Phoenix Rise
Hey everyone, sorry it's been awhile, had a lot of family obligations. Anyway, I'm back and ready to write again. So you know on my profile are links to the six wedding dresses. You as the Reader/ Capitol citizen vote for the dress. So better vote before the interview; dress number 4 is in the lead!
Chapter 13: Live like you were dying!
Gale's POV
"On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of Victors."
President Snow's words echoing in my head. I clenched my fist, trying to walk through the storm to reach Haymitch's house. Haymitch was sitting alone in the kitchen, alone by the table with a bottle of whisky in hand. The sight was poor for this drunk.
"Ah, there he is. All tuckered out. Finally did the math, did you, Sonny? Worked out you won't be going in alone? And now you're here to ask me . . . what?" he said, taking a swig.
I didn't say anything. Too angry for words while this man continued to speak.
"I'll admit, this may be easier for you. Siobhan hasn't come here yet nor did Mark. Begging me for another chance to go in. But what can you say?" as he mimics my voice. "Take my place, Haymitch, because all things are equal. I rather I had a crack at the rest of my life than you?"
I was appalled how Haymitch can assume so quickly. I clenched my fist tighter, close to bleeding. I'll admit I'm afraid. Not for me, but for Siobhan. She has no volunteer while I have a chance of a life if Haymitch dies. I so bloody damn wanted to hit something at the moment. Till I glared at the bottle at hand.
"Drink," I growled. "I want a drink."
Haymitch burst out laughing and slammed his bottle down. I grabbed it and took a large gulp before coughing on it alcohol. The liquor burned and the taste was dreadful, but what do I care? I just took a seat opposite from Haymitch.
"You hate life," I muttered the actual fact. "So go in?"
"Very true," Haymitch agree. "Though it doesn't solve Siobhan part. I tried to keep you alive… but I had no obligations in saving the girl this time."
"If you were a girl, than problem solved." I muttered taking another gulp. "Then your name would me Haymiss."
Haymitch laughed to my sarcastic joke. "If that were real, than I would owe her. Anything she wants. And what she wants is the chance to go in again to protect you."
I stopped and stare at the bottle at hand. Siobhan would do anything to protect me in her selfless ways. I would tell her to think selfishly for once upon herself, to think of her family. But she would just smile sadly and say 'I just have an uncle compare to you.' I never took in the consideration of the consequences of the after math of these games until now. President Snow wanted to break me; and the only way to do that was to someone I love. My family was adored by the Capitol but my future lies in my fiancé. If she dies because of me, I don't know what I would do?
"You could live a hundred lifetimes and not deserve her, you know," Haymitch said.
"Guess so," I breathed. "She's practically the brains of our team. So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know." Haymitch sighed. "Go back with Siobhan maybe, if I can. If my name is drawn at the reaping, it won't matter. Unless you like to volunteer for my place?"
The room was engrossed in silences. "Bet you're going to hate yourself…with all your friends?"
"Oh, I think we can count on it being unbearable wherever I am." As he nods at the bottle. "Can I have that back now?"
"Get your own," I snarled and took another gulp. Haymitch muttered some insults before fetching another bottle from under the table and twisted the cap. I zoned out in thought, thinking of a strategy for the team. I truly hated myself in what Siobhan had to face. She lost her damn leg and is holding on to what sanity she has left. If she went back to the arena, she was never coming back. Although, if she did she wouldn't be my Sio anymore? "If it was Siobhan and me in the Game, this time we try to keep her alive."
Pain flickered in Haymitch's bloodshot eyes.
"Like I said, it's going to be a bad no matter how you slice it. And besides, Snow is after not just you. Siobhan rebelled as well in the game."
"What do you mean?" I asked. I don't recall Siobhan rebelling against anything in the game. In fact, she practically played it in survival compare to others. A sacrifice soul: who entertains the audience in her dedication towards the younglings!
"She was only twelve," Haymitch muttered, quoting Siobhan line.
