Phoenix Rise
Chapter 21: Between family or sacrifice?
Gale's POV
"Posy!" I yelled calling out her name. In response I hear another agonizing scream. My thoughts weren't cohesive. All I could think about is my baby sister. She's only four, she can't be here. She can't be part of this blasted Game. "Posy!"
As I ran I could feel the vines cutting my limbs, roots grabbing my feet and the insects colliding into my face. I am getting closer to her. Wanting to find my baby sister sitting on a log crying or something...any but injured. Hoping to whatever god is up there to keep her safe. Even if I have to die, I would never let those I love parish. Her screams were much closer about several meters away were a clearing was.
"Posy!" I exclaimed reaching a clearing.
Yet she wasn't there. She wasn't here but I can still hear her screaming above me. I look up to see if she was dangling up in the trees, except she wasn't there. Instead I saw a black bird flapping about screaming both mine and Odair's names. It screamed in two different voices. One Posy and another older woman's voice. I paused in confusion till remembering in school what these creatures were and shot it down with an arrow.
"Fucking Jabberjays!" I muttered.
I've never seen one before. They went extinct during the Dark Days after the rebels found out the Capitol were spying on them. A mutation in resemblance of a bird that could mimic a person voice like a parrot. Only copy the voice accurate than a puppet. Guess they would make a perfect mutt for this game to drive us tributes insane. I can't believe I fell for it.
Odair stumbled in after I shot down the Jabberjay. "Annie!"
"She's not here; it was this mimicking their voices." I told him kicking the dead bird after collecting the arrow.
"You okay?" he asked.
I nodded though deep down I wasn't. For a moment I felt absolute fear. The fear of my baby sister actually in danger or worse. The images of her hurt, bleeding, eaten by a mutt or worse a career killing her. Or worse, the Gamemakers have her in some white room strap in a chair or bed making her scream and cry. I combed my fingers through my hair. Get a grip, Gale. I thought. If the Gamemakers build this arena to manipulate our minds to breaking point. Well give them applause for cracking mine.
Suddenly there was flapping as black birds landed on top of the trees. For a second I thought they were crows until they open their beaks. The next voice was another familiar cry, Rory. I close my eyes trying to ignore the Jabberjays thinking my family is at District 12 watching me being torture here. Odair flinched when he hears the voice belonging to Annie. He advises we get out of here. So we did walking away. However the Jabberjays had another idea.
The Jabberjays started screaming out the voices of everybody I love and care for. Katniss voice howling full of pain that I can't help struggling. Odair kept telling me it's not really, but it sounded so exact that my heart anguished. All I hear is Katniss, Posy, Rory, mom, Vick, Prim, Mark, and my friends. It was completely unbearable that I didn't notice Odair dragging me out until something stabbed him. He grabbed his shoulder smacking a Jabberjay off him. Suddenly the black birds took off from the trees and flew towards us. Cursing we both ran trying to escape from these insane birds.
I caught sight of Siobhan and Johanna standing by the tree line acting like mines. They were acting insane banging at the air in front of them mouthing at us to do something. When I got closer to them I was slammed back falling to my back as if I ran into a wall. A wall, shit. As I stood up to find an invisible force field that didn't inflict pain. Though every time I touch it my arms shoot back. Odair came next smacking into it landing face first causing a nose bleed. Siobhan and Johanna continue their silence yells at us trying to tell us something. But all I could hear were the screams.
I knelt down to fetal position covering my ears and shielding myself from the Jabberjays. Sometimes looking up to Siobhan who knelt down beside the barrier as if trying to get close to me. Yet for the next hour from four to five, I and Odair are being torture.
.o0o.
A hand rubbed my back as the medallion lullaby played softly. The hour came and went as the Jabberjays were quiet or gone. The owner of those hands wrapped their arms around me whispering reassuring words. I look up to see Siobhan holding me telling me it was all right.
"Did you hear?" I whispered.
Siobhan nodded, "I heard Posy, but it wasn't her but a Jabberjay. Johanna and I ran after you but…"
"How?" I asked.
"They recorded their voices probably." She guessed. "It was the same trick they did to us last year. Taking a physical trait and putting it in the mutts. They must have taken Posy voice during the interview and manipulate and distorted it to their demised. Made it sound like whatever the person says."
"How do you know?" I asked still shaken.
"Gale, Posy is practically Panem's little sweet heart." She reminded me. "We're close to the final eight…so what happens next?"
I paused thinking seven must die then it hit me. The final eight are popularly known in the games, the funding to the families double and the family and friends get interview back home. I sighed, "The family and friend interviews."
