Chapter 35. Token
In the morning, Gale remained asleep beside Katniss, his arms wrapped almost protectively around her during their slumber. It wasn't until a knock came from the door that the hunter forced his eyes open to the world. He looked toward the knocking, expecting to see Effie walk in, going over his schedule for the day. That was, until his memory returned to him as his grogginess vanished, when Cinna entered the room.
Katniss, having slept better than she had in months, slowly opened her eyes and focused on Cinna. She glanced down at the dark arms that were wrapped around her, instead of the usual pale ones, and she smiled before hearing Cinna's words.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," the stylist apologized as he looked towards the two still in bed. "But it's time."
She slowly turned her head back to look at Gale, chewing on her lip, cheeks pink from being caught by Cinna. "You'll be fine."
Gale nodded as he pulled his arms out from around her. He leaned down, kissing her briefly, before standing. "I know. And Katniss, remember, I love you."
Katniss reached over after he stood up and grabbed his hand, squeezing it once gently. "I love you, Gale. Be careful."
He only had enough time to give her one final smile and squeeze of the hand before he had to let go. Turning away, he walked out of the room with Cinna at his side. It was finally time for the Games to begin.
It wasn't long after Cinna took Gale away that a Peacekeeper came to collect Katniss. Normally, Effie would be in charge of gathering the mentors, but since that was impossible, Katniss now had to deal with the very strict man at her door. "Let's go," he demanded.
Katniss glanced at the Peacekeeper, still curled up in her bed, deep in thought. She grumbled and crawled out of bed, giving the man an annoyed look. "A please would be nice."
She received no answer as the man turned and started walking off, not waiting for her to follow. Katniss frowned, but followed after the Peacekeeper, slowly braiding her hair back into its signature fashion. The Peacekeeper led her down hallway to hallway, eventually meeting up with a second Peacekeeper who had Peeta at his side. The four continued onward until reaching a larger room near what had to be the top floor of the building. Inside, 24 televisions had been set up, all aimed at empty pods in the Arena. Pods for the Tributes to stand upon.
As Katniss walked into the room and saw the televisions, she turned slightly to look at Peeta, furrowing her eyebrows, as if just now realizing how real all this was. As if just now realizing how Madge and Gale could easily die. Peeta saw the look in her eyes and almost instantly grabbed hold of her hand. He had no idea what had been talked about at the Justice Building and was never informed because of his drugged condition, so everything seemed much more anxious to him. Still, he tried to smile. "It'll be okay," he tried.
Katniss gave him a slight smile when he took her hand before nodding. "I hope so."
"This is where you will remain for the duration of the Games," the Peacekeeper who led Katniss spoke up. He then pointed toward one wall of the room which had 24 doors on it, each pair having a number from one to twelve. "Those will be your living quarters for rest. Your wardrobes have already been brought to your indicated room and meals will come three times a day. Go get dressed and you will be summoned from your rooms when the Games begin."
Katniss stared at the Peacekeeper for a moment before beginning to walk toward the doors with "12"s on them, pulling Peeta next to her by their joined hands.
"This seems very... prison-like," she told Peeta, voice low.
Peeta nodded as he squeezed her hand a little and looked at her. Once they reached the two doors, he stopped and looked back. "I guess I'll see you when we're 'released'."
She nodded at him with a small smile, dropping his hand. She turned quietly and walked into her designated room. If the outside didn't make the situation seem like a jail sentence enough, the poorly lit room that lacked any color except shades of white and grey sure did. The bed was just large enough for one person to fit and an outfit was laid out for her to wear. The only object with any color was a small necklace box that was laid next to the clothes.
Katniss grimaced as soon as she closed the door behind her. She quietly walked over to the small bed and looked down at the necklace box that stood out brightly against the drabness of the room. She slowly reached down and picked it up, opening it. Inside, the golden necklace Effie had purchased for Gale laid loosely against the cardboard of the box, no cotton to keep its place. Written very sloppily, like it was rushed, were the words "I'm with you too" on the inside of the box.
Katniss's eyes instantly filled up with tears and she took the necklace delicately out of the box. She slipped it over her head and held the end of it gently in her hand before sitting down on the small bed. Covering her face with her hands, she finally allowed herself to cry quietly now that she was alone in her near-prison cell.
An alarm blared through out the rooms as every mentor's door swung open simultaneously. One by one, mentors began to emerge and take a seat on the chairs that had been placed before each television. Bottles of water and various other colored and sugared beverages laid out as their only current form of nourishment. On the televisions, all 24 Tributes stood on their pods, waiting for the Games to officially begin. Katniss silently left her "room" and walked down to the chair that was in front of Gale's television. She sat down, clutching the tag on Gale's necklace tightly, but that was the only sign of her anxiety. She kept her eyes and face blank as she stared at him on his pod as Caesar Flickerman's voice boomed over the screens the phrase "Ladies and Gentlemen, let the seventy-fifth Hunger Games begin!"
Inside, Gale remained completely still, like a statue as he waited for the gong to go off. On the outside, he looked focused, calm even. But inside, he was experiencing a level of fear unlike anything he's ever felt before. His eyes scanned around the Arena circling him, taking in everybody's locations. Madge was exactly five pods away from him. Amur, seven to his left. By the fact that he could not find Sage's boyish face on his side, he reasoned the child was directly opposite of him, behind the Cornucopia. He cursed under his breath, knowing this was on purpose. The Gamemakers were trying to force him to rush to the horn.
