Day four, and where yesterday it was freezing, clouds covering the sky as the worst storm i've ever seen took place around the arena, today there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The sun working to its full abilities to warm up the arena as best as the Gamemakers would allow. Because of the warmth, the snow on the ground had begun melting in places throughout the morning, reducing the once white ground to nothing more then a slushy puddle of water in places. On top of that, there was black ice in certain spots that were just lying in wait for you to walk across, I'd almost slipped twice.
Since the sun had rose, the three of us had been traversing the arena. If not to keep moving, then to look for Eamon. We weren't hungry, for now at least. I don't know about Johanna or Mia but i still have one bread roll left just in case of an emergency. Who knows when we'll have food next.
I'd wager it was around one in the afternoon by now, judging from the suns position in the sky. It was pretty much directly above us still, making it impossible to keep both jackets on my body. Not risking the chance of losing it, I take off the white jacket and tie it around my waist tightly. The further we moved, the more the tension grew from the thought of another tribute being close by. Since there is fourteen of us left, it wouldn't be a surprise if we run into some trouble or another. I say fourteen of us now because yesterday, through the ongoing hell storm, another Tribute fell. The boy from eleven. It seemed likely that he was killed by the storm, but odds are we'll never know.
Looking forward, I notice how Mia had gone quite far ahead of me, Johanna too. Only, after seeing me dropping behind, Johanna slowed down until she was walking at my side.
"We should split whilst she's not looking." Johanna whispers.
I chuckle quietly and shake my head. "Not until we find Eamon, okay. Just try to play nice until then."
"I don't mix well with others." she mutters.
"You got along with me just fine." Its a fact she can't deny.
"You're different."
"Am i?"
"Yes!" She near enough shouts, then rubs her eyes and sighs. "Look i'm not going to stand here and explain why."
I laugh a little, and unable to resist the urge say. "Are you trying to tell me you love me?"
I receive nothing but a glare. But because she didn't deny it, i'm taking it as a confirmation of love whether it is or not.
"Seriously though..." I glance sideways at her. "Just try and get along with her, you'll be making my life a lot easier."
"Making your life easier?" She questions me.
"Have you ever been the third party in an argument between two girls?"
Johanna looks up to the sky and thinks on it for a moment, then looks back at me and shakes her head. "Nope, i'm usually the one doing the arguing".
"That i already knew." I point at her, in return for my comment she pushed me slightly.
"Jackass."
I may be a jackass, but she can't say I don't have a point. After the last argument with Mia - which Johanna started - it was a clear cut fact.
"Come look at this." Mia calls from the opening up ahead.
Rushing over to catch up, I notice that the area wasn't as much an large opening in the forrest. We were on a hill, overlooking the Cornucopia in the centre of the arena. The three of us crouch down, and from our position could see the figures of three careers inside the Cornucopia. From what i could make out it was Marric and Amanda, as well Tabbitha. The whereabouts of the other two, Jackson and Nancy, was anybodies guess.
"I'm not the only one who thinks the careers have issues this year, am I?" Mia asks looking to me and Johanna.
It was possible, depending on how you looked at it. Either there really was a trust issue with the careers this year, or Jackson and Nancy were around simply tribute hunting.
"Makes our job easier if they're divided." Mia sounded relieved.
I shake my head. "Even if they are, they'll still be a bitch to take out".
"Where's the fun in easy?" Johanna says sarcastically .
Down below at the Cornucopia, it looks as though there is an argument breaking out between Amanda and Tabbitha, Marric is just sitting back and watching.
"Oh there is definitely problems between them." Mia was nodding and smiling.
Honestly, I can't believe i'm saying it but I feel sorry Marric. I know what its like to be caught in the middle of a catfight between two very powerful women. Lost for words and afraid for your life. My horrific experience being quite recent and ongoing.
"Thats good news for us then." It was terrific news now that I think over it again. "Though, those three together..."
"Still could brutally murder us." Johanna chuckles as she finishes what I was saying.
It was exactly that. A crazy spear wielder, a crazy woman with a bow and a crazy woman with a sword sound much better then an axe, a sword and a trident , more diversity in their ranks. I guess it does come down to skill in the end but they're likely stronger there too. Fair to say I don't like our odds against more than two of them at once.
"I think the other two are more of a problem." Mia sighs. "They're both precise with knives at range".
"Yeah, and bows and spears aren't deadly at all." Johanna said with sass.
I sigh and shake my head. This is how the bickering starts between them. All day yesterday I had too suffer through it, I don't want too today.
"I'm just saying." Johanna picked up on my sigh.
"Lets just move, before I age thirty years." I move back from the ledge and stand up. "If they see us up here we might just find out how deadly they are with those spears and bows".
