Disclaimer: I do not own Hunger Games: Catching Fire, or D. Gray-Man.
Can't believe we're at chapter 10 already. Well at least we made it to the Games this is when the fun stuff happens.
Bang! Bang! Bang! The sound of the cannon signaling the death of tributes ripped through the group of five.
Katniss held her breath and counted waiting for the total bloodbath toll to be announced.
Silence.
That's odd… She thought, only three. That wasn't possible was it? Last year in the games half the tributes had died in the initial blood bath at the Cornucopia.
"Three?" Peeta asked. Finnick narrowed his eyes at Allen.
"You did something didn't you?" Allen looked up innocently from his meal consisting of force field fried nuts.
"Don't know what you mean." He said with a smile. Sometimes Allen unnerved Katniss for reasons she couldn't really explain. Yet despite she had still allowed him to join their alliance despite her unease.
"Don't play dumb with me." Finnick's voice was wary. "You… you stopped my trident with one hand when it should have skewered you whole, how? Where did you learn to fight?" Finnick's voice almost sounded mildly offended that Allen had busted his trusty trident. Katniss wasn't sure if she was imagining it or not but a dark aura seemed to creep up around Allen.
He chuckled evilly and started to mutter something about stupid masters, and cursed debt. Timcanpy slapped Allen with its tail and that seemed to snap the young teen out of it.
"Sorry wha? Oh yeah. I learned to fight doing my job and when I was training with my master. And as for the Cornucopia I just tried to make sure there weren't any unnecessary death." He shrugged like it was not big deal.
"Is your left arm a prosthetic?" Finnick asked.
"You mean like a fake arm? No it's mine." Finnick examined the lean youth up and down clearly unconvinced. Katniss knew that Allen's arm was Innocence but she doubted Finnick would accept the story Allen had gave her about coming from a different world, not when she wasn't even sure she believed him a hundred percent.
"Look I know Katniss seems to trust you," Finnick gave Katniss a look that made her frown at him. "But if we are going to be allies in the games you need to be honest enough with me that I don't decide throw my trident into that pretty head of yours. Katniss might have decided not to put an arrow through your eye but I haven't made my decision yet." Finnick eyed Allen's scaly black hand with the green cross embedded into it pursing his lips. Katniss noticed the teen pull his arm closer to his body covering it with his right hand.
Allen kept his face politely blank as he pondered how he should answer Finnick's question. He doubted that he would be able to make it through the entire game without being forced to activate his Innocence. Perhaps if he was only dealing with ordinary humans it would be safe but the arena was filled with unnatural horrors that he didn't fully understand. Their environment was false, capable of being manipulated at Gamemakers sick will. He knew he would not protect his secret at the expense of a life. Perhaps it was for the best that he explain himself earlier on when there was a semblance of calm instead of in the heat of battle where loyalties would be frail and nerves frayed. Allen signed in resignation.
"You want the truth and I won't lie but I can't promise you will believe me." He said levely meeting Finnick's piercing gaze head on. The warrior nodded. "I was born with this deformed arm. My parents abandoned me because of it. My arm is made out of a special substance called Innocence. It's a incredibly strong substance, incapable of being destroyed by normal weaponry." He searched his ally's eyes trying to see if the man believed him. The intelligent green eyes were focused and contemplative.
"What exactly is Innocence?" Allen paused. How was he going to explain Innocence without explaining about Akuma then it would ultimately lead him being forced to explain his origins. He promised not to lie but nor was the Exorcist willing to divulge the entire truth.
"It's a special substance very few people can wield." He explained vaguely. Finnick snorted disdainfully knowing that Allen was refusing to answer his question directly without breaking his vow to tell the truth.
The group let the conversation come to a stop. The night sky projected the faces of the dead tributes, the drunken man from 5 and both tributes from 8. Allen closed his eyes remembering each of their faces. He muttered a silent apology leaning against a tree closing his eyes. Timcanpy made himself comfortable in his master's silky locks.
Katniss pressed her cheek against the cool grass mat Finnick and Mags had woven for them. It cooled down bur burning face nicely. Technically Finnick was supposed to have first watch and the rest could get some sleep but she knew that everyone lay awake due to the heat and their thirst. Suddenly a small silver parachute appeared, floating down gently to the center of their circle. Allen's eyes shot open and he approached it carefully.
"What is it?" He asked.
"I gift from our mentors and sponsors." Peeta provided. Katniss opened it to find a hollow metal tube with an opening like the end of children's slides on one end.
"What is that?" Finnick asked. Allen took the metal tube in his hand and examined it.
"It's a spile." Allen decided. Katniss almost smacked herself. Of course it was. She grabbed it from him and walked over to the nearest tree pounding it into the wood. At first nothing happened but then a gentle trickle of water fell, turning into a steady stream. They all whooped in glee but silenced themselves as soon as they realized they were in the arena and could potentially give their position away to enemy parties. After everyone drank their fill of water Katniss could see their mood improved considerably.
