May 17th, 8 AGR
[Recording starts]
Now then, miss. You said you had… uhh what does it say here…? [shuffling papers]
Information about the resistance.
I see… and your name is…?
Cynthia Excellon.
Excellon…?
Yes.
I see… and you are how old?
Seventeen. I was thirteen when my parents were killed.
Yes, and [papers shuffling]… why exactly should we listen to you of all people?
I have information.
Information about what?
The Sisterhood of Truth. I can tell you where to find them.
Cynthia pushed deeper into the shadows as if letting them wrap around her would keep her safe. As if it would keep them out of sight of what she knew would come next. She listened, as hard as they could for any sign of activity in the old, rundown building.
But there was nothing. Nothing but darkness.
Until a piercing scream rang through the air, and Cynthia held her breath, as if that would make any difference. She waited, and waited until-
A Peacekeeper dragged a familiar face out of the front door, tossing the dark-haired girl on the ground in the middle of the street.
"Fuck off!" Vesper growled, dragging herself to her feet just to be knocked down again. "How did you even find us?"
"Your little friend there brought us right to your doorstep," the Peacekeeper responded, flicking a finger in Cynthia's direction. Vesper turned, blood trickling from her nose, eyes going wide as she spotted Cynthia through the shadows that cloaked her.
And maybe she should've never tried hiding.
"Cynthia…?" Vesper said, the words falling from her mouth barely more than a whisper. "You…?"
Cynthia didn't respond, only shaking her head as she pressed her back into the damp, cold wall of the building behind her. She didn't want to face this- the Sisterhood had taken them in, had given her the world when she was nothing, and this was how Cynthia would repay them? By sentencing them all to death?
But at the same time, did they ever truly know them? Did the Sisterhood ever truly know Cynthia Excellon, or did they know nothing more than her name? Everything they'd given her was on the basis of her parent's actions- they were martyrs for the rebels, giving everything up for the cause, and because of it they'd left Cynthia behind.
They always seemed to care for their cause more than their daughter, and now Cynthia Excellon was all that remained of them.
Cynthia watched, as one by one every single Sister was dragged from the building. Each girl was unceremoniously shoved in the back of the Peacekeepers truck. Most of them didn't seem to notice Cynthia, but the few who caught their eye displayed a range of expressions- from heartbreak to rage, to some emotions Cynthia couldn't quite place.
She'd done this. She'd ruined them, doomed them all to interrogation and execution and god only knew what else.
But it was her decision. It was Cynthia's decision to make- they were bound to be found out, and soon at that and Cynthia wasn't about to let herself be taken down. She didn't support the rebels, couldn't bring herself to support them with her whole being, and they wouldn't die for a cause they didn't believe entirely in.
Cynthia didn't believe in much of anything anymore though, so what difference did it make?
The streets of Three were just as dark as Cynthia remembered them- but she'd given herself no choice but to delve back into them. What else could she do? There was no home to return to, no Sisterhood, nothing but herself now.
Had there ever been anything but Cynthia though? Really, she'd only ever relied on herself. Even when she'd been with her parents or the Sisters, she'd never become comfortable, always on edge. Always waiting for the next thing to go wrong, and inevitably things would.
At least Cynthia knew she could rely on herself. At least she was strong enough.
But what was she supposed to do now? Cynthia didn't know, and that was just the issue. Was she supposed to continue living on the streets, amounting to nothing? She always had the option of going back to the Peacekeepers. They'd offered her a spot in one of their training programs, but something internally made Cynthia turn the offer down. At the same time, it wasn't like she could go running back to the underground rebels- surely it'd gotten through the network by now that she'd betrayed the Sisters. Even with the fractured state of the information network, things still tended to move quickly.
Cynthia had nothing- nobody, nowhere to go. They would amount to nothing, nothing more than a nameless street. She'd probably end up dead by twenty if she was lucky.
But maybe, just maybe, there was another way out.
Cynthia pulled her jacket tighter around her shoulders as she entered the line into the town square. There were so many people crushing in around her, and if Cynthia lingered on it too long their chest would begin to tighten. So they wouldn't linger, Cynthia would shrink her frame as much as possible and push onwards through the line.
"Next," the Peacekeeper called, snapping Cynthia out of her thoughts. She stepped forward, stiffly offering a hand out to the Peacekeeper.
"Relax, please."
Cynthia did as instructed, letting out a shaky breath. The Peacekeeper dug the needle into her finger in one quick motion, swiping it through the machine on the table in front of him.
"You're good… Cynthia Excellon?"
Cynthia nodded curtly. "That's me."
"Wonderful, you can go on then," the officer said, the bar in front of her lifting so she could pass. "One more thing, I wouldn't go… telling everybody that surname."
"Oh," Cynthia blinked. "Yes. I understand."
The Peacekeeper nodded, as Cynthia moved into the crowd. Many of the kids were standing with friends, or talking to family, as the ceremony was yet to begin. She slipped her way between groups, eventually finding the seventeen-year-olds section. Clasping her hands together, Cynthia found herself wringing them together- here were the hundreds of kids she'd tried so hard to be like, and yet there was something about them she could never understand. Something about the way their words and expressions linked conveyed a hundred things Cynthia didn't understand as if speaking a different language entirely from her.
Sighing, Cynthia craned her neck up to the stage, as if that would get her out of the crowd. District Three's victors were seated on the stage- Jericho Gallagher and Rampart Szajko. Jericho had his arm around Rampart's shoulders, Rampart leaning into his partner's side. Cynthia wondered what they were like- surely she'd find out soon though.
If she went through with volunteering, that was.
It was the only logical path to take now- she would never amount to anything in Three. But if she could win the Games, maybe they could make a difference.
Maybe Cynthia would finally be more than just another person in the crowd.
Soon enough, the crackling of the microphone brought Cynthia back to the present. She quickly averted her eyes from the Victors- they didn't want to seem like they were staring. The escort stepped out onto the stage, beginning her speech, and Cynthia quickly found herself toning it out. It wasn't like it mattered, after all. It was simply the same thing year after year, talking about the war, the heroes who'd saved them, and the recent reintroduction of the Games.
By the time the speech concluded, Cynthia's nails were digging into the palms of her hands, as she desperately tried to keep them from shaking. The escort moved her way to the bowl, pulling a slip out, but Cynthia didn't hear the name being read out.
"I volunteer!" Cynthia shouted, projecting her shaking voice as loud as she could manage. "I volunteer."
A quiet chatter rippled through the crowd, as Cynthia pushed her way to the walkway up to the stage. The crowd largely parted for her, a small kindness from her peers. The escort looked shocked- as did the two victors behind her.
"Um… what's your name, young lady?" the escort asked, as Cynthia carefully climbed the stairs.
"Cynthia Excellon," Cynthia responded, and another wave of chatter went through the crowd.
"Wonderful, Cynthia please… um stand right here then," the escort muttered, fumbling over their words. Three had never seen a volunteer before, to Cynthia's knowledge, so this would be a shock to many. Not just that, but the Excellon name was well known- her parents' execution had been one of the most publically watched in years.
Cynthia barely registered the escort pulling another name from the bowl, barely knew what was happening, as a massively tall girl with bright blonde hair offered a hand out to Cynthia.
She shook it, without hesitation, as if it meant sealing her fate for good.
"How about we introduce ourselves?" Jericho asked, pushing his mane of hair out of his face as he sank into the couch. He didn't seem particularly bothered about how fast the train was going- it was all Cynthia could think about though. How fast the landscape outside was going by, nothing but a blur of green and brown hues. Her parents had taken her on one of the Capitol trains when she was younger, on vacation, but she hardly remembered it.
"That's uh, not a bad idea," Rampart agreed, as Jericho slinging an arm around his partner's shoulders.
"You're so smart!" Jericho exclaimed. "I'm Jericho Gallagher, it's nice to meet you kids!"
"Rampart… Rampart Szajko," Rampart waved, looking to Cynthia and then to the other girl.
"I'm Esteri," the girl- Esteri, seated next to Cynthia waved with a wide grin. Everyone's eyes turned to Cynthia expectantly.
"Um… Hi? I'm Cynthia," Cynthia greeted the others.
"Good shit guys!" Jericho grinned, throwing his hands up in the air, his hair falling into his eyes again despite his best efforts. "Now… hmm. What do you think Ramps?"
The dark haired boy paused for a moment before responding. "We can split them up for now…?"
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Great, I'll take Esteri then?" Jericho asked.
"That sounds good," Rampart nodded, as Jericho pressed a quick kiss to the side of his face. "Cynthia, if you wouldn't mind coming with me?"
Cynthia nodded, pulling herself off the couch. Between the two of them, she was hoping she'd end up with Rampart. He was much quieter… and much lower energy then his partner. She didn't think she could handle Jericho in a one on one situation.
Following her mentor, Cynthia found herself being led into another room- some kind of small sitting room? There were bookshelves lining the walls, a sort of workstation shoved in a corner, its surface covered in tools and parts. Rampart pulled a chair out, sliding it next to the desk as he slid into his own seat behind the work station.
"Sit with me? If you don't mind," Rampart asked, gesturing to the open chair. Cynthia nodded curtly, sinking into the chair, their arms crossed before them.
"So…" Rampart began, picking up some of the tools on the table. They seemed to be… tinkering with something. Cynthia could recognize a few of the parts- they were similar to things her family's factories used to make. It seemed like he was building some kind of… communicator? Cynthia couldn't be sure though.
"So?" Cynthia asked.
"So you volunteered," Rampart continued. "Which… that's none of our business, whatever your reason may be. But uh… I still want to help you as best I can. If you want to be helped."
Cynthia leaned back in her seat, sighing deeply. "I… Well I don't think it'd be very smart of me to turn you down."
Rampart shrugged, as he responded. "It's entirely up to you."
"I understand."
"Mm," Rampart hummed, as he connected two wires, carefully pinching them between his thin fingers. "So… I'm terribly sorry, I'm not particularly good at this uh, whole talking thing. It's more Jericho's thing than mine."
"No worries," Cynthia remarked sharply.
"I see… so would you be willing to work with your partner? I can understand if not… but I think it'd play to both your favours," Rampart continued.
"Because we can both win?"
"Precisely," Rampart nodded. "It… well the Games were much more manageable with somebody by my side."
"I see," Cynthia nodded. "I will… take it into consideration then."
"Mm, you don't have to decide right away. You can always… see what Esteri's like going through training. Likewise, she'll have plenty of time to decide if she wants to partner up with you."
Cynthia nodded. "Anything else?"
"Not for now… unless you wanted to start talking about training today? If you'd like to?"
"I think I'm okay," Cynthia offered. "But… uh thank you?"
"Of course. I'm here if you need anything," Rampart smiled, as Cynthia quickly peeled herself out of the chair, awkwardly waving as she left the room. Sure, she understood there were a hundred factors with the Games, but it hadn't occurred to her what kind of game this really would be.
Cynthia had come here to start over, to finally forge her own legacy rather than sitting in her parents' shadow. They hadn't come here to make friends, hadn't come here to make small talk and pleasantries with anybody.
Cynthia Excellon would be born anew, or she'd die trying.
"That's the Capitol, huh?" Esteri commented, as over the horizon the gleaming buildings of the Capitol came into view. "Pretty sweet, huh?"
"I suppose," Cynthia responded, peering out the window alongside her District partner. Everything seemed so pristine, even compared to the nicer parts of Three. The buildings soared far into the sky, the setting sun reflecting off of them like rippling mirages. Soon enough the train slowed, and then stopped.
"Alright kids!" Jericho yelled from what sounded like the next room. "Time to go! Make sure you've got all your shit!"
"Yessir!" Esteri responded, causing Cynthia to jump. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Cynthia responded, waving her hands. "I just want to go."
Esteri nodded eagerly, as Cynthia beelined for the other room where both of the mentors were. They were standing next to a door- which had seemingly just appeared in the wall of the living room.
"Ready?" Rampart asked, hovering in the doorway. Cynthia nodded sharply as Jericho exited, Esteri running out after him. Cynthia followed the pair, Rampart sticking close behind her. She inhaled deeply- her first breath of fresh air since stepping on the train earlier that day. The train station was packed with people- twenty-six kids, plus all of their mentors, seemed like even more people when they were all crammed together. Cynthia felt the overwhelming urge to turn around and run- back to the train, out of the station, anywhere was better than this crowd.
"It's okay," Rampart said, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "We'll be out of here soon."
"Okay," Cynthia nodded, trying to shrink into herself as much as possible. As she did, she practically turned right around into a taller man with curly hair.
