The eighth night
-Whimsy's POV-
Feeling the wind on my face is what I really needed.
Bellona and I, after the other two betrayed the alliance, traveled back through the dark woods. We were trying to find them, so that we could force them to fight us, but the truth is that we just got lost. I was pretty relieved when the first exit we found was to the lobby, not the pond. I really don't want to fight those two together. Bellona and I know next to nothing about each other, we wouldn't stand a chance against such a cohesive team, no matter how well-trained we are.
Bellona seemed somewhat peeved, but didn't do anything about it. Both of us have been sleeping with one eye open lately, and we know it. We said we would stay together, just until we were sure the buddies were split for good, but now that we're no longer pursuing them I don't think either of us is fooled.
Just days ago, I would have trusted her fully. I guess I'd forgotten what we were there to do. And after being so-kindly reminded by that bastard from District 10, I'm not letting my guard down again.
I hadn't really considered what this would be like when I agreed to do it, but now that I'm here I'm not going to die so easily. I have to fight for it. Betray me once, shame on you. Betray me twice, shame on me. That's how it goes, right? I won't be fooled again.
We'd gotten out of the woods just around sunset. We were just so exhausted. I had to get out, just for a little bit. I could see in Bellona's eyes that she was torn, but when I went out she followed. We weren't out there for too long, but it was worth it to smell the fresh air, see leaves carried by the wind, and watch the sun sink, in all its ruby glory. I won't bore you by getting too poetic, but it was rejuvenating.
If there weren't so many damn steps, I would have run down in a heartbeat to feel the grass between my toes. I didn't realize how much I missed the ground, the soft, muddy, grassy ground, until I saw it. I tried not to think about it too much, though. Instead I just tried to let myself enjoy being out there. I could throw my arms out without worry of hitting a wall. I could jump around a little bit.
But, most importantly of all, I could see the fucking sky.
Alright, not the real sky, but damn if it wasn't close enough. I missed seeing the sky. I missed it more than I ever could have known.
Bellona and I sat together on sleeping bags, watching the sunset.
As the sun sank, though, all I could think about was how thankful I was to see the sun set again. I wondered, if he'd been given the opportunity, if Alma would have wanted to see the sun set one last time before he died. I wondered if he would have wanted to see the stars, just one last time. Maybe he was like me, and wouldn't have realized how much it meant to see the sky until it was too late for him. In that moment, I was glad that it wasn't too late for me.
That's where my mind is now, even after sky became completely dark and stars were sprinkled across it.
I try to focus on the breeze on my face instead, blowing my greasy hair, filling my lungs with cool freshness. It succeeds in putting me in a better mindset, so it feels like there's less weight on my chest. Sometimes I forget the weight of guilt on me until it's lifted for a while. Each time it's lifted, though, it feels twice as heavy when I pick it up again. Anyways, I stay in that mindset, and it's pretty nice, focused on me and enjoying the time while I can. I've been through a lot, so the short break of peace is what I need to get me through the rest of this mess.
I'm not in that good mindset for long, though, because soon the anthem plays and the sky shows Branden. He's smiling confidently, his eyes sparkling with the look of sheer confidence. He was really a fighter that did everything he could to keep going, to survive. But, in the end, he didn't get to see the stars either. He died in the dark, murky, humid woods. I wonder if he was awake to fight for his chance or not. I wonder if he thought about wishing he could see the sky one more time. It's amazing how something as simple as the sky can bring such strong memories.
Who could forget our first night here? We camped out under the stars and told stories and played silly games. We were just being teenagers. But an Arena is no place to be teenagers. Bellona knew that from the beginning. I was late to catch that bus. I was late to realizing how short our lives have been. How prematurely they've been cut away from us. Alma had so much more to do and he would never get to do it. Branden was on the pathway to success, but he would never get there. We're just teenagers, we have so much life to live, and instead our chances are wasted. I wish I hadn't wasted mine.
