Chapter Twenty-Five: Proposition.
"Think hard about refusing to show up. For some of you, this will be your last chance." -Claudius Templesmith
Isabella "Izzy" Wilkinson
.+-.+ Flashback Begins.-+.-+
-Two weeks prior to the Games.
I casually stroll with Prospero, one of the District's most sought after boys after finishing a shift at our local power plant. He has cute greasy hair, ashen skin and black eyes you could get lost in. He also has some muscle due to the lifting of equipment shipments we receive. Overall he's just lean and handsome. I have what you would call a petty crush on him even though he's taken by Nina Joules, one of my bullies. He's one of the only boys, other than Zapp Peterkin or my numerous amounts of cousins that truly like me, for me! and for that I'm thankful!
As we walk down the gloomy downtown streets, many people give us, well, mostly me, inquisitive yet scornful looks as we make our way towards the merchant section of town. I'm used to those looks. The only reason they treat me the way they do is because of the stigma my condition brings. People in this District are always narrow minded, so its just best to ignore and live on with life!
"Are you ready for the reaping this Sunday?" Prospero asks with confidence evident in his gruff voice.
I shake my head playfully, "I've survived four reapings so far! - Nur!- I plan to make it a fifth!"
"Ah well, if you were ever reaped I think you'd do exceptionally well. You're a quick learner and you have a sharp mind...Most of the time." he jeers. I playfully slug him on the shoulder as I blush and giggle.
"Thanks..." I rub my own shoulder.
"Hey Prospero! Ugh, what's the basket case doing with you?"
I let out a low groan as Nina and a crowd of followers converge on our position. This is the part where Prospero leaves my side and becomes a bystander. I don't blame him, he would be excluded socially if were to stand up for me. The crowd encircles us eagerly, shouting out hurtful comments and egging Nina on as some laugh along. Nina was of Latin American descent, sporting tanned skin. She had a brunette ponytail, light freckles and brown eyes. She was still malicious and demeaning even though I was a head taller than her. I've learned to stop crying about her teasing. Instead, I just stand in my place as she circles me.
"I thought I told you not to come - Nur!- back to this side - Nur!- of town?" mimicking my common tic while looking straight into my expressionless eyes. She turns back towards the crowd of onlookers, then lashes out towards me with a fake punch gesture. I take one step back. This causes everyone to laugh as Nina turns back towards the crowd.
"SEE? I told you she was stupi-"
In a quick motion I take her ponytail in my right hand, tug her to the floor and deliver as much punches to her face as humanly possible.
Blood began to appear on my fist,but I didn't stop.
People tried to force me off of her, but I didn't stop.
I just kept punching...and punching...and punching!
.+-.+ Flashback Ends.-+.-+
"Psst! Izzy, it's time." Clancy muses me out of my sleep.
I slowly sit up against the cave wall, tiredly unscrewing my waterskin as I take a long sip of water. I sigh as I look out of the cave mouth and see snowfall, nothing but snowfall. I'm getting pretty tired of winter weather. At least it isn't as bad as District Five's rainfall, but it's not like I'll need to worry about that anymore...
Clancy still seems ticked about losing Emery. He and I both can take a guess on who she might be with right now. A part of me is saddened for not being able to spend more time with her. She was like the little sister I never had.
Clancy and I split a strip of meat and a loaf of District Eleven bread, warmed by the fire we started. We eat with little chit-chat in between. After about an hour of sitting around, we begin to divide our belongings. Along with me I take my knives, my sickle, a spear, my waterskin, along with a backpack with a slice of bread and strips of meat, I could use more things but this will suffice. Clancy retains his machete and other assorted tools.
As we finished packing, we head out of the cave stopping at the entrance. I turn around to see Clancy's face full of uncertainty as he tightens his straps.
"Are you sure Izzy?" he inquires, "You don't have t-"
I envelop Clancy into a light hug; which he was hesitant to return but ends up doing it anyways. Clancy is one of the only boys I've met that accepts me for me. Even though we barely know each other, I'm still thankful!
"I'm positive Clancy. It's been a blast! - Nur! - but it's about time we get on with the show, no?!"
"Fair enough, It's been nice knowing you Izzy."
"You too Clancy, Just one thing though?"
". . . Yeah?"
"Don't hesitate to kill me."
And with that, I snap a goofy salute as I run off into the foliage. To where? I don't know.
Evan Morrissey
1040 hours
There haven't been any deaths for the past couple of days. No deaths equal bored Capitol people, bored Capitol people equals bad ratings...You get my drift. We see it all the time Hunger Game after Hunger Game. The tributes get a little too cozy and the Gamemakers being to flush them out with hopes of them clashing with others to induce a death.
I plan not to follow that stereotype.
