Day 5: Skyfall
Skyfall by Adele
For this is the end
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
So overdue, I owe them
Swept away, I'm stolen…
Disclaimer: I don't own THG
South of the Cornucopia- Jungle
Dotti Amystone (16) D10 Female POV
I let my eyes flutter open to the glory of morning light streaming through the vines and tropical leaves of the jungle in which I encase myself. Overnight I had stayed here, hiding underneath fallen greenery. The scratchy feeling of twigs and leaves tickle my nose, sending me into fits of sneezes that could awaken anyone in the area. I sit up and watch as shrubs and greenery begin to disappear, pops sounding with each disappearing before my eyes.
Pop
Pop
Pop
Trees begin to sprout dark and ominous ones, the branches reaching out like skeletons, the surface wrinkled and stretched beyond proportion. The sky begins to darken and only a dark purple light guides me to an uncertain fate, a place of horror and darkness. Jungle vines still remain, jungle creatures continue to stir despite the pops and scenery here dissipating into nothing. I grip onto the black taser and begin to think… how could I use this? Surely it could screw with someone, someone who would be tough to beat… ah! I could use this on a Career, they're the biggest threats and this well, could be very deadly in the right circumstance. I laugh, feeling the power in me rise and gather my belongings.
It's time to screw with a Career…
Ring around the Cornucopia
Gabe Tex (13) D8 Male POV
"Petra. I have a plan…"
"A plan? What?"
I turn my gaze to her and quickly stand on my feet, pacing back and forth in front of her watching as trees and shrubs disappear with loud pops that resemble cannons, very slightly though.
"We should team up a-"
"I thought we already did," she asks with a slight grin.
I vigorously shake my head and point to our swords. "Team up and fight the Careers."
"The Careers!"
"Yes, well they're already crumbling under the pressure already so later like the final 6 or so, we fight them off one at a time," I mumble as I glaze over the butterfly's gleaming blade. I smirk as I turn my head to see Petra contemplating my plan, her head down and her lips pursed.
"I don't know…"
"Well we can train until then; it's bound to happen sooner or later you know."
"I guess…"
"Yeah don't worry," I assure her. I pat the top of her head. Strands of her red hair tangle and weave themselves between my fingers, the coarseness of her hair reminding me that of Harmony's. I quickly snap my hand back and frown, feeling the memories flood and overflow my head, threatening to break my spirit.
"Okay. I'll do it."
"Awesome," I exclaim as I grab my sword. "Why don't we start now?"
"Okay."
"What the hell happened to you?!"
The voice echoes off into the distance as we hide ourselves within the bushes to see the cliff off into the east territory. The girl from 4 stands close to the edge as Koda walks towards her, a smirk evident on his face. The girl from 4 is badly cut and bruised, her lips cracked and dried so much that blotches of blood mark her lips and her hair is badly tangled and dirtied. In comparison to her, Koda looks like a Capitol model, despite the five slashes across his face. My eyes glaze over beyond them to see a cliff that must be thousands of feet deep and will probably kill you before you even hit the bottom.
"Nothing," the girl from 4 hisses as she grabs for the waistband of her pants. I'm not sure exactly what her name is so I'll just call her… Ravine. It was something like that and I really don't care to know after she killed Harmony.
"You left the Careers?"
"No. I got lost."
"Really," he scoffs as he twirls his sword in his hand. "That's the oldest excuse in the book."
"It happened. Why aren't you with them?"
"I left them. Where's Leon?"
"I don't know…"
"We thought you ran away together you know…"
"Whatever…"
"We all know you like him… and obviously he returns your feelings…."
"Shut up," Ravine screams as she throws a throwing knife at Koda's head. He ducks just in time for it to slice off some of his black hair.
"Let's not get bitchy now!"
"What happened to everyone else then?!"
"Rose is dead and Mako and Madeline are still together!"
She frowns and looks him in the eyes, her expression wary. "Who killed her…"
"I did. And you're next…"
He lunges toward her and she yells. They begin rolling around on the rocky surface, crying out often as pebbles scrape up against their skin. Koda grunts as he tries to get on top of her, occasionally she bites him and he screams, letting off a bit. Just as Ravine has the advantage, Koda drives his sword into her arm, the blade swiping clean through her bone and pinning it into the ground.
"AHHHH!"
