Thanks for reading, everyone! I finally finished and made this one extra long. I also update That's Just Fantastic, in case anyone was wondering.
HG fan- I felt like they needed to be separate, because they felt like they could win this thing without anyone else or something like that. It's hard to explain.
Guest- Down below. Thanks for the suggestion!
Flyna4eva- Oh, don't worry, it'll be a BIG surprise.
Elfera- Thank you! :)
Myron Greenleaf- I wanted to do something different, yes. I was thinking about that, and I said "Why not?", so I added a surprise name down there. It's ori-gi-nal! (I forgot what production company says that at the end of their shows. Hmm.)
Mysterygirl- Thank you! It's mine, too.
I also wanted to say that I'm proud of how much the community is growing! when I started, there were about 230 stories, but now, 240+!
Keep reading, TP4E
ANTics
Day 2
FLETCHER
Cameron, Chyna, and I found a small creek on the other side of the arena. We set up the tents, and I stayed up on watch duty. Cameron and Chyna fell asleep.
I looked up at the sky. They had recently shown the people who had died. None of the careers were dead. Most people had been killed in the bloodbath.
I counted the number of the dead tributes on my fingers.
15. There are 15 of us left.
I took out the bottle of water and took a small sip. I had to make it last for all 3 of us.
I leaned against the tree trunk, looking down below me. I soon drifted in and out of consciousness, trying to stay awake as best as I could.
The smell of smoke got me up. I looked down.
A girl, about Cameron's age, was kneeling over a fire. She was stirring something in a pot.
Stupid. People would be sure to find her with that smoke rising in the air like that.
The girl suddenly stopped and looked up. Our eyes met, and then she smiled and gestured for me to come down.
I wasn't sure if I could trust her, but she seemed nice so I flew down the tree and over to her and the fire.
"Hey," she said, loudly. "Hey," I replied.
I sat down across from her, on the other side of the fire.
The girl had a sort of mysterious gleam in her eye. It was dark, so I couldn't recognize her. She seemed familiar...
The roar of the fire was soothing. I drifted off, the heat radiating and moving over to my face.
When I woke up, the girl was gone. I looked around. I wasn't sleeping for long - maybe 10 minutes.
I racked my brain, trying to remember who that girl was.
Um, hmm, uh...
Wait -
That was Glimmer! The bully! How did I not recognize her!?
I had to work fast. I knew just what to do.
I reached into my backpack and took out the case with the envy in it. I dropped a few leaves into the pot and stirred it a bit until it mixed with the other ingredients.
When I heard footsteps, I lied back down, acting as if I was still sleeping.
I heard Glimmer and someone else - Gloss - come near the fire.
"That's him."
"This is going to be so easy. I'll get my knife."
"Wait!"
"What?!"
"Let's eat first. I've done enough killing today on an empty stomach."
I heard Glimmer and Gloss sit down. The contents of the pot was stirred, and then poured into bowls.
"Mhmm, this is good."
"I know. I-" Glimmer stopped talking.
"What's-" Gloss stopped too.
I opened my eyes, and then jumped up. Their wings had stopped flapping and their mouths were stuck in odd positions.
"I didn't want to have to do this," I whispered to them. I took out my paintbrush, went up to them, and painted two daggers sticking out of their hearts. Blood started dripping, and their chests stopped moving. I stepped back, horrified. 2 canons sounded.
I flew back up to the tree, ready for Chyna and Cameron to get up so I could sleep.
I just. Killed. 2. People.
CHYNA
To maximize our safety, we decided to walk instead of fly. They could see us if we flew. We knew they could.
Olive had told us to walk to a different water source. We decided to head back to the river, hoping that the careers still wouldn't be there.
I grasped my backpack tightly. Fletcher and I were in front. Cameron was behind us.
"Are we almost there?" Cameron asked.
"I dunno," Fletcher answered.
"Maybe," I said.
We continued walking. Considering that we came from across the arena, it was going to be a long walk. We were just traveling back and forth.
Cameron's footsteps echoed behind us.
THUD. THUD.
THUD. THUD.
THUD. THUD.
THUD. THUD.
THUD. THUD.
THUD. THUD.
THUD. THUD.
THUD. THUNK.
Fletcher and I stopped. What was that?
We slowly turned around, and I gasped at what I saw.
Cameron was hunched over. A spear had been thrown through him.
I dropped down, pulling the spear out and throwing it aside.
"Cameron!" I whisper-shouted. Tears started to fall from my eyes.
Fletcher dropped beside me, trying to tend to Cameron's wound. We knew it wouldn't help. He was done, and there was nothing we could do.
I waved my hands over his stomach, and the blood started to clear. I started to choke on my tears.
"Chyna..." Cameron whispered.
I looked up to him. "Yes?"
"Sing...sing..for...me."