I quickly assemble my gear which consists of my curved blade, and a half full yellow backpack. It's not much and I'll need to get more supplies soon. Tightening the straps and securing my sword onto my utility belt I cast a quick glance at Emery, who appears to be looking at me long before. As she catches my eye, she blushes beet red and smiles embarrassingly with guilt in the mix. We both end up shying away from each other, tending to equipment in silence.
.+-.+ Flashback begins.-+.-+
Day 9
2345 hours
I could feel the air being sucked out from my body, the atmosphere becoming more and tighter as I struggle out of my sleeping bag.
I had just had a vision of Shelley. She was lying on the snowy floor, bleeding out to death. Her hands outstretched towards me, calling my name with obvious anguish and desperateness. I kept running and running towards her, but to no avail. She just seemed farther and farther away with each step I took.
"Evan! It's alright. It's just a dream!" Emery pleads with me as I futilely try to struggle out of her grasp. I can't do anything for myself except cry. Shelley should be here with us right now. If anything, it would have made more sense if I died during the bloodbath...
I look into her smoky grey eyes; our heads were at the same level. She then held my cheek and leaned in to kiss me. Her lips were warm and full, I could tell that she was new to this sort of gesture. I look on with a bewildered expression as she pushes away from me, our lips make a light smack as she does this.
"I'm sorry." she squeaks, avoiding eye contact as she quickly rises up from the floor and exits the room.I was too saddened (and shocked) to respond.
.+-.+ Flashback Ends.-+.-+
That was the first time I've ever kissed a girl, believe it or not. Too bad it was under circumstances like these. . .
The silence is broken as Emery rubs my shoulder, "I'm so sorry Evan. I-I don't know what went over Me." she says lowly, "I know its the Hunger Games and friendly relations-"
I cut her off, "It's whatever . . . Are you ready to move out?" she nods slowly, "Good. It's about time you see Clancy again."
Emery raises her hand slightly, "What about you, Evan?" she quizzes with hurt in her voice.
"I'm going to do what I should have been doing for the past couple of days. Play this game." I say standing up, "I know where Clancy is, I'll be taking you to him and leaving."
"Y-you don't have to leave! You can stay with Clancy an-"
"Emery,"I silence her with a raise of my arm,
"This is the HUNGER GAMES.I'm a Career, and Its time I started acting more like one. You said it yourself; the Hunger Games isn't about making friends! After killing the boy from Three, I thought you would have had a better understanding of that."
Emery's face drops into a look of downcast, as she remembers the boy from Three and the knife fight that ensured between the two.
"I'll be outside. . ." she murmurs as she silently takes up her belongings and disappears from the room. It had to be said. I owe it to Shelley to survive as long as possible, by any means necessary. Allying with Emery until the end isn't possible. I'm fighting for two people now...Myself and Shelley, who was robbed at her chance at victory by a snivelling disgrace of a tribute.
I'll make things right. I'll make things right in the way she would have.
Emery
Why did I do what I did? I don't know.
I've gone native for a boy who's trained to kill for a living. People like Evan killed my closest friend and countless children from my District. People back in Eleven refer to kids like Spinel and Evan as monsters . . . Evan's not a monster though? He was reaped, forced into the games just like I was, but also planned to volunteer in the future. Who knows how many other kids whose lives he would have ended? On the other hand he had just lost his sibling just a few days back and has no one to confide in. I just felt the need to comfort him, that's all. Haven't you guys felt like comforting someone when someone's in need? I wonder what Mom and Daddy think, Magnolia, Jimmy, Lily. . .
And Clancy...The boy I've come to love, what about him? We've been though so much together. What would he think about this? My vow of spending all our remaining time together seems like a distant yet nonexistent memory. I've strayed away too far from my roots, maybe it's for the best that Evan leaves. I can't imagine having to kill him when the time comes.
Outside is colder than it has been the past day or two. Almost every object exposed has been covered in a clear veil of ice. Trees, worn out cars you name it. The trees look exquisite, but could be a hazard at any point.
Evan emerges from the worn out house, "Are you ready?" Evan asks as he shuts the door behind him. Hurt from his unpleasant retort, I give him no reply as I begin to walk down the abandoned street. Evan and I retain our respected silences as we trek though the ruins of Vancouver back into the wilderness.
"Goodbye, Vancouver." Evan mutters with a lazy wave to the city's skyline. We proceed to slink our way back into the wilderness, up and over hills and over a grand bridge, overlooking what I think was the Pacific Ocean. I couldn't tell since most of the water was frozen over due to the relentless ice storms conjured up by the Gamemakers. Each step I take on the bridge feels like the entire foundation would come crashing down. Luckily enough we pass the bridge without incident.
Not wanting to leave on bad terms (like it matters anyways...), I timidly clear my throat, causing Evan to look back over his shoulder. His eyes tell me that he isn't all that interested in conversation.
