Phoenix Rise
Chapter 24: Tick tock…the mouse went up the clock
Siobhan's POV
The next morning I woken up in Gale's arms wrapped around me. Shade covered our faces from some sort of makeshift tent made out of grass. There was also some woven bowls, and mats around us, assuming Finnick kept himself busy during the dark hours. Slowly I remove Gale's arms to sit up and see Finnick a few feet away cracking some shellfish he collected momentarily.
"They're better fresh," he said, removing the meat from the shell and eat it raw. His eyes were somewhat puffy and the bruising under his eyes indicated he hasn't slept much or not at all. But I don't announce it, He loss somebody important to him, Mags.
Sitting up I notice my skin covered in scabs, pealing skin, and blisters. Some of my fingernails were caked in blood, probably from scratching unconsciously. Though not enough to leave damage let alone other infection after the toxic poison in the mist.
"You know, if you scratch you'll bring on infection," Finnick said.
I snorted before wiping the blood on the remains of my shirt. A burning pain crawls up my skin making it impossible not to scratch, but I maintain the desire. Instead I got up and headed towards the beach facing the sky. "Yo Haymitch, if you're not drunk, mind sending some medicine for our skin or do you want Mark to confiscate your private collection of-"
Instantly a parachute comes down. I caught the silver package opening the canister to find a tube with a note attach saying "Bitch-H." I smirked doing a salute to the sky and return to camp, sitting now next to Finnick. I screw the cap off the tube to smell an awful scent of medicine while the ointment color is dark neutral shade. I gaged before apply the medicine onto my hands and started treating my right leg. A sigh of relief escapes my lips for the ointment eradicated the itch. Although it stained my skin to a disgusting greenish-grey, but who cares. After tending my leg I got some more then tossed the tube to Finnick, who stared at me cautiously.
"But it's like you're decomposing," Finnick stated then started applying the ointment on.
"Awe Finnick, do you miss looking pretty for the first time?" I teased.
"It must be. The sensation's completely new. How have you managed it all these years?" he asked.
"Simply avoid any reflecting surface," I answered. "Then you'll forget about it."
"Not if I keep looking at you," he said.
I chuckled sticking my tongue out at him before going back to tending my skin. We slathered ourselves from head to toe, helping each other out in getting our backs. Once done, I was going to wake Gale when Finnick grabbed my hand.
"No, wait," Finnick said. "Let's do it together. Put our faces right in front of his."
I smirked, liking Finnick more by the second. After what happen the past twenty-four hours needs a laugh. So with a nod, we sat on either side of Gale, leaning over until our faces hover over his face. "Gale. Gale, wake up," I said softly shaking his shoulder.
Gale stirred for a moment then opened his eyes. Instantly he gave a somewhat yell stumbling back away from Finnick and I as we laugh falling back into the sand. Gale stared at us with a confused expression trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Every time Finnick and I regain some control to answer, we just spit out in a fit of laughter. God, Finnick is an excellent prankster indeed. Suddenly another parachute came falling down with a loaf of bread. Gale caught it, reading the note attached to the gift although hands it to Finnick. Finnick examined the crust on the bread to be green. For a second I thought it was mold, until remember Peeta bread game so it was District 4 bread. He held the bread possessively until saying, "This will go well with the shellfish."
As Finnick cleaned the meat of the shellfish, I apply ointment to Gale skin. Afterwards we gather around into a district 4 meals. After the meal, I open my medallion to check the time. Sadly the clock was set on the Capitol and not of the arena. So analyzing the sun position, I estimated to be ten O'clock. Nearly twenty-four hours, with eleven tributes dead and thirteen of us still alive.
"Holly shit," Gale said facing towards the cornucopia.
"Oh my god," I gasped.
A gigantic wave crests high from the hills, toppling over the trees and tumbling forward. It struck the existing seawater with unknown force that bubble foamed heading to our direction. Finnick suggested we leave, but something happens. A known barrier at the Cornucopia blocked the wave. As if it had its own force field, like the mist was blocked off last night. Quickly we gather our things before the surf bubbles come along drenching our knees. The next thing we heard is cannon fire. A hovercraft appears over on the other side of the Cornucopia to the jungle taking a body.
"What just happened?" I asked.
"Tsunami," Finnick muttered.
"One strange tsunami," Gale added.
