Happy Easter to all who celebrate it! So I've officially committed to college, which is absolutely insane to me. It's so weird that I'm graduating in just a few months, time really does fly when you're in a pandemic huh? Haha anyway, let's look at some reviews from the last chapter!
Krazyasibe- I would love for her to finish the tapes but still discuss with her parents as well... like if its after school she finishes the first games and discusses and when the blackout happens how will they get their info?
I'm planning on having them learn information through the adults, if it's not being recorded on the tapes. And that can be through either Peeta and Katniss, Gale, and even Delly.
- i got the notification that you had updated your story, and i threw my phone across the room by accident...in other words, i absolutely love this story! keep up the good work (:
AH, that makes me so happy, thank you! I hope you like this chapter!
I can't believe we are already at 25 chapters, insane. Now, let's get into the story!
~Jillian
Xoxo
(Lily's POV)
You'd be surprised at how much of a nail-biter watching Katniss wait for the feast to begin really is. As far as we know, the tapes skipped forward a bit, she's been sat in the underbrush by the lake for about an hour or so. We watch silently, cringing at how violently Katniss shivers in the obviously freezing arena. And it wasn't just her.
The camera showed us what Katniss couldn't see, each of the four other tributes in their own hiding spots doing their best to ward off the cold. Finch, as clever as ever, decided to risk hiding inside the very Cornucopia by which the feast would be taking place. Thresh and Cato hide on opposite sides of the field, in the treeline, while Clove was a bit closer to the mouth of the Cornucopia and was able to hide her smaller body behind a few shrubs.
After what seems like ages, the sun begins to rise, and so does something else. The ground right in front of the Cornucopia seems to split in two, opening to let a round table covered in a white cloth up. On the table rests four backpacks, each labeled with the tributes district number: Two large black ones labeled 2, and 11, a medium green one labeled 5, and an extremely tiny orange one labeled 12.
The camera cuts quickly to each tribute in order to gauge their reactions, but before anyone can blink, Finch is up and moving.
"Oh, there she goes!" Celia gasps, a bit too excited for my taste honestly. Finch is out of the Cornucopia, grabbing her bag, and running back to the treeline before any of the other tributes even think to move.
The camera cuts back to Katniss and she looks furious with herself, no longer hesitating to jump out and sprint to the Cornucopia. But there is someone behind her.
I gasp, "It's Clove!" Just as the words leave my mouth, Clove throws one of her many knives, straight towards Katniss. As if she could hear my warning, Katniss quickly deflects the knife with her bow, and turns to shoot an arrow back at Clove, lodging it in her upper left arm.
"Ouch," Adrian says, screwing up his face, "too bad Clove throws with her right arm."
But it's enough to slow her down, giving Katniss enough time to make it to the table and grab her bag, while at the same time loading another arrow on her bow. She slips the tiny bag up her arm and turns to run, all while I'm chanting Go Katniss, come on Katniss over and over in my head.
Katniss can't avoid the second knife. It slices open her forehead and has her stumbling back a few steps. I practically leap up from my spot on the couch, sucking in air, held down only by Devin's arm which is still wrapped around me.
"Damn, I really don't like Clove, but she sure can throw," Devin comments stupidly. I scoff, pinching his side lightly. "Hey," he whines, rubbing his red skin, "what did I do?"
I ignore him, or maybe I just don't hear him, too enraptured in the horror I see on screen. Katniss misses Clove with her second arrow, blinded by her own blood, and Clove tackles her to the ground. Clove, being a well-fed and well-trained Career, quickly pins Katniss with her knees.
"Where's your boyfriend, District 12?" Clove sneers, "Still hanging on?"
"He's out there now, hunting Cato," Katniss lies, snarling up at Clove. "PEETA- !" Katniss' scream is cut off as Clove jams her fist into her throat.
"What will lying do to help? It's not like Peeta is actually out there hunting for Cato." Celia questions, turning from her spot on the floor to look up at me.
"Clove doesn't know it's a lie," the screen tells us differently though, as Clove sees no Peeta emerge from the woods to save Katniss. "Well, at least she didn't." I roll back my tense shoulders, eyes still glued to the screen as I speak, "Katniss is smart, she's just trying to buy time to think of the plan."
