Chapter VI: Making Out Like Bandits
A/N: Here's chapter 6 of Breath of Life. Thanks go to TheReaper94 again. He's helped a lot. This chapter starts the Games. And the way the deaths are listed are from his Hunger Games fic, Year by Year. Thank you also to Alexandria-likethecityinEgypt. Enjoy the story! SSD
The morning came too soon. Isabel was surprised to see that it was Antonio who had come to wake her up.
She asked, "Where's Tylara?"
"She's at the Games HQ. Jade and her worked through the night and got up early. Likely signing sponsors," Antonio replied as he handed her a shift and turned around as she put it on.
"Do Damon and I have sponsors," Isabel queried.
"I would be very surprised if you did not. You, your child, and Damon were and are very sympathetic to the crowds. Come on. It's time to head to the roof to get on the hovercraft." Antonio held the door for her.
Isabel was silent on the way up to the roof. There had been no time to shower at the apartment. That was going to have to wait until she got to the catacombs under the arena. That area was called the Stockyards in the districts.
Once they got to the roof, she took a look around. There was no hovercraft in sight.
As she turned to ask where it was, the hovercraft just popped into view. A ladder came down from it.
Isabel waddled up to it, and managed to get her hands and feet onto the ladder. All of the sudden, she was stuck to the ladder and pulled up into the hovercraft.
There was a young woman with a syringe, who said, "This is just your tracker, Isabel. Please stay still."
"I really can't move right now," Isabel thought ruefully.
Soon after the injection was finished, she became unstuck from the ladder. Isabel clambered off of it.
The ladder went back down for Antonio. Once he was inside, the hovercraft took off.
An unfamiliar Avox led them to a room with an array of food.
Though she did not feel overly hungry, Isabel got a plate, knowing that food could become pretty scarce in the arena.
After she finished filling the plate, Isabel went and sat down by a window seat of the hovercraft and looked out of it.
Antonio sat across form her, also eating his breakfast in silence. He could tell that she didn't want to talk at the moment.
Her baby was kicking at the moment.
"Will my little one ever see the light of day," Isabel wondered, struggling to keep the tears in.
Sensing her anxiety, the baby wriggled inside her. She pressed back against the feet.
"There will be a doctor there to check you over and do an ultrasound on the baby," Antonio murmured about half an hour into the flight.
Isabel nodded. She really didn't feel like opening her mouth at the moment. She had hoped to see Damon before the Games started, but that was not to be.
She rested her arms on top of her belly and looked out the window. But she didn't really see anything.
Antonio watched the young woman gaze out the window. He could not help but feel sorry for her. She probably felt as if the whole world was against her. Tylara had mentioned to him that her reaping may have been rigged by the district mayor.
"Little does she know, many in Panem are on her side," Antonio thought.
Tributes were kept isolated from the news, outside the bubble of the Games. So Isabel would not know that there were silent protests going on at her competing in the Games. In a few districts, there was more overt unrest than others. Districts 12 (no surprises there), 11, 7, 3, and 5 were being the most overt. Especially among mothers. They weren't doing anything that would require the sending in of troops, but Antonio knew that could change suddenly.
Especially if Isabel died in the bloodbath.
Isabel started in her seat when the covers came down on the windows.
"We're getting close to the arena aren't we," she asked Antonio.
"Correct. They don't want any tributes to see what the arena looks like beforehand."
A few moments later, the flight stopped. This time a ramp opened.
Isabel waddled down the ramp. She thought, "I'm in the Catacombs. Or at least that's what they call them in the Capitol. Everywhere else in Panem, they call this place the Stockyards. Where animals go for the slaughter."
She straightened the shift over her belly.
"Come on. Let's go to your Launch Room. The doctor will be waiting," Antonio said as he held out his arm for her.
Isabel took it. She wanted to get the appointment done and over with.
"No matter how many times that goop gets put on me, I always jump at how cold it is," Isabel thought as she was prepped for what was likely going to be her last ultrasound.
In no time at all, Doctor LaRoche found the baby. At this point, it was impossible not to
"It still looks like you've got a healthy little one in there. Still active I hope," the doctor asked.
