Tyranna Vale(President of Panem)
"ONE DAY! IT TOOK ONE DAY FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE A MOCKERY OF MY GAMES CELINE! ONE DAY!"
"Ma'am I'm not sure this is as bad as you think it is. Granted it's far from ideal but so far the only real fallout has been that she allowed more tributes to secure supplies than might normally have been able too. In the end, all that really does is extend the survival of a few of the less desirable tributes but it shouldn't really affect the outcome of the games themselves."
"It's already affected the outcome Celine and the fact that you can't seem to see that is a little….Concerning to say the least."
"Ma'am I'm just not sure what the problem is. This isn't the first time a tribute stepped off their plate early and died as a result."
"You're right it's not, but it is the first time it was done so blatantly."
"I'm not sure I follow."
"I'm saying that every other time it happened it was obvious that an overzealous tribute that was trying to get an advantage had just mistimed their jump, but this wasn't even close."
"I'm still not…."
"Stop trying to spin this positively and pull your head out of your ass Celine!"
"Of….Of course Madam President. I apologise for my absent-mindedness on this issue and I assure you it will not happen again."
"It can't happen again, Celine. It's bad enough that I've already had to crack down on the districts once only to have it turn out like this."
"How would you like my team and I to proceed then?"
"I want you to make the surviving tributes lives a living hell. I want you to unleash every mutt and use every trap you designed for this arena regardless of whether or not you'd previously intended to use it. I want the tributes to suffer for this and I want the victor to be drenched in blood when they win. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal ma'am…."
"Good. Now if there's nothing else I trust you can find your way out."
"Of course, ma'am, it's just..."
"Was there something else Celine?"
"I was just wondering...Nothing ma'am, It's not important."
"I decide what's important. Now, what is it?"
"It's just….What are you going to do about the girl?"
"You really want to know?"
"I….Yes ma'am I do."
"I'm not going to do anything about her, not yet anyways."
"Why not?"
"Well, I'm going to assume she never told her mentors she planned to do this so punishing them won't solve anything and while killing her parents would definitely send a message I'm leaning towards a more artful approach."
"Such as?"
"Now that's something I'm not going to tell you just yet. However I feel like we've wasted enough time talking don't you?"
"Of course ma'am."
"Good. You're dismissed."
Kaelia Blitzen-12(D6F)
I can't believe how big this place is, I mean there was nothing about the landscape or the way the opening looked to even hint at just how immense and beautiful this thing is. Yesterday I'd been too cautious and frankly too scared to investigate anything that wasn't exposed to the light and even then I only lingered long enough to make sure nothing was lurking in the shadows, but after a restless night spent shivering near the entrance I decided to have a little look deeper inside, the fact that I found a small flashlight tucked away in the corner of my supply bag only made the decision that much easier.
Even with my light and my club I still have this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that something's not quite right, but I can't seem to pinpoint what exactly I don't feel comfortable about. At first, I thought it might have been that I hid my supplies in a little nook near the entrance but even after retracing my steps and collecting them I still can't seem to shake it. Part of me is convinced that I'm not going to feel safe because of where I am but another smaller part is screaming at me not to be an idiot and to get out of here while I still can.
Pushing my doubts away I continue deeper inside until I reach the deepest point I explored yesterday as the shaft turns left and continues deeper. Pulling my little light out of my pocket I switch it on and shine the illuminating beam into the murky darkness only to be greeted by another small corridor covered in all sorts of strange and unusual pictures that almost seem to dance underneath the wavering gaze of my light. Seeing as how nothing has tried to kill me yet I slip my supplies off my shoulder and set them gently on the ground next to the wall before adjusting my grip on my club and cautiously starting down the corridor.
I stop after maybe ten or so feet to inspect some of the pictures on the wall and to my amazement, they're not just painted on but carved into the stone with a light coat of paint on top. I stare in amazement as a wide assortment of birds and other animals that all have what looks like human bodies from the waist down seem to dance before me in some kind of primitive tribal tribute to a man dressed in almost obscenely opulent manner. Like I've seen how the people in the Capitol dress and this guy makes all of them look like poorly dressed morphling addicts that populate the underbelly of District Six.
