The Burning Wing
Chapter 21: Betrayal of friends
"I am disappointed," Haymitch spoken quietly.
"What?" I asked confused looking at him to elaborate.
Haymitch turned his gaze, seam eyes staring at me that I could see everything. He knew; he knew everything about me and my actions I did over the year, and probably since the beginning. I opened my mouth to say anything, but he raise his hand to silences me.
"Dad, let me explain," I choked out.
"Explain what, Blaine?"
"It's complicated, but I did everything to protect you." I sobbed reaching out to hug him, but he step away.
"I just don't see it." He said sternly. "I thought I could….my little girl die in the arena."
And with that said he headed towards his room. When the door clicks I fell to my knees and sobbed. Now I lost everybody I love: My father, my friends, and maybe Cinna. I knew someday either of them will know the betrayal I did in keeping everyone physically safe came with a consequence. I just wished it never happen.
.o0o.
I woke up with a jolt of shock to feel something wet slide down my cheek. When I touched my cheek, I realized the wetness was tears. I sighed in anguish for how surreal the dream was. If Haymitch found out my secret and said he was disappointed in me would be a nightmare.
The digital clock read four in the morning, and I refuse to encounter another dream, or the cruel curse of a nightmare. So instead, I got out of bed and decided to shower. It's strange to wake up in a cold bed with no cat curled around my feet or warm arms wrapped around my waist. The absent lately made me feel lonely.
After a long shower, washing the evidence of tears away and change into something…..I couldn't. I couldn't move or even think in what's to come. Today was the Hunger Games, and in less than seven hours all my friends shall be dead. How can I act like this was another typical Game? Cashmere, Gloss, Brutus, Enobaria, Beetee, Wiress, Mags, Finnick, Johanna, Blight, Woof, Cecelia, Seeder, Chaff, Peeta, and Katniss will go in and one will come out. My heart ache for thing of lost that I wish I could skip the Gamemakers Headquarters in search of sponsors and hide in some ditch somewhere. But that was impossible. So picking out an outfit randomly, I left my room and sat down in the sitting room to observe the sunrise through the dark city.
The young red Avox handed me a glass of coffee kindly. Before she left, I grabbed her hand which she flinched worried if she down something wrong.
"I order you to tell me your name." I said sternly.
She tensed, for she was vocally unable to speak, though she grabbed my arm to trace the letters of her name: L-A-V-I-N-I-A
"Lavinia?" I asked to confirm.
She nodded and left to do her other chores before the day began. I sighed, taking a sip of coffee. What a corrupt society we live in. There was no peace, no order, just oppression under the leadership of a ruthless tyrant. A sound of the main door open and closed signaling the stylist are here to escort the tributes to the arena. Before I could greet them, I notice there was only one set of footsteps.
"You should be asleep." Cinna said quietly as he took a seat. "Another nightmare?"
"Yeah," I breathed.
"About what?" he asked.
"Disappointment."
Nothing was said after that, instead Cinna wrapped his arm around me while I curled into his form. Our future seemed to fade as time goes by, unsure if there will be an, us in the future….if Cinna is still alive... The voice in the back of my head whispered continuously, 'Enjoy this moment, for tomorrow he'll be gone.' I ignored it, and breathed in his cologne, trying not to think the inevitable.
"Blaine," Cinna whispered. "No matter what happens, I want you to know… I love you."
I gasped, staring at him dumbfounded. My heart clenched unsure if I should say them in returned for I don't know if I hold the same feeling for him just yet. Cinna smiled placing a finger over my lips. "I know you care about me more than friends, and that is all I need."
Before I could protest in his martyr speech he kissed me.
Please don't! I mentally cried. Please don't let this be the end.
When he pulled back to kiss the tears away, whispering sweet nothing. "There is still hope for you. I don't know if I'll be a part of it, but the snow shall melt and you can bloom a future that you so desire. Just promise me to be brave?"
"I can't," I sobbed.
"Yes you can." He assured, cradling my face. "If not for me, then do it for your friends. Help Haymitch, follow your music career….just don't bow and give up."
Little did he know my life had fallen a long time ago?
With one last kiss, he got up to wake Katniss and Peeta in preparation for the Hunger Games.
No matter where I go, death was always there.
.o0o.
