Phoenix Rise

Chapter 10: Got any better ideas?

Siobhan POV

I yawned as I tended a subdue Gale. The morphing was wearing off, by the look on his face. I hear the front door open and Katniss came in. I gave her a warning look not to start another fight as I started unwrapping the bandages.

"Can't you give him another shot?" Katniss asked trying to be calmed.

"When he needs it; Mark wanted to try a Snow coat first to see…" I said feeling the heat practically radiating off his back. I held back a sob and lay a clean cloth on his raw skin. Afterwards I went outside to scoop up a large bowl of snow then put it carefully on the cloth. Gale's eyes fluttered open as he gave a gurgled groan. I sighed and petted his head. We were lucky to have snow otherwise during the warmer season would be a tassel of quick decay. Although, Uncle Mark makes his special Aloe for flogged patient in the spring to sooth the irritation of the burn. . .except it doesn't keep the flies away.

"Oh. That's wonderful. Why didn't you put this on him last night?" She asked.

I restrained myself from yelling at her by resting my arm into the snow. A sizzling sound could be heard as I flinch to the coldness on the skin. Even though the skin wasn't damage, my forearm was still on fire.

"I needed the wound to heal a bit," I explain.

". . . I'm sorry. About screaming at you yesterday," Katniss apologized.

I shrugged "Like I haven't heard worst. Emotions can overwhelm people over a love one."

"How can you remain so calm?" Katniss asked.

" . . . I don't know."

How can I be so calm?

.o0o.

Gale's POV

Cato had Siobhan in a head lock, cutting off her circulation to breathe. She was thrashing and screaming trying to break free as her face turned red. She looked at me with pleading eyes begging for freedom as blood poor out rapidly from the gaping hole in her leg. I panic in fear, aiming my bow at Cato's head. The only place where he wasn't protected from the body armor!

Cato just laughed. "Shoot me and she goes down with me."

Damn it!

We've reached a damn stalemate! I can't shoot him without killing Siobhan too. But what choice do I have if the only valuable option was his head. I look at Siobhan seeing if she had an idea . . . her necklace. Siobhan took a deep breath and wink at me as she grabbed her necklace and cracked it in her hand. The scent of peppers filled the air that Cato scowls to which I was prepared for the opening. But Cato grabbed Siobhan's hand that she screamed.

"Nice try Fire girl!" Cato laughed.

"Shoot us!" Siobhan cried. "Gale, shoot us!"

I flinched in hearing Siobhan command . . . shoot her? No, I can't shoot her; I promised that we both can go home. Siobhan continued to scream out her pleaded telling me to kill them both. My muscles strained while knuckles turn white to the bone from holding the bow. Everything seemed to be silent from the mutts down below waiting for their neck meal while watching in savage entertainment as did the Capitol.

"Please . . ." Siobhan whispered, her lips tearing blue while eyes glazed with tears.

I shook my head that the hope in her eyes vanished in this situation.

"Let her go Cato!"

"Go on, shoot." Cato said trying to hold Siobhan still. "And we both go down and you win. GO on, I'm dead anyway."

"Shoot him!" Siobhan cried.

What the hell is going on, it was like they both wanted to die. I stared at Cato caution, waiting for the opportunity to strike him down.

"I always was . . . right. I was right until now." Cato said emotionally. "How is that, is that what they want? No, not now? I can still do this . . . I can still do this. One more kill . . . it's the only thing I can do. Bring pride to my district . . . not that it matter's."

The moment he was about to snap her neck I shot my arrow, shooting him in the hand. Siobhan screamed as Cato fell backwards bring her down with him. I yelled and lunging at her, able to grab her hand as she dangled over the cornucopia while Cato held on to her.

"Let me go!" she cried.

"No!" I bellowed trying to pull her up. But the mutation started jumping on them forcing them down to their ravage hunger.

Siobhan shook her head, "It's no use, only one of us has to survive!"

Before I could say anything she grabbed a white dart and stabbed me in the hand. Time seemed to slow down as she fell into hells mouth where the Capitol death claimed both her and the Career.

Into Deaths fangs

.o0o.

I wake up almost screaming as pain scourged my back that I collapsed onto hard surface. I panic looking around to see where I am to find myself in Siobhan kitchen. Everything seem spinning as I look for Siobhan, I need to find her when a hand forced me down on the table.

"Gale calm down!" bellowed a familiar voice. I looked over my shoulder to see Siobhan who was trying to force me down. She looked exhausted with bags under her eyes while hair darker than the last I saw her. "Stop it!"

She was alive!

I sighed laying back down trying to remain catch my breath. It was just a dream, just a freaking damn nightmare. What was I worried about, Cato didn't actually brought her down and Siobhan wasn't suicidal to give up so easily. I heard Siobhan curse when I felt something wet pooled on my back. What the hell happen, how did I get here? All I remember was helping Katniss selling a turkey to Cray . . . but Cray wasn't at his house some prick and then . . . . Shit! I literally messed up, for I actually confess in hunting. Getting flogged to a wooden post by that bastard!

But I should be dead. How am I still alive? All I remember after the twenty lashing was the crowd gasping in horror while hearing two people shouting out no. I don't know who the first person was, but the second sounded like Siobhan as she called out 'Stop!' Did she . . . did she interfere with the punishment.