"Very much so. My nerves weren't the only reason I had trouble sleeping last night," Isabel replied as she touched the screen.
"The baby is also in position for birth, which could happen at any time, Miss Storm," the man warned.
"I am all too aware of that," Isabel muttered darkly before asking, "Is there anything else?"
"Not really. Even if you wanted to know what you are having, your little one's legs are crossed." The doctor got up out of his chair. Isabel quickly wiped the goop off.
"Good luck to you Miss Storm," the doctor said as he left.
To Antonio, she said, "I'm going to go shower. That goop always makes me feel slimy."
Isabel's shower was quick and hot. When she came out with a robe on, the grey eyed Avox was there with her bag of clothes. She smiled saying,
"It's nice to see you again."
The Avox smiled back. It seemed to be a genuine one. He mimed something again. Isabel quickly surmised that he wanted to write something down.
After giving him a notepad, she asked Antonio, "Will he get into trouble for writing me a message?"
"Likely, it will depend on the message," he replied.
Thankfully the Avox finished writing, and had handed the notepad back to her. On it, was the simple message, "Good Luck."
"Thank you," she replied as the Avox bowed and left.
"Now, lets see what I'm wearing," Isabel said to Antonio.
About 15 minutes later, Isabel took a final look in the mirror in her launch room.
Looking from the bottom up, she had black treaded books on her feet, which were a half size bigger to accommodate swelling. The pants were also black, and seemed to be of the cargo variety with many pockets. Isabel's shirt was a dark green t-shirt. The socks were also a dark green. The jacked was a mottled grey-green, lightweight, but warm. Her undergarments were nothing fancy, which pleased her.
"Your bra will give you all the support you need up there. Even if your breasts grow more," Antonio mentioned as she'd put her shirt on after him helping her with the bra.
"I cannot imagine them growing any more. They are getting uncomfortable," Isabel muttered.
"Would you like something more to eat," Antonio asked.
Isabel waddled over to the food table and got some bacon, eggs, and water. She knew it was getting close to the time for the Games to start.
"Will I die in the arena? Will my baby be cut out of me like some trophy for a bloodthirsty career," Isabel wondered as she rubbed her hands over her belly. The baby kicked at her hands in response.
Before she could say anything aloud, the announcement came that it was time for the tributes to get onto their launch plates.
Isabel walked over to the cylinder. Antonio helped her up.
"Stay alive. And good luck," her stylist whispered to her.
She nodded her thanks.
Moments later, Isabel was heading up into the arena, to make her date with destiny.
Tributes had to wait 60 seconds to leave their stands, or they would be blown sky high. Isabel took the time to look around the arena.
Mountains with snow surrounded the arena. On the other side of the arena from her, Isabel could see a lake. There was a heavily wooded pine forest at her back.
When Isabel saw Rose to her immediate right, she caught the dark skinned girl's eye and nodded towards the woods. Rose nodded back: As soon as the bell went off, the two of them would break for the woods while the boys would book it to the Cornucopia.
Before she could think any further, the bell went off. Isabel and Rose booked it into the woods.
Of the 24 tributes in the arena, all but 2 ran for the cornucopia. Some left more quickly than others.
However, before she could make a few steps, Clara Watt got in the way of Trident. He dispatched her quickly with a karate chop to the throat.
Clara Watt, 24th Place, District 5, Trident Hook, karate chop to throat. Bloodbath
Achilles picked up a hatchet in the outside rim of the Cornucopia. In rapid succession he killed two tributes, both underfed 14 year olds.
Mina Powers, 23rd Place, District 3, Achilles Corvin, hatchet to head. Bloodbath
Connor Reid, 22nd Place, District 11, Achilles Corvin, throat slit. Bloodbath
Discarding the hatchet, Achilles ran towards the Cornucopia. Trident was already well on his way there.
It was his job to get the bulk of the food and then get the hell out. Thomas and Damon would be getting the medical supplies and weapons.
On his run up to the Cornucopia, Nikola had picked up a can of pepper spray.
Once he got there, Nikola found two sleds of food that looked perfect.