"Correct," she said. "They can't kill them, so Posy is alive. Probably the first one next to Hazelleyou're your brothers, cousin Katniss and Prim, Bristel and Thom, Mark and Madge. All of this was a trick. We're the ones in the Games. Not them. Remember they just took samples of their voices, right Beetee?"
"Yes," Beetee said out of nowhere. "It's not that difficult. Our children learn a similar technique in school."
"Oh course, Siobhan's right. The whole country adores Gale's little sister. If they really killed her like this, they'd probably have an uprising on their hands," Johanna said flatly. "Don't want that, do they?" as she throws her head back and shouted. "Whole country in rebellion? Wouldn't want anything like that!"
Is she crazy? I asked myself dumbfounded. No one has ever said that in the Games. Instantly they would start cutting Johanna out and editing or going to commercial. There goes her sponsors and I got to admit she has the balls to say that than I can. She announced she was getting water grabbing the spile from Beetee. I told her to not go in there but she scoffed.
"They can't hurt me. I'm not like the rest of you. There's no one left I love," Johanna said getting water. A moment later she came back with a shell of water. I take it while a silent nod of thanks knowing she despises my voice. She shrugged collecting more water for Odair. Odair took his drink as Johanna sat down next to him giving a hug while whispering something in his ear. He seemed depressed saying something to her with watery eyes.
"Who's Annie?" I asked Siobhan.
"Probably Annie Cresta," she answered.
"The girl Mags volunteers for?" I asked.
"Yeah, she won the seventieth Hunger Games." She replied. I paused not remembering that Game. Then again, it was the summer after my father died, Vick busy in the mines, and I feeding my family from starvations. Siobhan continued, "It was the unexplained earthquake year. Annie went mad after seeing her district partner get beheaded when the Careers were debating on rations. She manages to escape and hide, except the earthquake destroy the dam and flooded the arena. Being from district four gave her the advantage to win by swimming."
And she never got better…mentally. I thought. Annie is who Odair loves. Not some wannabe capitol woman. No he loves the mad girl back home.
A cannon boomed bringing all of us to attention heading to the beach. At the supposed six-to-seven-o'clock section a hover crafter collected pieces of a body. Whatever happens over there is one area I don't want to do. Seeing that mutilation can be cause by some animal.
Siobhan draws a map on a leaf starting what we already know then added the new addition. From three-to-four o'clock she wrote JJ for Jabberjays while in the four-to-five section she wrote simply beast in where the recent tribute was ripped to pieces. So right now we know seven hours are, but the rest is still unknown. I sighed needing to rest unable to shake off the Jabberjays out of my head.
.o0o.
Siobhan's POV
Throughout the rest of the day was calm. The Gamemakers had five-maybe six deaths in one day so it's right they gave us a break today. Finnick weaved some water baskets and nets for fishing. Gale took a swim to clean himself off and used the ointment to treat his skin. Johanna cleaned the fishes that were caught while Beetee examined my prosthetic leg. Beetee used the awl and some other tools in the cornucopia to adjust the wiring and screws in my leg. The main adjective is to disconnect the wiring since it started to spark every now and then. It's strange how this alliance was made up and soon be destroyed once District 2 tributes are dead.
Thinking about it, Johanna and Finnick would most likely team up and kill the rest of us while Beetee would be a simple kill. Deep down I hated the idea of killing these people. A career yes, but everybody here doesn't deserve to be here again. Beetee got the rest of the wiring out and stopped to examine my knee. There was a scar above my knee I got long ago. It looks more like a burn and that I do not remember. During remake last year the doctors say the burn was so deep it couldn't possibly be removed with their technology. The strange thing about the burn was the shape. It looked like a cross, Mark and my dad Liam told me I got this burn for running into hot wires that were near the fire place. Dad always said it look more like a sword. Although when he says it he holds a bit of guilt, including he and Mark as the same mark though dad had his on his arm and Mark on his shoulder. When Gale saw it, I told him the accident and he calls me a klutz.
"What happen here?" Beetee asked.
"Just an old scar," I told him.
Beetee gave me a curious look, "If you don't mind me asking…but where did your family come from?"
"District 12," I answered.
"Yes, but I just find you interesting since your eyes don't say you're from Twelve." He pointed out.
I sighed acting like it was nothing but I sense the smart man knew something. No one other than my family, Gale, and Katniss knows my great grandfather was originally from the Capitol. I have to keep it a secret even though I don't know the full answer on heritage. Even reading his journals he never wrote his name other than his initials.
"My ancestors must have switch districts during the war," I replied ending conversation.
Beetee let it go as he went to check on his wires the UN-the time. I sat there staring at the horizon lost in thought. A lot of people are dead, especially on the second day: Mags, Wiress, Cashmere, Gloss, and the woman from District 5. Now those who remain are Gale and I, those from District2, Beetee, Finnick, Johanna…and Chaff. In fact there haven't been any sightings of Chaff since the bloodbath. The thought reminded me of Thresh how he made it this far…and now he would die too.