Siobhan hands worked on my back as she re-stitched my back and added salve on my back. I hissed when the herbs burned into my back to such point that I rather be dead than experience this again. Once done with the bandages, I lie on my stomach and watch her as she stormed around the kitchen cleaning things up. She went to the fridge to pull out a vial of sleep syrup when I notice a deep blue mark on her left hand. Although my sight was a bit foggy, it looks like a bruise all over her arm. I frown . . . did . . . did, she get that from me?

"Sio . . ."

"Sshh." she tells me and placed a finger on my lips. "Don't strain yourself."

I nodded and sighed, "How long have I been asleep?"

"About four day," she answered as she uncorks the vial.

Four day!

I've been asleep for FOUR DAYS!

I was going to say something sitting up only to fall back face down on the table. Great, just great, I'm totally useless at the moment. Siobhan shook her head as she force the vial to my lips. I rejected the concoction to receive a growl from Siobhan.

"Damn it, Gale." She exclaimed. "Can't you stop being stubborn and drink it!"

"No," I shook my head scooting away slowly sitting up, Feeling my arms weak trying to lean up. "I need to talk to you and Haymitch."

"You mean your master plan on escaping into the woods." Siobhan sarcastically replied. Oh shit, she's pissed now. Siobhan sighed and walked to the sink dunking her arm into it. "Better wait until the weather calms down."

I'm totally screwed.

.o0o.

Two days later the storm blow itself off, leaving us able to get Haymitch and discuss matter of business. So with Mark's help we were to get Haymitch and headed outside the village towards Siobhan old house. There was a basement underneath the floorboards that the Underwood's used for emergency. Mark said long ago there used to be unwarranted search and seized that illegal drugs were confiscated. Also where they keep their medical plants and what I found surprising books and weapons. I picked up an old thick worn hardcover text book to read the publish date of 2012. Holy crap, this book was ancient.

"Where did you get this?" I whispered.

Mark grabbed the book and placed it on the bookshelf. "A family heirloom."

I scowled, like I would believe the Underwood's would process such artifact. Siobhan gently grabbed my shoulder and shook her head. Yeah, I shouldn't meddle into their personal stuff. For it looks like all these books and small treasures seemed important to them. Including the old pistol that was on the table next to Mark as he cleaned it; shouldn't this be in like a museum or something? Siobhan walked around the basement towards the shelf and grabbed a carved box. She opens it to pull out a golden rusty coin. The look on her face told me it was valuable as she set it back in its rightful place, wiping the dust off the interior.

"So what is all this stuff?" I asked.

"History, my family had a long line of history since the Civil war. All you see here is something special and historical before Panem was even born." Mark explains.

"All this stuff was from the era of America." Siobhan said.

My mouth literally dropped. Before I could say anything, Haymitch came down the ladder into the cellar basement. We all remain quiet in the narrow room till Haymitch finally spoke. "So we're all heading off into the great unknown, are we?"

"Not quite," I muttered.

"Worked through the flaws of that plan, did you, sonny?" Haymitch asked. "Any new ideas?"

"I want to start an uprising," I said.

A loud clash of metal was heard as we all looked at Mark and Siobhan shock. Haymitch on the other hand, just laugh like it was the best joke in his entire life. I glared at him like he can't take me seriously.

"Well, I want a drink. You let me know how that works out for you, though," He said.

"Mind telling us your plan?" Siobhan asked.

"My plan is to make sure everything is just perfect for your wedding." Haymitch explained. "I called and reschedule the photo shoot without giving too many details."

"That's right; Effie asked me if I'd like to give you away?" Mark said focused on the gun. "I said to that ditz the sooner the better."

"Come on guys," I practically pleaded.

"Come on Gale." Haymitch mimic my tone. "It won't work."

The room was engrossed in silences as we debated on our final words. Though Mark and Siobhan hardly set their thoughts into this idea or even a single word. A lot of things had happen since the whipping and everyone on the team seem discreet. Guess there's no use in that promise of not holding secrets, I mean look where I am! Some underground cellar full of artifacts. And now District twelve lost its spirit with Thread around. Now the town square wasn't the same with the Panem banner on the Justice Builder. Peacekeepers more strict than ever before to marching in cadences. Security everywhere with machine guns on ever roof that District twelve was becoming District Eleven.

Just yesterday Siobhan came home screaming to the new Peacekeepers storming into her store to attach servaliance Cameras and machine gun on her roof. All the bragging how she trusted her employees compare to the peacekeepers. Including that Darius was absent since the incident. Now the happy tea shop that view the once playground was now gazing at the official whipping post, stockade, and gallows. Mark taunt all that was needed was a pillar, whatever that, center in the square.

"There's no use Gale," Siobhan said, breaking the silence. "There's no use in defying the Capitol."

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

Siobhan bitten her lip looking at Mark to say it, "Because the Hob is on fire."

.o0o.

I thought an Uprising may saw all our problems. But I was a total idiot to believe that after what Siobhan showed me. The walk through the snow was difficult with my condition and lack of energy. Mark wrapped one arm around me as Siobhan lead the way. I take a look at Siobhan as she walked caution down the trail as she turn her head side to side like she did in the games. Until she tripped or stagger a few times.

How stupid am I, being so selfish into Katniss and my plot in escaping this mess I made. To create a damn uprising, require in breaking the law and lifting the middle finger at the authorities. Poaching, trading at the black market, mocking the Capitol in the woods. The Hob was our way of surviving, illegal that we risked our very life in order to live. Now I witness the Consequences as the Hob was on fire. The heat from the flames melting and burning everything in its reach.

"It's all the black coal dust, from the old days." Katniss said as she joined us to witness our second home being destroy.

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