"Liar," Clove grins, "He's nearly dead. Cato knows where he cut him. You've probably got him strapped up in some tree while you try to keep his heart going. What's in the pretty little backpack? That medicine for Lover Boy? Too bad he'll never get it."
Celia frowns, "She's disgusting. Why are they enjoying this so much? Don't they see that it's wrong?"
"My mom told me that in certain districts it was an honor to even be a tribute in the Games," Devin speaks up, "it's likely Clove volunteered. She wanted to be here. Clove doesn't see the other tributes as people, just obstacles to her goal. In her eyes, she must be excited to be getting one step closer to winning."
"So they're brainwashed?" Adrian adds, biting his lower lip in thought.
"I guess. The way my mom talks about how her District was when she was growing up certainly made it sound that way," Devin shrugs, uncomfortable in Adrian's gaze.
"What district did you say you were from again?" Adrian asks, raising an eyebrow.
"District-"
"Guys, oh my god," Celia gasps. Katniss and Clove are grappling with each other, but once again Clove stays on top.
"Forget it, District 12. We're going to kill you. Just like we did your pathetic little ally...what was her name? The one who hopped around in the trees? Rue? Well, first Rue, then you, and I think we'll just let nature take care of Lover Boy. How does that sound?"
I feel my stomach clench at the glee in her voice, the utter pleasure she takes in mocking a girl who she plans to murder. "I think…" she looks over Katniss' face as if it were a block of wood she's about to carve, "I think we'll start with your mouth."
Katniss doesn't respond, her jaw tense as she clamps her teeth together. But the look in her eyes tells all who is watching exactly what she is thinking. Katniss is angry, no, furious, no doubt from Clove's mocking of Rue's murder and Peeta's future demise, and her eyes are practically ablaze with emotion.
"Yes," Clove responds to her own question, "I don't think you'll have much use for your lips anymore. Want to blow Lover Boy one last kiss?" Katniss moves her jaw slightly, before spitting a mouthful of blood and saliva up into Clove's face. A last act of defiance.
The cabin erupts into cheers, "Yes Katniss, Haha!" Adrian laughs.
"Her spirit is so admirable," Celia grins."
"Well, they didn't call her the girl on fire for nothing, "Devin smirks, looking at me. I feel a chill go down my spine as I smile back at him.
The Girl on Fire. There's that nickname again.
Clove's face is flushed with anger and she has apparently decided to waste no more time, "Alright then, let's get started."
Just as the whole room seems to brace itself, something amazing happens. Clove is yanked off of Katniss' body, left dangling in the air.
"Hell yeah, it's Thresh!" Adrian shouts excitedly.
And it is Thresh, Katniss' savior. He holds Clove for a second, before throwing her over and onto the ground. Katniss, in a daze, takes in the sight slowly, flinching as Thresh begins to yell.
"What'd you do to that little girl? You kill her?" Thresh has never looked more intimidating, and Clove scrambles away from him frantically.
"No! No, it wasn't me!"
"You said her name. I heard you. You kill her?" His face morphs as another wave of anger takes over him, "You cut her up like you were going to cut up this girl here?"
"No! No,-" Clove, as well as the rest of us spot the huge stone in one of Thresh's large hands. That's when she loses it, "Cato!" She screeches, for the first time sounding like the young girl she is, "Cato!"
"Clove!" He calls back, but he's too far away, all the way off in the treeline. He'd never make it. Clove knows this too, and makes a break for it. But she doesn't get two inches before Thresh is bringing the rock down on her head.
I quickly hide my face in Devin's chest, the sound of Clove's skull crack giving me goosebumps. I look back, and regret it almost instantly. The dent in Clove's skull tells us her fate, she's a goner. Disturbingly, Clove isn't quite dead, her lips releasing a low moan.
"Clove may have been a bad person, but that's still an awful way to go," Celia whispers, almost embarrassed of her sympathy.
Thresh whirls around to face Katniss, "What'd she mean? About Rue being your ally?"
