Chapter 8: Life with the Careers
That afternoon I sat silently and watched the alliance organize its provisions and weapons. It wasn't long before they left District 2 girl in charge and went to hunt other tributes.
I sat and thought in the little bit of shade, pondering the events of the day. How had this happened? People didn't capture each other in the Hunger Games, there was no point! I didn't know how in the world Amber and Onyx thought that they could manipulate the Capitol, it was a terrible plan. The Capitol was in control. You didn't barter or try to make a deal with them, because they had the power to arrest and kill you. Or make your life miserable, like this. Or threaten the ones you cared about. They manipulated you.
Maybe Onyx wasn't sane. Maybe he was used to taking everything he wanted. Like me? Amber seemed to be the only one who was able to stand up to him, which seemed to balance him out. Her fierceness took on his anger, her character swayed his wants, and, I'm sure that, unlike previous girls, she was willing to stay with him. I wouldn't, and I shouldn't have interacted with him at all. How was I supposed to know that a career in the games would act like this? He had taken my natural friendliness as a sign that I liked him, even though I had obviously rejected him.
I wondered what would happen if he was in a sullen mood and I began to tick him off. Would I end up with a dagger through my chest? Here in the arena, his temper might turn deadly. I needed to get away, find Andrew if I could. I hoped that Lemongrass was safe too.
That night, the rest of the group returned. They were laughing and joking, swinging their weapons around casually. I grimaced to see blood splashed on some of the blades; There had been two canon shots since the initial bloodbath. When I had seen the display of fallen contestants that evening, I was relieved that both Andrew and Lemongrass were not included in the long list. Amber had finally finished off the District 2 boy, ending his despairing groans and gasps for help.
The night was cool and uneventful, so I let myself fall into a dreamless sleep. Over the course of the games, the nights would grow progressively colder and colder, with the days being warmer and warmer somewhat.
The next morning, Onyx gave me some much need water, and some dried fruit. I didn't have the energy to insult him and I was hoping to get on his less angry side, so I muttered thanks. My body ached to move, terribly. Thankfully, I had relived myself before the games, and I had been sweating out all my water, which meant that I had little urge to make a mess of myself.
Every moment I wasn't being watched, I was rubbing the rope raw. It hurt, but the thought of escape prevailed. I hoped to rub through it by nightfall, when no one would have their watch on me. During the day, the going was very slow.
In the heat of the afternoon, the careers grew hot and irritable, a dangerous brew. They spat at each other until Hawk suggested they try to find the District 9 boy who had virtually killed a career and gotten away. They agreed, but then there was a quarrel when 2 was told to stay behind and watch the camp again. She heavily protested until Onyx put a hand on one of his knives.
The party left in the direction 9 had run off in and I willed them not to come back that night. My whole back was sweaty and my face was sunburned. My fingers itched to scratch the bug bites all over my arms and neck. District 2 girl didn't look too happy either. She didn't notice me staring at her, so I finally spoke up.
''Hey, why are you with them?,'' I asked her. I had to speak up because I was tied up a ways away from the camp. She jolted up, startled.
''What?,'' she said, knitting her eyebrows together.
''Did you tell them you wouldn't kill or something?,'' I said, clearly.
''No.''
''The weakest viewed members of the alliances usually die first,'' I called, very deliberately using the word ''view.''
''I am not weak. I killed two people,'' she said smugly, twisting around an axe. ''You're the one tied up.''
''Ha! Onyx jumped me before I got an axe,'' I hoped that mentioning a choice of weapon we might have in common would soften her attitude toward me.
''Well, he's a sheik through and through. You're from District 7, right?,'' she said, turning a little more toward me.
I nodded. ''Yeah, I'm gonna die tied to a tree I can't cut down,'' I laughed and the laugh turned into a cough. ''What's your name anyway?,'' I managed to say.
She considered me for a moment, no doubt wondering if she should tell me or not.
''Sanara.''
''Oh,'' I said,''that's cool. Hm.'' I didn't say more. I wanted her to say something first, it humanized her.
''What's yours?,'' Sanara ventured.
''Shae. My siblings sometimes call me butter, like, shae butter? It's really annoying... Do you have a family you're trying to get back to?''
''Nah, I just want to win and have it all, ya know?,'' she crossed her arms and smiled almost pleasantly.
I nodded as if I agreed. Sanara wanted to be in the games, she had volunteered. That was the way it was in the wealthier districts.
''Now that you have everything you need, why aren't you ditching?,'' I asked.
''Why would I?,'' Sanara frowned. ''They would kill me.''
''Not if they already think you're weak. I would take my stuff and go, wait 'til only one or two are left in the games, and then strike.''
''You just want me to go so that you can escape.''
''Duh, but even if I wasn't here I'd do that anyway. Onyx has a temper, Amber is fierce, and Hawk has a bow. If they're more banded together, they'll jump on you first,'' I shrugged as best I could. Sanara thought quietly.
''I'd rather stick with the pack and keep my enemies close,'' she finally said.
''I guess we all have our strategies,'' I said, inwardly disappointed that she wouldn't be leaving.
''I can't let you go, sorry,'' Sanara said, swinging her axe around again. ''I can't kill you either, both ways would get me killed by Onyx.''
''No, I know. I'll get myself out of this. Not at a time when it'd be your fault though,'' I added when she gave me a look. From her last comment, I really hoped she hadn't been thinking about using me to raise her kill score.
A canon shot suddenly cracked through the air.