I remembered her saying that with Rue in her arms. How Siobhan cried out 'SHE WAS ONLY A CHILD!' I can't believe I fucking missed that. Unlike me who challenged the Capitol on their word. Siobhan protested on the Capitols decision. The bottle shattered in my hand into millions of pieces. This was our fault, mine and Siobhan at hand with or without noticing it. I may have a chance to live but Siobhan was playing Snow games again. Haymitch handed me a towel and we did nothing that night. Just sat in the kitchen drinking our life away.
.o0o.
I was woken up by a splash of cold water in the face, instantly awake. I stagger back and fell back in the chair falling to ground while hearing Haymitch all at it. We looked up at the source of the water to see Siobhan holding a bucket. She looked awful like she was crying for days while bags under her eyes. Her green eyes burned furiously as she picked up another bucket and tossed it at us. This time it was hot water.
"Get up, you damn Bastards!" She exclaimed that even her voice was raw.
Afterwards, she slammed two mugs of coffee and two vials for hangovers. I would say she was an angel, but as Haymitch put it. We are facing the shrew. We sit there, confused, when she uncork the vial and forced the concoction into my mouth along with Haymitch. He spat the disgusting taste of putrid herbal combination before gulping coffee down. The hangover remedy worked, as it slowly got rid of the damn headache. I then heard someone walking upstairs and I guess it was Mark, a few minutes later he came down and tossed a cardboard box of empty liquor bottles.
"That's the last of them," Mark huffed.
I paused a moment to stared at Haymitch's alcohol resources on the table to asked what's going on, "Last of what?"
"I poured every drop of alcohol down the drain." Mark said.
This had Haymitch jolting up his chair and pounces down the box in desperation. "You what?"
"We poured a lot," Siobhan repeated.
"He'll just buy more," I grumbled.
"Not in his dreams," Mark said. "I tracked down Ripper earlier today and bribed her to turn you two idiots down. Even paid her off for you two, just a precaution. It seems like she doesn't want to get involved with the Peacekeepers again."
Haymitch takes a swipe with his knife at Mark but Siobhan deflected it so easily, that she had him in an awkward position. Her left hand, holding Haymitch right to her person: causing him to drop the knife, as her right hand pushed his head back. I was dumbfounded to see this sudden move that it anger me on more secrets.
"This is none of your business!" I barked.
"This is my business. I'm not going into the arena with a drunkard with other victors. We'll be complete targets for your stupid decision! That includes you, Gale." She said to me.
"What?" I barked indignantly. I would probably sound convincing, if it weren't for the hangover. "I only got drunk once!"
"And look at the shape you're in," She said sarcastically dropping Haymitch to the floor.
This was totally not what I had plan in seeing Siobhan after the announcement. Expecting to give comfort and talk things through? But now, I see the tribute from the game that was prepared to play. I glower at her and turned to Haymitch.
"I'll buys some more," I told him.
Siobhan laughed hysterically, "And I'll turn you drunkards in. Maybe that'll sober you up in the stocks. I might ask Thread to even put you out in the snow and let the people toss snowballs at you."
"What's the point to this?" Haymitch asked.
"The point is that two of you are coming back from the Capitol. A mentor and a victor." Mark announced.
Siobhan crossed her arms and examined her wrist. "I called Effie and she'll send us some footage from the previous victors. We're going to watch their games and find an advantage to this. We are going to fight and learn everything as we possibly can. So better get your appetite boy, we're putting on some muscles on these bones and get stronger. We're going to start acting like Careers, if you like it or not. And one of us is coming back here as victor again!" She slapped me in the face then dashed out of the room with Mark behind her trail, followed by a slam on the front door.
"I hate self-righteous people," I bluntly announced rubbing my cheek.
"What's to like?" Haymitch asked, scavenging for any remains of liquor in the bottles.
"You or me. But I think she's planning on me coming home." I said with a shrug.