"Why do you train for the games?" I believe if more Eleven boys (maybe even girls) like Clancy prepped for the Games, our District would be just as plentiful in Victors in comparison to the other higher Districts. Our boys do have the bodies for it, large frames and strapping builds due to tilling the land and operating machinery, rather than picking produce or tending gardens like us girls.
Unfortunately, volunteering in our District equals signing your own death certificate. Like I always say...
Volunteering is for the extremely stupid, or the crazy brave.
"It's an expectation, an expectation that I gladly agree with. Why do you ask?"
"Just a question...Where I come from people aren't so Gung-ho..."
"Well, don't you get a chill down your spine when you watch the introduction film? Imagine yourself standing tall among your people, a beacon of light for your District. Glory is and would be my real reason." an optimistic smile spreads across his lips.
I could turn around and call him a typical Career, warped by the Capitol's lies. But we're from different social spectrums; Four likes the Capitol while Eleven simply doesn't.
All I could do is shrug and shake my head.
What ends up feeling like hours, we manage to find Clancy and Izzy's camp. What bugs me is that Evan knew the whereabouts of Clancy and didn't bother to tell me. Clancy appears to be polishing his machete, while tending a small scale fire. His head move side to side as if he expects to be attacked at any given moment. My mind told me to propel myself over there and give him a bone crushing embrace, but I stood in my place.
As soon as his brown eyes made contact with the two of us, he gave his machete a twirl and shot up from his seat log. A gust of snow could be seen behind him as he propels towards not me, but Evan.
Clancy
As soon as my eyes caught a glimpse of Evan and Emery, my vision went blood red. He's the one who took Emery away from me. I was worried sick about her. . .But not anymore.
I let out a cry as charge forward towards Evan, kicking up a miniature snowstorm as my feet pound the ground. Along with each stomp I took, the more hesitant I began to feel. Charging a career...It's like diving head first off a cliff.
"Do we really have to go through with this?" he tosses his pack to the side and unsheathes his wickedly curved sword.
I bring my machete over my head, bringing it down with all my might. Blue sparks fly as my blade crashes down on his sword.
"Guys please! Let's stop fighting!" I grab a pleading Emery by the collar shove her to the side.
Evan makes a swipe for my midsection as I parry the attack. The force from Evans blow causes me to stagger a few controlled steps back as he does a complicated series of twirls and flips. We begin to square off as Emery watches on with beady eyes.
Coming from a novice, his swordsmanship skills are above par. Its unbelievable that the pair from One kicked him out of the Career Pack.
This time Evan charges me, swinging for my head. I can feel the cold gust of wind against my neck as I duck down, swinging for Evans midsection as he pounces back.
Emery pleads fall on deaf ears.
We close in the space between us as we clash blades; I make a false swipe towards his torso, moving on towards his neck. Noticing this Evan tilts his head while grabbing my wrist with his blade arm. As we struggle for control, I send a punch careening against his face as he returns the notion with a headbutt, causing my nose to overflow with blood. With a jump and a yell, Evan sends his knee into my jaw. I double over on the floor in pain. My vision, I can't explain in words.
The Capitolites must be lapping all this up like kittens right now...
As Evan retrieves his sword off the ground and approaches me, I send my right fist colliding into Evan's gut. As he's disabled by pain, I shove him against a tree, pining him there with my forearm.
"Not bad for a plantation boy. . ." he heaves, spitting excess blood out of his mouth, onto the floor below, turning the pure white snow into a deep red splotch.
"Not bad for a fisherman. . ." I say curtly, adjusting my somewhat sore neck as I prepare to send my machete into his skull.
Emery
I watch in shock as Clancy prepares to strike Evan down with a fatal blow to the head. I got to stop this. We have too many tributes in the game to dissolve now!
"Clancy that's enough!" I desperately grab hold of his fur collar. He violently shrugs me off while keeping Evan in check.
"What!? You like him?!" Clancy casts a hard glance at me causing me to shy away.
"I. . .Um-"
He scoffs and rolls his eyes, "Of course." while training his eyes back on Evan.
"C'mon! Do it!" spits Evan, pushing against Clancy's forearm. Evan looks towards me with a mischievous grin on his face,
"Why don't you tell 'em about our little kiss last night?"
And with that, Clancy clasps Evan by the collar and forcefully sends him crashing onto the floor. On instinct I reach out for Clancy's arm, only for him to send me crashing onto the floor. Clancy raises his machete up into the air and gradually brings it down, only for him to stop half way as trumpets blare throughout the arena.
"Attention! Attention tributes!"
.
.
.
Our heads quickly glance at the sky, searching for the ominous voice of Claudius Templesmith, co-host of the Hunger Games along side Caesar. His voice commands the attention of each and every tribute that happens to hear it. From what I've learned over the past couple of years, when he says something, it's best to shut up and listen.
