Day 4
Tatiana Emery, 15, District 2
Six Years Ago
Nine-year-old me always had one question that plagued her mind.
What will it take to prove that I'm fully committed to the cause? What do they expect from me?
We were never just any old rebel group... that's just what the illusion was, ever since the appearance of Saskia that night. Our organization has gone by many names over the eons, its means changed from assassinations to espionage to infiltration and destruction of civilizations but our purpose always remained the same: re-birth.
I was back in my bedroom, my bedroom that I'd perfected over the years. The years of having those moments when I was bored out of my mind. That night, my parents had sent me to bed early because "The Elder" was arriving and my parents were hosting the big, grand meeting for the first time. The most important meeting of the year, where all the heads of our organization convened from around the country. My thirty-minute long rant at them as to why I should be there didn't work. I've persuaded them before about getting things I want but this was a step too far apparently. They weren't normally this strict but when it came to a meeting that huge… it was a different story.
"You're only nine years old," they told me.
Urgh
Then when would I be ready? Why did they never listen to my ideas? I kept begging them to enroll me in the academy. We needed a member in the 95th Hunger Games after all that has been said and it had to be me. That means I had to enroll then and there if I was ever going to have a chance of getting in. A fifteen-year-old volunteer isn't too ambitious. Right?
Huddled in the corner of my bed in my pajamas, I glanced around my orange-lit room at the only source of light. My lamp. It was only then that I realized how… ugly it was. Everything else in my room was perfect… except that.
Clenching my fists, I lunged over to the disaster and snatched it up in my hand. After briefly observing it, I began to hit it against my bedside table repeatedly.
SMASH
SMASH
SMASH
Until it was nothing more than shattered glass, scattered across my carpet and the room was in complete darkness, except for the glow being admitted from under my door. It was only seeping through to remind me that I was missing out on all the important planning of the organization.
In the silence that followed my anger, I could hear the hushed voices of my parents all too-important meeting, that I should have been at.
I placed my feet against my fluffy carpet, careful to avoid the broken glass. Then I slid my feet into my slippers and moved over to my door, drawing it open just enough so that the muffled voices from downstairs became slightly louder. Nevertheless, I couldn't make out what they were saying. I had to get closer.
I crept my way down the stairs and over the polished, maroon floorboards of my parent's house. Wooden double doors soon loamed above me, leading to the dining room where the meeting was being held. The Elders' voice reverberated out through the door, it was deep and extremely monotone… almost not human. The Elder also had this way of speaking that I'd never heard in anyone else before, over pronouncing every syllable to appear as formal as possible.
"I've told you before, The Eye is no longer a concern. The death of the Matrinius family was their final destruction," The Elder stated.
"But it was said they had a child…" my father's voice stuttered.
"A made-up prophecy to give false hope," The Elder interrupted him.
I pushed the door open just a smidge to get a look in. I'd never seen The Elder before, only heard about him. The room was jam-packed with people but I could just get a glimpse of our large, red-dressed, oval table where all the most important members were, including my parents. The Elder was seated on the far right however I could not make out any details because his face was shrouded in shadow, thanks to the dimly lit room.
The Elder's hand then gestured to a girl to his right who looked no older than sixteen. His hand caught my attention with his wrinkly fingers dressed in ornate, golden rings.
"This is Saskia Storm… the future of our organization," he said.
From the first time I saw her, she had a very striking appearance with glowing, green, stormy eyes and curly hair. However, she remained cold, stoic, and emotionless. Even when her name was mentioned with such honour. She was young but knew already how to be one of them.
"But she's just a girl…" my mother responded.
"She is the last of an ancient dynasty that ruled before the first rebellion… before Snow. She will be appointed president of Panem when the time comes," The Elder proclaimed.
The room was suddenly enveloped in shocked silence in her presence.
"We will be the storm that brings about a better tomorrow. Our new Garden of Eden."
After every storm, new life grows. That's what they always said.
"Saskia will take over the operations in District Two and she will go by the name Avery for protection… until the time comes," the elder repeated that saying again, sounding a bit like a robotic broken record.
"This meeting is adjourned."
My mother's eyes drifted downwards, unable to hide her annoyance. Other than Saskia, she was the only one I could see that wasn't covered by the silhouettes of people who just looked like giants to me. I understood straight away my mother's frustrations. My family had run the operation in District Two my entire life up until that point …. and to have that upturned and given to this girl? I really just wanted to burst in there and give them a piece of my mind but at the same time, there was something about this Saskia that always gave me…hope?
Suddenly, my mother's tired eyes spotted me peeping through the door. She got up and stormed over to where I was hiding and what followed was a berating from my parents about how I couldn't follow simple instructions from them. At the end of it, I got tossed into the spare room where all our old antiques were kept while my parents, now slightly red in the face, finished seeing out all of the guests.
Then something unexpected happened. Saskia appeared, leaning against the door, munching on an apple. Her shoulders were back proudly but she was smirking down at me inquisitively… in a way a friend would… or a big sister.
"Sneaking into secret meetings huh? Sounds like something I would have done," she smiled.
My anger was relinquished ever so slightly, my fists were no longer clenched but they transitioned into folded arms.
"My parents never listen to my ideas… they just think I'm a dumb kid," I groaned.
"I'm sure that's not true."
"They just want the best for you."
She moved off the door and sat on one of the dusty cabinets, leaning in curiously with her hand under her chin.
"So… tell me about one of your ideas," she inquired.
My eyes widened at her while my heart began to pick up. The thought that someone else willingly wanted to hear my ideas!
"Well… my main idea for the organization is to use the Hunger Games as an opportunity to begin the rebellion that will put you in power…." my voice sounded meek at first like a mouse however her smile of encouragement caused it to pick up.
"I will be the one to enter the games and our cause will be spread far and wide!"
My chest ended up heaving with energy at the end of all that.
"That's some big talk for someone so small," she laughed.
Then, she took another large bite out of the apple.
"Let's make it happen," she declared casually.
"Really?"
"Hell yeah! Between you and me. This organization really needs some young blood to freshen it up," she chuckled, placing her hand against her mouth in a cheeky way.
"We need people like you with new bold ideas."
"And don't worry. I'm in charge now, so your ideas will get through to me… what's your name again?"
"Tati… Tatiana," I answered.
She reached out her hand and I rapidly shook it.
"To a better tomorrow, Tatiana," She smiled.
"To… a better tomorrow," I repeated.
Then, my parents suddenly re-entered, they jumped back in surprise when they saw Saskia perched on the cabinet, casually eating an apple.
"Miss Storm… you're still here…" my mother stuttered, still red in the face.