"Ope, sorry!" the man exclaimed. "I didn't see ya there!"
"I-" Cynthia stumbled over her words. "Sorry."
"No need to apologize!" The man continued, waving his hands. "Really I should've been looking where I was going!"
"Glen!" a voice in the crowd yelled, and the man- Glen, turned, searching for the source.
"Ah! Gotta run! It was nice meeting you though!" Glen exclaimed.
"Um… nice meeting you too?" Cynthia responded, but the man was already gone, slipping into the crowd.
Quickly enough they were all whisked away from the train station, Cynthia keeping her head down- everything was quickly becoming too much for them. It'd be fine- all they had to do was make it back to their apartment and things would be fine.
Esteri flopped down onto the couch while Cynthia hovered nearby, scanning her surroundings. The apartment was nice, yes, but Cynthia couldn't quite place why she felt so off. Perhaps it was the fact she'd been thrust back into the luxury she thought she'd left behind so long ago. The perfect shine of the floor, the carefully folded blankets draped across the back of the couches, the way every single book was organized on the shelves.
All Cynthia wanted to do was tear it apart until nothing was left.
"So where are ya from?" Esteri asked, innocently enough.
"Uh, downtown?"
"Shit, really?" Esteri laughed. "Me too. Wonder if we've ever crossed paths before."
"Maybe," Cynthia said softly, moving to perch carefully on one of the nearby armchairs. Maybe Esteri didn't know of her parents, maybe this was Cynthia's chance to start clean without any notions of what she should or shouldn't be.
Maybe Cynthia could finally have something to make herself.
"You know they want us to partner up, right?" Esteri continued, switching the topic seemingly on a whim. "What do you think."
"I… don't know," Cynthia responded stiffly. She didn't want to rely on anybody, didn't want anyone to have any expectations of her. Cynthia came here to do this alone, and she'd do it. Failure was not an option.
"How about we stick together tomorrow in training for a bit then," Esteri offered. "No pressure to stay together, but maybe it won't hurt to try."
Maybe it wouldn't hurt to try, but at the same time Cynthia knew what it meant to try. She was familiar with the hurt it could bring, and she didn't want to let that happen again.
"Um… no I think I'm okay," Cynthia shook her head. "Thank you for the offer though."
"No problem," Esteri said, as Cynthia quickly stood, rushing from the room as quickly as she could.
Cynthia couldn't make the same mistake again, no matter how much she wanted to try.
The elevator ride to training was painfully quiet, as Cynthia stood, trying to take up the least amount of space possible in the corner of the elevator. Rampart was next to them, the dark circles under his eyes more pronounced. He seemed… off today, as if waiting for something to happen. But the Capitol was a draining place for everyone, it seemed. Cynthia struggled to sleep the night before, and now she was exhausted. Every movement felt sluggish as if she were moving through molasses…
Cynthia didn't know how she'd make it through training like this, but certainly, they'd be fine. She'd tough it out, and go to bed earlier that night…
That was the last thought that ran through Cynthia Excellon's head before the entire world around her went dark.
The world was dark, darker than night, and all Cynthia could sense was a dull thudding. She struggled, trying to open her eyes, but nothing happened. No matter how hard Cynthia tried to will it, nothing happened. Had she passed out? On the first day of training? What if she was missing vital information that could help her survive?
Finally, after an eternity- or perhaps after no time at all- Cynthia's eyes peeled open. She was met with harsh white light, immediately squeezing her eyes shut again. After a moment, she ever so slowly cracked an eye open and was met with the same harsh lighting. She blinked, and ever so slowly her vision cleared, as she sat up from… the floor? What was she doing on the floor?
Cynthia carefully looked around, finding a circle of kids around her, a few of them sitting up, rubbing their eyes like her. Most of them were still seemingly out cold on the floor though. Cynthia quickly spotted Esteri, her blonde hair sticking out against the dark flooring of the room.
"Where are we…?" a boy with bright red hair, across from Cynthia asked.
"Dunno," another girl responded. Cynthia sat up all the way, bracing her hands on the floor as her head spun from the exertion. They appeared to be in some kind of hangar, the ceiling rising high above their heads. They were in the middle of the floor, in a large clear spot, and surrounding them were… what looked like training stations.
"It…" Cynthia trailed off, clearing her throat. "It looks like… a training room?"
"But there's nobody here," the redhead commented, and indeed as Cynthia looked closer, the room was completely void of anybody except for them.
"Well we're supposed to be training, right?" the girl shot back. "Maybe this is just how training goes."
"Yeah but they aren't just gonna let us figure it out. Isn't there supposed to be, oh… I don't know, trainers to show us what to do?"
"Shut it," Esteri growled, as she sat up, her head in her hands. "You're bein' too fuckin loud."
"Sorry," the redhead apologized. Cynthia slowly dragged herself to her feet, steadying herself on a nearby rack of weapons.
"What are you doing…?" Redhead asked, scrambling to his feet.
"Looking around," Cynthia responded, matter of factly.
"Oh," Redhead blinked. "Oh I should introduce myself, I'm Basalt."
"Basalt?" Cynthia repeated. "Cynthia."
"Nice to meetcha Cynthia!" Basalt grinned, moving to offer Cynthia a hand. He was small, not even coming up to Cynthia's shoulder, but he moved with a certain energy that made Cynthia want to avoid him at all costs. She didn't take his hand, instead turning to move deeper into the room, many of the others waking up and beginning to sit up but she didn't pay them any mind.
"Where are ya goin?" Basalt asked, padding after her.
"I'm looking around," Cynthia responded coldly. There were all of the typical things Cynthia would've expected to see in training- several combat stations with numerous racks of weapons, what looked to be some kind of agility course, a trap-making station, and many other things Cynthia couldn't identify. As she searched, she spotted several doors along the walls- but every single one she tried wouldn't open.
"Locked," Cynthia muttered, as she tried yet another door.
"Haven't they all been?" Basalt asked.
"Yes."
"So… what do we do?"
"I don't know," Cynthia sighed deeply.
"Find anything interesting? A familiar voice- Esteri asked. Cynthia spun on her heel to face her District partner.
"Nothing," Cynthia shook her head.
"Damn," Esteri sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose between her fingers. "I was hoping there'd be something… are we just stuck here then?"
"I guess so," Basalt interjected.
"Dunno. The 'Makers have pulled shit like this before though, right?"
"Um, yeah like… remember the one Games where they shoved everybody in the cafeteria and sent them into the Arena?" Basalt asked excitedly- perhaps too excitedly for Cynthia's liking.
"Unfortunately," Cynthia said with a grimace.
"That was the one where the girl's hand got cut off it was-"
"That's beside the point," Esteri cut Basalt off, waving a hand in front of the boy's face. "So we might be in the arena right now…?"
"Maybe, but usually they announce it yanno?" Basalt shrugged.
"Huh, maybe they want us to… do something first…?"
"Maybe they want us to train," Cynthia offered, quietly. "If they're giving us this room, and no other instruction."
"Huh," Basalt blinked, his bright eyes gleaming with something curious. "That makes sense! Let's get training then!"
With that, Basalt scurried off towards one of the stations, Eteri followed but only got a few steps before she stopped and turned to look at Cynthia. "My offer still stands, if you want."
"Thanks," Cynthia replied, flicking her eyes down to the floor. "I think I'm okay for right now though."
Esteri didn't say anything, instead disappearing deeper into the room, as Cynthia was left to her own devices. Without much thought, Cynthia found herself at the knife fighting station. The rack was filled with blades, some small and some far larger. Every single one of them was wickedly sharp, gleaming and pristine. Carefully, Cynthia selected a small, silver knife. There were a number of sheaths available as well. Cynthia grabbed one, slipping the knife in its sheath into the inside pocket of her jacket.
After all, she could never truly be too careful, especially not if Basalt was right.
If these were the Games, then Cynthia knew she couldn't be too prepared.
The rest of the first day passed without incident. At least Cynthia thought it was the first day. Nobody knew how long they'd been out for, but all of them seemed to have had a similar experience- feeling groggy and tired and then blacking out in some form on the way to the first day of training. Cynthia didn't understand what was going on, but at the very least they didn't seem to be in danger yet.
"Hey! Food's here!" the now familiar, shrill voice of Basalt called from the elevators. Cynthia began making her way over, finding Basalt standing in front of a large table of food- had it come out of the wall? It seemed like it had.
"Dinner…?" one of the boys asked- Cynthia hadn't caught his name. "So… they're feeding us?"
"Looks like it," Esteri chimed in, as the other tributes filed in, surrounding the table. "Let's dig in then!"
The tributes all voiced their agreement, everyone swarming the table. Cynthia hung back for a few moments, waiting for an opening. Eventually one came, and she darted in, grabbing a sandwich off one of the platters.
"What's this stuff?" Esteri asked, holding up a large bottle of… what looked to be water.
"It looks like water," Cynthia responded, taking a bite out of her sandwich, as she moved out of the crowd, narrowing her eyes as she searched for a spot to sit. The Gamemakers had given them everything except for a place to sit to eat, it'd seemed.
"It doesn't- hold on, I'll sit with you," Esteri said, scrambling to follow Cynthia. "If that's okay."
Cynthia only shrugged, following the wall until they found a station with mats. They grabbed one of the mats, pushing it up against the wall to form some kind of comfortable sitting spot. Cynthia sank into the mat with a sigh, Esteri perching next to them.
"It looks weird though, I swear!" Esteri continued, holding up the bottle of water, shoving it towards Cynthia. "Look!"
"It looks normal," Cynthia shrugged, taking a bite out of her sandwich.
"Whatcha talkin' about?" Basalt asked, flopping onto the mat next to Esteri, by some miracle managing to not drop his plate of spaghetti.
"Doesn't this water look kinda weird…?" Esteri asked, tossing the bottle of water at Basalt. He sat up, catching it between his hands.
"I mean… kinda? But I don't really get how water can look weird if it's just water," Basalt muttered. With one clean motion, he twisted the plastic cap off.
"Are you sure-" Esteri started, but before she could finish her sentence, Basalt took a swig from the bottle. As he swallowed, Basalt wrinkled his nose.
"Tastes kinda weird but like… it's definitely water," Basalt said, simply as he returned the now opened bottle to Esteri. She also took a sip, making a similar face as Basalt had.
"Yeah, it's close enough to what it's supposed to be," Esteri shrugged, grabbing the cap from Basalt, twisting it back on. "Do you want some Cynthia?"
"I'm fine," Cynthia shook her head, taking another bite from her sandwich. Perhaps if she pretended she was focused on her food the others would leave her alone. But the chances of that happening weren't good- no matter what Cynthia did, both of them were persistent. She didn't want to be overly rude, but at the same time Cynthia didn't want to stick around them, especially not when things got bad.
The knife, concealed in her jacket, only served to remind them of what would certainly come. Pushing herself to her feet, Cynthia turned, moving away from the pair.
"Wait- where are you going?" Esteri called after her. Cynthia didn't bother responding. If it was rude, she didn't care. Cynthia wasn't here to sit around and be friends, they weren't here for all the pleasantries that came with friends either. Any form of kindness Cynthia might've had was buried alongside her parents. And even then, why would Esteri and Basalt go out of their way to be nice to her of all people? Why wouldn't they just stop and leave her alone when she'd done nothing but make it apparent she wanted them to leave her be.
Why couldn't they just understand that Cynthia wanted to be alone?
The first night wasn't so bad, at least not for Cynthia. The others had left her alone after she'd up and left them at dinner, and for that she was grateful. She'd found a corner, wedging a training mat behind one of the larger stations screens- something about it being for sorting edible and poisonous plants. Whatever the case was, the small cove gave her some semblance of privacy, away from the prying eyes of the other tributes.
Even though she'd wanted this, Cynthia still couldn't help but feel so lonely. Here she was, hundreds of miles from everything and everyone she'd ever known, and for what? To build her own legacy? To try and change herself? Maybe things would never change though. Maybe Cynthia would never be anything more than what everyone saw her as.
They'd done this to themself though, and there was no choice but to keep going. Otherwise, she'd die and go back to Three and be buried just like her parents, and then what would Cynthia be known as? A traitor? An idiot who'd willingly throw herself into the Games?
Cynthia didn't want to be remembered as her parents' daughter.
Carefully, Cynthia undid her jacket, pulling it over herself like a blanket, slipping the knife in out of the coat and under the mat she was sitting on. It wasn't cold in the training room, but at the same time it wasn't warm. They'd seen far worse sleeping conditions, sure, but it was nice to have at least some kind of comfort.
