Phoenix Rise
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games…but I do own the books and both DVDs.
Chapter 27: Everything is about to change
Gale's POV
"Minimum charring," Beetee said to the tree. "It's an impressive conductor."
I estimated the time assuming it was nine o'clock at night when the anthem played. The atmosphere was tensed, and the audiences are getting reckless anticipating for the next kill. Beetee held much faith in his trap. All afternoon wrapping the wires around the lightning tree leaving enough for the journey to the water. Odair and I assisted him the best we could while the girls took watch. After wrapping the coil to the trunk and separate branches, Beetee did a double check to make sure it was secure.
"Typically a lightning strike contains five billion joules of energy." He explained. "We don't want to be anywhere in the vicinity when this hits." He then pulled back handing the rest of the coil to me, "You and Johanna, go together now. Take this. Unspool it carefully. Make sure the entire coil is in the water. You understand? Then head to the tree at the 2:00 sector. We'll meet you there."
Wait, I can't separate from Siobhan. That isn't part of our plan. We plan once this trap is set we separate from Beetee, Odair, and Johanna. Now Beetee is separating us. I looked at Siobhan who held the same expression.
"I'm gonna go with them as a spotter." Siobhan said
"No, no, no." Beetee said, walking over to her. "You're staying here to protect me. And the tree. Also that prosthetic leg of yours doesn't have many miles left."
"No, I need to go with him." She said seriously.
"There are two Careers out there. I need two guards." Beetee reminded.
"Finnick is a career," she counters. "He can do it alone just fine."
"Yeah," I started. "Finnick and Johanna can stay with ya while Siobhan and I'll take the coil?"
For the first time since the Reaping Beetee held an irritated, serious look as if on edge to yell. He marched over to me and stared straight into my eyes that were a black as ebony under those black ill fitted glasses. "You all agreed to keep me alive till midnight, correct?"
"It's his plan." Johanna finally intervenes. "We all agreed to it. "
"Is there a problem here?" Odair asked.
"Excellent question." Beetee agreed.
I stared at Beetee taking a deep breath to control the urge, "No. None at all."
Siobhan looked hesitant as she walked over and kissed me. She then took her medallion, removing the sandollar, and wrapped the chain around my neck as the pendent stopped just above my heart, "Be careful."
"I'll be back to get you at midnight." I whispered, wrapping an arm around her to bring close and kiss her forehead.
"All right, let's go!" Johanna called out taking the lead.
"You better," she whispered.
Her green apple eyes told me how she felt, and I saw more to them as love. It panged me to leave her here, but it might be for the better. So secretly tugging on her strap for the crossbow sending a message which she understands. End of discussion, we separated as Johanna and I went down the slope. There was no conversation between us, other than trading the coil now and then maintaining it while the other kept watched. About halfway there through the rocking path, around eleven the hissing begins.
"Come on," Johanna muttered. "I want to put as much distance between me and this beach as possible."
"Can't take a little static?" I asked humorlessly.
"Frying is not how I want to go." She spat.
"Says screaming fuck at the interview, might need to pay for that incident." I chuckled bitterly; suddenly the copper coil tightens with restraint. I looked up noticing how tight the wire was, like the snares I used to do telling me it caught an animal. Johanna stopped asked what is going on. "There's something wrong."
As if the odds we never in our favor, the wire snapped. It spring right at us then down, bunching in a tangle mess around my feet. Shit, I thought looking up. I looked at Johanna then back to where we just came to see if we were being followed. Brutus appeared just around the corner of a bolder.
Before I could load an arrow to the bow, something smashed into my head hard from behind. I adjusted some to stare at who strike thinking it was Enobaria…except it wasn't her but Johanna holding the coil. She dropped the coil and pounced on me, sitting on my chest, pinning my shoulders with her knees as her hands take my hand smashing my head a few times on the rocks. Everything in my vision became blurry trying to fight back. But Johanna used her leg to pin my right arm and grabbed my left.
