Phoenix Rise
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Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger games. I only own is Siobhan and Mark at the moment.
Chapter 9: Whip
Siobhan's POV
"Stop!" I exclaimed and sprint forward. I won't let it happen again, not with somebody I care so much. Not what happen with Rue! Not again! I jumped in front of Gale the moment the man arm went down, forgetting the pain and regulating my breathing as the leather weapon lash out and coil its self around my hand. I gritted my teeth taking in the sharp force collided into my left wrist.
The pain was terrible but not like comparing it to an axe in the leg or bite from a mutt. Taking a deep breath while cuddling my arm into my stomach retracting the abusive contraption as I felt my muscles started to swell, but no blood for the coat I wore absorbed the force to restrain the slicing of the skin. But it didn't mean that a red mark or bruising would mare my skin. I took a deep breath ignoring the pool against me feet as I glared at the monster before me. Ignoring the tremble of stress my body tried to recover from since the Game.
"You're killing him!" I barked close to a shriek. "You're killing him!"
Head Peacekeeper Thread was nothing I ever seen before. It was like staring into your worst nightmare or in this case Death. He was crude, tall and muscular for his age. As he had military shaved head, impossible to see the gray hear to his baldness. But his eyes send shivers down my spine close to yielding in desperation. It was like looking into deep apathy black eyes, for it held no soul than that of a certain serpent. He lifted his arm pulling on his whip but I held on tight to it causing me to collapse to the ground and being dragged.
"Let go woman!" he order.
"No!" I screamed. Everyone gasped to my defiance for this would be a first to the Head Peacekeeper.
Thread growled yanking the whip with such force I was swimming in blood. Gale's blood. Biting back a painful sob, I mustered all my strength and pulled back making the man stagger a bit. This was suicidal to which I knew I was going to be flogged, but I'm doing it for a reason. I was not going to let my fiancé get killed over some stupid turkey!
I gritted my teeth as the leather snake coiled tighter to my arm cutting off circulation. With no choice, I let go falling backwards into the blood. I stood up quick and created a shield blocking Gale from this monster. If I had a blowgun he would already be dead! Thread raised his powerful arm, his site set on me when a merical happen.
"Hold it!" Bark Haymitch as he appeared and tripped over a peacekeeper on the ground. By the boyish red hair, I could tell it was no other than Darius. Analyzing his condition to find a nasty bruised bump on his forehead, and still breathing! I'm assuming he tried to stop this only to be knocked out. Haymitch roughly stood up ignoring the dead weight and grabbed me roughly on the swelled wrist and got Katniss out of Purina arms. I could see a cut on her cheek near her eyes for she tried to stop it as well. Haymitch then yanked the sleeve of the jacket to expose a red whip on my forearm.
"Oh, excellent," As he twisted my wrist. "She's got a photo shoot next week modeling wedding dresses. What am I supposed to tell her stylist?"
I see recognition in Threads eyes that he cursed. It was a good thing I wore makeup and style my hair time to time to cover the lack of sleep and look professional for business. But people can forget when lost in their moment, but I hated this moment of being sidetracked on torcher. I shoved Haymitch off me and went to Gale pulling the knife out of the turkey's neck and cutter down the ropes helping him down. I check for a pulse and felt it, with a sigh of relief I glared at Thread.
"She interpreted the punishment of a confessed criminal!" Thread explains with authority and his accent proved he was from the Capitol.
"I don't care if she blew up the blasted Justice Building!" Haymitch bellowed.
"Haymitch, they flogged Gale!" I cried.
Haymitch turned red as if smoke was coming out of his ears. "Look at his back! You think the Camera won't notice that in a week?" he snarled.
"That's not my problem." Thread cold voice said with a hint of doubt.
"No? Well, it's about to be, my friend. The first call I make when I get home is to the Capitol," Haymitch said. "Find out who authorized you to mess up victor's physical condition!"
"They were pouching. What business is it of hers, anyway?" Thread growled.
"He's the 74th Victor you bastard!" Peeta announced as he got Katniss and held her gently as she tried to remain calm. "And he's her fiancé. So if you want to get to him, expect to go through both of us."
