The fourth day
-Ott Travers, 15, District 4-
Waking up in the morning was always a big shock. The bed I've been sleeping on is so similar to the bed I sleep in back home that when the sunbeams trickle in through the window, I can trick myself into believing I'm at home.
But it never lasts long. The constant clicking of the tracks that jostle us around, the smell of body odor and pure exhaustion that radiates from every corner of the room… I remember where we are. Every day I have to try and accept that this is where I'll most likely meet my death. I'm just not ready to do that yet… But what other choice do I have?
Zuzanna snores quietly below me, and I stare aimlessly at the ceiling, not wanting to get up. Getting up means facing another day of fear, after a glorious few hours that I could let go of it and doze off.
My bleary eyes fixate suddenly on a part of the ceiling that looks… Not the same. I wipe my eyes and look at it again. I'm probably just seeing things. It's early after all, and the sun is only just starting to fill the windows. I reach up and run my hand across the ceiling, and feel a slight divot of some form.
"Ott?" Blair's voice makes me jump out of my own skin, startled even though they barely spoke above a whisper.
My heart is still pounding deep in my chest when I respond. "Yeah. It's me."
"Do you mind keeping watch for a moment? I have to use the restroom and didn't want to wake anyone."
"Of course," I say quietly. Blair quickly hurries into the little room and I look up again at that divot. While they're gone, I quickly reach around until my fingers fit into a hole and I can flick the panel off of the ceiling. It looks to be some kind of secret room or compartment. I don't have time to look inside before I hear the door to the bathroom slide open and throw the panel closed again.
"Is… Everything alright up there?" they asked quietly, sounding more confused than suspicious, much to my… Relief.
"Yup. Sorry, I was trying to figure out how to slip by without waking Zu." Why am I lying to them?
I slowly make my way down the creaky ladder on the side of the bunks. Zu doesn't seem to stir, much to my relief. "I'm going to go clean up in the bathroom now," I say, and Blair gives a nod of understanding. I go into the room and slide the door shut, milling over what I just found. I sit on the toilet and that's when I start to feel the fear creep into me again. Obviously, it's extremely valuable to know that there's something up there that could possibly save my life. But the brief glance I got into it indicates that it's probably not big enough for more than one person… Especially not three!
Zu and Blair are my friends… But at this point, I'm starting to realize that there isn't truly a such thing as friends in a place like this. After all, this is exactly what Garrett was trying to avoid. Being responsible for someone that is… Less likely to win.
How can you say that about your friends Ott, the people you've chosen to ally with? I get up and flush the piss down and rub my temples with my hands. Ever since I've gotten here, the headache just won't go away. Probably because of a profound lack of sleep, or practically starving after three full days without food… I don't know that I've ever felt this worn out in my life. Sure, there were the few times I pulled all-nighters with Team Starfish. But… Well, I always just got to go back home and crash for a whole day and then eat snacks and watch a movie with my parents. Now, it would be many, many days before I could even think of going home. And so much effort.
Team Starfish. We've always called our squad that since elementary school or earlier, after learning that starfish can regrow limbs when they're cut off. We were all kind of picked on, so that kind of resilience is what we wanted to rest on.
These people that surround me aren't Team Starfish though. They're not my friends that always have my back because, like me, they want to win so they can go home.
My eyes sting with tears. None of this is fair. But ultimately, I need to hold onto that secret as long as possible. I really want to get home, and I have to show the crowds watching that I'm willing to do what it takes.
A quiet rap on the door makes me squeeze the tears out of my eyes in panic. "Everything okay in there?" Blair asked, loudly enough for me to be able to assume that Zu is awake.
"Just give me a moment," I say, pushing my palms into my eyes until I see white and start to feel dizzy, quickly reaching out to stable myself on the wall before I topple over. This bathroom is the only place I get any privacy. I just want to hold onto that for a moment longer. The District Nine tributes are nice and everything, but spending four days cooped up with the same people in a small bedroom is even starting to get to me. "I just need a moment..."
Just one moment alone with my own thoughts, and silence. Just one moment of safety. I rub my face with my hands, trying to get some more energy into my bones.
As much as I want to be alone for longer, I'm sure that Zu is waiting to use the restroom now that she's just awakened, and I don't want to make things any more tense than they feel. I'm sure that it hasn't been peachy for them being locked in a room with me for four days either.
Plus, the longer I spend in here, the more opportunity they have to make some plan, or find the panel, without me. And that's the last thing I need. I need to make sure that District loyalty doesn't cause my downfall.
Manipulative is the word running around my brain as I slide the door open and Zu goes in. I sit back down on the bed. I know that if they don't see me as their friend, they won't always have my back. I have to keep their loyalty, even if I don't feel loyal to them. God, just thinking about it like that makes me sound so cruel. I never wanted to be cruel… I always said I would never… But what other choice do I have?
Do the right thing. Tell them what you found so that they can save themselves if something happens.
I can't. I have to hide it from them as long as I possibly can. If it's them or me, it has to be them.
Go ahead. Manipulate them just like you manipulated Bean.