"You boys and girls are quite an interesting bunch this year...! We got love triangles-"
Evan and Clancy along with myself cast warily glances at one another. As Evan tries to get up, Clancy places a foot on top of his stomach.
"-Teenage lovers, and everything in between! But love and heated arguments doesn't make up the Hunger Games entirely...So that is why I am hosting a mandatory feast starting tomorrow afternoon."
We each cast each other glances of interest before looking back up into the sky.
"Each of you can use a little. . ."replenishment". . .Each bag filled with various 'treats' will be marked with your District number. Purple for girls, blue for the boys. Tomorrow's feast will be located at the highest point on the mountain that dominates this arena. Attendance is mandatory. I wouldn't be tardy if I were you. Good Luck! May the odds be ever in your favour!"
A feast. Feasts are only hosted when the games are getting dull. It's been five days since anyone had died and we still have a full career pack and numerous amounts of tributes left. I can imagine some people wouldn't just be content with arguments. It's a guaranteed fact that people will be dying tomorrow. I'll have to face Spinel again also.
"See!? We can't just implode now!" I say hesitantly as Clancy steadily eases his foot off of Evan, who quickly stands up on his two feet and begins to brush himself off. He casts a glare at Clancy, who returns the look just as hard.
"Just one more day as allies, then we can do what we please afterwards. We need each other more than ever if we want to leave the feast unscathed." I plead.
Clancy rolls his eyes as he tosses Evan his sword, "She's right...We'll need to work together." He catches his sword mid air and inspects it. As he examines his weapon his eyes glance from me towards Clancy, and back to me.
"I believe we haven't been acquainted . . . Evan Morrissey, District Four." he mutters and levels his left hand towards Clancy's chest. Clancy casts a confused glare before understanding where Evan was going with the gesture,
"Clancy Carmichael . . . District Eleven." he grunts as he shakes Evan's hand,
"ONE day. That's it." Evan sheathes his sword while picking up his pack. He brushes past Clancy while staring at me the entire time. As thanks a small smile creeps on my lips, causing him to roll his eyes and walk off into the foliage.
-+.-+
2150 hours
Clancy and I watch from the mouth of a cave, Evan is perched in a nearby tree on lookout as yellow smoke plumes in the distance. Our feast will be located somewhere within the mountain range that dominates this arena. I try to decipher Mr. Templesmith's words and interpret each tributes situation;
"Each of you can use a little. . ."replenishment". . ."
Replenishment. Which possibly means that people are running low or are in need of new supplies. That's very true. I could use a little bit more food and a decent weapon. Vincent and Persephone would probably put a lot of decent stuff into Clancy's pack, in hopes that he'll make it longer.
My head lays on his shoulder as his arm is wrapped around in mine in an luxurious embrace. Oh how I missed hugging him. our chests rise and fall at once, his blanket like warmness keeps me unscathed by the current weather. I could tell he's still annoyed with me over what happened between Evan and I. I also found out that Izzy left. I wish she had stayed for a little bit more.
The stars, the clouds along with the snow and the ice that coats the trees seem to glow a sky blue hue, probably a Gamemaker cosmetic to make the arena appealing. All that could be heard are the soft melody's of mockingjays in the near distance. Marveling at the landscapes makes me feel like I'm not pinned up against others in a fight for survival, but placed in a winter spectacle, how still the forest is and how beautiful and stunning it is.
"I'm sorry about what happened Clancy...I really am." I adjust my earmuffs and tighten my scarf.
he glances down at me, "All I can ask, is why?" he grumbles with his voice filled with agitation and hurt.
"He was hurt. You know, with Shelley dying...We were caught up in the moment." I cast a quick glance at Evan, who looks up into sky lost in thought and obviously upset. Regardless of this Clancy still looks distraught with a hint of annoyance.
"But. . .That doesn't change the way I feel about you." I chirp softly. His features soften as he lets out an exasperated sigh,
"Emery, could you sing? Like when my father had passed away?"
I raise my eyebrow in confusion. When Clancy's father had moved on a couple months back, Clancy would always climb onto our tree and gaze out at nothing in particular. I would always join him and try to get words out of him, to no avail. So I just sang every time I joined him, and the mockingjays would play it back perfectly.
"Okay, Clancy." I take his hand and grip it reassuringly, all while nodding softly. I thought I'd sing "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen". A pre Panem folk song that's against District Eleven law on the list of barred hymns (that so happens to be any song other than the Horn of Plenty or other patriotic songs...). We still sing it at harvests regardless. This song pertains to Clancy's situation, along with our current situation, very well.
Nobody knows the trouble that I've seen
Nobody knows my sorrow
Nobody knows the trouble that I've seen
Glory hallelujah
As I finish, the mockingjays continue to carry on the melody for what seems like an eternity. Clancy and I sigh in content as they carry the tune perfectly . . . I really miss home. Hopefully after tomorrow, I'll still be on my way back.