The next day of training was spent in relative peace, even if Cynthia was beginning to feel antsy. Growing up in Three meant they were used to being able to go anywhere at any time. It wasn't like the training room was small, or anything like that. But it still didn't compare to District Three.
Cynthia just wanted, so desperately, for something to happen. Maybe they'd all be trapped here for the rest of their lives- or maybe they were missing something. Or maybe she was simply overthinking it all.
Quickly enough, Cynthia found herself pacing laps around the massive room. She caught a few of the other tributes sending glances her way, but Cynthia didn't mind. As long as they minded their business, and left her to her own devices, they didn't care. They couldn't even tell how long they'd been walking for, before they'd stopped in front of the agility course.
Perhaps it couldn't hurt to try it. Cynthia wasn't sure what stations to try- most of the fighting ones were taken up by the others and Cynthia didn't want to get in the middle of that. But nobody was using the agility course- maybe it could get some of their energy out. They always slept better if they were exhausted.
Carefully, Cynthia stopped in front of the control panel. It prompted her to select a difficulty- which she did, tapping the medium button. Then they made their way to the starting line, waiting for further instruction. A screen in front of them counted down, and Cynthia readied herself, taking off as the countdown hit zero. The first stretch of track was flat, as Cynthia ran as fast as possible. Something swiped at her feet but they nimbly jumped over the obstacle, ducking another sweeping arm aimed for her head. After a few moments, Cynthia found the track looping around back to where it had started.
Jumping over a gap in the track, Cynthia gingerly landed on the other side, coming to a stop on the starting platform. They let out a deep breath, shrugging the jacket off their shoulders, fastening it around their waist. As they turned, trying to steady their breaths, she spotted Esteri watching from the fire-making station. She quickly looked away as Cynthia caught her gaze- what was Esteri even watching for? Cynthia wasn't sure.
At least they were leaving her alone, as Cynthia turned back to the control panel, switching the difficulty to hard.
She'd be just fine on her own.
The second day went by without much trouble. Cynthia trained, as she did the day before, at least being able to hit the mat she called a bed worn out enough to sleep through the night. It wasn't like she could just sit around and do nothing all day- not like some of the others, but at the same time Cynthia couldn't help but feel an impending, looming sense of doom. Like the entire world was holding its breath, waiting to see what would happen next. It was as if they were missing something, as if everything would come crashing down on them because they couldn't figure out the Gamemakers' sick puzzles.
On the third day, that breath would be released, and their world as they knew it would come crashing down with it.
"Good morning, tributes!"
A crackling, echoing voice startled Cynthia awake. She immediately began searching for her knife, concealed in the pocket of her jacket. Scrambling to her feet, Cynthia quickly realized something was off- the temperature of the room was much warmer than it'd been in the past few days.
"Now, I bet you're all wondering what's going on," the voice continued. "But I'm sure a few of you have already figured it out. The Games will be starting momentarily. Please stand by for further instructions."
The Games would be starting momentarily.
"Shit," Cynthia muttered, ducking out from behind the station she'd set up behind. Many of the others were standing in the open space of the training room, groups spread out from one another. She couldn't see Esteri and Basalt- but why would she look for them in the first place? It wasn't like they were allies. Cynthia shook her head, looking at her surroundings. Cynthia somehow doubted they'd keep them all trapped in the training room- it wasn't much of an arena. And certainly, the doors weren't there for no reason, so if they opened Cynthia wanted to be able to get to one.
Spinning on her heel, Cynthia spotted a door along the wall to her left. There was a pair of tributes clad in the same colour- District Nine maybe? Cynthia wasn't sure -between them and the door. She had a knife, and her wits, she could get past them if it came down to it.
And if she had to, Cynthia would take them down. If it meant assuring her survival, she'd do whatever it'd take.
"Tributes, please prepare yourselves. There are thirty seconds on the clock, and once it's up the Games begin. There will be no killing before the timer is up. If any of you break this rule, you'll be promptly disposed of."
Cynthia stood as still as a statue, hoping as much of her as possible was concealed behind the weapon rack next to her. But they didn't dare move behind it further as the countdown continued, pushing to twenty, and then to fifteen.
Ten, and then five…
As soon as the countdown hit zero, Cynthia took off towards the door. It didn't open- she just had to hope it was unlocked. The pair from Nine in her way seemed to have had the same idea though, as Cynthia quickly caught up to them, darting between the training equipment. The boy's eyes went wide as he lunged for Cynthia, but she ducked the blow. Gripping her knife tightly, Cynthia swiped at the boy, catching his arm. He grunted but didn't relent, grabbing for Cynthia again. This time she wasn't so lucky as his arms wrapped around her middle, sending them both to the ground. Cynthia growled as she hit the ground. She swung wildly with her knife, sinking it into his back once, twice. The boy cried out in pain, loosening his grip on her, but it wasn't enough.
Cynthia knew what she had to do.
Steadying her grip on the slick knife, Cynthia brought it down on the boy one more time- eliciting a quiet cry from him. His grip went slack, and Cynthia pushed the boy off, scrambling to her feet. She attempted to wipe her hands on her jacket, but her hands slid off the material,so she just pushed onward. The girl the Nine boy had been with was long since gone, but instead of being closed the door was cracked open- which meant it wasn't locked.
They didn't hesitate for a moment, as she pushed the door open.
What met Cynthia on the other side was darkness, but she didn't stop. She stepped through the door, firmly closing it behind her. Her eyes took a moment to adjust, but it smelled like dirt and machinery- some kind of underground service tunnel perhaps? The Sisterhood would often navigate the city of Three, as the access tunnels weren't used unless maintenance was needed, and so they were a perfect way to get around if needed. Cynthia never liked them much though- too closed in. The knowledge of the weight of an entire city being above her head wasn't comforting, to say the least.
But now she had no choice but to delve deeper into them.
With a deep sigh, Cynthia pushed forwards- first at a jog, but after an hour or so, she slowed, figuring she was far enough away from anybody that may cause her harm. The tunnels twisted and turned like a maze and before long Cynthia was hopelessly and entirely lost.
Maybe coming here had been a mistake, but it was one Cynthia would have to live with.
Live with, or die with. Either way, she'd done it to herself.
After what felt like an eternity of wandering- Had it been a day? Or maybe just a few hours? Cynthia could hardly tell -she found a door in the wall. There'd been a few along the way, and she'd tried all of them, most of them opening to reveal another tunnel, or simply a brick wall. But this door was different, as Cynthia pushed the door open, revealing a small room.
It was dimly lit, but Cynthia could still see well enough to see the boxes crammed into the room. It wasn't much bigger than a closet, but at least she could rest here for the night, and perhaps find something in the boxes.
"Huh," Cynthia exclaimed, as she pushed a box in front of the door, effectively barricading herself in. She then turned her attention to the others, tearing through the cardboard with her knife. The first two were empty, but the third had a large water bottle in it. She carefully took it out, setting it aside, as she continued piling the boxes in front of the door. The next box she opened had a small backpack in it, which Cynthia pulled out eagerly. Searching through it, she found a few sleeves of crackers, another half-full water bottle and a length of rope as well as a small flashlight. Cynthia shoved the other water bottle in the bag and pushed deeper into the small closet until her hand brushed the back wall. Cynthia tucked her backpack under her head, and pushing her back to the wall found herself drifting off into an uneasy, light sleep.
At least it was some sleep though- it could very well be the last moment of rest Cynthia ever got.
The moment the lights flickered out, Cynthia was awake.
It wasn't like the lights were all that bright- quite the opposite in fact. They were dim enough Cynthia could sleep, but the moment they went out she found herself awake. She could hardly see her own hand in front of her face, much less navigate her way around the room. At the very least Cynthia hadn't been planning on leaving immediately, and this just gave her another reason to stay a bit longer. Cynthia considered trying to find her flashlight, but the room was small enough she was sure she wouldn't trip or fall over anything.
She was glad she hadn't moved though, as a strange scraping noise began, accompanied by footsteps.
It was outside the room, but Cynthia just hoped whatever- whoever it was, wouldn't find her. She found herself holding her breath, as the noises got louder, and louder, as she desperately tried to keep her hands steady on her knife.
And soon enough the noises would stop. Cynthia let out the breath she'd been holding just as-
"Is somebody there? Let us in!" A voice cried, from the other side of the door. "Please, just open!" Cynthia froze, as the door rattled, but the boxes she'd positioned were working- whoever it was wouldn't be getting in.
"Please! The- there's something chasing us! Just open the fucking door!"
Cynthia didn't move an inch though- she couldn't risk letting anybody in. She couldn't risk compromising herself for somebody she didn't know.
The door didn't stop shaking though, and for a moment Cynthia was sure something would give way, and she'd be forced to face whoever was on the other side but it didn't.
And then the screaming started.
It hardly sounded human, whatever was on the other side of the door, the terrible cries of whoever was out there were all Cynthia could hear. She covered her ears, and pushed herself into the corner as far as possible, but still the horrible sounds wouldn't leave, wouldn't stop.
Until everything fell silent.
Cynthia uncovered their ears, listening for a moment. They could hear the same scraping as before, but it was quickly becoming quieter and quieter, until it was gone entirely. Cynthia shook herself out, as the lights flickered back on, and she collected her things. They'd wanted to linger a bit longer, sure but also didn't want to risk whatever the creature was outside coming back. But at the same time, what if it was still too close by? Cynthia didn't know, didn't know if she wanted to face whatever was on the other side of the door.
Twenty minutes.
Cynthia would wait twenty more minutes. And then they'd open the door and face whatever was on the other side, no matter what they found.
Twenty minutes had never felt longer than at that moment, but soon enough Cynthia found herself pushing the boxes away from the door. They put a single, shaking hand on the doorknob, and let out a shaky breath.
Cynthia had to do this. She had to do this for herself, she couldn't just sit and rot away here, that wasn't why she'd come here.
No, she'd come here for change, and nobody but Cynthia could make that happen.
Cynthia flung the door open far harder than intended, and stepped out. Taking a step, and then another into the hall, Cynthia could feel the liquid puddled beneath her feet. She looked down, as to not stumble on anything that may have been… left in the hallway. The puddles were large, stretching as wide as the tunnel, but Cynthia wasn't met with anything except blood.
No bodies, no people, and no sign of any other life.
Shuddering slightly, Cynthia looped her hands through the straps of her backpack, turning down the hall, pushing deeper into the Arena.
Cynthia could only hope things would continue in her favour.
The next two days were filled with nothing but wandering, the same routine minute after hour after day. She hadn't seen any other tributes, save for the distant echoing of voices in the tunnels, but she couldn't ever seem to find them. Despite trying to leave markers for herself in the tunnels, they seemed to be changing- shifting, keeping the tributes on their toes. Every day she'd walk, and wander, and sometimes find a room, and she'd search it for supplies or settle down there for the night. And every once in a while the lights would flicker out, and Cynthia could hear the distant scraping of… something horrible in the distance.
She'd never been caught in the tunnels when it'd happened though. Not until today.
The moments the lights flickered out, Cynthia stopped dead in her tracks. She'd been expecting it to happen soon- it seemed like it happened once or twice a day, although it was hard to even tell how much time had passed. And she'd been lucky enough to avoid it the past few times.
This time, she wasn't so lucky.
Fumbling for her flashlight, Cynthia flicked it on, her hands shaking as she pointed the beam in front of her. As she walked along, following the beam of light, the scraping started- the hair on the back of her neck standing straight up. She didn't want to make too much noise, but at the same time, didn't want to continue walking as slowly as she was and so Cynthia sped up slightly, searching for a door. The slithering only intensified, as she turned a corner, and then another- finally spotting a door along the wall. She rushed for it, throwing it open, nearly tripping through the doorway.
"Hey! Don't move!" A shrill voice warned, as Cynthia stopped dead in her tracks. "Cynthia?"
"Huh?" Cynthia responded, raising her flashlight. The small, ginger boy in front of her blinking in the brightness was, unfortunately, a familiar face. "Basalt?"
"Uh yeah?" Basalt responded, screwing his face up in annoyance. "Can you get that thing out of my face?"
"What's going on?" Another familiar voice asked- Esteri appearing from deeper in the room. This one appeared to be larger- like an office of some kind, as Cynthia swept her flashlight over the girl and the room.
"Look who I found!" Basalt exclaimed. "Cynthia!"
"Oh… uh hey," Esteri waved. "We're not gonna hurt you."
Cynthia blinked at that, not bothering to put her knife away. Sure, Esteri was her District partner, but she couldn't trust anybody, no matter if they were from home or not.