"Miss Avery, you mean," Saskia corrected her, pointing her fingers playfully.
"Ah… yes…"
Saskia stood up off the cabinet.
"I was just talking to your wonderful daughter…isn't she amazing?"
"Oh…"
My parents glanced at each other, unsure what to say.
"She did just listen in on an important meeting when we gave her clear instructions not to," my father replied in a stern voice.
"And how would following rules ever get us anywhere?" Saskia shot back.
"But we are still under a chain of command in which we have to respect," my mother retorted, tapping her left foot and folding her arms.
Saskia then moved forward and placed her hand on my mother's shoulder.
"You never know… maybe she'll succeed me one day," she proclaimed before disappearing out of the door.
We followed her to the front door so my parents could see her out.
"Security's getting tighter… we're gonna have to find a better place to meet," is the last thing she said that night before the new young leader winked at us and disappeared into the darkness.
Present day
I'm drumming my fingers against a decaying, cobwebbed table in this gloomy antiques room, in the house that we're taking cover in. It's funny, isn't it? The things that bring memories flooding back but it feels about right. My first conversation with Saskia in that antiques room all those years ago is what put me here after all.
A better tomorrow… the words of The Elder and Saskia never left me. I never saw The Elder again after that but he seldom makes appearances. All I know is … Saskia Storm is a better tomorrow.
Franz is seated opposite me with his feet resting on the table. He sends me a quick smile when our eyes meet. A chilly air suddenly envelops me, pricking the hairs up on my skin.
Franz… he trusts me fully now but something tells me he won't come over to our side…. when the time comes. Will he stand against me? And if he does will I have to…
No, I can't! I can't do that to a friend! My forehead sinks into my left hand as the dilemma remains in the back of my mind. His eyes catch me rubbing my forehead in confusion. He must know I have a secret by now. He's just trying to figure out what it is. He's smart… he'll figure it out in the end.
What will it take to prove that I'm fully committed to the cause? What do they expect from me? I think I'm finally starting to realize the answer to that question…
Suddenly there is the sound of the front door slamming, just outside in the corridor!
"Come on. Marissa is leaving!"
Marissa Grey, 17, District 4
I've been doing everything I can to distract myself from…whatever happened yesterday. It all happened so fast. I find myself switching from hating Jade, to questioning myself, while equally suspicious of every other Career in this arena, those who are still with me and those who aren't. Especially those who aren't. There's nothing stopping them from returning and killing me when I'm not expecting it.
They knew their way around the manor. They knew where our supplies are. Which is why we decided to leave earlier and head towards the main town.
Ever since…yesterday, I can't stop thinking about everything that went down. I subconsciously replay the event over and over again in my mind, wondering if it had to end how it ended. If I overreacted. If everyone around me was telling the truth or not. The more I think about it, the more fabricated it all sounds.
But then I realize, I'm trying to create the image of Jade I want to create, rather than accept the truth. I don't know her as well as I thought. We aren't allies, or friends, we're strangers paired up by coincidence that used each other for our mutual benefit. Anything else, well, I should have known would come back to bite me in the ass.
Still, there was something about the whole interaction that didn't feel right. For once, Taliesin felt a little too…reserved. Like things were going just too good for him. It doesn't feel like a coincidence.
I won't know the truth until I am crowned victor and get to sit on that stage and watch the recap of the games. So many truths are revealed to the victor on that stage. Plots to backstab them. Brutal deaths they didn't see. A repeat of brutal deaths they did see, or even commit themselves. But by then, everyone else will be dead, and the truth won't do me any good. It might even harm me.
After leaving the manor we took cover in an old antiques store.
Shit, I can't sit around here and do nothing. I storm out of the store, slamming the door shut behind me, sword in hand, and take off into the town. I hear a shouting behind me as I start walking.
"Marissa!" Tatiana's voice echoes through the town. I whip my head around to see her jogging towards me, followed by Franz. I'm tempted to ignore her, to keep going. But I haven't made it this far by being reckless at every corner.
"What?" I say, knowing full well what she's about to ask me.
"Where are you going?" Tatiana asks.
"Out." I say, directly to the point.
"Don't go hunting Jade. It's not worth it." Tati says in a low whisper.
"Who said anything about Jade? We're careers, Tati. We hunt." I cross my arms and glare at her.
"That's true. But don't go alone." Tati says. I'm about to interject, yearning for the silence.
"Let us come with you," Franz interjects before she gets the chance. I look at him, silent.
"You don't want to face Jade and Taliesin alone." Tatiana chimes in.
"Alright." I say before turning back around and continuing onward.
We walk mostly in silence, focusing on the hunt over the conversation. I love this. I have no desire to talk to either of my remaining allies, and it will allow us the element of surprise if we do stumble across somebody. After about an hour though, Tati decides silence isn't good enough for her.
"How are you holding up?" She asks.
"I'm fine," I say, direct and to the point. She nods.
"It's just, I know you and Jade were close, and…" She starts, but I come to a stop and whip my head around to face her.
"Look. You don't know me, but I was trained to win, okay? And winning doesn't involve befriending, or becoming close with anyone. Yes, what she did took me by surprise, but that doesn't change what I'm here to do. So drop it." I don't exactly intend to snap at Tatiana as harshly as I do, but once it starts, I can't stop. Tati nods, and if my words hurt her, she doesn't show it. She slows down to rejoin Franz in the back, leaving me alone in the front to overthink my words.
God, what are we doing? What am I doing?
We spend some time searching houses around the main town area, looking for any signs of life or supplies. So far, there really hasn't been either.
Just before I tell my allies it's pointless and suggest we return, Franz peeks his head out of the door of one of a smaller house with a wooden sign dangling above it which reads "restaurant."
"Come here." We follow him into the building, where a small rug has been pulled to the side, revealing a small hatch door. Franz props it open and peers inside.
'What's in there?" Tatiana asks. Franz shrugs.
"I haven't gone down yet. I wanted to get you two incase it was a trap." He explains as he peers down the hatch.
"Aww, how considerate of you." He ignores my sarcasm, climbing down the ladder and into the basement. I follow.
Down here is dark, and just as small as the room upstairs. On one wall sits a small chest below an empty plaque, which Franz has already opened. On the other wall, a table with a scroll. I head over to the scroll as Tatiana joins us.
I roll out the scroll, which turns out to be more of an old map. Tatiana looks over my shoulder as I take in what I'm looking at.
"It's a map of the arena." Tatiana says. As I look at the symbols and drawings pictured on the map, I realize she's absolutely correct. There's the lake at the top left. The town to the east. The cornucopia south west. And our base to the east.