While I'm transfixed by a particularly amazing looking carving of the opulently dressed man having his mouth opened by a slightly less well-dressed person as what I assume is meant to be his spirit floats out and upwards towards an assembly of the animal people looking down from above a faint rustling sound catches me attention. I manage to pry my attention away from the picture as I cautiously shine my light farther down the hall into what looks like another room. I hold my breath for a few seconds before taking a couple of cautious steps forward as I slip my light into my mouth so I can grip my club with both hands.
I cover the last few feet between me and the next room fairly quickly and since nothing has decided to jump out and attack me I feel safe enough to return to a one-handed grip on my club as I cautiously shine my light into every corner of the new room. It only takes me a few seconds to discover that this is the last room I'm going to be exploring as despite having four little cubbyholes like rooms none of them are nearly big enough for me to travel through.
I let out a defeated sigh as the realization that there was nothing of value hidden inside this amazingly decorated but extremely creepy and now slightly disappointing little, whatever it is. I almost turn back but decide instead to do a quick second sweep of the for anything I might have missed on my first pass and when I come up empty once again I decide to get out while the getting's still good.
I take one last disappointed look around the room before spinning around and starting back towards the entrance. I make it maybe halfway back down the corridor when a shadowy figure steps out from behind the corner and stands in the entrance. I feel my stomach leap into my throat as the figure starts to slowly move down the passageway towards me, its left leg dragging behind it in an incredibly unsettling way. I quickly bring my light up only to drop it in terror as I'm greeted by the headless forum of a linen wrapped, gold and jewel covered mutt.
I let out a terrified wail as the mutt lowers its head and barrels into me and sends me sprawling to the floor. The force of the hit is enough to send my club and light flying back down the corridor towards the dead-end chamber but it doesn't matter as the mutt doesn't give me a chance to retaliate anyway as no sooner have I hit the floor than it's on top of me using its amazingly sharp nails to tear chunks of flesh off my face
I start to panic and while I do my best to fight it off all I manage to do is deliver a series of glancing blows, most of which do more damage to me then the mutt as I seem to regularly connect with the gold and jewelry covering its body more often than not. Finally, after a few minutes of futile flailing, the mutt manages to pin my arms underneath its knees as it digs the tips of its fingers into my throat.
I let out one last terrified screeching plea for mercy as the mutt's fingers continue to delve deeper and deeper into the soft flesh of my throat. Realizing that it's no use I close my eyes and try to think of happier times as the mutt suddenly and violently tears my throat and ends my life in a violently painful and brutal manner.
~BOOM~
Topaz Kayden-12(D1M)
The crash of a cannon tears me out of my sweat drenched slumber and rudely thrusts me back into the grim and almost sad reality that I'm still in the arena. Part of me was hoping that yesterday had just been a terrible dream and that today would be the day the games actually started. Then again I should have realised that with my recent string of luck the arena probably would have been ten times worse than the excessively hot hell hole I'm currently stuck in so I might as well consider myself lucky that yesterday wasn't a bad dream.
"Don't look now guys but I think Topaz might finally be awake."
I turn my attention towards the voice only to find myself mildly startled at the site of Archie's face hovering mere inches away from mine. I manage to suppress a vocal response but my attempted roll away only manages to get me tangled up in my sleeping bag and within a few seconds I'm helplessly trapped. I struggle for a few seconds but it's quickly apparent that I'm only making things worse and I'm forced to admit defeat and ask for assistance.
"Well, that was a really funny trick, Archie. In fact, it was so funny I seem to have forgotten how to get out of my bag. Would you be so kind as to help me escape this mess? I'd ask one of the girls but I'd like to save a little face at the very least."
He offers an amused snort while Audrie and Connor try and miserably fail to suppress a series of giggles that quickly spill over into outright laughter when I join in. A few minutes and a series of angry and incredibly inappropriate words I've never heard before later I'm out and attempting to roll up the stretched and possibly useless remnants of my sleeping bag.
"Thanks, Archie."
"Don't mention it. After all the look on your face was more than worth the effort of prying you out of that sweat stained deathtrap."
