Things are really starting to heat up now, and we're getting close to the big twist of the Games (hinted to in all the chapter titles so far) which I think will be revealed at the end of the next chapter, I'm so excited to finally get down to writing it, it's one of the only things I've had planned since the start. For now though, enjoy Day Five, it's been one of my favourites to write so far, even if my heat was repeatedly broken. Also this was totally not proof read, because I didn't have time and wanted to get something up, so that'll be done tomorrow!
Day Five
Lana and Clem
"It's a new day, Clem." Lana slapped the chest of her sleeping ally, not that she was ready to call him that just yet, bringing him suddenly out of his sleep. "And I have big plans for us today." She took a sip of the flask for coffee, thankful for the energy it gave her, and passed it over to a still sleep ridden Clem. Lana hadn't slept at all, and that wasn't just because she didn't trust Clem to keep watch of her, it was because every time she closed her eyes, she saw Aila, or even worse, Ronin. The was a constant nagging feeling of guilt pulling at the girl, for every waking moment. She was supposed to protect Aila, the one she loved, and all Ronin was trying to do was help. Lana vowed that if somehow she made it out alive, a cut of the money she earned every year would go to their families. It would never make up for the loss Lana had caused them, but it might just help them begin to piece their lives together.
Ha. Who was she kidding? Aila didn't have a family… no, her share would go to the orphanage Lana had heard her speak so highly about everyday. She smiled, after all of this it felt good to know that the things she had done would lead to at least a little bit of goodness into the world. For now, though, as Lana strapped her bag on, ready for a day of walking, all she could do was plaster on a fake smile and pretend her world wasn't slowly ending.
"Plans?" Clem mumbled, sipping from the flask. "I was thinking we spent the day here…. sleeping… and eating…"
"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in the Capitol anymore." Lana joked, staring dead pan at Clem, offended when it appeared as though he didn't understand her reference. "Jesus, okay." She sighed, brushing her now very short hair backwards. "This isn't the Capitol, it's not all lollipops and rainbows and yellow brick roads. We're low on water. And since no one knows who you are, I volunteer you to go and get it." She smiled sweetly, batting her eyelashes at him.
Reluctantly Clem stood up, brushing off the leaves from his back, turning so that Lana could help him. "Fine." He sighed. "But here's a bit of exclusive information, the only water source is next to the Cornucopia, so we're going to have to play it carefully."
Lana stared Clem straight in the eye, before slowly beginning to clap. "Wow," She spoke sarcastically. "That's bloody wonderful information, never would have worked that out despite LIVING IN HERE FOR THE LAST FIVE DAYS."
Clem held his hands up defensively, despite smiling. "Just trying to help." The pair grinned at each other, the most unlikely of friendships formed in the most unlikely place. Lana wasn't sure she completely trusted Clem, but with her alliance destroyed within the first week, he was the closest she had left to a friend, someone to confide in, and make everything a little less lonely. Their supplies were lighter now, despite having taken from Aila and Ronin. They're water supply was low, and Lana knew that soon food would be a worry too. She didn't focus on that, though, only on the fact that the lack of weight made the long walk back to the Cornucopia easier.
When they reached the edge of the clearing, however, neither of them dared to venture out. What they saw on the inside was something they could never explain, or never wanted to know about. They saw Locke, towering over a younger boy who was tied up, leaning against the wall of the Cornucopia, a gag in his mouth, preventing him from screaming out. Both Lana and Clem didn't know who it was, but they both knew it was cruel.
"We're going to have to help him aren't we?" Lana asked, knowing the answer before Clem even nodded. "Here's the plan…" Lana continued, her mind working a mile a minute to try and figure out a way where they all came out alive, apart from Locke, of course. "I'll go out there, fight him. If it looks like I'm losing, then I'll move to just distracting him, and you come out and untie the guy and run. Okay?" Clem nodded once more. Now for the bit Lana really didn't like. "And if things look really bad, like, I'm dead bad, then you forget about me and him and run." Clem didn't answer this time, but instead just reached forward and hugged Lana. She hugged him back, wanting nothing more than to abandon the moral compass Aila had given her, and run.
It was almost as if Clem could read her mind. "I thought us being friends was weird, but it actually makes sense. I'm a Gamemaker corrupted my morality, and you're a driven, potentially lethal, no offence-"
"None taken." Lana's glare suggested otherwise.
"Girl who was changed by her alliance." He finished.