Without argument both of them got up off the slushy ground and followed me. There was quiet between us but it didn't last long. Eventually Mia said something that apparently annoyed Johanna that I didn't hear, seeing as she stormed off ahead and began hitting every tree in reach with her axe. Then it really did fall silent, to the point where you could hear a pin drop even in the watery snow. I was thankful, this way none of us could spark an argument with a single word. Made things awkward though, Johanna was too busy killing our friends the tree's and I had no idea what to talk about with Mia short of fishing or lumber.
Thankfully talking about fish or wood wasn't required as the second Johanna dropped back and walked with us she struck up conversation, but not with me.
"So why exactly is it vital we find this kid?" She asks.
Mia looked at her in a way that made me think just how lucky it was I was in the middle of them, "That's like me asking why Ethan found it vital to find you".
"Not really, I can look after myself and be useful." Johanna chuckles. "The kid you're looking for will be nothing but a burden to you".
"Either way, he's my friend. I'm sure you'd do the same in my position."
"I'm not saying this to be mean." Johanna sounded believable enough, then again she always did. "If anything I'm giving you advice."
"In your opinion." Mia sighed. "Do you have a brother Johanna? A sister?"
Johanna nods. "A brother, he's seven."
"And if he was old enough to be in here with you?"
Johanna adopts a cold gaze. "I'd kill everybody to get him home. But it's not the same thing. Is Eamon your brother?"
Mia shakes her head.
"Then you have no reason to throw your life away for him."
It's bad when you can listen to this and honestly say you agree with what Johanna is saying. Way to make yourself feel like a terrible human being.
"My advice might just save your life, if you actually follow it."
"I won't."
"Then that's your life paying for it"
I can see where this is going, so before it does i jump in and say. "I wonder how the weather will change tomorrow".
Mia looks up at me strangely and after her expression turns neutral she says. "With the gamesmakers who knows".
I like the fact that both of them know when I change the subject i'm silently begging them to stop fighting, makes things easier on my ears, and my sanity. Again things are quiet as we move, almost too quiet in addition to the surrounding area. Theres no birds chirping or sound of wind passing through trees, theres nothing but the sounds of our feet mushing up the melting snow beneath us. Then from behind one of the trees to my right i hear a snapping noise, like a foot breaking a twig in half. I ignore it at first passing it off as nothing, but then i here it again, this time closer.
I stop walking to focus on listening better without my footsteps hindering my judgement. Its not long before Mia and Johanna notice my neglect to move and the fact i'm staring into the distance. Another snap emerges, confirming my suspicions of somebody being within the tree's. Turning to the girls I tell them to be quiet by bringing my finger to my mouth and then move to take cover behind the nearest tree, the two of them following suit.
Seconds later the noise of footsteps in the slush are clear as day, and by the sounds of it there was more then one person. I ready the axe in my hands and prepare to strike. I don't know who it is no, but this is a kill or be killed situation, and i won't be killed now. Mia and Johanna seemingly thinking along the same lines as myself.
Voices emerge from the tree's next, a male and a female, they were arguing by the aggressive tone in their voices. Thats when both tributes from District 1 walk out into the open, apparently oblivious to the three of us hiding just ahead. They were too busy shouting at one another to notice.
I look over to Johanna and Mia who look to be communicating without fighting, likely planning an attack instead of letting District 1 get away from us. Johanna then looks to me, without using words asking me if I was on board with their plan to attack. Though fighting doesn't seem appealing, we do outnumber them, and it would be easier to take them out early. So I nod and get ready to dodge throwing knives more then anything.
I'm about ready to jump out and surprise them when Mia runs put from behind her cover and throws her trident at the unsuspecting tributes. Johanna follows her, and ends up in a fist fight with Nancy of all people, each punch she threw paying Nancy back for cutting her face. Running out from behind my own cover i head over and tackle Jackson who had knocked Mia off her feet and was ready to throw a knife at her. Once he is on the ground i punch him repeatedly in the face, in the chest and do so until he pushes me off and unsheathes his knife off his belt. Whilst he is slashing away like a mad man i step back and dodge each swing, occasionally swinging my sword at him hoping to get lucky.
Then, out of nowhere there is a bone charring pain at the back of my head. Before I fall to the ground i get a glance at Nancy stood over me, then she turns around to Johanna who is picking herself up off the floor.
I'm not bleeding or anything, but the pain in my head suggests i've been hit with something other then a hand, maybe the pummel of a knife. I drag myself up to my feet using a tree to balance myself out. Shaking away my blurred vision, a pained scream catches my attention. I turn around frantically thinking Johanna is hurt, only to see that she isn't in sight at all.
A cannon. I spin around. My face drops at the sight, anger boiling deep inside me. Jackson sits on top of a lifeless Mia, his knife imbedded into her chest which bleeds profusely. Without thinking I charge at him. He turns around just as I tackle him, grabbing his head and smashing it into the nearest object. The sound of his skull crashing against a rock is sickening, but i'm seeing so much red i don't rightfully care. Noticing he was still breathing, I force his head back onto the rock over and over until the blood is pouring from his head wound onto the ground and on my hand.