"Close the door," Cynthia said, ignoring Esteri's comment. "There's something out there." Cynthia didn't move though, letting Basalt approach the door. He poked his head out the door, before quickly slamming it.
"Holy shit," Basalt gasped, his face pale. "There's something out there."
"What?" Esteri asked, rushing to his side, pushing past Cynthia.
"It looked like what we saw the other day," Basalt responded in a whisper.
"We should block the door," Esteri muttered. "Cynthia, come help."
Cynthia blinked at the girl. "What?"
"Come help me move this cabinet so we don't all get killed," Esteri hissed, and this snapped Cynthia out of her thoughts- why should she help otherwise? It wasn't like she cared about the others, but if it was her life on the line… well that was different.
Carefully, Cynthia took the cabinet, sliding it in front of the door. It was painfully loud, but Cynthia knew it'd be for the better.
"Phew!" Basalt exclaimed, from somewhere in the darkness.
"Shh," Cynthia responded quietly. "Just because the door's blocked doesn't mean we can't be quiet."
"Yeah yeah, we're fine it's whatever. You should just be happy we let you in."
"Basalt," Esteri hissed.
"You didn't let me in, I just happened to walk into the same room you were in. And I'll be leaving as soon as I can," Cynthia shot back, gritting her teeth. She didn't understand how one person could be so annoying just by opening his mouth, but Basalt managed it.
"Hey, it's fine," Esteri interjected. "You can stay if you want, I wouldn't mind another ally. And I'm sure it's scary out there without anybody."
"I'm fine," Cynthia growled. "I'll be gone once the lights come back on."
Esteri sputtered for a moment, before settling on a response. "Okay then."
Cynthia shrugged her bag off, retreating into the furthest back corner away from the door. There was a desk crammed into the corner, and she unceremoniously clambered under it, curling up. She could hear the other two chatting quietly somewhere else in the room, but didn't care enough to listen- what could they possibly be talking about that'd matter to her? Cynthia could see a bookshelf across from her, which interested her. She'd seen a few different types of rooms in her wandering the Arena, but most of them were simple closets or storage areas- one had even contained remnants of mechanical parts. But never an office like this. Perhaps there was something of use in here, as she scanned the rest of the room from her vantage point.
As her gaze landed on the other two, sitting across the room, an idea crossed her mind.
Perhaps allies would be of more use than Cynthia ever thought they could be.
"Um, do you mind if… I maybe stuck with you guys? I know I said I'd be leaving but… I don't think I want to be alone," Cynthia asked- a blatant lie.
Esteri paused, turning to stare at Basalt. "What do you think?"
"I don't mind," Basalt shrugged.
"Me neither," Esteri agreed. "Yeah, that's fine."
"Thank you," Cynthia whispered, "Before we leave, do you think we could take a closer look at the stuff in here too? Since the lights came back on?"
"Oh, that's a good idea!" Basalt exclaimed. "Maybe there's secrets in here…"
Esteri shrugged again, offering Cynthia a cracker, which she took. "That's not a bad idea. We're solid on supplies, and this is a safe spot, so why not put it to good use."
Cynthia nodded eagerly, as she turned her attention to the desks and bookshelf. Wanting to look through the books and papers hadn't been a lie- they were curious to see if there was anything to be learned. Perhaps the Gamemakers had left some kind of clues, or something she could put to use. It was just a matter of if she found something, keeping it from the others, but Cynthia doubted that would be too hard- after all, the Sisterhood had taught her a great many things about how information could be used.
At the thought of the Sisterhood, Cynthia felt a pang of something in her chest- sadness perhaps, or any number of other things but she ignored it. She'd been their ruin, but it was to keep herself safe. All they saw her as was an heiress, a name, a means to an end.
Cynthia couldn't go on living that lie any longer.
"Cynthia? You alright?" Esteri asked, coming up beside her.
"Yeah," Cynthia nodded stiffly. "I'm just figuring out where to start."
"Do you want a hand…?"
"Um," Cynthia paused for a moment- they were allies now, helping each other was what allies did. "Sure?"
"Okay, uh how about… I'll start organizing the papers on the desks. Basalt, you can go through all the drawers, and Cynthia, you can start with the books on the shelf," Esteri said, delegating tasks out. Basalt nodded eagerly, beginning to dig through the drawers. Cynthia settled down in front of the bookshelf, pulling the first, dusty book off the shelf.
It appeared to be some kind of book about machines- Cynthia skimmed through it, trying to find something she recognized. All of the technology looked… ancient compared to what she'd seen in her parent's factories. She didn't understand what it was for though- some kind of giant machine? Cynthia set the first book down next to her, pulling the next one off the shelf, and then the next one, all of them about the exact same thing.
"Find anything?" Esteri asked, as Cynthia set down the fourth book.
"They're all about… machines? Something whoever was working here was building…?" Cynthia responded. "I'm not really sure what it means though."
"Huh, interesting," Esteri said, as she padded over. "Did you ever work in the factories?"
"No," Cynthia shook her head- she'd assumed Esteri recognized her name from her parents, but that didn't seem to be the case. "But I'm familiar with their inner workings. None of the information in these books seems current, it's older."
"Oh yeah? So whoever was building this thing is long gone?" Esteri mused. "Most of what I've found looks like papers for ordering parts I think."
Cynthia reached out, taking the papers from Esteri's hand, looking them over; their proximity was far closer than Cynthia had even realized. She would've moved away if it'd occurred to her earlier, but it hadn't. "They look like the stuff from the books."
"Hey, guys I think there's a fake bottom in this drawer!" Basalt called, Cynthia quickly jerking away from Esteri. She shoved the papers into the other girl's hand, before quickly rushing to Basalt's side.
"Let me see," Cynthia muttered, Basalt obliged, moving over as she peered into the drawer. It did look odd- not quite as deep as it should've been, but Cynthia didn't want to risk the others finding out what was in it if there was anything inside. "I don't think so."
"Are you sure-"
"I'm sure," Cynthia affirmed. "There's nothing down here."
"But-"
"Keep looking in the other drawers," Cynthia instructed, and Basalt turned away without another word, moving onto another desk.
Cynthia wouldn't let the others get any advantage over her. She couldn't.
After what felt like an eternity of going through all of the books Cynthia settled back into her nook under the desk- it wasn't like she had to sit there, but there was something comforting about the small space.
"Do you mind if I sit?" Esteri asked, peering under the desk at Cynthia.
"No," Cynthia shook her head. "I mean- no I don't mind."
Esteri slid down to the floor, crossing her legs. "I have an idea." Cynthia nodded, gesturing for Esteri to continue.
"If they were building a machine, there's a chance it could still be here, right?"
"Right," Cynthia responded curtly. "What does that mean?"
"Well, if we can find it, maybe we can figure out what it does," Esteri shrugged. "What if it could help us somehow."
"Help us…?" Cynthia trailed off. "How?"
"Dunno," Esteri shrugged. "But what are the chances of the Gamemakers leaving this all in here if they didn't want somebody to find it?"
"Hmm," Cynthia hummed. "I wouldn't mind looking."
"Me neither," Esteri agreed. "But at the same time… I don't know where we'd start."
"Don't know…" Cynthia sighed. "Perhaps we could try and figure out how to leave this room without losing it though."
"Oh that's not a bad idea," Esteri said, scratching her chin. "Perhaps we can try it after we get some sleep."
"Mmm," Cynthia nodded.
"Well then um… Goodnight?"
"Goodnight," Cynthia responded curtly, curling up under the desk, Esteri lingering for a moment before waving and getting up.
Cynthia didn't bother watching her go.
Securing the rope to Basalt's empty bag, Cynthia quickly stepped away from the boy. "There you go."
"So… what exactly do you want me to do?" Basalt asked, looping his thumbs through the straps of his bag. "I mean… Are you sure I have to go out there?"
"Well, all you have to do is go far enough that we run out of rope," Esteri said, gesturing to the pile of coiled rope by her feet. "And then leave your bag, and follow the rope back here."
"Can you… Uh can one of you come with me?" Basalt asked, nervously. It was the least high energy Cynthia had ever seen him- she didn't mind it a bit. The boy was like a walking headache.
"I don't see why not," Esteri shrugged. "Let's get going then!"
Basalt nodded, flashing Cynthia a nervous grin as he ducked out the door. Esteri followed, giving her a thumbs up, and Cynthia quickly tied the loose end of the rope to the door handle on the inside. Not only would this small experiment hopefully give some kind of explanation to how the Arena was moving, but it'd get the others out of the room for a few minutes. After tying the chain of ropes up, Cynthia beelined for the strange desk drawer, flinging it open.
Cynthia dug through the drawer until she found the bottom, her nails scraping against the wood as she attempted to find purchase on it. They only had limited time before the others came back, but was hopeful they'd be gone at least half an hour- more than enough time surely, as Cynthia pried the bottom piece of wood out of the drawer. She lifted it away, sticking her hands eagerly into the opening. Her fingers closed in around what felt like a piece of paper as she quickly pulled it out, scanning it over.
"Huh," Cynthia blinked, unfolding the slip of paper. It seemed to be some kind of roughly drawn map- like a diagram. Their location was marked on it, and drawn around it were tunnels labelled as exhaust ports. In the centre was a large open space. Drawn between their small office, and the center was a line- a path to whatever was in the middle.
Cynthia wouldn't have to look for whatever the machine was-
No, she wouldn't, because she was standing inside of it at that very moment.
Hands shaking, Cynthia carefully folded the paper, slipping it inside of her bag where it wouldn't be damaged. She then replaced the bottom of the drawer, replacing all of the items where they'd been, closing it and returning to the front of the room.
By the time the others returned, they'd have no clue anything had even happened.
The next time the lights went out, Cynthia was expecting it.
"You know, I think they change the tunnels while the lights are out," Cynthia suggested, as she flicked her flashlight on. "So nobody can see anything."
"Oh, that'd make sense," Esteri nodded, as Basalt offered them both some dried fruit.
"Does that mean we can check on the bag once they come back on?" Basalt asked, popping a handful of fruit in his mouth. Cynthia only nodded, nibbling on a dried apple slice.
"You know, this kinda reminds me of home," Esteri said, after a pause. "You know when the factories would knock everyone's power out?"
"That's true," Cynthia responded curtly. "I'd always get sent to turn the generator on because I didn't mind the basement."
"Really?" Basalt spoke up. "Your power would go out?"
"Yeah, sometimes," Esteri nodded. "The factories would draw too much in, and everyone else got left in the dark. It was worse downtown than anything though."
"The power never goes out at home," Basalt blinked. "Unless a big snowstorm comes through- that happens sometimes."
"Snow?" Cynthia spoke up. "You've seen snow?"
"Uh, yeah?" Basalt nodded. "Two's in the mountains, we get snow all the time. Have you ever seen any?"
"No," Cynthia shook her head. "Three's too… well we can barely see the sky, much less get snow."
"Ew," Basalt wrinkled his nose. "I couldn't stand that shit. I used to go up in the mountains with my dad all the time… it was really nice."
"Used to?" Esteri echoed.
"Yeah, used to. He can't make the trip anymore, he got sick… and now we don't go."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
Cynthia watched back and forth between the two- how could Basalt just openly share something like that? Cynthia didn't quite understand it, had never got people who could so freely share things like that. She'd never be caught dead saying anything like that.
"What about your parents?" Basalt asked, looking between Esteri and Cynthia.
"Dead," Cynthia responded, flatly, not bothering to elaborate any further. Everyone in Three knew who her parents were after all- and knew they were dead just the same.
"Never met them," Esteri added.
"Oh, shit," Basalt blinked. "Sorry."
"It's fine," Cynthia shrugged. "I don't care."
"I made it on my own well enough," Esteri added.
"What's Three like though? Do you really guys not have any trees?" Basalt continued, quickly changing the subject, as Cynthia found her mind wandering. She wondered about these two outliving their usefulness to her- they'd probably just slow her down in her quest to the center of the Arena. But at the same time, the past three days had gone by faster than any of the days she'd been alone. It wasn't like the others knew about the map she'd found either- unless she told them, but how was she supposed to explain where she'd gotten it from?
Cynthia couldn't stay, but at the same time, couldn't go- couldn't tell her allies what she knew, what she was planning.
Perhaps they were never useful to her though. Perhaps Cynthia was simply telling herself they would be, just like she'd convinced herself the Sisterhood would be, and she'd gotten them all killed in the end.
Surely the same would happen to Basalt and Esteri if she stayed.
