Phoenix Rise

Chapter 21: 75th Hunger Games

Gale's POV

"Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fifth Hunger Games begin!" Claudius Templesmith voice boomed out.

It took me a moment for my eyes to adjust to see I was surrounded by water and less than a minute till the games begin. Up ahead, forty yards was the Cornucopia on some island. I try to balance on the metal plate along with the twelve tributes. The closes person next to me was Woof from District 8, looking around the half circle to find Siobhan, but couldn't see hear clearly, must be next to one of the career tributes. Then it hit me, no boats, rope, or anything to get to the island.

Swim

Great, that's just great, I thought sourly. I wasn't the best swimmer even when Katniss showed me how.

When the gong sounds, I hesitated taking a big gulp of air and jumped into the water. I kept my body straight, kicking with my feet hard while bringing my arms over my head and into the water, one at a time. The salt was tense and stung my eyes, so I kept them close till feeling sand against my fingers. Quickly standing up, I ran towards the Cornucopia to find the most obscure thing. There was no supply in the horn; in fact what given before us were weapons. I caught sight of a golden bow and grabbed it along with a quiver. I grabbed a machete as well and search for a blowgun to find there wasn't any.

I hear someone behind me. I turned around swinging the machete to point it at Finnick Odair. I glare at the guy who held his trident at me with a net in hand. He smirks, "You can swim, too," he said. "Where did you learn that in District Twelve?"

"I'm full of surprises," I counter.

"You must," He said. "You like the arena?"

"No. Must be for their favorite victor, Odair," I accused him bitterly. In fact, probably not even half the tribute could swim. This was a complete disadvantage for everyone and unfair, that there might not be a bloodbath. Not if the tributes drown first, leaving those who can swim and District 4.

We glared at each other in a stalemate with weapons pointing at each other. Then Odair grins, "Lucky thing we're allies. Right?"

I was about to answer no, claiming this was a trap when he raises his hand to show something on his wrist. It was a golden wristband with flames. Didn't Effie give that to Haymitch? Then I remember Siobhan saying she wanted to ally with District Four and Seven. Then again, I have an opportunity to kill a career right on spot, leaving Tributes from One and Two. About to take the advantage, when Odair shouted "Duck!" as he throws his trident and impales the male tribute from District 5 into the chest. I turned around to face Odair as he yanked his trident back.

"Don't trust One and Two," Odair order.

I nodded, sheathing the machete and grabbed the bow knowing an arrow. "You take the left, I got the right." I said. He nods and I aimed at the water, as Enobaria and Gloss reached land.

"Anything useful?" he asked.

"All weapons," I said charging back to the grab what else I can use.

"Same," Odair confirmed. "Grab what you want and let's go!"

I shot an arrow at Enobaria, who was to close but she dive back into the water. Another arrow I shot, puncture Gloss in the calf as he dives back into the water. I sling on another quiver set with bows, two daggers, and an awl.

"Do something about that, would you?" Odair shouted.

I look up to see Brutus barreling towards us using his belt as some sort of shield. I shoot at the big buy only to be taken by his belt. When the arrow punctures the belt, some liquid spilled out. The liquid got on his face causing him to scream and jump back in the water. I examine the water quickly to see three of the four Careers, trying to find Cashmere when I spotted Siobhan. She was side stoking in the water, almost in a struggle against the current. What was it called again when visiting Four, a rip tide?

"I got her," Odair said dropping all of his weapons to the ground. "Better not exert herself. Not in her condition."

Condition? My mind thinks about her leg when I remember about telling the audiences about the possibly of Siobhan being pregnant. Finnick ran into the water calling out to cover him and disappear in the water. I raise my bow, except no one dares care near us or the cornucopia. Only one person did however, and that was old Mags as she headed towards me. I cocked a brow seeing how smoothed she swam like some doggy paddle.

When Odair reaches Siobhan she screamed at first splashing crazily and saying something that didn't make sense. He leaned down whispering in her ear that calmed her down before wrapping an arm around her chest, swimming back to shore. Once they reached land, I yanked Siobhan and looked at her. She was pale and shaking like she saw a ghost. I've seen that look before, it's what she express when Rue die.

"Allies," she choked out. "We got allies?"

"Yeah, Haymitch," I grumble.

"Who else?" Siobhan asked as Mags gotten to shore. "Seven or Three?"

"Well, I can't leave Mags behind," Odair said. "She's one of the few people who actually like me."

I was going to protest when Siobhan added, "Her fishhooks are the best chance we got on food."

I was going to protest more as Siobhan jogged towards the Cornucopia to grab a weapon while Odair helped the old woman onto shore. Mags got up and batted her belt mumbling a word "bob."

"Look, she's right. Someone figured it out." Odair pointed at Beetee. He was splashing around panicking in the water as waves come by but didn't drown. What the? Odair continued. "The belts. They're flotation devices. I mean you have to propel yourself, but they'll keep you from drowning."