For the first time ever I could see the people who can make a stand for this District. To see Peeta a speaker like me which was temporary followed by Haymitch support, Gale's rebellious attitude and Katniss morals. We are the only strong ones here. Though the consequences are repercussion, but whom the hell cares. Only that Gale needs medical help NOW! Thread looked back at his squad who by coincidence in blessing were friends of the Hob.
Purina a client of Greasy Sae's steps forward, "I believe, for a first offence, the required number of lashes has been dispensed, sir. Unless your sentence is death, which we would carry out by firing squad."
"Is that standard protocol here?" The Head Peacekeeper asked.
"Yes, sir," Purina said followed by several nods from the others.
"Very well. Get your fiancée out of here, then, victor. And if he comes to, remind him victor or not, that the next time he or his cousin poaches off the Capitol land, I'll assemble a firing squad personally." The Head Peacekeeper warned while crackling his whip, splattering blood. Afterwards coils it neatly then walked off.
I scowled at his watching his troops followed him awkwardly in formation behind the bastard. Though Purina and another dragged Darius back to knows where; probably the expensive hospital. Purina looked at me and I mouthed 'thanks' to her. She doesn't respond but gave a confirm nod.
"Gale." Katniss cried as she fumbles with the knot on his wrist.
"Better get him to your house," Haymitch said.
A homemade stretch was brought in by one of the clothes stores. When we put Gale down on the board. A handful of people help carry him; that was Haymitch, Peeta and some of the miners. Leevy came by and handed me the supplies that were going to be needed. I grabbed her hand and told her, "I need you to fetch my Uncle and Mrs. Everdeen, also Vick; Hazelle would need help with the children."
"Of course, do you want me to fetch Hazelle?" she asked.
"No, I'll asked Katniss to get her." I said.
"Thanks." Katniss said as she grabbed Gale's jacket and ran towards the others.
"Get some snow on that," Haymitch order over his shoulder.
Katniss scooped up a handful of snow and placed it on her cheek. My hands were busy and I can feel the bruising swell in protest of the extra weight on my arm. But I ignored it, consentraining to get home. Without thinking I ran ignoring everyone's protest as I charged back to Victors Village. I stormed into my house to find it empty and went into the Kitchen clearing off the table and put a sterilized cloth while fetching other dried herbs and medical products that were saved longed ago. Afterwards put a kettle on the stove boiling water. When the door burst open I order the men to place Gale on the table.
Removing my coat and sweater, I grabbed a rag and soaked it into the hot water while instructing Peeta to make a second brew. Peeta nodded as Katniss step forward, the cut still swollen.
"Get more snow on it," I instructed her.
"Can you save him?" she asked.
"Don't worry," Haymitch said. "Used to be a lot of whipping before Cray. Your mother, Lilly, and Mark were one of the three we took them to. You're dealing with a professional."
I remember my first flogged patient when I was very young. Mark was tending him as did mom while I was an obedient little girl and help with her errands of fetching snow or fresh water and liten. But my family lived long in apothecary shop for over the years while corresponding in the tea business. For being a healer was in the Underwood blood.
Working on Gale I hear Haymitch helping Bristel and Thom to get home, they were once in my class and Gales friends. But that didn't matter as I cut gale out of his clothes and cleaned his back carefully. When doing this Hazelle arrived as she took a seat on a chair taking Gale's hand. I hardly acknowledge her for I was lost in a zone, focused on him.
Time was forgotten as I clean the wounds, organized shredded skin, and started stitching what can be saved to heal faster. Where the hell is Uncle Mark? I hissed under my breath as my vision became blurry to see straight. Rubbing my eyes, I grabbed some ointment and apply the salve on his back. Asking Hazelle to help me, we wrapped the gauze around him to hide the horrifying scars that the whip left traces of. Once done with that, I grabbed some metal clips and fasten them to the end. A moan was heard, coming from Gale's lip. I flinched to hear that painful sound that I walked to the cabinet to fetch some painkillers. I debated on which to use; for there was Hydrocodonet I possessed was doctor prescription for me, the Morphing that Mark illegally had and the remedies that were created for this. Keeping to my healer side to save the morphing for the dying and grabbed the Hydrocodonet, taking the vicodin pill out.