"Marissa. Look." Franz's voice makes me turn around. In front of my eyes, words are burned into the plaque that was once empty. I leave the map on the table and walk over to read what it says.
"Marissa Grey, you have been granted the role of ambusher. The map in front of you is no ordinary map. On it, you will see the current locations of the three closest tributes to you. Use it well."
"Wow," Franz says, slowly walking over to the map and pointing to where we currently are. "That's us." I walk back over to the map and look down. There are two dots in the house we are in, one with the District 2 male marking and one with the District 2 female marking, which he's right, are him and Tatiana.
"Look. There's someone here." Tatiana points slightly to the south of where we currently are. That's when I see it. Another dot. The District 3 male. He is heading right towards the restaurant.
"Is he alone?" Franz asks.
"It wouldn't show us if he wasn't. But it doesn't matter. We're Careers. Let's do what we were trained to do." I roll up the map and carefully secure it in my pack. Before leaving, I ask Franz if there was anything in the chest under the plaque.
"Some food and water." He shows me what he got. I take my portion, and Tatiana does the same. Now, to the unknown tribute on the map.
I check the map to make sure they didn't move. Which they didn't.
"Let's take cover behind that door and wait for them," I say, pointing towards a door leading into another section of the restaurant.
Tati and Franz follow my lead, and soon enough we're through the door. I slowly creek it open, and enter a large, disgusting kitchen.
My eyes stay pinned on the map as the dot enters the restaurant from the front. Here we lie in wait, we don't want to give him the chance to bolt for it. Tatiana informed me that the District Three boy is pretty nimble. He managed to escape her during the bloodbath but he won't escape me. He can count on that.
"Wait, look, look." Tati points to the dot. It slowly shifts from one edge of the building to the other.
"Let's take him by surprise," I say, preparing my sword and crouching down.
The door swings open. As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I realize I'm face to face with the bee boy from Three. He's completely frozen, his eyes wide. I think he tries to scream for his ally, but nothing comes out.
I sprint to the boy and grab his shirt. I raise my sword, and I'm about to slice him up, but Tati's voice stops me.
"Wait!" She whisper-shouts. I keep my grip on his shirt and my sword in the air. The boy starts squirming, and Franz rushes over to help me. He covers the boy's mouth just as he starts to try to call for his ally.
"What?" I snap at Tati. Does she feel guilty? Second guessing herself? If that's the case, maybe the wrong career stayed…
"Let's hold onto him, and wait for his ally to come looking for him. We can catch him off guard, and kill them both." She explains. At first, I don't understand what she's trying to say. But then her words resonate with me.
"You're a genius." I tell her. I look over at Franz. "Hold him tight. And let's get comfortable."
Conrad Martell, 18, District 6
"Guardian Angel."
Those two words keep circling through my brain like a whirlpool as I stand here, staring out the greasy window with my arms folded. What made them think that I'm a guardian? Or an angel for that matter? I'm just a street racer from District Six. I've never had to think about, let alone protect another human being in my life, only myself.
I remember when I was eight years old, I had been squatting in an attic. When the owners discovered me they literally chucked me out on the cold, damp street. After that, I spent almost two years living behind a dumpster. That was my home. Just curled up there on the pavement. That's when he found me. My "boss". He told me his name was Cal.
While I'm staring out of the window onto the street outside, the memory replays itself in my mind all of a sudden, like I've hit the rewind button on my life. Casting me back to a very different street…
It was pouring with rain, drenching the streets of District Six in a downwards torrent of water. I was curled up behind a dark alleyway, split off from the main street, my head lying on a garbage bag, coughing, groaning. My stomach grumbled, churned, and begged, I wasn't going to make it much longer and I knew it. Then he appeared, like a shadow suddenly cast by a lamp, dressed almost entirely in black except for a grey top hat. My eyes folded open just before the last of my life had been drained from me. Then, he offered out his hand. I couldn't make out his face well. Yet, I finally thought one person out of the hundreds that had walked past, had come to help me. Instinctively, my own hand slowly reached up and took his as a last-ditch attempt to cling onto survival. When our hands met, he suddenly twisted mine roughly just to inspect it.
"I could use a small pair of hands like yours," he told me, his voice devoid of any empathy.
I'll never forget the coldness in his voice.
The rainy street of district six disappears before my very eyes and returns to the arena street. My current predicament. The loud jets of rain and busy city sounds also fade back to the dryness of this artificially made hell hole.
I had no choice. It was either put up with Cal or die then and there, and I chose life. It was the survival instinct in me. Nothing more. I have no idea what for either. I know I enjoy making people smile and laugh. Maybe that's all I am truly here for and you know what? I don't mind that. Working at the mechanic's was tough at first but it introduced me to the love of my life… junker racing. Then I met my friends… Josie and Rudy…I chuckle to myself just thinking about the adventures we got up to.
"Conrad!" Beckett's voice knocks me out of my daydream.
He zips beside me, his eyes investigating me inquisitively.
"Whatcha staring at? Did you just spot the love of your life?" He jokes.
"Shut up," I chuckle, lightly shoving him.
Although it's funny he should ask that since I was just thinking about junker racing. I toss my bag on the table behind us and begin packing our stuff for the day, mostly food. On the streets, I always learned food and water were the first priorities. Beckett has been munching on breadsticks all morning, so I make sure to get those in there.
"So have you got one?" he suddenly inquires, leaning on the chair with his hands under his chin.
"What?" I reply, wrestling aggressively with one of the zips of our bag.
"A love of your life? Back home?"
I scoff, glance back at him and sling the bag over my shoulder, moving towards the door.
"I ain't never met a guy or a gal that's able to keep up with my bs," I laugh, ironically.
"Now come on yer little rascal," I gesture to the door.
He releases the chair and skips merrily back over to me. I need to know his secret, how he's staying so… cheery and carefree despite this awful situation. Don't get me wrong, I'm the most yolo guy in the world but I still know when to be cautious.
Together, we push the door open and are quickly struck by the bright daylight. My hand darts in front of my eyes to cover the light. We leave the blacksmith behind us and begin trying to navigate these endless twisting, brick streets. Although, the good thing is that every time we stop at a house, we're able to collect more food and supplies. Beckett always snatches up some breadsticks first if they're there, usually on the dining table. This goes on until the evening begins to draw in and once again the town transforms in the twilight, lit up with bright lights and scarlet lamps.
"AWOOOOOOO!"
It's the sound of that wolf creature again. A fierce howl that vibrates through the night air but this time further off into the distance.
We need to get inside somewhere fast. If there's one thing we've learned about this arena it's that nothing good ever happens at night, between werewolves and giant man-sized bugs.