Cynthia didn't sleep much that night, instead finding herself pacing around the room- insisting she'd keep watch, just to catch a moment to herself. She didn't want to keep making decisions like this- she kept digging herself into holes and leaving herself no way out.
She'd agreed to stay with the others to use them, to put them to her advantage to ensure her survival, and Cynthia couldn't even do that. Was she supposed to stay? Supposed to betray them too? She could win with Esteri, but doubted she could get her away from Basalt.
If it meant her survival, Cynthia would do anything.
Finally- finally- after what'd felt like years of pacing around the room, Cynthia made her mind up. She'd leave the others- follow the rope to the bag they'd set out to see if the tunnels had changed at all, and then make her way to the center of the Arena. Hopefully whatever she found there could be used to her advantage. And if not… she'd figure it out from there.
Cynthia couldn't let herself stick around and rot for allies who didn't stand a chance- even if she could win with one of them. There was no guarantee that Esteri wouldn't get both of them killed. Their little group had been fine while it'd lasted, but now it was time for Cynthia to leave.
She could only rely on herself to survive, after all.
Quietly as a mouse, Cynthia packed her things up, carefully checking to make sure the diagram was still there. She hadn't left the room since the others had come back- and there was no chance any of them could've taken it. She slid her water bottle into her bag, checking she had enough supplies to last her- it wasn't a guarantee they found more along the way, but it was certainly possible. As she made her way to the door, she turned, scanning the room for anything else she may have needed.
But as she did, she caught Esteri's very open eye.
"Where are you going?" Esteri asked, her voice no more than a whisper.
"Leaving," Cynthia responded simply.
"Now? We could… we could go together you know," Esteri offered.
"I…" Cynthia trailed off, slowly opening the door, beckoning for Esteri to follow. The other girl dragged herself to her feet, grabbing her bag as they made their way into the hall. Cynthia slowly, carefully closed the door behind them.
"I didn't think you'd want to leave him," Cynthia said, leaning against the wall, crossing her arms in front of her.
"I… well I don't," Esteri admitted. "But I figured it was only a matter of time before something split us up."
"We're not from the same District," Cynthia shook her head. "You can only tow him around for so long. You can't rely on him."
"I know," Esteri said, softly. "I'd just feel bad leaving him on his own."
Cynthia shrugged. "If he's smart he'll know you can't stay forever. You… I just don't want to be slowed down."
"I don't want- I won't slow you down," Esteri blinked. "We'd be stronger together."
"Perhaps," Cynthia nodded. As she opened her mouth to continue speaking though, the lights flickered out.
"Fuck," Esteri growled. "Where's your flashlight?"
Cynthia's hands flew to her pocket, pulling her flashlight out, turning it on in just a few seconds. "Get the door open."
Esteri did as instructed, her hands flying to the door handle.
But the door didn't budge.
"Basalt you fucker!" Esteri yelled, but there was no response. "He's holding it closed, I know it."
"Shit," Cynthia muttered. "We can't stay here."
"No- let's go!" Esteri whispered harshly, grabbing Cynthia by the arm and taking off. Cynthia did all she could to hold the flashlight steady ahead of them, as they ran through the tunnels. She could hear scraping in the distance- the same scraping that started every time the lights would go out, except now it was steadily growing louder.
"There's something nearby," Cynthia hissed.
"I know," Esteri grunted. "Just hold the flashlight as steady as you can." Cynthia didn't bother responding, saving her words as they turned around a corner.
And what they were met with was something Cynthia wouldn't ever forget.
The looming figure seemed to be made out of the shadows itself- vaguely humanoid, but decidedly not human. It had nothing but a blank face, smooth with no features, its long arms reaching out for them.
"The fuck is that!" Esteri shrieked, quickly pivoting. Cynthia nearly flew right into the wall as they quickly changed directions, running the opposite way. The person- no, thing -let out a horrifically loud shriek as it pursued them, Esteri leading them around a corner from it. The other girl shifted her grip, holding tightly onto Cynthia's hand, and she squeezed back just as tight.
"We only have to avoid it until the lights come back on!" Cynthia panted as they turned another corner.
"You're right," Esteri responded, her voice ever so slightly strained.
Another shriek from behind them prompted Cynthia to look back- from the darkness she could see the creature, as if it were assimilating with the very shadows of the tunnel, pulling from them.
"I have an idea!" Esteri called. "Try pointing the flashlight at it!"
Cynthia blinked, but did as she was instructed, turning around, pointing the flashlight at the thing behind them. As soon as the beam landed on it, it screeched loudly, stopping in its tracks.
As they slowed to a stop, Esteri pulled out her own flashlight, flicking it on, pointing back at the thing. It hissed, as if being burned, retreating backwards away from them. Esteri let out a pained laugh, as the thing turned and fled.
"We did it Cynth!" Esteri exclaimed, throwing her arms around Cynthia's neck. "I didn't think that'd work!"
Cynthia went stiff under the other girl's touch, resisting the urge to push her away- why hadn't she just left Cynthia outside the door? Esteri could've run on her own, could've left Cynthia. It's what she would've done- so why hadn't Esteri? And she didn't have to tell Cynthia to do that- Esteri could've just let the monster catch her, and saved her own life.
"You okay?" Esteri asked, releasing her from the hug.
"Fine," Cynthia responded, the lights flickering on overhead. "We should conserve our flashlight battery."
"Oh, yeah," Esteri nodded. "So I guess we're stuck together now?"
"I guess," Cynthia echoed, hollowly. "Wait I… I have something to show you."
"What's that?" Esteri asked. Cynthia pulled the diagram from her pocket, offering it out to Esteri.
"It's… I think it's a diagram of the machine. Of how to navigate it," Cynthia explained. "I think we're inside of it."
"Inside of… oh," Esteri exclaimed, pushing her curly hair out of her eyes. "So if we follow it, we could find the… controls? The center?"
"Maybe," Cynthia nodded. "I uh… I found it when you two were out the other day."
"You just didn't share because you were planning on going alone?" Esteri nodded. "It's okay, I understand."
Cynthia nodded, sighing as she pulled the piece of paper back. "I think we should go."
"To the middle?" Esteri asked. Cynthia nodded. "I think that's not a bad idea."
"They're gonna have to get these Games over with eventually," Cynthia noted. "And they'll probably try and push us together."
"But if we can get there first…" Esteri nodded. "I like how you're thinking."
Cynthia almost cracked a smile at this, but refrained, as she held the map up closer to her face. "I think I can get us there."
"Well let's get going then!" Esteri exclaimed, grabbing Cynthia dragging her along. For once, maybe Cynthia didn't mind the company- even if she didn't understand Esteri.
Something made her want to understand just the same.
Cynthia didn't know how long they walked for, but it felt like an eternity. The lack of sunlight, while not unfamiliar considering the heavy smog of Three, was still impossibly jarring.
She was starting to wonder if she'd ever see the sun again.
That wasn't the only thing on her mind though- Esteri was too, and perhaps that wasn't a good thing. Cynthia found herself wondering, wondering why she hadn't just left Cynthia behind, why she'd gone out of her way to drag her along, and no matter how hard she tried to figure it out Cynthia couldn't land on an answer. She understood why Basalt had locked them out- they posed a significant threat. She understood why she'd left the Sisterhood. She understood a hundred things, but this, Cynthia just couldn't wrap her mind around.
Perhaps if she really wanted the truth she could just ask.
"Hey, Esteri?" Cynthia asked, after a long stretch of silence.
"Yeah?"
"Why didn't you just run? It would've been faster if you'd left me there and gone on your own."
There were a long few beats of silence, before Esteri responded. "I couldn't just leave you to die."
"Why not? You could've died too," Cynthia reasoned.
"Well, you're my ally. And you're my District partner. And really, I don't mind you," Esteri shrugged. "I'd rather have… somebody than nobody."
"I see."
"Why?"
"I just… Didn't quite understand why you'd do that," Cynthia shrugged.
"Well I hope you understand better now," Esteri smiled, patting Cynthia on the shoulder.
"I think so," Cynthia responded softly. "I think we're almost there."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Cynthia nodded, pointing to the paper in her hands."We're… I think we're around here somewhere."
"Nice, nice," Esteri nodded. "Do you mind if I ask you something?"
"I don't know. Ask away I guess."
"Were you planning to betray us from the start…?"
Cynthia stopped nearly in her tracks at that question, blinking at the shorter girl. "Not you. Basalt maybe, if it came down to it. I wasn't planning on staying at all at the start but then… well."
"Well? What changed?"
"I don't know," Cynthia admitted. "I figured you could at least help me figure out what was going on with the machines, and if I could figure that out then… I could just leave with the knowledge and use it to my advantage."
"Huh," Esteri remarked. "Well… you do what you have to, to survive and all that."
"Yeah," Cynthia nodded. They turned another corner, and Cynthia stopped dead in her tracks. "I think we're here."
The room stretching before them was massive- double the size of the training room at the very least. It was dimly lit- Cynthia couldn't even see where the shadows stopped and the ceiling began. And sitting in the centre of the room was a massive, rusted machine, tubes emerging from its sides, delving into the ground around it.
"Woah," Esteri commented.
"It's huge…" Cynthia trailed off. "Be on the lookout."
"Yes ma'am!" Esteri grinned wolfishly, twirling her knife in her hand. Cynthia let her set off into the room, following close behind the other girl. Their footsteps echoed in the cavernous room, as they approached the massive, looming structure. Quickly enough they arrived before it, Esteri's hand drifting over the side.
"It kinda reminds me of the big engines in the factories," Esteri commented. "You know the ones that'd power the assembly lines and stuff?"
"Yeah," Cynthia nodded. "Just… bigger."
"I wonder if we can get in," Esteri mused out loud. "Maybe we can do a lap around it?"
"Sure," Cynthia agreed. They began walking, following the wall of the structure, the only sound their footsteps.
That was, until, a distant sound caught Cynthia's ear.
"Do you hear that?" She hissed, turning to Esteri.
"Sounds like yelling," Esteri nodded. "Probably other tributes, eh?"
"Probably," Cynthia nodded, brandishing her knife. "Maybe a chance to get rid of more competition."
"Are you sure you… want to do that?"
"Certainly, if they pick a fight with us," Cynthia hissed, as the voices grew louder- Cynthia could even see a distant beam of light. There were multiple entrances to the room, so it was likely they'd come in a different way from Esteri and Cynthia. Some part of her hoped it was Basalt- she wouldn't mind taking him out of the equation if he'd survived the past few days on his own.
She quickly realized, though, that wasn't the case, as a blonde boy rounded the corner of the structure- a large One emblazoned on his chest. He yelped as his flashlight passed over the pair of girls.
"Hey, guys we've got two over here!" One yelled over his shoulder, holding up a long spear of some kind. He rushed them, Cynthia and Esteri ducking in two different directions, as she swiped at him with her knife. It caught his arm, slicing through the fabric of his jacket, and he hissed loudly. Cynthia lunged for him again, but something- no, somebody -caught her by the hair, yanking her back. She growled, hitting the ground hard, as a figure jumped on her landing a punch on her jaw.
"Cynthia!" Esteri yelled from somewhere she couldn't see, as her eyes filled with tears. Wildly, she swung with her knife, hoping it'd connect with whoever was pinning her down, and as her assailant gasped, Cynthia knew she'd hit home. With as much force as she could manage, Cynthia pushed the person off, wiping the tears from her eyes scrambling to her feet.
"Fucker," The girl on the ground before Cynthia growled- a Five on her arm. Cynthia kicked her in the side, a satisfying crack resounding from her ribs. Cynthia now descended on her, plunging her knife into the girl's throat. She gasped, but it came out as a gurgle, her hands fluttering around her neck.
"London!" One called out, from somewhere nearby. Cynthia looked up, as the boy lunged at her, spear directed for her heart, but something- no somebody knocked him off balance before his attack could connect. Cynthia rolled off the girl- London, kicking the boy's spear away.
"You killed her," One growled. Cynthia only shrugged, plunging the knife into his chest in one quick motion, and it wasn't long before he went still.
"You okay?" Esteri asked, rushing to Cynthia's side.
"Fine," Cynthia responded. "He almost killed me."
"Thankfully he didn't," Esteri laughed, nervously, brushing her fingers over Cynthia's face as she stepped away from the bodies."Are you sure you're okay? You're bleeding."
"Oh," Cynthia blinked. "I guess I am."
"It's okay, I have bandages, I can fix it up. We should probably just… move away from these two," Esteri said, gesturing to the two still bodies on the ground.