"I - I - we teamed up," Katniss stutters, holding herself up by her elbows. "Blew up the supplies. I tried to save her, I did. But he got there first. District One."
"And you killed him?" Thresh demands.
"Yes. I killed him. And buried her in flowers, and I sang her to sleep." My heart lurches at the reminder of Prim's death, and I see Katniss' eyes go misty. I think I hear a sniffle coming from someone on the ground.
"To sleep?" Thresh asks gruffly.
"To death," Katniss chokes, "I sang until she died. Your District… they sent me bread." Katniss quickly reaches up to wipe at her nose, "Do it fast, okay, Thresh?"
A million emotions pass over Thresh's normally calm face, before he drops the rock. "Just this one time, I let you go," Thresh points at her accusingly, "For the little girl. You and me, we're even. No more owed. You understand?"
"Ah, so he has a weird thing about owing too, huh?" I hear Adrian mutter, only for Celia to mutter a quiet, "Adri, please."
Katniss nods, relief blooming behind her eyes.
"Clove!" The camera shows Cato, and he is much closer now, and sprinting out from the treeline.
"You better run now, Fire Girl," Thresh warns.
Katniss doesn't hesitate now, jumping up, backpack in hand, and running away from the Cornucopia and Thresh. As she runs, the camera points to Thresh. He quickly slides both backpacks onto his shoulder and runs to the opposite end of the field, heading to the area only he inhabited. Cato finally makes it the Cornucopia and is faced with both the lack of backpacks on the table and his District partner's dying body.
"Clove!" He cries, kneeling down next to her, "Clove, no!" Cato reaches down under Clove's much smaller body, and gently pulls her up to his chest. "Clove, please," Cato's voice is thick with emotion I didn't realize he possessed, "don't go…don't leave me."
The cannon goes off. Clove is dead.
Cato goes stiff, his chin trembling. Slowly, as if he can't bear to do it, Cato places Clove back on the ground, her body unmoving. Swallowing, Cato stands up, and turns around. As he begins to walk, he doesn't look back once, a furious and devastated sort of emotion plastered on his face. It's obvious what he plans to do, and the look on his face nearly convinces me he will.
Cato is going to kill Thresh. But not yet. He stalks off, back to where he came from.
The scene cuts, back to that familiar cave. Katniss is passed out, her forehead bleeding at a dangerous rate, when Peeta finally wakes up from his sleeping syrup-induced unconsciousness.
"Kat- Katniss!" His blue eyes are blown wide as he takes in the sight of her: Pale as death, and lying in a pool of her own blood. I see his mind working, racing for a solution, as he forces himself out of the sleeping bag with a painful sounding groan.
"Oh Katniss," he cries, "what did you do?" He hastily makes a grab for the medical kit Katniss left for him, pulling it over. Hands shaking slightly, Peeta washes away her blood, bandaging the wound as best he can.
"It's so cute how he cares for her, he's so gentle," Celia coos, ever the romantic.
"Ah yes, very adorable the way he washes all that blood," Devin smirks, earning a playful glare from Celia.
"Looks like he learned a thing or two when Katniss fixed him up," Adrian notes, gesturing with his head to the screen as Peeta applied a bit of the burn ointment to the cut.
As Katniss rests, the camera cuts away a few times to show us the two other tributes. Finch seems to be getting a bit desperate, running out of food, and even hope that the Games will ever end. And Cato… Cato sat stewing in front of a fire, staring into the embers. Expression unchanging, there was obviously much on his mind.
The tape skips forward once again, to the next morning. The rain from outside is dripping onto the bit of plastic Katniss placed on the ceiling of the cave. Katniss is just waking up, her head bandaged, and her small body covered in blankets. I smile slightly, seeing Peeta affectionately stroke her cheek. Seeing her eyes flutter, Peeta leans over her slightly.
"Katniss," he says, "Katniss can you hear me?"
Katniss' eyes open fully, taking in the scene. They eventually land on Peeta, and her shoulders relax just a bit, "Peeta."
"Hey," the corner of his lips quirks up slightly, "Good to see your eyes again."
"How long have I been out?"