I looked at Fletcher. He nodded his head. I knew what I had to do.
"I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, I'll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, Don't leave me here alone
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Don't you dare look out your window darling
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold onto this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound..."
Cameron shut his eyes, and his breathing slowed until it stopped. More tears started to fall. Fletcher put his arm around me, and I buried my face in his chest.
"Time's up, ANTs," someone said. (A/N Anytime I write ants it doesn't show up! Why's that?)
Fletcher and I looked behind us. Lexi was standing there, with several knives. She was pointing two at us.
We quickly got up. Fletcher tried to pull me ahead of him. I shook my head, frantic.
"Go! Run, Fletcher!"
Fletcher looked hesitant but then started running. Then he decided to fly. I tried to go after him, but Lexi was fast. A knife went past me and got stuck in a tree.
Another one flew past me. I tried to speed up, but I was extremely tired. I had just experienced the death of my own brother.
I felt a sharp pain in my leg and gasped. I tried to keep going, but the pain in my leg was excruciating.
I felt another one. This time, I collapsed, grabbing my leg as I fell.
There were 2 knives, deep in my leg.
I started crying even harder. It was not my day.
Lexi flew up to me, and I felt another knife. Then, I couldn't feel my leg at all.
The blood was rushing through my head, and everything started to get dizzy.
Lexi gave me a look, but then flew away.
"Leave her," I heard. "Nature will get to her."
There was a thumping in my head. I reached up to rub my temples, but I was too fast. The pain was unbearable.
I waved my hands over my legs, but nothing happened. The pain got worse.
I heard my watch beeping, but I ignored it.
The last thing I heard before slipping away into unconsciousness were footsteps and a familiar voice.
"Chyna? Chyna, everything's gonna be alright."
I smiled before I drifted away.
Fletcher...
FLETCHER
I leaned down, inspecting Chyna's injuries.
This was bad. Real bad.
I waved my hands over the knives, and they came out. There was blood all over her leg.
I cleaned off the blood, and then looked at it again. There were 3 deep holes. Her leg was messed up, and I had to do something.
"Chyna, Chyna, get up, OK?"
Chyna moaned in pain and tried to get up, but she was too weak.
I started to panic. We couldn't stay out there in the open, and she couldn't walk or even fly.
So I took out my paintbrush and painted a stretcher beneath her. Then I waved my hands over the stretcher and it started to fly by itself. I let out a sigh of relief, and then started flying away, the stretcher behind me.
I had no idea where to go, so I just kept straying around.
I stopped when I heard a sound in the trees. The stretcher stopped. I listened. There it was again! I turned to my right, where there was a small path in the trees. It was well hidden. I stopped flying and walked through the path, until I found a clearing. I hid in the bushes, the stretcher resting behind me.
A girl with fiery red hair was sitting on a log, skinning some kind of animal. Chyna moaned. The girl looked up and towards the bush where we were hidden. That was when I noticed that she was pale and her lips were chapped.
"I know you're there. Show yourself!" the girl said, quietly.
I hesitated before standing up. The girl smiled and patted the log. I wasn't sure. After my encounter with Glimmer, I was very aware of what I was dealing with.
I walked over to the log, and sat down. I waved my hands over the stretcher, and it stopped right in front of us.
The girl eyed Chyna before turning to me.
"I can help her, you know."
I shook my head. "If I can't, you can't."
"Yes, I can."
"How do I know if I can trust you?"
The girl smiled, and her chapped lips stretched. A canon sounded in the distance. 11 tributes left.
"Fine. Allies?"
The girl shook my hand. "Allies."
She licked her lips. "Do you have any water?"
I nodded and reached into my backpack, taking out a water bottle. I handed it to her, and she took a big gulp, making sure not to touch the rim.
"I'm Lunetta, by the way."
"Fletcher." I pointed to Chyna. "Chyna."
Lunetta wiped her hands on her jeans. "A tribute I was chasing dropped their parachute."
I nodded. The mentors used the sponsor money to buy things for the tributes.
"There was medicine inside, and it was the exact kind that will help Chyna."
I smiled. "Great!"
Lunetta reached behind her and grabbed a small bottle. She held it out to me, and I twisted the cap open. I waved my hands over the bottle and over Chyna's leg. Then I put the cap back on and put it in my pack.
Lunetta finished skinning the animal and stuck a stick on it. She held it over a fire, rotating it.
I looked up while she was doing so. Chyna was sleeping soundly. I picked up the stretcher and moved her into the tent, making sure not to put a blanket over her. She still had a very, even though her wounds were getting better. A tree above us was full of Grecham. I pointed at it, and a bunch fell into a pile near me.
I picked one up and started peeling it, handing half to Lunetta and eating the other half.
"Mhmm, this is good."
"I know."