"Okay, Clem, nice speech, now let's go kick some ass." When Lana looked up, however, there was no ass to kick, so to speak. Locke was simply gone, and the boy, who they could now tell to be Newton, was in full view, still tied up, but unguarded. "Same plan still applies, I'll go out there, untie him and if Locke turns up, I'll fight. Only come out if Locke is dead, or it looks like I'm stalling." This time Lana didn't wait for a response, she couldn't waste time now, Locke could be back at any second. She sprung from their hiding place, with only Hypatia's old machete for a weapon.
"Let's get you out of here." Lana whispered to a thankful Newton, slicing away at the rope that bound his hands.
Locke and Newton
"Oh, kid." Locke stepped round from the side of the Cornucopia, a terrible hiding spot that Lana and Clem would have seen had they paid more attention. "Camouflage and secrecy are clearly not your strong point."
Lana spun round, slashing at her machete, but it was no use. Locke grabbed her hand with the weapon, kneeing her in the wrist, causing her to drop it, and leaving the girl defenceless. She looked into Locke's eyes, as he smiled, glad to see the terror and horror in her eyes as he raised a knife, and slashed a clean, long line against her throat.
Lana stumbled backwards, holding the scar, trying and failing to keep the blood in. The last thing Lana saw as the eternal darkness overtook her was Clem sprinting from the forest, holding a mace that was clearly too heavy for him to use.
BOOM.
"Well look what we've got here…." Locke hummed, as Clem charged at him. Everything Lana had told Clem about staying hidden and leaving her was abandoned. She didn't deserve this. She deserved to win, more than anyone in here, Clem thought. She needed the money to save her brother's life, to get back the youth she was robbed of. Rage stronger than anything Clem had ever felt before surged through him, as he swung his fist at Locke, the man stumbling backwards. Locke was stronger, however, more trained and prepared and he was quickly back, ready to strike.
The knife he had just used to kill Lana was still in Locke's hand and he now used the handle to slam into Clem's temple, the man falling to the ground. "This is going to be so much fun."
Newton screamed against the cloth in his mouth. Watching Lana die had made everything so real. The last twenty-four hours had been a blur of pain and fear, with Newton trying to pretend it was just a sick nightmare the whole time. But now, there were other people here, things were happening that Newton had no control over, and pretending wasn't an option. He watched on as Clem received the same fate as him, tied up and left against the wall of the Cornucopia, whilst Locke scouted the area, checking there were no other spies or awaiting attacks. He couldn't quite believe the control Locke had here. He had enough food and weapons to last the entire games, he had control of the only water source, and two hostages that Newton had no doubt he would kill if anyone got too close. Locke was on top of the world, yet Newton could tell he still wasn't content. He knew this whole thing for the older male wasn't about control or winning or power, it was about the one thing he no longer had: his daughter. And soon, if Alfred succeeded, he would have her back as well. Then what would happen to them? It wasn't much of a quandary, Newton knew they would all die. Clem, Alfred and himself, would see the same fate as Lana. he just hoped Alfred wasn't foolish enough to come back here with Salome.
Locke reappeared, wiping Lana's blood from his knife, and Newton watched Clem's face turn white, as he fought the urge not to throw up.
"Do you know," Locke walked over to Clem, squatting down in front of him. "It took me a while to realise just exactly who you were. I knew your face, it's not one I would forget. But discovering that the Head Gamemaker was placed into the Games, now that one was a shock." He hummed, tipping backwards on his heels before pushing upwards to stand. He reached forward, quickly removing the gag made of a sock that he had placed in Clem's mouth, before doing the same to Newton. "If either of you scream, I'll kill you. And then I'll kill whoever comes to save you, okay?" The prisoners nodded frantically- they hadn't needed the warning, neither would have dared to upset Locke. "And since you love games, Mr Gamemaker." Locke strolled back to Clem, pointing the end of his spear at the man. "Let's play one now. Now Newton, I need you alive. But Clem? Why should the man that created all of this survive?"
Clem shrugged, Locke wasn't exactly wrong. He did deserve this, despite all the things he had done to try and correct it. He was the lowest of the low, someone that had thrived of pain that he had caused, towards people he had never even met. And, Mox had given him the opportunity to meet them, to explain, and whilst at first being in the Games had seemed like a punishment, which it was, he also took it as a blessing- he got to meet the tributes he had fought so hard to save, he got to fall in love with them even more. It proved to him that everything he had given up was for the right reason. These people deserved to live, and even if Clem's story ended now, he hoped theirs would continue. He glanced across at the body of Lana, the girl that had convinced him to fight, who had been his friend and his ally when she could have, and probably should have, turned her back on him. If she was dead, then he should be too.