"Well, then the jokes on her," Haymitch said.
.o0o.
Siobhan POV
It took a lot of convincing and some verbal abused that got the boys to act like Careers. I was absolutely scared out of my mind that I couldn't bear to stand humiliated when I die. I figured Snow wanted me dead from all the support I funded in keeping loved ones and their families alive. This was my only chance to prevail in surviving. If Haymitch comes with me then it would be a miracle. Reason why, is because the bastard didn't care about life and owes me big time after the assaults on my pride and trying to keep Gale alive. I wanted Gale to stay out of this mess and let me clean it up. He had a family to take care off, instead of an optional fiancé.
So every night, we watch the old recaps of the remaining victors Hunger games. I've seen about a dozen and knew five remarkably well; from Annie Cresta to the seventy-third Game. It was a shame I couldn't meet the victors personally during the victory tour. Guess it was a precaution for President Snow. Haymitch corrected this question saying, the last thing President Snow would've wanted was show Gale and me … bonding with the other victors in designated rebellious districts. If a Victor shows support of defiance towards the Capitol, then politic would be dangerous. Calculating the ages of these victors, most of the opponents were elderly. Gale reassures this was a good advantage while I noted this down on the notes. Haymitch kindly gave us information about the victor's personalities and physical condition, which we were able to start sorting out the competition. Let's just say, District one and two are still on the top.
Every day was practically the same thing. We would wake up early and exercises to developed strength. Practically running and weightlifting in increasing muscles. By afternoon, we worked on combat skill that was written in my great grandfather journal. Along with throwing knives, hand to hand combat, staff fighting; contributed by the hob remains. And also tree climbing. It was difficult for me at first, but adjusting my mechanical leg to a certain angle, it was easy. It was against the law to train tributes for the game. Well, the law can go to hell, for that didn't stop the Careers.
However, Haymitch had some difficulty in getting into shape. From all that alcohol abuse, his body was dehydrated. Though strong and stealthy he was he wasn't very cardio vascular on running. This coming from a guy who sleeps with a knife.
Gale and I achieved in excelling our new regime. The dictation gave us something to do instead of moping around on our ruin relationship. To fight back instead of falling into defeat. Sure, when we take breaks we would rest together and just talk. But, I feel a rift between us now. Gale had many plans in saving me if he was mentor. That he'll fight other mentor in order to get sponsor, so I could win. I smile and listen to his distinctive strategies and tactics.
Our family pays tributes to our training as well. Hazelle and Mrs. Everdeen put us on a special diet to gain weight. Uncle Mark treated our injures with Prims assistance. Madge would try and sneak her father's Capitol newspaper. Detail prediction on who will be tributes of victors, among the favorites. Sad for Finnick Odair: being District 4 and only male tributes. Katniss even stepped into the game after school, to teach us some archery. Simply how to make a bow and fire it inside the houses in the spare room.
Until everything changed one night . . .
Gale and I were home alone together when Uncle Mark stayed at the seams to help out on a chickenpox epidemic on the kids. There was hardly anything we could do, and we definitely don't want to watch television or recaps. So we sat by the fire and enjoyed ones company. We needed a break from the excruciating training, to get back on our relationship.
"I'm sorry," Gale muttered.
"It's alright," I assure him.
"No it isn't!" Gale exclaimed. "This is my entire fault."
"And mine too," I countered. "Gale, I also challenged the Capitol."
"But you were emotionally confused,"
"Doesn't mean I didn't challenge them on their interest in putting children in the game." I said then looked at the fire, "Can we just forget about the Game, just for tonight."
"Okay," Gale sighed and wrapped his arm around me.
I sighed in contempt leaning into his form, how firm and soft he was. If only this could be true. A life we hope to have as a couple. Married, a family with children, to grow old with grey hair while watching our grandchildren laugh. However, if we ever had grandchildren? I was so ecstatic in the idea of marrying Gale, the thought of a husband. But that wasn't going to happen. I would never experience everything, no partnership with a husband and experience love.