We waited for the water to settle down to return to our meal when I spotted something coming out of the jungle. Three people come out; all cover in blood as one was yelling at the top of her lung before shoving the other two in the water. The two came out to save the objects they carried however the third stumble more tripping over her legs. I took a closer look to see who it was and gasped. It's the others.
"Johanna!" Finnick calls out running toward them.
"Finnick!" Johanna exclaimed.
Gale and I quickly run after Finnick to join Johanna and her companions. The two were the tributes of District 3 Beetee and Wiress. Beetee sat on the ground trying to clean up some round up coil while Wiress stumble around mumbling a nursery rhyme if not adding "Tick, Tock" When we reached them Johanna and Finnick were talking fast.
"We thought it was rain, you know, because of the lighting, and we were all so thirsty. But when it started coming down, it turned out to be blood. Thick, hot blood. You couldn't see, you couldn't speak without getting a mouthful. We just staggered around, trying to get out of it. That's when Blight hit the force field." Johanna said.
"I'm sorry, Johanna," Finnick apologized. Oh no, Blight was Johanna District partner and friend. From what I recall during the week he was a fun guy to talk to when he showed up for training.
"Yeah, well, he wasn't much, but he was from home." She said taking a deep breath then nudge Beetee with her foot. "And he left me alone with these two. He got a knife in the back of the Cornucopia. And her—"
Wiress was at fetal position rocking back and forth mumbling, "Hickory, dickory, dock,
the mouse ran up the clock…"
Johanna exaggerated lifting her arms in the air with a yell. Next she walked up to her and shoves Wiress into the sand yelling at her to shut up. Gale didn't approve of this as he walked up and yank Johanna back telling her to leave Wiress alone and to shut up. In result Johanna slapped him hard in the face. He stumbles back a bit rubbing his cheek.
"Who do you think got them out of the fucking jungle for you? You-"Johanna being interrupted but Finnick wrapping his arms around her waist and dragging her to the water, repeated dunking her while she screamed and cursed to a point the Gamemakers might break their finger to cover the profanity. I don't who I should feel sorry, Johanna or the viewers.
Gale stood there confused, "What does she mean she got them for me?"
"Don't know, you did say you wanted to team up with them." I said.
"Guess so," he said then sighed.
I nodded then went to check on Beetee who appeared fine just minor scratches. Gale offered to help him out while I check on Wiress. When I sat in front of her, she was still singing the nursery rhyme. I cradle her cheek causing her to flinch but then relaxed. I told her softly that I'm gonna help her get clean up. She nodded as I took her by the hand and lead her to the water to rinse off the blood off her uniform. Throughout the cleaning process she continue the song like there was no tomorrow. Whatever happened in the bloody rainforest scared to the point she is in shock. Clearly noticed in her dilated eyes, pale skin, and shaken body. Sometimes we would sing the song together, a way to earn her trust. Though she ended up pushing me pointing at my medallion adding "Tick tock, tick tock."
"Tick tock," I assured getting up.
By the time Wiress was clean, a clean Johanna and amused Finnick return the makeshift camp Gale assemble. For the first hour Johanna, Beetee, and Wiress were consuming water, food, and whatever is needed to get them back in order. Gale seemed displease with Johanna as if she was the enemy. Technically everyone is the enemy here. But right now we are desperate people experiencing something horrid to a point it pushed us to our limits, both physical and mental. Finnick explained our side of the story of the fog, Mags, and monkeys.
Hearing what has happened to Mags Johanna glared at Gale. "How'd you lose Mags?"
"Look, things got complicated in the fog. Odair had Siobhan... I had Mags but then we fell dislocating my shoulder. We couldn't take both of them. So she kissed Odair and ran into the mist."
"She was Finnick's mentor, half his family." She said accusingly. Gale was going to say something but didn't. The look he held said guilt and he has enough of guilt building on his shoulders. He then looked at Beetee and Wiress. Wiress continuing her mumbling and Beetee cleaning his coil wire. Johanna saw this, "I got them for you. Haymitch said if we were to be allies I had to bring them to you. That's what you told him, right?"
Gale was going to object but I cover his mouth with my hand and said. "Thank you."
The action made Johanna laughed before declaring she was going to sleep and better not have any of us slit her throat. We all simply lay where we are figuring the next plan. Beetee, Finnick, and Johanna were asleep. Gale took watch duty while I tried to calm Wiress. She was starting to become a hazard for the team with her constantly moving around and saying that song to a point it got on everybody's nerves.