Locke walked over to Newton, untying the boy and handing him a spear. Next, he retrieved a bow and arrow, pulling the string tight, aimed at the boy. "Oh, innocent Newton. We all saw you kill that girl on the first day." Locke snarled, and Clem could swear he saw him smirk as Newton's bottom lip began to quiver. "We all know what you're capable of. So why not do it again? Kill Mr Capitol here." He smiled, his gaze shifting to Clem, the arrow still pointed to Newton.
"No, no I can't!" Newton cried, dropping the spear. "It was an accident, I didn't mean to."
"Oh, I think you can." Locke stated simply. "Because if you can't, the second you're buddy returns, he's dead."
Newton swallowed hard. He considered stabbing himself, but that wouldn't solve anything. After he was dead, Locke would just kill Clem, and probably Alfred if he ever returned. At least this way he and Alfred would get a chance at living. This was why Newton had always preferred science. There were answers, equations, certainties. This? This was an ethical problem, one that Newton wasn't sure there was a correct answer to.
"It's okay." Clem spoke up for the first time, smiling at Newton. "You can do it, it's okay. I'm not supposed to be here, I would never have let myself win. So do it, just… make it quick." Clem paused, looking up at the sky. "Mox, if you're listening, I forgive you. And I love you. Get that farm for us, okay? I'll see you soon." He closed his eyes as the first tear fell. "Stop watching now, Mox. you don't need to see this." Clem nodded. It was time. It was over. Everything he fought for, and built and loved and lost, wouldn't mean anything anymore, it was done. He was done. "It's time." He took a long deep breath and smile, despite the cascade of tears flowing down his cheeks. Clem opened his eyes a final time to see Newton had retrieved the spear, and was now standing a few feet in front of him. He concentrated on the boy, on his innocence, picturing the life he could have if he made it out alive. He couldn't look at Locke, or at Lana, he wanted his last picture of this world to be of hope, or what could be, instead of what was.
"Oh God." Newton whimpered as he got closer to Clem. Cassia had been an accident, he hadn't meant to, he didn't think about it. This was a calculated decision, this was something he decided to do. He would have to think about the act of murder, to feel himself do it, and be conscious of it. The sooner it was over, the better. But the sooner it was over, the longer he would have to live with it. "I'm so so sorry."
"Don't be sorry." Clem closed his eyes, thinking about the trees, and the grass, and the taste of the coffee he had shared with Lana that morning. He thought of Mox and the farm and the sixteen children they would have. He thought about the smell of the goats and the pigs, and thought about the laughter of his children as they played in the fields. He thought about life. "Isn't life wonderful?" Clem mumbled, thinking so much about what could have been to notice immediately the spear that was plunged into his heart.
Newton watched on as the life drained out of Clem. He watched as still the man smiled. And finally, he watched as his steady breathing slowed to a stop.
"Now wasn't that fun?" Locke spoke, as he set about tying Newton back up. But there was something different now, the look on his face wasn't of joy or excitement, Locke almost looked broken, as if he knew he had gone too far. He knew that he had crossed a line. He wanted Salome back more than anything, but this was not the way to go about it. He had known that from the very start. But using his strength and his skills was the only thing Locke knew how to do. He crouched down next to Clem's body, retrieving something that had fallen out of his pocket. It was a letter, and despite every fibre of Locke's being telling him not to open it, he did. It was an apology written by Flynt to a friend. He smiled at how simplistic and normal it was, before tucking it into his pocket, assuming the duty of delivering it to the recipient. The first tear splashed from Locke's eye as he took in the destruction that he had caused. Two dead bodies, and a young boy so scared and fearful, probably scarred for life by what Locke had inflicted on him today.
He sank down next to Newton, shaking his head. "What the hell have I done?" Locke muttered, knowing that whatever he said or did now, it was too late to change anything.
Florence and Flynt
He had completely lost it. Flynt was stumbling about the place, swinging his axe with no real rhythm. If Florence didn't know better, she would say that he was drunk. But she did know better, he wasn't drunk, just angry and heartbroken and ready to give up. Florence accepted that, she felt exactly the same, what annoyed her was that she was forced to keep it together so they stayed alive, and he was allowed to fall apart. Losing Lya had been hard for Florence, she was the closest thing she had to a sister in here and while the images of the faces in the sky last night confirmed she wasn't dead, they knew first hand just how vast eh arena was, the hopes of them finding each other again before things got bad were foolish.