In front of us, a single lamp casts a light over an old wooden sign above an even older woodier house. It's attached to the rows of stone houses on each side which it contrasts deeply with. The sign reads "restaurant."
I turn to Beckett.
"Ya hungry?"
He glimpses up wearily at the hanging sign and we agree to go in. Inside, there is a single hanging chandelier above, lined with mellow, orange candles. There are multiple tables and chairs each with their own candles and pre-prepared plates. However, it's what's in the middle of the tables that stuns us momentarily…. insects. Dead insects piled up on shining oval plates in the center of each table. A buffet of insects of all different shapes, sizes, and varieties if you will. Although, they are black, almost charred. An insect restaurant?
At the back of the building, there is a bar with drinks and food stashed behind it and to the right of that, there is a door that must lead to the kitchen and the bathroom. We decide to park ourselves at one of the wooden tables to catch a break and sort through our things.
Each of the insects are labeled, from dragonflies to beetles to crickets.
"So what will it be, cricket or dragonfly?" I ask, smirking.
He nauseatingly shakes his head.
"I don't eat cricket or beetles or anything here…" he grumbles.
"Why not?… it's not like they're bees or anything," I say.
He rolls his eyes.
"Very funny…"
I shrug, picking out one of the dragonflies and crunching it in my mouth.
"Conrad! Ew!" He complains.
"What? I grew up on the street, I couldn't afford to be a fussy eater," I reply.
"But… we've got our own food…"
I just shrug again.
"I just wanted to know what dragonfly tastes like. I probably ain't gonna get another opportunity in my life," I say, still crunching the exoskeleton between my teeth.
And at this rate, my life probably ain't going on too much longer anyway.
He nods.
"Fair enough…"
"So what did it taste like?" He asks.
I continue chomping on it for a few seconds, my eyes going upwards while I'm figuring out how to answer that question.
"Dragonfly," I answer, dryly.
After licking my fingers enthusiastically and more giggling together, Beckett inhales to ask me another question.
"Conrad…"
"Yeah?"
"I gotta pee," he says.
I nod towards the door behind the bar.
"Try to be quick," I say.
With that, he disappears towards the door and I can hear the sound of the door swinging open and close while I continue to fiddle with my stuff.
That's the last thing I hear of him for five… ten… fifteen minutes…
Somethings wrong. My eyes dart around the room while my heart starts to bounce in my chest with crushing panic.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
No Conrad… calm down. He's still alive because you are and we're not going to get very far if I panic. I let a deep breath run through my body which quiets down my heart at least. Focus Conrad. It's only now that I notice skid marks on the wooden floorboards. Skid marks from shoes. On the floor, a rug has been folded by someone's boot. Other people have already been here. Ugh, you idiot Conrad! I should have known to feel out my surroundings before settling down. That's the only way I've survived in the past.
There's a filled ashtray on the table. So, I seize it aggressively in my hand and push up off my chair, clicking my neck. I once used an ashtray in a fight when some drunk guy attacked me at a bar back home. I don't enjoy hurting people but sometimes I've had to in the past, to protect myself. I have to awaken that hostile inner demon inside of me once again. A demon that feels even more dangerous when it comes to protecting others…. protecting Beckett. I creep towards the door, keeping my sword that's strapped to my back in the forefront of my mind. I don't want to have to use it…
Cautiously, I push the door open with an oily creek to be met with the site of a dirty-looking kitchen, lined with metal trays on racks. Immediately I'm aware that there's a struggle going on. Beckett is in the clutches of the boy from Two, he wriggles and tries to squirm, but the boy has his hand clasped over Beckett's mouth. Still, I can see the panic in my friends' eyes which sends an angry shiver down my spine. My fingers clench violently around the ashtray. Next to him is the freckled, younger girl from Two with a spear and the girl from Four with a sword.
"Hey… it's the pretty boy. I figured you'd come if we lured you out with a certain bee," the blond girl from Four smirks.
"Is that what they're calling me?" I respond.
"We thought we'd do you the courtesy of killing you first, so you don't have to watch him die," she continues, her eyes darting to my ally briefly.
"How very kind of you," I reply sarcastically.
She must be feeling proud of herself for coming up with this little scheme. The fact still remains though, she decided not to kill him outright. They all did. There's still a conscience deep down in her soul. So why is she doing this? Why is she volunteering to kill us?
It's a good thing she doesn't know about the whole guardian angel thing otherwise we'd already be dead. If we're gonna get out of this, then I need to think fast. Luckily, I'm pretty good at that. My gaze moves down to Beckett's left hand, he has secretly slipped his small mallet into it from his pocket. After a tense little gulp, he gives me a subtle nod as if to say "tell me when."
Now I just need to distract them… What to do? A snarky remark, yes! My secret weapon.
"But first can I just say, the service here is atrocious. I mean do you know how long I've been waiting out there?" I complain, gesturing nonchalantly back to the door behind me.
They turn to each other, momentarily frozen, their eyes struck with bemusement at my attitude. It's milliseconds at most but it's long enough.
"Beckett now!" I shout.
"Huh," the Two boy groans, just before Beckett slams his mallet into the careers eye!
"ARGH!"
He growls with pain, releasing my ally. Not a second later the Four girl prepares to leap at me with her sword however I hurl the ashtray directly into her face! She falls back in shock, desperately wiping the ash and glass from her eyes. Cursing me! The Two girl on the other hand remains oddly stationary. Why? I have no idea, but it works for me. Without a moment to lose I turn to Beckett again, leaping into him and scooping him up in my arms! The girl from Four continues to groan in anger from behind, now partially unable to see, most likely.
Enraged, she lands a kick on me, planting her heel directly into my lower back! The mighty kick causes us to crash around on the slippery kitchen floor several times before scrambling our way back to our feet, my boots squeal against the floor, coming to a halt several meters back. Several pots and pans also collide with my head on the way.
The Four girl's face is now drenched in fury whilst she finishes rubbing the ash out of her eyes, eyes that quickly narrow in on me with a new predatory purpose to kill me.
"Beck…go!" I order, drawing my sword from my back and facing down my enemies with a blaze of fire burning in my chest.
"But…"
"Just go! I'll be right behind you!"
He scuttles off out of another door behind us, leading to another room. The Four girl seems a little taken back by my glimmering, golden sword as does the Two boy, who is preparing his sword whilst also clenching his now black eye in pain.
"Yeah that's right… I gotta magic sword," I taunt, smug.
The girl from Four grits her teeth and tightens her grip around her silver sword, preparing to charge directly at me again. I can't hope to best a career in sword combat even with my special sword, I have to think of an alternative. My survival instinct returns to my veins again.
