Chapter nine: The toxic sip
I stand up and stretch, we must have just been sitting in silence for the past hour, I roll my eyes as I walk over to the piles of food, weapons, and survival equipment, I pick up a bottle of water and begin to leave the little tree cave.
"Where do you think you're going?" Sorrel said speaking for the first time for over an hour, I growled and glared at him "going for a walk, you mind?" I said, anger dripping off every word. He just laughed "you're not going anywhere, this isn't the Career pack, you stay hidden or get killed" he said challenging me with his eyes, I chuckled with no humor, "you obviously have no idea who I really am" I shook my head and crawled out of the cover of trees "I'll be back by the time they show the death count" I said leaving the safety of the tree cave.
I walked a good ten minutes before I just got tired of the annoying rustling, I groaned and turned around looking up at the tree in front of me. "Just because Sorrel sent you, doesn't mean you have to annoy me the entire time!" I screamed and I heard some more rustling, and then a giggle and Cyri jumped down from the tree and landed right on her feet. Her cheeks were flushed and almost the same color as her shoulder length red hair. Her green eyes stood out most out of all of her features, she laughed and shrugged her shoulders, "sorry, I guess I gotta work on staying quiet when I'm in the trees huh?" she said, and I rolled my eyes and turned around, continuing to walk.
She followed without any complaints, she was as quiet as I was—when she was on the ground—and it kind of impressed me, not even the most trained tributes can learn to be quiet on their feet.
We walked a good fifteen minutes before I heard a silent rivulet just ahead and pushed through a few leaves until we came across a steady stream. The rain seems to have increased in flow, the water rippled where the rain connected with it. I watched the water carefully as Cyri went to go investigate how clean it was. "We might want to use the iodine, just in case" she said taking my now empty water bottle and filling it up. "I'll take this back to Dragon and he'll clean it, I don't have the iodine with me" she said, but my eyes were still focused on the water, something was off. The Gamemakers are planning something, I could tell.
"Come on" I said backing away and heading back into the forest, "the death recap should be playing soon" I said as she nodded and followed. I took one last look at the rippling stream before shaking my head and heading back to camp.
We arrive at camp just in time to see the death recap, when we walked up to the entrance of the cave-like structure, Dragon, Sorrel, and Jessamine were already sitting outside peering up at the sky as the anthem began to play and the Capital seal shown in the sky. The first face to show was the girl from three, then both from five, six and seven, the boy from eight, Taiven, and then both from twelve. The Capital seal glowed in the sky and then all went dark.
Sorrel sighed and ducked his head down, "rest in piece Lucaine and Elara" he said referring to the two from twelve, looking up at the sky "see you soon" a half smile made its way to his lips before he ducked back inside. I looked at his retreating back with a questioning look.
"Ignore him" Jessamine said looking at me, her straight mahogany colored hair falling down the sides of her face. "He's here for only one thing" she said looking down, I could see she was trying not to cry "the moron doesn't understand neither of us is getting out of here" she said with a silent laugh, I shook my head. Is this what the other districts think when they're brought here against their will? I laughed and pushed off the tree I was leaning on.
"This is why you will lose" I said kicking a stick near my foot "because all of you people are exactly the same" I said, realizing how angry I was "you think you're doomed to die here, when really, some of you actually might have a chance" I sat down and realized Dragon, Cyri, and Jessamine were all staring at me with confusion plain on their faces. Jessamine sighed and shook her head. "You don't understand" she said standing up "all I have is Sorrel, and all he has is me" she gave a forced smile "no matter what, win or lose, we will both die in this arena" she said turning around to look at Dragon "Can you keep watch tonight?" she asked but I cleared my throat "I will, I don't really think I can sleep much anyway" I said with a smile. She nodded and smiled at me, "night everyone" she said before crawling into the fissure.
It didn't take long before Cyri and Dragon both decided to get some sleep. I sat by the tree outside doodling in the dirt—that is now mud because of the constant sheet of rain—with one of my blades when I heard feet, obviously trying to stay quiet but not succeeding. I smiled; I knew who those steps belonged too. I stood up and quietly started walking forward, crouching behind trees.