Finnick offered to keep watch so Katniss settled down in the soft grass mats. She felt exhaustion catch up with her and as she closed her eyes she noticed that while Allen was leaning against a tree with his eyes closed he was definitely wide awake.
Bong! Bong! Bong! A sound like a gong jerked Katniss awake. Mags and Peeta were still sleeping but Finnick and Allen were alert and counting just like her. 12 bongs rang out before silence fell again.
"One for each district?" Katniss asked confused. There didn't seem to be any purpose to the gong, at least not so far. Finnick shrugged. After a few moments a massive lightening bolt seared across the sky leaving black trails in Ketniss's eyes. The bolt struck the tallest tree in the arena with a crack like a whip. Probably rain for all the other tributes without spiles. She thought. The Gamemakers couldn't have all the tribute die of dehydration. That wouldn't be any fun.
"I'll take the watch from here Finnick." Katniss offered. He shuffled uncomfortably. "Don't worry I've got it." She reassured. He nodded and curled up with his trident in hand. Allen went back to leaning on his tree but Katniss noticed he still wasn't asleep.
The lightning stopped to be replaced the pounding of rain a few hundred yards away. She waited quietly for the rain to reach them but it never did. Suddenly the sound of a cannon ripped through the air. Another tribute was dead. A frown creased Allen's smooth face and a look of sadness settled over him as he continued to lean against the tree with eyes shut.
Moments after the rain stopped an eerie mist began creeping towards them. The hairs on the back of Katniss's neck stand up. Something was wrong.
Allen's eyes opened.
"Something isn't right." He frowned noticing the advancing fog. Tendrils reached out as if the mist was prowling towards them like a hungry tiger stalking his prey. Katniss noticed that the fog was advancing in an unnatural straight line. She shouted for everyone to wake up as the first blister started appearing on her skin.
"Get up!" Allen helped Katniss wake everyone. Finnick shot up. Noticing the advancing fog he swung Mags over his shoulder and took off. Despite Peeta's insistence that he was fine Allen could see his movements were slow and sluggish. Katniss tried to support Peeta in an effort to help him run faster. Allen was right behind them. Tim flew around in frantic circles leading the way in front of the group.
The mist was creeping towards them much faster now. Suddenly a burning sensation seared Allen's back. He cried out and stumbled as the acidic mist seeped into his skin. Katniss looked back.
"Come on! Run!" Her voice was panicked. He saw in her wide eyes an animal instinct to run for her life but she stood her ground. Getting back up on his feet Allen plowed forward helping Katniss's efforts in dragging Peeta along. This time it was Allen's turn to look around as he heard a pained cry from behind him. Katniss's arm was jerking as if she was going to have a seizure.
"The gas affects our nerves." Allen's voice was horrified as he realized the white wall creeping towards them was more dangerous than any human enemy. Picking up Peeta on his back ignoring the blonde's protest Allen helped Katniss up and ran catching up to Finnick.
They were making good progress ahead of the gas heading towards the water at the Cornucopia then suddenly something in the air shifted. The mist began advancing rapidly as if propelled by a gust of wind. Allen's silvery eyes widened. The Capitol certainly didn't like him if they were making (at least in his opinion) a rather obvious attempt to finish their group off.
Pushing himself further he grabbed Katniss's wrist and dragged her at unnatural speeds running for the crescent of water glittering in the night that was slowly coming in to view. Flinging Katniss past the woods onto the sandy beach Allen cursed as a call came from behind.
Finnick was struggling to get up as angry red blister peppered his skin, his limbs jerking uncontrollably. The main body of the mist was only a few yards away. Dropping Peeta onto the edge of the beach hoping Katniss would make sure he got to safety Allen sprinted as fast as he could ignoring the searing blisters forming along his right arm and neck. He swung Mags over him and supported Finnick's weight as the fog began catching up.
"Leave me you're not going to make it like this." Finnick croaked. His voice was terrible as if the blisters weren't just on his face and neck but also in his throat.
"Nobody is going to be left behind. Now stop talking and walk." Allen said firmly. But despite his words the fog was lapping at his legs now and the spasm that he had been so far spared from started to jerk his legs slightly. They were only 20 feet from the beach now and Allen could see Katniss's attempt to come back and help crying out to them.
With a great heave Allen threw both Finnick and Mags as hard as he could. They flew rather unceremoniously and landed hard with pained grunts in the sand. Allen felt slightly guilty but it was the best he could do under the circumstances. His legs and arm had started jerking uncontrollably. The only thing that seemed to be working properly was his left arm.