Yeah, I wish I'd never volunteered. I wonder if Tempest and Ezie are wishing the same. I doubt Bellona is. I wonder if Branden ever regretted it. I'm sure Alma regretted it. And if he didn't at the time, he would if he were in my shoes. I wish I'd never thrown away my chance. I wish that Fortune wouldn't have gotten knocked up. Then she'd be here and I'd be home. I'd have been pretty fucking depressed, maybe I would have felt lost and confused, unsure of where to go from there, but dammit I would have been alive and safe back home with my family and friends. And that's what really matters.
Damn, I wish I'd seen that earlier. I guess that this kind of situation would make anyone reassess their lives and their choices. I hope that none of my friends ever get this chance. I even hope Cheshire never gets this chance. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
I wonder if Alma would have enjoyed the stars more knowing that it would be the last time he saw them. I wonder if Branden would have taken more time to appreciate the sunset if he'd known it would be the last one he ever saw. I hope it won't be, but I treat tonight like it'll be the last time I ever see the sky. I enjoy everything, take a moment to appreciate every sound, every scent, every second I'm allowed to look up.
"We shouldn't stay out here too much longer," Bellona says decidedly. Of course, it's right back to business with her. I know that it has to happen if I want to win, but the temptation to stay out here, here with the breeze and the stars, is so strong. I stand up, swallowing a lump in my throat. I've already proven to be the weak bitch the night Alma died, so by now I don't give a damn about tears. Bellona already knows how all this shit has affected me, what's the use in trying to hide it? Surprisingly, though, no tears are shed as I roll up my sleeping bag and put my backpack back on. Instead I feel calmly sad, almost numb, as I give one last look to the stars.
Thank you, I say in my head, to whatever might be out there. Thank you for letting me see the stars.
Bellona enters the temple again, and I follow her slowly. We go the opposite direction to the dark woods, and end up in the expansive pit.
We both stay quiet for a minute, until I decide to speak.
"I'm not sure where to go from here."
She pauses, taking a deep breath. "Whimsy, I think that we should just split. Obviously neither of us is going to be able to one-up the other. I bet you want to get home just as much as I do. We should split up, one going high and one going low. The faster we get this to go, the sooner it'll be over. We'll both find and kill quickly, and if we're the final two, we'll fight then. How about it?"
I'm a little shocked. I thought she would have wanted to take me out when I couldn't fight back. I can't say I don't like the idea, though. It'll be a totally different game once I'm alone, but it has to happen sometime. Why shouldn't it happen now? I have a feeling this is about as fair as she's willing to play it with me.
"Sure. That sounds good to me." I try to smile, but she doesn't return it. I suppose her typical solemn, set expression is more appropriate for a situation like this than that.
"Do you want to go up or down?" she asks. I don't have to think very long or hard about this one.
I swallow hard. "Up. I can only hope that Hartwin is still up there. He's going to pay for what he did to Alma." I don't add that I'm pretty sure Beo's victims have all suffered down there and the last thing I'd want is to risk that.
"Alright. Then I'll go down." She nods decidedly, and then turns the other way, mostly looking awkward.
"Bellona?"
She glances back at me.
"If you happen to run into Hartwin… Get revenge for me. Please?"
Bellona gives a stiff nod. "Sure."
"Thanks." I've never been great at goodbyes, and it seems that she's not either. I wouldn't expect her to be, as she seems pretty bad at being social in general. "Good luck, Bellona." I say it with no malice. I really do wish the best for her. If I have to fight her later on, well, I'll just have to tackle that obstacle when I get there.
"Yes. And may the odds be ever in your favor, Whimsy." It seems genuine enough for me.
I was never as close with her as I was with a lot of the others, but there's still a nostalgic part of me that's going to miss her 'get off my lawn you hooligans' attitude. Yeah, maybe that's a teenager thing for me to say in a place like this, but I can't help the feeling. It's hard to spend so much time in a team with someone else and not even feel a little nostalgic when they're gone. I wonder if she feels the same way or not.
I don't have much time to think about it, because soon Bellona's found the rope to go down and jumped off the edge, being devoured by the darkness and leaving me alone.
