CHAPTER 1.12
'There are plenty ways you can hurt a man.
And bring him to the ground.
You can beat him.'
Harsh sunlight attacked her eyes, blinding Indiana temporarily as blinked rapidly waiting for them to adjust to the new lighting. Placed in the middle of the Tribute Stands, the Cornucopia gleamed like a deadly trophy, reflecting sunlight into the tribute's eyes.
Glancing around at her surroundings, Indiana noticed Peeta Mellark was stood two places to her left, face contorted in pure terror. Little Rue was five to her right. Following her gaze, Indiana noticed she had her eyes trained on a pack lying near the mouth of the Cornucopia. Rue caught her gaze and Indiana shook her head, warning the young girl not to go through with the deadly plan. Sighing with relief when Rue nodded in understanding, Indiana turned her attention back to the game at hand. Much to her worry, she was unable to spot either of her allies. They must be situated on the other side of the Cornucopia.
5!
Goodbye District One.
4!
Goodbye Aunt Cashmere and Uncle Gloss.
3!
2!
1!
GO!
Legs moving faster than her mind, Indiana's body hurtled towards the silver bow and arrow lying at the edge of the metal shelter, Indiana snatched a pack of knives as she passed. Sliding one out for protection until she reached the arrows, she threw the rest of the pack to Clove when the younger girl entered the Cornucopia. Quickly pulling one out, Clove jammed it into the neck of the nearest Tribute.
It only took ten minutes before the Bloodbath was over; not too long but not too quick. Any of the remaining Tributes had fled the area near the Cornucopia, leaving it in the hands of the Career Pack.
Rummaging through the stash of supplies, Indiana discovered another pack of daggers and some water canteens. Stalking over to the small girl, Cato immediately began checking her over for any sign of injury. Assured that the blood on her skin didn't belong to her, he pecked her on the lips before wandering back to the others, leaving her bemused and stunned.
"Start looking for some sleeping bags, We're going to need them." Indiana yelled to whoever could hear her.
In the distance, someone replied with a simple, "okay."
"What do we even need sleeping bags for?" A nasal voice asked as Indiana wandered over to the group that had gathered in the opening of the Cornucopia.
Face scrunching in confusion (but it looked more like disgust), Indiana saw that the annoying, female tribute from District Four had joined the Career Pack.
"Because, you idiot, we need to stay warm during the night." Clove deadpanned, rolling her eyes at the lack of basic survival skills.
Thankfully, she was given an excuse to walk away when Indiana pulled out a pack of daggers and they had to assess which ones they wanted.
"What the hell is she doing with us?" Indiana whispered furiously to Clove. The Games had only started 15 minutes ago and the girl from One was already angry and frustrated.
"She took down a tribute that attempted to attack Cato, and so the guys decided she was Career Pack material, I guess."
"You mean they decided they liked the look of her." Indiana scoffed in disgust.
Sniggering at the comment, Clove snatched a knife out of Indiana's hand before replacing it with one that was a better fit for the length of her arm. Once they were satisfied that the daggers had been divvied up correctly, the two girls turned back to the ongoing conversation between the other three.
"But, can't we just start a fire?" Glimmer asked, watching as the two men of the Pack searched through the crates of supplies.
"Be my guest." Indiana said cheerfully, plastering on an angelic smile.
Clove choked on snuffled laughter.
"Play nice, Indie." Cato reprimanded before turning back to Glimmer. "No, you can't start a fire because the other tributes will be able to pinpoint your location and they will kill you."
"No offence, Glitter, but why are you even here? If I recall correctly, you only received a 6 in your evaluation. That's not exactly Career Pack material." Indiana stated.
"It's Glimmer! And Cato wants me here, don't you, Cato?"
Instead of responding, Cato acted as if he hadn't heard the question, gazing up at the artificial sky and pretending as if he was interested in the faint moon that had begun showing itself.
Scoffing at the immature behaviour, Indiana stalked off and began setting up camp in the Cornucopia with Clove. Realising it was the best use of their time, the other three followed suit and set up their sleeping bags near the two girls.
"As soon as we know who's left, we should make a move. Some of the tributes will be desperate enough to come back and try and pick us off." Indiana explained, refusing to look at any of them except Clove.
"Who put you in charge?" Glimmer said haughtily. "I think Cato should be in charge."
Running a hand over her face, Indiana imitated Glimmer's tone of admiration. "Fine. Oh, great and mighty leader, what do you think we should do to ensure we survive the night?"
Both Marvel and Clove smirked, shoulders shaking with silent laughter but Cato ignored her and just agreed with her plan.
Wrapping themselves up in their sleeping bags when the temperature began dropping slightly, the Career Pack waited for the faces of the dead to appear in the night sky.
