Phoenix Rise
Chapter 23: The Mist
Siobhan POV-Dream
When I was young my farther would wake me up before the sun could rise in the east. However his intentions wasn't planned to illegally hunt wild game, but something else. Something that his father taught him from his farther: How to survive since the dark days. My family was never originated from twelve and when an Underwood child turns ten, they must learn to survive. And during the early weekends before the peacekeepers woken up we would go into the forest. Liam would lead deeper in the forest, past the forgotten cabin, the lake, until reaching a tree where a passage is hidden. Under that tree hid supplies of previsions and weapons. Guns.
I never liked guns, though dad hardly let me used them to reserve our ammunition. Though he taught me more important things from snaring's, plants, and starting a fire. As every time he takes something from the secret bunker he would say, "You know what would happen if anybody found out?"
"They would arrest you," I answered.
He cocked the riffle, "They kill me, Siobhan. Treason for a citizen to own a weapon, penalty is death. You understand?" I nodded slightly scared. Liam saw this and put on the strap, "I'm not saying this to scare you."
"I'm not scared." I said quickly. "I worry."
Liam smiled proudly before taking my hand leading the way. A few years he does this and I grew tired of the secrets and training. I thought he was preparing me for the Hunger Games in case I get reaped, though neither of us were tessera. And yet he tells me constantly that I must know how to survive, how to prepare for the worse, and most importantly how to become a leader.
"I want to go home," I told Liam, thinking we were lost in the woods.
"Siobhan," Liam said placing a hand over my shoulder to stop and face him. "Home is where you find yourself. Even if you are in a foreign land….even if you have to oblige to foreign rules." He stops pulling out a steel knife a flint. "Try again."
I knelt down on the compost ground gathering the sticks and dry leaves together before rubbing the flint against the steel creating sparks. Irritated I keep rubbing the two elements together only to burn my fingers or cut myself. Releasing a groan of annoyances I stopped only to hear Liam chuckled.
"Right now, we're struggling a bit, yes?" Liam asked knowingly.
"Yes," I answered.
"Life is struggle." He said. "The truth is no matter what comfort surrounds you, it will always be an illusion. It can be taken away any time." He leaned down when a spark caught the tinder's, blowing on it so the fire could grow. A small flame grew making my father smile. "You're not like other girls, Siobhan. You never will be unless you keep it a secret. Remember that. Your destiny lies along a different path. The only person you will ever, ever be able depend on is you."
"And you, dad," I added.
Liam sighed, tucking a strand of hair off my face. "You will not always have me."
.o0o.
Gale's POV
"Dad," Siobhan whispered in her sleep.
Finnick was about to wake Siobhan to take the next shift, but I told him I will. The night was loud of life though quiet from any possible threats. I combed my hand through Siobhan's hair hearing her mumble her father's name. Turns out Siobhan would talk in her sleep, calling out names of her family, sometimes mine, and Rues. Sometimes I wonder what she dreams about, though didn't bother asking her. Suddenly there were twelve rings like bells. For a second I thought it was cannon fire, however one death is one boom and the announcement of those who were dead already past. Mags and Siobhan slept thought the noise, while Odair sat there attentively until the trolling stopped.'
"I counted twelve," he said.
I nodded, thinking twelve tributes are dead, "What do ya think it means?"
"No idea," he answered.
We waited for instructions, considering the possibility Claudius Templesmith shall make an announcement. An invitation to a feast. A rule change. Or congratulating the tributes of a first day of surviving. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck the tallest tree and a storm began. Guess a storm was coming.
"I can take it from here," I told Odair.
Odair hesitated before giving a nod, lying down at the mouth of the hut, with a trident in hand. I sit down by a tree with a loaded bow observing the jungle. Time goes by and the lighting storm stopped and the rain began to fall. I wait for the rain to come down, but it never come our direction. The Gamemakers must be aiding the other tributes since our group has discovered a new source of water. Suddenly a cannon go off, instantly everyone started waking up. Another victor was dead. All eyes look up to the sky to see district seven male, Blights.