I feel quite tired, but know that before I sleep I should find a room to sleep in. After all, the pit has so many different ways leading to it, there's probably a bigger probability of me being hunted if I stay here. It takes me a while to find the bridge that leads to the room with that monkey statue in it, but as soon as I do I can barely walk I'm so tired.
The room looks just like when we'd left it. I step forward, giving a look to that silly-looking piece of silver that caught my interest the first time we were here. It was the exact same, just as fat and squat as ever, looking just as proud. Through the exhaustion, I let out a small laugh. It's nice to see that some things haven't changed a bit since Alma died.
I try to stay in that mindset as I lay down.
As I drift off to sleep, I imagine myself as a fat little monkey that will always be proud of himself, no matter what happens in the world around him.
~.~.
The ninth day
-Torque's POV-
I have no idea how the hell I'm not dead. I may be sore and achy as hell, but I'm not dead somehow. Even if I didn't get much sleep, I got to close my eyes and feel myself breathe. I could feel my heart pounding, the heat radiating off of my skin. I'm still alive, I'm still breathing. There were at least three times yesterday that I should have been dead, and somehow I'm not.
I can't help but feel a little proud. Somehow, I was able to cheat death by putting on this little production. Even if it's my fault in the first place that I got into the mess, considering I should have risked it and run before he had a chance to capture me, I still got out of it. That's the Torque Nawrocki way. I'm a problem-solver. Whoever said that brains aren't important has no idea what the hell they're talking about. If I hadn't read that book out of pure curiosity as a littlun, I would definitely be dead. Beo's narration lasts all night and into the morning. Some of it is pretty senseless, muttering to himself just to pass the time probably, but some was valuable.
"The chief should wake his second in command so they can get another sacrifice. The beast will be unhappy if he doesn't get another sacrifice today. Who is Jack? Who is Beo?"
I just keep my eyes closed, staying still like I'm sleeping. Even if he's not aware that he's narrating out loud, I want him to think I was somehow, by some miracle, able to sleep like this. Mostly out of petty spite. Hey, even if I'm in a fight to the death, I'll still be petty when I can. It's a part of who I am. And, if our little chief friend has taught us anything, it's about the importance of holding on tight to those things. The littlest detail could save me later. Another very important lesson about this whole fight to the death thing.
"Roger!" Suddenly I'm being shaken, somewhat roughly, by the shoulder. When I open my eyes, the sight of Beo's wide brown eyes surrounded by a rusty, flaky mask of dried blood makes me gag, which I try to play off as a hiccup. The stench punches me in the face again, but I'm left with no choice but to ignore it. "Time to get up! We have hunting to do!"
I count down the seconds until my feet will be untied. First, though, we have to take count of supplies and have some kind of breakfast. I bet we look pretty ridiculous, as Beo feeds me berries that I can't eat because my hands are tied. He's acting almost like a strict parent, who loves their child but also doesn't trust them at all. Well, this is one smart strict parent, because the minute I'm free I'm going to get out of here. It's still a pretty odd relationship. Knowing that he cares about me, but will certainly kill me if I give him a reason to. Probably the kind of relationship I should have had with Static if I was smart, except minus the general insanity and blood as face paint thing.
"Alright, are you ready to go?" Beo asks, smiling over at me. It's off-putting to say the least, his cheerful attitude combined with… Literally everything else.
"Sure am, Chief."
"Alright!" he jumps up to his feet before remembering that I'm still around and tied.
"Whoops! Sorry my friend, forgot that you were tied for a minute." I'm not exactly sure how true that is. After all, it's gotta be hard to forget that you've tied up a prisoner, but I just nod cooperatively, as always.
Beo kneels down, taking his knife and using it to cut the rope off my ankles. Immediately, as if it's an instinct, I stretch out my legs. Standing up is a relief. My balance is still off because my hands are tied, but it's a definite start.
"There we go! Roger and Jack, ready to hunt!" Beo grabs the rope typing my wrists together, preventing any chance I have at running away. "Backpack, check! Knife, check! Sword, check! Alright my friend, today you earn your mask, and therefore your freedom."