Haymitch hasn't spoken a word on the drive towards the Gamemaker Headquarter. How could he, when his best friend was going into the Games. In fact, none of the mentors spoken a single word this morning, knowing our brethren were going to the one place we all fear, the arena. A place of fear and blood. When you play the Hunger Games; you win or you die. There is no middle ground. That is the golden rule of the Hunger Games. Nobody from the district would sit around and socialized with sponsors who wanted to help their favorite tribute kill other tributes.
In fact, all the victors isolated from the sponsors in the beginning of the ceremony. They only speak when spoken to, shaking hands when offered, and go back to sitting down on the couch waiting for eleven O'clock. I sat down on a couch with Miya and Annie trying to settle their nerves, assuring them that everything is going to be okay. Annie shook her head going into an episode where she'll close her eyes, cover her ears, and rock around. This will be hard on her, since her lover is Finnick Odair. So instead of telling her to stop crying...I gave her consolation, by holding her in my arms and letting her cry. Miya did her support by placing a hand on Annie knee humming a tuneless melody.
I felt nauseated, close to vomiting, as the Capitol seal came on along with Caesar Flickerman, going over the last night interviews and Scores. Annie then became hysterical yet she didn't scream or cry, but shake even more. Acre joined the lounge area and sat across from us along with Lyme, Hacker, and Haymitch. We said nothing other than wait to see this year arena to be surprisingly new. The arena was a tropical island. The Cornucopia was on an island in a large, round pool of salt water. Encircling the water was a jungle. This was a complete unfair advantage for half the tributes can't swim.
The twenty-four platforms waited, and waited, as time seemed to move on that had the audience apprehensive. Caesar touched his ear announcing that there was some technical difficulty and the game shall start momentarily. I bit my lip, having a bad feeling that it wasn't technical but ethnical. A few minutes later, the platforms activated lifting the tributes who squinted in discontent of the bright sun reflecting over the water. The countdown down begins, the camera angles shifting on each tribute. There uniform consisted to be a jumpsuit with black with dark grey sections over the outer-thighs and chest, and light grey sections over the shoulders. Elbow pads and knee pads were also provided and black nylon boots. Katniss stood between Woof and Mags. I tried to read her expression for answers, as she express complete utter horror that I hope didn't involve Cinna, but the arena itself. There were hardly any lakes or rivers to be swimmable in District Twelve, so neither of could swim.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fifth Hunger Games begin!" Claudius Templesmith voice boomed out.
As the countdown goes down ever so rapidly, Miya grabbed Annie's hand while her other hand grabbed the closes person which was Lyme. The Career took the young victors hand taking Hackers who looked at everyone, curious if a chain will form. Acre tapped my shoulder wondering if we should hands, I eye my hand towards Annie who still clutched to me, so he rested his hand on my shoulder giving a reassuring squeeze. I smiled sadly in gratitude then looked at my father who nodded.
This is it.
When the gong sounds, hardly anybody jumped off their platform and swam to the cornucopia. Finnick was the first to dive, disappearing in the water, followed by Katniss. Wait what! The girl can actually swim? It appears so, as she kept her body straight paddling one arm over her head then switch to the other in a rowing motion. The other tributes seemed dismayed unsure what to do, before the Careers cautiously jump off the platforms.
Finnick reached the cornucopia first, instantly grabbing a trident and netting. Katniss reached land and ran quickly to the horn, however stop. The camera zoomed in to show that the supplies in the Cornucopia were nothing but weapons. What the hell, this would be a first. She caught sight of a bow and grabbed it along with a set of arrows. She also grabbed a machete. Finnick walked up to her, which she instantly swung the blade at him however intervene with his trident.
"You can swim, too," he said with a smirk. "Where did you learn that in District Twelve?"
The camera shifted back to everyone either on the platforms or swimming slowly to the cornucopia. SO far: Mags, Cashmere, Gloss, Enobaria, Brutus, and Peeta were close to shore while the others hesitated slowly jumping into the water. District 5 male tribute made it to shore when suddenly a trident made contact through his chest. I cringe as blood spurted out when Finnick yanked the trident out; spotting something golden on his wrist…it was Haymitch's bracelet.
"Don't trust One and Two," Finnick ordered.
Katniss nodded knocking an arrow to her bow aiming at the water where Enobaria and Gloss were just meters away from shore.
"Anything useful?" he asked.
"All weapons," Katniss said charging back to the grab what else I can use.
"Same," Finnick said. "Grab what you want and let's go!"