After his face disappears the rain stopped. The others looked at each other mumbling sadness before going back to sleep in the makeshift hut. I sighed, looking up ahead to see a fog hovering over our direction. Cold rain mixed with humanity equal mist. I thought. The mist continues to approach the hut at a steady pace. It looked sorta alive with tendrils reaching out and pulling forward, as if dragging a dead carcass. I tilted my head, watching the mist when feeling the hairs on my arm begin to rise. Something wasn't right about this mist. The movement seemed more fluid, more animated than something natural…shit.
A sickeningly sweet odor invades my nostrils and I forced the others to wake up. They woke up fast, as small droplets stabs our skin creating blisters. The small amount of droplets on skin felt like acid when touching skin. Odair jumped on his feet immediately, holding his trident to attack then stop in seeing the wall of mist. He cursed, tossing an unconscious Mags on his back and took off. Siobhan is on her feet highly alerted as she strapped her crossbow. Wasting no time, I grab her arm and started running her through the jungle trailing Odair.
"What is it?" she asked bewilder.
"A poisonous mist," I yelled, though I could feel the aftereffect from the force field wearing on my body. I was slightly slower, having a hard time to breathe than I normally do. Siobhan struggled as well, the unbalance ground tripping her occasionally with her prosthetic leg. But we manage to keep a good distant from the mist. I looked over my shoulder to see the mist extending in a straight line as it invaded every direction. Like last year's game with the forest fire having a mind of its own. How the bloodbath and forest fire separate us, though I'm not losing her again. I locked my fingers around her wrist harshly while she did the same, nails digging into my skin. The mist changes pace coming faster as it crept under our feet. It stung my ankles though Siobhan seemed unfazed by it as she took lead running fast. The jumpsuits were no help and neither were the boots against the chemical vapors burning our flesh.
Odair, who had the head start stop to realize we were having a problem. But this isn't something you could fight unless you had a giant fight. No, the only we could do is run, evade. He shouts some encouragement, trying to motivate us, almost a guide through the dense forest. I almost see him when Siobhan tripped over her artificial leg on a root and into the mist. Quickly I help her up to find her skin burned debilitating with a few blisters while the left side of her face sagged while her eyelid closed.
"Siob-" I started then my arm spasm out of nowhere. Shit, the chemicals induce in the mist doesn't burn- it intervenes in the nervous system. I force her up on her feet and started running us out of the mist. She bit her lips, groaning in pain as she forces herself to run though limp in the process. She's trying to run, but her artificial leg has become dead weight with her nerves going numb. Not risking it, I slung her over my shoulder and strides towards Odair getting a dozen yards away until he stopped.
"It's not good. I'll have to carry her. Can you take Mags?" he asked me.
"Okay," I said stoutly, Mags would weigh less than Siobhan, but I don't trust him still. Also my arms started to randomly flex in different direction. So kneeling down, Mags got on my back legs wrapped around my waist as her arms did the same around my neck. Surprisingly she hardly weighs anything at all. Odair had Siobhan slung over his back using the trident staff for extra support and we kept moving forward, Odair taking the lead with me on his trail through the jungle.
The mist kept coming at us, Odair leading us in a dangles downhill. He was trying to keep as much distant from the mist while heading towards the Cornucopia where water surrounded it. Water, I thought when acid droplets dripped into my skin. Mags began to slide out of my grasp now and then. She tried to be an easy passenger; however her correction or adjustment had me lose my footing. Until I tripped over something banging my shoulder on the ground dislocating it. Damn it. Mgs gets off my back helping me on my feet, though my appendage flailing around imposable to control.
Odair comes back to us, Siobhan secured tightly on his back holding the second trident. She appeared to be unconscious though her right eye stared at us warily. "Banged my shoulder."
"I can't carry both them both. My arms not working," Odair said, his arms jerking tightly on his side. "I'm sorry Mags. I can't do it."
Mags gave a sad smile and do something unexpected. She kissed Odair on the lips then hobbled her way into the Mist. Instantly her body shook violently as if having a seizure and falls to the ground. I choked on a gasped, but my throat burned. Before I could go in there to save her, her canon fired announcing she was dead.
