CHAPTER 1.14
'There's no need to worry when
You see just where we're at.
Just please don't say you love me.
'Cause I might not say it back.'
The incessant sound of buzzing roused the Career Pack from their sleep. Panic had them wide-eyed and jumping up when they felt a sharp stinging sensation on their skin. Grabbing their weapons, Indiana and Marvel sprinted towards the lack, knowing water would be able to soothe the venom of the Tracker Jackers.
"Cato!" Glimmer shrieked, swatting at the wasp-like mutants.
Sharing a glance with Marvel, Indiana dodged the arms that tried to stop her from running back to Glimmer. The younger blonde was plastered by the swarm and so Indiana swung the girl into her back (trying to ignore her own bites) and hurried towards the lake as fast as she could. Unfortunately, Indiana only made it so far before she collapsed to the forest floor, dropping Glimmer as she went.
"Go. Lake. Go to lake." Indiana stammered out, vision becoming cloudy as the poison worked it's way through her bloodstream.
Furious yelling that belonged to Cato directed the two girls to where the rest of the Pack were. Wobbling into the clearing, the two blondes were greeted with the sight of Cato towering over Peeta's form. Blood dripped from the sword's sharp edge and veins popped out of Cato's neck and forehead. His entire body was shaking with fury.
"Cato, stop." Indiana muttered weakly, failing to push Cato away from the cowering mess from Twelve. She was too weak to do anything.
Noticing the state of his best friend, Marvel scooped her up into his arms and watched as she practically collapsed. Handing him a water canteen, Clove and Marvel began pouring cool water on to her bites, smiling gratefully when she sighed in relief and some of the colour returned to her cheeks.
"Cato, leave him alone. You've injured him enough that he'll probably bleed out. Let him die by himself." Indiana reasoned when she felt strong enough to stand.
"You don't understand. He let her get away. She tried to kill us and he let her escape."
"He loves her. I would've done the same thing."
Staring at the women he liked for a few moments, Cato turned back to Peeta with his mind made up. "If I see you again, you're a dead man. No matter what Indie says."
Hobbling off down the rocky pathway, Peeta tried to go as fast as he could with his damaged leg. It didn't matter, no one was paying any attention to him. As soon as he was gone, Cato rushed over to Indiana and pulled her from Marvel's arms.
"Are you alright?" He asked gently, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. That was when his anger got the best of him. "You dumb bitch! Why did you go back? You could've been killed!"
"I wasn't going to let Glimmer die like that. It would've been inhumane!"
"She's going to die anyway! One of us makes it out of here. One! The least you could do is try and keep yourself alive!"
"Why do you even care who lives or dies anyway?! It's just one tribute closer to you winning, right? That's all you want. To win! Fuck the rest of us, we're just doing your dirty work for you!" Indiana screeched, knowing she had taken it a step too far.
Especially when the rest of the Career Pack wandered off, knowing how volatile the situation could get. The three of them wandered down to the lack in order to refill the water canteens, glancing each other awkwardly when they could still hear the sound of yelling.
"Maybe! But it's not as if I'd ever be able to hurt you, I have feelings for you!" Cato fumed, chest heaving and nostrils flaring. He was too far gone in his anger to realise what he had said until Indiana said it back.
"Well I have feelings for you too!"
Stalking towards the small girl, he chuckled darkly when she backed up, colliding with a tree. The rough bark prevented her from escaping any further.
"Say that again," he growled, eyes dark.
"I-I have feelings for you," she stuttered, eyes wide.
"Fuck."
Their lips met but this time it was far gentler than any previous kiss they'd shared. His lips were warm and his tongue teased its way into her mouth, moaning when she responded eagerly by pressing into him. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her closer into him until their bodies were flush.
"As much as I hate to break up what I'm sure would prove to be an interesting show for Panem, we should really get moving." Clove snickered. "Other tributes may have heard the screaming match."
Blushing at their own stupidity, Cato slung an arm around Indiana's waist and followed Clove back to the group. Untangling herself from the blond brute, Indiana gave Marvel a quick hug after he handed her the bow and arrows. Some arrows were absent but she was grateful to have her weapon back, and grateful that Marvel had thought to save it for her.
"Indie, I want to thank-."
"Don't," the blue eyed beauty warned. "I was just doing the right thing. Don't make me regret it," she smiled slightly.
Glimmer smiled back with a small nod of acknowledgement.
"Clove was right. We should get moving." Marvel announced. "Should we go back to the Cornucopia? Set up camp and keep the supplies for ourselves?"
Ensuring everyone was alright and that they could endure walking with their injuries, they set off in the direction of the Cornucopia. During their travels, they encountered the boy from District Three. After numerous tears and pleading for his life, the Pack decided to keep him alive after he informed them he could rig the landmines to protect their supplies and keep other tributes out of their camp.
There were hardly many tributes left now. Both from One, both from Two, the boy from Three, Glimmer from Four, the girl from Five, both from Eleven and both from Twelve.
Eleven tributes left out of twenty-four.
"Cato, over here!" Indiana yelled to the deadly but handsome guy, who ran to her immediately.
"What? Are you okay?" He asked frantically.
It was rather sweet how concerned for her safety he was, considering the circumstances.
"Is it just me or is that smoke?" Indiana asked, pointing to the white plume coming from the west of the Cornucopia.
"Idiots." Cato muttered, the couple jogging back to inform the others and devise a plan.
"There's two fires going at the moment meaning there's two tributes out there, at least. We should split up." Clove suggested.
"Clove, you're with me. Glimmer you go with Marvel and Indie." Cato dictated, feeling better that Indiana had two people to watch her back.