There are two tall metal racks on either side of us, extending all the way from where the careers are, to the door behind me. Just as she is about to attack, I yank the one to my left. It comes crashing down! Halting the three of them in their tracks! That buys me enough time to also turn and zip through the metal door behind me. I sheath my sword and slam the door shut, bolting it hard.
"Conny!" Beckett calls from across the room.
I spin back around, keeping my weight planted firmly on the door with my shoulder.
We've found ourselves in, what appears to be, the storage room of the restaurant. It is incredibly dark, but I can still make out the various boxes and containers cluttering up the place.
"Please tell me you've got a plan," Beckett pleads.
"I'm working on it," I answer, scanning the room for any possible escape routes.
Escape routes usually are Beckett's area of expertise.
"Look!" He points.
He's right! There it is! A large wooden roll-up door at the back of the house. Although, the bolt that allows it to be opened up is right up at the top left corner.
CRASH
One of the careers kicks the door I'm holding, jolting me back violently with it however I manage to hold it for now.
"Beckett!" I yelp.
"Huh."
"The bolt," I say, nodding towards it.
He glances back at where I'm nodding to, before he finally gets it, clambering up some of the boxes and racks to reach it.
CRASH
CRASH
Two kicks this time. I'm not gonna last much longer!
"Anytime now would be great bud…no pressure!" I groan, holding the door in with all my might.
"Tati! Help us!" I hear the Four girl yell in frustration from the other side.
Beckett has almost reached the bolt on the other door now, he stretches his little arm as far as he can, he's straining…groaning. Come on!
CRASH
That last kick was the hardest one yet. One more and we're done for!
CLICK
He finally pulls the bolt back and straight away I let go of the kitchen door and race right at the larger door.
"I did it!" he cheers.
The kitchen door bursts open behind us followed by three pairs of angry, storming footsteps.
"Ok now come and get me!" Beckett yelps from up on the crates!
"Not enough time! Jump!" I tell him.
The hesitancy in his eyes is cut short by the sight of three careers on our tail. And so, he takes a big leap onto my back!
THUD
The impact shocks my body a little but I'm able to stay upright.
I catch his legs with my hands and bolster him up, so his arms are wrapped comfortably around my neck. I'm piggybacking him! How did this happen? It doesn't help that he is heavier than I had anticipated.
"How many breadsticks have you been eating?" I groan.
"Shut up," he shoots back.
I yank the door up with all my strength and duck under it but not low enough so that Beckett doesn't bang his head.
"Ouch!"
"Sorry."
We are now back out on the street on the edge of the rail track which I trace up with my eyes. It leads straight to a train waiting by one of the wooden stations. I can't make out many details in the twilight, but it looks like an old-fashioned train with steam coming out the top of it.
"Things in the past are always better than things in the present," the words of my stylist fleetingly echo in my mind for some reason. Maybe she did have a point after all. Urgh, I shake the thought of her out of my head.
"Hold on!" I shout to Beckett, beginning to take off towards the train.
The train suddenly begins to leave! Sluggishly inching forwards.
"Conrad, they're right behind us!" Beckett cries from above, his arms squeeze my neck tighter.
No! We can't hope to outrun them! We need that train. I sprint down the track with all the might I have left and the weight of him on my back! The train is speeding up now! We could be about to die. But, in a weird way, as I dash along the track with Beckett on my back … with the cold night air filling our lungs and coursing through our hair, I feel oddly… free. I think he feels it too. Like our purpose was to meet here and do this together and then for me to… to die for him. I just can't explain it.
"Conrad they're gaining! How close are we?"
"Let's just say we won't have time to buy a ticket!" I reply.
We're mere meters from the back of the train now but it's getting away from us at the same time at a faster and faster rate. My legs are also straining with Beckett on my back as I bolt across the track.
"Conrad… if we don't make it, I just want to say…"
"We'll make it," I interrupt him.
A few more plods on the gravel go by and I'm now close enough to jump!
"Ok bee, it's about to get real blowy so whatever you do, don't let go!" I yell!
There is a brief flash before my eyes again of me lying in that alleyway on the garbage bag in the rain. My hand reaching up towards Cal's for survival.
This time Cal is the train! Neither of them cares about me but they are my survival route… our survival route. It ignites enough fire in me to spring up like a bunny directly into the back of the train! (which is no easy feat with Beckett clung to my back). I almost immediately lose my grip but just manage to hold onto the cold, metal rails with my fingertips… somehow!
As the train races off, the air slamming against us almost finishes off my grip! Beckett screams from behind me as he rushes through the wind like a kite.
"AHHHHH!"
His tiny hands cling onto my neck, beginning to choke me slightly. Using the momentum of the wind, I take a good swing and collide my feet through the back doors of the train causing us to crash to the floor inside, rolling to the floor and panting and sweating profusely.
We did it! My survival instinct returned with a narrow escape as always. I leap back up and slam the doors back shut, humorously watching the three careers come to a halt on the track… in failure.
"What's the matter? They didn't teach you to catch a train?" I beam, throwing both my middle fingers up at them through the train windows.
I can just make out the malice on the girl from Four's face as we disappear from her grasp.
Beckett joins me at my side with his own middle fingers firmly up at them.
"Yeahhh yolo!" He screams.
It's then that I realize, it hits me like a bullet through my heart, chuckling along with him as the train roller-coasters us through the darkness… it hits me that… I'm home. This was my life before all of this started, racing through the streets, narrowly escaping dangers through the back alleys with my buddies. Trying to pack as many thrills into each day as possible. Well, minus the death traps, monsters, and trained killers of course. Beckett is my new buddy. No, my brother. I've never had a brother before… or any family for that matter. He's the brother I never had. When I'm with him we're almost always smiling. When I'm with him we're owning every second. When I'm with him… I'm home. It all makes sense now, the guardian angel, why they chose me. It's why I have to protect him, and they know it. They know I've never had any family before now. Those sick bastards. They studied all of us like hawks.
Beckett throws himself back down to the train floor on his back, in a kind of nervous, joyful exhaustion.
"That was some plan," he giggles, rubbing his fingers through his hair.
"Hey! You should know by now. My only plan is not to have a plan," I laugh.
I let myself fall down on one of the train seats and begin closing my eyes to regain my breath.
"I just realized Conrad, that Four girl back there… literally kicked your butt," he laughs.
His comments begin to filter through my brain as my eyes struggle to remain open…outside the window, the endless houses are swooshing past in a blur through the night sky.
"Oh and Conrad…" Beckett starts again from the floor.
I wearily open up my eyes again.