It's only after he mentions how sweaty the bag was that Audrie and Connor take a closer look at me and it's quickly apparent to the both of them that my clothes are absolutely saturated in sweat. I do my best to avoid their concerned gazes but after a few minutes outside the bag with legitimate airflow surrounding me, I find myself shivering slightly. However I'm not able to bring it under control and within a few seconds, my shivering becomes uncontrollable as my teeth begin to clang together so loudly and fiercely I'm scared I might break them.
"For the love of god Topaz, wrap yourself up before you catch your death. Connor tosses him the space blanket while I go lay his bag out to dry. Archie will you get him a little water and some bread please."
I want to protest but the look in Audrie's eyes makes it incredibly clear that she's not in the mood to hear it so instead I simply hand her my sopping wet bag as Connor tosses me a small pouch with a reflective space blanket folded neatly inside. I tear open the wrapping and fish the blanket out and within a few seconds I've got myself wrapped up relatively snugly inside as Archie hands me half a roll and a half a small bottle of water that I ravenously devoured and drain only to immediately regret doing so as I have to force myself to keep from throwing up.
"We're lucky the bag is tan or someone might see it drying out there. Archie, didn't I ask you to get Topaz food?"
"I did, he already finished it. Did you want me to keep feeding him or something?"
"Stop being a smartass Archie, she just asked you a question."
"Why is it that every time I answer a question I'm automatically trying to be a smartass?"
"I don't know, maybe it's because you usually are. Or it could be that your general tone lends itself to you being a smartass."
"Both of you please stop. It was annoying enough yesterday but there's no reason for any of this, especially not before we've actually had to do anything."
I'm not sure what I missed yesterday and judging by the death glares being exchanged between Archie and Connor I might be better off not asking. Instead, I force myself to my feet and slowly make my way towards the gallon jug of water sitting in the corner with the other supplies and attempt to pour myself another half a bottle. However my hands refuse to stop shaking long enough for me to do and a few drops splash off the side of the bottle and create a small wet spot on the ground below.
"Be careful Topaz! We don't have enough water for you to be dumping it on the ground."
"S….Sorry Archie. I wasn't trying to spill it or anything."
For a second, I'm not sure he's going to accept my apology as I watch his cheeks flush with anger as his eyes dart between the girls in an almost pleading manner. After a few seconds Connor does step forward but to my surprise and Archie's utter disdain she simply takes the jug and finish filling my bottle before returning the jug to its place and offering me a reassuring smile."
"You're fine Topaz it was just an accident. Next time ask one of us to help so you don't spill again."
I nod my head in agreement as she hands me the bottle before slipping back towards Audrie and whispering something to her in a barely audible tone. I slowly make my way back towards the far wall and by the time I plop myself down on the ground Connor is making her way towards the door while Audrie is filling a pair of canteens with water.
"Ok, it didn't take me that long to sit down. What did I miss and where are the two of you going?"
"Connor and I are going to see if the careers have left the cornucopia."
"Isn't that something the four of us should do together, though?"
"Normally yes, but you're still not completely recovered from your ordeal so we'll have to make do with the two of us."
"That's ridiculous Audrie. I'm not hundred percent but I'm more than capable of helping. Just give me a second to get ready and we'll all go."
I move to get up but I quickly find her hand on my shoulder keeping me down. I brush her aside and try to get up again but she quickly leans down and whispers in my ear while applying just enough force to keep me from getting to my feet.
"I need to get Connor away from Archie for a little while and this is the only way to do it. You just stay here and rest up ok."
She slips something around my wrist before offering me a gentle pat on the back as she gets springs to her feet and scoops up the water. She casually tosses a bottle towards Connor who catches it and takes off outside at a slow jog that forces Audrie to run to catch up. I watch with mild interest as the two of them stop at the entrance to the tunnel and takes the opportunity to remark at just how hot it is despite the early hour as Connor wraps a piece of cloth around her forehead. Once Connor's done the two of them exchange relatively uneasy glances before finally forging out into the early morning sun.
