Time for the moment of truth. This chapter turned out hundreds of times better than the last story's bloodbath chapter. I hope you enjoy this chapter, but don't kill me if your character died.
…
District 4 CeCe Splash's POV
The boom sound jolts me awake from my daze. This all became so real. I can think about this later. Now is the time to run.
I thought I could rush into the bloodbath and grab something, but it seems unlikely now. The blood has already started to rush in puddles on the yellow grass. The urge to vomit overcomes me, but I fight it down. My mind races over what to do when I am hit with the realization that I am easy prey still standing on my platform.
My feet take me into the battle zone. All around me are the sounds of clashing swords and harsh screams of pain. I want to cover my ears, but that is not a logical idea.
I see a single spear lying on the ground near my feet. I run for it, desperate to grab a defense. My hand leans down to snatch it up.
I feel the sharp yank at my hair, pulling me down on to the ground. I look up at the face of my attacker. It is the girl from 1, grinning down at me viciously.
"You real should know you can't hide from the Careers," she sneers, her smile making my skin crawl. I see the knife gleaming in her hand, already slicked with fresh blood.
The knife whistles down, slicing at my neck. I never knew such unbearable pain. I want to scream, but I can't find the air to let it out.
The last think I hear is the sound of some distance calling my name in fear. Maybe it was a hallucination or maybe it was real, but it doesn't matter now. The grass is drenching with my own blood.
District 7 Ever Lancast's POV
I am running, just running. Running from anything I can, anything I can't control. I don't want to risk bloodbath. No, I don't want to risk death.
The trip that sends me sprawling shocks the run out of me. I flip on to my back, trying to see my assailant. It is the boy from 6, eyes gleaming like a mad man. These Games can really change you in matter of minutes.
I see the spear clutched in his hand before it rose. This is it, I failed to avoid bloodbath. I watch the spear make its slow arch, the distance closing in between it and my neck.
The sticky blood showers me when the boy coughs up. He falls to side, not crushing me. It is then when I see the sword in his back as it is pulled forcibly out of him. I begin to think it is it again when I see Leif standing over me.
He reaches down his hand to pull me up. I grab it and push of the ground. "Aah!" I fall back down again, clutching my ankle.
"What's wrong?" Leif asks urgently. He looks down on me with worry on his face before looking around to see if anyone is coming. We are clear for now.
"I think that boy twisted my ankle when he tripped me," I say. The pain is dull, but it will come back if I stand up again. I really am meant to be bloodbath. "Go," I tell Leif, waving him away/
"Hey, we're teammates. I'm not leaving you here." I see the sparkle in his eyes as he says this. I know it goes deeper than us being teammates, but I can accept that for now.
"Fine," I say to him with a grim half smile. He nods and scopes me up. My smile leaves the grim behind as he runs into the forest.
I look back one last time over Leif's shoulder to see the effects of the battle. It is still raging, blood and body parts flying everywhere. But the last thing I see before the whole scene disappears behind the trees is Zane's scornful eyes.
District 9 Addy Reese's POV
I watch with horror as the boy from 9 throws the boy from 8 to ground with such force his ribs must have been broken. My horror only when I witness the attacker's foot smash down on his prey's neck. The snap is deafening even from where I am standing, a few feet away.
I hate myself for being paralyzed with fear, but my legs will not move. I want scream, run, or do anything, but I can't find the words or movement. The blood is everywhere; I can even feel it on the bottom of my boots. Could it be soaking through?
The hands grasp on to both my wrists, cracking one with horrible force. The scream finally surfaces as the person turns me to face them. I see the boy from 12, grinning at me with pointy teeth.
"Hi there," he says, the venom oozing from his lips. The sword is clutched in a death grip in his hands. My life is over.
I see it coming down hard, slicing down the center of my whole body. I am falling to my own bloody demises. The free fall seems to last a lifetime, when it crashes down hard.
District 1 Emma Stewart's POV
I stroll past the campsite to the large tent with Leif at my heels, knowing he is hating every second of this. Whether it is me or someone else who has him in a fix, I don't care to find out. Determination is the only word I care to think of.
I turn around to face Leif at the flap of the tent, not staring him down like I usually do. I am observing him, seeing if he is really fit to be my right-hand man. He will have to do.
"If you are going to be my partner, you need to get that sour look off your face to start," I tell, but not snap at him. He looks at me with glassy eyes, leaving me almost feeling depressed. "Seriously, stop."