"Flynt, for God's sake. Shut up." Florence snapped, her words coming out much harsher than she had intended. Flynt had all the right to be broken, but so did Florence, she had lost Lilac too, and now more than likely Lya too. She took a deep breath, thankful as Flynt finally stopped the out of tune humming he had undertaken all morning.
It was a little over two hours since they had started walking after their nights rest under a willow tree and already Florence was tired. The physical exhaustion wasn't what was bothering her today, rather the mental one. It was the Hunger Games, she had expected loss, but the torment their group had been through was relentless, non-stop, and Florence wasn't sure just how much more she could take. Her only relief has been that she had Flynt by her side, but now even he was useless, and proving to be more trouble than help.
"I want a cheeseburger." Flynt mumbled, as Florence bagan guiding him through the even thinning forest. He was feeling almost as defeated as his ally today. They were searching for Lya, and while of course he cared about her, the only person he really wanted to find was Lilac, and that fact was impossible. The fear Flynt felt at seeing the bats yesterday wasn't because of their size or the threat they posed, it was because of the mind games. It was because the Capitol knew how to manipulate his head and torture him, without having to touch him. When he had first seen Lilac's face yesterday, it had been a moment of hope. He knew that her being alive wasn't an option, but, as stupid as Flynt felt admitting it, he had considered it was her ghost, coming to keep watch over him, make sure that he was okay. And then there were dozens of them, and the very person he loved the most in here was attacking him, his heartbreaking all over again. That was the final straw. Flynt was done. Whatever happened now would just happen, he didn't have the strength or will to fight or try and change that.
"We all do." Florence smiled at how simple a request it was. In her old life, and she assumed Flynt's too, Cheeseburgers had been a rarity, a luxury they could only splash out on on special occasions. But in here, the chances of getting one were non-existent, even the thought made her mouth water uncontrollably.
She paused, looking around the area quickly, noticing the wind change direction. Florence held her breath, squeezing Flynt's hand quickly, praying that the sudden change in atmosphere was just in her head. Flynt paused too, his moaning and occasional crying stemmed, as he scanned the area quickly.
"There's someone here." Florence hissed, pulling Flynt behind a tree. She had sensed it for a while now, that they were being followed, but was never certain. The rustling in the leaves, that she had thought was just the wind, had proved that her suspicions were correct.
"Shit." Florence mumbled, breathless as worry built within her. She allowed herself to look out from their hiding place, to see Jordan. It wasn't the weapons in his hands that scared her, rather the look on his face. He was smiling, sinister and cold, almost as if he was enjoying the chase, enjoying knowing that there were people here, terrified for their lives. "What do we do?" She hissed, knowing that Flynt would have no idea, knowing that he wouldn't be able to answer. When Florence turned to see his face, however, she was surprised to see that he was also smiling. Not in the same way as Jordan, Flynt's smile was sadder, but she was sure she saw a hint of relief there.
Flynt lent in, and kissed Florence gently on the cheek. "You know, if it wasn't for you, I would be dead by now. I would have let the bats kill me, or worse, I would have killed myself. But you would never have let that happen. So thank you." Flynt knew this was the right thing to do. Florence had not only saved his life, but his sanity, she had been a friend when he thought he was truly alone. This is what Lilac would have wanted. Flynt knew from the start that he would never make it out alive. He was no match for Locke, or Salome, or Jordan, at least this way he would go out protecting someone he cared about. Lilac had shown him the goodness that was in people, the kindness, and whilst Flynt knew he would never be a fraction of the person she was, but this made him feel closer to Lilac than anything ever would. He looked up at the sky, imagining that his girlfriend was watching down on him. "See you soon, baby." He whispered, before stepping out from their cover to face Jordan.
Jordan
When Jordan had set off that morning, it hadn't been for blood. The voice of his mother was printed in his mind for life, rather, however much of it he had left, and it reminded him just how much being alone pained him. His whole adult life he had been alone, and whilst he found the idea of only having to fend for and protect himself calming, he also regretted never having anyone to count on, to talk to after a long day of existing. Now, he had the chance to change that. Salome had offered him an alliance countless times, and although he knew it would end badly, Jordan was just about ready to take her up on it. That was why he had trekked all the way back through the forest, searching for the place they had met a few days prior, hoping to catch sight of her again.