Lunetta stopped roasting the animal and gave me a leg. I bit in. It tasted even better than the Grecham!
"So, how did it happen?"
I looked up from the 'groosling'. "How did what happen?"
"Her injuries."
"Oh. Well, someone stabbed her. 3 times."
Lunetta nodded and continued eating. When she was done, she took another gulp from the water bottle and handed it to me. It was almost gone. We had to find a water source, too. I could tell that Lunetta was reading my mind. I took some gulps before putting it in my backpack.
"Tomorrow, we'll move camp. There's a swamp nearby. I just couldn't go because I was too weak."
I nodded, but had a confused look in my eyes. "How are we supposed to drink from a swamp?"
Lunetta held up some leaves. "I found these. If we drop them in the water, it'll instantly be purified."
I remembered the leaves from training.
I stretched and yawned. It had been a very long day. I had witnessed 3 deaths, and I wasn't proud of it.
"Go to sleep. I'll keep watch."
"OK."
I unzipped the tent and stepped in, careful not to bother Chyna. She was sleeping peacefully, and her wounds seemed to be healing. The medicine worked fast. Maybe by tomorrow, she'll be able to fly again.
I sigh and take a blanket from my backpack, wrapping it around me as I lied down on the cold, hard, floor.
Strangely, I felt safer with Lunetta just outside. Not only had I made a new ally, but a new friend, also.
OLIVE (thought I should)
I sat in the control room, staring at the screens.
Fletcher was picking Grecham. Chyna was still sleeping.
I checked her vital signs. She was getting better. Much, much, better. The only problem was her fever.
Their new ally, Lunetta, was drawing something on a big leaf. When she was finished, she stuck it in her pocket and then started to pack the backpacks with the Grecham and some groosling.
Fletcher wiped his hands and then turned to Lunetta.
"I'm gonna go wake up Chyna."
Lunetta nodded, and Fletcher went inside the tent to shake Chyna awake.
"Chyna, Chyna wake up."
Chyna stretched and then looked up.
"Fletcher? What's wrong?"
"We're moving today."
Chyna squinted and then shook her head. "I had the worst dream. Cameron died, and Lexi tried to kill me, and I got stabbed 3 times. Funny story, right?"
Fletcher's face fell. "It's all true, Chyna. All true."
Chyna's eyes widened and I saw tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Cameron's gone? He's gone?"
Fletcher nodded and then hugged her, wiping the tears from her cheeks. You could still hear her sobs.
Then Fletcher leaned in, and surprised Chyna by crashing his lips onto hers.
Normally I would've turned away. But it was that moment that made my eyes well up.
Cuz I knew that they would have to leave each other. One of them wouldn't be making it out.
They were kissing for a long time. Literally making out. Ew, my brain was thinking. But my heart said otherwise. I grabbed a tissue and dabbed my eyes.
When they pulled apart, Chyna gave a small smile. Lunetta was still outside, weighing the bags with her arms.
"Do you think you can get up?" Fletcher asked.
Chyna pulled her pants leg up a little bit. The holes from the knives were gone.
Chyna carefully stood up, her wings flapping just in case.
She could stand and walk perfectly fine.
They both exited the tent, and I heard a beeping sound. I moved the chair to a different screen. I had just received $3,000 in sponsorship money.
I typed something into the search box - 'Fever Medicine'. 1 result came up. The cost was currently $107.95. I bought it.
About 10 minutes later, a parachute fell in front of Chyna. She looked at Fletcher.
"What's this?"
Fletcher shrugged. Lunetta grinned. "Olive sent you something."
Chyna carefully opened the silver parachute. Inside was the fever medicine.
Fletcher smiled. Chyna quickly put some in her bowl of Grecham stew. She mixed with her finger and then took gulps of it. I could hear her sigh in relief. I looked at her vital signs. Her fever was diminishing. I heard another beeping noise. I turned to a screen next to me. The careers were on the move. She was looking for Chyna and Fletcher.
I tapped a few keys, and Fletcher's watch started to flash. He pressed a button.
"Olive! There you are!"
"Listen, Fletch. You guys need to get a move on, now. Lexi and the gang are on their way."
Chyna shrieked. Fletcher was silent. Lunetta looked towards the direction of the swamp.
"Let's go," she said. She picked up one backpack and gave it to Fletcher. She put the other one on her shoulder and all 3 of them flew away.
I wanted to give you guys a LOOOOOOOOONG chapter.
In Day 3, they'll be meeting someone else along the way. See below.
Oh, 1 more thing:
I'm holding a tiny little contest!
Whoever my 50th reviewer is, will get a special surprise dedicated to them in the next chapter. So if you happen to be that lucky 50th, use a name I can use if you're a guest!
Hint: I wonder who that 'someone' from above will be...
OK, now for the usual-
Challenge: 57 reviews? You never know, I just might get to 60.