"Not sure. I woke up yesterday evening and you were lying next to me in a very scary pool of blood," he swallows, "I think it's stopped finally, but I wouldn't sit up or anything."
"I wish I could sleep for that long," Devin snarks.
I smirk, "Oh yes, I'm sure it would be lovely to sleep for nearly a day due to a life threatening wound. Want to try?"
"Ha!" He laughs, raising his hands in surrender, "No thank you, I think you'd actually do it."
Katniss gently raises a hand to her forehead, touching the bandages, the small action having a surprisingly strong effect on her, and she suddenly seems dizzy. Peeta raises the water bottle to Katniss' lips and she drinks greedily.
"You're better," She remarks, and I have to agree. Peeta looks much better. His skin has a bit more color, and he definitely has more energy.
"Much better. Whatever you shot in my arm did the trick. By this morning, almost all the swelling in my leg was gone."
Katniss, ever practical, keeps the 'important questions' coming, "Did you eat?"
"I'm sorry to say I gobbled down three pieces of that groosling before I realized it might have to last a while. Don't worry, I'm back on a strict diet." I roll my eyes, like he needs to lose any more weight.
"No, it's good. You need to eat. I'll go hunting soon," Katniss says, and once again I roll my eyes. Do either of them know how to take care of themselves?"
"Not too soon, all right?" He asks, "You just let me take care of you for a while."
Peeta honestly revels in his new position of caretaker, feeding Katniss bits of food and keeping her warm.
"He's still like this you know," I speak up as Katniss tells Peeta about the Cornucopia. "When we were younger, Kaden and I, my parents would go back and forth while taking care of us. My mom gave us medicine, soothed our headaches, and fixed our scrapes, while dad spent his time making us comfortable and bringing us food. I mean, I'm not complaining, I was happy," I finish with a slight chuckle.
Adrian snorts, "I wish. I mean my mom took care of me, if she could get off of work, which wasn't likely. And my dad? Forget it, he's a total freak when it comes to being sick. We just had to suck it up and focus on getting better, not get comfortable in being sick. That's what he always says anyway."
"Adri, he has always had a hard time showing affection, you know that. That doesn't mean he doesn't care." Celia reminds, playing with Adrian's fingers.
Adrian shrugs.
My attention is brought back to the screen by the rising volume of Katniss and Peeta's voices.
"He let you go because he didn't want to owe you anything?" Peeta asks in disbelief.
"Yes. I don't expect you to understand it. You've always had enough. But if you'd lived in the Seam, I wouldn't have to explain," Katniss bites. I suck air through my teeth, ouch. Peeta won't like being talked down too, especially when it's not even true he's always had enough. My dad's told me a few stories about when he was a little kid, even though he was the son of a baker, some days he had to go to bed hungry.
Peeta leans a bit away from her, "And don't try. Obviously I'm too dim to get it."
"It's like the bread. How I never seem to get over owing you for that," Katniss adds hastily. Oh yea, the bread! I smile, happy with myself for remembering such an important moment of my parents' life.
"The bread? What? From when we were kids?" he asks, surprised, "I think we can let that go. I mean, you just brought me back from the dead."
"But you didn't know me. We had never even spoken. Besides, it's the first gift that's always the hardest to pay back. I wouldn't even have been here to do it if you hadn't helped me then," Katniss justifies, "Why did you anyway?"
"Why? You know why," Peeta says, looking down. I blush, grinning. Katniss shakes her head slightly.
"He loves you, you idiot!" I yell at the screen. Seriously, how can anyone be this inept when it comes to emotions. Leaning back into my spot, I feel the eyes of my friends on me. Turning my head, all three of them have shit-eating grins on their faces. "Shut up," I scoff, "you know it's true."
"Haymitch said you would take a lot of convincing," Peeta admits.
"Haymitch?" Katniss asks, "What's he got to do with it?"
"Nothing. So, Cato and Thresh, huh?" Peeta says, changing the subject, "I guess it's too much to hope they'll simultaneously destroy each other?"
Katniss almost looks upset at this thought, "I think we would like Thresh. I think he'd be our friend back in District Twelve."