"Yeah," Cynthia responded softly. "Before we do though…"
Cynthia turned back to the bodies, unceremoniously cutting their bags off their shoulders. "Maybe they'll have something helpful."
"Maybe, but… doesn't it feel wrong taking their stuff like that?" Esteri grimaced, clearly cringing.
"Not really… we need it more than they do," Cynthia shrugged, holding onto the two bags tightly. "We can look through them once we move away."
"Okay," Esteri nodded. They set off, continuing along the wall, and as they walked the adrenaline wore off and true exhaustion set into Cynthia's body. She'd never been this tired in her life- not when she was on the streets, not when she was in the orphanage, not even when she was working for the Sisterhood. Soon enough, Esteri declared them far enough away from the bodies, dropping her bag. Cynthia sunk to the ground, back against the wall.
Perhaps she couldn't survive out here all on her own. The past few days had only proven that, after all. Esteri had saved her not once, but twice, and Cynthia had been concerned about Esteri slowing her down.
Really, all Cynthia was doing was slowing Esteri down. That had become apparent as ever.
"Here, pull your hair back," Esteri instructed, snapping Cynthia out of her thoughts. She did as she was told, holding her hair out of her face. "This might sting a little."
"That's fine," Cynthia murmured. Esteri applied something to her face that stung slightly, but Cynthia didn't flinch.
Perhaps she'd been the weak one all along. All of the horrible things in her life were all her fault- ruin and chaos followed in her very steps, and it was all her fault.
Everything Cynthia touched, would inevitably crumble, including herself.
"Okay, and let me just… put a bandage on there," Esteri narrated as if talking herself through the process. "And there you go! Good as new!"
"Thank you," Cynthia whispered, brushing her fingers over the bandage.
"No problem," Esteri nodded, sinking to the ground next to Cynthia. "We should rest for a bit."
Cynthia didn't bother replying, only nodding her head- surely Esteri would leave, surely she'd give up on Cynthia. After all that's what Cynthia herself would do. She was disgusted at herself- how could she ever become this lacking? This weak? She'd gotten herself through seventeen years on her own, and now she found herself being saved by another person not once but twice.
"You alright?" Esteri asked, breaking the silence.
"I don't know," Cynthia shrugged. "All you've done is save my life."
"Yeah… and?"
"And if I were you, I'd have left me to die three days ago," Cynthia reasoned. "But you haven't."
"Well we're a pretty good team," Esteri shrugged. "You killed both of those tributes, I doubt I could've done that on my own."
"Oh," Cynthia blinked. "So you think I'm helpful?"
"Not just helpful," Esteri shook her head. "I want you around."
"You do?"
"Well, yeah Cynth," Esteri said, leaning into her field of view. "I wouldn't have given you so many chances if I didn't."
"Oh," Cynthia exhaled- somebody wanted her around. Somebody wanted her to stay, somebody wanted her by their side.
And Cynthia didn't want to run. Not this time.
Not again.
"I see."
Esteri paused for a moment, but didn't say anything more. Instead, she wrapped her hand around Cynthia's, giving it a gentle squeeze.
And for once, Cynthia didn't bother pulling away.
"Cynth! Wake up!" Esteri's voice brought her back to consciousness. Cynthia peeled her eyes open to the other girl shaking her violently.
"What? What is it?" Cynthia grunted. "Stop shaking me."
"I think I figured out how to get in," Esteri exclaimed, stopping shaking her but leaving her hands on Cynthia's shoulders. "There's like… some of the panels slide."
"What?" Cynthia asked groggily. "What does that mean?"
"Come look," Esteri beckoned, as Cynthia dragged herself to her feet, still half asleep. The other girl grabbed her by the arm, dragging her to one side. She placed her hands on the piece of metal, pushing on it, and ever so slowly it began moving with a terrible noise- metal scraping against metal. Cynthia cringed, placing her hands over her ears.
"Yeah it's pretty loud. I'm surprised I didn't wake you up earlier," Esteri commented, scratching her face as she stopped moving the metal. "I saw some light coming through the crack though, when the lights went out."
"The lights went out and you didn't wake me up…?" Cynthia trailed off. "How long was I out for?"
"Dunno," Esteri shrugged. "A while…?"
"You could've woken me up," Cynthia yawned. "It's not fair to let you stay on watch for that long. We should've split the time up."
"You needed the rest," Esteri said simply. "I wasn't gonna wake you up unless something really big happened, and look! Something big happened!"
Cynthia nodded, turning her attention back to the panel on the wall. "Well let's get inside then."
"Come help me," Esteri beckoned Cynthia over, and they obliged, hooking their fingers into the small gap between the metal. They pushed as hard as they could, Esteri following suit, and before long (and despite the painful noise) there was a large enough gap that the girls could slip through.
"That wasn't so bad," Esteri grinned, dusting her hands off. "Let's get going, I bet anybody within a five-mile radius heard that."
Cynthia nodded- Esteri was right, it was far louder than Cynthia would've liked it to be, but that wasn't something that could be helped. She carefully slid through the gap, and soon found herself standing in a narrow hallway. It was even warmer inside of the machine- as if all of the heat in the Arena were coming from it, and Cynthia quickly found herself shedding her jacket.
"Should we close it up behind us?" Esteri asked, taking her jacket off just the same.
"Perhaps, just so nobody follows us," Cynthia suggested, and Esteri made her way to the panel, pushing it closed again. Her footsteps were loud on the metal flooring- as Cynthia looked down she could see holes in it, and darkness beneath that.
"Now which way," Esteri hummed, as she finished closing up the wall.
"That way takes us up," Cynthia said, pointing up the stairs. "We can start by going that way and then make our way back down after if needed."
"Good plan."
The pair started off up the stairs, single file as the walkway was narrow. In any other situation, Cynthia wouldn't have trusted it, but despite the rust on the outside of the machine, the interior seemed to be in decent shape. Considering how old it was, based on the records and its appearance, Cynthia was surprised- machines weren't often built to last like this.
Along the way, they passed several posters, half ripped down- all of them faded, but despite that she kept spotting the same symbol- a kind of lightning bolt, or electricity of some kind.
"I wonder if this was a power plant," Cynthia remarked, as they pushed upwards.
"That would make sense… but what kind of power plant looks like this…?"
"Dunno," Cynthia shrugged. "Maybe it's from the old days."
"Huh, maybe," Esteri blinked, looking up. After a few more minutes of climbing, Cynthia found herself on a platform, standing in front of a door. She paused, looking to Esteri, who nodded. Cynthia opened the door, holding her knife up steadily in front of her. It wasn't dark as she'd expected it to be, but as she pushed further into the room it appeared to be some kind of workshop, combined with a sort of lounge. On one side of the room was a collection of tables, scattered with mechanic parts and discarded tools. Opposite, was a small seating area, couches collected around a low table, and a screen on the wall between them.
"I wonder…" Esteri trailed off. "I wonder if the pair we ran into out there were camping out in here."
"That's plausible," Cynthia nodded, moving towards the couches. Indeed, there were signs of life- a pile of garbage in the corner, matching the same plastic wrapping their food had come in. As well, there were a few pillows and blankets collected on the couches, like somebody had been sleeping there.
"Perhaps we can use this as our base, while we look around elsewhere," Cynthia continued.
"Mmm yeah," Esteri nodded, swinging her bag off her shoulder. "We'll be set on supplies for the next… while I think, since they both had plenty."
"Good," Cynthia agreed, pulling her water bottle out of her bag. She took a quick sip, wandering into the other half of the room. The work tables were all scattered with what seemed to be various personal items- coffee cups full of pens, and pictures, and all sorts of other things. Cynthia picked up one of the pictures, peering down at an orange haired boy with an arm wrapped around a smaller man with long, dark hair- both of them looked happy, as if they'd been caught in the picture off guard.
"It's like everyone here just up and disappeared," Esteri remarked, wandering through the stations herself. "Like there's just half-finished stuff here and there… it's weird."
"Weird, yeah," Cynthia nodded. "I wonder where they went."
"Me too," Esteri nodded.
"I think we can go further up over there," Cynthia said, gesturing towards another doorway- opposite from the one they'd entered through.
"Do you want to go now?"
"Yeah, sure."
Esteri picked her way over to Cynthia, the pair moving towards the door together.
Just as Cynthia went to place a hand on the doorknob though, something curious happened- a crackling noise rang through the air, and the same voice from the very first day spoke.
"Hello tributes… now that there's only six of you left, we have a small proposal. We'd like to offer everyone a feast! But not just any kind of feast… no, a special feast."
Cynthia stopped dead in her tracks, turning to look at Esteri, who was making an equally as shocked face.
"If all of you would please make your way to the center of the arena to collect your supplies twenty four hours from now, that would be wonderful! To get there, please follow the path that should be lighting up for you momentarily. Good luck everybody!"
With that, the crackling subsided.
"We're fucked," Esteri muttered. "They're all coming here."
"They are, but if we can… Surely there's something in this place that could help us," Cynthia reasoned, opening the door. She stepped through, and found herself in another stairwell, leading up once again. "If we can find something here to help us… We can end everything."
"Well let's keep looking then," Esteri nodded, following Cynthia up the stairs.
Cynthia could only hope she was right.
She didn't know how long it took them to get to the top of the stairs, but by the time they got there, Cynthia felt like she was exhausted enough to sleep a decade.
"Look at that, another door," Esteri mumbled, pushing it open with a tired "Hooray!"
Stepping into the room, Cynthia found it to be much smaller than the last one had been. Instead of workstations and a lounge, this one looked more like a control room. There were large screens, in rows with chairs in front of them. Cynthia wandered in, looking at the screens. All of them were lit up, but idle otherwise.
"Huh," Cynthia said, scratching her head. "I wonder what these do."
"Dunno," Esteri shrugged. Cynthia pushed forwards, to the front of the room where an even larger control panel sat. One of the screens displayed something curious- a panel with twenty-six names on it, in District order. Beneath all of their names were heartbeat monitors- only five remaining active.
"Look," Cynthia pointed. "It's us."
"And that one's… Basalt, he's still alive," Esteri blinked. "Plus the girl from Nine- her name's Aster… and the boy from Eleven, Matthias."
"Basalt," Cynthia whispered."Of course he is."
Five left. There were only three people left between them and going home- both of them going home.
"There's other stuff too… these buttons do things to the machine I think," Esteri noted, gesturing to the array of buttons next to the screen. "This one… I wonder if the two we killed were the ones turning the lights out."
"But the lights went out after they died," Cynthia responded.
"Well… huh, yeah."
"Unless somebody else is in here?"
"Maybe…? Maybe the place is just haunted," Esteri snorted.
"Haunted…? By ghosts…?" Cynthia trailed off, puzzled. She didn't quite understand how ghosts could push buttons, considering they weren't real.
"It was a joke, I doubt there's any ghosts pushing buttons around here," Esteri continued, trailing her hand over the panel.
"Oh, okay," Cynthia nodded. "That… yeah."
"Yeah."
Cynthia cleared her throat, quickly moving on. "I wonder if we can knock the lights out. Since everyone else is probably moving right now, considering they're supposed to be coming here."
"I…" Esteri trailed off. "Are you… sure you want to do that? I mean, that might kill three people."
Cynthia paused, blinking at the other girl. "This is the Games. People are going to have to die if we want to go home."
"I know but… it just…" Esteri stopped halfway through her sentence, waving her hands pointedly. "It's just a lot."
"Don't you want to go home?" Cynthia asked.
"I- well yeah."
"Then we have to get rid of them," Cynthia shrugged. "Plain and simple."
Esteri paused for a moment, something flashing over her face before she responded, quietly. "Okay. Let's get this over with."
Cynthia made her way to the button Esteri was hovering by, neatly labelled POWER OFF in all caps. She hovered her hand over the button for a few seconds- how many more people would have to die so Cynthia could live? How many more lives would she have to take to ensure her own safety? She hesitated, but just for a moment, before hitting the button.
And then the world around her went dark.
"Cynth?" Esteri's voice called from somewhere in the void. "Where are you?"
"Here," Cynthia responded, pulling her flashlight out. She flicked it on, the beam landing on the other girl.
"What did you hit…?"
"Power off," Cynthia responded dryly. "And now… the power is off."
"An astute observation," Esteri snorted.
"Wait-" Cynthia whispered, holding a finger to her lips. Esteri went dead silent, as Cynthia listened for a moment.
The scraping had started again, and it was louder than ever.
"Fuck," Esteri whispered, making her way to Cynthia's side. Her hand hovered just next to Cynthia's, and she pretended not to notice the proximity.
"It sounds like they're getting closer," Cynthia whispered.