"Finn-ick?" Siobhan called out hoarsely, except he already turned around from the scene heading towards the water. I grabbed my bow and chased after them. Mag's was dead. That is all my mind could pick up in the haze of adrenaline, escaping the toxic mist.
.o0o.
Once we reached the beach, Odair and I collapsed on the sand toppling over each other. Odair groaned in protest, while I manage to get off of them. Looking over my shoulder to find the mist now condense in a stream of white, staying in one place creating a wall. It almost resembles a glass of milk. How the cream pressed against clear glass and forced in one glass. It stopped moving. From past horrors in the Hunger Games, the traps have reached its territory. Either the Gamemakers decided they got enough footage and Mags death, or waiting for something better to kill us off.
I flopped on my back with a sigh of relief. Okay, it's not good when an ally sacrifice themselves for the others, but good to be alive right now. A slight grumble catches my ear, opening my eyes to see something that supposed to not exist in this country anymore. Monkeys? Seen pictures of monkeys in books, though they are not indigenous to what's left of this continent. So they had to be mutts, for they were half the size of a human and fur color being orange. Siobhan got off of Odair and attempted to stand up, stumbling a few times till she got her bearings. She then rolled Odair on his back, forcing him to sit up so she could wrap her arms around his chest and dragged him close to the water that surrounded the Cornucopia. Afterwards she crawled back to me, doing the same dragging us to the water.
"Ga-le," she choked out, setting us down and then slamming my shoulder in place relocating it.
"I'm here," I winced, opening my eyes to see were on the narrow strip of sand and the warm water that surrounds the Cornucopia. Altering our position, we splashed water on our faces. I shot back as if I was being stung by a tracker jacker.
"Rubbing salt on wounds," Siobhan muttered tiredly. Before stripping her jumpsuit, tank top, and crossbow then walked into the water hissing. She knelt down splashing water on her damage skin, cursing quietly, before dunking her head in the water. I didn't understand what was wrong till dunking my hand in the water and figured out the salt water reacted harshly to burning point. Although it washed off the reminisce of the mist off our skin, turning the blue water into a milky substances seeped out of my wounds. I unbuckled my belt, and shoved off my jumpsuit and beater, and carefully washed the poison off me.
.o0o.
Siobhan POV
I felt my body started getting back into function as the toxin left my system. The salt in the water held a catalyst reaction to the chemicals to purify it out of my body. As Gale washed himself, I looked at Finnick who was backed away from the water, lying face down on the sand, either unconscious or unable to move. I debated in how to get Finnick to the water. I can't drag him in the water; the sudden shock could kill him from the intense pain. Though the longer the toxin remained on his skin, seeping into open wounds, the possibility he'll die from poisoning. So like any person who helps wounded creatures, you got to ease them in. I scooped up a handful of water and carefully dispose of it on his fist. I took deep breathes controlling my nerves for my hands we shaking, but not as violently as before.
Taking a dagger out of my boot, I cut the upper half of the jumpsuit off him. Once done, I continue the process, slowly pouring water over his wrist, forearm, elbows, and so forth, concentrating on his arms since they were badly damage. Gale finished his detox and handed me some shells to use. It helped a lot, as the water created a reaction of the white substance to ooze out and leaked onto the sand. I debated if Finnick was conscious, for he lies there, eyes closed, giving the occasional groan.
Gale kept watch aware how dangerous our position was in. Sure the darkness of night shows concealment, but the moon wasn't on our side. We were also by the Cornucopia where Careers usually camped out during the games. So four careers could possibly kill us without trouble, if Finnick doesn't stop moaning.
"I gotta get him in the water," I whispered to Gale.
Gale nodded and takes one of Finnick arms as we dragged the fully grown man into the saltwater. Having to go slow from the bottom up, setting his feet in then laid him on land. I tied some ripped fabric around his mouth gaging him in case he screams in agony, as I carefully pull him in the water by every few minutes turning clear blue into murky white. Ankles, calves, knees, up and up till clouds of white swirled around him receiving a few groans. I continue to detoxify him, in a steady process thinking how Mark tended burned victims in the mines. After an hour or so, Finnick slowly regain conscious. He opened his eyes, staring at me and register that he was being cared for. I change position and rested his head on my lap, letting him soak in the water. Gale scowled for some reason and said he'll get some more drinkable water. I don't know why he's been harsh lately ever since Finnick pulled me out of the water, he's been acting rude. It reminded me the time Darius was flirting with Katniss and me at the Hob eating some of Greece Sae stew. Finnick lifted up his arms above the seawater, a good sign.
