Hey there guys - it's finally the holidays so hopefully there will be regular updates!
Ooh, longest chapter yet. And I stuck to my promise. So here are the depressing deaths which made the author bawl. Not literally. *coughs*
I hope you're not too depressed by this chapter, and I'm sorry submitters, you know how much I hate killing OC's. RIP.
*In the Blink of an Eye
Coraline Rige, District Seven
"Lash! Lash! We need to move out!" Although his chest betrays that he is still breathing, the rest of his body is frozen. Fear, mesmerisation, or just another breakdown, I don't know. But the one thing that I do know is that all the tributes have been packed into one area of the arena and shortly they'll be turning on us.
I clap in front of his eyes. Lash blinks once and seems to return to reality. I drag him away from the mountain, before he starts to run unaided. Soon we are bolting away and the mountain becomes a small peak in the distance. As we pass a half-obliterated cave, I am suddenly on the floor with a mouth full of blood. I spit it out disgustedly, and a small pearly tooth lies on the ground. Gross.
The obstacle I collided with also sits on the floor, Lash's spear resting on his temple. It's the Eight one. His eyes are wide, and his hair is standing on end. "Please! Let me join your alliance! I have skills and knowledge which could help you."
Lash looks at me for confirmation. If I remember correctly, this was the guy who had a girl at home, pregnant with twins. I think about it for a second. Maybe this is what we need – another strong ally to help me when Lash goes... like he goes. "Can we trust you?" I ask, even though I've already made my mind up. The guy nods his head solemnly. "You can. I'm Aden Hanran."
"Alright then, you can join us." Lash looks a little confused as to what is happening, but I will explain it to him later, when we've found somewhere to hide. We both stand up and turn towards the sunset. Although computer-generated, it still seems as beautiful as it is at home.
We head in the path of the dying sun, and as we walk, I feel the gap in my mouth. It hurts a little, but it isn't unbearable. My energy seems to be sinking with the sun. It seems like I've been running or walking all day - which I suppose I have. Just as we stop to rest and drink a little, at the edge of a large clearing, a shadow drops from an overhang above us.
A flash of silver, and a grunt. I leap up, and draw a small knife from the pack sitting on the floor. My heart is racing and blood boils in my veins. What is out there in the dusk?
"Show yourself!" I shout, trying not to let my nerves show. The night is upon us, and a wind starts up. Something brushes against my arm. I scream and slash with the knife. Where are Aden and Lash? A face looms out of the darkness, but it is only Aden. He holds his finger over his lips.
I can barely see the knife I am squeezing, white knuckled, in my fist. Is Lash out there? I want to whisper, but I can't force my vocal chords into action. Someone yells – it's a feminine shout, and then there is a horrible sucking noise. The shout turns into a scream of pain. Then another voice cries out, this one male. But it's not Lash. Or Aden, for that matter. I don't recognise the voices, so it must be a spar between two other tributes.
At that moment, the moon emerges from behind the clouds and the clearing is illuminated by a ghostly light. What greets my eyes is something out of the ordinary. Two intimidating figures, grotesquely human, but twisted like no human could. One is on the floor in a pool of black, and one is going that way. Lash is twisting his spear into the creature's chest, while it madly scrabbles at him.
Mutts maybe? I don't know, but I almost stop breathing. Three figures peel away from the rocks and join the fight. Are they on our side? I don't know but they seem to be helping Lash kill the mutt. The moon disappears behind the clouds once more. The air is suddenly freezing, and I huddle into the background. Should I be helping Lash? Where has Aden disappeared to? I can see nothing but black, but I can hear everything. If I could melt into the rocks now, I would.
I hear frenzied feet slap on the ground. There are more people then. Could all the tributes possibly be in this one enclosed space? I fear for my life. I hear a voice – it's Aden! "Kill me! I'd rather you killed me than lay a hand on her. " A savage hiss follows.
Silvery light coats the scene. Lash and the group of three are finishing off the mutt. Two more people have joined the group. Two people who appear to be dancing. I look closer. It's Aden. And... The Two girl. I realise what she is doing.
She has stabbed Aden through the chest and is attempting to withdraw her knife. I gasp unintentionally and tears prick my eyes. The Career's coal black eyes flit to where I hide in the shadows, but she appears to pass me by. She gives an extra good yank, and the knife comes out. My short alliance with kind-hearted Aden is over. A cannon sounds.
The Career steps over the body. Aden gave his life for me? Or one of the other female tributes? I don't know, but in the short time I knew Aden, I found him one of the most compassionate humans I'd ever met. But I need to warn the others. Even if they are not part of my alliance, they need to know before they suffer the same fate!
"Lash! Career heading your way!" The eerie light is barely enough to see by, but it is enough to see the Career start. Instead of coming back to finish me off, she decides to leap forward and use the element of surprise upon the gathered group.
It's a full-blown massacre in my eyes. Two girl slips on mutt blood, but manages to stab Lash on the way down. He makes to smash her head in with a boot, but she flicks her head away. Lash is unbalanced, so she takes the moment to jump up. She slashes again, but Lash blocks with his spear. From here, I can see her grimace. She withdraws the knife and feints up. Lash's spear follows her move, but at the last second, she cuts below.
Lash screams. An inhuman scream. Like the doors of hell being opened and all the hellish creatures being let loose. I can't watch any more. I clamp my hands over my ears and clench my eyes shut. But even that can't mask the sound of the cannon. It goes twice, but I don't look to see who the second casualty was.
In just a few short minutes, the two people who I trusted most in this arena are gone forever. This time I can't stop. Sobs wrack my body and tears stream from my raw eyes.
A hand touches my shoulder. I don't bother to brush it away, but I look at the owner. I want to see my killer before I die.
Three people stand there. The Ten boy, and the Ten and Eleven girls. Ten Boy has his hand resting on my shoulder. "Come with us."
The Fallen:
Aden Hanran, District Eight [Cause of death: Stabbed in chest – Priya Pendus]
Lash Frist, District Seven [Cause of death: Stabbed in stomach – Priya Pendus]
Priya Pendus, District Two [Cause of death: Head smashed by rock – Natalie Dismal]