"Guess we'll be getting ready for a fight, unless you can turn the power back on," Esteri sighed, pulling her knife out.
"Perhaps," Cynthia said, scrunching her nose up. They moved the flashlight beam to the panel, searching the buttons and switches.
"I know we can get rid of them with the flashlights, but it sounds like a lot of them," Esteri said, her voice taking on a worried edge. "Can you hurry up?"
"Look with me," Cynthia grunted, as she scanned over the buttons. Esteri joined in, pointing her flashlight at the opposite end of the panel, both of them searching.
But the scraping grew louder, and louder, and soon enough Cynthia could hear their screeches, the hair on the back of her neck standing up like one of them was lurking over her shoulder. She resisted the urge to turn and look.
After a few more moments, Esteri let out a quiet "aha!" and just a couple seconds later the lights were flickering back on. Cynthia let out a sigh of relief, as the shrieking quickly quieted.
"How many are left?" Esteri asked, sounding relieved. Cynthia spun around to look at the other screen, finding the Eleven boy's had flatlined.
"One more down- and I think something is happening to the Nine girl," Cynthia muttered, her heart rate steadily increased, and increased before-
"She's gone too," Esteri muttered, peering at the screen from beside Cynthia. "And something weird is happening with Basalt too." Indeed, his heart rate was increasing.
"Maybe they got him too…?" Esteri trailed off, but it was clear to them both it was wistful thinking.
"I guess we'll have to… wait for him?" Cynthia sighed, moving around the control panel. "I'm gonna take a better look around."
"Okay, I'll keep an eye on this," Esteri nodded. As Cynthia made her way towards the front of the room, looking at the screens, she heard something curious- a sort of clanging noise. The entire structure had a certain, thrumming energy to it, the humming of machinery and energy coursing through it. But this was different- as if coming from inside the room.
Cynthia rounded a corner behind one of the tables but didn't get a chance to register anything else before something solid connected with her head.
She didn't even get a chance to yell before she hit the ground.
All Esteri heard before Cynthia disappeared was a gasp.
"Cynth?" Esteri called out, fear panging in her chest. "You okay?"
There was no response, and Esteri felt her heart sink into the very deepest part of her stomach, visceral and terrifying.
Esteri Valdespino was not alone.
"Basalt, you fucker," Esteri growled, brandishing her knife as she made her way towards where Cynthia had disappeared. There was no response, as she crept forwards, step by step. She rounded the corner behind one of the rows of screens, and crumpled still in the middle of the aisle way was Cynthia blood pooling around her head.
She wasn't dead- she wasn't dead, Esteri could see her chest moving up and down she wasn't dead-
But in her focus on her ally, Esteri didn't see the pipe swinging for her ribs.
It connected with a loud crack, sending Esteri sideways into the screen. She grunted loudly in pain, gritting her teeth as she righted herself. Pulling her knife from its sheath at her hip, Esteri swung around, meeting the pale boy she'd spent days with, a bloodied length of pipe gripped between his hands.
"You fucked us over," Esteri growled, lunging for him.
"You were going to leave me anyways. I'm not stupid, I heard your conversation. And now I just have to get rid of you before I can go home," Basalt spat, all the malice in the world behind his words as he ducked out of the way of her strike. He was small and quick, darting around Esteri, swinging at her again. The blow connected with her stomach, sending a wave of pain through her. Esteri swiped at the boy, slicing open the side of his neck. The boy hissed quietly, taking another swing at Esteri, but she ducked out of the way, the pipe embedding itself in one of the screens where she'd just been standing seconds earlier.
Esteri wouldn't let this fucking kid beat her out. Not now- not when she was so close to getting not just herself, but both of them home.
The next attack from Basalt, Esteri wouldn't be so quick to dodge, as it connected with her jaw, sending her crashing to the floor. She tried to crawl away, vision going blurry but the pipe connected with her hand, causing her to drop her weapon. Tears were rolling down her face- Esteri didn't want to die, didn't want to fail when she was this close to home.
She'd fought this long, she wouldn't quit now.
Cynthia could hardly see a thing as she peeled her eyes open- her vision was blurry, as she blinked a few times. There was so much red in her vision- and her head was pounding like nothing she'd ever felt before. She could hardly make a thing out, even as her vision steadied ever so slightly.
As it did, Cynthia realized what she was looking at- what she was hearing.
The sobbing and crying was Esteri, laying on the ground just feet away, being attacked just as Cynthia had been.
Gritting her teeth, Cynthia dragged herself up off the ground, her head pounding with every movement. She steadied herself against the screen next to her, as she sat up on her knees. She then pushed herself up to a kneeling position before climbing all the way up to standing. As soon as she was on her feet, she lunged at Basalt, throwing him to the ground with as much of her strength as she could manage. He yelped loudly, his weapon clattering to the ground. They both scrambled for it, but Cynthia was closer, scooping it up in one hand, kicking him in the side with one of her boots. He rolled over, next to Esteri trying to scramble away but Cynthia descended on him.
Swinging the pipe with all her might, Cynthia connected with Basalt's back, a satisfying crack ringing through the air. Basalt yelped loudly, scrambling away faster, but Cynthia brought the pipe down on him again and again- missing more than she hit, but landing enough that eventually he stilled and there was nothing but blood covering him, and her, and the entire aisle way between.
As soon as Cynthia was sure the boy would never move again, she turned her attention to Esteri. The other girl was crumpled on the ground, bloodied and beaten. She was barely recognizable, Cynthia scrambling to the ground.
"Esteri?" Cynthia asked, unsure of if to move her or not, and so she'd settle for taking her hand in their own. "It's okay just hang on."
"Congratulations!" A crackling voice rang through the air, but Cynthia barely heard it. "Victors of the 8th Hunger Games, Cynthia Excellon and Esteri Valdespino!"
And yet Cynthia didn't understand how it could be a victory when she'd been right all along.
All she did was bring ruin and death to another person who she could've cared for.
The last thing Cynthia remembered was blood- covering the floor, the tables, her and Esteri and everything between. But the next time they began to open their eyes, the harsh white light was anything but the grimy, dark Arena.
"Cynthia?" A soft, familiar voice asked, and suddenly there was a whisper of a touch on her arm. At the sound of her name, she struggled a little harder, and eventually her eyes peeled all the way open.
The familiar face of Rampart Szajko peered into her view, a worried look crossing their face.
"Hi," Cynthia rasped, her voice hoarse.
"How do you feel?" Rampart asked, his hand moving off her arm.
"Terrible," Cynthia spat the words out, clearing her throat as best she could manage. Her head pounded, but it was much better than it'd been the last time she'd been awake.
"Do you want… uh some water?"
Cynthia nodded eagerly at this, as Rampart fumbled for something she couldn't see. The bed beneath her moved, pushing her up into a sitting position, and Rampart offered her a bottle of water. She took it, gulping it down greedily. As soon as they took the bottle away from their lips, they coughed, Rampart gently patting them on the shoulder.
"Take it slow," Rampart said. "You'll be alright."
"Thanks," Cynthia muttered, her voice much clearer than it'd been. "Where… we won? I won?"
"Yeah," Rampart nodded as eager as Cynthia had ever seen them. "It's just… Esteri."
"What about her?"
"She um… well she took a lot of damage in the Arena," Rampart explained. "And um… there's no guarantee she'll wake up, or how long she'll be asleep for."
"Wake up…?
"Yeah they um… put her in a coma, but they don't know if it'll… you know, work."
"Oh," Cynthia sighed, softly. After all of that- after everything, they couldn't guarantee Esteri's survival after the Games. It wasn't fair if she died now, she'd won fair and square, and so she should be allowed to live the rest of her life out in happiness.
She didn't deserve to live whatever kind of false life they'd given her now. She deserved so much more than that.
"Would I be allowed to… um visit her?" Cynthia asked, after a few beats of silence.
"I think that can be arranged, Cynthia," Rampart nodded. "And um… I don't know if it means much but I'm… proud of you. Don't be too hard on yourself."
"Thank you," Cynthia whispered, unsure of what to do with herself now, and so she reached out and patted Rampart's hand awkwardly.
Cynthia had won. She'd escaped with her life and yet this didn't feel like a victory.
Perhaps it wasn't meant to be one.
Only a few days passed, before Cynthia was allowed to leave the hospital- much to Jericho's amusement. Both of the Three mentors rotated through visiting her, sometimes only one of them, and sometimes both at once. Cynthia didn't particularly mind the company, especially not Rampart. There was something comforting about the quieter mentor that Cynthia appreciated.
They were especially glad for it as they were escorted out of the hospital. Rampart kept their hand firmly in the middle of her back, Jericho clearing a path through the crowd of reporters. It wasn't long before they were in the car, and off, into the Capitol's clutches.
(She'd never escaped, like she'd tried so hard to. Rebels, the Capitol, they'd never let her go from the eternal game of tug of war. No matter what Cynthia said, no matter what she did, she'd always have to pick a side, always be forced to choose.)
(All Cynthia wanted to do was stop running.)
The prep team had plenty to say about her as they reduced her to pieces before building her back up again. Her hair was cut, and her entire body was scrubbed down, removing a layer of dirt that certainly didn't exist, and by the time she looked in the mirror, Cynthia hardly recognized the person before her- her face was free of any mark or blemish that'd been there prior, all of the small scars entirely gone from her face- even the spot where Basalt had hit her had no mark, even though Cynthia knew there should've been one on her temple. It was like they'd ever so slightly changed her face, turning Cynthia into an equal parts stranger and familiar.
Who was she?
"What did they do to me…?" Cynthia asked, the first words she spoke to the prep team.
"Why, they fixed you dear," one of the stylists cooed, running his razor-sharp nails along the side of her face. "What the other District people wouldn't give to look like you, now."
Cynthia turned away from his touch, the rest of the team laughing again at her discomfort- as if she was nothing but something on display, as if her suffering was amusing- hadn't she suffered enough for their entertainment? The moment they were done with her, Cynthia bolted from the room, running into the foyer of the building, where Rampart waited for her.
"Everything alright?" Rampart asked softly, a knowing edge to their voice.
"That was terrible," Cynthia sighed. "Can we go home?"
Rampart nodded, escorting her back to the car- again, his hand hovering over the middle of her back. "Would you like to uh… see Esteri today?"
Cynthia nodded eagerly- she'd been waiting for this, ever since they'd released her from the hospital. According to Rampart, typically they'd have already gotten the interview, and everything over with, but considering Esteri's state, they'd had to delay it. Which left Cynthia to wait when all she wanted was to leave this place.
"How much longer do you uh… think they'll delay the interview?" Cynthia asked, as they drove through the streets of the Capitol.
"Hmm," Rampart hummed. "I don't know… this is certainly an odd situation. Me and Jericho were in a similar situation, but not to this extent… I left the hospital three days before him, and they wouldn't let me see him."
"I see," Cynthia nodded. "So normally I wouldn't be able to see her until the interview?"
"Something to that effect, yes," Rampart nodded. "This is just, um… special circumstances."
Cynthia nodded, continuing to peer out the window as they eventually arrived at the hospital she'd left just a few days prior. As soon as they'd come to a stop, Cynthia hopped out of the car, Rampart following behind her as they made their way through the doors. It was just as blank and white, the strong sterile smell throwing her off somewhat.
"Which way?" Cynthia whispered to Rampart. They led her through the building, up a flight of stairs, eventually stopping in front of one of the rooms.
"Here," Rampart gestured. "I can um, wait out here? If you want some time?" Cynthia didn't bother responding- didn't think she could in fact. Instead she gave Rampart a single, curt nod before pushing into the room.
The girl who lay before her was very nearly unrecognizable.
Cynthia stood, staring for a moment- gone were Esteri's blonde curls, shaved down to their darker roots, her face a mural of purple and blue bruises. She seemed so… dead, so drained of the life Cynthia had become used to.
The girl who laid before her was not the same one who'd saved her life, was not the same girl who wouldn't leave Cynthia alone, wasn't the same girl who'd followed Cynthia practically every step of the way since leaving District Three.
Cynthia could only hope that girl would be found again.
It only took a few days before Cynthia settled into her new routine- wake up, and visit Esteri and then wander around the Capitol with Jericho or Rampart, sometimes both or neither. She didn't know why she felt so compelled to visit Esteri- it wasn't like she'd know if Cynthia was there or not- but either way she would visit, sometimes bring a book and read, or more often sit in silence.
Cynthia didn't know what to say, after all. It was her fault Esteri was like this- if she'd been a little more careful, a little more vigilant, a little bit quicker to wake up, perhaps she could've been saved from this fate. Perhaps it could've been Cynthia instead of Esteri.