I need to get these thoughts at bay, I can't break out of the brave leader role that I've been given. And if someone were to ask me what's wrong, well, I don't even know how I could possibly explain what I'm feeling.
"Did you sleep well?" Blair's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
"As well as I could," I say quietly. Trying to… I don't know what I'm even trying to do.
"Mm," they say quietly, and we sit in silence once again.
Manipulator Manipulator Manipulator! That's not who I am. That's exactly who you are. I just want to go home. You want to take human sacrifices. I don't have a choice. You're preparing to watch them slaughtered. This is the only way to win.
I just want to go home…
Zu comes back out of the bathroom, yawning and stretching. "Want to do a yoga triangle?" she asked. Trying to lighten the mood maybe? Blair and I look at each other and give a shrug.
"Do you even know real yoga?" Blair asks, as Zu stretches her arms above her head and the two of us follow suit.
"Nope!" she said cheerfully. How does she not see where we are?
Stretching does feel good, and it puts some air back into my lungs at least. Some life back into my ribs. I suppose that's not a bad thing.
"Doesn't that feel better?" Zu asks, rolling her neck.
"Yeah!" Blair says, a small smile of all things in their voice.
"Surprisingly, yes!" I put the life back into my voice. I can't let them forget about me. I can't let them turn on me. Manipulative. Going to manipulate them to die for you just like you did to Bean. I didn't do anything to Bean. Then why is he gone? He wouldn't actually want to take the bullet for you on his own wishes. He was a good friend. Only when you needed him.
I don't deserve to live.
We need to get out of here.
Both of the District Nine tributes look over at me. I blink at them before Zuzanna straightens up.
"He's right," she says, trying to sound brave. I must have said that out loud. "We can't just rot away here forever. We don't eve have food!" My stomach's pain flares for a moment, desperate to eat something. We've had enough water to keep us from keeling over, but she's right. Obviously a sponsor isn't going to send us anything until we've acted. Well, now it's time to act. I just hope we don't find anything… Especially without any weapons.
My heartbeat picks up when Blair nods in agreement. What did I just get us into? There's no going back on it now without looking like… Like a scared little girl.
I can't afford that. I steel up, straighten my shoulders, and jump back into the role that I had momentarily slipped out of. "Let's pack our supplies and take a look around these other compartments." Putting away any uncertainty and doubt. Putting away any fear or grief. I did want to be an actor once.
It didn't take long to put the canteen in the backpack and seal it off.
Manipulator. Manipulator.
"Ready to go?"
A smile, two nods, and we're off.
~.~.
-Twyla Frisk, 17, District 7-
My whole body aches like fire. I need to get out of this stupid chute that was made for what? For food of some sort, not an entire teenager's body.
ABC knows that I'm here, he called me out by name! I haven't seen him the past couple days, but I know he's here because he hums so quietly to himself to pass the time. Sometimes, he'll even talk to me. Preposterous to be talking to a competitor in a fight to the death like this. But maybe, just maybe if he likes me, he'll spread the word about Harry if he gets out of this hell. But I'm not ready to give up yet. I'm running off of some cracker crumbs, sips of water, and pure spite for Harry.
When I peek out of the dumbwaiter, the dining car is alight. But I don't hear ABC anymore. I hope that means what I think it does… I slowly slide the rusty doorway the rest of the way down and squint outside. I see the dark figure of ABC laying under a table. I briefly scan the room to be sure it's empty and then slide my ass around so that my feet are back on the floor. My knees throb in pain when I try to stretch them out. After such a long time stuffed in that tiny space, I have no idea how to even walk. As I stand up, I feel the wetness of my urine-covered pants… Disgusting. I am disgusting.
But the cool air that hits my face feels so nice. Through the night, I would wake up choking for air, and have to crack the door to get air in. The air was warm and dry and anxious in there.
As quietly as I can, I slowly stand all the way up. My whole body wants to crack, but if I make too much noise he'll wake up.
Would ABC really kill me though? He seems like a good guy.
So did Harry. And he's a murderer. What if ABC was just here to stake me out?! Here just waiting for me to come out of there so that he could attack me? The thought sends a shiver up my spine.
He knew where I was hiding. He could have killed me at any time.
But those psychopaths, they always wait until exactly the RIGHT time.
I need to get out of here, but my joints are so stiff I can barely move. I'm frozen in place. I roll my ankles, stretch my back, all without making a single noise. I'm used to sneaking around my own house after I accused Maddox of… The murder. I know how to be quiet when someone wants to kill me. I shiver again at that, trying to keep my vocal cords from vibrating. At this point, any noise could awaken him.
I stretch out my arms and suddenly, my shoulder cracks. ABC stirs, rolling around and snorting a little bit. I freeze in place, quickly grabbing the knife that is attached to the belt of my pants. His body relaxes again. I release a breath I was holding, relief washing over me. After another cannon went off sometime yesterday, I can't take any chances. The crowd is starting to get hungry for blood I'm sure…
The thought of it makes me sick. I can't think about that right now.