"Yeah?"
"I still need to pee…"
…
My hands cover my face in a mix of almost every emotion joy, fear, fatigue, confusion, everything. We escaped this time yeah but how much longer will it be before the game makers force us to fight? We will have to face the careers eventually. These thoughts creep in on the back of my mind as a parasite. I can't keep it away forever…
Heather Monroe, 16, District 5
Charon scuttles ahead of me through the dim-lit street, jittering non-stop between different houses like a confused hamster. He briskly raids the insides of the buildings, erratically tossing ornaments about and pulling draws out of their hinges. As he hurries onto the next house, I've just about had enough of this. The sun is rapidly setting which means dangers. I'm tired, hungry, hazy and my vision is starting to blur. We only narrowly escaped three of the careers, the boy from four, the girl from one, and the girl from nine.
I'm still hastily glancing over my shoulder to see if they're still following us … nothing at the moment.
We pass across a narrow misty street into the next house and the boy continues his raid that mostly consists of throwing things about. After flinging the last pan over his shoulder, narrowly missing my head, he waltzes over to the window, his eyes seem wide and frantic with a touch of panic while glimpsing out of the murky window.
"Charon!" I huff, still catching my breath.
His foggy eyes dart to me from looking out the window.
"Hmm!"
"What has gotten into you?" I protest, throwing my arms across my hips.
"I told you! I'm looking for the potions," he responds, rapidly turning his attention away from me.
"Charon!" I growl, in a more commanding way than I've ever spoken to him.
It's the voice my father made when he demanded your attention, and when my father demanded your attention, you listened. It seems to work as his eyes shoot back to me, shocked at my new tonne. Looking like a misbehaved child.
"The potions can wait. Right now we need to rest, I'm hungry and fucking exhausted and it's getting dark!" My voice breaks off into a pant as the events of the last four days finally start to take their toll on me… physically and emotionally.
He shifts all his attention to me now, the frustrations in my voice seem to have finally reached his ears.
"Besides… all this noise you're making… it's gonna attract the careers. Or worse, that monster…"
"I wouldn't worry," he begins, turning away from me to begin rummaging around in a wardrobe.
I think I catch him faintly sniffling and his right ear pricks up slightly towards the window.
"That thing is like a wolf right? So its smell is its best sense, not its hearing and you can't hide your scent," he explains, almost like he strangely admires it.
"Is that so?" I sigh, resting my palms on the table to catch my breath.
Why does he think I give a fuck if a doggy can hear or smell better? How does he even know? Do they have a lot of wolves in District 12?
"Yeah… didn't you notice it sniffing around when it walked past you outside the window?" he mentions casually.
Then it hits me! Like a freight train! The wind has been completely crushed out of my chest! I… I can barely breathe, I throw myself back from the table in an epiphany, my eyes glued to him in shock!
"I never mentioned that…" I mutter…
"What?" he huffs, turning back to me while still fiddling with a ragged shirt from the wardrobe.
"I never mentioned that it walked past me outside the window…"
The world around us seems to have frozen, the house cast in an unbearable silence. The only sounds that can be heard are some leaves rustling in the wind outside.
"It must have slipped out at some point," he scoffs dismissively, returning his attention to the shirt.
"You weren't with me," I realize out loud.
"You never were… every night since day two you've disappeared… ever since that thing first appeared…"
He stops dead again, his mischievous eyes trained on me. They are trying to appear careless and confused but I can see through his bullshit now as clear as day. Necklace-gate was the last straw for that.
"What are you driving at here exactly?" He laughs.
I stagger further back from him in shock, my heart now pumping at a million miles an hour.
"It's you…" I stutter.
He tries to scoff again, to laugh off what I just said but to no avail. I knew the moment I saw those eyes through the window that they were familiar.
"Look I get it, it's been a weird past few days but just listen to yourself for a second. It's crazy!" He exclaims, his voice now becoming more rushed and frantic.
The veins are now throbbing in his neck with each breath!
I don't answer him. I just stare like a sniper trained on its target, my eyes don't move not even for a millisecond, squinting in on him. I know and he knows I know by now and I know he knows I know.
I notice his eyes flicker again to the window. To the darkening, scarlet sky. Then, he purses his lips and curls his hands against the chair across from me, breaking eye contact in defeat.
"Damn it."
"I knew you'd figure it out eventually…" he says with an exasperated sigh.
I try to say something but my throat has welled up in fear, all I can do is quiver nervously. He releases his hands from the chair and moves off to the window to stare out at the pale moonlight.
"Heather I… I was going to tell you but…"
"You've never told the truth in your life?" I blurt.
He shifts back towards me.
"But… I didn't want you to leave me… I'm… I'm sorry," he murmurs, his eyes turned downwards in sorrow.
I'm about to do the unthinkable and reach out to him. To comfort him. Something I've never done to anyone. I should be mad at him but I'm not. Mad at him for lying to me again. I should want to kill him but I don't. Either way, I'm halted by his new beastly eyes glaring up at me.
"You need to go now… you understand right?" he states.
"Charon…" I croak.
"Go!" He growls, shaking the room.
I jump back in shock. My hand slides down to one of my knife hilts.
"Heather! I can't control it and it's night already! There's no telling when…"
Suddenly, he clutches his heart! Hissing in pain and jumping to the floor! Screaming!
"Argh!"
I move closer to him to try to help him whilst he crawls desperately around on the floorboards into the dark corner.
"Get out of here!" He orders, his voice has suddenly become more coarse and…animalistic.
When his eyes shoot back at me from the floor they are suddenly yellow. Bright yellow as a harvest moon. I gasp in surprise, stumbling back towards the door again. As my hand twitches to find the handle, he continues growling and screaming whilst his body begins to shift and contort, tearing through his clothes! His skin is becoming hairy, with leaden grey fur.
Finally, he begins to grow, taller than he already is, sprouting up towards the ceiling! His chest puffs out, expanding outwards into a monstrous shape. His fingernails pop out into knife-like claws, his nose extending out into a snout! Razor sharp teeth line his jaw!
I pant and gasp, frozen in fear, in panic, pressing my back up against the door. Pull yourself together Heather! I've been in near-death situations plenty of times but nothing quite like this…
In the final stages of his transformation, he lets out a blood-curdling scream of pain which alters into a howl towards the end. A deep, deafening howl. This creature swipes the table out the way! Its predatory eyes zone in on me, squinting and curling its teeth inwards! It's grown so large that it has blocked out the window, engulfing the whole room in a shadow.
I yelp in panic and am about to unleash one of my knives on it but I can't… it's still Charon. My partner in crime, my pain in the ass… my friend. Anyone else, I wouldn't think twice about hurling this knife in their eye. What is going on?
