[18] - Rochelle
A/N - HUGE HUGE thank you to runying who brought it to my attention that I somehow posted chapter 18 of Ultimate Crown here instead of the actual chapter for this story! With so many chapters in my drafts I got all my stories mixed up lol. But while we're on the topic, why not check out Ultimate Crown if you haven't already... (but not until you're done reading this chapter, of course!)
"It's boiling," Princess moans as we climb a sand dune. In the few minutes since we left the Cornucopia, she's already stripped out of her layers into just a t-shirt and pants. Luckily, our thick pants have a detachable thinner layer built in, and it was easy enough to roll our pants up into shorts.
"Those stylists are idiots," Princess complains. "Do they think it's funny to give us all these layers in the desert? Like we don't have enough to worry about in here."
"Who knows what the Gamemakers have up their sleeves," Zinnia reminds Princess. "I doubt they'd give us all this for nothing."
"I guess," Princess grumbles. "It's so heavy to carry, too. I'm about to just dump it and leave it."
I clench my fists behind my back as I follow behind the two other girls. It hasn't even been an hour yet, and Princess is already getting on my nerves. Not to mention that the heat is beating down on me, too. District Eight's always had hot summers, but nothing like this. The desert sun reminds me of my time on the streets of District Eight, back when I first met Maria. Before we were both taken into the orphanage. The first summer after we met, Maria nearly died of heat exhaustion; it feels like it's even hotter in here than it was back then.
"Don't dump anything, or you'll regret it," Zinnia warns Princess. "Everything the Gamemakers do is intentional, so those outfits might come in handy later."
"Right, I'll just look like an idiot lugging this giant pack around just so Sylverthorn can get a good laugh," Princess says, rolling her eyes. "I'll give them twenty-four hours, but I'm done after that."
The girls are interrupted by a boom in the distance; the cannon shots from the Bloodbath must be starting. Princess and Zinnia pause to listen, and I come to a stop behind them. I've never been at math, nor was I taught much, but I do know how to count, and that's all I need in here.
The cannons fire one after the next. Five... Six... Seven... Eight. Then silence.
"Only eight?" Princess groans. "The boys barely did anything!"
"That's only four pairs," Zinnia says with a thoughtful nod. "So eight pairs left."
Eight pairs left... I wonder what August's thinking right now. I hope he's proud of me - I'm sure he wasn't expecting me to last this long on my own. One thing's for sure - I need to find him as soon as possible, with or without my current allies.
The other girls keep walking, but I'm distracted by a sound behind me. Pausing for a moment to wipe sweat from my brow, I glance around at my surroundings. There's nothing but sand for as far as the eye can see, except for one thing. There's a girl following us, and she's growing closer by the second.
The girl looks up, and I recognize her instantly. It's Mandy, the girl from Nine. Pollux's partner. She looks up at me, and we stare at each other for a few long seconds.
What is Mandy doing, approaching us like this? If Zinnia or Princess get their hands on her, she'll be dead for sure. Neither of them, especially not Princess, would pass up a chance to eliminate Pollux from the Games. These girls are only allowing me to tag along because of Princess' attachment to August; Zinnia doesn't have that bond with Pollux.
"What do we have here?" Princess calls from behind me, and I know that there's no escaping it now; Mandy's sealed her own fate. There's nothing I can do now but watch.
Below us, Mandy freezes for a moment before opening her mouth. "You need to take me with you," she says, and I can tell that she's trying her best to be assertive. "I need to find Pollux."
I cringe as Princess steps closer to Mandy. How could Mandy be so stupid? Out of everyone left in here, Mandy should know that she has one of the biggest targets on her back with Pollux as her partner. The smartest thing for her to do right now would be to hide like Jasper.
I expect Princess to unsheath her sword and make quick work of Mandy, or at least bite back at her with a venomous response like she did to me this morning. Shockingly, she does neither of those things.
"Of course we'll help you," Princess says with an artificial sweetness in her voice. She bares her teeth in a wide grin, but it has a barbaric look that makes me shudder. "We're so hospitable, aren't we, Zinnia?"
"So hospitable," Zinnia echoes from behind me.
"Come along with us," Princess offers. "We're looking for the boys anyway. But don't forget our generosity - you'll be carrying our bags for us as payment."
"Of course," Mandy says, like a dog eager for the approval of its master. "I'll do anything."
I feel nauseous, and the heat of the desert isn't helping. Princess was convinced suspiciously easily - Princess definitely has something up her sleeve, and it can't mean anything good for Mandy or me.
Whatever. Maybe Mandy's done me a favor today; with her in the picture, she'll be the first one to go if Princess or Zinnia turn on us, that's for sure. The only person in here with a bigger target on their back than me is Mandy, and Princess would be far more likely to kill Pollux than August. In the long run, Mandy might be the saving grace I need.
"Let's go, Rochelle," Princess calls. "Now that I think about it, I should have my hands free to hold weapons, so you'll take a bag too. Come on."
I know better than to argue with Princess right now. I shoulder her heavy bag and follow others as they continue through the desert.