Glint Mugg

We keep moving through the halls. Romeo is tugging Satine along with her hand. His other hand clutches the mace we snatched at the Cornucopia. Paige is behind me with a silver trident. I hold a throwing axe in front of me as I take charge. Just the way I like it.

Since Slate was wiped off the board, I decided to take control. Paige is too young and kind of air-headed. Romeo is too busy making sure Satine doesn't get a scratch on her (already failed at that), and Satine seems content with the backpack of beef jerky we have rationed out. Somehow, we are cooperating well with each other. There is no real battle for supremacy here. For a Career pack, this must be extremely rare.

"Do you know where we are going?" Satine asks.

I turn to her with a grin. "Of course. I have a good sense of direction, you know."

"Then where are we going?" Romeo asks.

I look over to Paige who huffs. "Obviously, we are searching for others."

I chuckle and nod at her. "Correct. We need to sniff out the others in order to figure things out."

Satine rolls her eyes. "Well, it's clear to me that we need to find out whats going on with those other parts of the arena outside."

Romeo pulls her closer to him. "There's probably a hatch we need to use to go out there."

"Anyone else freaked out by space walking?" Paige says while lifting her hand in the air.

"Ridiculous. Don't you know who we are? We are the alpha-dogs here. We can't just scurry around and what until somebody messes up. We have to be their big mess up. With Slate out of the way, we can do anythng. Once we get out of this maze, we should have smooth sailing the rest of the way."

I believ what I am saying for the most part. The "smooth sailing" was a little bit of an exaggeration, but the alpha-dog part is true. We are the best people in this arena. Who cares about Cadmium or Slate. They were nobodies that couldn't hang with us. Now, anything is possible. All we have to do is find the others, knowck them out, and I can take this thing for myself.

I can't fade out of these Games. Whether I die or not is not the end of my goal. Preferably, I want to win. Who deosn't? What my real goal entails is to be remembered. If I can keep my confidence and power up, all the people on Earth will love me forever.

Wow. All he people on Earth. How exciting is that?

Suddenly, I hear a hissing slide emanate from around the corner of us and a curved hallway. I'm assuming this is the outer edge of the ship. I turn arund and put a finger on my lips.

As slow as a sloth, I poke my head around the corner.

A freckled girl with dark red hair is looking through a mirror in a door. The door just slid shut before we got there.

My plan is going to work out just fine.

Cleo Ellis

Arlyne is in the bathroom as I stay in the hallway. Watching over her is a little aggravating. I know I should be happy with keeping her around, but she is quickly showing herself as being a nuisance. She is just way, way too sweet and modest. I'm starting to wonder whether it is worth it to keep her around.

Okay, I've been wondering for a while about it. Regardless, I know we have to keep going for now. It's only a matter of time before something happens.

Wait a minute.

What about the countdown?

Above the door in the bathroom is a countdown clock. When we left the room a few hours ago, it was at twelve minutes. Now, Arlyne is in there with about four minutes to go. I keep wondering what will happen when the countdown is over. The keypad next to the door has green letters on the small screen saying "unlocked." A few numbers and a red button are underneath the electronic sign.

I know there is a keypad on the other side, but what if the functions over there were somehow disabled?

I can't do that yet. We need to stick with each other.

As I look at the enticing sign, I feel a whizzing from my head. A metallic ring comes from the rebounding object, along with the dying drift on my cheek.

The trident floats next to me. It spins away from the end of the hallway. With a twirl, I turn. My heart freezes on impact with my vision.

It's the Careers.

The shorter blonde girl groans and clenches her fists. That guy from District One is next to her with a short axe scrahes his head with the sharp edge of the weapon. He exudes the cockiness of the classic Career pack. The two love birds are behind her, grinning at the sight of a cornered victim.

Cornered victim, huh? That's interesting. Especially when they just gave me a free trident.

I grasp the trident and point it towards them. "Think this will be easy, huh?"

"Yup," Glint says.

Romeo lets go of Satine's hand and psushes towards me. He thrusts the mace right at me. I duck down. He sails over me. Unfortunately, the points on the mace reached out towards my shoulder. It sticks through my suit, and it digs into my skin.

I shout out in pain. My hand shoots up to the torn area. The stinging of my wound overcomes the diffusing blood pooling around my shoulder. I turn around. Romeo bounces off the end of the hallway. Just as he stretches his mace out again, I deflect the jagged edges away from my face with the trident. The mace moves to the side and leaves his shoulder open. I poke through the air, using his momentum against him. The trident jabs at his shoulder, and he yells while letting go of the mace.

The mace flies through the air at full force. Interesting how inertia works up here. I may enjoy it.

With no force to stop it, the mace rockets through the cool air right at the little career pack.

The little girl from Four dips down and does an aerial cartwheel. The mace splits between her legs. Satine isn't so lucky. She leaps up towards the ceiling, planning for the free weapon to run underneath her. She misjudges the speed, and the mace dives into her side. An ear-piercing scream cuts through the freezing air.

Wait. Freezing air?

The air around us has become extremely cold. Our breath is pilfering out of our warmer mouths. It is almost like the conditions of the bio-dome. Even the walls are starting to form icicles that are snaking along the panels. It's hurting me to breath; the air is stabbing a knife in my lungs.