My vision is cast back all of a sudden to that training day. Throwing that dummy knife past his big, bumbling, dumb head. His stupid smirk plastered on his face as he bounded towards me. Then I'm sitting opposite him at that table at lunch. We insult and tear into each other verbally but it was at that moment as he grinned at me that I realised something. That we're not so different. That… he's me. When he first offered to ally with me I told him I'm a "lone wolf" and he replied.
"Great. maybe we can be lone wolves together?"
God, I had no idea he meant it so literally.
I'm returned to this room with this creature staring down at me. Snarling and drooling. The only resemblance it has to Charon is his mane that it seems to have kept on its head.
Its ears prick up before it lunges at me from across the room! I scream and shove the door open behind me, just missing a slash from its right hand which would have torn through my flesh!
I soon find myself stumbling around on the street outside, groaning and wheezing and trying not to let the tears well up from my throat and consume me.
Then comes a monstrous growl from behind me! I turn to see Charon… I mean the beast, smash through the window in a fit of rage. Shards of glass spill all over the dusty street! It turns its attention to me again, bounding towards me on all fours with its tongue flailing wildly. With a mighty effort, I place my hands on the freezing concrete and stumble back to my feet. The sound of its paws plod against the pavement, closing in on me from behind as I use the houses to bolster myself forward but I'm just not fast enough.
With a feral growl, it knocks me from behind with its knuckles sending me tumbling towards one of the brick houses until I'm slumped against it in a heap. My head takes a nasty knock on the stone bricks. I let out a cry of pain, dazed.
My eyes flutter open to the sight of him stalking his way toward me, plodding his paws ever closer. He… Charon…
"Charon…" I sob.
His expression doesn't change, still determined to rip me to shreds.
"Charon please!"
He throws himself at me again but my knife is already in my hand ready. I swing my blade across his body, slicing him in the abdomen as I force myself back up! He howls in pain! No, what have I done?! Charon! I'm so lost in the moment that I don't see the next swing coming. He backhands me with inhuman strength sending me flying several meters through the air!
I roll around several times in the dirt, groaning, and cursing. Then I try to gaze up at him again, clutching my now bruised face in agony.
By the time my eyes crawl open, he's already there! I can just see his enormous beast legs above me. No! This isn't the way the godfather's daughter goes out! Torn to pieces by her own ally. My father… my dad is watching me right now. Forget being his successor or his right-hand woman. I'm his daughter first and he can't watch me die like this. I love him too much.
I roll over to face my attacker… Charon. His yellow, glowing eyes glare down at me, studying me. His pupils… they still look all too… human. He's hesitating. I know it. Even so, I slip another knife into my palm. Ready.
"Charon… I know you're in there," I croak.
He pauses, simply staring down at me, sniffing and panting. With a snarl, he suddenly diverts his eyes from me and disappears past my head. Not long after, I crawl my way to my knees to see him leaping and bounding across the rooftops, disappearing into the night…
He couldn't do it. Just like I couldn't. I knew it. He can control it and I can still help him! I have to! I have to try! My father would be looking down now with disapproval but I don't give a shit. Screw him. Sorry paps but I've got to do this!
Charon Aytigin, 18, District 12
"Awooooooooooooooo!"
The pain subsides. My senses are alert, everything seems grey but also clear as day. A rush of pine, air, and water overcome my nose.
It's quickly replaced by stench. Human stench. But a very specific, familiar scent.
Muted colors. Loud noises. I hear feet on dirt. I turn. A human. She runs away from me.
I face her. With a small swipe of my leg, I send her into a wall.
She falls to the ground. I hear her sobs. I slowly walk towards her. I smell blood.
"Charon…Charon please…" Her voice pounds in my skull.
Why is there a sense of familiarity in those words? In her voice, too. And her smell. I recognize all of this.
These thoughts bounce around my mind, causing more confusion with each additional thought. I snarl.
I jump towards the girl. Then there's a pain.
"AWOOOO!" I yelp. The smell of blood rapidly seeps into my nostrils. Blood and metal. A blade. The smell leads to the girl's hand.
I instinctively swing at the danger. She flies through the air. The metal blade goes flying.
With her back on the ground, I walk over and stand over her. Her whimpers become louder. It's the strongest sense. Bigger than anything else. The pain. The grass. The metal. Just whimpers.
"Charon…I know you're in there." Charon? What is that?
Charon. It has a weird sense of familiarity. I can't shake it.
I lower my nose and sniff her. Yes. She's familiar. Friendly. I don't want to hurt her.
I leap onto the top of a roof. Then onto another one. The sobs get quieter. The smells dissipate. New ones replace it. Small creatures. Rabbits, squirrels, leaves, trees. Hollow smells, resembling humans but missing…the fresh flesh that typically accompanies them.
I avoid it all. I leap from the last roof to the ground. I see a large, black structure. I smell metal. Thick stone. Unlike normal stone. This whole area is…weird.
I get a small whiff of humans, but I leave it. The building gives me a strange feeling.
I find myself in another town. It's like the one with the familiar human. The human that hurt me. What was she called? I think I knew her name at one point…
But it's different here. Less stone. More dirt. More wood. I think more people?
The people smell familiar. Maybe it was the large group I fought the other day. Infact, it's strange. Does the sun never rise here? It's been night for…as long as I can remember. Or, no, do I remember seeing the sun? I can't remember. It's all muddled. My thoughts aren't straight.
The smell of flesh overcomes me. My stomach grumbles. I need to eat.
I avoid the stronger smells and go further. A single human stands out. Less danger.
I jump on top of the roof and howl. I sniff the air. The scent stands out.
I look at a building. I think I see movement, but it's hard to tell. I jump down closer to the building.
I hear footsteps. Heavy breathing. A door opens. I see a boy in a panic looking around. He looks up and his eyes meet mine at the top of the building.
I jump towards him, but miss him. He turns to face me with his weapon. I growl. He mutters.
He runs. I run. It's dark, but I see what I need to. I hear his footsteps shift from dirt to grass.
I jump towards him. He ducks in time. He runs again. I skid across the ground. I run.
We reach the woods. I sniff the air. There are too many things. Animals. Trees. Flowers. I lose his scent.
Hunger. I need to eat.
I return to the houses. I jump on a roof. I look at the tall building. I go there.
I jump over the fence. I see two statues. There's more to them.
I growl at them. In an instant, they fly in the air, screaming at me. I try to fold my ears back. I lunge at one. The other flies into me and knocks me back. I yelp.