It's only after the two of them disappear from sight that I bother to look down at my hand and I'm astonished to find a small knife dangling from the end of a piece of rope. For a second, I'm not sure why Audrie would give me a knife but after a few seconds, the uncomfortable reality of the situation starts to set in. She and Connor aren't sure they can trust Archie and with the two of them gone this is meant to be my protection against him doing something stupid. I just hope he comes to his senses and I don't have to use it.
Alden Devaire-13(D9F)
I've got absolutely no idea where I am or how I even got here. Everything was so chaotic yesterday and as soon as the games started I just….Ran as fast and as hard as I could. However that wasn't exactly a good thing as I forgot to collect supplies and I didn't even pretend to orient myself to the arena or anything like that. The one piece of advice Kimma gave me was to not panic and I royally screwed that up not even a minute into the games.
"Well, I'm sure mom and dad would be super proud that I didn't die in the bloodbath at least."
Who am I kidding? I know full well both of my parents were probably too busy recovering from the previous night's festivities to even remember that I'm a tribute at all let alone that the games started yesterday. I mean I'd like to think they'd be able to pry themselves away from their blissful ignorance and worry about me but deep down I know they can't, it's not that they won't it's that they can't.
"I hate my life."
Well that's not exactly true, I don't hate my life so much as I hate the faux life my parents made me live. In an effort to keep up their care free and go with the flow image they made my brother and I adopt a complementary lifestyle and while my life in Nine wasn't all that bad and my parents were always there for me when I needed them a part of me will always hate the charade they turned my life into. The nonstop parties, the drinking, the excess, the cordial relationship with the peacekeepers and their general lack of desire to do anything other than enjoy the creature comforts always rubbed me the wrong way.
"Well Alden all you have to do is win and you can put that terrible life behind you and start living your way."
Then again I'm not sure that's true either. It honestly wouldn't surprise me to win and have my parents borrowing money left and right in a never-ending attempt to throw a bigger and better party than the last. I mean my mom's told me on numerous occasions that throwing the party to end all parties has always been her goal and if I have the financial means to help them do that it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to see her try to make her dream a reality.
"Well, I guess I could always be the best partying Victor of all times."
I guess that would be more in line with what everyone back home expects from a Devaire so I might as well give them what they expect. It's not like my winning would really allow me to escape the image my family was so willing to help me cultivate back in Nine, and after the way the interviewer spent all her time asking me questions about my family and the legendary parties they throw I'm not sure it's possible for me to be anything but a party girl.
I know I really shouldn't be worrying about this, after all it'll all be a moot point if I die and with a distinct lack of anything resembling supplies that's a much more likely outcome than me winning is anyway. Doing my best to force the thoughts from my mind I stop paying attention to where I'm going and it's only after the ground below me gives way that I realise just how stupid a mistake that was. As I fall into the waiting embrace of the darkness below the only thing I can think to do is scream.
A/N: Well that's the first part of Day 2 and as you can see the Mutt action is about to pick up. I don't really have questions for this chapter but as always I love to hear from all of you regardless even if it's just to tell me you still hate Lachlan :p
However I do want to assure everyone that even if you don't review all the time I'm not going to take it out on your submissions. I saw a review mentioning that and I've received a couple of PM's on the subject and while I do love to get reviews from everyone I have never nor will I ever hold not reviewing against a submitter.
Anyway please review and let me know what you think and I hope to see all of you later this week for the next update :D
Death Order/Cause/Place
24-D10F- Fern Shelton-13- Killed by stepping off her plate
23-D7F-Sequoia Sable-12-Killed by Lachlan
22-D9M- Jamie Dexton-12-Killed by Lachlan
21-D11F- Iliana Alder-13-Killed by Antonia
20-D5F- Emiliana "Emi" Jameson-13-Killed by Iona
19-D11M- Moriah Trace-12-Killed by Aldrin
18-D2M- Alex Trake-13-Mercy killing by Antonia
17-D12M- Brenton Aldair-13-Cobra Mutt
16-D6F- Kaelia Blitzen-12-Mummy Mutt
Kill Total
2- Lachlan
2- Antonia
1- Iona
1- Aldrin
2- Mutt
1- Fern(Suicide)