Flashes of Gold
Chapter Seven | Leap of Faith
Help has a way of coming to me in the strangest of ways. It is midday when it happens. The sound of footsteps lures me from the daze that has been mine for the past day. I look up, head jolting in surprise, and feel my heart pick up in a sudden sprint. Though I feel slow, I hurry to put out my fire and edge away from the center of the cave. I gather my bag and stumble into the shadows, eyes intently watching the mouth of the cave.
My fingers curl around my dagger tightly as I wait. The footsteps get louder, echoing off the walls as two figures gasp and fall into the warmth. The blizzard has lessened, but heavy flurries of snow still fall. There is a desperate air surrounding the two newcomers.
My eyes narrow imperceptibly, but I can't make out who they are. It's only when one opens his mouth to speak that I realize...
"We'll be safe here, for a while," he gasps out, kneeling on the floor of the cave in much the same way as I had when I first stumbled into it. His chest his heaving and he's shivering harshly, his fists curled up in a tight clench. There's a girl beside him, but I don't remember her. She's nodding her head, but there's a sheen in her eyes that tells me that she doesn't really hear him.
It's Matt, the boy from District 7. My supposed teammate who scored a 9 while I got a lowly 6. I'm brooding now, trying to think of ways to kill them. I'm too weak to engage them in a brawl, but I know I have to somehow dispose of them, because my eyes are now locking to the weapon secured at the girl's hip. A sword, shining silver and thin as a rapier. I know I must have it.
It takes them another minute to crawl deeper into the cave. When they notice the fire that's still burning out, their reaction is immediate. The girl tugs out the sword, but her movements are so sloppy that it's obvious to me how incompetent she is with it. Matt draws out a hunting knife, eyes darting around the shadows. I slink back as far as I can, pressing myself to the wall and trying to become invisible. If I go out there now, it'd be two against one. And even though they're injured and weak, so am I. No: I need to pick one of them off before going after the other.
There are plenty of rocks stacked up where I'm crouching, so it isn't too difficult to shield myself from their watchful eyes. I scowl, feeling my thigh burn in pain at the position of my leg. Whatever is going through Matt's head – since he's clearly the one in charge – is apparently more centered around fleeing rather than fighting. He doesn't appear to see me, and straightens up before turning to the girl.
"I think we should find somewhere else to camp out. The Careers might have already claimed this cave." The girl nods, but doesn't sheath her sword. Matt takes one last glance at the fire before the two back out, still tensely watching.
His words leave me at a standstill. Why would they think I'm a Career? Why would they leave without even checking the rest of the cave, to make sure there isn't anyone else here? He surely didn't see me, because if he had, I doubt he would feel any remorse in my death. No...there's something else going on. Something that clearly has to do with the Career pack.
I wait a few long, drawn out minutes before revealing myself again. Certain that the cameras are locked to my face, I keep my expression neutral. But the puzzle is still in my eyes, and I don't understand why Matt and the girl left so quickly.
It is only when I begin to follow them that I come to a startling realization, and I wonder how it could have escaped me before. The Careers must be nearby. Matt must have seen them and that's why they are so intent on hiding themselves. But when they saw the fire and the signs of the cave's inhabitancy, he must have decided that the Careers were using it. And perhaps, he thought they might be very close, otherwise he wouldn't have left in such a hurry.
The thought of running into the Career pack left me feeling vulnerable. I definitely didn't want to get involved with them without an adequate weapon, and the only way to get one is to follow that girl and obtain her sword.
Following their tracks isn't very difficult, because even though it's still snowing, their footprints leave inches in the thick blanket of snow that's settled on the path. My thigh is screaming at me to stop, but I keep going, face stoic and body well rested from the day in the cave. I feel much better. Good enough, perhaps, to take my second kill. Except this time, a voice in my head whispers, it'll be bloody. Not a peaceful poison-induced death, but an animalistic, stabbing wound.
I'm not sure how long I walk until I see their figures ahead, but I'm sure it's a little over a quarter of a mile, at least. By now, the coldness has slightly numbed the pain in my thigh, leaving me feeling chill but refreshed. As though I wasn't really here, in the Arena. As though I wasn't about to kill, or be killed.
As I crawl over the tiny path, I begin to realize exactly how prevalent my death really is. I'll never survive if the both of them see me. I've already realized that I must pick one off and then go in for the other one, but I've yet to figure out how to do that. I know I'm losing time: every second is precious when you're exposed like this, to both nature and the other Tributes.
I finger my dagger, watching them through narrowed eyes as I skirt around the cliff. If I could throw the dagger into one of them, it might distract the other in time to rush in and kill them. Except that I'm not very good with throwing daggers. How I managed it before was a mystery. And this is my only weapon, so if I throw it and it misses the target, my presence will be revealed and I'll be as good as dead.