"Not so fast, 5. That food belongs to us," one of the two Career boys growled.
As they advanced on him, Nikola flicked the switch on the can and sprayed. The pepper spray got both boys in the eyes.
Nikola scurried away with the two sleds towards the tree line to the north where he'd seen the two girls go as Achilles and Trident howled in agony.
As the boy from 5 got away, Serena finally made her first kill of the Games, with a small axe.
Greta Junker, 21st Place, District 6, Serena Emerald, head bashed in. Bloodbath
Freya was the first Career to get a weapon besides a hatchet or axe. She picked up a one sided, curved sword, and gave the girl from 8 a quick death.
Cara Weaver, 20th Place, District 8, Freya Stone, throat sliced. Bloodbath
Thomas just looked at the two boys writhing in agony on the ground as he grabbed two sleds with medical and camping supplies.
As he ran off he thought, "I saw the girls run into the forest to the north. That's where Nikola went, I'll follow."
To make his first kill of the games, Auric did not even bother with a weapon. He just ran up, got a hold of the scrawny, Morphling addicted boy from 6 and snapped his neck with ease.
Adam Hammett, 19th Place, District 6, Auric Jerome, snapped neck. Bloodbath
He took a look around. Mirena had grabbed the rail thin girl from 12, and despite the girl's struggles, brought her to her knees, then forced her head under the water of the lake.
A few minutes later, the girl's body went limp. Mirena left the body where it lay.
Jenna Foster, 18th Place, District 12, Mirena Blackstone, drowning. Bloodbath
Damon had seen all the others run into the forest before he'd gotten to the Cornucopia.
"It's up to me to get the weapons," he thought.
He stepped over Achilles and Trident easily. They were still in agony.
Damon grabbed a bow and a quiver of arrows for Thomas, a scythe for Rose, 2 bags of things to be made into traps for Nikola, along with his whip and machete. He needed to get the Hell out of there before the Careers got him.
He pushed another tribute out of his way while he was running. He didn't stop to look back.
After being shoved to the ground, the boy from 8 got up. Before he could move again, a throwing star embedded itself into his skull after being thrown.
Aron Larson, 17th Place, District 8, Freya Stone, throwing star to the head. Bloodbath
The Careers moved away from the bodies. Freya helped her district partner to the lake as Mirena did the same for Trident.
Freya asked, "Who got you?"
"The skinny boy from 5. He got me with some pepper spray he found. He also got Trident as well. He got away with a bunch of food," Achilles replied as splashed his eyes to clean them out.
Auric and Selene came up, with grim looks on their faces. Serena said, "The medical supplies took a hit. So did the camping supplies."
"I almost got the boy from 10. But he pushed the boy from 8 into the path," Freya muttered.
"We've done enough for today. Let's just rest," Trident said to the group as he finished up flushing out his eyes.
Isabel and Rose were sitting by a creek, when the cannons finally began to go off.
"That's eight dead. We'll have to wait and see if any of our boys are among that number," Isabel said as she laid her arms over the top of her belly.
About fifteen minutes later, they were rewarded with Nikola crashing through the underbrush with his two very full sleds of food.
"Nice work," Rose said as both she and Isabel looked at the booty.
"How'd you get away with all that," Isabel asked as she took her look at the sleds.
"Sprayed two Careers in their eyes with pepper spray. They were howling in agony," Nikola replied as he got a bag of jerky out of one of the sleds before flopping down on the ground.
After about a half an hour of passing the bag around, they heard a whistling tune. Isabel got to her feet. There was only one other person in the arena who knew that little ditty besides her.
She nearly knocked Damon to the ground as she hugged him mumbling, "I'm so happy you're alive!"
"I'm glad that I'm alive too," Damon replied as he hugged her back. After they broke the hug, Damon turned to the others. His eyes went wide when he saw the two sleds of food.
"I too come bearing gifts," he grinned.
First he put the two bags of trap equipment at Nikola's feet. Damon then handed the switchblade scythe to Rose, who got up, moved away, and swung the blade free.
"Oooh, this I like," Rose grinned.