"Of course, fam." Keep being cooperative Torque. Keep control of your snark Torque. It's hard, but totally necessary to survive. I will do what I have to do.
Beo grins. "Alright! Which way should we go first?"
We have two choices that I can see. Either we can go through a tunnel, to wherever the hell Beo emerged from: probably a horrible, stinky, secluded, sad little place: or we can go back out to the pit. It's really a no-brainer.
"Well, there was no one where you were, right? If we go back out to the pit, there are lots of rooms we can check."
"Good thinking! The chief says we go to…" he pauses, probably for dramatic effect. "To the pit!"
"Lead the way," I say, trying to sound enthusiastic. I've never been good at seeming happy or excited, even if I actually am, so this isn't a very easy thing for me to act. Luckily, he doesn't seem to notice or care that my tone is probably significantly less enthusiastic-sounding as his, and starts walking, out through the archway that leads to the bridge that stretches the pit.
Beo gives me a light shove forward, staying behind me and holding onto the rope. I almost make a remark about how the chief should go first, but bite my tongue. The last thing I want is to be on his bad side when he has such a strong, undeniable grip on me like this. So, I keep my mouth shut and walk, one step at a time, across the bridge. I walk slowly and carefully, focusing on keeping my eyes straight forward. If I allow them to wander to the darkness, I might crack. I keep a steady pace, not letting any fear or hesitation show. I step onto the steady floor of the platform, and keep the pace deliberate and steady.
"Wow…"
"Did you not see the pit before?" I ask. If I can piece together his early Arena days, maybe it'll help me understand him more.
"I did. Me and Robert ran here. We decided to climb down the rope and that's where I found my cave."
"Hm. I see." I can only guess that Robert is Sondra. I think I remember him calling her that during training, but maybe I'm just making things up. Either way, I just nod understandingly.
"Maybe there's another bridge." I haven't really explored this area much. Most of the travel Static and I did was through tunnels.
"Come with me, we'll find out for ourselves!" As if I have a choice. Beo keeps me in front of him, holding on tightly to the rope as we walk around. It's pretty empty, not to mention impossible to see without any kind of light. After a little while of walking, we hear a noise. It doesn't take very long for me to recognize the sound of footsteps, quick and hurried footsteps coming across one of the bridges. It doesn't take very long for a silhouette to appear stepping out onto the platform. Beo lets go of my ropes to pursue. I see another silhouette on the bridge, but before I can tell who it is, they disappear again, going the other direction. Just then, I process the screams from Beo's victim.
My heart drops to my stomach.
"Well, isn't this dramatic irony?" he asks loudly, some kind of glee in his voice. While he's distracted tying up my District partner, I start to work the rope around my wrists. I'm starting to see white in a panic, but try to focus on one task at a time. "Now this is the ultimate test of loyalty!" I try to move my wrists, but they're tied by a mastermind. If only there'd been a training station dedicated to self-defense, getting yourself out of a bind. Heh. Wait, now's not the time for witty Torque moments, now is the time for focus.
Before I can even feel progress, Beo has Static tied just like he had me, arms and legs. She's still screaming up a storm, as if that will cause someone to rescue her.
"Come on Roger. Time to prove your loyalty."
I swallow hard. My heart pounds and all I feel is paralyzing fear. He goes to retrieve me, though, and soon I follow, trying to keep my legs from shaking. I don't want to hurt my District partner like this. Think Torque think, think of some way you can save her…
"See what she has?" Beo reaches down to pluck the tortoiseshell glasses off her face.
"You're not going to get away with this!" she shouts, struggling fiercely against the ropes.
"The specs," he says, laughing.
"Put those down!" she struggles, blindly, fiercely, but with everything in her. I don't want this to happen to her, I have to think fast, Torque, time time time I have to think of something…
"You know what happens to the specs, don't you?" Beo laughs, lifting his knee and effectively snapping the glasses in two with a loud crack. As much as I want to look away, I can't do it. I have to stay in character, maybe I'll be able to talk both of us out of this if I just try…
"Alright Roger. It's either her or both of you. Show your loyalty, Roger." Think Torque, think… What else was in that book, what else can be of use, how can I solve this-
"Torque you useless jackass!" she shouts. That causes me to look up. I thought my heart had already sunk to the bottom of my stomach, but by now it was all the way down at my feet.