"Whatever," he mutters to me. He glances around our camp and I hear a tiny sigh tremble from his lips. I reluctantly follow his gaze and see the pair from 7. Zane is comforting Ever with a hug, but his eyes are locked on Leif.
My stomach tightens when I see Zane with Ever. By right, I shouldn't be allowed to be jealous. I am the other women, but my stomach tightens anyway. I am forced to shake off the feelings though and look back ahead.
Let's go," I grumble, feeling much like Leif now. He mumbles a short response and our pace picks up again, leading into the large tent.
"Time to get to work," I say, strolling behind the large map laid out over the table. "First, we need a team."
"A team?" he asks with a half raised eyebrow. His mind still seems to be wandering over to Ever, but at least he has the courtesy to pay attention.
"Well, of course," I say with a small smirk. "Every good pair has to have a back up."
"We are not a team," Leif mutters lazily. I brush off the comment and lean over the map. I just have to ignore everything Leif says and this partnership will go swimmingly.
"I want the boy from 5, the girl from 3, and the boy from 9," I tell Leif.
"First, I believe you should learn their names," Leif points out.
"Do you know their names?" I ask, looking at him from across the table. Leif looks down with guilt and doesn't respond.
"Why them?" he asks when the embarrassed blush fades away.
"The boy from 5 is small so he can be a good spy. The girl from 3 seems strong willed, won't back down easily and 9 seems strong period," I inform Leif. While he considers this, I note different point on the map, the plan already formulating in my mind.
"So, after we get the team do we go into action?" Leif asks, looking at me with hateful eyes. He won't make this easy for me.
"Of course not," I snap. "This game is like chess, it's all about wits. If you make the move without thinking moves ahead, they earn the advantage. Our first plan starts now."
District 2 Regulus St. James's POV
I stand in the corner of the large tent, trying to remain out of conversation, yet still close enough to hear Livia's master plan if she has one.
It had been only an hour since sunset and we are waiting for the bloodbath tally. Livia, face still stained with her own dried blood, paces with little purpose behind the large table that is covered with our map. Battler, the boy from 10, stands much like I am in a corner of the tent. Carsyn, the boy from 12, looms over the map, not observing, just looming.
Livia has about traced a route in the ground when Kit comes back in, holding a clipboard that has the names of each tribute listed on it. Livia had named the girl her personal assistant and the girl had taken the task in full stride. Yet, I still feel not quite at ease when she is around. Something behind the grin she carries holds a sly under tone that no one else has discovered. The girl was more than just a secretary; she's just waiting for the right time to strike.
"Well?" Livia snaps, her pacing stopping right behind the map. Carsyn backs away from the other side to make room for Kit.
"All the information is right here," Kit says, handing Livia the clipboard. Livia shoves it right back.
"Don't just show it to me; we all need to hear it!" Kit retracts the clipboard, but seems unphased by Livia's snap.
"First up is Emma Stewart, District 1. She is alive," Kit inform the group. This was no big shock, but Livia does roll her eyes in obvious annoyance.
"Any kills?" Livia asks, tapping her foot against the floor at rapid pace. Kit shakes her head curtly, glancing up briefly from her clipboard to catch Livia's response. Despite that tapping, Livia's face is stony, only breaking to urge Kit to continue.
"She was seen leaving with a medium pack and a set of knives," Kit says. She scopes our faces for reactions, but I remain emotionless. Carsyn and Battler don't have much to show either.
"How does she not kill anyone, but come out with a loaded pack and weapons?" Livia asks, tapping her chin for dramatic effect. She is taking her self-employed position very seriously.
"Sources say she had assistance from the boy from 7," Kit comments.
"And why didn't you tell us this before?" Livia asks, her voice wavering in anger. I would feel bad for Kit, being Livia's punching bag, if it wasn't for that serene smile always plastered on her face. It was so trying, it was almost believable. Almost.
"Sorry," Kit says. "Shall I continue?"
"No, put this down," Livia tells her. Kit prepares her pen and looks at Livia expectantly. "Emma is going to be there leader, with her District partner on the side. She is strong, smart even, but she is vulnerable in two ways. One, she wants attention, meaning she might annoy some of her team mates. Two, she is going to make her plan showy. It will not be some small thing."
"Are you suggesting we use some of her team mates to take her down?" Carsyn questions, piping in for the first time. Livia and Kit turn to him.