"I also have Thomas's bow and arrows for him, should he show up. I thought I saw him make it though," Damon said as he sat down and took a few beef jerky bits from the bag.
"What about knives for me," Isabel asked as she sat down next to her friend.
"I didn't see any. I also wanted to get the hell out of there. The Careers were starting to regroup," he answered.
Isabel nodded. While she wasn't thrilled about not having weapons, she preferred Damon to be alive.
The baby kicked in response to that thought, as if agreeing.
Thomas came about 15 minutes after that as they were getting up. He came in out of breath, dragging two sleds behind him.
Nikola grabbed a bottle of water and handed it to the former apprentice healer, who drank it greedily. Rose and Damon were filling the empty jugs of water from the stream and using iodine to purify it.
Once he got his voice back, Thomas said, "I have a sled of medical supplies. The other one is for camping."
"We need to find shelter and a place to camp," Isabel said. She was starting to feel tired.
"I saw a cave on my way here. It's near a river and seems to be sturdy enough," Nikola offered. The others
As Damon handed Thomas his bow and arrows, Isabel looked over the booty.
She said, "Well, it looks as if we made out like bandits."
Once they got to the cave and checked inside to make sure there were no unwanted guests, quintet began to breath easier.
One of the first things that were noticed on one of Thomas's sleds were foldable chairs.
Both Damon and Thomas took one look at Isabel and said in stereo, "You're sitting down and resting."
Isabel didn't argue. But she still wanted to be of some use.
"I will sit down and rest. But I want to sort through the supplies."
"Fair enough. We'll bring them to you, then you can decide where to put them," Damon conceded.
Two hours later and the sorting wasn't finished yet. The weapons had been the easiest, and had already been given to their respective users. Nikola had been set to start working on some basic traps.
The camping gear hadn't been too bad to go through. In addition to enough foldable chairs for everyone, there empty jugs to fill with water, a two person tent, cooking tools, sleeping bags, blankets, and fire starting fuel.
"We have to be careful with fires. Don't want the Careers or other tributes coming near here," Rose remarked.
"I noticed that some of the food is self heating when activated. We'll worry more about fires when we get fresh meat. How are the traps coming Nikola," Isabel asked.
"They're coming along. I'll start helping with the " he replied.
A bit later, when Nikola had finished fashioning some basic traps, he also joined in on sorting of supplies.
Thomas had already claimed a rather large tarp for a medical area inside the cave.
As they were getting to the bottom of the medical supplies, Damon and Nikola had each grabbed a box. When they read what was in them, the two boys dropped them like they were radioactive.
"What was that for," Thomas asked as he walked back over to them. When he saw what the boxes were of, he said, disbelief clear in his tone, "You're in the Hunger Games, and you're acting weird over these?"
Isabel had gotten up from her seat for a moment to take a look at the boxes. She rolled her eyes when she saw that they were tampons.
"How can they possibly be repurposed," Nikola asked.
"We can still use them to soak up blood. Taking them apart for the padding would be useful," Rose stated. She'd rolled her eyes as well.
"That can be done later. Let's get back to work," Isabel said. "I want to get done before it gets dark."
Another two hours later, the sun had setting and they were finally finished with the sorting of the supplies. The food had taken a lot longer than anyone had anticipated.
Once the sun had completely set, the anthem started playing, and the deaths for the day were shown.
Isabel noticed Damon wince at the view of the boy from 8.
"What's wrong," she asked.
"I pushed him out of my way on the way into the forest. I didn't look back," her friend replied, not looking her in the eyes.
"You did not kill that boy, Damon. Do you understand me," Isabel said as she turned his head to face her.
After a few moments of holding her gaze, Damon nodded. But she had a feeling that this was not over for Damon.
A short time after the anthem ended, Thomas said, "I'll take the first watch. Rose, I'll wake you up."
At that, the others went inside the cave, to at least try and sleep.
A/N 2: And the first day of the 80th Hunger Games has ended. I can't wait to hear what you all think. TheReaper94 has a SYOT titled Here We Go Again. He needs tribute suggestions. A form can be found on his profile page. SSD