Ah, what could have been. Is it possible that if life had been back then what it is today, where you can travel the districts freely, and have more options for your life and what you do with it, is it possible Thresh, Peeta, and Katniss could have been friends? It hurts my heart to think it could be true.
"Then let's hope Cato kills him, so we don't have to," Peeta mumbles grimly.
At this, Katniss looks up, and you can see the devastation and exhaustion clear as day in her silver eyes, which are now shining with tears.
"It must be awful to be surrounded with so much death…" Celia notes, leaning against Adrian's chest.
"What?" Peeta asks, suddenly concerned, "What is it? Are you in a lot of pain?"
"I want to go home, Peeta," Katniss answers, voice breaking slightly.
I keep forgetting, somehow, that this Katniss is only sixteen years old, barely older than me. And already, even before being in the Hunger Games, she has been through so much, seen so much pain and death. And then to be thrown into an arena… there's only so much a person can take.
"You will. I promise," Peeta says, leaning down and giving her a kiss. I still smile and the sound of Celia's small squeal of happiness.
"I want to go home now."
"Tell you what. You go back to sleep and dream of home. And you'll be there for real before you know it," Peeta promises, "Okay?"
"Okay," Katniss whispers, "Wake me if you need me to keep watch."
"I'm good and rested, thanks to you and Haymitch," He assures, "Besides, who knows how long this will last?"
"What will last?" Devin asks us, only to get a small shrug in response.
The tape cuts forward again, still showing us Katniss and Peeta, only later in the day. I guess nothing interesting has happened between the other tributes yet. They've eaten a bit, obviously not enough, and have been discussing some of the other tributes, specifically Thresh and his hiding spot.
"Maybe there is a bread bush in that field," Katniss jokes, "Maybe that's why Thresh looks better fed now than when we started the Games."
"Either that or he's got very generous sponsors, I wonder what we'd have to do to get Haymitch to send us some bread?" Peeta asks, Katniss raising her eyebrows at him confusedly.
I see the thoughts behind Katniss' eyes, and I frown, knowing she's thinking about that stupid act. My eyes are drawn to the strategic way she grabs his hand, "Well, he probably used up a lot of resources helping me knock you out," Katniss smirks mischievously.
"Yeah, about that," Peeta starts, lacing their fingers together, "Don't try something like that again."
"Ooo, someone's mad," Adrian teases, making us all giggle.
"Or what?" Katniss asks.
"Or...or.." Peeta draws a blank, making me laugh, "Just give me a minute."
"What's the problem," Katniss asks with a wide grin.
"The problem is that we're both still alive. Which only reinforces the idea in your mind that you did the right thing," Peeta lectures.
"I did do the right thing." Oh, there's that stubbornness shining through.
"No! Just don't, Katniss!" Peeta reaffirms, voice genuinely angry. All the levity, both on-screen and in the cabin disappears. "Don't die for me. You won't be doing me any favors. All right?"
The cogs are turning in her minds again, "Maybe I did it for myself, Peeta, did you ever think of that? Maybe you aren't the only one who… who worries about… what it would be like if… " She finishes in a mumble, obviously romantic talk didn't come easy to her at sixteen. She's better at it now…
Peeta holds her gaze, "If what, Katniss?" He asks softly.
Something flickers in Katniss' eyes, a crack in the mask. I see the look I recognize in my mom, the real genuine feeling.
But she avoids it, "That's exactly the kind of topic Haymitch told me to steer clear of."
"No, come on!" Celia whispers, and I see her gripping Adrian's hand excitedly, Adrian's head resting contently on her shoulder.
But Peeta isn't going to drop this, "Then I'll just have to fill in the blanks myself." Moving close to her, they finally share a kiss where one of them isn't literally knocking on death's door. And boy, can you tell. It goes on for a second too long for my taste, and I turn my face into Devin's chest, him chuckling at my reaction.
"I think your wound is bleeding again," Peeta notes, effectively ending the kiss, "Come on, lie down, it's bedtime anyway."