When the sun reaches the highest peak assuming it was noon the strangest thing happened. In broad day light the clouds hover over head to the other side of the arena. Suddenly an enormous flash of lighting struck the tallest tree several times. Remembering last night in the lighting sticking the same tree, either someone reached the area or the Gamemakers were up to something. As usual the twelve loud noises of a bell being struck.
I sighed looking at Wiress who sat in front of me singing:
"Hickory dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down."
Again she'll add "Tick, tock." Then she pointed at my medallion. I removed the medallion and showed her what was inside the locket. She held it delicately tracing her thumb over Uncle Mark then at the Hawthorn family. But then she stops at the miniature clock. She gasped saying "Tick, tock," over and over again close to hysteria. I couldn't control her that Gale snapped out of train of thought coming over.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"I don't know," I said. "She started acting like this after seeing the watch in the medallion."
Gale arched his brow looking at Wiress who was swinging the medallion. She gestured her finger to each individual number then point it at a specific area of the area. I didn't quite understand what she meant, yet Gale did. His eyes wide, giving a huge relief breathes.
"Tick tock, this arena is a clock." Gale praised. "Wiress, you're a genius!"
.o0o.
Gales POV
Wiress smiled brightly, nodding her head while blushed dusted her cheek. Now it finally makes sense. She wasn't saying the words for nothing or the nursery rhyme. She was indicating the arena was organized as a clock. It completely explains why the arena is rounded and everything else. The Gamemakers were tormenting us through every single hour. Taking hold of the medallion I stare at the watch and turn at each direction. If twelve is lighting then…I turn to one as the rustic color of clouds hover over preparing for the blood rain. Two would be the fog where Odair, Mags, Siobhan, and I ran turning to the direction at three where the mutation attacked us. Turning the opposite direction to estimate where ten was would be the giant wave but the others were blank for now.
I waked everybody up explaining the plan and what Wiress has been telling at us all this time. Everyone paused thinking about it. All of this got Siobhan, Odair, and Beetee except for Johanna. She hardly believed any of this and made some stupid remark about Wiress going crazy. I just have about had it with her and her attitude to a point I just want to kill right here and now. However she has Odair who's good with that damn trident. Both of them close as friends, while I can manage to get Beetee and Wiress. Siobhan seemed a bit hesitant.
"Look, let's go to the cornucopia and see if the theory works." I suggested. "I mean look."
I wave my hand out at the cornucopia. The golden horn center of the arena and twelve launch pads surrounding it. One stone strip is longer reaching the sand while the other is shorter. It's practically a clock itself.
"He got a point," Beetee said, tinkering the wires.
"What the hell is it with you and those wires? You were running up to the Cornucopia to get it. I only know what kind of weapon it's supposed to be. I guess you pull off a piece and use it as a garrote or something. But really, can you imagine Beetee garroting somebody?" Johanna said.
"I won my Game with wires. By setting an electrical trap." Beetee reminded her.
Siobhan shuddered from mental thought. I couldn't agree more after watching the footage and the careers bleeding from their eyes, ears, mouths, and other areas. If hacking a person isn't anything, just watching them wiggle to a point they are choking on their own fluids.
"Why are these wires so special?" Siobhan asked Beetee.
He paused calculating his explanation before answering in a low voice, "Because I invented it."
"Great," Johanna said praised sarcastically.
Now thinking about it all these weapons are something we had in our games. Johanna had her axes, Odair with his spears, Beetee with his wire, and mine with the bow and arrow. I bet the Careers have their favorable weapons. But there are these new things added to the Cornucopia. For example Siobhan crossbow or that trident Odair possesses. Any serious weapon is something the Sponsors would send not be arrange here.
So collecting our supplies we headed to the nearest stone strip, cautiously approaching the cornucopia in case of Careers. Doubt they would attack at this number, but everyone is different. The area was cleared, only the horn and weapons remain. Odair, Beetee, and I examine the theory while Siobhan and Johanna kept watch. Wiress on the other hand sat down curled in fetal position singing her song.
"Hickory Dickory Dock,
The bird looked at the clock,
The clock struck two,
Away she flew,
Hickory Dickory Dock..."
Anyway, by the two o'clock section the mist started to form and seep out of the jungle. Beetee commented on this and complimented Wiress however she was lost in her song. So all of us kept watch and searched for any useful weapons or possible foods if not canisters to hold water. Beetee was creating a map on the sand showing the positions of the traps. We deliberated on what resigns in the other side of the clock.