"Only your head remains, Finnick. It'll hurt but it'll feel better afterwards." I said calmly. I helped him sit up, letting him hold my hand as he dunks his face in the water. Once he resurfaces, he tries to speak but his voice was raw.
I let him rest and see if I could wash out any of the poison out of the remains of clothing. Afterwards I put on my tank top and decided to not wear the jumpsuit for tonight. It was hot, and the fabric felt irritating. I undue my hair, and comb my fingers through it, discovering the mist has damage it to a point Flavius would have a heart attack. So quickly washing my hair to get the contents out the best I can, next put it in a simply braid.
Gale found a descent tree from the beach and cut his knife into the wooden trunk. Making sure he was safe I went back to Finnick, only to find where he was absent. I almost panic when Finnick resurfaces from the ocean then dive back in. He didn't come back up that I began to panic until a wet hand grabbed my shoulder causing me to jump.
"Don't do that!" I scolded.
"What? Come up or stay under?" Finnick teased.
"Oh shut it," I hiss. "Either finished soaking or let's go help Peeta."
Finnick smirked helping me up and grabbed his trident. It didn't take long to cross the edge of the jungle when the atmosphere changes. The feeling of being watched and I don't mean the cameras. A sound of rustling in the trees caught our attention to look up to see countless of orange fur monkeys sitting on a limp practically bending the tree branch. I loaded an arrow into the crossbow while Finnick adjusted the trident in his hand.
"Gale," I said calmly, though a slight hint of caution. "Can you come here please?"
"Just a minute," he said still cutting into the tree. "Mind handing me the spile."
"How about a word of advice," I suggested. "Keep calm and carry on."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Gale asked, turning around to see how serious Finnick and I were. He looked up with just his eyes and sees why he has to move. Cautiously he walked over the monkeys are holding their position. He's just fifteen feet away but stepped on a branch triggering their instincts. Instantly the monkeys launched out screaming and pounced on him fast,
Never have I seen a mammal move that fast before. They slide down the vines, swinging about till jumping from different trees baring their claws and fangs out. Never encounter such a species only to see mutts. Gale manages to get the mutts off him and pull out his bow firing at those who got on him. Finnick speared the others like they were nothing but fish. I on the other hand took longer with the crossbow having to bend the lever to pull the string back then load. When one jumped on the crossbow, I dropped it and slash at the beast killing it. Another clamp on my prosthetic leg digging its claws into the joint. I tried to kick it off, but the beast wouldn't budge that Gale shot at it. Gale was losing bows fast, so I gave him my quiver set only to have him grab my arm roughly behind him. Finnick, Gale, and I position ourselves in a triangle.
"Siob," he shouted. "Your arrows!"
I quickly gave him my arrows when it happens. A monkey lunged at out the tree ready to attack but Finnick throw at killing instantly. However it didn't stop the others coming at me all vulnerable. Gale was about to push me away, when somebody else did falling to the ground. She was one of the best camouflage experts in the Hunger games in history, as she fell on top of me cover in blood with a scream as the mutt sinks in fangs into her chest.
The morphing addict from District 6 saved my life.
.o0o.
Gale's POV
I drop the sheath and bury my knife into the monkey's back stabbing it continuously until it let go. I kicked the mutt off of them and take the quiver loading another bow to fire with my back against Finnick.
"Come one, you fuckers!" I shouted out panting.
But the monkeys refused, retreating back into the forest and were gone. Probably the Gamemakers programming in their heads telling them to leave since another tribute is dead. I turned around to find the woman from District 6 holding her chest sobbing in pain, while Siobhan held her saying to take deep breaths and let her see. The lighting was bad so I picked her up and took her towards the beach while Finnick guarded our back. I laid the morphling on the sand as Siobhan took out her knife cutting the upper half of the suit off to examine the wound. It wasn't a pretty sight, the mutt left four deep puncture wound with an irritated red tone around it as blood seeped out.