Since Gale was slightly conscious, I popped the pill in my mouth along with a gulp of water and kissed him. He gasped at first, a moment of opportunity to slide the pill down his throat. He coughs roughly at first.
"What are you giving him?" Katniss demanded. I stared at her before going back to the counter to make an herbal potion to sedate him. "That won't be enough, I know how it feels. That will barely knock out the headache."
"What choice do I have, Katniss." I yelled. "I know how it felt to and here I am focusing on him than my damn arm. I can't waste medicine so easily. I'll combine some sleep syrup, but -"
"Just give him the medicine!" she screamed. "Give it to him! Who are you anyway, to decide how much pain he can stand?"
I grabbed her by the wrist and force her out of the kitchen and shoved her into the hallway where Peeta grabbed her. I growled and grabbed her cheek firmly so she can look me in the eye.
"I know pain, Katniss." I growled through gritted Teeth. "I've been punch, kicked, burned, stabbed, mauled, and whip as the next tribute. You think this is bad than a simple smack of leather. You don't know true pain unless you experience it little girl. I don't give a damn in what you think it is, but I'm being resourceful in healing him as the next healer. So if you don't cooperate, I'll order Peeta to take you home and band you out of my house until full recovery."
Gale began stirring from the argument as he tries to sit up. His movement causes the stitches to reopen as blood began to pool. I cursed, "Get her out and find Mark!"
Haymitch and Peeta obliged and carried Katniss away from the kitchen as she shouted obscenities at me. I sighed, taking a deep breath as a migraine started to form and my left arm hurting bad. But I ignored it and went back to work.
.o0o.
After a while, Mark and Mrs. Everdeen come in saying the blizzard had them delay. I didn't care anymore as Mrs. Everdeen took control on Gale and Uncle Mark treated my arm. He scowled at the red coil mark that went from the wrist down to the elbow. He flexes the wrist and I hissed from a thumbing while tracing his finger over the red trail. The mark left a heated radiation to it that it burn so bad that I was panting. Uncle Mark saw this and applies a snow kit while Haymitch came in filling everyone in.
"So it's starting again?" Mrs. Everdeen said. "Like before?"
"By the looks of it," he answered. "Who'd have thought we'd be sorry to see old Cray go?"
I understood what Mrs. Everdeen meant when things were starting again. Dad told me how the previous Head Peacekeeper was a brute who took pleasure in punishing people. Even though Cray was a man whore who bribed girls to his bed for money, he was a miracle to all on our illegal black-market. Suddenly the doorbell rang. From what my exhausted mind could register . . . Peacekeepers. I wasn't going to argue anymore as Uncle Mark went to answer the door. It wasn't a Peacekeeper, no, it was Madge. She held a small damp cardboard box and gave it to me.
"Use this for him," she said. I removed the lid to reveal some vials full of clear liquid. Taking one to read the note to discover they were Morphing prescribe for her mother. I knew that Mrs. Undersees had a medical condition that gave her severe migraine that she needed drugs to rest. But Morphing was expensive compare to simple aspirin. "They're my mothers. She said I could take them. Use them, please."
I put the box down and hugged her. "Thank you."
Madge hugged back, "we're family," with that said she ran off back into the storm.
"Crazy girl," Haymitch muttered as he went towards Mrs. Everdeen. Madge was an Angel as the vicodin started to wear off. He gritted his teeth and began to sweat. Mrs. Everdeen took the medicine and filled it into a syringe and injected it into the main vein. Instantly, he relaxes going back to sleep.
"Go rest, we got him here.' Mark said as he handed me the vicodin. I glared at the Capitol medicine, how it makes me delirious and full of nightmares when I sleep. Mark scowled and I sighed in defeat, popping the pill in my mouth. In a few minutes, I felt drowsy if not giddy as the pain in my arm started to feel numb. I swoon to which when I left the kitchen I collapsed into Peeta.
"What is that stuff?" Peeta asked.
"It's from the Capitol. We gave Gale Morphling," Mrs. Everdeen said.
"While Siobhan took her medication of Vicodin, it moderate severe pain." Mark Said. "Although, when she takes it. . .she gets a little tipsy."
"Oh," Peeta said as I started unconsciously twirled his hair and giggled.
"You look kinda cute," I murmured before everything went black.