When I knew they were close I stepped out and let one of my blades go, it flew and implanted itself in the tree right behind Blossoms head. She looked at it and then back in my direction, she growled when she saw it was me.
"Finally you guys show up" I said walking towards them "I've been going out of my mind" I leaned up against a tree next to Malakai, he smiled down at me. Mavira—of course—was the first to get straight to business.
"What did you find out?" she asked, stepping up, has she made herself the leader of this alliance? I laughed to myself; she should take that up with Malakai.
"I found out that I'm here for absolutely no reason" I said glaring at Mavira "they lost two of their alliance at the Cornucopia so they're down to four" I pushed off the tree and grabbed the blade that I threw in Blossom's direction earlier, she glared at me.
"But what have you learned about them?" Mavira asked, clearly getting annoyed, I turned around and faced her, anger evident in my facial expression.
"The only possible threat you have is the little girl and the brother! His sister is the healer of the alliance, she doesn't do well with weapons and the other is all brains and no bronze" I said exasperated "they're all asleep now if you want to finish em' off" I said pointing in the direction of the camp. I knew why Mavira was doing this; she wanted me away from the other Careers because she didn't trust me. She was right, if I had the chance I'd slit her pretty little throat while she slept.
"You guys hunting?" I asked, and they all nodded. What I wouldn't give to be hunting right now! Instead of protecting these morons while they slept. "If you don't catch anything tonight, make sure you kill tomorrow or the following day" I said, I could tell Mavira was getting pissed.
"Why?" Strobe asked, the first time he spoke up since the career alliance reunited. "Because, I have a feeling the Gamemakers already know what they're going to do if the games get too dull" I said pointing in the direction of the small stream I found earlier that day "There's a small river about a half a mile north from here, I watched the water today, the rain is making it rise, if the Games dull, they're gonna flood us out" I said, Mavira bit her lip in concentration.
"Alright" she nodded "we'll make sure we narrow it down some in the next few days, but I want you to narrow it down as well" she said giving me orders. I breathed in through my nose and tried to calm myself down, the one thing I hated more than anything was being ordered around. "Oh yeah? And how do you purpose I do that?" I said cocking my head to the side mockingly, lifting my blade up in front of my face watching it shine in the moonlight "they're already suspicious of me enough as it is" I hissed, she didn't know how hard it was not to just pull out my blade and be done with them.
"You'll figure out something, that's what you're good at right?" she said eyeing me, taking out the small, thin sword she had secured in her belt and walking away. "Lets' get going, we have a lot of ground to cover and only minimal hours to do so" she said, Zarek following her, then Strobe, Blossom passed by me and scowled following Maviras lead.
Malakai stepped towards me, backing me against a tree; he looked down at me his breathing rough. He lifted a hand and brushed it against my cheek, bringing his lips down to my ear. "I'll be back, stay safe" he said, kissing my cheek and then running in the direction the other four tributes went. I just stood there trying to catch my breath; I rolled my eyes and kicked the trunk of the tree in frustration. I used to beg to be in these Games, I used to stay up all night thinking of my victory, when I will return to district two a legend. Now all I want to do is survive long enough to get Malakai out of here, even though that's his plan for me.
I sighed and walked back to camp, sitting down by the tree I sat at before and began doodling in the mud. The rest of my watch was a bore; I heard a shuffling to my left and grabbed my blade, crouching down ready for the intruder. Sorrel stepped out and smiled at me and my blade; I lowered my stance and sat back down.
"I got it from here, you should go in and get some sleep" he said sitting beside me, I stiffened and then made myself relax. I shook my head "I can't sleep, maybe later though" I said, smiling at him. He nodded and looked in the sky, watching the stars. There was a long awkward silence before he spoke.
"Sorry I've been so out of it, since the Games started it sorta just hit me that we're here" he said, looking back at the tree cavern. I knew who he meant by 'we' and a sudden wave of sadness enveloped me. I shook it off quickly, "I'm sorry you were both chosen, small odds but still possible" I told him, joining him in looking at the stars. He laughed, "You didn't pay much attention to the reaping did you?" I shook my head and shrugged, "they're not my forte" I said, counting the stars in the sky. I got to twenty-two by the time Sorrel spoke up. "I volunteered" he whispered, I couldn't tell if it was hard for him to talk about or he just didn't want the Capital to hear, either way it took me by surprise.
