Night 15 was yet again, another long and painful night. For once, I managed to get some actual sleep but this came with another nightmare. Probably my 6th or so since I've been in the Capital which is hard to believe because as far as I know, it feels like I've had one every day.
The dream really just involved me chasing after my brother who just kept on running and running and running and eventually leaving me behind alone to cry.
I woke up not crying which was good, but this cloud of sadness hung over me the rest of the night. My body refused to get comfortable on the cold ground which only got worse when once again it began to rain. Despite our jackets being fitted with something that keeps us warm through the games, my body is slowly swallowed up by the cold. I'm shivering like a mad man and I miss the heat that the Capital had in it's buildings. What I'd give to be in a warm room right now and not suffering in the Hunger Games...
When will I just freaking die...
Though as the morning sun begins to rise, so do my quote on quote allies. I'm quickly reminded of how much I don't wanna be around these two despite the fact that they seem to wanna protect me. I felt much safer around my older brother...
Out of nowhere, we hear Cirivins calm but booming voice echo throughout the arena.
"Good morning remaining tributes of the 100th Hunger Games. Congratulations on making it this far. Due to popular demand, everyone in the arena is allowed one more sponsor item whether or not they have their partner around or not."
For a moment, I have to register what was just said. I take a moment to fully grasp what was just phrased.
"One more sponsor item whether or not they have a partner or not"
It takes a while but the two start to wake up. At this point, I'm struggling to withhold this information so immediately when Kona starts to yawn and get up I'm practically screaming at him about the news. However to my utter shock her barely reacts. Instead, he doesn't even look surprised at all. Though when he explains why he isn't surprised I guess I shouldn't be either.
"After all. I doubt the people in the Capitol wouldn't stand for this for much longer. Despite there being so little tributes a lot of them are tough in their own right so the people betting on tributes may wanna give some sort of edge to their hopefuls." Kona explained to me.
I give a nod, understanding. Though that makes me question whether or not anyone is going to sponsor me. Though I doubt that. I'm a child, not exactly a good fighter. I'm not ignoring how I have some knowledge of knife throwing and how luck has bailed me out of a majority of the situations I've wandered into but that isn't exactly something people would wanna bet on.
However I know that I'll be getting an item anyways. This counter career group has likely gained enough attention to have some sponsors lining up to get up an item. Though I can assume this will be a while.
"Anyways... What's your next move?" I ask Kona. He scratches the little stubble under his chin and looks around us.
"I guess we just wait for Zina and Bran to catch up with us." Kona says, looking towards the direction we moved from last night. I can understand what he's thinking from the way he stares in that direction. Whether or not his allies survived the fight with the mutt the previous night. I've been questioning that as well. I don't recall hearing any canons as we were moving or when we had stopped. It's likely that they're alive which does warm my heart a little. immediately though I question my thought process considering I wasn't a fan of either tributes. I look over at the 5 girl who is now starting to wake up. I believe her name is Volva. She was really protective of me yesterday despite the fact that we had never met before this time. I found that oddly weird. It reminds me a lot of Monica or my older brother, just if they were both less violent.
I found it oddly uncomfortable. However I chalk it up to her probably having siblings and me reminding her of them back at home. That was the case with Monica when I still knew her.
It's at this moment I remember that it's the 16th day in the arena meaning it's been over a week since I last saw Monica. It feels just like yesterday. It's also here that I realize how long the games have been going on and how long I've been alive however after thinking this I quickly wipe this thought from my mind.
"What'd I miss?" Volva asks. Me and Kona both turn around at once and together we both bring her up to speed about the return of sponsorship items.
"Hm. I guess that was to be expected." She responds sounding very disappointed. Probably because this also means that the other tributes we'll have to look out for will also have better weapons if we come across them. I hope that won't be the case but it's highly possible. I'm fully aware of my current position in the arena, me definitely being nothing compared to the larger tributes in the arena. Then we have my "comrades". I'm unsure how Kona would do in a situation where we'd have to fight larger tributes. It's clear that Bran and Zina were the ones who did most of the work but without them I'm unsure how we're going to handle any dangerous situation. Volva... Hm... She seems almost as useless as I am. I'm probably right to think that too. I shake my head though. I don't wanna be too judgmental but that anxiety that something dangerous is right around the corner haunts me for the next few hours.
