A new chapter in less than a week! I'm spoiling you guys! Also, I uploaded Reign of Flame so be sure to check it out!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my OC's and original material.
~Chapter 7. The Bloodbath~
Clove
I only have a few thoughts as I wait to step off the platform. The first is of the games themselves, of making it to the cornucopia and surviving the bloodbath. The last is of Cato, always Cato. And then the cannon sounds and suddenly I'm running forwards, racing to the cornucopia. My hair flies out behind me and my jacket billows out, slowing me down slightly. I turn my head to the side and see Cato and Glimmer running to the side of me.
I reach the twisting metal structure and race inside, grabbing the first set of knives I see. There aren't any firearms so I take as many other items as I can carry and drag them to the edge of the cornucopia. Our plan is to stay here for the duration of the games so until we've killed or scared off all of the other tributes we can't set up camp.
As soon as I've readied myself to fight someone lunges towards me and I'm knocked off of my feet. I twist my body round and roll to the side, knowing that I'll have the upper hand as long as I'm not pinned underneath someone stronger than me. I spring to my feet and reach for a knife. As the other person stands up, I swing past them and drive my knife up into their chest. I don't take a moment to think about their district or their age, it would just make it hurt.
Another few tributes try to attack me but none of them leave any permanent marks. Then in the corner of my eye I see Katniss running away from the cornucopia. I throw a knife in her direction and although it doesn't land a hit, it scrapes her cheek.
"Nice throw." Cato whispers, his breath on my ear, his words tinged with sarcasm.
I turn. "What's the fun in killing her in the first half hour?" I say casually before walking away.
Cato
I watch Clove walk away, her dark hair swinging behind her and I try to cover my smile. Even here in the arena, knife in hand, blood on sleeve, she's the most beautiful person I've ever met. I want to win, I can feel that competitive nature building up but I also want her to make it home. It shouldn't be this hard. It should be as easy as dying for the girl I love but it isn't. It'll always be that way because there will always be a part of me that needs to win.
Glimmer jogs over to me with Marvel a few paces behind. They dump their weapons and bags in the pile with Clove's findings. We need to protect our belongings but we need to move far away enough for the helicopters to remove the bodies.
"We have to go. We'll take the majority of our stuff with us and then circle the area for a half hour whilst they get rid of the bodies." I decide.
We all take our weapons and Marvel and I carry the bulk of the things. Clove carries a heavier load than Glimmer does—carrying food across the mountain villages made her strong and improved her stamina. She stays at the back of the group whilst Glimmer stays by my side, occasionally brushing my arm or nudging me. She seems friendly enough and for the purpose of the games I might entertain her flirting but if she's looking for a relationship she won't get one.
When I glance back I notice that Clove has stopped walking and instead is frowning in the direction of something in the air. I follow her gaze and see what's caught her attention. There's smoke rising not too far in the distance. The others catch on and suddenly we're running towards the smoke, racing each other to be the first one to reach the tribute.
I'm the first to get to the tributes. There are two, huddled by the fire, one male and the other female.
"Well, well, look what we have here." I snarl.
"What do you think Cato, should we kill them quickly or make them suffer?" Glimmer purrs.
Clove rolls her eyes as she passes behind me, muttering quietly into my ear. "The boy is from District 3 and I think he may have a way of protecting our belongings." She shrugs. "If not we'll just kill him."
I nod. "Marvel, kill the girl. I have plans for the other one."
Clove
My instincts about the District 3 boy are correct. His plan to protect our things is to remove the explosives from the platforms and centre them around our things. There are a set of deactivated spots that we can step on to get our weapons or food and only we know the pattern of it. Everywhere else is pressure sensitive and the instant that another tribute tries for our belongings, they'll get blown up.
By the time we're done, I feel exhausted. Fighting so many people in the bloodbath and walking for that long is tiring. I don't want the Capitol to think of me as weak but if I don't sleep I'll risk making basic errors. I don't say goodnight to Cato, even though it's something that's natural to me. Instead I just lie back, pull a jacket over myself and curl up. I keep a knife in my grip and the rest in a belt by my side.