The cannon sounds, forcing me to stop and fall back, too realise what i'd done. Jackson was barely recognisable anymore, his face splattered on the rock. I feel like a monster. Killing wasn't justifiable to start with, but beating a guy to death on a rock... It couldn't get any more sadistic.
"Ethan!"
I don't respond to my name being called by Johanna, i'm too busy wiping my bloody hand on the snow, hoping it would somehow clean it away both physically and mentally.
"Oh shit..." I hear her mumble as she kneels down next to me. "Ethan..."
I look at her but don't speak. I think she realises the second I look her in the eye that I feel nothing but regret for what i'd done and sorrow because i wasn't fast enough to save Mia.
She placed a hand on my shoulder "We gotta go, now".
I nod, unsure of what else I could possibly do. It felt wrong to just leave Mia's body where it was, but what other option did we have. So, after scrambling to my feet and recovering my sword, we walk as far from the bodies as we could. We didn't stop until we knew we were a safe enough distance away, and were walking so long the sun had already began setting behind the mountain peaks, leaving a bluish glow across the arena and bringing back the regular bitter air of the first two days.
When we eventually stop to catch our breath, I sit down on a more then soaked rock but pay no mind to the water. All I could think about was how i'd murdered a man using a rock when I could have ended it quickly using my axe. Jackson killed Mia, I feel like what I did to him shouldn't bother me, but it did. More then i can ever describe. Guilty, sick and hatred. The three things that describe what i'm feeling perfectly right now.
"Don't feel bad about what you did."Johanna sat down beside me and sighed.
"I never said i did." I don't know why i got so defensive all of a sudden.
"But i can see you do." Was her instant answer. In a much calmer tone she said. "You did what you had too."
"I smashed a persons skull against a rock over and over until his brain was all over my hand." I raise up the hand I was talking about. "Its not the fact that i killed him, its the way that i did it thats bothering me".
"He'd have done worse to you given the chance." Maybe she had a point, maybe she didn't. "I'm not going to look at you any differently for it. Your family won't either."
"And his family?"
"What about his family?" Johanna wasn't holding back any coldness from her voice as she said it "They wouldn't show anything for you or your family if the roles were switched."
I'm not sure if thinking that way would help me or drive me further to insanity.
After a long pause Johanna continues. "Give your sympathy to somebody who actually deserves it. Not that asshole from one, forget about him, but Mia. I didn't like her no, but she deserved to make it further than he did."
Before i know it I'm slowly nodding and can't stop myself. It's almost as if my brain agreed with her and took a life of its own.
"Good." She looked up to the sky and said. "We should find somewhere to stay the night before it gets dark."
I was about to suggest we just stay here, but the fact it was in the open made it less and less desirable.
Nodding i stand up and ask. "What happened to Nancy?"
We begin walking as Johanna starts talking. "She got away.", it was simply put.
"Got away?"
She nods. "I doubled back when i heard the first cannon. Then the second one fired and..." She starts shaking her head, clearly annoying herself as she spoke. "I thought one of them was you".
I nod. Given what just happened it feels like the only right thing to do. Not smile or feel flattered. Though part of me wanted to tell her i worried it was her too.
"Lets just hurry up and find some place to stop for the night." Johanna steps ahead, quickening her pace.
Twenty minuets or so later we found a safe enough spot to stop. Surrounded by yet more tree's but there was still many ways in which we could have been attacked. But with our backs protected by the muddy bank, we at least felt a little safer then being completely out in the open. It was surprising when the sun had set completely, to find that the sky was devoid of any clouds, allowing the soft glow of the moon to illuminate the arena if only a little.
Using the puffy white coat tied around my waist as a sitting mat, I drop myself down on the ground and begin using my axe to play with the hardening mud around me. Johanna followed my idea with the coat and after sitting down drew a small greyish stone from her pocket and rolled it around in her fingers.
Looking over her shoulder she says to me. "I'll keep watch".
I want to say i'm fine doing it again, but the better part of me is screaming to not argue the point with her.
"Okay." I wait for her to look away before adding. "If you want me to take over..."
She nods but doesn't look at me.
Nodding more to myself, I move the puffy coat up to the foot of the bank and lie back onto it. I didn't close my eyes and try to sleep though, instead my gaze kept switching between the sky and a silent Johanna. More the sky when the nightly broadcast of the fallen began. Watching the image of Jackson made me feel sick, but following Johanna's advice that's all i let it do. Mia herself was another story. I felt sad, angry at the fact i was right there and still couldn't stop her death. I may not have really known her all too long, but as i've said, sometimes i get used to having people around too quickly and it's my biggest downfall to be sure.
As the night passes on I close my eyes lightly over and over until eventually fatigue begins to grab ahold of me. It feels nice, to slip away from reality and enter the land of dreams only briefly. A place where everything and everyone you cared about came together. A place completely devoid of death.
A place i'd enjoy what little i could of before i was dragged back into reality once more.