Those hours are spent sitting around doing absolutely nothing aside from the annual conversation that happens before promptly being dropped after a few minutes. Otherwise we're all just sitting around doing nothing. Quite odd considering how yesterday Kona had said something along the lines about how they group is supposed to move around all the time. Though coincidentally as I'm reminded of this Kona stands up and tells us that we should just get moving.
"Where are we going to head?" Volva begins to stand up as Kona looks up at the darkening sky.
"Back to where we came from yesterday. If Bran and Zina aren't coming here they may be in that area." He tells us.
"Yeah but are you sure they didn't die?" I question him. Immediately though, I regret having said that. For the first time since we crossed paths yesterday he gives me an angry look.
"I know them well enough to know that they aren't going to go out so easily. Even if one of them died I bet the other is still okay. Grab your things guys, it'll be a long walk." He orders me and Volva to get a move on. We both do so quickly and begin hiking back to the area where we last saw Bran and Zina. I don't argue why we need to find them as quickly as we do but I'm still mixed on the matter. Then again, it'd make things much easier on the group if our toughest members were with us.
Long story short we begin moving back into the direction we had come from the previous day. The trip back ends up being longer than I remember. Probably because a lot of the journey was spent with us moving along in silence; well of course there was no reason to spend the journey talking like we're not in the middle of a series of death games.
It takes a long time but we soon find ourselves in a familiar spot. The same place we had to leave our allies behind in. It's as we'd seen it last time. Barren. Absolutely nothing in this area with no exceptions. Or, that's what I had been thinking when we arrived in the area. Eventually, we all found what they had come for. Their comrades were both laying around next to each other, though it was quite unclear whether or not they were dead or alive. Kona and Volva quickly scampered over to the bodies of their allies, screaming out if they were okay or not. From all the way where I stood, I could hear someone groaning. At least one of them was alive. Honestly upon realizing this I felt relief on the inside, but this relief was quickly replaced with a mixed feeling. Again, I still wasn't comfortable with the others. I'd prefer surviving with just my older brother but I cannot help myself. I definitely feel concerned over the state of the kids from 9 and so I find myself rushing over to them as well. I'm quick to figure out that the moans that assured us that somebody was okay had come from Zina. When I started walking towards her she seemed fine, but I soon noticed that somebody that her pant leg was rolled up, where a cloth that seemed to have been torn off of the arena jackets was wrapped around her leg. From working back in 11, I already knew she was likely bleeding there. But for so much cloth to be put there... goodness I couldn't even begin to imagine what happened.
"W-What happened here?" I asked, almost hesitant to even get the details. Zina seemed to swallow the pain for a while and started to play off this injury.
"Nothing big. I was bitten by the Ram that attacked us last night. Bran managed to tear off a piece of his jacket and wrapped it around my leg. Surprised he didn't just leave me to die. I mean... if he did..." When she got to the topic of Bran her speech slowed and eventually she turned her head to the boy.
Bran was unconscious, or it seemed. My heart rate picked up.
"Bran... Please... Please don't tell me he's actually-," Volva started, her breath coming off as panicked.
"No. It doesn't seem like he's dead. He's still got a pulse after all. Check it." Kona said, pointing at his neck where Volva checked. She gave a literal sigh of relief before weeping a little. Though in an instant after this she wipes away her tears and pretends she never did that.
"It'd be redundant to say that I'm thankful you're both alive and well, but still I am." Kona sighed.
"How did you even take out that beast anyways?" I ask. Zina sits up a little. She looks over at Brans unconscious body.