Satine was only scraped on her side, sadly. She's milking it for all it's worth. Glint jumps back and takes Satine by her shoulders. He leads her away around the corner closest to them with a backpack in tow. The Four girl is racing for the mace still moving down the curved hallway.

Meanwhile, Romeo's eyes glare at me like a deadly snake. I know he and Satine are clearly a thing, but it shouldn't mean anything, right? It's just the Games. He's looking at me like I just killed his mother.

Apparently, he is infuriated at me. Romeo comes right at me and clutches my neck. My throat feels like it is collapsing on itself. I feel air bubbles form in my mouth, gargling from the back of my throat as Romeo squeezes harder and harder. Red circles are dotting my vision. The frigid wall collides with my back. Cold seeps through my jumpsuit and adds to the pain my exploding head is starting to feel.

It can't end like this.

I can't be choked out by the love bird from District Four. How did he even get this far? How did I even get this far? Where is Arlyne? Are my parents looking right now? Why wouldn't they? How does it feel to see your daughter die?

Romeo let's go. Like an eel, he swims away from me. I massage my hot neck, roping in any of the frigid air left. I can't even think anymore as the adrenaline kicks through my blood vessels.

Arlyne. She's still in the bathroom. Probably hiding.

When I turn to the door, the trident is standing right by it. There's a major problem. The keypad seems to have been hit in our little fray. When Romeo first charged at me with the mace, he must have hit the keypad. Sparks are hopping away from the mangled metal. The buttons and wires have been sheared away from the surface, meeting into a clumped mess of electric tunnels.

I try to press what is left of the open button. It doesn't budge. The ice is forming even faster around us. It coats the edges of the door frame into the room.

Suddenly, Arlyne's small hands slap onto the pane. Her fingers leave imprints on the frosty glass. Suddenly, her face lifts up to the window. Her breath leaves small dew spots. She looks horrendous. Her eyes are watering, and her cheeks are beet red from walloping winter. The rest of her face is turning into a small hue of light pink and violet.

"Arlyne. Why didn't you call me?" I ask.

She coughs. "I've been screaming myself hoarse," she says in a slow huff. It sounds like the wheezing of an old man with a smoker's cough. The muffling of the thick glass doesn't help, either.

I feel my fingers around the doorframe. The ice zaps my wrinkling digits from the metal. Instead, I tap on the door with my knuckles. "Can you open it?"

She starts to breath faster. "I can't. I've already tried it. The ice is stopping it."

I look back at her. "The keypad is broken, too." Suddenly, a loud, robotic ticking comes from the room, like a bomb waiting to burst. That was happening before the Careers came. Did it shut off during the fight? No. Why would it do that? It's gotten louder and faster. I feel my nerves wind up like a compressed spring.

"Hang on. Is that why they left?"

Arlyne keeps gasping. "That's what I was telling you. The clock is at one minute."

No. This can't be happening right now. My one ally is stuck in a frigid room like a prison. Now, the clock is winding down. What will follow? I can't think. I need to get her out of here. We need to get out before this happens.

"Please...help me. I don't want to die." Arlyne says with a high-pitched whimper trailing away at the end.

I slam my hands on the door. "Shut up. You're my medic. I got a cut on me. You need to come out here and make it better. Right? You're not supposed to leave me here. We had a deal."

"I don't want to die. Help me. Cleo, please." Arlyne shouts out in her hacking voice. Tears are bubbling around her eyes, and her hands are glued to the window.

I hit the door with all my might. I kick it, punch it, ram into it. I try to wedge through the cracks and pry it open. Nothing is working. I'm shaking harder than ever. Not from the cold. My nerves have never been so wracked up. I feel like I'm on a table, and a pendulum is swinging right above me. I lay there, waiting for impact on my stomach.

"Cleo, there's twenty seconds left. You have to leave."

"I'm almost there. Relax." I shout.

"No. You can't do it."

"Yes I can." I shout again.

"Run. Just run." Arlyne shouts.

I let out a scream. The beeping is getting faster and louder. I can't take this anymore. I have to run away. Ignoring the cold, I freeze burn my hands by pushing off the frame. I heave myself harder and harder like an accelerating rocket.

I grab at anything to propel me away from what is about to happen.

I think I hear Arlyne give out one more scream before the explosion.

The vacuum of space tries to drag me back towards the small hole in the spaceship. I grab onto the pole welded into the wall at the corner of intersecting hallways. I look back. The dispersing flames behind me melt into the backdrop of space. The loose metal dips away from my sight. It falls away like a disappearing cloud. Red lights spin above me. An alarm blares out as I feel my fingers slipping. If I try to adjust my grip, my arms will probably be torn away from the pole. In about ten seconds, I'll fly off into the unknown anyway.

Can I climb out of here? Nope. Nothing else to hold on.

My only hope is to somehow wait for a body to fly towards me. Maybe I can latch onto a flying person and thrust myself forward.

I hold my breath. The air seems to be flowing faster and faster away. I know the odds are small, but what if the arena runs out of air?