"Goodbye River," he yells out maniacally as he grabs a sword from his backpack and raises it above his head. Time slows as he hesitates for a second and looks back, his eyes widen as two silver wires attach themselves to his chest and a bright light travels from them from another bush several feet away. His body begins to convulse and he yells out, throwing his sword aside. Ravine yells out and grabs him, trying to throw him over the crumbling cliff's edge. During their struggle, the cliff's edge begins to fall apart and pieces crumble underneath them. Ravine manages to hang on from her small and damaged hands while Koda dangles presumably from her feet. She grunts as she kicks her feet trying to relieve the tension from her fingertips as they desperately try to stay above sea level.
"LEON!"
Moments earlier…
Ring around the Cornucopia
Iris Dunbryll (15) D11 Female
Pop
Pop
Pop…
The loud and infuriating sounds drive me to insanity, hearing them all morning as items in the Arena disappear without a trace can really get on your nerves. You can't tell between real cannons and these pops and I'm not sure what to believe anymore. I lost count of us lost here, it no longer mattering since I only need to worry only for myself, because in the end I will be here, always in spirit because I will never live the same way again. Beck told me that you never really leave the Arena, that you always stay there with the others and I realize that now. That no matter how hard I try, I've already lost. I've lost everything the moment I entered the Arena. I will never look at anything the same, nothing will seem extraordinary or simple; nothing will hold the same beauty before all of this. I've lost everything, my state of mind, Merit, and even my thoughts because I cannot think clearly here. All that runs through my head is worries and stresses, my body constantly in survival mode. Is this a way to live? To live with the fact that you killed to live another day, to steal the life of another? It is so sick, so wrong, and forever my life…
"Arrggghhh…"
The faint growl stimulates my senses and I snap my head to see a bloated black bat with piercing red eyes, the eyes of the Arena itself encased in its orbs. Its stomach is stretched and bloated to the extent that if you simply poke it, it'll burst like a balloon. I whip out my hunting knife and prepare myself for the worst… like always…
"Arrrggghhh…"
The growl that escapes its mouth buzzes throughout my body and send chills down my spine. It grins and shows off its fangs which are covered in dried blood that cakes itself in crusty pieces on its two long fangs, curved and pointed. I lash at the mutt, the knife flying in all directions as it dodges all of them. It begins to nip at my arm and black venom drips from its mouth. Now or never, or this thing will lead to my ultimate end…
Pop…
The bat stops for just a second and looks back to the direction of the noise and I know it's my chance. I thrust the knife into its belly and it shrieks, blowing up and a warm sticky liquid flies out from all direction and all directly on me.
Splat
I quickly close my eyes as I try to process what has just happened, the liquid begins to run down my legs and suddenly creeps me out, sending images of gore and terror racing through my already damaged brain. As I try to open my eyes, a sticky film of red coats my eyelashes and makes it hard to open them fully. Walking with hazy and red vision, my mind spins and races as the area around me distorts and stretches.
"AHHHH!"
A scream shatters my eardrums, sending a severe piercing pain rippling through my body. I cover my ears and venture on, the pops getting louder and louder with each passing second…
Pop
Pop
Pop…
"RIVER!"
I snap my head to the left as Leon jogs from the trees and approaches me from several feet. He doesn't notice me at first since he is too busy searching for the loud screams for which now fall silent.
POP
This pop resembles a cannon even more than the others; Leon snaps his head in my direction and frowns as he sees my appearance. I bet I look terrible, covered in blood, knife still held onto… crap. He grits his teeth and grips the javelin in his hands so firmly that his hand might just burst like that bat. Fear takes over as my hands begin to shake, dropping the bloody knife.
"You killed her," he chokes. He lowers his head and immediately looks up with fury in his eyes.
"I-I n-n-o," I say barely audible. He cries out and throws the javelin, it piercing the air with a whoosh and it plunges itself in my chest. I fall to the ground and let out choked cries and whimpers as the red begins to fade darker and darker, the last thing I see is Leon running, leaving the javelin inside of me.
"LEON!"
BOOM
East of the Cornucopia- Rocky Terrain
River Seymour (16) D4 Female POV
BOOM
My mind begins to fade as I finally kick Koda off, the last ounce of energy draining from my body. He screams as he tries to grab onto my shoelace, but fails as it unlaces itself. Howling as he falls to his death, I dangle by one hand and try desperately to throw my leg over the side of the hard rock. Small whimpers bubble from my dry and cracked lips as I begin to let go, giving up hope…
"RIVER!"