Siobhan joined us with a machete on her belt, and some strange contraption on her back along with a two quiver sets of arrows. She grabbed my hand suggesting leaving, but I was going to say wait for Beetee and Wiress, but I could see her. Could Odair kill Wiress when I wasn't looking? Mags pointed at the awl on my belt so I gave it to her. She gave a gummy smile before Odair picked her up and put her on his back.

"Gale we have to go," Siobhan panted yanking my arm.

Having no choice, I grab Siobhan's hand and we all ran towards the Jungle region, getting away as possible from the Cornucopia. A jungle was completely different compare to a forest. The trees were foreign with smooth branches, green, and vines everywhere with flowers on them. It was getting hot with the sun above us, air humid full with moisture, and already sweating like crazy. At least the jumpsuits lets the sweat evaporate, except hate the tight texture that I unzip the upper half and walked around with the white beater expose. Odair had the same idea along with Siobhan.

Siobhan had the lead, cutting down vegetation of vines with the machete. I would be right behind her except Odair walked in the middle caring Mags. I still didn't trust him, he was a Career after all and one false move and I can shoot or stab him easily, also with Mags make it his disadvantage. I didn't look back but stare at the weapon on Siobhan back. It sort of reminds me of a pickaxes but it was thick and short with certain wires on the end that attached to the center, almost like a mow while the material was stainless metal compare to my golden bow. Shaking my head, I look back in seeing what's left of the bloodbath, seeing the tributes battling and the fail chain that was diminished last night at the interview. It sorta pisses me off that these people we once friends who now stabs each other in the back. I only have one friend here, and she is fiancés.

Still glaring at Odair, even if he has Haymitch's wristband doesn't change anything. I can still shot him. Yet, I'm in debt to him which I hate to admit. He saved Siobhan from the rip tide, and shooting a guy in the back is a sign of a coward. Along with the tentative trust he and Siobhan share at the moment as well.

"So what do you think going on down there, Siobhan? Have they all joined hands? Taken a vow of nonviolence? Tossed the weapons in the sea in defiance of the Capitol?" Odair asked.

"That would nice, Finnick," Siobhan chuckle sarcastically.

"No," Odair replied. "Because whatever happened in the past is in the past. And no one in the arena was a victor by chance." The he eye Siobhan. "Except you Sweetheart."

I stopped a second wondering if Odair knew what Haymitch and I agreed on. Saving Siobhan, since she was better than the rest of us alon. Not like us guys who kill a tribute or attempted to. Siobhan would at least try to form some cult or negotiate with the Careers. However, we aren't dealing with teenagers anymore.

"So how many are…dead?" she asked.

"Don't know," I answered.

"Let's keep moving." Odair suggested more like order. "We need water."

Water…..there hasn't be any sign of fresh water. Not a stream, pond, or river and Odair say we can't drink saltwater. Siobhan suggested keeping an eye for animals; it was a possible clue for a waterhole.

"Better find some soon," Odair said. "We need to be undercover when the others come hunting us tonight."

What does we me us? When did he decide we're a team? Damn him, maybe killing him later will have to do since we're in his surrounding of survival. Hell, even when he's wearing the wristband and Siobhan trusting him during training. Though I wonder, does she like him? They both acted strange during the opening Ceremony and training. I scowled, shaking my head from such though while clenching my fist. Can't lose my girl to him, even if he was the Finnick Odair.

"Let's head to the other side of the island. We might be able to find a spring or water source?" I suggested.

Siobhan look over her shoulder, "Okay."

Okay. We hardly spoken a full sentences and she says okay to me? I was going to say something but stop to see something up ahead. It was the rippling square from before in the training center, as its surrounding was shimmering. It was hard to see, especially with the heat and humid steam in the air. Shit, that was a device Beetee and Wiress told me about. A force field. Siobhan was walking straight ahead not seeing it, that I ran fast.

"Siob, look out!" I yell yanking her back.

A large zap was heard as an electrical current shot through my body before blast back impaling into a tree before everything went black.

.o0o.

Siobhan's POV

I didn't know what happen. One minute I was about to cut some vines and the next Gale pushed me away followed by a sharp zapping noise. I sat up to see Gale on the ground motionless. Instantly I ran over to him, shaking his shoulder crying his name, "Gale." Trying to get a response. Force field, it was a force field as Finnick grabbed a branched and tossed at the invisible wall only to bounce back with a burst. My mind concluded the amount of electricity in that field was deadly. But I refused it, as my lower lip trembles and placed my hand on Gale's neck feeling his neck to feel no pulse. Shaking my head, and put my ear on his chest to hear a heartbeat except none. No, no, no, he can't be dead.

"Gale!" I screamed. I try to remember a trick Mark taught me when a patient wasn't breathing. I placed my hand over his chest and pound most of my weight into it. As I did this my hands slide and shake and vision clouded with tears. "Come on Gale, you can't do this to me! Not yet. Not yet. Damn it Gale!"