After all, Cynthia deserved it all the more. She'd done terrible things, for what? To keep herself alive? She'd killed people who'd cared about her, who took her in when she'd had nothing, and now she was the only one left alive.
Maybe it would've been better if Cynthia hadn't left the Arena at all.
"They're going through with the interview tomorrow," Rampart said, as Cynthia got into the car after leaving Esteri's bedside. It'd been a week and a half of visiting, and almost a month since they'd won- a month of the Capitol holding its breath. "The Capitol is losing patience."
"I'll have to do it alone?" Cynthia asked, and Rampart only nodded.
She'd do it alone then if that's what had to happen. Cynthia had done it alone for years, what was one more night?
Cynthia steeled herself, as she was sent through the prep team- again as if one time wasn't enough, and then stuffed into her outfit- a sort of black suit, that complimented her hair nicely. At least it wasn't a dress. Cynthia had never been fond of those.
And before she knew it, Cynthia was being thrust on stage before the entire nation. They didn't know her here as Cynthia the betrayer, the heir to a rebel fortune she didn't want, as a figurehead for a movement she couldn't believe in, for her name for anything Cynthia couldn't control.
They saw her as Cynthia Excellon, Victor of the Hunger Games.
The interview passed in a blur, Cynthia robotically answering all of the questions thrown at her- it was bittersweet, she'd won, she'd succeeded, and yet Esteri wasn't here to celebrate too.
Sure, Cynthia had gotten everything she'd wanted, and yet they'd never considered that despite winning something could be missing.
She watched the Games- watched them all wake up in that training room, so long ago. Watched herself turn Esteri and Basalt down, watched herself kill that boy.
And then the tunnels, the dark horrible tunnels that would remain engraved in her memory for as long as she lived. She watched the boy they'd refused to let inside die, ripped apart by hands of shadows- many of the tributes seemed to meet similar demises. She watched as Basalt dug the very map she'd found in the bottom of the drawer out, copying it when Cynthia and Esteri were distracted, before replacing it.
She watched, unflinching, to the very end witnessed Basalt land hit upon hit on Esteri and then-
And then it was over.
The crowd cheered, as Cynthia exited the stage but it was all she could do to make it down the stairs before running for a garbage can, releasing the contents of her stomach into it.
"Hey, hey, oh that's not good," A familiar voice said. As Cynthia coughed into the garbage can, a gentle, solid hand landed on her back. "Oh dear, would you like some water? Perhaps I can find a medic for you?"
Cynthia raised her head as soon as she was sure she was finished, met with the concerned gaze of Glen.
"Water," Cynthia croaked. The man scrambled, rushing off for a moment before returning with a water bottle.
"Here you go," Glen grinned, handing her the water. "I'm sorry your friend couldn't be here."
Cynthia took a few nervous sips from the bottle, and as soon as they were certain their stomach was steady they gulped the rest down. "It… it's okay. At least she's alive."
"I hope she recovers quickly," Glen said, sinking down to sit on the floor next to Cynthia. "If there's anything I can ever do to help you just… let me know. I understand how hard it can be… and not all of the others are quite as um, keen to interact with other victors."
"You don't mind?" Cynthia replied.
"Nah," Glen shook his head, brushing curls out of his face. "I'd feel bad if I didn't. I didn't have much help when I came out of the Arena, the other victors wanted nothing to do with me. I was just a kid."
Cynthia nodded, as Glen continued speaking. "So I try and help out the new victors however I can! If you ever happen to be in Seven, swing by! I like the company."
"I see," Cynthia nodded, unsure of what else to say to the overly energetic man. "Um… likewise. If you ever happen to be in Three that is."
"That's the spirit!" Glen exclaimed. "I like your spirit actually! It's really good! You didn't try and fight me like the one kid from a few years back."
Cynthia found herself too taken aback to respond- nearly even cracking a smile -as Rampart and Jericho finally materialized from the crowd of people backstage.
"Hey Glen," Jericho grinned, waving at the man. "Taking good care of our Victor?"
"The best I can," Glen chuckled, pulling himself off the ground. He turned around, offering a hand to Cynthia which she took, letting him help her to her feet. Cynthia took a deep breath, Glen giving her a squeeze on the shoulder.
"I'll see you around then, Cynthia?" Glen asked, giving her a smile. She nodded and gave him a small, wry smile.
Perhaps there was more support to be found than Cynthia ever thought there'd be.
The next days in the Capitol passed in a similar blur, Cynthia trying her best to stay out of the way of the chaos. She mostly succeeded, but as the newest Victor, there was only so much she could avoid. Before long, she was at the same train station she'd arrived at, standing between Jericho and Rampart.
"So we have to… they're keeping her here?" Cynthia asked, as she sat stiffly in the corner of the couch.
"She'll get better care here than back home," Jericho shrugged. "It's… I would've liked to bring her home with us but we can't."
"Will I be able to come visit?" Cynthia asked- she didn't want Esteri to be alone, in that hospital room, day in and day out.
"You can," Rampart nodded. "It's just… things aren't looking good."
"I understand," Cynthia nodded, and yet that couldn't have been further from the truth. She didn't understand, she didn't understand what was compelling her to stay by Esteri's side. She didn't understand why winning wasn't enough- why Victory couldn't be enough. Maybe nothing would ever be enough for Cynthia Excellon, and she'd spend the rest of her life searching.
Nothing could ever be enough for Cynthia Excellon.
Arriving back to Three felt like a hollow victory- Cynthia was seen, the crowds of people weren't thinking of her parents, of their executions, of the horrible things they'd done. She'd all but eradicated the rumours about her.
The Cynthia Excellon who'd walked back into Three was not the same one who'd left it.
And yet, being a Victor came with all kinds of new pressures- everything had to be perfect and pristine, Cynthia was nothing more than the Capitol's puppet, and she hated it. Perhaps she'd been looking at victory through the wrong lens before she'd volunteered. She'd seen it as a way out, a way to a new life- surely Victors had more freedom than anybody else.
Oh how Cynthia was wrong. Victors were trapped, more than anybody else. At least if Cynthia hadn't won she'd be able to walk the streets without fear- go unnoticed in the shadows. Now she could hardly step out of her home without being recognized.
Cynthia had wanted this. She'd wanted to forge her own path and now she'd done it. But what was the cost? Cynthia would never be seen as anything more than another number, another Victor. Next year there'd be somebody new, and she'd inevitably be forgotten to time.
And sure, she could call herself a Victor, but what did that mean? She'd escaped one box just to be thrust into another one.
For as long as she ran, Cynthia would never escape the cycle.
The first month, Cynthia hardly left her home- didn't even see anybody else save for Rampart and Jericho dropping by every few days. More commonly it was Jericho, but still, Cynthia didn't want to be interacting with anybody. All she wanted was to be left to her own devices- to aimlessly wander the home so graciously given to her by the Capitol, wondering about a hundred things she couldn't even begin to wrap her mind around.
She's won, and now she had nothing to do, nowhere to go. the Capitol supplied her with anything and everything she could've asked for, and now there was nothing to spend her energy on, no goal to find- nothing.
Nothing but wandering aimlessly, day in and day out.
It was another two weeks before Jericho and Rampart visited her. She let them in reluctantly so. They'd learned she didn't particularly feel like talking, and so they wouldn't.
"We have good news," Jericho exclaimed, setting down the groceries they'd brought for her in her kitchen.
"Good news?" Cynthia muttered, her voice raspy from disuse. She'd go days without speaking to anybody but herself.
"Your travel permit to the Capitol was approved," Rampart said with a soft smile.
"I… can go?" Cynthia whispered. "When?"
"They said you can go every weekend," Rampart explained, handing her the papers- she didn't remember filing them, but perhaps somewhere along the way somebody had.
"And today is Thursday, so you could leave tomorrow night if you wanted to," Jericho added, wandering through the living room, dusting surfaces as he went.
Tomorrow. She could go tomorrow.
"I- thank you," Cynthia managed, standing still for a moment.
"Of course! Somebody has to keep an eye on our other Victor," Jericho grinned.
Cynthia nearly giggled at the thought of leaving the district- tomorrow, tomorrow she could go.
It didn't feel real as she stood on the train platform, bags in hand. She'd be there in just a few hours, and yet she couldn't wrap her mind around it- around anything. Why were Jericho and Rampart being so nice to her, when all she'd done was push them away? She simply didn't understand it, but they'd gotten her here, so she wouldn't complain.
One.
She was in the Capitol again, the shining buildings equally as beautiful as they'd been the first time.
Two.
Cynthia was in the car, bag collected in her lap- why was she so nervous? What was causing her hands to shake, ever so slightly? She couldn't tell, Cynthia didn't know if she was excited, or nervous, or what.
Three.
She stood in front of the hospital room door she'd opened so many times before. Cynthia was here- really standing here.
Four.
Cynthia pushed the door open, stepping into the room. Esteri's hair was beginning to grow out, her soft brown locks beginning to curl around her face. All of the bruises were gone, faded away since the last time Cynthia had visited.
"I'm sorry for not visiting," Was all Cynthia could manage as she slipped into the chair next to the bed.
Week, after week, Cynthia would find herself on that train, eagerly awaiting her arrival to the Capitol. It gave her something to look forward to, each week. And every week she'd return home, and return to her pacing, and yet it was more peaceful than it'd ever been.
And yet, week after week, Esteri wouldn't wake up, and every time she'd arrive home, Cynthia would tell herself- surely it'd be next week. Surely next week she'd wake up, surely it'll happen eventually.
But quickly enough the summer- and their 18th birthday- passed, the time marching into fall, and then into winter, and in the blink of an eye, it was another year- a new year.
Certainly, this would be the year Esteri woke up.
That first January weekend, Cynthia walked into the hospital room, same as ever. She shivered, pulling her jacket closer around her- it hadn't snowed in the Capitol yet that year, but she'd heard from one of the nurses it might be soon.
"It might snow today," Cynthia said, as she made her way to the window, opening the blinds. "And you missed New Years."
As Cynthia turned around, she knew what she'd see- a still, lifeless girl. But, this time as Cynthia looked a little closer, she realized-
Her eyelids were flickering ever so slightly.
"Esteri?" Cynthia asked, rushing to the girl's side, taking her hand. "Can you hear me?"
The faintest of squeezes was all Cynthia got in response.
Frantically, Cynthia located the call button, smashing her hand into it, and before long one of the nurses was rushing in.
"What happened?" The nurse asked.
"She opened her eyes a little," Cynthia responded. "And squeezed my hand."
That was the last thing Cynthia got out before a whole team of doctors and nurses rushed into the room, Cynthia pushing herself into the corner.
That weekend, Cynthia wouldn't leave the Capitol, as news of Esteri Valdespino waking up broke across the country.
Cynthia stepped into the hospital room- it was a familiar routine now, except this time would be different.
This would be the first time she'd visited since Esteri had woken up all the way.
Letting out a deep breath, Cynthia pushed the door open, stepping in.
"Hey," Esteri said- a voice Cynthia hadn't heard in months. "Come in."
"Sorry I um… should've knocked," Cynthia mumbled, hovering awkwardly by the bdside. "How do you feel?"
"Terrible," Esteri responded, chuckling softly, which quickly turned to coughing. "But I'm alive."
"You are," Cynthia nodded stiffly. "And I am too."
Esteri let out another quiet chuckle, and Cynthia couldn't help but laugh a little too- it was absurd, both of them alive, and speaking. She never thought it'd happen.
And yet here she was.
"Thank you," Esteri said suddenly, breaking the silence. "For saving my life."
"I… it was um, the only way to get us out of there," Cynthia shrugged. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more."
"It's okay," Esteri said. "You still got us out of there."
Cynthia finally took a seat, Esteri taking her hand in her own- and as she did it dawned on her. Esteri had never expected anything of her, never judged her. Never recognized her for being an heiress, for her name, for being a rebel. Nothing like that.
She was only ever Cynthia, and that was enough.
"Thank you as well," Cynthia whispered.
"For what?"
"For seeing me… um, as me I guess," Cynthia responded, simply. It was all she needed to say- nothing more, nothing less. "It's snowing."
"It is," Esteri nodded, both of them turning to look out the window.
And so they'd sit, and watch the snow fall, hands remaining interlocked.
Uhhhh hi! Here's my bullshit for VE 2022. I'm really tired so I'm gonna keep this brief- hey Erik! i wasn't lying was i! hehe. Anyways that's all I've got folks!
-Phobie :D