Instead, he had run into the Seven pair. If Jordan could take down a few tributes on his search for the girl, that wouldn't be a bad thing at all.
Jordan slapped the handle of his axe against his palm, not his weapon of choice, but it was all he had, he wasn't expecting a fight today. "Come on, come one." He hummed, smiling as he noticed the figures of the two tributes in the trees. He would simply wait them out, they had to emerge at some point, and attacking them when they had the advantage of hiding would have been stupid.
The boy didn't have to wait long and soon enough Flynt was emerging from the trees, holding a trident. Jordan knew first hand how much control and skill it took to wield such a weapon, and from the way Flynt was holding it incorrectly, he assumed the boy didn't have the skill. He chuckled to himself. As long as the girl stayed hidden, this would be over quickly, and he would be back on his search for Salome in no time.
"Let's get this over with." Jordan laughed, as FLynt jabbed the trident at him, making no contact with Jordan's skin. For a second, the older man let his guard down, and Flynt got too close, the blades of the weapon slicing across Jordan's clothes, leaving three shallow cuts on his arm. He stepped backwards, cursing at his foolishness and overconfidence. It wasn't over yet, though and Flynt took advantage of Jordan's moment of weakness, slamming the handle of his weapon into the District Twelve tributes wrist, sending the axe he was holding to the ground.
Flynt hated fighting Jordan of all people. He was Lilac's friend, her district partner, and here he was, ready to kill him. This would be the last thing Lilac wanted, Flynt began to think, but it was too late now. It wasn't only his life at stake, but Florence's too, and there was no way he was letting that girl die.
"Some boyfriend you are." Jordan spat, using his fists to beat back Flynt and keep the boy at bay. "You should have protected her. You let her die."
Okay. Now Flynt felt less bad about ending Jordan. He had no right to mention her, or debate what Flynt had done, he did that enough to himself. Every second he hated himself more and more for letting her go into the Cornucopia alone, for not being there when he needed her most.
"Florence run, find Lya, I'll catch up to you later!" Flynt managed to scream still fending off a now unarmed Jordan, holding him at arm's length. Red hot rage overtook him, at the thought of Lilac ever seeing anything other than a monster in this man. "I did more for Lilac than you ever did. You left her the second we go in here. You didn't care about her or what happened to her, or you would have stuck with us." Flynt argued, as he closed his hand around Jordan's throat, hating the way he smiled as he saw his attacker fight for air.
Jordan kicked out, making contact with Flynt's kneecap, sending the man stumbling backwards, losing his grip on Jordan's throat. It was useless, however hard Flynt fought, Jordan fought harder. He was stronger and more trained, relentless and unstoppable. Flynt had known from the start that it was a useless fight. This was the end. He grabbed on to a tree to steady himself, unable to fight or do anything as he watched Jordan retrieve his weapon. Flynt turned to look at the place he had been hiding with Florence, smiling when he no longer saw her there. He sank down, sitting with his back against the tree, wounded and exhausted and ready. Flynt looked up, and nodded at Jordan as he advanced holding his axe and the trident.
Jordan angled the trident at Flynt's heart. He had meant a lot to Lilac and she had so obviously cared about him. Jordan knew the District Seven boy had to die, but he wanted to do it was quickly and painlessly as possible.
Flynt nodded once more, looking to the point of the blade and…. darkness.
Florence had run the second she saw Flynt was winning, smiling at the fact that they had escaped death this time. She heard the canon and knew she would have to wait until the evening to know if it belonged to her ally or their attacker.
Ezra
Ezra wasn't used to being alone. His life at District Six had been a constant flow of patients that came to him seeking help, even sometimes on his days off or on the way home from work. Ezra never said no. His life was dedicated to helping the poorest and most neglected members of his District, that wasn't something that had a time frame or could be stopped. And, when Ezra finally made it home, usually hours after his shift had actually ended, he wasn't alone there either. He smiled at the thought of his wife and child, hoping that they were proud of him and everything he had done so far.