I only have one chance. I grip the handle, palms feeling sweaty. I've got no other resources, and I'm running out of time. I need that damned sword. I raise the dagger, arm winding back, and I pause. I take a few steps, away from the cliff face, calculating the distance between myself and Matt, whom I aim to kill. And then, I utter a fleeting prayer and let the dagger go.
It doesn't hit him in the chest, like I had hoped. Instead, it skims past his leg, digging just slightly into his calf before hissing into the air and disappearing. I curse, throw myself back into the shadows, but the damage has already been done. The girl has seen me.
Apparently, someone has heard my prayer. Matt's balance was jostled when the dagger scraped him, and he topples over a little bit. The cliff path is so narrow that his feet shift, and his arms lunge out to keep him from falling. The girl takes a step toward me, hand just about to pull out the sword. Her eyes are glaring fitfully into mine, pushing herself forward...and then Matt's hand knocks into her, grasping as he tumbles away, trying to keep himself on the edge of the cliff.
The moment comes and goes, so fast that I have trouble keeping up as I watch them both lose their balance and fall. The last thing I see is the dark strands of the girl's hair as she follows him down.
The canon doesn't immediately go off. I keep myself pressed to the cliff edge for a long minute, staring at the place the two Tributes had just stood. It takes a while for me to come back to my wits and realize what just happened, because it is more than I can hope for...and also, the worst thing that could happen.
I push myself off, falling to my knees as I peer over the cliff. They aren't dead yet, because still no canons can be heard. I can just vaguely see their darkened figures laying, maybe 20 to 30 feet below. It's impossible to tell the distance with the snow covering my vision, but I know it's too far for me to jump, lest I break a bone and accept the same fate as them.
My sword is down there, I realize, face paling. And now my dagger is gone, too. I have no weapon left, and no food. I grit my teeth, glaring, and an angry curse flies from my lips. I'll have to climb down before the canon goes off. It's my only chance of surviving the rest of the day.
I'm aware that my thigh can't really take the climb, but I'm also aware that my life hangs on the edge of a knife now. I lower myself down, hands gripping the sides of the cliff while my feet find a hold, and then begin what has to be the deadliest journey I've ever attempted.
I'm glad I've grown up in District 7 and can climb a tree with my eyes closed and my wrists bound, because the skill is what I'm primarily depending upon. My senses have been dulled by my hunger and the pain in my leg, so it takes longer than it would have to make the descent. But I go, as quickly as I can without falling.
When I'm halfway down, the first canon goes off. I curse again, and hurry. In the midst of my quickened movements, my foothold slips and I very nearly fall. I'm hanging by the hands now, trying deftly to find a new hold. It takes a good minute, and in that minute, the second canon goes off.
By now, I know that if I don't get down within the next few seconds, the hovercrafts will come and I'll be stuck here for no reason. There's only one way to get down in such little time, though, and I'm not keen on jumping. But it's the only way, I tell myself. If I don't jump, then I'll be done for either way. It's either fall or die anyway. Fall or die. I choose the former.
I land less than gracefully, tumbling down about 10 feet before feeling my body cascading into a deep blanket of snow. It's good that there is some form of protection, but my body still hits the frozen ground and the remnants of rock, and it's no less sore.
I can see them, laying dead about 6 feet away, so I crawl diligently over to them. I think my lips might be frozen, because as I go, I'm biting them and I can't feel the pain. My fingers are completely exposed to the snow, too, and they're now rough and red from my descent down the cliff.
When I reach my opponents bodies, I hurry as fast as I can. I undo the belt around the girl's waist and pause for only a second to admire the sword. I strap the belt around my waist, scavenge around their pack, and throw the bag around my other arm. Then, I grab Matt's hunting knife and toss it into my bag, weasel him out of his jacket, and push myself up.
I have a feeling I'm on camera, because what just happened probably made for a good show, and I smirk wildly as I straighten my back. I take one look around, eyes darting up to the cliff I'd just fallen from, and quickly decide on a course of action. I'll have to find a new shelter, and I'm more accepting to the trees than the caves. I feel freer up there, less confined, and I have a good look out. If the Careers happen to come by, I'll be able to see them before they see me.
That in mind, I turn East, toward the forest. The snow, which has only gotten heavier as it rains from the sky, will cover my footsteps. That, and the new gear I carry, is my only source of happiness.
D: Sorry it's such a short chapter! I meant to make it longer, but I got sorta bored pftt.. Just wanted to say thanks to IDreamtOfHim for reviewing all the chapters :3 You're primarily the one that's given me the motivation to keep updating~! I'm sorta afraid that Wren is too much like Katniss...arg but I can't help it. Wren's attitude is basically like all my other OCs xD But anyway, I don't really have any chapter points today since this chapter was mostly filler stuff. All I can say is that Chapter 8 is going to be mostly in District 7's POV, with Evon and Calan. If it's not long enough, I might throw Wren into it at the end.
Keep reviewing and I shall be a happy writer~ ^-^