with both knives. He wolf's teeth missed me and and my aim with my knives was true. The wolf let out a puppy bark of pain and then lay on the ground moaning like a wounded dog.

'Never let an animal suffer!' I silently reprimanded myself.

I quickly put the poor beast out of it's misery. (I prefer not to describe the details of how I did it.)

That night I feasted on wolf meat. I cooked the meat over a fire in the house's fireplace. I blackened the windows so as to not let any light from the fire be seen, and the smoke from the chimney would be invisible in the dark of night.

Day 5 of the Games, 12:00 noon,

My trap was ready. I had connected a whole bunch of electric cords and wires from the solar-panels to a 'MAIN' power switch that I strategically placed. Then I connected electric cords and wires from the switch to the capacitor, and then the capacitor will charge an exposed live-wire that I strategically placed for the right time. Several large barrels filled with water were ready to be tripped. The solar-panels were absorbing sunlight. The makeshift capacitor was charging. All I needed now were tributes to use it on. I also had several back-up plans in case this one fails, but I don't think it will.

'BOOM!' went the cannon in the distance all of a sudden.

Nine of us left. Time to go hunting.