My breath hitches in my breath as his voice says my name, my savior.
"LEON!"
He grabs my forearm and pulls me up; unaware of the large gash that embellishes the many nicks around it. I cry out as he embraces my trembling body, his warmth radiating my face with relief and appreciation. I feel my throat begin to burn with the familiar sensation of wanting to cry, it overpowering my will to stay awake. I close my eyes and reopen them, letting the tears flow, ones that I never wanted anyone to see.
BOOM
"Don't leave me here alone," I whisper as tears stream down my cheeks in streaks that flow down with blood and dirt, the feeling of water on my skin sending a ripple of goose bumps along with it.
"I'll never let you go…" He heaves me up and I wrap my arms around his neck as I fall into unconsciousness, letting my mind float and the horrid tears run down my face, no longer caring of the walls I built so well to protect me, my place here in the Games…
East of the Cornucopia- Rocky Terrain
Leon Finlend (15) D4 Male POV
After running for quite some time, I discovered a cabin hidden among the murky depths of the boulders and dust storms here in the east territory. I entered the cabin somewhat wary of some type of worry, but once I saw all the food sponsored by my sponsors I knew it would be safe. I carefully laid River down in a large oak bed, the finest bedding ever as I explored our new home. The cabin was made purely of wood, smelling piney and intoxicating as rosemary was set perfectly in a vase right alongside the door. Air conditioned too, despite its appearance.
"Leon," River murmurs from her bed several feet from me. I feel the corners of my mouth twitch with anticipation as she awakes after several hours of sleep, well deserved after discovering her appearance at the cliff. I stride over to the bed and fall to my knees, caressing her cheek as she continues to snore. I carefully rub my thumb over her eyes, light as a feather as I trace over the horrid and infected cuts that plague her body. Each emitting a white-ish liquid, like pus but more watery and blood occasionally drips from them too. Two days, ha, you figured that she would be better without me after what she said… I frown looking at the mirror across her bedside to see the dark red mark still present and stinging on my face, stinging because of what she said opposed to the slap. She really hurt me, you know. I never meant to do that, and I shouldn't have kissed her because now, well now she could die, and it's my fault. My fault for not protecting her, for not looking for her sooner.
"Leon," she murmurs again but this time more sweetly which makes my face flush with heat. I smile and tuck her into the sheets, giving warmth and protection she deserves. I don't know why I do this to her, to me really, it just feels right to help her, in a way it makes me feel better about being here. With River here, to keep me from going insane, I feel happier. I've never gotten to talk to someone due to my status in District 4. Always made fun of for being different, lost in thought… I can't help it. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't hide who I was and River helped me learn that it is okay to be myself, that someone will listen to me. To be heard is so ordinary, yet I never thought it would happen. And she, River Seanne Seymour… helped me find myself in the darkness I was lost in.
"Leon," she whispers as she slowly opens her eyes, squinting as the candle bedside her illuminates her emerald green eyes.
"You're awake," I exclaim taking her small hand in mine, rubbing her palm with my thumb carefully in small circles.
She moans and shifts her head to the right pointing to the fireplace behind me. "There's something in there," she rasps, coughing as I walk over to the burned coals to retrieve a white box and a small package. I sit at the edge of the bed and open the small package to reveal a new jumpsuit and sneakers, obviously the perfect size for River. I hold up her outfit to her and smile, she weakly grins and tries to lift her upper body up, but fails as she collapses into the pillows coughing again.
"River, don't die…"
"There's no way in hell I'm dying from these wounds…"
I nod and return my focus to the large white box white now has smudges of coal on its exterior, the smudges dark as nights without River beside me. I carefully life the edges, my fingertips scraping against the cardboard material and gasp as the items within come clearer to view. Inside are the possible medications and bandages needed to heal River, plus more for later. I grin madly and grab a small slip of paper that is folded neatly and in familiar handwriting reads…
'I believe in both of you.'
- Cameo Watters. District 4 Mentor
"River look," I yell a bit loudly since River jumps several inches off her bed and frowns as I run to her side showcasing her help. "Look what Cameo got you!"
"Wow," she mumbles as she reaches with trembling hands to the pain killers that sit in a clear bottle. "You must have a lot of rich sponsors…"
"River, this is for you not me…"
"Whatever…" She shrugs and takes two pills in her hands. "Do you have water I can down this with?"
