Phoenix Rise

Chapter 26: Before the storm

Gale's POV

Siobhan has been acting strange this morning. I tried to ask her what is wrong but she assures me it was just a nightmare that shaken her. I wonder if it was bout last night, how I refused her martyr sacrifice for me to go home. Also Odair surprising us through our make out- okay more like intimate moment. If he or the Gamemakers didn't interrupt us we might have had sex. But fortunately the disruption was a good ice breaker.

I watched her sitting by the water deep in thought while testing the crossbow. She was tensed though it was impossible to notice, but the way she sat down cross leg meant something. When she is calm she sits on her knees, but cross leg means tense or uncomfortable. It might be how the fact that when we kill Brutus and Enobaria the alliance is over. How the situation will just be exact to Rue. I haven't thought about our tree friends for so long, that I didn't consider how Siobhan is at this very moment. All I've been focus is on is Odair and Johanna, if not Beetee helping us. How they are trying to protect us…protect Siobhan. Could they being helping or risking their lives for a pregnant woman? But there is something Siobhan has that many of us don't. She has a voice and understanding to the world around us. Seeing grey instead of black and white as most put it.

I sit next to Siobhan handing her some water to drink. I looked at her watching her body stiffen then calm. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she answered.

I sighed, "It's almost down to eight. We should take off as soon as possible."

Siobhan nods considering my proposition, but she said, "What about Enobaria and Brutus? Beetee is planning something …some kinda trap for them?"

I sighed combing my hand through my hair. She got a point. Beetee was practically the brains of this group. After this trap we would leave the others as soon as District 2's tributes are gone. Though what bother me is that Johanna brought Beetee to me. The only people who knew I wanted Beetee on my team was Siobhan and Haymitch. Siobhan wouldn't rad me out, even though she prefers Johanna and Odair along with their partners. Also Odair wearing Haymitch's golden bracelet. Something is not right? I thought. Why are they helping us? This is a game of survival to the fittest and the Hunger Games most talented lethal killers and master mind is here. I sighed, my objective is to make Siobhan victor. I accepted the consequences. Only her survival counts…no one else matters.

So sinking my feet in the sand then stop feeling something smooth. Digging with my foot in further and used my toes to shovel it out revealing a small disk. I grabbed it to examine it further, a sand dollar. It was beige, smooth, and a flower or sea star center. "Hey look at this." Handing the sand dollar to Siobhan.

She awe at the sand dollar tracing her fingers on it. "It's beautiful."

I shrugged, "You think?"

"Well it's no pearl," she said. "But it's not every day you find something like this."

"You keep it," I said, leaning over kissing her gently on the lips then pull back.

"Thanks," she mumbles as blush dusted her cheeks going down her neck.

I chuckled at how flustered Siobhan could be at times when it comes to a gentle gestured. Full on and you might get punched in the face.

Later Beetee called us over, and all this time fiddling with the coil wire, he has come up with a plan. "I think we'll all agree our next job is to kill Brutus and Enobaria." He announced mildly. "I doubt they'll attack us openly again, now that they're so outnumber. We could track them down, I suppose, but it's dangerous, exhausting work."

"Have they figured out the clock?" Siobhan asked.

"If they haven't, they'll figure it out soon enough. Perhaps not as specially as we have. But they must know that at least some of the zones are wired for attacks and that they're reoccurring in a circular fashion. Also, the fact that our last fight was cut off by Gamemaker intervention will not have gone unnoticed by them. We know it was an attempt to disorient us, but they must be asking themselves why it was done." Beetee explained.

"Knowing them, they would think to keep the game longer." Johanna muttered.

"It has been three. Maybe four days. The audience wouldn't approve for a short game so soon." I added. The last Hunger Games lasted for about eighteen days.

"Still, this would lead them to realization that the arena's a clock." Beetee said. "So I think our best bet will be setting our own trap."

Everybody nodded, Siobhan draw a circle in the sand symbolizing the arena as Beetee continue explaining our situation. If Brutus and Enobaria would figure us out on surviving the jungle, how do we know the jungle and where is it safe. How Beetee speaks held no authority or patronizing tone in it. It sort of reminded me of a teacher who eases a nervous child. So far the beach was the first option the careers would go, except we are here claiming the safest place in the arena.