I scurry up to my paws. One flies down close to me. I swipe it. It falls back. A part of its wing is chipped. It goes back in the air. But it struggles.
The second one flies at me. I dodge, then grab it between my front legs. I throw it to the ground. It shatters.
The second one flies at me. It slices my back. It gets me good. I smell the blood instantly. The pain disorients me.
I hop back over the fence. It doesn't follow. I take a moment to rest in the woods. I need to let my wound heal.
I let out a small howl.
"Awoo…" I wonder if the girl can hear me. I wonder if she's okay. Maybe I need her. Maybe she can help me.
With all my strength, I get back up. I walk. I sniff, trying to catch her scent. Nothing.
I don't give up. I keep going. I've made it this far. I won't stop now.
Harrison Jones, 18, District 11
I haven't stopped walking since I left the careers yesterday. Once I realized the alliance was about to split, I left without looking back. I considered trying to get Serenity to come with me, as she's the only one I would trust, but I couldn't wait any longer. To be fair, I thought there was no way it would end without bloodshed, that's why I was so quick to escape. But no cannons fired, and none of their faces were in the sky last night, so I guess I was wrong.
I went east, deeper into the town and as far away from the Career's home base as I can. I know without a doubt that if I run into any of them, they won't hesitate to kill me. Well, anyone but Serenity I think. Regardless, I need to have the upper hand.
By the time I take shelter in the last house, my legs are on fire. Thankfully, the house has an upper level with a small bed. After securing the door and setting up a temporary base upstairs, I collapse on the mattress. At least if someone breaks in, I'll have some time to react before they can get up here.
As I drift off to sleep, I can't help but have a small buildup of anxiety of what's to come.
I dream of home.
My father bends down, picking produce from the field. But every time he stops, for any reason, a Peacekeeper whips him. I'm watching this from inside a building through a window. I try to shout, but nothing comes out.
Then, I'm standing in my kitchen. My mother stands at the counter, cooking dinner for us. She leans against the counter and wipes sweat off her brow. She's paler than I've ever seen her.
She takes a seat at the kitchen table, basically collapsing into the chair. I walk around to the other side of the table.
"Mom?" I ask. But her head is leaning back, with her mouth wide open. Flies fly above her head. It looks like she's been dead for days.
Now I stand in my outdoor gym. My brother, Jovan, is sitting on the ground in front of me. Actually, he's not sitting. As I walk closer, I realize he's leaning back slightly, holding his stomach. Blood pours out of a wound on his stomach. He pleads at me to stop.
But he's not making eye contact with me, he's making it with someone behind me. I turn around to face…me. But my eyes are black, and in my hand is a sword. What used to be metal has been completely stained red with his blood.
I wake in a cold sweat, gasping for air. Tears run down my face, tears I didn't even realize I was making. I throw my legs over the side of the bed and take a moment to catch my breath and stabilize.
"It was just a dream, Harrison." I say out loud, hoping it makes it feel more true.
I quiet my breathing when I hear a loud howl. My heart sinks to my stomach. Why does that sound exactly like the werewolf?
Shit. That's because it is the werewolf. I gather all my stuff and glance out the small window on the second level. Through the cracks and dirt caked on the glass, I see it standing on top of a roof. It holds its nose in the air.
Please, go away. I plead to myself. It looks around, as if it were searching for something in particular. That's when its eyes lock onto me.
"Shit." I mutter to myself. I grab all my supplies and rush down the stairs and out of the house.
As I step outside, the werewolf lands on the ground only a few feet away from me.
It doesn't hesitate to jump straight at me. I manage to dodge the lunge, and raise my sword towards it. Remembering how horrible my last encounter with the creature went, I sprint.
I sprint as fast as I can, cognisant of the footsteps of the creature moving rapidly behind me. Getting louder and louder as it gains distance on me.
I hear the creature leap and manage to duck just in time. I feel the claws run through my hair, but nothing hurts me. I skid to a halt and use the moment of confusion to make my escape. I change directions and run as fast as I can away from the creature.
I think I hear a howl, but the creature doesn't seem to pursue. That doesn't stop me from running, and running, and running, until my legs are on fire.
Although it doesn't feel safe, I allow myself a single moment of rest. Just enough to catch my breath, and let my legs cool down. I make sure to swear out the Gamemakers for interrupting my rest with another visit from this abomination of a mutt.
Although, it wasn't necessarily the mutt that interrupted my rest. It was my own mind. The images I was subjected to, the horrible sights of my family injured and dead…those will haunt me until I return home and replace those sights with happy ones. My mother smiling. My brother hugging me. My dad patting me on the back, telling me how proud of me he is.
I hope this nightmare ends soon.
So we learnt some important things about our characters in this chapter! Tatiana is questioning her place in the world and her purpose. Conrad is discovering as he gets closer to Beckett everything in his life leading up to this is starting to make sense and Charon is a… werewolf. Heather is going against what her father taught her as she builds a bond with Charon. So hope you enjoy!
I have to be honest our motivation for this story is waning a little bit so if you have time we'd appreciate any thoughts you might have about how we're writing your characters or the story in general. Thank you!
We're also planning on changing the format for the arena chapters after this chapter into part one and part twos for day, where he each write one of the parts. That way there will be less povs but more chapters! See you! – nautics
Povs written by nautics: Tatiana, Conrad, Heather
Povs written by Team Shadow: Harrison, Marissa, Charon
Roles
Serenity: Vigilante
Taliesin: Disguiser
Harrison: Vampire Hunter
Conrad: Guardian Angel
Nadia: Potion Master
Charon: Werewolf
Marissa: Ambusher
Eulogies
Day 1
24th: Ricky James (D9M) Killed by Serenity Jasper - decapitated.
23rd: Tristan Card (D8M) Killed by Jade Hastings – Slashed through the chest.
22nd: Jonathan Priel (D10M) Killed by Taliesin Ulysses – Knife thrown through neck.
21st: Elijah Axenfros (D7M) Killed by Taliesin Ulysses – Blunt force trauma.
20th: Emily Lynch (D6F) Killed by Heather Monroe – Knife thrown into torso.
19th: Kalen Demner (D5M) Killed by Marissa Grey - Sliced with a sword.
18th: Aeliana Decima (D8F) Killed by vampire mutts – bitten in the neck.
Day 2
17th: Henry Haines (D1M) Killed by Taliesin Ulysses – Throat crushed and neck snapped.
Day 3
16th: Adelina Claire (D10F) Killed by Gargoyle mutts.
Day 4
0 deaths.
Kill count
Jade: 1
Taliesin: 3
Marissa: 1
Heather: 1
Serenity: 1
Mutts/arena: 2