I bend my knees and unbend, slowly. Twist my back, so tantalizingly slowly. I feel a little bit more like myself now at least. Hopefully I would never have to be shut in like that again. I glance over to where ABC is still sleeping, but am distracted by the view out the windows behind him. We are now approaching towering mountains, their peaks covered with gleaming snow. The windows were even starting to fog up. As quietly as I could, I stepped over to look out. The glass of the window was freezing cold to the touch, and wet when I pulled my finger off with condensation. The sun is just beginning to show itself over the mountains. I don't remember seeing mountains... Just how much were the Gamemakers going to change the outside scenery. Even though I'm deplorably underdressed, I want nothing more than to go out and breath the cold air in my nose, feel the snow in my fingers… Anything that gave me any feeling of being alive, really. Even though I can't stand the cold in actuality. Now, after being trapped in that hellish dumbwaiter, I yearn for it.
Funny how people change isn't it?
I feel like the longer I'm here, the more and more I'm going to change. Whether for the better or worse… Well, I'll have to wait until I'm home with my mother to figure that out. I'll know for sure once the cell door slams shut on Harry's face.
I glance down to the sleeping body, now so close to me and not even stirring a little bit. I could take him out right now.
He's just like Harry. I pull the knife out of my belt, the blade reflecting the calm pinks and oranges of the sun. I glance back down at the guy, trying to let my rage boil over…
I can't. He just looks too… Too peaceful. Here I am trying to put Harry in prison for taking life, and now I actually have the audacity to consider taking one myself!? Talk about hypocritical of me…
I slowly put the knife back. I don't have to take his life right now. That can be a problem for later, but hopefully much later.
The other thing that catches my eye is the backpack that lays next to him, just inches away from my feet. My stomach quietly bubbles at the thought that maybe, just maybe he has something to eat in there. After all, he has been here for a while and not searching for food.
Slowly, I take another step closer to him, hoping that my terrible scent doesn't awaken him. Without a single sound, I reach over and slip my fingers around one of the straps. Patience, Twyla. Being too rash makes too much noise. I slowly lift myself up, his backpack in my hand and mine on my back. ABC doesn't stir.
I've pushed my luck far enough today… I need to retreat.
But which way should I go?
The door to my right is the Cornucopia, if I remember correctly. I doubt the Careers would leave their stronghold on the supplies unattended. That means that the only other option is to go out the door to the left.
Slowly, just barely letting my feet touch the ground in a gentle caress, I step further and further away from the sleeping ABC. My heart pounds, wondering if he'll wake up and see me… If he'll pursue me, kill me!
I stop and slowly turn to look back, much to the complaint of my lower back and hips. He's still asleep. Am I about to get away with this? My heart pounds as I reach the door. Slowly, I reach out and press the button. The door slides open, making a noise as it goes, and before ABC can fully awaken, I run through and press the button to close it.
But I've run into a room with another tribute in it. I throw up my weapon, ready to attack the threat. My District partner's lifeless eyes stare back at me.
I stumble backwards, toppling over myself onto the floor as my legs give out as the horrid stench attacks my nose. As the train hits each track, the lifeless corpse bounces. I bite back a scream at the horrifying sight, blinking rapidly, hoping for repulsive stench, the horrifying sight, to go away… Go away…
Walden's body hangs lifelessly from the bedpost, the sheets tied tightly around his neck and making the whole surrounding area dark with suffocation. His entire body reeks of blood and is covered in it, knife slashes covering each and every part. Something was in his hand… The slight light and slick blood made it shine…
Oh my God… It's his dick! I grab my nose, trying to get away from the stench, away from this horrible scene.
That's when I notice the knife cuts. Letters. Huge letters across his chest, engraved in blood on his arms, his legs…
SAV.
That's when the crackers try to make their reappearance.
I turn away from the body, wanting anything but to look at it anymore… I hurry towards the door, but before I open it, I hear the laughing. The girlish giggles that you would hear at a sleepover… They sent chills all the way up my spine. What exactly was I dealing with here.
I looked at the other door, ABC's bag suddenly feeling quite heavy in my hands. I'm pretty sure he's not going to be in the forgiving kind of mood if I go back and apologize. I'm trapped again.
"Well, it's just you and me bud," I say, immediately shivering violently at the sight of his mangled body. Feeling the pain of his oozing blood in my very bones. Wondering how the hell I couldn't even hear him scream from the next room over…
Vile comes for the vile, I suppose.
I just hope that it doesn't come for me.
~.~.
A/N: Back with another chapter. It's really getting intense now and I'm so excited for the other things I have planned. Can't wait to hear your thoughts and keep on delving into the action.
Eulogies:
16th Place: Walden Whitmore, Killed by ?
He was such a terrible guy, it was really his time. Dreamer, thanks so much for sending him in so that I could really have fun with pushing some of the limits of my own writing in the context of a partial. He was truly despicable and I think everyone definitely was waiting for this to happen, even you. Your most invalid boy for sure, and now his run is gruesomely over. Thanks so much for sending him and for all your support over the years!
CQ: Will the Wear My Suit alliance be able to survive the coming days? Who's going next?