"It was a battle of attrition. We both had to wear him down and from there we needed to continuously cut down the bastard until we he died. It took us hours to do that so I can't exactly blame Bran for falling out afterwards " I could set smile slowly creeping up on her face.
"What an idiot huh." She chuckled. Kona walked over to Bran and picked him up for a piggyback. Volva squatted by Zina and asked whether or not she needed help which Zina agreed to. She also picked up Zina for a piggyback. Soon we were back on our way again...
Time Passes...
The five of us had started heading for the biggest peak in the arena. The giant volcano on the other side of the arena. However into our trip Volva made an observation regarding the quick darkening of the clouds. Storm clouds seem to have gathered once more and soon we'd be in for another, possibly larger storm.
Since I was only recently forced to join up with the counter alliance of 5 and 9 tributes I didn't really know where we were planning on going to try out the "master plan" it seemed they were going to do. By that, I mean blow out the arena walls to prove a point. I'd kept it out of my mind for a while but I was starting to wonder where this was going to happen. However I started to notice the direction we were heading. Towards a part of the arena I had paid very little mind to. The other arena in which the games were forged and specifically towards its tallest peak. A giant volcano laid on what was perhaps the furthest point of the arena. It was gonna be a long journey that Altar was not looking forward to...
But something else was also at the forefront of my mind. The sky. The sky had been rapidly changing over the week. At the end of the first week for the games there was a large, disastrous storm. I managed to safely hide away in the cornucopia for a few days while it passed and I'm sure a majority of the other tributes managed to find some shelter or just ride it out just fine despite the intensity. Though considering the color of the clouds now I'm curious. There's a chance that maybe that storm was nothing more than a warning shot. I suddenly feel my body chilling up and I rub my arms, starting to feel uncomfortable just considering that idea. Of course, Volva turns and notices me react to what is seemingly nothing so she's quick to ask what's up with me. I take a deep breath.
"So I have reason to believe another storm is heading our way." I say quietly.
"Oh you don't say." Zina fires back at me quickly. She assures me that everyone can already tell and I'm just wasting their time reminding them it's coming. However this reaction seems to annoy Volva and she gets definitely the most aggravated I've seen her.
"Okay then Zina, what're we gonna do about it then?" She asks her. Zina for a while doesn't seem to know how to react but then she just scoffs. "Forget it. Storms happened back in 9 so I think we'll be good in this one." She says, reminding me she happened to be one of the tributes who wasn't around when the first storm hit, or that was the impression I was getting.
"9, you saw the last storm didn't you?" I question her. She gives a breath and then just shakes her head.
"Well not exactly. We hadn't entered this part of the arena yet but we got some storm there too and it wasn't too bad." She tells us.
"Well it wasn't like that over on our side of the arena. I betcha if your buddy Bran was awake he'd tell you how we're likely in a bad situation." I argue. I expect Zina to disagree with me again but she seems to go quiet.
"Hm... Look, I don't necessarily care what you have to say 11 but I'll admit, if there's a chance that this storm is as big as you think then maybe we'll need to find shelter in case." Zina sighs as she decides to go along with me.
"Yeah. Gotta point. Not to mention the fact that the sky seems like it could burst any minute. It'd be best to just wait out the storm for now." Volva admitted.
"But that makes me curious... Where do we go? Caves probably won't do us any good. Like remember that one we found over on the other side of the arena. The one the game makers purposely caved in expecting us to die in?" Kona brings up. Instantly I'm reminded of what happened on the third day in the arena. That time the exact same thing happened to my alliance. Weeks later and the memories of my alliance continue to sting my memory. I just wish that depression would just go away...
But that's when I'm reminded. That's when a small detail in the plot is brought back into the forefront and I almost jump up with excitement. I guess my sudden mood swings was pretty noticable because once I've reverted to a calmer state to give a suggestion everyone in the group is already staring in my direction. My childish moment causes me to blush a little but I nod to everyone. I look up at the sky and then the mountains around me.