"Excuse me?"
"How dare you leave me like that! How dare you! I thought you were alright, but you know what, you're fucking shitty! You left me all alone!"
"It's the Games. I'm sorry, I didn't want to, but-"
"No, it doesn't matter! Shut your damn mouth! You're so fucking selfish and always have been! You are nothing but a stupid, fucking jackass!" Something stirs inside me.
Hearing those words come from her mouth rubs me the wrong way. You'd think after I opened up to her she'd at least have the good grace to avoid calling me selfish. I have done everything for my family, I have given up my time, money, education, hell, my entire identity, to keep them safe. I'm not fucking selfish and I refuse to let anyone tell me that I am. I told her everything about my struggle, she knows everything about how hard it all was for me, and now she has the audacity to call me selfish!? She has no idea how hard it was to put up with so much fucking dysphoria all the time, to have a family that didn't accept me and called me names, to have a little sister in such grave danger… If she had the tiniest fucking idea what any of that was like, she certainly would not be calling me selfish right now. My vision starts to go red, but I try to keep myself calm and rational, just as I always have.
"You're just really shitty, you know that, fam?" she spits at me. Her remark bites, hard.
"Only I say fam." I turn to Beo. "She has a gash on her side from hitting the wall after an explosion."
She doesn't respond before Beo rolls up her shirt, tracing the knife over the wound to make it bleed. She just screams again as blood begins to pour out of the wound.
"The beast will have another sacrifice!" Beo says, sounding pleased.
"Torque! Don't do this! It isn't you!" her tone's changed. It's as if she's realized that now I've got the advantage and bullying me isn't going to take that away. It makes me laugh.
"Sorry. Apparently I'm so fucking selfish and always have been. She's burned on the left shoulder."
Static lets out another piercing scream as Beo traces the knife across her wounds.
"Roger." I see Beo cupping his hands to collect a puddle of blood as Static struggles, her screams echoing and resonating through the pit. I swallow hard, but when he beckons for me, I kneel beside him. I don't fight him when he pushes the hair off my forehead, smearing it with blood. The stench is unbearable, and I try to tune out Static's screams as he cakes it on my forehead, around my eyes, tracing down my nose, on my cheeks. It's still warm and wet, rolling down my face like warm, sticky sweat. I sit still until he's satisfied. It's not a full mask like his, but it's certainly close enough. My whole body shakes when he's done.
"Torque please! Beo!"
"I'm not Beo," he says, laughing as he adds some more of the blood to patchy spots on his cheeks and forehead.
"I'm not Torque," I impersonate, smirking.
"I think we're ready to sacrifice, Roger."
Suddenly an idea comes into my head. It comes from the very darkest place, but I swallow it back down. We've all suffered enough, I think. Instead I just kneel, straight-faced, as Beo ponders where he should stab to get the best kill.
"Carlton Nawrocki, I hope you burn in hell you fucking jackass! You are selfish and fake as hell!"
It's almost like I can feel my heart breaking. Maybe I am, maybe I already know I am. It's just a bit nuts, hearing those words come from the mouth of someone I thought so highly of. "Take it back."
"I stand by everything I say, you shitty, shitty jackass!"
"Heights."
Beo looks up. "Hm?"
"She's afraid of heights." I feel nothing but satisfaction at the way she immediately clams up. "I bet it'd be very scary if she took a tumble down the pit."
"Is that so?"
"No, they're lying, they're just trying to save themself!" she speaks with a new sense of urgency, panic.
"Hm, we'll see." Beo stands up, picking her up like she weighs nothing. She struggles, but it's in vain. She's going to regret saying those horrible things to me.
"Let me go! Please!" she sobs and hiccups and screams as Beo sits her down by the edge and unties her hands.
"Ready, here we go! Whoops!" he gives her a shove, causing a piercing scream to escape her as she grabs the ledge rapidly.