"You volunteered? Why?" I asked, I heard of others in districts—other than the occasional career districts—to volunteer I just haven't really thought much of it.
"Jessamine's name was chosen" he stated it like it was completely obvious, but I wouldn't know anything about sibling relationships. Hell, I wouldn't even know about any kind of familial relationships at all.
"You know she's not gonna let you protect her" I looked at him, his wavy mahogany colored hair fell down to his shoulders, and his blue eyes looked dark in the moonlight. He stood up and withdrew his sword, I put my hand to my blade instinctively "well she's not going to have much of a choice in that" he looked down at his sword, polishing some spots, I relaxed. "You should really get some sleep, we'll be hunting tomorrow" he said looking at me for the first time. I nodded and made my way inside, but stopped just before going inside.
"Thanks for letting me join your alliance" I looked at him, meeting his gaze "I'm sure you wont live to regret it" I whispered under my breath before entering the tree cave.
When I stepped inside I grabbed my packed sleeping bag and splayed it out on the cold soil floor. I looked over to see Dragon sleeping comfortably on the floor, I rolled my eyes, lucky bastard. District two isn't the richest place ever, and the food supply might be small but at least the bed mattresses were comfortable.
Jessamine's sleep only consisted of her nightmares; she tossed and turned uneasily in her sleeping bag. I looked for Cyri but she was nowhere to be found, until I looked up to find that she strapped herself in a tree. I laughed and shook my head; she really does feel safer trees.
I slipped inside my sleeping bag and instantly felt the heat my body had created. Standing inside rain all day doesn't really give you much warmth.
I didn't really know how exhausted I was until sleep slowly crept over me, I used a lot of energy today at the Cornucopia, plus trying to keep from killing my new allies. I have a feeling these Games are going to be a lot longer than I had originally anticipated.
I was nudged awake by Dragon; I looked around to find the others awake all staring at me. I jumped up into a fighting stance, everyone but Cyri grew stiff. "Why didn't someone wake me up?" I was furious; did they just watch me sleep this entire time? They could have killed me instantly. A small smile formed on Sorrel's lips "you stayed up late last night" he shrugged "we thought we'd let you sleep" I looked at all of them and then relaxed. 'Be calm Ebony, if they wanted to kill you, you'd be dead'
I sat back down and Jessamine tore off a piece of stale bread they were eating for breakfast and handed it to me, I took it with much appreciation; I haven't eaten anything since these Games started. I dug right into the small meal as they began talking.
"Okay, so we should go hunting today" Cyri said hopping off the tree she was sitting on, I laughed: her and her trees. Dragon nodded "it might be best if we narrow the competition a bit" he said to Sorrel, I rolled my eyes, like we didn't deserve to know the plan as well, rude much?
"I don't want to know what the Gamemakers will have in store for us if the Games get to tedious for them" Dragon continued; Sorrel nodded and stood up.
"Okay, but someone is going to have to stay at camp, and since I know already both Cyri and Ebony aren't gonna go for it" He looks at Jessamine "that only leaves you" she nodded, and pulled her knees to her chest wrapping her arms around them. I stuffed the last bit of the bread into my mouth before jumping to my feet.
"Finally some excitement lets go!" I said, bouncing on the soles of my feet, Cyri nodded in agreement. Sorrel passed Dragon his Mace and smirked at me.
"You're all the same" he said equipping his sword and grabbing a small backpack. I lifted an eyebrow, "Excuse me?" I asked, obviously offended by whatever he meant by his remark.
"You Careers are all the same. Killing excites you, you're natural born killers" He said throwing the pack at me. I caught it and opened my mouth ready to respond to that when I realized I had nothing to say. I mean I know I wasn't born a killer, but with the years of training, just for these Games; Games that are designed solely for the entertainment of the Capital, and to punish the Districts because of the rebellion; Games that bring twenty-four kids together to fight for the death, Games that I have been waiting for most of my life. Games that I will gladly kill for to win; I stared blankly at the four in front of me, four lives I will surely have to take. I have become a killer, I have become a murderer.