.o0o.
After a nap and mild hallucination of giant bunnies I had woken up in my room. I sighed; guessing Peeta or Uncle Mark carried me to my room. I had a damn headache and decided to layback down clearing my mind. The door opens as the one person came in, Katniss. She held a tray and set it down on the nightstand.
"You okay?" she asked.
"No," I muttered.
"Hey, sorry about earlier . . ." Katniss started. "I didn't mean to . . . you know."
"Kat, I truly don't want to discuss about it."
"Right," Katniss sighed before she ate her stew and bread.
Katniss informed me what happen after I passed out from exhaustion and drugs. For once Mark and her mother finished tending Gale's wounds. Hazelle returned home while Vick returned back to the mines for he had work the next day. Though Peeta was a bit flustered after I collapsed on him saying he look kinda cute. I don't recall saying that, must be the adverse effect of the drugs. Sighing, I took my stew and started eating it.
I asked Katniss what happen to cause this term of events. Katniss explain that during the hunt and stayed at the Lake. She and Gale had a plan if the Capitol seeks revenge on him and his family. That they would run away to the forest, both Everdeen and Hawthorne, gale debated on letting Mark and I come but I knew it wasn't going to happen. I was a cripple with a highly advance artificial leg that could hold a tracker. Also, the district needs Mark and me as their local healer. Other apothecary shops were expensive in our depression here in District 12 that we charge a cheaper price or free. After they discuss their plan of running away, she was going to sell the wild Turkey to Cray at the Peacekeeper village. However, Cray wasn't there anymore for he was discharge yesterday for retirement after fulfilling twenty years of surface. Oh god, so they just confess of their action by accidently selling a Turkey to Thread. Katniss was going to be blamed for the Hunt but Gale stoop in saying the turkey wandered around the Seams. Said it got stuck in the fence and he stabbed it with a stick.
"And Darius?" I asked.
"Well, after I tried to stop Thread only to be held down. Darius came in on the twenty lashes, saying that was enough. And knowing Darius he didn't do officially like Purina, he grabbed him in the arm. In result got butted in the head with Threads whip." Katniss told.
I sighed, "Nothing good was going to come."
.o0o.
After having another snow coat on my arm and taking some herbal painkillers. I sat on a stool next to Gale in the kitchen. Watching him sleep while changing the rag to wipe away the fever he caught. I question myself sometime, in what would have happen if we didn't win together. Knowing by fate and hypothesis; I would had died from blood poisoning the day after the 'feast' or when Marvel came with a Spear. Those were my optional fate in death, even when I was part of the Career cult, I was still their prey. However, Gale refused in letting me die and suffer the consequences that tag along with saving me.
All in all, if Gale didn't volunteer for Rory . . . I would have been dead.
Could what President Snow said be right that Seneca Crane vision was irrational and broken the rules of tradition. Could the District be right to defy the Capitol as Gale did? Because, deep down, it was Gale and me being ourselves in order to survive. I wouldn't say 'madly in' be the answer to this dilemma. But neither of us could live without the other in the game. And what Katniss said about running away wouldn't fix anything. Running away can only leave more people hurt and if they did, I would have to face the consequences. I don't know what President Snow would suggest for me if it happens. I either be executed or a toy for him. Haymitch told me about Finnick Odair, victor of the sixty-fifth hunger games. Him being used as a prostitute to make money for the government.
How many other Victors was Snow using for his game and what he would do with me? He can't kill me for I was the Capitol favorite. So that leaves me as an available toy or probably a single lady for profit: a mail order bride? Dad always said that you got to stop running and face your fears in order to survive. But what mom said to me 'if you want to make it out alive run for your life.' This was fight or flight, no third option and no victory for an optertunist.
I wasn't a hunter or a rebel.
I was a scavenger and valet; my duties are to my people in the art of healing.
I was trap.
I sighed and lean forward to kiss Gale on the forehead. He opens his eyes and looked at me in a daze. "Hey, Sio."
"Hey, Juvenile." I said.
"Thought you be gone now," he breathed.
"For better or for worst and in sickness or in health," I quoted the marriage line.
"Thanks," Gale said. He was able to smile a little before the Morphling took him back under.
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