Chapter 14
I had to do some paperwork and tests for school, so I miss most of the next few days.
It's not my fault, really. The university wanted to know what I've done and if I'd been arrested, and they tested my ability to work under pressure. I have never seen so much fake blood and so many fake body parts in my life.
While I was testing and being exhausted, my tribute and Bread Boy have met, and he's pretty sick. Blood poisoning in his legs. They've started kissing like they're a couple, which is earning them more air time.
I know they're not trained to do this, but my tribute's medical abilities are pissing me off. Quite a bit. This is why I can't watch medical dramas. They make me irritable. Bread Boy is still sick. My tribute's salves aren't strong enough. They're going to need some pretty strong medicine to fix that leg up.
The trumpets that signal the speaking of Claudius Templesmith rings out, grabbing both Apollo's and my attention immediately. Another rule change? Nope. A feast. Bread Boy doesn't want my tribute to go to the feast. The argue, come to a compromise, and it ends up in my tribute drugging Bread Boy.
"They're acting like my parents," Apollo mumbles. He looks at me. It's true, actually. One reason Apollo is always at my house is because his parents fight so much. He's not the only one. His oldest sister and her husband take care of the younger siblings when their parents aren't home. Awkward silence. Time for subject change.
"I wonder if my tribute has someone at home that she has feelings for," I say. Apollo turns his confused gaze toward me.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when Bread Boy professed his love to her, she didn't look too happy about it."
"She doesn't seem to look to happy about anything." We both laugh. What? It's true.
"Sure as hell she's not gonna be happy after this night. It looks like it's freezing there."
"But, Bread Boy has a fever and she's sleeping with him," he thinks about his last comment for a second, "Not like that. I didn't mean it like that."
"I'm going to make some coffee..." I get up to leave. I don't know how long Apollo's been awake. Once the coffee's made, I head back to the den. Other tributes are waiting in the freezing cold for the feast.
Apollo nodded off about four hours ago. I shake his arm violently to wake him up. He jolts awake and instantly focuses on the television.
This is definitely going to be a brawl. Four bags sitting on a picnic table. Four tributes ready to strike at any time. The redheaded girl sprints to get her bag, but none of the other tributes dare to attack her. Suddenly, my tribute deflects a knife thrown by the girl named Clove. She draws her bow and sends an arrow flying toward the other tribute, which would have killed her if she hadn't moved. The arrow slowed her down, giving my tribute a head start toward the picnic tables. The caffeine from my coffee is making my leg shake. My tribute picks up the backpack, and as she turns around, one of Clove's knives cuts her across the forehead. She still manages to send an arrow flying in Clove's direction, but it misses, and Clove slams into my tribute, knocking her flat on her back. Taunting goes on. Apollo is staring blankly at the screen. Probably because of the girls. Such a opens up her jacket to reveal a collection of various knives of different shapes and sizes.
"She could be a stripper."
"Shut. Up." Clove picks a small, wickedly curved knife and starts teasingly tracing the edge of my tribute's mouth while she tries to somehow push Clove off.
"I promised Cato if he let me have you, I'd give the audience a good show." My tribute tries to upset Clove, but fails, "Forget it, District Twelve. We're going to kill you. Just like we did you pathetic little ally... what was her name? The one who hopped around in trees? Rue?"
"She was sooo cute," the man next to me whines. My tribute spits a mouthful of saliva and blood at Clove's face after some more taunting about Peeta from Clove.
"That was ladylike," Apollo mumbles. Clove says, making the first cut on my tribute's face. Apollo's hand goes to his mouth. Thresh comes up behind Clove and yanks her off my tribute and holds her hostage in his arms.
"Jesus Christ he's massive," I say. Seriously. He's looks like he'd be at least six inches taller than Apollo and weigh about fifty pounds more. Good job, Thresh. Make 11 proud. Thresh strikes Clove with the rock in the temple. He didn't break her skull, but with that kind of hit she's a goner. He then turns to my tribute.
"Looks like your tribute and mine have started to become friendly," Apollo mumbles.
"Might come in handy later," I reply. Our attention turns back to the screen.
"Clove," Alpha Male says, his voice full of pain. My tribute and Thresh both look at him.
"You better run now, Fire Girl," Thresh says. My tribute flips over and bolts into the woods. Thresh calmly picks up Alpha Male's bag. Alpha Male is too busy mourning over his dying girlfriend to care. For once, he is actually speechless. Spear in hand and tears in eyes. Thresh sprints into the woods with both his backpack and Alpha Male's. A tear runs down Alpha Male's face and onto the barely moving chest of Clove. Another minute of silence passes, Clove lets out her last breath and the cannon fires. Alpha Male freezes in his position, but reluctantly stands and jogs back into the woods after a few moments.
Scene changes to my tribute, running through the forest, trying to stop the bleeding from her forehead. Once she reaches the cave, she immediately opens her backpack and pulls out the slim box holding the syringe. She jabs the needle into Bread Boy's arm and passes out.
Don't forget to check my profile every once in a while. I'll be adding more links to character pictures.