The two of them settle down for the night, holding each other in a position that is so familiar to me, it's eerie: Katniss resting her head against him, one of Peeta's arms wrapped protectively around her. She relaxes instantly, actually having trouble keeping her eyes open. Just before she drifts off, Katniss whispers, "Tomorrow, when it's dry, I'll find us a place so high in the trees we can both sleep in peace."
It's still raining when they cut to the next day, but we are no longer in the cave. Cato is on the move, armed with his blade and a furious disposition.
He follows the direction Thresh went, into the grassy field, never once stopping for a break, even as he sprints. After what must have been an hour or so of trekking, Cato catches sight of Thresh through the grass, as do we. He's sitting, tensely, over a covered fire as he slowly cooks a small animal over dying embers. Cato breaks through the tall grass, running full speed until-
"Ah!" Celia screeches, flinching violently when Cato tackles Thresh to the ground, dropping his weapon in his excitement. Thresh grunts loudly as he hits the ground, but doesn't waste a moment to grab onto Cato's arm, pinning it under him. Thresh turns to grab his own weapon, a blade in similar length to Cato's, when Cato hooks his free arm around Thresh's neck.
"Let go!" Thresh huff, clawing at Cato's forearm, leaving deep, bleeding cuts.
"You wish!" Cato roars, turning them over so Thresh was now the one with his back to the dirt. Cato leans down into Thresh's face, "You killed her! You murdered her!"
Thresh coughs out a sort of laugh, "District two girl?"
"Clove! You killed Clove! She was supposed to live!" Cato, consumed by his anger, can hardly hold back any longer, and punches Thresh in the temple so hard it splits his eyebrow. "We were supposed to win this together!"
Thresh slams his own forehead into Cato's face, a small crack sounding out.
"Damn!" Cato falls back, raising a hand to his now bleeding nose. His furious blue eyes look up to Thresh, who now stands free over him.
"You accuse me of murder when you've done that very thing to multiple people in here! Children! You kill! And you enjoy it!" Thresh stalks over to him, grabbing Cato's shirt collar. "You deserve death!" Thresh pulls back his arm, punching Cato directly in the gut, stealing his breath from him. Lifting Cato up is an amazing feat, but Thresh manages, lifting and throwing Cato away from him.
Dazed, Cato lifts his bleeding and bruised body off the ground, and watches as Thresh begins to circle him. "You talk a big game, eleven, but you've had to kill just as much as I have in order to get this far," Cato sneers.
"You're wrong," Thresh growls, "Not everyone needs to kill to win, you know this-"
"Where is the glory in merely surviving!?" Cato yells, rising from the dirt, "You need to earn your place! You need to take it!" He has a crazed look in his eyes just then, a glint. He's losing it. Cato grabs his blade off the ground, where it had been resting about a foot from himself. "And now, that's exactly what I plan on doing!"
At his last word, Cato lunges forward, swinging his sword wildly at Thresh, and dodges at the last moment. Thresh stumbles through the grass, searching desperately for his own weapon, while at the same time trying to avoid Cato's swings and stabs. A dodge to the left, duck, tripping and recovering, barely missing getting slashed. Finally, he spots it, a glint of metal shining in the rain. His fingertips have just barely grazed it's handle, when Thresh suddenly freezes, gasping. His hands shakily move up to his rib cage, right under his breast bone, where a dark spot slowly begins to grow in size.
The four of us gasp, Adrian's sounding the most distraught. The sound of Cato pulling his sword out of Thresh's back rings in my mind, making me nauseous. Thresh collapses to his knees, barely holding himself up as he begins to bleed up
"I have only done what needed to be done to win, Thresh." Cato admits, walking in front of Thresh to speak directly to him. "But this…" He whispers, his face mere inches away from Thresh's, "this was for Clove." Cato holds his blade out, watching as the rain washes the blood off of it. "You were right, I did enjoy this."
Thresh glares up at Cato, as silent and strong as ever, before falling to his side. The canon goes off, and we are left with the haunting image of Thresh staring up into the raining sky, eyes lifeless and empty.
Xoxo
I hope you guys liked this chapter, just a few more to go before we are done with the tapes! Make sure to leave a review and let me know what you think, and follow to keep up with any updates. The next chapter should be up by April 17th!