Apologies for the wait. Christa gets further into the games but still has fears. Abby gets herself into trouble. Please review!
Abby hid under a tree in what was nicknamed Dead Forest, not because of any zombies but because everything in it from the trees to the soil was dead. It was eerily quiet thanks to the animal population being only about 0.9%; it hadn't rained in so long and the heat was unbearable.
Abby felt helpless, if her sister was really dead how would she live? She was the only one she could trust, this tough as nails chick, this loner bad girl, she could never be like her. What was she going to do if she couldn't return home, hitchhike? She wasn't familiar with the other sectors or the people, she could easily be taken advantage of, killed or worse. She had no water or food, change of clothes either, she wouldn't last long.
She couldn't hide her tears, she hated crying, she felt like a little girl lost in a mall. Christa wasn't there to protect her, not anymore and she managed fine during her original absence. She tried to hold back the water works but it hurt.
"I thought I'd find you hear", Abby looked up, bloodshot eyes made her look like she was infected to Buck, he had been out looking for her ever since he received an urgent call from the Stevens' residence.
"I'm not going back, Buck", she stated, wiping away more tears.
He sat down next to her, "Why are you running, what did she say this time?" She couldn't bare to repeat the awful news, she held up to him the teared leather she knew to be from Christa's jacket. "What's this…She's doing well. I seen her on the TV."
Abby was skeptical of this news, "You saw her? She's alive?"
"Yes. You mean you thought…"
"That fucking bitch!", she was never more furious.
"Now, Abby, calm down", he placed a hand on her shoulder, she was shaking.
"She doesn't want me to see Christa ever again! She told me she was no good and better off dead!", she stood up, her blue eyes were fierce, she clenched her small fists.
Buck stood up and held her back in case she thought of running further into the forest blind. "I can take you back to my place and you can have a chance to cool down."
"I have to find her, I have to bring her home!"
"What are you going to do, Abigail? No one can just go in and bust people out of the Games, if you even try to cross the gate over there without clearance they'll lock you up and then you'll never see Chris again."
"If you won't help me, Buck then I guess I'll have to help myself."
The guards were very pushy, they stood behind Christa and Todd as they cleared a long hallway to a large service elevator to the roof. A military helicopter took off and a more private helicopter was left for them. Both had their questions, Christa more so then Todd. 'What makes us so special?', she thought. They were going in a different direction then the other helicopter too.
"Maybe we're getting let go", said Todd who was getting dangerously close to Christa, even going as far as touching her shoulder. She glared at him, making him take his hand away.
The helicopter ride took awhile, several hours only making both of them more nervous. Not until they caught site of a few high rise buildings did they know exactly where they were. It was one of the richest sectors, practically where the majority of the 1% lived now. The helicopter landed on the roof of a building in the centre of the gated off city.
"I recognize this, it's the station where they do all those lame celebrity interviews."
"So what the hell are we doing here?"
"We must be famous now", he laughed at the thought of Christa being forced to act friendly, "They'll make you wear a dress."
"Over my dead body!"
Todd just snickered, this stopped though when he noticed a blue vein forming on her forehead, it looked like it was pulsing, he'd never seen anything like it before. The guards guided them down a flight of stairs to the makeup room where they were greeted by a very enthusiastic man, "Christa Stevens and Todd…sorry I forgot your last name! Anyway, we need to have you prepped, you're on in 5."
"5 minutes? What?". Christa had no time to complain as she was forced into a makeup chair. She refused to cooperate, the only thing she was willing to do was leave her jacket behind and have her makeup done on her call, her hair would be in a ponytail. "How about a pair of heels?"
"No", Christa answered bluntly, her boots stayed on. She met Todd backstage in front of the curtain they both would make their grand entrance through. "What are you wearing?"
Todd had on a silver suit and tie and his hair was shampooed and combed, "It's called class. Gonna have to get used to it now that we're in the spotlight."
She rolled her eyes, she heard a female personality announce their names loudly. The curtains opened up and they walked on stage. Christa pushed Todd away from the chair she wanted to sit in, she wanted to be far away from the host. The host was an unnerving, perky young woman with very pink clothing and a smile so white that the stage lights were bouncing off of them and blinding Christa. Her name was Elaine, no last name.
"So you two, the world has so many questions for you. You did so well in the start of the games!"
Christa got to relive the embarrassing moment again as video feed was shown on large flat screens on stage. The studio audience seemed way too into it all for her liking. "Such bravery and courage!" Christa tapped her fingers on her arm rest, really wanting this to be done. "Christa, you have been called a hero by many."
"Uh…really?"
"Why, yes, you took your step sister's place, sacrificing…",Christa was distracted by the video they played. First it was her at the sector, pushing her way on stage and Abby being held back but then it showed the two of them in their own house hugging. "It seems you two are quite close."
"How did you get that?", Christa was disturbed by how little privacy was had. More video played showing them on the back porch which was stranger considering this was the night before the names were drawn.
"It looks like you put family before everything else", Elaine smiled, but it was so creepy like she was suggesting the two of them were more than simply sisters.
"She's my family. I have to protect her", she said in defence.
"I'm sure you do. She's a gorgeous young lady. Very well endowed." She couldn't believe how rude this woman was, did she seriously think she was complimenting her? "Tell us, Christa, what are your sister's measurements?" The crowd laughed and cheered. Christa didn't find one bit of this funny, Todd was keeling over beside her. "I don't mean to be insulting, Christa, you should be very proud of her."
"She is. She has a photo of her she looks at every night", Todd butted in. Christa wondered if she would be taken down by one of the guards if she attacked Todd right there and now. The audience laughed, everyone seemed to be against her. After some more ribbing, she had enough and began to walk off stage but she was blocked by more heavyset looking security for the show.
Buck took Abby back to his place, he packed what he had, enough for a week on the road driving in his old rig. "I still can't believe I'm agreeing to this."
Abby made lunch on his kitchen counter, he clearly hadn't had many visitors in the past while seeing as how he kept the place. The small TV he had could hardly get a signal, she played with the knob. The picture was awful, "Just give it a slap", she did.
"Buck! Buck! It's Christa, look!", she saw Christa sitting next to Todd.
"Wow, your sister is probably wishing she was dead right about now", he chuckled.
"Hey! There's me!", she said happily not paying attention to the commentary by the host. She did see the blue veins on Christa's head, spreading out like a spiderweb, it was creepy, "Wait, why are they playing romantic music every time they show Christa and I together?"
"It's likely nothing."
"Well, Christa looks upset", she tried to raise the volume but most of what she heard was laughter. She did like seeing herself on screen, not once asking the question of how they managed to get all of this footage of her at home.
More to come! Find out more of what's happening to Christa and Abby's plan to save her.