Thinking about how I would survive in the forest in this situation, "I would hide at the edge of the for-jungle close to safety and spy on us,"

"Also to eat." Odair added. "The jungle full of strange creatures and plant. But by watching us, I know the seafood is safe."

Beetee smiled at us approve of his expectation. "Yes, good, you do see. Now here's what I purpose: a twelve o'clock strike. What happens exactly at noon and at midnight?"

"The lightning tree," Siobhan answered.

"Correct. I suggest that after the bolt hits at noon, but before it hits at midnight, we run the wire from that tree all the way down into the salt water, which is, of course, highly conductive. When the bolt strikes, the electricity will travel down the wire and into not only the water but also the surrounding beach, which will still be damp from the ten o'clock wave. Anyone is contact with those surfaces at the moment will be electrocuted." Beetee said.

There was a long pregnant pause as we all comprehend the scientist plan. It fascinated me on the plan. I've set snares all around the forest gathering small animals to eat. But the wire Beetee protectively hold is no snare. Again Beetee is a genius. If we weren't in the hunger games I would be a serious fan and beg to be his assistant. All of us were trained to collect fish, lumber, and coal.

"Can lighting run through that wire?" Siobhan asked not believing as she stares at the coil.

"Oh, it will. But not until the current has passed through it. It will act something like a fuse, in fact. Except the electricity will travel along with it."

"How do you know?" Johanna asked.

"Because I invented it," Beetee answered, slightly surprise. "It's not actually wire in the usual sense. Now is neither the lightning natural lightning nor the tree a real tree. You know threes better than any of us, Johanna. It would be destroyed by now, wouldn't it?"

"Yes," she grumbles.

"Don't worry about the wire – it will do just what I say." Beetee assured.

"And where will we be when this happen?" Odair asked.

"Far enough up in the jungle to be safe," Beetee replied.

We continue to talk about this. If this trap works, the Careers will think they are safe to go into the beach to get food. At twelve o'clock when the lightning strikes they would be electrocuted and dead. But the seafood would be excluded leaving nothing but sponsor food. Even if we found edible foods, it isn't enough to satisfy or full. Last game in the forest we manage to survive because we live in the forest. But this jungle is entirely different. Even Odair hardly knows what tropical plant is edible.

Let's hope we could survive this.

.o0o.

Siobhan's POV

I truly felt disturb on the concept of electrocuting people. I watch Beetee's Game and felt disgusted in how those Careers drop to the ground, body shaking as bodily fluids erupted from any physical holes. Now learning something new each day, adding water makes conducting electricity intense. It was hard to comprehend this and the possibility that I might actually be pregnant. I don't know if I am or not for it's early to tell.

Everybody agree to the plan and I simply nodded. Although Finnick and Johanna were hesitant on the plan, that after all this is over they would team up and try to kill the rest of us. Beetee advice we should head to the lightning tree before he rigs it. Estimating the time by the sun, it closes to nine o'clock in the morning. So we gather our things and walk over to the destination of the tree. Johanna took the lead, for it was straight ahead along with her full strength.

Through the walk, the jungle was dense, muggy, and the air weighs on me to suffocation. The heat became unbearable, and the water supply unable to quench in the trees the farther we go. I wish Haymitch sends us some water. There's hardly been food other than fish, nuts, and a mutt rat …can't recall if bread was sent or not. Gale would wrap his arm around my shoulder lending support as the trail got steep when my prosthetic leg get stuff.

By a single gestured from him of comfort lend made me feel difficult to possibility of being pregnant. Sometimes I wonder if my menstrual cycle will start soon to conform this. But with all the stress, violence, and chaos I can't tell. If I am pregnant then the whole plan to keep Gale alive is demolished. What a coincident Gale would tell Panem I am pregnant and now here's the possibility. From a simple gestured of comfort of the concept of death the next day turn into an emotional nightmare.