"Mutt ruptures the superior vena cava," Siobhan said. She took a scrap of fabric and forced it down on the wound.
The Morphling gasped like a fish, struggling on the sand. Her skin sagging, painted green though utterly thin that I could see her ribs. This must be the side effects in using morphing or other drugs to much since she could afford food. I hold onto one of her twitching hands while setting the other one on the wound adding pressure. The grip she held could rip skin off. There was nothing we could do, as Siobhan just change and alter her position in a more comfortable stance.
"I'll watch the trees," Finnick said before walking away.
Siobhan removes her medallion and opened it as the melody plays ever so softly. She took the morphling other hand and strokes her hair. "My mother used to make plants more interesting when I was little, saying how every herb has its own color. All I saw were greens, browns, and maybe a few yellow every now and then. All the smells of mint, rosemary, thyme, and all of a garden dancing in my noise while living in coal." The morphling seemed hypnotize by Siobhan words, staring deep into her eyes. "One time, she made purple paste out of nowhere still moist and dry that I thought she put a dye in the basil. However it wasn't a dye, the actual herb was purple with red veins and pink stems. She said not all flowers have beautiful colors; even the neutral plants can be beautiful if you can find them. In fact, we made a paste out of the herbs and painted it over our skin creating art. Creating flowers, sun, moons, and stars, that there was hardly any skin bare to the world, showing our true colors."
The morphling breathing started to slow down into shallow breaths. She dipped her hand in the pool of blood on her chest and made a swirling motion indicating she loved to paint. She took her trembled hand and painted some sorta of flower on Siobhan's cheek. Siobhan smiled, tears become watery as she took some of the blood and painted a butterfly on her forehead.
"Thank you," Siobhan whispered. "Beauty is what we see around us that are alive."
The morphling smiled and make a squeak noise then exhale her last breath. Her grip vanished while her chest stopped with a cannon fire. I carried her out into the water and felt guilty for some reason. First Mags and now this Morphling too, both sacrificing themselves. With a heavy sigh, I laid her in the water as her body drifted to the Cornucopia where a hovercraft collected her body. When I return back to the beach, Finnick returned sitting next to Siobhan who was crying with all the weapons collected. Feeling a bit jealous I stomped towards the forest to collect moss, but discovered the monkey's carcass was gone.
"How the hell?" I asked to myself.
"We don't know exactly. The vines shifted and they were gone," Finnick answered.
We stared at the jungle exhausted. The mist droplets on our bodies began to scab and started to become itchy. I looked at Siobhan and Finnick who seemed to be having difficulty of their urges. Siobhan dig her hands deep into the sand. Though I couldn't help but smirk in seeing Finnick face all scabbed and ruined that no Capitol slut would want to kiss him. I probably look the same as I began to rub my cheek.
"Don't scratch," Siobhan scolded though I could see she was borderline to scratch as well. "You'll get it infected!"
After a quick check of the forest we collected some water from the tree. Once getting something to drink we found some vines to use make mat to sleep on. It was still late in the night or the Gamemakers were keeping it dark. Either way it was good as I could ever be at the moment.
"Why don't you two sleep and I'll take my shift," Siobhan suggested.
"No, Siobhan, I'd rather," Odair said.
I looked at him to retort when seeing the sadness in his eyes. Mags. Guess it's best to let the guy mourn in privacy. Ever since joining district four, I practically owe him a lot for many things: one for saving Siobhan from drowning and die in the mist while letting Mags goes. Siobhan saw this and nodded as she lay down on the makeshift matt removing her prosthetic leg. The metal work appeared damage with deep scratches and bolts loose.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
She lifted the leg up causing sand and water to pour out. "Don't know."
I nodded, lying down next to her wrapping an arm around her waist keeping her close.
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Hey guys, I know it's been a long time and all I could say is, I lost interest of the story and needed to take a break before I went insane. Also I change a little bit of the plot about Siobhan and planted a few things. Can you guess?
Siobhan dream was inspired by Nikita.
Also please leave a review and I'll see if I can update.