Day 2:


Out along the edges

Always where I burn to be

The further on the edge

The hotter the intensity

Highway to the danger zone

Gonna take you right into the danger zone


I gulp about maybe one third of a water canteen the next morning. Honestly, I really could've saved some of it, but I haven't had anything to drink since getting in here. I'm beyond parched. And the water is delightfully cold.

I wipe the few remaining drops from my lips. Now it's time to get to business.

First thing I do is order my supplies in a way that makes the most sense from me. Pretty much everything, except the machete, can easily be shoved into my backpack. The only downside is, I have to wear it in front of me, or else it interferes with my quiver, which sits around my left shoulder. I want to sling the bow on too, but I don't want to break it.

Now I hold the bow in my right hand, and the machete on my left. I've used the satchel to fashion a makeshift holster, to which Ellie's torn up jacket has come in handy extending it a little. Now I have one hand free to grab an arrow whenever I need it.

I could always downsize my gear. But I'll be damned if I give up anything in this arena. Even those stupid lighters.

Breakfast consist of half a pack of dried meat. I've never eaten meat for breakfast before, and it's really tough to chew. It's fine. I can save the other half for later. Or maybe I shouldn't. I don't have much food left. I really need to start conserving it.

Anyways, there's gotta be some ground that I haven't explored yet. Just how big is this arena anyways? I hope it's large. That way I don't have to run into any tributes.

Then I hear the sweet, sweet sound of a sponsor gift. The beeping continues until two parcels has finally landed at my feet, with a 10 on the tag. Yep, it's for me. The first one is about six arrows. I quickly stash them in my quiver, which is starting to get a little heavy. I unwrap the second to reveal...um...okay, I have absolutely no clue what it is. Maybe the note will say?

Go nuts for coconuts! Drink up!

Well...I'm still very confused.

I stash the strange "nut" in my bag; I've already eaten my rations for today, so I should really save it for when I desperately need to eat. Or drink. Whatever. Half a dried meat pack can keep me going. There's probably tributes eating less today. There's plenty of people in Panem eating nothing at all.

"Hey! Hey you!"

Oh crap. In my attempt to avoid tributes, I've just stumbled upon someone's camp. Flynn and Gayle sit in a tiny ring of wire, which Flynn appears to be playing with. Gayle just jumps to his feet and brandishes his spear in my face. "This is ours! Get out of here!"
"Okay, okay! I was just leaving!"

"Good." Gayle's voice cracks slightly.

I hurry away before Gayle can think of throwing the spear. I don't know how good he is with it. I don't want to find out.

I find myself aimlessly wandering around for a little longer. That whole incident has shaken me up real good. How close am I to the other tributes? What if they're trying to hunt me down? I find myself constantly looking over my shoulder, but there's nobody there.

Then I hear someone shout, as other voice laugh along.

Oh no.

I'm running now, and I don't care where I'm going as long as it's away from here. There's a mountain made of rock; climb, climb, climb! I can squeeze myself inside the little dark alcove that's only big enough for one person, flipping around so both my hands are free and I have enough room to fire an arrow, just in case.

There's a boy wearing a dirty white jacket and carrying a backpack, followed by two intertwined flashes of blue. I grimace. There's only one pair of tributes in this arena attached to the hip like that. But they're both carrying spears that I have no doubt are lethal.

"Hello." the man in white says politely. "I don't believe we've met before. I'm Bartleby."
Okay, Bartleby. Two can play at that game.

I cock my head to the side and bat my eyes, noticing Bartleby tense up briefly. "I'm Vera-Ryanna. But that's kinda long, don't you think?"
"Um, sure..."
"I let my friends call me VR. But I'm not so sure about you. Are you a friend?"

Quincy groans loudly as Anthony wraps his arms around their waist. "What are you waiting for, oaf!?"
Please don't kill me. "I'm waiting for him to answer my question," I say, hoping my even tone hides how nervous I actually feel. I can't mess this up. "So..are you a friend?"