Ezra would have been proud of himself, if it hadn't been for yesterday. He knew that Ronin was passed saving, but Clem wasn't. He should have stayed there and helped the man, even helped Lana work through the pain that she had been feeling. But he hadn't. He had been too scared and he had run, the decision that had left to him being so alone. Part of him felt relieved, he had no one to protect or help and look after, if he wanted to give up and break down, he could, without the thought that
The leaves that he and Ronin had placed to conceal the front of their makeshift shelter began to shake, pushed back, and Ezra's hands searched in the dark evening light for a weapon, for anything he could use to make himself look less defenceless. Like always, it would just be for show, the pact he had made with Ronin to not kill still stood strong, despite being alone now.
"I- sorry, I didn't realise there was anyone here." The figure that pushed itself through the opening muttered, before fainting, falling so quickly Ezra didn't have time to catch them or even work out who they were.
He sprung into action, setting about picking them up, laying them on the makeshift stretcher constructed by Nautilus. Even up close Ezra had no idea who this person was. Their clothes were torn and broken, covered in mud and blood. Their face was scratched and swollen, bruised beyond anything Ezra had ever seen. One of their arms was twisted backwards, broken and bent out of shape. He felt so useless, happy to have something to take his mind off the nagging loneliness but fearing that the task in front of him was a hopeless one. The person began to stir, moaning out in pain, and Ezra wondered just how long they had been stumbling about alone, and how they were still alive.
"It's okay, I've got you." Ezra whispered, running through the list of alive tributes in his head, trying to work out who it could be. The obvious answer was Lana, she had known where Ezra's hideout was, and that he could help. He paused for a second, waiting for the person to pass back out so he could set about helping their mangle arm, knowing the pain would be too much if they were awake. "I've got you." He repeated, reaching out to take the hand that wasn't damaged. What he made contact with, however, wasn't skin. "Oh my God. Lya." He stammered, placing his hand on his District partners shoulder. "No, no, no." Ezra breathed out, his words becoming more frantic and panicked. She couldn't die. They had started this together, there was no way he was letting her die.
"Ezra…" Lya mumbled, thankful that the first person she had run into had been him. Her head was still spinning, unaware of just exactly how she had made it here, or what had happened. The only thing she knew for sure, was that the pain she felt now was worse than anything she had ever felt before, worse than the car crash, worse than losing her arm. She doubted Ezra could do anything to help her, she was smart enough to know this was probably the end, but it felt good to have someone by her side as she slipped into oblivion, someone like Ezra, who had not a bad cell in his body, who would just hold her. Wait, he was moving. Lya could barely see, her eyes swollen shut, her head too dizzy to think clearly, but she knew for sure she felt his hand move from her shoulder.
"I don't know who Charles Maugham is, but he may have just saved your life." Ezra chuckled, walking back into the shelter with a sponsor package, containing one of the most equipped medical kits Ezra could ever have hoped for. He set about cleaning off Lya's face with an antibacterial wipe, smiling as she began more recognisable as herself.
Charles Maugham. Lya knew his name, why couldn't she think of who he was? Her thoughts were still foggy and she struggled around trying to picture his face. And then it came to her. She wouldn't be able to picture his face, she had never met him. "Florence's dad." She smiled, thanking him in her head, before the pain became too much, and she slipped into darkness once more.
Alfred and Salome
Alfred hadn't stopped. He had walked through the night and the morning, desperate to find Salome and get back to Newton. He didn't know the girl very well, but from the anger Locke had, he was sure that then parting ways wasn't a mutual decision, he just prayed that she was kind enough to come with him to free Newton. He doubted it. Alfred had now experienced first hand how cruel and heartless Locke was, he didn't blame the girl for wanting to get as far away from him as possible. That didn't stop him wishing she was just a little less good at hiding, that would make his life so much easier…
Salome had been watching the boy below for the last two hours. He had perhaps the worst sense of direction she had ever seen, having walked past her tree about five times. Every time he appeared, looking more and more confused, Salome had to fight back a bigger urge to laugh or call out to him. He looked harmless, and, after all, she was now focused on helping tributes, maybe sending this boy in the right direction was her first task.
A stick hit Alfred on the back of his head, and his blood ran cold. He was in no fit emotional or physical state to fight anyone, he was weak and alone, and barely knew how to even hold the weapon in his hand. The coldness quickly turned to heat, and Alfred began to think the weapon would slip out of his sweaty palms if he even attempted to use it. That thought made him smile for the briefest of seconds, just imagining the shock on his attackers face if suddenly the weapon was no longer there, but instead flying across the arena as a result of his foolishness.