A stab in my left forearm shot through y system. I try punching her as we fought which caused the knife in her hand to go deeper and everywhere. She dirty knee jab in my groin causing me to groan bighting my lip while she searched for something. The pain was excruciating, slicing through flesh and bumping into bone. If Prim was here she would say stop, you're gonna cut a vein. The she stopped wiping blood all over my face.
She gripped my neck, as she hisses, "Stay down."
She then got off throwing her ax at Brutus, running away. I tried to comprehend what was happening from the head trauma, left arm bleeding, and pride bruising below. Thoughts of Johanna shoving Wiress came to mind telling her to stay down. Yet she didn't attack Wiress. Foots steps two sets, probably Brutus and Enobaria hover over me.
"He's good as dead." Brutus said.
"Come on," Enobaria said.
Then they were gone.
.o0o.
Siobhan's POV
Meanwhile….
I stood there watching Gale and Johanna leave the area as they went down the slope. Carefully I put the sandollar in what remains of my buoyance pouch, load the crossbow, and added an arrow. I have a bad feeling about this. The moment the trap works or set, Finnick would attack Beetee spearing him in the back then go after me. The two tributes stared at me cautiously but I acted natural as if keeping watch.
"Why not you sit down and rest," Beetee suggested. "Check on your leg."
I would have said no but I had to keep the act that I am still on their side. I sat on a fallen branch while Beetee walked over with an awl. He knelt down unscrewing the shell of the prosthetic and took a peek. Keeping a careful eye on him so he doesn't do anything fishy.
"So where did you get Semper fidelis from?" Beetee asked.
"What?" I asked not expecting that.
"Your tea shop is called Semper fi," he started. "Where did Semper fidelis from?"
"Um…it was a word my father told me." I answered.
"It is Latin," he continue to say. "I never thought somebody from Twelve would know Latin. Unless you know somebody from the Justice Building, Peacekeeper…or you have some connection to the Capitol."
I pull my leg back away from him. This caught him as he gave a knowing look. "Or somebody from the district to get a tattoo there," as he pointed at the cross burn. "Or genetically alter iris. And they look older than a year old. So only one from the Capitol could have these alterations."
This caught Finnick's attention as he came over with his trident. "Well now, seems Lady of Fire has some secrets."
"You are mistaken," I said, a bit panic.
Beetee gave analyzing look and said, "How can I be mistaken when I did some research on you."
"Research?" I asked.
"I research on every victor after the games to know them better." He continues, "Interesting how your family goes only four short generation. Most districts go much more generations."
Damn it, I thought.
If they knew the truth in front of live television I, Uncle Mark, Madge, Gale, and the other Hawthornes would be in danger. Quickly I draw the crossbow and aimed it at Finnick. He ready his trident but I told him doesn't move for my finger was on the trigger, aiming at his chest. Beetee held his hands up telling me to stop this and think this through.
"No, you two step back near the lightning tree now!" I ordered.
"This is unnecessary," Beetee said.
"Turn around," I ordered.
Finnick did so along with Beetee, both facing the lightning tree. Here was the perfect opportunity to kill them. If the plan works then only Johanna and Chaff remained. But then it would Gale and me, back in the stalemate similar to last year. With no other choice, I told them to stay there and walked back. Once at a good distant I ran. Leaving the two so I don't have to deal with the possibility of killing Gale. So many thoughts were running through my head, wondering how Beetee could put it together and the physical traits. The burn… a tattoo wasn't a simply accident…not how my father told me. The green eyes…they weren't twelves common color eyes but blue and grey. I know my great grandfather is from the Capitol…but I don't know who he is. What is his name?
"Siobhan!" Finnick exclaimed chasing after me.
Gale, I got to find Gale. I thought.