"Okay kid, come down now," Bartleby stutters ever so slightly. It doesn't seem that the District 4 tributes notice. "We don't have all day."
Anthony points his spear directly at me. I quickly raise my bow as he snarls. "Don't worry kid, if ya just cooperate, Quin and I will make it very painless for you. Or as painless as we can."

"No! You don't want to kill me just yet!"

Anthony howls while Quincy rolls her eyes. "Hurry up and shank her, babe."
"Well...I...if you kill me, I won't tell you how to infiltrate the camp!"

Anthony lowers his spear by just a bit. I can't believe that actually worked. But I have no choice but to keep going. "Y-yeah. Gayle and Flynn, did you know they're really really smart? Like, they have this wire, and I saw they managed to get an electric current through it...and they almost tried to electrocute me with it! But I saw them turn it off. If you let me, I'll show you where their camp is and how to turn the wire off before they kill you guys first!"

I hope that nobody realizes that all of what I've just said is complete and utter bullshit.

Anthony raises his arm, but Bartleby intervenes. "Hold on. Let's give her a chance. We can just...we can...kill her afterwards...Cindra will be pleased..." The District 4 tributes nod assent. Quincy easily scales up the rock, grabs my ankle, and pulls me down.
"Show us where they are, brat. Then we'll have to skewer you. Sound good?"

No. No, it doesn't sound good.

Luckily, or maybe unluckily, Gayle and Flynn aren't too far away. I spot them first, just quietly pointing them out to the Careers. "There."
Anthony frowns. "I don't see anything."
"No, no, they're there. Do you see now?"

"I do," Bartleby says quietly. Quincy and Anthony both perk up, holding their spears high. Quincy even unsheaths a knife; how did I miss that earlier? Then, they're both running in the general direction of Flynn and Gayle, who have most certainly spotted them now. Quincy's spear lands in Flynn's stomach and I hear Gayle scream. I glance over at Bartleby, then the carnage...

Then I run.

I hear Anthony shout something, but I'm going to stay and ask him to repeat himself. He's only got one spear, and he's gotta yank it out of a body before he can get to me. My biggest threat is Bartleby, but he's not going to follow after me. No, he let me go. Why is that? Did his allies know? Has he been doing this the whole time?

The cannons fire. One. Two. Two boys I led to their deaths.

Oh. My. God. I led two boys to their deaths.

What have I done!?


14th place: Flynn McIntyre, District 5. Speared in the stomach by Quincy.

Flynn was fun to work with, but unfortunately, he died before he got the chance to really show off just how clever he was. I do feel kinda bad, but I couldn't work out a way for him to display his crazy mad scientist skills. I liked his dynamic with Gayle, since it was different than some of the other pairs we've seen. Thanks for him, Paradigm!

13th place: Gayle Apollox, District 3. Speared in the chest by Anthony.

Gayle started off very strong, since he volunteered for his boyfriend and all that. He was very lowkey, so I think that's what caused him to fade in the background a little bit. Also very smart, but he didn't have a lot of supplies to work with, and he and Flynn didn't get the chance to show off their skills. If his submitter is reading this, thanks for him!


Current Alliances:

Careers: Bartleby, Troy, Cindra, Anthony, Quincy

The Beans: Sitka, Maryann

The Three Bs: Tyrone, Whyllis

The Sole Anti-Career: Opal

He's Vibin, Somewhere: Ethan

VR Why!? VR


Kills:

Cindra: 3 (Ellie, Magaz, Leo)

Anthony: 2 (Gayle, Basil)

Quincy: 2 (Flynn, Teff)

Karen: 1 (Abril)

Tyrone: 1 (Delta)

Magaz: 1 (Karen)

Whyllis: 2 (Damask, Jane)


Woahhhhhhhhh, we're halfway there!

What did you guys think of this chapter? Did the deaths surprise you? Do you think VR's plan worked, or she's still got tributes hot on her trail? And yes, half the tributes are dead, half are still kicking!

See you all next chapter!

-Vr