“It’s going to be okay.” Crow said. It had become Han’s mantra lately. But it most definitely was not going to be okay. “They are putting you in a light raincoat and thicker pants, so it is safe to say they’ll likely put you in a rainforest.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” Crow said putting a hand on Han’s shoulder. “Before you go, I want to give you something.” Crow said whispering making Han have to lean in closer.
He put a chain over Han’s head. An old looking piece of metal work with an emblem hanging from the thin gold chain. A snake coiled around the circular form of the metal ring holding it together, so small yet detailed that Han could even see that the exposed fangs had venom on the tips.
“Tuck that under your shirt.”
“I had it made when I was younger with the intent of it passing through the family. I want it to bring you luck in the arena. I gave your sister a similar one, a raven…They’re symbols of our family.”
Han didn’t know what to say. He didn’t really have blood family or much history before he got to the Capital and his life was thrown out of wack.
“Just be safe and please don’t get yourself killed.”
“Why do you care so much?”
“I didn’t even know I had grandchildren, thought my only child was dead, until I saw you. What I am saying is that now I know I have a family, I want to try to protect it.”
“Thank you.” Han wanted to hug him but thought it would make things awkward. Instead he looked toward the tube that would take him to the arena.
Crow and him walked towards the tube both of them not knowing what to say to the other.
Han’s heart was racing and he felt like he was going to throw up. His stomach was doing backflips and his throat was burning and felt as if he had swallowed glass.
He took a step and then another and then he was in the tube.
The door whizzed shut behind him and the floor was raising him up.
He wasn’t ready. He couldn’t do this. He was going to die! He won’t be able to protect Mari! What was he thinking? This was going to end in disaster!
He looked at Crow for one last time, fear rolling through him. His legs felt like Jell-O and the blood was rushing to his head so fast that he was getting dizzy and black spots into his vision.
Breathe. Crow mouth to him. He took his advice, slowing his breathing and trying to clam his thoughts. It was the last time he saw Crow.
Now he had to focus on seeing Mari. Particularly, where she would be lined up in the arena so he can run and get her to take her away from what is going to be a blood bath.
The floor stopped moving and Han was met with a rainforest. I large opening in the center where they stood with all of the tributes semicircled around a giant cornucopia, stuffed so full with weapons that they pouring out into the middle of the field.
The forest was an array of rich greens and the trees were so dense it was almost impossible to see more than two trees in.
The timer which Han had been drowning out until then was beeping out numbers. There was two minutes and thirty one seconds left until the carnage would commence.
Han focused searching for Mari amoung the tributes. He found her awkwardly standing on her pillar. She was directly across from him. He was close to the Cornucopia, the closest one besides for Mari. He could grab one of the knives on the way to reaching Mari. It might be he’s fast. He could pull it off.
He was deep in thought when he heard commotion though. Well not commotion, more like an explosion.
A tribute, a thirteen year old from district ten, had tried to step off of their pillar early and it blew them sky high. Literally.
The spaces between the tributes pedestals were too far apart for there to be any sort of chain reaction, but a tribute that was right next to them almost tried running away until they stopped at the edge of their small circle, falling into their butt to prevent from falling off.
The clock was now at ten second. Han got ready, leaning forward slightly so he can get a better running start.