However, Glimmer decided that complaining would be a better use of their time and instead of going into the forest, stayed behind to 'guard' District Three. Giving Cato a quick kiss, Indiana jumped on her best friend's back before forcing him forwards into the thick trees. As they reached the clearing of the fire, the smoke had started to clear and the pair realised the tribute was long gone.
"Marvel, look at the plant." Indiana recognised it and it's botanical properties immediately. "This was set up. We have to get back. Now!"
Screams rang throughout the forest causing Indiana to get distracted. Stopping momentarily, she decided it was best to ignore it. Taking a couple of steps, she realised that Marvel was no longer behind her.
"Marvel!" Indiana yelled frantically, running to where she had last seen him. "MARVEL!"
Following the sounds of crying, Indiana came across Rue lying in Katniss' arms, a spear embedded in her chest. Marvel's spear.
"Oh god..."
Katniss loaded her wooden, makeshift bow with one of Indiana's arrows and aimed it right at the older girl's heart.
"Wait, I'm not going to hurt you." Indiana stuttered, lowering her own bow in a show of peace. "I just want to help," she reassured, taking a step forward.
That was her first mistake.
"No." Indiana whimpered, dropping to her knees in agony. "No. No. No. NO. NO! NOOOOOOO! MARVEL!"
Crawling over to the body sprawled on the floor, she clutched it to her chest. The arrow protruding from his heart had Indiana turning away and emptying the contents of her stomach.
"You. You did this to him." Indiana glared at Katniss, her resistance to let go of Marvel's body the only thing preventing her from lunging at the girl from Twelve.
"H-he killed Rue." Katniss stuttered.
"Get away from me before I kill you." Indiana spat, staring down at Marvel's glossy eyes and watching as a tear rolled out of one.
Her heart hurt so much that she couldn't even find it in herself to care that young Rue was dead. Picking up the small girl's body, Katniss darted off into the forest. As soon as she was gone, Indiana let out a strangled gasp, her throat clogging up with emotion.
"You promised, Marvy. You promised you'd never leave me. You lied." Indiana whispered, brushing a strand of his dark hair out of his face as he struggled to get enough air into his lungs.
"I'm so sorry, Indie," he coughed out, blood trickling out from the side of his mouth.
"Please," she begged. "You can't leave me."
"I-I have to... tell you something." Marvel choked out. "I-I love yo-."
A cannon went off the same time Indiana let out a scream of pure anguish. Marvel Kentwell was dead.
"Indie?!" Cato yelled worriedly, smashing his way through the forest to get to her. "Indiana?! Baby! Where are you?"
Hysterical sobbing led Cato to the small clearing where Indiana was falling apart. Bursting through a bush, he stopped short at the sight of his girl on the floor, covered in blood. Marvel lay in her arms, eyes staring up at the sky but not seeing.
Instead of rushing to her (like his instincts demanded he do), he stood there and watched as she said her final goodbye. Soon after, Clove joined him, panting hard from rushing towards her friend. She too stood silently by the side.
"Indie, baby, I'm so sorry." Cato whispered, coming to sit by her side when he saw the hovercraft waiting for the body. "Did you see it?"
"No."
Looping his arms around her, Cato attempted to pull her up but she refused and flopped back down to the floor, clinging onto Marvel's dead body.
"Indie, we have to go. They need to take his body home." Cato reasoned.
Shaking her head hysterically, she could feel panic bubbling up inside her and pulled Marvel closer.
"They have to take him back to his parents."
Upon hearing the mention of Mr and Mrs Kentwell, Indiana sobbed harder at the thought of them watching as Marvel's life faded away. At the idea of them watching as she failed to protect him.
"I love you too, Marvy." Indiana whispered, placing a final kiss to his pale lips before releasing her iron grip on him.
Pulling the woman he cared for to her feet, Cato picked her up and carried her over to Clove and the trio watched as the crane lifted his body into the air before disappearing into the sky. Black spots filled Indiana's vision as the panic took over completely and the world turned sideways.
"Cato." Indiana rasped. "I can't breathe."
Unfortunately, she was too quiet and her head connected with the mossy ground when she fell.
Back in the Capitol, Gloss stood abruptly before launching his glass at the wall, smashed pieces littering the floor as he stormed from the room. His niece had been right; somebody had to stop the Games. Gloss had just lost the young boy he had watched grow from a toddler, and now he had to watch his niece deal with the pain of losing him on her own. She had been through so much already, she didn't deserve this.
Cashmere sank to the floor, sobbing into her hands. Marvel was gone and she was never going to see him again, never going to fix him some lunch or walk downstairs and see him and Indiana snuggled up on the sofa, laughing at each other. A million thoughts rang through her head but only one was clear.
Mrs Kentwell screeched as she watched her only son – her only child – receive an arrow to the chest. She watched as Indiana discovered his body and broke down. Marvel was gone and she would never get to see him grow old and start a family with Indiana. The way it was supposed to happen.
Mr Kentwell stared blankly at the wall, devoid of any emotion. His son was gone. Indiana had had to find him on the brink of death and hold him whilst he died, she didn't deserve that. Mr Kentwell was supposed to die before his son, not the other way around. Life was short enough as it was and Marvel's was taken away from his too soon.
District One and District Eleven never had anything in common, they were as different as possible. But, at that moment in time, they shared a similar pain. They had both lost someone and they all shared a common thought.
The Games had to be stopped.
And so, the revolution began.
'Heavy words are hard to take.
Under pressure precious things can break.
And how we feel is hard to take.
So, let's not give the game away.'