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard Gale's stomach grumble. I chuckled and sit up to fetch some bread from the pantry and returned back to the fire place.
"Want some toast?" I asked.
"Sure," Gale agreed, pulling out the pan. I placed two slices of bread on it which Gale held it by the fire. This was the most common way for us to cook toast in district twelve. I try to use the toaster countless times but was unable to cook toast, for I keep burning the bread. Almost set the house on fire during the first week in victor's village. Once the toast was cook Gale handed me a slice and I took a bite out of it. Gale grabbed the same toast from me and took a bite. I protested for stealing my food when I got lost in his grey eyes.
"You realized we just wed," Gale suddenly announced.
"What?" I asked confused of his words.
"We just got married," Gale said with his humorous tone as his eye the fire. "If you think about it."
I sat there confused until realizing what he meant. I blushed furious to a new shade that could match the fire. I guess metaphorically we just did. For signing papers were just what the Capitol wanted while citizen of twelve had a costumed. We make our vows, build a fire and the married couple makes some toast. The thought made me smile silly to think if this could actually count as such.
A hand cradle my cheek gently guided me to face him. Those grey eyes captivated me body and soul as I could see his soul. The emotions he held since he lost his father. The maturity of dedication in feeding his family. The fear and angry towards his adversaries who threaten him. And most off all, the love he held for me. The boy with the snare who became Lord of Flames!
"If only…" Gale started. "If only I could truly have you Siobhan."
"As do I," I murmured leaning into his touch.
My body was consumed in fire in which everywhere was engulfing in different shape and form. All logical thought thrown out the window in the desire that we both crave. Lost in a tempest of emotions, I lean up and kissed Gale deeply. This was the only physical action that compromised as I crawled onto his lap. Once we were comfortable with it, he grabbed my neck, securing me closer to him. Engulfed by his very being while grabbing the nape of my neck and licked my lips. I moaned, opening my mouth in acceptance as he entered. The fight for dominance between us until I surrender my bidding. He laid me back down, hovering over me so he was on top. When we pulled back for air, our foreheads pressed together, I could see the change in his eyes. No longer grey like in a stormy sky but sharp as silver, piercing to the very core of my existence.
"Gale," I whimper.
"Do you trust me?" Gale whispered.
Lost for words I nodded to his question. My arms wrapped around him fisting into his worn grey shirt. Gale smiled easily as he kissed me again before going down till reaching the top of my neck then nibling down to my neckline. Gasp and moans escaped my lips, lost in the pleasure he gave me of his assault. Kissing where ever skin was exposed while his hand rubbed soothing circles on my hip. He moves up to my ear grabbed the lobe into his mouth and nibble. I moan, sliding my hands up to his hair and messaging it. My body was completely on fire and all I wanted was him and nothing else.
"Gale, please," I whimper.
"Are you sure?" he asked, a hint of caution.
I mustered all my strength and flipped us over so I was on top off him. His expression was priceless as he gazed at my flustered state. I grabbed his hand and placed it over my heart. His eyes widen to feel it beat under thin fabric.
"I love you, Gale." I said.
He popped himself on one arm, lips meeting mine in a gentle peck. He grabbed my hand and gently placed it on his own as well. I could feel the rapid beat it made from our encounter a moment ago.
"I love you too, Siobhan." Gale said and brought me back into a kiss.
I don't know what happen afterwards except that was the night Gale and I became one. The night we had no fears or worries of the world we lived in. Only lost in the passion and love we held for each other that needed to be express physically than verbally. Did I hold any regret in giving up something so sacred? The answer would be no.
For we lived like we we're dying!
Nothing mattered as we lost ourselves in fire.
Gale, Lord of Flames and I, was Lady of Fire.
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Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks for reading and I hope you leave a review. Don't forget to vote for Siobhan Wedding dress on my profile. So far dress # 4 is in the lead followed by dress #5.
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