"Yeah, sure." I walk over to the kitchen and grab a water bottle and hand it to her. She nods and unscrews the cap, tilting her head back as she swallows the pills with a cool sip of water. "Better?"
"Much better. Thanks," she says barely audible as the meds begin to kick in, her eyes drooping. She yawns and lays snug between the comfy pillows and sheets, falling deeper into well needed rest. "Leon can you sing a song," she murmurs.
"Yeah." I grab my guitar and pluck the strings, tuning each and every note while adjusting the knobs. "I wrote this one while you were asleep earlier."
"Really," she coos opening her eyes a bit, watching as I gaze into her eyes.
"Yep."
She smiles and laughs, a musical type laugh that makes butterflies swarm in my stomach. Her chestnut brown hair fans out over the pillow, the locks tangled and dirty. I twirl a piece of it between my fingers, the dry and brittle ends scratching my fingertips.
"What are you doing?"
"You're hair… it's very earthy."
"Is that a nice way to tell me that my hair looks like crap."
"No…"
"Just play the song , Leon…"
"Okay."
I strum the guitar, a beautiful chord ringing in the room and she smiles, returning to the comfort of her sheets. I begin the guitar solo and steadily rise myself to begin to sing…
I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, "I'll never let you go"
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone"
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight…
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound…
Don't you dare look out your window, darling,
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Gone…
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound...
Echo Mansion
Calloway Echo (20) POV
"Isn't Leon just the dreamiest," she murmurs as she rests her hands on her chin, lying on her stomach and gazing at the screen wide eyed. I roll my eyes and begin to tickle her, her loud giggles filling up my room. I look up and see the screen that shows Iris' and Koda's faces, the fallen tributes for the fifth day.
"Two died today Joylena. Iris and Koda…"
"I know," she whispers, the joy on her face gone as the screen lights up with the surviving tributes. "Calloway! There's only ten tributes left!" Joylena frowns and points to the paused screen. "We should sponsor them!"
"Sponsor," I murmur as I contemplate her idea. It wouldn't be bad though, I'd feel a lot better and certainly she would too. "Which one?"
"Hmmmm… all of them!" She giggles and points to Dotti, "We should send her some arrows since she ran out yesterday…"
"Okay, let me write this down." I walk over to my nightstand and open the drawer, fishing out a notebook and pen. "Dotti… arrows. Who else?"
"Gabe and Petra… she needs a sword and they both need some food."
"Okay." I scribble a small note besides their name, careful not to confuse the items with the others written down vertically down the paper.
"Madeline… I don't like her so… just an apple."
"An apple…"
"Well I said I wanted to sponsor everyone remember?"
"Right…" I write it down and look up to the screen again. "What about Mako?"
"Mako… some food also."
"Okay."
"Hudson… safe from mutts for a whole day."
"That's pretty expensive, you like him that much?"
"He's from Daddy's District…"
"Oh, I see," I mumble and write it in.
"Leon and River… hehehe some roses."
"Roses?"
"Yeah, it's sooo romantic."
"Joylena, you know one of them is bound to die, probably both…"
"I know, they should at least be happy together before then, right?"
"I guess…"
"Aden… medication and food. Vanity needs a weapon… a knife." She smiles and points to the t.v. screen once again. "Do you think my gifts will help them, Calloway?"
"Yes," I mumble while ruffling her hair." I certainly do."
A/N: Since we are at the halfway point in the Games, the Arena areas have changed! We're closing in on 200 reviews! 200th reviewer gets a special prize… can we reach 200 by the next chapter? So yeah, sponsoring from Joylena is a small gift from yours truly for the final ten tributes. You can still sponsor, I haven't gotten any in awhile…
North of the Cornucopia- Beach
East of the Cornucopia- Mountainous Terrain
South of the Cornucopia- Eerie Forest
West of the Cornucopia- Woodlands
Disclaimer: Don't own the lyrics to Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift. Of course I had to add this to one of many of Leon's songs :p
RIP: Iris Dunbryll. She was Merit's district partner; I loved her she was an amazing person. She will be missed. Thanks to Frap98 for submitting her.
RIP: Koda Morris. He was my drunk party boy, nice catalyst with his district partner Rose. He will be missed. Thanks to jinnyzoid for submitting him.
Love Always, Domi