I lost track of time until the giant wave flooded out at ten-to-eleven-o'clock. As time goes by a chorus of insects bellow out in the night air. The temperature warm but not cold to balance the humid day. Looking around Seeing Johanna on her feet wondering if she ever had enough sleep these past fourty-fifty hours. Gale offer to keep watch and I volunteer to join. The others debated on this but comply. Johanna and Beetee slept well, though Finnick grew restless whispering Annie's name.
Gale and I sat in the on the damp sand back to each other looking the opposite directions. We hardly spoke on guard watch. In fact we hardly spoke since this afternoon after the Jabberjays. In fact we never had a good conversation since entering the arena. He's probably still haunted but the Jabberjays. Turning around I wrap my arms around him. Or it's something else. When the announcement of the Quarter Quells came, I ran up to Haymitch to make sure no matter what, if Gale gets reap to save him. Knowing Gale, he would probably told Haymitch to do anything to save me. No matter what he refused the concept that he has so much to live for than I. He has his family, friends, and Katniss while I only have a cousin and uncle. He tensed at first but sighed placing a hand over mine.
"Hey," he murmured.
"Hey," I replied whispering in his ear.
"What's wrong?"
"How long are we going to pretend what the other one is thinking?" I asked softly. He stiffens knowing the cat is out of the bag. After a few minutes he squeezed my hand trying course me but I didn't work. "I don't know what kinda deal you made, but he also made a promise to me. So I can only assume Haymitch lied to one of us."
"Siobhan," he breathed, turning around o face me. "Why now?"
"Because I don't want you to forget how different our circumstances are. Your scale is heavier than mine on what waits in District 12." I told him taking the medallion off and opening it. The melody played along with the clock ticking ever slowly. When turning the watch his eyes widen in seeing the small family portrait of his family on one side while the other held Marks image. Yet the laughing Posey, a smiling Hazelle, and Vick and Rory standing straight acting tough. "Your family needs you, Gale."
His mother, baby sister, older brother, and younger one. Katniss would need her hunting buddy and so will our friends, Thom, Bristel, Madge, and more. I'm giving up everything so Gale could continue sponsoring his family. If I die, he'll mourn before the Capitol starts forcing him, but he'll still be alive. He watched me waiting to disagree, bringing up the baby but he doesn't. Even if I was pregnant I would had miscarriage by now from the amount of stress and physical trauma. But I'm telling him the truth. It's time to let go.
"No, I'm not gonna abandon you." He said, no selfish tone, instead he held need. "I need you."
"Gale," Before I could add anything else he kisses me.
With a firm but gentle push I am lying on my back with Gale on top mustering how much he loved me through the kiss. I wrapped my arms around him; one hand on his shoulder whiles the back of his neck. His body contracting and expanding. He is strong, unstoppable, intelligent, and serious. All the things that are his flaws and advantages. He pulls back touching my face, covering my cheeks with his finger traced down my neck till wrapping around my hip. Our mouths move, and he tasted like the ocean and jungle. I drag my hands to the small of his neck the need to be reminded he loves me.
Nothing can interrupt us now. Even if the Capitol was watching we didn't care. Gales hand slide under what remains of my tank top cupping my cover breast. A small moan escape my lips for it felt good. Just to feel Gale around me felt right as his lips went along my neck, murmuring that he cares and loves me. I can't remember the last time we said 'I love you' truly, not an act or even saying it at all.
Unfortunately the arena's clock disrupt the moment at the midnight hour as light cracked the sky. It had woken Finnick up although we didn't notice until hearing his sharp cry then coming out of the makeshift tent. Gale and I separated fast quickly recovering ourselves.
"I can't sleep anymore," Finnick said." One of you should rest." Except he notice our state all wrapped around each other. A smirk crest his lips, "Or both of you. I can watch alone."
Too embarrassed to be caught we both nodded returning to the tent fluster written everywhere. We lay facing the forest where a suppose camera might be. Gale lay behind me wrapping his arms around my waist bringing us closer. When he whispers loud enough that I would be a great mother…I just knew he wanted me alive out of the arena. I sighed closing my eyes trying to imagine the idea. If this wasn't the Quell theme would Gale and I be married, few years later having kids?
Suddenly my eyes widen realizing something. The night before the game…Gale and I had unprotected sex.
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I know it's been forever but I'm trying. Also need motivation. Feeling like nobody is reading the story and debating if I finished the story if I should continue with the final book of Mockingjay. Please guys, review to know if you want Gale x Siobhan!
Thanks for reading and please leave a review