Madge scanned the pods as well and was unable to find Sisal. She slowly turned her eyes toward Gale, ready to watch him for guidance. Although her face was serious, almost sad, her eyes were screaming. Suddenly being surrounded by large Careers, she felt as though her confidence had been premature and, instead, fear was beginning to rise up in her chest, threatening to choke her. Gale could feel Madge's gaze on him and could barely make out Sisal from across the horn. He knew there was a good chance of death at that horn and more so if he and Madge both went in. He turned his head towards the mayor's daughter and looked directly at her, his eyes shifting towards Amur, trying to give hints to a silent strategy.
Madge gave the hunter an almost imperceptible nod, glancing at Amur for a moment, before shifting her eyes back on the Cornucopia. Gale's eyes shifted back slowly as he began to gauge all the items at the horn. If he was going to have to pass it to get to Sisal and Sage, he might as well see if there was anything worth grabbing. A few backpacks littered the area and some general supplies, but his eyes stopped on the large pile of rope. To many of the other Tributes, he was certain the pile would be useless, but for his snares it was almost a necessity of survival.
Savage had finished taking inventory of the supplies and kept his eyes on Gale, like a hunter eyeing his prey. Ivy, the large District 2 female Tribute, stood next to him with a similar look in her eye as she stared at Willow, who looked extremely serene, from across the Cornucopia, like she was ready to rip Willow's small body limb from limb and bathe in the blood. As the dark haired hunter eyed the rope, he spotted Savage from the corner of his eye and nearly froze. He knew if he ran in, the boy would be right on his trail. Even worse, Savage might take Sisal or Sage hostage like he did Katniss. He was torn.
Suddenly, the gong sounded, telling the Tributes the Games have officially begun. Automatically, as if anticipating it, Willow sprinted off her pod before anyone else even thought about moving. She quickly grabbed four backpacks, two in each hand, anticipating the need with their large alliance. Gale's mind halted all thought as his feet just began to move, racing towards - no, beyond - the horn. He didn't even stop to look back towards Madge or Amur, hoping his silent hints for them to run off would be heeded. He spotted Willow so far ahead, amazed at her speed and what all she grabbed for. Any doubts he had about her vanished instantly. He turned his head back up, trying to focus again on Sage and Sisal, trying to find them in the chaos.
Madge quickly sprinted from her pod toward Amur, though there was no need. No Tributes even paid her attention; they were focused on either on Gale and Willow or trying to get supplies.
"Gale!" Willow barked at him from on top of the Cornucopia, knowing their only chance was if she got high enough to see everyone from a vantage point. She pointed toward Sage and Sisal, who were trapped in a group of Tributes from 6 and 8, all rushing toward the Cornucopia. She quickly threw a knife from one of the backpacks at Gale but, instead of hitting him, it soared over his head and hit Savage, who was running up behind him, in the shoulder. Gale followed the direction she pointed and gave her a knowing nod, faintly able to hear Savage behind him get hit. He knew he couldn't hesitate to look back as he ran immediately towards Sage and Sisal. Willow quickly jumped off the horn and ran to Savage to retrieve her knife from his injured body, since every weapon was precious at this point.
As Gale leaped over and around various objects and Tributes, cannons began to fire above them, but he still pressed on. There was no time to check for the dead, he just pressed on until he was close enough. "Sage, Sisal!"
Sage reached out through the crowd of people he was stuck in and curled his tiny hand into Gale's shirt, pulling himself out. Gale immediately picked Sage up in his arms and pulled the boy's head into his shoulder, reminiscent of the way he held Posy during Panem's broadcasts. Sage just pressed his face against Gale's neck and refused to look around anymore, frightened by the cannons and the screams. Also among the crowd, he spotted Sisal who was wandering almost lost-like but also searchingly. "Sisal, over here!" he yelled before grabbing her wrist.
Having not heard his voice in the crowd, she turned to swing a punch towards Gale but managed to stop herself as she recognized him. "You're Madge's..."
Willow took her knife and the backpack and rope Savage had managed to get while he lay on the ground, gripping his shoulder. She quickly spun and slit the throat of Ivy as she attempted to sneak up on Willow. Then she sprinted off in search of Joule, knowing from Finnick that she was a necessity to the alliance. As Willow searched around for Joule, a spear came down, aiming for her calf as a male tribute from District 10 went to stab into her from behind.
Willow saw him out of the corner of her eye and quickly snapped her foot backward, snapping the spear in half with a swift kick. She spun around quickly and rammed her knife at him, toward his neck. While she was fast, the boy was nimble too. He turned his head away just in time as he jerked his body forward to thrust the spear into her arm. As he jerked, however, a line of red suddenly appeared around his neck and the spear went off to her forearm instead, blood falling from his mouth.
Willow growled as the spear pierced her forearm, but that was her only reaction. She quickly pulled the spear out of her arm and turned her neck to look at her savior. Joule yanked the wire from the boy's neck before turning back towards Willow, a backpack on her back as well as a sack of mystery items tied to her belt. "Hurry," she said quickly.
Willow nodded hurriedly, looking at her questioningly. "Seen Gale?"
"Just Amur and Madge," she nudged her head towards the opposite direction of Gale, Sisal, and Sage.
"Make sure Amur and Madge are alright. I'll get them." Willow said, nodding at Joule once, before turning to run back towards Gale, Sisal, and Sage.
"We can't keep treading here!" she called as she grabbed her wrist before she could run off and pulled her closely in so she could whisper. Or, what would be considered a whisper in the chaos around them. "It's getting too dangerous. North is a river. We'll regroup."
"We can't leave them here! They're not capable." Willow bit back at her, pulling her wrist away.
"You go to Gale and the others, I'll lead Amur and Madge. Meet within the next three hours," she said before turning and starting off in the opposite direction.