Breaking Point Sextet V
Love: The 75th Hunger Games
Chapter Thirty
The Bloodbath
A/N: This is it, folks! The beginning of the Games! From here, in only a few short days, only [error: code Rebel] of the Tributes will survive! Place your bets and strap in!
Warning/Disclaimer: I still don't own the Hunger Games, despite my efforts to have Paramount adapt this series into a million-dollar blockbuster. Nevertheless, I continue to write about them, and they feature violence and death, as does this chapter in particular. You have been warned. Now, without further ado… let the Games begin!
As all of our brave Tributes rise into the Arena, they look around them, most assessing the Arena and the tactical situation, many communicating with their allies about the plans they were quickly forming via hand gestures.
The Arena before the Tributes' eyes is a rather standard one, certainly not one that would win the Gamemakers any creativity awards. But this year, the Arena does not need to be special, seeing as nearly everyone in this Arena has a deep emotional attachment with at least one other person in the Arena. Still, the forests surrounding the clearing of the Cornucopia look thick enough that Tributes who manage to get into it will likely be safe from pursuit. There's a ridge to the North that could afford someone an excellent view of the Cornucopia, perfect for ambush planning, and the faint sounds of a river on the West.
The platforms are separated from the Cornucopia with a moat, with thin bridges of land crossing it by every platform.
Caesar Flickerman's voice rings out through the Arena and television sets across Panem. "Welcome, Tributes and citizens, to the Seventy-Fifth Annual Hunger Games! You know our Tributes, you know the Game they are about to play, so without further ado… the Games shall begin in sixty seconds!"
The Tributes continue to communicate silently as the clock ticks down. "Thirty."
The Tributes turn their attention to the Cornucopia, attempting to be ready to run when the time comes, without shifting their weight too much, lest a landmine goes off. "Fifteen."
Nearly all of the Tributes feel nervous now. "Ten."
"Five. Four. Three. Two. One." Dong!
Mazie Miller –13- -D9- POV
I see a bag inside the Cornucopia, it looks like it has plenty of supplies in it. I know Harvey and Nira don't want me taking risks, they just want to get their supplies and get out, but I think I can get it. Shouldn't take long. I run in, towards it. As I'm about halfway there, I hear Nira's voice shouting at me.
"Mazie!" She shouts, and I look back to see her running toward me at full speed. Hmm, I wonder why.
Nira Telatto POV
Okay, time to get going, I see a sword by me. I'm not great at it, but I can probably manage. A quick run later, and I have a sword in hand. Now, to see where Mazie and Harvey – oh no. Mazie is going into the Cornucopia! And one of those careers has spotted her, and he's got a trident!
"Mazie!" I shout, running towards her. I need to get her out of there, away from that career boy. She stops to look back at me, but the career also heard me, and he changes from walking to running at her.
Hal Maui POV
There was a trident right by my platform, convenient. Well, right by my platform, inside the Cornucopia, that is. After picking it up, I see the girl from Nine, not even halfway to the Cornucopia – she's slow. She'll… be an easy kill. Ah, I don't want to kill her – but I need to. I start heading her way, if I walk, I should be able to intercept her just when she gets there and -
"Mazie!" I hear another girl shout, and I look over. It's the girl from Eight, and she's got a sword, and she's heading this way. Clearly to protect the Nine girl. I guess it will be a fight, after all. Although, I might be able to get to the Nine girl before the Eight one gets there. I start running.
Mazie Miller POV
Huh, I wonder what she – oh, there's a career coming towards me! I need to get that bag! I take off running again.
Hal Maui POV
The girl is running… towards me? Is she an idiot? But the Eight girl seems to have picked up her pace as well. I'll focus on the Nine girl, but if I can't get her before Eight gets here, I'll take care of her first, she's certainly a bigger threat.
Nira Telatto POV
D—nit, Mazie! Well, there's no getting her out of there now, not without a fight. If she goes back, the career will catch her all the same. I pick up the pace.
Mazie Miller POV
Yay! I got the bag! Now, just to head back. I turn around and see – the career, almost right on top of me, trident ready to stab.
Hal Maui POV
It looks like I did get to the Nine girl before Eight did. I go to stab her with my trident, bringing it forward, where it – collides with a sword. I look over to see, to no one's surprise, the Eight girl.
"Hey," she says. "Pick on somebody your own size. Mazie, run!"