"Exactly," Livia says with a tiny smirk. "Now continue, but first put a check by Emma's name?"
"Why?" Carsyn asks.
This time Livia doesn't turn to face him. "This means she is on my kill list. When you see her in our lines, bring her to me and I will kill her myself."
The way Livia says this, with her nonchalant grin, makes my skin crawl. She acts like killing is a sport, but then again, here it really is. Kit does not appear to be uncomfortable like the rest of us. She makes a clean sweeping check next to Emma's name and looks back up at Livia.
"Continue," Livia snaps with impatience. Kit nods and returns her gaze to the clipboard.
"Leif Daniels, District 1 as well and he is alive. He was seen killing the boy from 6 to save the girl from 7. Any notes on him?" Kit begs for more information. Her eyes beg for it, like a child wanting more sweets. The way she soaks up the information scares me. How much else has she taken in?
"He will be Emma's right-hand man, but he won't like it. They both act like they are here for the same reason, but they have completely different goals. That's it, let's move this along," Livia says with a bit of a frustrated sigh. Kit finishes her quick scrawling and reads the next name.
"You and Regulus are next. Seeing as you are both alive, any other notes?" Kit asks. Livia shakes her head, taking her temples with her fingers. How this is taxing for her, I don't know, but it is guilt free enjoyment.
"We are making this quick, are you going to move one?" Another snappy question responded with a chirpy smile and no compliant.
"Next up is Bella Cauthen, District 3 and alive. She did not make it out with any supplies and her kill list remains at zero. Notes?" Kit ask, her voice remaining formal without any sound of wavering.
"She will be tough, but she does have weaknesses. The main one is her temper. If we can get her out of control, she will get angry…"
"And make a false move," Carsyn finishes.
"Perfect," Livia says with another smirk directed at her new best friend. Carsyn nods his thanks for the praise and dares to draw a few steps closer. "Put another check and move on." Seems Livia is still angry about the whole punching scene.
Battler lets his first sound out in the form of a sigh. It was not like Livia's frustrated sigh, but more of a… longing sigh? Livia and the pair from 12 ignore him, but I observe him carefully. Could he have feelings for the girl from 3? Now was not the time to ask, but this does interest me.
"We have Aaron Ashling, District 3, perfectly healthy. Someone said they saw him taking out the girl from 8, but that is yet to be fully proven. Anything else to add?"
"He is just like his District partner, he'll have a temper, but it will be hard to bring it out of him. When confronting him, use the dead sister card. No check, next name," Livia finishes.
"District 4 girl, CeCe was killed by the boy from 9. The boy, Jayse, is still alive. No supplies, but he still Career? Notes?"
"I don't care about the boy; put him down for whatever job doesn't require effort he seems…"
"Incoherent?" Carsyn asks. Livia gives him another small smile, this time showing her teeth. I don't know if Carsyn is trying to get something going with her, but if he is, it is working splendidly.
"Should I put this down?" Kit asks, thought not looking in the slightest bit confused. Livia drops her toothy smile to send daggers at Kit. Kit puts up her mental shield and jots down incoherent for the boy from 4.
"It's a word, not a paragraph, pick up the pace," Livia sneers at Kit. Kit scribbles the last three letters and poises her pen for more information.
"District 5 girl, Nan Weatherall, is alive, no supplies seen on her back or in hand, kill list is at zero." Livia nods, waving her hand for Kit to go on. "District 5 boy, Knox Overstreet…"
I hear a heavy breath come from someone in the room. It is Livia. Does she hope this boy perished or in some strange twist, lived? "He is alive, large backpack and a sword. No kills evident."
"Well, he shouldn't be hard to take down. Nothing really to note on him," Livia says, glancing around the room for someplace that seems inexistent.
"Do you want me to check him?" Kit asks the smile a bit brighter than past smiles. Livia's eyes hit Kit with a questioning glare.
"What?" Livia asks, eyes narrowed.
"Well, I just thought since he made a fool of you at Training you would want to kill him yourself," Kit says with a small, but thoughtful shrug. Her eyes only focus on Livia, watching her every move.
I see it in Kit's eyes, the flash I have been looking for. It was a flash of…knowing. Knowing that this one subject would make Livia squirm. The spark that held such sly manipulation was gone as quickly as it had come when Kit sees me looking at her with what must be a peculiar, if not prying look.