His Innocence seemed to be glow with a faint pulsing light. Although Allen might have been imagining the glow as he had crumpled to the warm forest floor as the mist finally swept over. The horrible burning was all over him. Dark spots began dancing in his eyes. Allen could almost see the self-satisfied smile on President Snow's face as he felt the burning consume him, wiping out his own thoughts.
Hearing the distorted cries of Katniss Allen muttered one last thing before the blackness consumed him.
"Crown Clown activate."
Katniss glared at the thick foliage hoping against hope that miraculously Allen Walker would just appear out of it unharmed. Mags and Finnick collapsed behind her with grunts. Someone shifted next to her brushing the trail of tears she didn't even know she was shedding. Katniss cursed herself quietly. This was the second time she had cried that day.
"Katniss he's gone." Peeta's voice made it final. A stone dropped in Katniss's stomach. The sweet, naïve boy who actually thought he could get through the games without slaughtering a fellow human was gone. Murdered by the Capitol as he tried to help his allies. He had saved them.
"No." Her voice wasn't shaking, it wasn't even angry. It was just filled with adamant resolution.
"Katniss no one can survive in that poison." Peeta reasoned gently.
"No cannon." Through her prickling eyes she could see Peeta frown.
"You're right I haven't' heard a cannon." The fog was still swirling a few feet away but it had stopped advancing as if it had hit an invisible wall. For a few moments more Katniss just stared at the foggy forest listening to the rhythmic beat of warm, salty waves against the soft sand. Out of the corner of her eye Katniss saw Mags slowly dragging herself towards the water. Mags gently slipped her distorted hands into the water. Her face screwed up in pain but then it relaxed and she crawled further into the waves.
Katniss slowly turned, shoulder slumped and leaning against Peeta for comfort. They must have just missed the cannon within the misty haze of pain induced by the toxic fog.
"Look the water seems to be helping Mags." Peeta pointed to the where the old lady was now sitting half submerged in the salty water. "We should check it out." Katniss nodded. As Peeta led her closer to the shore something white shot past her ear.
It looked like silvery white fabric. The string of fabric latched itself deep into the sand like an anchor. Something large and white flew past her being pulled by the white belt. Finnick, who had been out in a poisoned daze, widened his eyes as a familiar figure with stark white hair crashed on top of him.
"ALLEN!" Katniss cried with shock and joy. She immediately regretted doing so as her throat burned with the effort. The young boy was passed out on the sand next to Finnick. Timcanpy who had been hovering next to her shot forwards to his master nudging him in a worried manner. Allen was surrounded by a strange white cloak that wrapped around his arm and a silver mask hung around his neck. The strangest thing about his appearance was that his left arm had changed into long black talons.
That must be his Innocence. Katniss thought. He had told her about his ability to activate his arm into a weapon but she had no idea what kind of form it would take when he activated it. With a burst of light the cloak vanished and his arm returned to its normal state. Peeta let a gasp escape him.
Allen's smooth porcelain skin was covered in angry blisters and his body was jerking uncontrollably as if electricity coursed through his veins instead of blood. Mags waved energetically at them, gesturing towards the salty water.
"Maybe the water will help him. Come on, help me Katniss." Katniss gently tried to lift the struggling boy and, with Peeta's help, was able to get Allen to the water's edge. As soon as her own foot touched the water Katniss gave a moan of pain. For the first time she appreciated the phrase "rub salt into your wounds." For a moment she thought she might pass out from the pain but as the blackness faded from her vision she noticed white vapors leaching out of her legs and draining into the water.
Peeta was also grunting in pain as he slowly immersed himself in the water and dragged Allen along with him. Allen gave an agonized cry as a repulsive amount of white wisps leaked out of his legs then his torso, arms, and neck. His uncontrolled jerking intensified as he struggled to get away from the pain. Katniss and Peeta held him forcefully helping to wash the toxin out of his body. The effect was instant. The spasm stopped and the pain slowly ebbed away.
Allen was still out cold so Katniss focused on using seashells to gently rinse Finnick's body with the salty water to ease the tendrils of poison out of his limbs. Soon he was conscious and blinked groggily sitting up taking in their situation.
Katniss noticed for the first time that the glowing light of the moon illuminated their party clearly. If the career pack attacked them now they would vulnerable. Looking around nervously a groan drew Katniss, Finnick, and Peeta's attention. Allen was sitting up rubbing his forehead like he was trying to get rid of a headache. Noticing his fellow tributes he gave a sheepish grin.
"I see everyone made it out in one piece." Allen said trying to sound lighthearted. Finnick usually calm, cool composure was gone. He was opening gawking at the white haired teen.
"You're not dead." He said.
Allen frowned at his hands looking over his body.
"I don't think I am." Peeta raised an eyebrow while Mags just sucked her thumb happily.
"You have a lot of explaining to do."
So as you might have noticed Mags is not dead (don't kill me) I just think her death was one of the more unnecessary ones and with Allen there I don't think he would let her die.