I point northwards. "This direction. In this direction there was a shack. I bet we can rest there before this storm hits. If we rush it'll only take a little while... Maybe an hour or two." I explain. While I assumed this suggestion was a perfect counter for the situation, it came to pass that the others in this group were less than confident. Despite the doubt we find ourselves with little other option. It'd be a great place to regroup. Though while we begin to head off in that direction Volva asks a question and brings up the possibility that we may run into a tribute there.
"If it's one tribute we can probably gang up on them. The three of us I mean. If Bran and Zina are better by the time we reach it then maybe one or the other can handle it." Kona tells her, assuring him that they can handle the threat.
However, Volva doesn't really agree. "Yeah but what if say the careers were there. What would we do then?" She asked. I'm stopped dead in my tracks. I had actually never considered the possibility. If any one of the careers had come across the place then I had doubts that they could be anywhere BUT the little shack I had found.
"Uh... 12 are you okay?" Volva turns around and asks. I nod and catch up the group.
"I'd never thought about the careers showing up," I tell them. "If they've seen the place then they've probably set up base there and likely intend to ride out the next storm from there."
"So we doing this or not?" Zina blurts out in annoyance. I take a deep breath as I try to come up with an answer. However, I'm cut off by Kona.
"Of course we are. If the careers are nearby we'll probably be able to tell. There's also a large grassy plains up north which we can rush off too when the storm hits. May not be the ideal place to hide in a storm but as a resident of District 9 I can say first and foremost it's best not to be within trees during a storm." He argues.
I nod my head in agreement. "Plus if we're heading to the desert we'll be in a similar situation when it comes to being exposed to the storm. We should take the 50/50 if you ask me." I add on.
Everyone else goes quiet before they all seem to agree with me.
"Jeez, for a brat your age you sure talk like those idiots from 5." Zina groans. I can't help but respond with a chuckle. I look over at Volva and notice her annoyed reaction. It causes me to chuckle a little harder.
"I doubt Bran's gonna be too happy with you calling people from 5 idiots after he just saved your life." Kona says to Zina who
"Well it's too bad he's knocked out right now. He can't hear me." She states. Kona gives a big sigh and we continue on our treck through the arena. While we continued our journey, another interesting question was brought up.
"You know," Volva began. "When do you think Brans gonna get back up? It's been a while since we found him knocked out, and considering how long he might've been down before..." She admitted.
"By the time we reach the shack I bet he'll be alright to go again." Kona says.
"Yeah. I think that'll happen too." I nod my head in agreement.
"Also I have another question. When can we take a break? I've been holding Zina for a long time now and it's really hurting my back now.." Volva cried out. Kona turned and gave her an annoyed look.
"No time for that right now. We just need to get as close as we can to this shack. If we all seem exhausted then maybe we can take a break but right now there's no way." Kona insisted. Volva responded with what seemed like another cry.
"Get 11 to hold her!" She waled.
"I doubt a 12 year old could carry a 16 year old." Kona rolled his eyes.
"Just a theory..." Volva sadly admitted. I laughed again.
The forest soon turns into a swamp. As we hop through I find my eyes shifting between the trio as they argue and joke with each other. For some reason I've noticed it already. I've warmed up to these ones too...
My stomach begins to church. I hate this thought. The fact that my brain has gone on autopilot and I don't feel as intense as I had when I was with my brother, or my previous alliance and even more so when I was by myself. Half of my head feels as if I can't trust the kids from Districts 5 and 9 but on the other hand they hold their hand out to me and I wanna run with them.
And I know for a fact I'm running to my death with them, I need to stop ignoring that one. I know their plan. Blow the arena dome up. That will probably end with the arena collapsing in on itself and killing us all. As someone who'd prefer to actually get home that's not something I'd wanna get behind. I shake my head thinking about it.
"Damn it all." I whisper to myself as I hold my head. I don't have a headache or anything but it's almost as if my head is throbbing or something. I just hate thinking like this. But I know this is the Hunger Games, I NEED to be thinking like this. The fantasies of victory needed to end the moment I jumped off ran into the bloodbath with all of the other tributes. I feel myself starting to ventilate harder and harder, my vision starts to blur.
