Celina 14

The next time I wake up, the sand is blue and red around me. I try to scream, but no sound escapes my chapped lips and dry throat.

Water.

I stumble to my feet, freezing in the dark night, my torn, shredded jumpsuit offering next to no protection at all. My head whips around, swirling my surroundings and I take a minute for them to settle again. My eyes fall on the sand, with dark blood running down the dunes. I bend over double and gag, but my stomach is empty and I just cough, and what little water I still have I lose through tears that squeeze themselves out of my eyes.

I notice Martin and the other dead tributes are gone, and sigh in relief. I shudder as visions of Martins dead, glassy eyes staring into mine fuse with him smashing glasses on tables, and pulling out the shards then launching them at me.

I breathe heavily, having the heavy sensation of being watched. I turn my head quickly, but the sand dunes spin and shift again. This time they actually do spin, and the sand trickles off the top of them, as if being blown by strong winds.

I bite my lip and stumble towards a light, my mind hazy due to lack of water, and I mindlessly follow the light, smiling at the prospect of a better place, and every now and then I hear the tinkling of streams, and the sound of roaring waves resonating from the depths of it.

I smile, and my body breaks out in goosebumps as the temperature drops even further. I don't let it bother me, as soon I will be bathed in warm water, gushing over my skin, tangling my hair with the current, and swishing it every which way.

A small giggle bubbles forth from my lips and I swoosh my hair around, the blue coloured dank, crusty strands replaced with flowing golden locks, that flow and wave just like the sea.

My feet move on their own, as if a magnet is pulling them towards their goal. My throat burns, and my whole body protests. I've slept, but I feel exhausted. My muscles are sore and tight, my eyes straining and unfocusing on everything.

I slam into something, and fall back, pale green powder dusting my hair and body. I stick my tongue out and catch some, laughing. I think it must be snow, I have seen it in the Capitol many times, but never seen it before. I see some green spiky things a few feet to my right, and reach straight forward. My hand somehow comes into contact with it and I shove it in my mouth before it can burst into snow again.

A pleasant cooling sensation bursts in my mouth, and my eyes light up as I jump to my feet. I vaguely remember drinking the bugs, and shove all the ones I can find into my mouth, sighing in pleasure every time one bursts against my parched tongue and throat.

I start walking again in a determined way, unsure quite why, but I know I have to walk. I leave the bugs and snow behind with regret, and wave at them as I walk away, calling to them that I'll be back soon.

The light keeps shifting, and soon the temperature rises, along with the white hot sun. I raise my hand to my eyes and shield them, squinting as the bright light burns my already dry eyes.

Damp strands of hair cling to my forehead, and beads of sweat drip down my face and arms. A pleasant sensation of warmth envelopes me, and I smile, closing my eyes and letting the warmth rain down on me. I look down at my skin, and see it flushed and reddened by the intense rays.

I pout and carry on walking, upset that I'm not tanning like I'm supposed to be. I mutter aloud.

"I must be on holiday…why else would I not be at home…yes!" I giggle and spin around, singing in joy, "That must be it! I'm on holiday!"

My feet start running, and the wide soles of the boots stop me from sinking into the blue sand. I frown and rip them off, wiggling my toes in the burning sand.

"Much better!" I laugh and throw them away, starting to climb the huge sand dunes, towards the light again.

The intense heat affects me acutely, and I feel my breath shortening and quickening, and I only keep myself cheerful by singing nursery rhymes as I climb sand dune after sand dune.

The sand shifts in front of my eyes, and soon the burning sand is replaced by cooling waves, and I giggle again.

"Silly daddy! He said I couldn't walk on water!" I laugh loudly at his mistake, "I am Celina! And I can walk on water, imagine what Daddy will say when I show him!"

I carry on walking and running along the water, the cool waves lapping around my toes gently. I swear I can see someone moving in a dazed manner along another sand dune.

"Come here! I want to play with you!" I laugh and wave to them, but they shimmer and disappear before my very eyes. I pout, that's much cooler than walking on water.

As the sun travels down the sky, my feet start moving on their own, and I can't bring myself to care about where they are taking me.

My feet are covered in blisters from the blistering sand and water, and my skin is peeling from the harsh sun that has been beating down on me all day.

"Muuuummmyyyyy…." I let out a plaintive whine, my eyes practically closing as I stumble on, "Im hungryyyy….when are we gonna get home?"

A tinkling voice that I vaguely remember from years ago echoes around my ears,

"Soon darling, we'll be home soon." I smile, the words not mattering to me, the voice soothing me with the way every sentence sounds like a song.

I start marching with renewed vigour, cheerful at the prospect of home cooked fish and a roaring fire in the hearth.

Some rocks appear in the distance and I grin. I know that this is near my house, but I furrow my brows, unable to quite remember where it is.

My feet nudge a rock, and I squeak in surprise as I trip, my bare knees scraping the ground.

"Daaddyyy…." I whine again, clutching my knee, "I fell over…" A few tears fall down my cheeks, forging clear rivulets of tanned skin through the blood and sand that covers my face.

My eyes light up as I suddenly remember where my house is hidden. It's under the rock I just tripped over. I duck down and crawl through the small hole, sighing in pleasure as the familiar smell of salt water hits my nose, and I submerge my limbs in the cooling water.

I finally allow my eyelids to close, and let my dreams take me over.

Alone.

So alone.

I look around in the darkness, searching for something, anything, apart from me.

"Hello?" I call out pathetically, my voice dry and scratchy, "Is anyone there? I'm all alone…"

The realisations sets in and I sink to the ground, wrapping my arms around my knees, letting my golden hair fall around me in a protective shield.

"I'm here..."a whisper breaks the silence, and I raise my head curiously, the voice sounds exactly like mine, but more childish and manic than my own.

A small gasp falls from my lips as I see the girl before me. She is adorned with a ripped jumpsuit, so covered in blood and various stains that I can't see what colour it was originally. Her hair, once bright blonde, is matted with dark blue, and falls messily around her face. Her face… A scabbed, scarred mess of sunburn, battle wounds and blood, along with the same coloured stains that cover her jumpsuit.

Her eyes meet mine and I gasp again.

Its me.

I scream and back away, but I cant move properly, and I drag myself across the floor, but the girl just follows and grabs my foot.

"Come back…I want to play…"

I awake with a gasp. My eyes clear and focused for a second before my vision blurs and my mind becomes fuzzy and confused again.