I cringed at the thought and Sorrel brought me back to reality. "Pack the bag with some food, water, some first aid supplies and weapons" he said looking at me carefully "we don't know what were exactly going to need" I nodded and made my way over to the piles of supplies in the corner of the tree cave. I packed some bread, knives, and some water. I stopped midway in packing the water and clutched the little vile in my jacket. I pocketed the poison last night when I was sure everyone was asleep. I took a deep breath and pushed aside any thoughts of me being a killer, I'm doing this for Malakai, strictly for Malakai.
I popped the vile open and poured it into one of the water bottles, it turned a dark red color until it finally dissolved into the waters natural transparency. I looked back at the others, Sorrel was whispering to Jessamine about something, and Dragon and Cyri were talking and laughing. I turned my attention back to the bottle in front of me and scratched a clean X on the bottle; I didn't want to drink it by accident.
I took a deep breath and placed it into the pack. "Hey Sorrel" he looked over at me and I chucked the pack at him, he caught it effortlessly. "Let's get out of here" I said grabbing a separate bottle of water—so I wouldn't have to be forced to ask Sorrel for any—and walked out of the protection of the trees.
Sorrel mumbled something to Jessamine, and then he, Dragon, and Cyri—still in the trees—joined me.
It was still down pouring, so we all put our hoods overtop our heads to keep out the drizzle. We walked for a good two hours without a sign of anything living. We walked for another half hour before we heard rustling a few feet ahead of us. Cyri went to go investigate since she had a better chance to remain hidden then the rest of us. Because of these stupid purple pants and jacket you can get spotted easily. But because the trees are so full and the leaves and vines are so thick it creates perfect cover.
She came back with a rabbit in her hands; Sorrel smiled at her and praised her while taking the rabbit, fastening it on his belt. I rolled my eyes, this was getting really mind-numbing, and I really wanted some excitement.
It was like on cue, because just as I was thinking it Dragon asked Sorrel for some water. I bit my lip as Sorrel reached into the pack, pulling out the first bottle at the top. I looked at the side of it and sure enough it had the small little X I had carved into it earlier.
When Sorrel handed him the bottle he began talking about what are next moves are but I tuned him out, I was too focused on Dragon to pay attention to anything else. I know it shouldn't excite me, but every second he gets closer to drinking the water, the more excited I become. Wow, I really do have serious problems.
Dragon lifted the bottle to his lips and let the liquid slowly slither down his throat. He closed the bottle, seeming satisfied and right when I thought I might have made a mistake about the poison he collapses.
Cyri cries out and runs to him, along with Sorrel, I remember to play my part and kneel down in front of him pretending not to know what's going on. He screams out in pain as he folds in on himself, clutching his abdomen violently. Cyri's voice is a mix of panic and remorse, calling out to him trying to figure out what's wrong. Sorrel—trying to be calm—tries to get the answer out of him.
I stand up and step back giving them room. They need to say goodbye in private, and since I'm the one who killed him I definitely won't be welcome.
I lean on the soles of my feet as Sorrel and Cyri try to sooth Dragon as much as possible. By now he is sweating profusely and biting his lip, to stop his screams incase he alerts others to our whereabouts. I start to think if the little bottle was enough to kill him when his body grows limp and his eyes glaze over.
Cyri collapses and tries to keep in tortured sobs. I actually regret killing him for a second, I've grown really attached to Cyri and it hurts to cause her pain. I snap myself out of it when Sorrel grabs the water bottle—now in Dragon's flaccid grip—and pours some of it in the palm of his hand and sniffs it. He recoils and drops the bottle immediately, he turns around and glares at me, I look at him blankly.
"You!" he screams, unsheathing his sword and glowering at me, I just stare at him—one hand close to the blade fastened to my belt—trying to play the innocent card. I hope my acting skills come through for me this time. "Me?" I ask as confused as I can get at this moment. Cyri looks up—her eyes completely red from crying—and looks from Sorrel to me as confused as I am.
"You're gonna die!" Sorrel said, coming at me, I didn't have time to react before the tip of his blade imbedded itself into my side and I went down.