"11. 11! Calm down!" A voice shouts. I'm so lost at the moment that I can't even desifor whether or not it's Kona or Volva but I know it has to be either of the two. I feel someone hit me across the head though, and suddenly I feel myself going back to normal. Everyone is now staring at me, looking worried sick.
"W-What happened to you? Was is... like poison or something?" Volva questions. I look at my hands.
"No. I've been poisoned before and it was different." I assure her. Kona just shakes his head.
"It's obvious that he just panicked and that was all. With that in mind though, do you wanna rest 11?" Kona asked me.
"No... I'm good. I think we should get the the cabin as fast as possible. I don't wanna hold us down." I tell them. Kona only gives a sad nod before we continue on our way-
Time Passes...
Eventually we found ourselves nearing the little area where I had found the cabin before. It was definitely closer then I had remembered it being which was quite reliving. However before our party could even get to a point where we could fully see it, we felt the ground around us shake and the sky made a sound akin the a large clap. Thunder. Almost right on cue, it began to pour. Rain came down almost like artillery. We weren't just wet, within seconds we were all drenched. The rain was so loud that I doubted we would be able to hear each other. I can assume Kona figured that as well because he soon began to yell over the rain in an attempt to communicate a plan. It turned out I was correct about the rain making it hard to hear each other over, but Kona manages to give us an idea of what we're gonna do. We discussed it a little on the way and I heavily disagreed with the whole thing.
"Remember. You go in first 11." Kona reminds me, giving me a little push. I turn around and give a mini-glare. A way to show that I'm not exactly happy about this. Konah told me I had to go in first because I had been to this cabin before. If I noticed something different, it could indicate that somebody had been there. Or worse, somebody was still there and preparing to ambush us which is something we all hypothesised would be the case if maybe the careers were there. I take in a few deep breaths as I head towards the dusty old cabin. I can on my belly and slowly start crawling towards the place, my site almost being blinded by how much is coming down all at once. After what felt like hours of a slow approach under the cover of grass and rain, I'm up again the cabin. I stand up. My heart pounding, I touch the wall and try and listen inside. Likely no thanks to the heavy rain, I'm unable to pick up on any noises. Nobody could have been preparing for our arrival. If anybody was inside, they most definitely would not have noticed me nearing the cabin. They also wouldn't have been able to pick up on my sound as just how the rain masks possibly masks the sound of whatever could be inside, it would also mask the noise of most of the things outside. I'm honestly quite ready to turn back. I don't have to die yet. I don't wanna die yet. I find myself at the door now. Rubbing the door handle, I slowly open the thing. I brace myself as I open it as the door makes a loud creaking noise, signifying the age of this cabin. I don't look in right away. I hide behind the door for maybe a minute, just waiting for the moment something could possibly jump out. However nothing happens. I look over towards Kona who is sticking his head out from behind a tree. I can't hear him, but I assume he asks whether or not the cost is clear. I raise my arms in a way to say that I don't really know before taking off my bag. I look deep inside where I find my knife stache, it seems to be dwindling. I only pull out one before taking another deep breath... and then sliding inside the cabin. As I enter, I look around frantically. Scanning any area in which an enemy could be concealing themselves. I dare not shout for them to come on out as I have a feeling that'll just be a quicker end to me. However after a while it starts to feel like I may have been overreacting. Maybe nobody was actually in the cabin after all. It had been just a possibility after all. I take a few more minutes to look around. There really isn't much to hide under or behind. I look around and inside the little drawer that's inside but I can't find anything. I even try seeing if I can look under the floorboard but nothing's down there either. Eventually, I give up and walk back outside where I have to my comrades that we're all good to go. I feel like a fool for how sheepish I might've looked during my desperate search.
Like a child, I think to myself. These past few days I've grown kind of a hatred of looking my age. I need to be tough in my surroundings. As I sit back against the wall though, I remind myself I'm probably only alive right now because of my childish appearance. Maybe the Capital will want a victor like me...