The Nine girl starts to do as she's told, as I disengage my trident from her sword and take a step back. Let's see, she's not holding that blade correctly, she doesn't really know how to use it. Shouldn't be much of a – I hear more footsteps! I turn my head for a second to look at them – and see the Eight boy heading my way with a knife at high speed.
Cambric Frymith POV
I need a weapon, first. There's a knife not far off. Good, got that. Now, to make sure Nira's safe, she should – my goodness, she's trying to fight a career! Let's see, I shouldn't just rush in – I'm no help if I'm dead. I'll go around the side a bit, get him from there. I head around a little bit, knowing that Seven and Six won't kill me, and I see them fleeing as I high tail it into the Cornucopia and around the bend that had hopefully hidden my advance from the career. There he is, and I have a good stab into his side. Although, he sees me, and he's bringing his trident around to block. That's fine, I just need to move – down – a little. I move down and – feel three sharp points of pain through my chest as his trident pierces it. Guess I didn't dodge fast enough.
Hal Maui POV
I rotate my trident around from facing the girl to the boy, since he's the more immediate threat, and ready it so that if he continues, he'll impale himself. He tries to dodge – but it's not enough. I pull my trident out of his body, letting it fall to the floor, and turn to the face the girl again – as I feel her slam into me from the side.
Nira Telatto POV
Cambric! I guess he was serious about the whole protecting me thing - a bit creepy still, but I can't say no for the assist. As the career turns to face him, I take a swing at the career's side – and miss. He wasn't even trying to dodge! I guess I am just that bad. Fine, I guess I'll – oh my goodness. I had thought Cambric was going to pull back, but no… he's… he's… dead… because he was trying to protect me… I see his lifeless eyes for a second as his body falls… I… wait, I need to focus. That can't be me!
The career is turning to face me again, he'll no doubt skewer me with that trident if I let him – well, this sword won't be any use… what options do I have? I guess… I'll remove his advantage, at least, if I can. I jump at him, trying to tackle him to the ground, and – I catch him off balance, and we fall to the ground, me on top of him. I start to hit him wildly, scratching my fingernails across his face after I do.
Hal Maui POV
Darn it! The girl managed to knock my trident out of my hand, and now she's on top of me, pummeling my face! And those nails hurt! Fine, you want to fight dirty? I can't risk opening my eyes, lest her nails get them, but I can fight back.
I reach up a hand, grasping around until I find her hair. Then I pull. She screams, and the scratching stops momentarily. Good. I raise my other hand and give a punch at about where her face should be. I think I hear her nose break. Good. Now, if I can roll over, I can crush her and – I feel a pain in my nose!
Nira Telatto POV
I think he just broke my nose! And he had the audacity to pull my hair! Fine! I pull my head away from his grasp, tearing out some of my hair in the process, and bite the first thing I can find – his nose. That should give me time for another punch, one to the neck, I think. I punch him in the neck, and he gasps as his body convulses. Good, now time for another – I feel a sharp pain through my back, then my chest, and look down a bit to see a sword poking through it.
Hal Maui POV
This – girl – is – insufferable! Who bites a nose? And now she's hitting my windpipe, I… can't… breathe… I… I hear a soft 'oh' sound, and I feel a wetness on my chest. The next punch doesn't come, and I warily open my eyes to the girl's very dead face, as a sword is pulled out of her chest, and then she's pushed off me. I look up to see – Foxtrot.
"Hey, Hal," he says. "Looks like you needed some help." He offers me a hand up.
"Uh… yeah, thanks," I respond, taking his hand and leveraging myself up, then grabbing my trident from the floor. "That girl was crazy."
He nods. "Looked like it." He looks at the two dead bodies on the floor. "The other one you?" I nod. "Hmm," he says. "Well, no chance for District Eight…" he looks around. "I think they've run off by now. Come on, let's go talk to the others. And get you cleaned up."
I nod and follow him.
Foxtrot Suevite POV
After grabbing a sword from inside the Cornucopia, I look over, to see Cadence still next to me.
"Sticking around?" I ask her.
"Nope," she responds. "But I know you're too much of a coward to kill me. Now, I'll be going before your friends stop being busy." She darts off, at top speed… darn, she's fast. And watching her run away isn't too bad… ah, I should see if anyone needs help. Walking a bit, I see – Hal, on the ground, in an extremely primal fight with the Eight girl. Like, his face is all scratched up, he's holding a clump of her hair and she – bites his nose! WTF?