Katniss shot an arrow at Enobaria, who was to close but dive back into the water. Another arrow was shot, puncturing Gloss in the calf as he dives back into the water.
"Do something about that, would you?" Finnick shouted pointing at Brutus who barreled towards them using belt as some sort of shield. Katniss fired at Brutus only to puncture the belt causing some sort of liquid to spill. Unfortunately, the liquid got on his face causing him to scream and jump back in the water. Three of the four Careers, waited deep in the water yet Cashmere seemed to elude Katniss and Finnick, by swimming behind the Cornucopia and waited for the opportunity to get inside if the two tributes haven't blocked the mouth.
Peeta struggled in swimming, as the waves plunder over him. Shit, the prosthetic leg added the additional weight to his body mass along with it not being water poof that it'll malfunction. Luckily Finnick was on Katniss side, which he jumped back into the water to bring Peeta to shore while Katniss watched the careers and got their back. It was quite amusing to see the Careers cautious around the cornucopia, practically calculating the opportunity to approach without being shot by a seventeen year old girl. The only person who was brave enough to approach was Mags, as she walked toward Katniss patting her thick belt.
Those belts must be filled with some sort of buoyancy material for the tributes to stay afloat. Well, guess that resolves the Gamemakers problem for the tributes who can't swim. Can't have half the victors dead by drowning on the first day shall we, not good for podcasting. The cameras were everywhere that it's impossible to hear a complete conversation let alone how people got together.
"Bob," Mags said patting her stomach.
"Look, she's right. Someone figured it out." Finnick pointed at Beetee, who was splashing around panicking in the water as waves come by but didn't drown. "The belts. They're flotation devices. I mean you have to propel yourself, but they'll keep you from drowning."
And with that said, the four grabbed their weapons and ran to the forest letting the bloodbath officially begin. I whispered in Annie's ear to look away, which she did as she went to her episode trying to block out the horrid scene of friends killing each other. In fact, practically everyone was either closing their eyes or looking at a different view to avoid the betrayal amongst friends. To watch a career returned back to their murderous spread like the others were nothing but animals.
.o0o.
00:03:32:23:46
Three hours, thirty-two minutes, and whatever seconds the game had started. The total count of kills go off in represent the bloodbath victims of the fallen doing down to eight booms with the tributes on screen with Claudius and Caesar.
"And, of course, there's the familiar boom of the cannon," Caesar announced. "This marks the end of the fallen Tributes."
The tributes who had fallen ion the bloodbath were District 5 male, Seeder, District 10 female, Both District 9, Woof, and Cecelia. Now three children are left motherless. No one spoken let alone got up after watching the careers brutally murder our friends like they were nothing. Lyme had to excuse herself so she could fund for her district, though it's possible she did it to protect herself from the angry eyes of other mentors whose friends from their home district suffer. Miya was crying as her previous mentor died while the rest of us remained silence. Seeder was gone.
After a moment of silence, I got up to get everybody some drinks from the bar. Before I could turn around, I collided into a man dressed entirely in white. Quickly I stepped back to apologize only to stop in seeing the green sash and beret. Why is the Capitol Guard doing here, aren't they supposed to be at President Snow Mansion?
"Miss Abernathy," one of them said.
"Yes," I replied calmly though inside I'm shaking.
"President Snow request for an audience with you immediately." He ordered.
"And what does he want?" Haymitch demanded sitting up.
"That is classified information." The same guard answered sternly. "I advise you not to get involve with this. As for you Miss. Abernathy, please cooperate and accompany us."
"And if she refuses?" Haymitch challenge.
"That's enough," I snapped at my dad.
"Blaine-"
"Enough dad, right now focus on our tributes." I hissed getting up to straighten my blouse. "Acre, mind watching Miya and Annie for me….and make sure Haymitch doesn't get drunk?"
Acre nodded though his face held a cautious face. Miya grabbed my hand saying don't go, but I assure her that everything is all right and that the president just need to discuss arrangements. Though deep down I knew this wasn't good. President Snow hardly sends his personal guard out unless it's to fetch people for private matters. So with a curt nod, I followed the guard out of the Sponsors facilities and into a black car where a gun was pointed at me.
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Not my Best Chapter. I'm not good in writing fight scenes as you could see. Also my sister borrowed my Catching Fire copy so I had to get the plot and certain dialoged from my other story. SO bear with me. Anyway, the rest of the story is going to be a complete shocker.
SO keep reading and please review!