Finnick put Mags down against a tree and pushed me aside. "You're doing it wrong." He pinches Gale's nose shutting the airways while his other hands fingers touch pulse points on Gale's body. My body shakes as I cried trying to get to the other side and see if there was something I could do. Before I could even touch Gale, Finnick shoved me back hard, close to a punch. I was shock for a moment, by the rough force, trying to adsorb what happen and sat up. When I did, I gawk in what I saw in seeing Finnick kissing Gale. That was when I noticed he got Gales nose pinched and mouth lifted up, mouth-to-mouth resurrection. CPR, which was what Finnick, was doing. After giving a breath, Finnick went towards Gale's chest and started thrusting his palm over the chest cavity near the heart. Also District Four was accustoming CPR compare to the rest of the district, when victims are from drowning unlike heart attacks.

I crawled up to Finnick and took deep breaths. "What can I do?"

Finnick didn't answered as he did another breath then back to thirty thrusts on the chest. Minutes past, which it felt like forever, as I pray for a miracle. The moment I was about to give up hope, first Cinna and now Gale being taken away from me in one day! When suddenly Gale gasped and Finnick pulled back to give room. Gale soon started coughing, rolling to his side in a fit. I look at Finnick who gave his signature proud smirk. Not giving a damn I pounced on Gale hugging for dear life.

Gale hugged back, squeezing me tightly. "Force field….stronger than training center. You okay?"

I smacked him on the shoulder, he winced. "What the fuck was that for?"

"Damn you, Gale. Damn you," I cried before grabbing his face and kissed him desperately. Gale gasped surprised first before responding. When I pull pack, "Dead, you were almost dead if Finnick didn't do CPR!"

"CPR?" Gale asked disoriented.

"Let's say I have to give you a kiss of life," Finnick explained with a laugh.

When Gale comprehends Finnick words he paled and wiped his mouth practically spitting. I fell back some debating if I should cry from almost losing Gale or laughing hysterically because Gale got kissed by a guy. In result I choked on a chuckle sob while tears continued to fall out of relief. The boys looked at me concern from my fit which had me stop.

"Siobhan?" Gale asked worry.

"It's okay. It's just her hormones," Finnick assured. "From the baby."

Baby? I look at him confused till remembering that there was a fake possibility I might be pregnant. You know, I hate it when people assumed what's going on with me: first the prosthetic leg and now an imaginary fetus. I make eye contact, glaring at Finnick while keeping a hand over my stomach to control myself. All I care was Gale not some idea planted into the stupid people. Finnick raise a brow confused glancing between Gale and me, like he was trying to figure out a clue. A moment I think back in the water, what he whisper in my ear, "I got you, trust me, semper fidelis."

Semper Fidelis was what got my attention for hardly anyone who knew that and to have the Capitol playboy whisper it to me. There was nothing I could do but trust him at the moment, especially when he saved Gale. I owe him big time.

"How are you?" Finnick asked Gale. "Do you think you can move on?"

"No, he needs to rest after the electricity could had damage his nervous system for a moment," I said. Tears continued to fall, that I wiped them away quickly, not wanting to be vulnerable emotionally. I noticed Gale wore his mockingjay pin; images of Cousin Maysilee and Madge come into mind, before shaking my head. I can't think of Maysilee, not how she died in the second Quarter Quell.

"So you want to camp here, then?" Finnick asked.

"It's up to the medic," Gale said looking at me before glaring at Finnick. "But I can still keep going, Odair."

"Slowly would be better than not at all." Finnick said lending a hand for Gale to take. Gale refuses, probably pissed that his pride has been ruin from being kissed by a guy? So I helped him up instead, and check over our weapons. I pull of my crossbow and check on the drawstring to see it was still intact. The boys look at me curiously.

"What is that?" Gale asked.

"It's a crossbow," I answered. "A gun and bow combined."

"You think the Capitol would put a weapon like that in the games?" Finnick said.

"Along with Tridents," I challenged.

"Touché," Finnick chuckled, then gotten serious looking at Gale. "You knew that force field was there, didn't you? Right at the last second? You started to give a warning. How did you know?"

Yeah, how did Gale know about the force field? Gale was hesitate for a second before smirking, "I just heard it, listen."

We stay quiet and listen to our surrounding; all we could hear was insects, birds, and animal. I pouted for there was no buzzing noise I'm so accustomed to back at Twelve's border fences or the Training Center roof. "I hear nothin'."

"They must have programmed it to be quiet, quieter than District Twelve's." Gale explained.

"I don't hear it, either," Finnick said. "But if you do, by all means take the lead."

I was about to protest when I thought back to the previous game when Gale was almost got blown up and had his ear rupture from the sound wave. Could his left ear drum the doctors reconstructed amplify his hearing so he could hear better than the rest of us. Testing that theory, I clapped my hands loud against his ear. Gale jumped, stepping back to cover his ear.

"What the hell, Siob?" Gale snapped.

I raised my hands in defense, "Dose your hearing sound better on your left than your right?"

Gale looked at me confuse, "What do you mean?"

"Last time you were half deaf, you could barely hear more than ten feet or open space," I explained. "I'm wondering if the surgeons did more than reconstruct your eardrum."

It took a moment for my words to sink in into his thick head before his realization hit him. He snapped his fingers on one side then the next. He then shrugged, "Guess so."