I pick up the pace as she starts to hit his neck, because, well, that could kill him, and I'd rather not lose an ally this quickly. Especially not the only one who isn't crazy. Luckily, the girl doesn't seem to hear me coming, and I simply stand above her, making sure I have the right positioning to make this a quick death rather than slow and painful, before plunging my sword into her.
Mazie Miller –13- -D9- POV
I look back at the Cornucopia when I'm a safe enough distance away, to see… Nira's dead body being tossed off the career by another one like so much dead meat. Oh no… I got her killed, didn't I? I look down at the bag I got. Hopefully, it was worth it.
"Mazie! Mazie, c'mon, we gotta go!" Harvey shouts as he runs up to me. "I… saw, Nira. Let's go."
I nod and follow him into the woods.
Harvey Miller –18- -D9- POV
I look around for anything I can use when the gong rings. I see a scimitar not too far away. Not exactly a scythe, but it'll do. I go over and grab it, and then look around for anything else I can use – and to make sure that Mazie has escaped like we just agreed she would – I see her running from the Cornucopia – wait, did she go in?! And… oh no, Nira's in there, fighting a career, maybe I can help! I start running towards her, but as I watch, I see the Two boy appear and skewer her from behind. Oh… oh no… already… not Nira… I need to go, I and Mazie need to go. Where is she? There she is.
"Mazie! Mazie, c'mon, we gotta go!" I shout at her.
Cadence Fellows –18- -D2- POV
I head into the Cornucopia, knowing Foxtrot will give me the time to take what I need, and grab myself some sais, a dagger, a throwing knife, a survival kit, and some rations before taking my leave.
Nerys Pacifica –18- -D4- POV
I… I guess I need to get a weapon and leave… Hal's friends will kill me if I don't… ugh. I just need a knife and some supplies, really, ideally some throwing knives. Looking around, I see a pack of throwing knives near me, a regular knife closer to Hal, and some supplies also by his platform. Well, he's already charging into the Cornucopia, so those should be free grabs, I guess… I run over, take them, and then run off into the woods. No use sticking around with people who want to kill me, I suppose… although I won't go far.
Elara Sora –14- -D3- POV
Yuna and I had already identified what we needed from around us, so as soon as the gong goes off, I make a dash for a medical kit and a dagger nearby, grabbing them and looking to Yuna, who also has her stuff. We run off to our rendezvous point with the boys.
Yuna Odalis –14- -D3- POV
I grab my half of our things – a backpack that looks fairly stuffed, hopefully with something useful for trap construction and some throwing knives for myself, and then hightail it with Elara to our rendezvous point with Cedar. And Remington too, of course.
Rowan Mildberg –18- -D7- POV
Looking around, I spot an ax and a small bag. The girls were supposed to take care of medical supplies, and food if they could find it, but I'm sure whatever is in this bag won't hurt. I grab it, as well as the ax, and look to Cedar, who has also found some things. We take off running towards our meeting point with the girls.
Cedar Mildberg –15- -D7- POV
I look around and see a survival kit, some rope, and a dagger nearby. I grab all of that, then take off running with Rowan towards Yuna. And Elara. Once we meet them, the four of us hightail it out of there.
Daisy Brownstone –15- -D5- POV
I grab a dagger that was near me and a small bag before running into the woods with Mattie.
Matilda "Mattie" Edlington –17- -D5- POV
Listening to my better instincts, I grab both the dagger nearby and the sword a bit further, as well as the survival kit, before scramming with Daisy.
Seras Axis –15- -D6- POV
I grab a dagger that was nearby and then look around a bit more. Stealing things is easy, even if normally people aren't actively trying to kill me while I'm doing so – although they would if I was caught. Ah, there's a survival kit nearby. I grab that and then run with Rem to meet the other two.
Remington Axis –18- -D6- POV
I grab a nearby sword and a survival kit before following Seras to our rendezvous point with Avery and Angelo.
Emilene Avery Osiria –18- -D12- POV
I need a weapon. And I need to kill Angelo. This is likely the easiest time to pull it off, without it being obvious that I planned it, and without putting myself at risk. I don't trust Seras and Remington, but I know that Angelo will take the first opportunity to kill or abandon me that he can. Let's see… yes! There's a large backpack inside the cornucopia.
"Angelo," I say in my best lover's voice. "Go grab that bag, will you? I'll grab myself a weapon and whatever else I can find out here."
Angelo looks at me, he knows I hope he meets a career in the Cornucopia. But he also thinks he stands a chance. And he knows he can't easily say no without being suspicious. "Sure, Avery. Be right back."