"Hickory Dickory Dock,
The dog barked at the clock,
The clock struck three,
Fiddle-de-dee-"
That is until Siobhan stopped.
"What is it, Flame girl?" Johann asked
"It's quiet," she said. "Our canary stopped singing."
Shit, I thought turning around loading an arrow and turned to see Gloss finished slicing Wiress throat. I fired shooting Gloss in his neck. When he felled Cashmere jumped out with a sword. Before I had time to reload Johanna pushed me aside and slammed her ax into Careers chest. Odair took Brutus knocking the spear out of his hand while Siobhan struggle to hold Enobaria away from her and her teeth. Fortunately Beetee struck the Teethy woman with a spear. Brutus and Enobaria disengage from their battle running behind the Cornucopia. I was going to go after the Tributes from District 2 when something happened.
Suddenly a strange noise came out of nowhere almost like an alarm. The ground jerked under us as the stone strips rose forcing the Cornucopia to spin. Everything was happening so fast that anything turns into a blur. The salt water, sand, debris, and such were in our faces impossible to see the jungle. I held desperately to a rock while opening my eyes to see who was there. I saw Odair holding onto Beetee in the horn, Siobhan was across from me holding on tight to a rock while neck to me was Johanna. Unable to keep my eyes open I closed them, but then my hands started slipping. I open my eyes to regain my grip except the momentum forced me out to collide into a stone strip and underwater. I held my breath diving deep in the water to wait for the spinning to stop.
Once it did, I resurface to try and find everybody. There were three large cannon fires indicating three tributes officially dead. The last two Careers floated in the water twenty yards away though didn't bother coming back to the Cornucopia. The others were offing, throwing up, or collecting what weapons remain. Beetee was hovering of Siobhan examining her legs. With panic I ran over to see what is wrong but only to find Beetee taking a small awl and was tightening the loose screws in the prosthetic leg. I sighed in relief knowing she didn't break her leg or something.
"I'm afraid the salt water might damage the inner wiring inside the prosthetic." Beetee announced.
"But it can still bend?" Siobhan asked.
"Yes my dear, it can still bend." He assured then paused seeing something. "Might want to take a peek at it later."
"Let's get off this stinking island," Johanna said.
We gather our things and got off the Cornucopia to land to figure out what is going on. Everything seems a bit different. The tail to the horn no longer pointed at twelve O'clock. Odair believed they spun the jungle and the time of the sun rays were off. A while ago it was two o'clock in the afternoon but the sun has change back to center noon. Siobhan took her medallion out to examine the watch to remember the location. She turns her head a few times as if she remembers pinpoints.
"…Knowing the time doesn't mean you necessarily know where four is on the clock. You might have a general idea of the direction. Unless you consider that they may have shifted the outer ring of the jungle as well," Beetee said.
Siobhan took a deep breath and examine the sky facing the opposite direction where the clock system was. She seemed deep in thought and then eyes widen. She points her finger at the tallest tree and muttered, "Lighting, blood, mist, monkey…." She paused then said. "Twelve over there." Pointing at the tallest tree.
"And how do you know?" Johanna asked."
"The tallest tree consucts the lightning," Siobhan explans. "The trees over at 1-2 the branches are stained as in the shading is off. By the wax on the leaves... the blood is piling up. As for 2-3 see the branches are dying. The plants aren't containing to the chemicals to the mist. So 3-4 is the monkeys. Seeing that they haven't showed must mean they got spook or waiting."
That's my girl, I thought with a proud smirk.
Before the others could take in the surroundings there was a high-pitch scream. I tensed knowing that time of scream from anywhere. The scream when a little girl woken up from a nightmare. A girl scared by a wild animal. And that scream was Posey.
"BIG BROTHER!" Posey screamed. "GALE-Y!"
Another voice enter calling out for Finnick. Odair stiffened as well hearing the pleading for him. Before Johanna and Siobhan could stop us, we started running to the source trying to find those screaming for help. My overly protective big brother instincts took over consuming my veins to save my baby sister. All I could think about was Posey.
Little did I know I was heading to the 4-5 districts?
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I know…It has been forever since the last time I posted a chapter for this story. Truth be told, I lost interest and was working on my other stories. Now I'm back and saw the Catching Fire Movie. So I'm trying to mix things up like I did in the first story.
Any suggestion and advice are appreciated.
Thanks for reading and please leave a review.
Reviews makes a new chapter comes faster.