I shake my head at the thought. I shouldn't be so naive... it doesn't take too long for the others to wander into the cabin. Kona immediately drops Bran onto the floor before resting against the wall along with me.
"You know..." Kona begins in between breaths. "I'm just glad we agreed to listen to you, 11." Kona chuckles. Moments after Kona says this to me, Volva collapses into the room.
"I... Hate you... so much... for making me carry her the entire way." She complains in between breaths. Kona laughs in response.
"Oh shut up 5 girl. You complain too much." Zina yelled, annoyed. Zina crawls across the floor and then onto the wall next to me and Kona. Kona raises an eyebrow at Zina.
"We've been working together for so long yet you don't even call Volva by her real name. Come on Zina." Kona growls with disappointment. However his annoyed turn slowly shifts into one of curiosity. I notice it as he turns and looks over at me.
"Say, 11. I don't think any of us have your name. You wanna share it with us?" He asks me. First I feel a bit uncomfortable at the thought. I can tell Kona knows this, as he gives me a welcoming glance. I turn away and give a sigh.
"Altar. That's my name." I let spill. The room now goes silent as the sound of heavy rain fills the void. Almost as quickly as it befell, the white noise was interrupted by Zina's cocky cackling.
"Oh boy, and I thought the names from 5 were stupid-," Zina laughs.
"Zina!" Kona yells her name, annoyed by her blatant disrespect of her allies.
"Two of your allies are from 5, they're fighting for you just as hard as you're fighting." Kona shouted.
"Okay look. I get it. We're allies and all, I don't mind Bran and I don't mind Volva. Okay? Jee, sorry I offended you Kona." Zina rolls her eyes. Kona gives an unconvinced look at her.
"Yet you look like you resent us. Don't act like you don't Zinny." He argues. Zina begins to get on her feet as she glares down at Kona who begins to follow. I know exactly where this is about to go and within no time I'm up on my feet too. I quickly put myself between the two and begin yelling.
"Are you two seriously gonna fight now? After you've come all this way together? Seriously get over yourselves!" I shout at them both. Kona quickly breathes out and sits down while Zina opens her mouth to speak. However she eventually turns back and sits down too. After this, silence once again takes over. The room is without light and the only sound is the rain pounding the wooden roof above us and the thunder the growls around us. This is a familiar feeling. Somedays it'd be raining after school in 11 and I'd be home by myself listening to the endless rain for hours all alone. Alma would sometimes be there with me, those days we'd spend inside the house just watching the rain.
Alma...
The thought of my brother feels me with annoyance. I'm stuck with these teens who can't even get along. These teens that snatched me away from my brother for no reason. Without thinking, I begin to speak.
"You guys realize you didn't have to take me away from my brother right..." I intend to say to myself, in almost a whisper. However it's picked up by everyone.
"I mean... Maybe we didn't have to... But..." Volva pulled her knees closer to her, as if the thought made her uncomfortable. I look over at Kona. He shrugs. Zina is laying down on the other side of the cabin, right next to Bran who is still unconscious.
"Who cares. You have our plan so we were supposed to take you out. And you know maybe we should've down that." She threatens me. I ignore her before pushing myself onto the wall.
"Me and him were a great team. We rarely, if ever got into fights. We understood each others pain. I never wanted to not be by his side." I recall. Silence again.
"Nobody cares. We aren't here to be friends kid, we're here to surviv-," Suddenly she completely stops speaking. Mere moments later she lets out an audible gasp.
"Bran! You're okay!" She shouts. Volva and Kona quickly get up after hearing this and huddle around the other tribute from 5.
"How long was I out? And where are we anyways?" He says, clearly this time.
"Only for half a day. We're in a cabin, a little far off from our target destination." Kona explains.
Bran gives an angry look. "Are you kidding me, you should've just kept going to our destination!" Bran yells. I look over towards the others.