"I want to discuss something with the two of you." I hear Cato say quietly. "I want to be the one to kill Clove when it comes down to it. I know her. I know her strengths, her weakness, I can kill her intimately." Then as an afterthought he adds. "It'll give them a good show."
Glimmer laughs, a little too loudly for my liking. "Poor little Clove. She's good with a knife but way out of her depth. I feel sorry for her, chasing after you like a lost little lamb."
"It's pathetic." Marvel agrees.
"She's pathetic. She's been obsessed ever since we started training together." Cato lies. "It makes me a little uncomfortable if I'm honest."
I push my face into the ground, hoping that if I try hard enough I can bury myself. He's lying. He has to be lying but his words hurt all the same. Even though we're friends, I didn't know how much he scares me until now. Cato could kill me and he really could do it in the most intimate way possible. What a sight that would be for the Capitol.
~Things I Left Unsaid~
I wake up before dawn and notice that the rest of the Careers are still sleeping so I take the opportunity to sort out some things for myself. I rub the sleep from my eyes and stroll towards the pile of food and weapons. I carefully follow the pattern to the pile and pick off some food and an empty water bottle.
When I move away from the cornucopia and our camp I have a choice, there's a wood and a wheat field. I start to walk in the direction of the wheat field, eating a few dry crackers whilst I travel. And then I notice something bizarre about the insects. Along with other small creatures, they are making their way towards something, following each other in a strange sort of line. That can only mean one thing—water.
I start to run as I follow the creatures in search of water and then I find it, a huge lake flowing adjacent to the fields. The fact that the animals are drinking from the water is an indication that it must be safe for me too but I can't be that reckless. We don't have a purifier and I know that I can ask for one but I'm barely into the games and I don't know if it's wise to ask so early.
Before I can decide what to do, I hear a vaguely familiar beeping sound and then a parachute falls by my side. Attached to it is a water tester. It can't purify the water but it can tell me if it's safe to drink. It comes with several testing strips and a chart to read from—its something better suited to the more intelligent tribute. There's a note too, obviously from Lottie, which reads: STAYING COVERED UP IS FOR LITTLE GIRLS.
I scrunch the paper into a little ball and get started with the kit. As soon as I've checked that the water is safe, I start to pull off my clothes. Lottie doesn't need me to expose myself but the bold act of showing my flesh will dash any concerns that I'm just a child. When I've stripped down to the thin undergarments I step into the water and keep walking until only my head is above water. Then taking a deep breath, I remove the thin vest and the shorts and throw them into the pile of clothes. I let the water wash over me, I submerge my head and then rise up again, running my hands through the tangles. I feel fresher, cleaner, like being in the water can somehow wash away the blood on my hands and the lives that I've taken.
In response to my dip—which is no doubt a hit with the audience—another parachute lands on the ground by my clothes. I make my way back over to it, bending my body slightly to keep my chest hidden in the water. There isn't a note this time but it isn't necessary, I've obviously gained sponsors after my little stunt. Wrapped up inside the parachute is a jacket, waterproof leather on the outside and thick wool on the inside.
I reach for my still wet underclothes and pull them back on. I'm used to drying off in the cold so I don't pay much attention to the lingering droplets on my skin. Instead I put my top and my trousers back on and wrap both jackets around my waist until I'm completely dry. As I'm walking back I hear a sound that certainly isn't natural. It must be a tribute.
Rather than chasing the sound I let it draw closer, hiding between the trees. And then I spot him—Peeta.
I call out. "Lover Boy!"
As I expect, Peeta starts racing away from me and as he does I take a knife from my belt and throw it at him. It doesn't hit him but that's not what I want. It snags his sleeve and drives his arm forwards so he falls off balance. The knife pins itself into the soil and as he tries to wriggle free, I leap forward and straddle him, pressing another knife to his throat.
"Give me a reason why I shouldn't just kill you now, Lover Boy." I say darkly, forcing as much menace into my voice as possible.
"You shouldn't kill me because I can get you Katniss."
"Katniss? I smile. Now that's something I want.
So the games have begun and the arena is not as they expected! How will things progress? There's only one way to find out:
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Ella Bella xx