As the Capitol's anthem faded out, the face of the last tribute to die disappeared from the night sky. This year, the Gamemakers had decided to place information about the fallen tribute beside the face e.g. their name, their District, how they had died and who had killed them. Releasing a breath she hadn't realised she was holding, Indiana was relieved to discover that Rue had survived the Bloodbath, and the first day of the Hunger Games. Surprisingly, so had District Twelve.
"Interesting." Glimmer mused, humour in her voice.
"What's so interesting about a bunch of children murdering each other?" Indiana's cheeks flamed as she resisted the urge to jam an arrow in one of the other girl's arteries.
"That's not the interesting part. It does make for a good show though."
Cato dashed forward to restrain Indiana when she chuckled wryly, seeing that was about to leap at the woman. Luckily, he released her once he felt her body relax in his arms.
Feeling slightly guilty at tricking him, Indiana didn't hesitate to notch an arrow and let it fly at her target before anyone had the chance to react. Nobody dared breathe as the arrow whizzed past Glimmer's ear and lodged itself in a bag of apples. The rope of the bag split, which caused apples to burst everywhere. The arrow had reached its target.
"What the hell?! You could've killed me! Cato!" Glimmer screeched.
"Trust me, if she wanted you dead, you would be. Indie shot exactly where she meant to." Cato cut off Glimmer's screams.
The blonde looked crestfallen until Marvel came to her rescue, hurting Indiana in the process as he soothes the hysterical girl.
"Stop being such a bitch, Indiana. Apologise. There was no need for that."
Not once has Marvel ever called Indiana by her full name, not even during their moments of minor, pathetic arguments.
"She's the one who wanted a good show." Indiana spat.
Marvel didn't even acknowledge the fact that she'd spoken. Perhaps their friendship truly was over.
"I want to go after the girl from Twelve." Cato stated loudly, having recognised that Katniss Everdeen was clearly sneakier than she looked if she had made it this far.
Stopping their conversation, Clove and Indiana glanced up at him waiting to hear the details of his plan. Marvel and Glimmer were nowhere in sight, which had Indiana narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
"I agree with you. Her test scores were too high for her to be brushed off as weak." Indiana nodded. "Where are the terrible two?"
"They're looking for the packs around the outside of the Cornucopia." Clove informed the blonde couple.
"That makes perfect sense. You know, because the dark doesn't impair their vision or anything. Clove, do you mind letting them know we're leaving soon, please?" Indiana smiled at the younger girl, their friendship having grown stronger over the day.
"Of course," said Clove, skipping out of the Cornucopia and leaving Cato and Indiana alone for the first time since that morning.
Silence settled between the two as Cato debated whether he should something and what would be the appropriate thing to say. Thankfully, he was saved that choice when Indiana spoke instead.
"Why did you let her join us?" Indiana asked, looking Cato in the eye just to watch him squirm. "She doesn't have the basic skills, she doesn't have basic knowledge of weapons and she's going to get herself killed. Or worse, one of us!"
"She was willing to save my life," defended Cato.
"Probably so she could shag you."
"Good thing I have no desire to shag anyone other than you then!" Cato shot back, his own anger getting the best of him.
Staring at each other, chests heaving and nostrils flaring, before they reach for each other. Wrapping his arms around her, Cato pulled the blonde into his chest smiling when she wound her own arms around his neck. Pressing their lips against the others, both of them smiled into the kiss.
"You drive me crazy," he whispered against her lips.
"You're an ass."
The sound of a throat clearing had the pair disentangling their limbs and pulling apart, turning around to face the other three members of the Career Pack. Clove stood there with a smug smile on her lips (she knew what had happened the night before with the pair of them due to the fact that she saw Cato leave and come back). Marvel refused to look at Indiana, remembering what he had witnessed the night before and Glimmer just looked dejected.
Strapping her bow and arrow to her back, Indiana strode past the lot of them with her head held high and into the forest, Clove by her side and Cato swiftly following behind. Reaching the tree line, Clove realised that the other two were lagging behind.
"Are you coming? Or do you plan on staying there until someone murders you?" Clove snickered.
Gathering their senses, Marvel and Glimmer hurried to catch up with the Pack as they ventured into the thick, dark forest. Walking through the trees, they stumbled upon a lost tribute from Twelve. Just not the one they were hunting. After some strangling, threatening and arguing, Peeta had managed to convince the majority of the Career Pack that he also wanted to take down Katniss Everdeen – just as much as they did, apparently. However, Indiana wasn't entirely convinced so she volunteered to be the one to 'guard' him. The involuntary twinkle in his eye when he spoke her name showed Indiana that his feelings for his district partner were real.
'Another one bites the dust.
Another one bites the dust.
And another one gone,
And another one gone.'