"Don't bother," Livia says, regaining her grasp on control. "He isn't worth it. Put what I told you down and let's move one. We have a lot to do in little time."
"District 6 has been terminated." Another shiver falls down my spine when I hear that. It was not like when Livia told Kit to put the check by Emma's name, meaning she was marked to be killed. No, Livia said that because of a petty argument she wanted to win. Kit said it as part of her vain ambition. Terminated, not a word you throw around every day.
"District 7?" Livia asks, thought her voice lost a bit of its self-insurance. Did she sense it too?
"They are both still alive. Zane, the boy, got weapons and a pack. The girl got nothing. Any notes?"
"So the love birds made it out alive. I sense they don't have a perfect relationship though. Put that down, we might be able to use it later," Livia says, seem to have cleared her head and her voice is back.
Kit scrawls down the information and continues. "District 8 is done. District 9 girl is gone, but the boy is alive and well. He made it out with a pack and maybe weapons."
"The District 9 boy will be dangerous. We don't know any evident weaknesses, so we'll have to find some as we go along," Livia tells Kit. Kit quickly adds that to her notes.
"District 10, both alive, both have weapons. Jobs to be given?" Kit asks. The boy from District 10 rolls his eyes at this, but he does not make the effort to say anything.
"He is here, if you hadn't noticed so he has a job. The girl from 10 seems strong. She can be a scout or a guard, which ever works. Let's finish."
"District 11 girl is alive. No when could tell if she carried anything out. The boy is dead," Kit informs Livia. Livia nods and makes no notes.
"District 12, we are both alive. I have a set of bow and arrows and he got a pack. Notes on us?" Kit says, for the first time her smile turning to a smirk.
"None. Well, that's that. You three can leave," Livia says, dismissing Battler and the pair from 12/ They leave in silence, shuffling behind each other.
Livia looks at me and raises an eyebrow. "Can you talk or did I miss something about you?"
She doesn't know anything about me, but I should give her an answer. "I don't trust District 12. They seem very…"
"Smart? Strong? Better than you are being? The girl could use some work, but the boy seems very insightful. We can add that to the list about them," Livia says, her eyes glaring at me.
"Fine," I say with a sigh. Livia goes back to the map, making tiny notes in certain places. I have to admire her for organizing all of this, but I know that this goes deeper than her wanting to be in charge. She wants to prove something. Maybe it was to prove something to Emma or maybe it was for someone else. Whatever it was, everyone is going to want to find out.
But finding out the truth in the Hunger Games is like playing with fire. No matter how careful you are, at some point you get burned.
District 12 Kit Le'Roy's POV
I wait behind the large tent, not craning to here the District 2 conversation, just waiting for someone. Finally, a set of crunching footsteps approach.
"Did I not say we were meeting back here in five minutes?" I ask Carsyn, annoyed at him for keeping me waiting.
"I'm sorry, I thought you would be running around getting Livia a coffee," he says sarcastically with an eye roll.
"You know that is just part of the plan," I say with a tiny smirk, much like the ones Livia had been shooting Carsyn before. Carsyn smirks back.
"Whatever, she still has you on a leash. So, why did you want to meet?" Carsyn asks.
"Because," I say, straightening his shirt. "It is time for the next part of the plan."
"Oh yeah, time for me to attract Livia's attention," Carsyn says with a small grin. I return it, while tightening the dream catcher he wears around his neck and tucking it into his shirt.
"Just don't get to involved," I say, my voice wavering just slightly. I clear my throat with a cough to cover up my mistake. Carsyn laughs and pull me closer.
"Don't worry. She's just another part of the plan," he tells me. He gives me a kiss before walking around the tent. I hear his footsteps inside and wish him luck silently; secretly hoping Livia would reject him.
…
Bet you didn't see that coming. Actually, I didn't see that coming really. It just came to me after a realization that I didn't have as good of a plot as last time.
So, seven dead, but who will die next? Will Livia fall for Carsyn? Or is she still battling feeling for Knox? Will Ever realize that Leif is better for her? Or will true love conquer all?
Capitol Question of the Day: Are you Team Odd or Even?
Since I gave you an easy enough question, go check out the poll to vote on your favorite tribute so far! Reviews are muchly appreciated. Maybe you can start the review by preaching to me about how muchly is not a word. Peace, Love, and Carpe Diem!
-Emma