"Roger. Only one more task to earn your freedom." He gestures to where Static's barely holding on, ten fingers gripping the edge for dear life. I approach slowly. I can't see her.
"I'm sorry Torque!" she wails, trying to get up. "I'm sorry I didn't mean it please help me!"
I give a glance down. All I can see of her is the top of her fiery hair and the ten fingers that inch up as they start to slide off.
"I wish I could believe you," I say.
"Torque! Please, it's me, please, you wouldn't do this to me please!" she's clinging desperately.
"Sorry Piggy," I say, smirking. "If I'm really a shitty jackass, I might as well fill the role to the max." I lift a foot and stomp on her right hand, causing her to scream as her fingers crack under my weight. Her sobs echo, louder and louder, and for a second I almost consider trying to save her again.
No Torque. This is the Hunger Games. Only one can win.
"Please! Torque! Please! Faraday! Current! Arc! Disc!" she starts shouting names out, but none of them are nearly as important as the ones I'm thinking about.
"Maybe now you'll understand what it's like to hit rock bottom too," I growl, my voice laced with pure spite as I bring my foot down on her other hand. She loses her grip and falls, screaming.
The darkness swallows her like a beast devouring its prey.
~.~.
A/N: Officially down to the final eight, woop woop! Next chapter will be Final Eight interviews, hopefully it won't be obnoxiously long but I always tend to overdo final 8 interviews so I guess we'll have to see where it goes. My goal is to be done with this story by the end of the summer and have my next partial up, but we'll see how it goes as I juggle projects. I think it's pretty realistic though!
Ah Static. You were supposed to make it to the final eight, probably even further. But no. Your rash, hurtful words were the death of you. Sorry, not sorry. :)
So, I have no plans made from here so we'll just have to see where this thing goes! Thanks for all the support and reviews from my loyal readers, I always appreciate knowing your thoughts! New item prices will be posted on the next chapter, but if you can't wait to put in your sponsor request just send me a PM and I'll do my best to be helpful!
Chapter Question: Would you rather see one longer interview or multiple shorter interviews for the families of the final 8? Besides your own, whose are you looking forward to seeing most?
I'm going to post an Arena map with the locations of all the final 8 after this is posted! Just a few more deaths and I'll put up a Victor poll!
Scores:
aceswims: 30
AKLNxStories: 75
Alecxias: 2
AllHailTheNerdiness: 165
AmericanPi: 216
Apollo's Slytherpuff Daughter: 113
Becksheart: 4
bLizzieard: 50
bobothebear: 14
calebbeers21: 6
Cass: 154
Cloe: 270
Coolgal02: 61
CrissKenobie-the-Numenorean: 110
DaughterOfTigris: 135
david12341: 205
deathless. smile: 15
District7axemurder: 15
Dreamer: 1260
dreams and desperation: 120
Emrys Holmes: 98
TheEngineeringGames: 235
epictomguy: 24
XxXFangirlonlineXxX: 32
Feniks16: 10
Fire'sCatching: 5
GalacticCoach: 39
Golden Moon Huntress: 184
goldie031: 164
hopefuldreamer1991: 179
Jess: 718
Jeptwin: 2
judmud: 4
Kate: 823
Lady Lysa Arryn: 127
Legend: 654
Littlefoot876: 10
Little Knight Mik: 150
Master Maedhros: 10
MissVolturiKingsfan: 10
Mystical Pine Forest: 30
Nrrrd-Grrrl-Meg: 4
OncerTillTheEnd: 4
xxPeppermintxx109: 159
Platrium: 239
Programming: 7
TheReaper94: 2
rosecatforever: 185
Rosemarie Benson: 12
ShunKazamis-Girl: 26
Silverdust64: 10
Singlewave: 15
stop-pulling-on-mariazell: 30
Sparky She-Demon: 14
tracelyn: 45
TyeTheLurker (Guest): 65
VeneratedArt: 105
the victor of panem: 71
We're All Okay: 71
W. R. Winters: 316
Xechaste: 4
youngpatriot: 44