"Gale can hear the force field," Finnick explained to Beetee bringing my senses back to reality. Gale had taken the lead while I walk with Johanna who seemed irritated.

"Hear it?" Beetee asked.

"Just the one the Capitol fixed," Gale lied. I knew it was lie since he doesn't sound cocky but neutral. Beetee might notice this with his brains of elementary. Those two have bonded quickly, like a teacher and apprentice. Whatever the scientist says fascinates Gale to a point it's like a boy awing at candy.

"Then by all means," Beetee said, pausing for a moment to wipe the steam off his glasses. "Force fields are nothing to play around with."

"You can say that again," I muttered, which Johanna snickered to.

When we reached the lightning tree the distance was nothing compare to the unmistakable size of the tree. It was tall as the training center. Gale stop looking twenty feet afraid of the tree concentrated. I find countless nuts on the ground and pick a hand full and tossed it. Instantly the nuts roasted and back off.

"Don't pass the lightning tree," I said to the others.

Gale nodded in agreement. We divided in different groups to prepare for the trap. Beetee examined the tree while Finnick guarded him. Johanna collected water, and Gale and I hunted nearby. I got into position with the crossbow aiming at a rat with Gale guarding me. In standing position, aimed, and fired killing the prey. We killed a few more rats before joining the others where Beetee continue evaluating the tree taking measurements. Other times he takes a sliver of bark and throws it against the force field noticing the change of colors on impact. Interesting.

A sound of hissing goes on adjacent from our location. This means it was eleven o'clock. One more ours until the lightning strikes as we hear the water rising and crashing down from the distance.

"Snakes?" I asked.

"Probably," Beetee said.

"Poisonous snakes," Finnick added.

The sound of hissing altered our quiet conversation of lethal creatures. With the Beast, Jabberjays, and monkeys we don't want to deal with slithery creatures that has scales. Beetee advice we take the afternoon off after two hours go by and the lightning tree struck twelve times. We take naps, eat what food is available, and somewhat get to know each other. From what I know Gale doesn't get along with Johanna and Finnick very well. Finnick I can understand since the womanizer is flirting with his girl. Also Johanna simple gets to his nerves. So Gale just simply talks with Beetee lending aid.

I actually enjoy talking with Johanna and Finnick even though they would be the enemy in a few hours after the trap. Finnick for one got me bothered. He acts like he knows something about me, especially when he saved my life in the water during the bloodbath. When whispering Semper fi in my ear was a code word in my family. Hardly anybody got the impression at District 12 except Haymitch. Sure district two…but not somebody from four. Anyway, I get a big brother vibe from him even when he's flirting. Johanna…we somehow get along. Something about her says she was alone, pushing everyone away so they wouldn't get hurt after the hint she gave. The Capitol took her family away just as they did with Haymitch for defiance. Just five years ago she was fifteen when entering the Hunger Games, now she's a trained warrior. Built from the platform from the capitol as their puppet, yet she is unpredictable.

"So how far are you?" Johanna asked.

"I…I don't," I answered looking down.

"C'mon, it's not like you can forget doing it." She inquired.

"Yeah," I started to blush a little.

Johanna saw this and laughs, "So Lord of Flames can't keep his hands off ya. IS he that good?"

"Jo, give her a break." Finnick saved the day…or not. "Still I bet I give her a scream than him."

"I'll take a mutt now," I muttered to escape this embarrassment. I can take naked people but talking about my sex life draws the line. Haymitch and Mark would be laughing at this right now. SO excusing myself I went to check on Gale.

I walked up to him with a reassuring smile though he turns his head looking at me with doubt. Those silver eyes no longer held humor they once held. The Games have changed him that he longer looks like an easy going boy who would hang out in the forest. No, he look exhausted with the weight of the world on his shoulder. As he looks at me I have a feeling my plan with the locket didn't work.

I held the sand dollar next to my locket, as the chain went through the small holes. I would do anything for Gale to survive even if it means he goes through painful heart break. If I die young…I hope it makes it to District 12. Surely Uncle Mark and Madge would give them to him before bury in satin.

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Hey guys, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. So you know the next chapter will be something completely different than the original story plot. Just wait and see.

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