"There's a storm going on, worse than the last one we were in. Since I remembered this little place exists I thought we should stop by here first since it'd be safer than taking the full storm head on." I tell Bran. On cue, there's a lighting strike only a little bit away. Light shines briefly inside of our cabin. Bran quietly lays himself back down.
"You bring up a good point... 11." He admits. Damn right I did!
"But still, can't believe we're so close to ending this here... This little roadblock will eventually be lifted but still man. It feels like it'll never end. Ya know what I'm saying?" Bran sighs. The other 3 nods.
"Does anyone know what day it is?" The 5 boy asks.
"Day 15!" I shout from across the room.
"Damn. We've really been at this for 15 days and 14 nights." Bran leans up. Volva begins to laugh.
"I never thought I'd make it this far honestly. Really I thought I'd ju... I thought I'd just hold... hold you all back." Her laughter slowly begins to fade however as she looks away and towards one of the windows. The rain begins to get harder and louder.
"You know... Same..." Kona pulls Volva closer to him and hugs her. Watching the two, I can tell Volva does not believe Kona for a second. The look on her face says it all. One that just screams "Bullcrap." However, it's not Volva to bring this to his attention. Instead a very annoyed Zina.
"That's stupid. Yeah, Volva could be replaced with a cardboard box and I doubt anything in the games would change but I'm going to be honest; Kona you're not that bad. I bet it was you who came back to get me and Bran."
"Didn't you act like that was a terrible idea when we were on our way here?" He reminds her that she at some point during our journey had brought up Kona's plan to grab them after the fight was terrible.
"Mmm... You're just making up stuff." She closes her eyes and looks away, once again annoyed. Bran chuckles.
"Face it. You really are happy to still be alive and kicking." Bran pokes Zina. She faces him, half angered and half flustered.
"We're still in the arena you know that. As far as I'm concerned we're all already dead. Kona picking us up only delayed the inevitable honestly." She gripes. Kona smirks.
"And didn't you just say you were happy we came back to get you and Bran?" He reminds Zina. This swiftly quiets her. She turns her head to the window, sitting up and watching the rain outside. As if on cue, the rain gets much harder which makes hearing each other in the cabin much harder. However it doesn't seem like the others mind it too much. They're all just talking and chuckling over on the other side of the small cabin.
Well it's kinda nice seeing them get along like this.
Seeing them like it starts to bring back memories of weeks ago when I was with Monica, Byke and Troy. It isn't the first time that I've remembered the fun we've had, but it is the first time in a while that their memory gets me this emotional. For a few moments I'm holding back my tears as I watch the teens from 5 and 9 talk about themselves as if they'd just met. It's after a while that Kona turns and notices my reaction.
"Hey? Altar? You okay over there?" He's quick to ask. My eyes widen a little, surprised by the fact that he even acknowledged me during this moment between him and his alliance members.
"Y-Yeah. N-Nothings wrong." I'm obviously lying as right after I say that, the tears start streaming and within seconds I'm a sobbing mess. But almost instantaneously, someone has grabbed me and is holding me tightly. However upon reopening my eyes and looking up I discover that it's two people, not one. Volva and Kona together are hugging me.
"It's gonna be okay Altar. We're gonna get through this together." Volva says into my ear. With that, I begin sobbing just as hard as the rain that's pounding at the windows of the cabin.
I just wanna go home...
Currently Remaining Tributes
- District 1 Male
- District 1 Female
- District 2 Male
- District 4 Female (Monica)
- District 5 Female (Volva)
- District 9 Male (Bran)
-District 9 Female (Zina)
- District 9 Male (Kona)
- District 10 Female (Bella)
- District 11 Male (Altar)
- District 11 Female (Ceres)
- District 11 Male (Alma)
So one mistake I ended up making in my 5 years knowing of the Hunger Games is assume that every arena was a literal arena and built like the one from Catching Fire with a force field and everything. Of course, in story the recent two games are built like this but I just wanna clear up some possible confusion. Sorry for the long wait on this chapter.