Angelo Kilkenny POV
Well, Emilene wants me dead, and she's hoping that it'll be death by career. I can get in and out quick enough though, or if I see a career, I can abandon the bag with a good enough reason for the cameras. Simple. Although, as I enter the Cornucopia, I don't see any career – scratch that. Hello, blonde crazy from One idly walking around and into me. Time for me to leave, although she's seen me, and she has throwing knives. Crap. She also has a sword, which she draws now – but if I leave while in her line of sight, I'm dead. Well, I guess this is just like a brawl, then, except I don't have a Molotov cocktail, only a dagger, and she has a pointy stick with a longer reach than mine. Well, I've had worse fights before. I pull my dagger.
"You've got one chance to surrender," I tell her.
She snorts. "To you? Please." Ah, worth a try. Although… where's her sister? She's gotta be around somewhere.
Lamè Lunzdior POV
Ah, the boy from Twelve. I had been worried there might not have been action for me and Velvet, but there is. I heard him coming, and sent her around behind him – and there she is now, coming around quietly with her mace ready. This should be easy.
Avery Osiria POV
Hmm. Angelo is surrounded by the two girls from One. I suppose perhaps I should rush in to save him, but I don't fancy my odds. Also, y'know, I'd like him to die. Of course, I need to pretend to try to help get him out of this situation I knew very well I'd get him into.
"Behind you!" I shout, warning him of the second career girl's presence.
Velvet Lunzdior POV
The boy risks looking away from Lamè to check what his girlfriend said, and sees that I do indeed exist. Indeed, I do exist, and I finally get to fight with my sister. So far it doesn't seem like it'll be hard.
Angelo Kilkenny POV
They have me flanked. This is… bad. If I run, blonde crazy takes me out with a throwing knife. If I fight her, redhead crazy smashes my skull in with that mace. If I fight her then blonde crazy slices my head off. No good options. At least Emilene warned me of redheaded crazy's presence, but I somehow doubt she actually cares that much. I start to back up slowly, maybe I can get both of them in front of me, then I stand a chance. The blonde swings at me, and I parry her.
"Left!" Emilene's voice shouts. Instinctively, I take a step left, just avoiding a swing from the redhead's mace. Huh. She didn't have to do that… maybe I'm valuable to her for a little longer than the Bloodbath, then.
Avery Osiria POV
Well, I can give him a little more help… he actually might win the fight with these two girls, I doubt it, but he might. Of course, my help will help him to not, although if he manages to take out one girl on the way, even better.
Angelo Kilkenny POV
Okay, let's see, maybe I can do this. I faint towards the blonde girl, and then quickly whirl around to slice the redhead across the stomach with my dagger. She winces, and her flinch gives me an opening to strike at her again, this time though I only manage a cut on her arm. Both are shallow, not even life-threatening. Bad, but it's a start.
"Duck!" Emilene shouts. I duck, and the blonde's sword swings over my head. Interesting. I faint towards the redhead again, and instead attack the blonde, although she blocks me.
Lamè Lunzdior POV
Hmm, he's actually kind of good. I feel bad for Velvet, those cuts look like they hurt. I block the boy's next dagger strike with my sword and go for an attack, but he blocks it. Velvet takes the opportunity to swing her mace at his arm – only to be thwarted by his girlfriend shouting "Right!" Darn, that girl is annoying. I consider tossing a knife in her direction, but considering how slippery he is, he might get a hit in on me while I do that. Better to just fight, I guess.
Velvet Lunzdior POV
After attempting to hit Lamè, the boy attempts to attack me, I block his first blow, but as I go to block his second, I feel the dagger cut across me, cutting from my hip up diagonally. I wince and grit my teeth, blocking his next blow. And his next, and his next, and his – that one hits me, slicing across my shoulder. He keeps dodging Lamè's strikes too, with the advice from that girl!
Wait, there's an opening here – I block one of his strikes, and quickly push my mace out. He stumbles back a second, and I take a swing at him, but he ducks before it makes contact. Agh!
Angelo Kilkenny POV
I got in some hits on the redhead, but now I'm back to actively defending from both of them, not a good place to be in. The redhead swings her mace at me, and I block it.