His smile quickly faded as the severity of the situation represented itself. He spun around, desperately searching for the person that had attacked him. Attacked really wasn't the right word, it was only a stick after all, but that didn't stop Alfred's mind from racing, trying to work out what would be next. First a stick, then a knife, then a chainsaw, then a… well, Alfred concluded, he wouldn't really know what was next because the chainsaw probably would have killed him.
"Hey, look up, Dummy!" A female voice from above snapped Alfred from his chainsaw ridden visions, and he looked up, catching sight of Salome high in the trees. They had never been particularly close or friendly, but there was no one else in the world he would rather have seen.
"Salome!" He shouted, as he watched the girl quickly scale the tree. "I need you to come with me." Alfred continued, noticing the look of surprise on the girl's face at his sudden demands and forwardness.
"Sorry, I didn't take propositions from strange men in District Two. There's no way I'm going to start now."
A feeling of defeat washed over Alfred, this might turn out to be harder than he thought. She didn't trust him, that much was clear. And he didn't blame her, he wasn't exactly crazy about the thought of walking through the forest with a girl who was clearly more skilled and dangerous than he was. "You don't understand," He began to explain. "It's your father-"
"Let's stop right there." Salome interjected, rolling her eyes. "I watched my father threaten to kill one of my best friends. I watched him refuse to help a young girl because he would rather kill someone. I watched him murder an innocent teenager in front of her boyfriend. Whatever my father has done now, I want nothing to do with it."
Alfred's moral compass was spinning. Part of him wanted to lie, he knew it was probably the only way he would get Salome to come with him, but that was wrong. Alfred was used to facts, to not having to make decisions, part of the reason he and Newton worked- they looked at what they had, and made scientific decisions. This was the opposite of that.
"He's dying." Alfred blurted out, his brain not catching up with what he was saying. "He got shot by an arrow, and he's dying."
Salome looked up from the floor, tracing Alfred's face with her eyes, looking for any hint that he was telling the truth. "You're lying." She snapped back. "My dad would never let himself get in a position like that without killing the person who attacked him, and I haven't heard a cannon in hours."
"Your right." Alfred replied, defeat, too tired to keep the charade up. "But he has my friend, and he's going to kill him if you don't go back and talk to him." He shrugged, knowing how unfair this ask was. Salome had obviously been through a lot with her father, why should she go through more hurt to save someone she didn't know.
"You should have led with that." She answered, swinging her backpack over her shoulders. Salome's path of helping and saving tributes obviously started now. There was no more hiding or waiting for things to happen. If she wanted to be the good guy, she would have to go out there and take that spot, clearly starting with her father. "Let's go."
Tributes Graveyard
10th Place: Lana Spice (D9F)- Writing Lana's character was such a privilege. Honestly I could have written for years about her backstory and her family and her drive for winning in the Games to get home and have the money to take care of them. I liked the way she was never afraid to kill, but she also had a sensitive and loving side, and I hope it was a balance and a character that I did justice to.
9th Place: Flynt Eaton (D7M)- I had absolutely no idea how I was going to kill Flynt off until I wrote it. On the submission form it said that he was to die avenging Lilac's death, and although I didn't really do that, he kind of died trying to be more like here, and protecting their friend, so I guess that kind of works out. I loved writing his very first interaction with Florence, all the way back in their Capitol first night and it's very sad to watch him go.
Clem (Gamemaker)- I don't actually want to talk about this. Having to kill Clem off broke me so much, I love him. I think it really got to me because he was my character and he had such an in depth story line and experienced so much, ah God I loved him. Watch me write another entire fanfic about Mox and Clem's love story….
And there we have it: Newton, Alfred, Salome, Locke, Lya (ish...), Ezra, Florence and Jordan are the final eight! That's so funny to me because my original plan, that I wrote just after I had all 24 tributes submitted, so before I wrote even the reapings, looked nothing like this. It was Arbor, Nautilus, Dina, Jordan, Salome, Ronin, Hypatia and Lana. As I wrote, it kind of fell in to place the way things should go, as I got a better feel for the characters ad how they would react. Instead, the people who have mostly hid and stayed out of things have survived, because no one was really hunting tributes and people only died when they accidentally ran into each other.
I'm really rambling now, but anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and are excited for more. I think there is another day of the Games, and then a Capitol check-in, so we can see how Mox is dealing with the loss of Clem, something I am really not looking forward to writing.
Thank you for reading, and I hope everyone is well.
Until next time,
Alice xxx