This story continues from my hunger games prompt - “non-lethal rebellion”

It is too quiet. The birds should be singing by now, the insects buzzing. The sun is already pretty high in the sky, the light finding it’s way though the leaves of my small hide-out. It is just big enough for me to be here, laying flat, but not for me to sit up or move around much. I made it the first day, making sure it blends in with the fallen tree that makes out one side, almost digging under it.

I just woke up, heart beating fast. Something woke me up. I clutch my knife, still in its sheath. I want to take it out, but my hands are locked.

Suddenly the branches are pressed together over my legs. Someone is stepping over me, on me. Did they notice? How could they not?

They step down from me, standing still, listening. She has a long dagger in the back of her belt.

Then she turns slowly towards me, looking at my hideout. She is tall, in rags and with no emotion on her face. Her eyes locks onto mine.

She has me by my jacket, pulling me out. I scream, as she throws me on the ground, and straddles me. Her face opens in a grim smile, revealing her sharpened teeth. A white, cold sensation fills my body, takes over.

With a scream that doesn’t seem to be mine, I suddenly have her dagger in my hand, plunging it into her back, her scream melting with mine, then turns to gurgles, as she falls limp, and I let her body fall to the forest floor

I free myself from under her, a ringing in my ears. I hardly notice the canon going off, marking her death.

I have never killed before. I hoped I never had to.

The cold, white sensation has not left my body. It is clear what I have to do, that my hideout is no longer safe. I grab her knife from her back, cleaning it on one of her rags, and the quickly gathers my things from the now ruined hideout.

I run until the ringing stops, and I come back into my body. I no longer know where I am - or where any of the other players are. We are 4 left now.

I now realize why it is quiet: the insects and birds have all dropped dead, probably by the same thing that woke me up.

There will be no more hiding and living off the critters I can catch.

Run, kill and be killed are the only options.