"Duck!" Emilene shouts. I dodge under the blonde's blade. The mace comes for me again, I block it again. "Forward!" She shouts. I step forward quickly, barely missing Lamè's blade. I can't keep this up forever, though. Emilene might be good at reading them, but eventually one of them will faint convincingly enough to fool her. "Duck!" Hmm. If I can get in a good hit on the blonde and the redhead close enough to each other, I might have an opening to freaking run away before the blonde can get me. I break off with the redhead, so she's behind me and the blonde is in front, then take a swing at her. She blocks it, but she won't be able to block all of them. I go to swing again – "Duck!" Emilene shouts. I duck – and feel a blinding pain for a fraction of a second.
Avery Osiria POV
Ah, I see his strategy. He knows he can't win, so he's going to disengage. Well, if you're not going to kill any careers, I don't need you, Angelo. Let's see, the redhead is going for a swing with her mace that will hit him square in the shoulders – hard to faint with a weapon like that. If he moves back, he'll avoid it.
"Duck!" I shout.
Watching his head explode like a watermelon as the girl swings her mace through it is one of the happier things I've seen today. Ah, but still, I must perform. "Angelo!" I scream, making myself tear up as I run off towards Seras and Remington.
Velvet Lunzdior –18- -D1- POV
Looking at Lamè block the boy's strikes, I… well, he's good, that's for sure, he's tied us up for a good, twenty seconds, but also… I don't want her to get hurt, at all, and I – oh! The boy's head comes apart as my mace cleaves through it, his body dropping limply to the floor. Huh, I hadn't even been paying that much attention, honestly… I was more focused on worrying about Lamè… maybe that's why this took twenty seconds.
"You okay, Velvet?" Lamè asks, after looking out to see the Twelve girl fleeing. "You got cut up there."
"Yeah, I'm fine," I respond. "Nothing serious. You don't want to kill her?"
She shrugs. "Eh, we'll get her later. For now, let's get those cuts cleaned."
"Right," I respond. "Gotcha, let's."
Gage Padgett –17- -D10- POV
I grab a dagger and a survival kit before hightailing it away with Simon.
Simon Hazel –17- -D10- POV
I grab a dagger and a small bag before I and Gage run into the forest.
Sage Hills –16- -D11- POV
I grab a smallsword nearby, and a survival kit, before I and Evelyn run!
Evelyn Robbins –16- -D11- POV
I grab a medium bag and a pack of throwing knives before running off with my girlfriend.
A/N: Well, one Bloodbath later… only three people are dead! Not too bloody, luckily! What did y'all think of this chapter? Anything you're scared or excited about on Day One, or the rest of the Games? We'll get some updated odds at the end of Day One, and hopefully, no one else will die!
This chapter was hard for me to write, because, well… three people died… and that's always hard. Anyway, speaking of dead people, dead Tribute notes!
Cambric: Cambric was an interesting character, with his unique worldview shaped by his hard life, although I think we can agree that he wasn't exactly a good person, he still tried to help the person he loved, and in the end, it was doing that that killed him. RIP Cambric.
Nira: Poor Nira. She was a sweet woman, who only wanted to help her family and friends, as well as be a nice person to everyone around her. Unfortunately, it was that last one that would be her downfall, as her politeness to Cambric was what led him to love her, ultimately starting the chain of events that led to her death – as always – helping somebody else. She fought hard, but unfortunately, careers are hard to beat, especially two of them. RIP Nira.
Angelo: Angelo was a lot of fun, and I'll miss his dynamic with Avery. His Labrador-Retriever personality combined with being the leader of a gang made him a very interesting character, and he had the potential to be a cunning opponent. Unfortunately, getting ambushed by two careers is usually a death sentence for anyone, and Avery only prolonged his death by 'helping' him.
Alliance Breakdown (Tributes listed by District):
Allied Tributes (19/21):
Careers (4/4): Lamè, Velvet, Foxtrot, & Hal.
4-Anti-Social People (4/4): Elara, Yuna, Rowan, & Cedar.
Definitely Not Criminals (3/4): Remington, Seras, & Avery. (Deceased: Angelo.)
The Girl With Two Older Siblings (2/3): Harvey & Mazie (Deceased: Mazie.)
Sisters (2/2): Daisy & Mattie
Gage Your Hazels (2/2): Gage & Simon
Sage And A Ginger (2/2): Sage & Evelyn
Loners (2/3):
Cadence
Nerys
Deceased: Cambric
The Fallen:
24th: Cambric Frymith, 17M, D8. Stabbed through the chest with a trident by Halian "Hal" Maui.
23rd: Nira Telatto, 17F, D8. Stabbed through the heart with a sword by Foxtrot Suevite.
22nd: Angelo Kilkenny, 17M, D12. Decapitated with a mace by Velvet Lunzdior.