What can I do now? There's no other way to go.

Right before I let go, I hear a rumbling behind me.

A large silver door slides in place of the giant hole. I let go just as the door starts to slide in place.

I hurtle faster and faster towards the exit.

Then, my legs buckle onto the metal.

I float on my belly for a few seconds. I'm tryig to regain my bearings. I'm still here. For some reason, I'm still here. There's a fresh cut that isn't hurting yet, but I am still alive. The silver door caught me in time. It was probably protocol that the arena would at least stay floating in this sea of black. I would thank the Capitol, but then I think about what just occurred.

My medic is gone.

Now I can die from blood loss.

Cyrene Polymer

The club from the sponsors feels so much more comforting than the empty air. There has to be a way out of this place. I know there are two other ships nearby. Making ot over there is key to finding some food and water. I see a solid gold door. I push the button and it lets me in.

It is another white room. However, machines and red control panels are lining the walls. There is a rack welded onto the wall. On it is a rack holding six puffy, white suits with see-through helmets. I'm assuming those are spacesuits used for outside. Two keypads are plastered on each side of a giant silver door. Small glass rectangles peek through that door.

I can't see what is beyond that door, because a large black figure with a smaller girl is hunched in front of it. He has a map in one hand, and his clenched fist in another. The smaller girl stands behind him. I recognize him as Xavier. He was that guy that threatened everybody in the arena if they messed with his allies.

If that didn't freak me out, then describing my new plan to them will.

I raise my hands up as the door closes behind me. "Hold up. Let me say something."

"Why should we let you do that?"

"I'm trusting that you will listen to me," I say. I need to inject some confidence into my voice. This push needs to happen. "I have a very big idea, and it could benefit all of us if you would listen."

"Slide the club over if your so trusting of us."

I set the club down. With my foot, I punt it towards Xavier, who takes it in his hand. He examines the metal club. The light above bounces off of the weapon, letting the black sheen glow.

"What makes you believe you can be a good ally?" Xavier asks. Monette nods along.

"I know I don't seem like much," I say. There needs to be a small balance of humility here. Make them feel like they are important. "However, I like to think that I have a good head on my shoulders."

Monette tilts her head at me, wearing an inquisitive look like I'm an unfamiliar bug.

"With all due respect, that doesn't make much sense," Xavier says.

"How does it not make much sense?"

"Just tell us what your thinking."

I walk closer to them. The club is still in his hands. This is so dangerous, and my plan is wilder. I need to try this. The world needs to see us try this.

"This may sound crazy."

"I'm sure we've heard worse."

"Do you know anything about piloting a spaceship?" I ask.

"I'm no spaceman. What are you getting at? We won't let you be with us unless you prove yourself."

I take a deep breath. There is only one shot to see if this works. My plan involves these two. If they say no, I might as well give up now. If we can maintain control of transportation in this arena, though, everything can fall in order for my final push.

"There's a lot wrong with my plan, but I think it's the only one that can ensure survival. If it works, that is," I say.

"What is it?"

"I don't want to say it out loud. In case there's somebody by the door."

I'm lying. While I'm worried about being overheard, my main fear is the cameras pointed at us. No doubt the Capitol is listening in on us right now.

"Fine. You can whisper it to me. If you try anything on me," he waves my club towards me. "I won't hesitate to snap."

I go up to him. He leans down. I cup my hands around my mouth. My brain is screaming in nerves. It is hopping up and down, warning me to abort this idea. I can't do that. If I'm going to make a difference, it's going to be now.

I almost want a picture of his expression when I say my plan.

"I'm only saying this once," I say. "After this, it will only be mentioned as 'the plan.'"

"Go ahead," Xavier whispers.

Here goes nothing.

"We must escape to Earth."

An amazing plan? Can Cyrene and Co. pull off the greatest escape in human history? Can they sneak under the Capitol's watchful eye? What about Cleo and Satine's injuries? How will that affect the games? Go ahead and speculate. Let me know what you think.

Eulogy Time (plays sad music)

14. Arlyne Hunter

Arlyne was an enjoyable character to write. The problem I had was that when se would prove her worth, it would be far too late in the Games. Let's be honest. With no medical equipment, and no real wildlife around them YET, there just wasn' any real meri to have her around. I wasn't going to wait for Cleo to get a paper cut to show Arlyne's work. I figured a bit of an ironic twist where Cleo is injured without her was too much drama for me to pass up. I know people liked seeing them, but I just didn't see the real possibilities to it. Nice job, Arlyne.

Please look at the sponsor opportunities in the sponsor chapter. Also, give me plenty of constructive criticism towards the content and characterizations.

Kill Count

Aslovee Chesed (District 9)-3

Who knew Nine had it in them? And he killed his own District partner? Too bad Sirch had to go against a swordsman.

Slate Bedford (District 2)-2

If there was a Career stereotype, she must be it. Good riddance.

Glint Mugg (District 1)-1

He almost seems to nice to kill. Oh well.

Eva-Marie Green (District 7)-1

Even Johanna had to start somewhere.

Romeo Caliteo (District 4)-1

He touched the trident last before it pierced her, so it is technically his kill. Figures.

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