He's with Johanna Mason, the bloodiest tribute in the Games. I continue to run fast zig zaging between the condense tree. Finnick continue to call my name telling me to stop. I ignored him not caring who side he is on. The Games are officially afoot. I hid in the vines, hiding myself in time. Finnick runs by smelling like ointment, salt water, and sweat. He reached my sight of fire, that I am my crossbow at him. One shot. One shot and cannon fire if I pull the trigger.
"Johanna! Siobhan!" he called out. "Gale!"
One shot, I kept telling myself.
Except I couldn't pull the trigger. After the short amount of time Finnick has become my friend. God damn it, why do I get emotionally attached to the enemy. When Finnick was gone, I stood there catching my breath. Tears slid down out of pain that I feeling on my foot and the other on my knee. I walked out and speed walk searching for Gale.
As I walk a hand wrapped around my mouth and an arm around my waiste forcing me down. I try to fight back of the attack accept he kept hold of me pinning me to the ground. His hot breath breathing in my ear, "Stop Siobhan, its Chaff. I won't hurt ya."
"Ch…Chaff." I stuttered out, looking down to find the amputated hand.
Chaff held me until I calmed down. He never tightens his hold nor did he try to kill me. Instead he just held me sighing in relief apparently. After a few minutes he let go and I scrambled back facing him. He looked awful, much thinner with bruises under his eyes. His uniform ripped up to just covering his privates like pants, chest covered in scratches, and a knife on his belt. He no longer likes the humorous man who kissed me for a laugh. No, he looked absolutely tired. Tire of surviving.
"Come on, we need to find a safe place." He said. "I saw Brutus nearby."
"But-" I started.
"I'm on your side." He interrupted. "There's nothing left."
He said as he stood up and grabbed my arm forcing me to stand up. Before I had a chance to break free he started running dragging me with his good arm. For a man in his forties he got a grip with just one hand. We continue to run, stumbling some searching for a safe place. The way we ran got me confused, for we went in a circular motion instead of straight or zig zag. Then I recall the hissing…there should be snakes in the sector. But I haven't seen a single reptilian here. The only thing that was moving was the debris falling to the ground, landing on soft patches of earth. Suddenly a large branch fell on a soft sandy patch of earth till sinking in creating a bubbling hiss. My eyes widen for this wasn't a snake pit, but quicksand. Water from the ten o'clock tidal wave must have drenched the soil to a point it forms quicksand.
"Watch your step," Chaff said.
I nodded as we continue to run.
However our run was interrupted when something grabbed my other arm to a point a low pop could he heard. I yelped in pure agony of being pull by both arms causing a slingshot reaction as Chaff tumbled. Unsure what happened till finding Brutus grabbing my left arm. He looked ready to kill as he held his spear. I tried to fight him off, except he took his spear and shoved it into my prosthetic leg. A painful cry escaped my lips feeling what left of my knee popped and balance failing.
Chaff launched forward attacking Brutus while I was shoved to the side. I analyzed the metal leg finding the shins split in half center of a diamond shape from the spear. If I tried to stand up the metal would snap. Looking up Brutus and Chaff fought each other, as Chaff manage to get rid of Brutus spear. They wrestle in the damp ground. Chaff desperately tried to get a hold of Brutus; however he only had one hand. Brutus knew this, as he thrown punches right into Chaff's head. The tribute of elven lost his balance, stumbling to the ground, spitting out blood trying to stop the might warrior from two.
Quickly I grabbed my crossbow loading it up and aiming it at Brutus. However at that final moment I saw what Gale went through last Hunger Games. Brutus held Chaff in a headlock using him as a shield. Was this how Gale felt when Cato used me as a shield? Brutus saw this and smirked realizing the flashback I was having. Before a negotiation could be made, Chaff's look of pain changed to defeated as Brutus snapped his neck.
"No!" I screamed.
Brutus tossed Chaff's bodied aside and ran towards me. At the moment of sudden fear I pulled the trigger. The black arrow puncture Brutus chest near his heart on the left lung. He stood there in shock looking down, but continues onward. I quickly loaded another arrow and fired shooting him in the chest again. That was when he stopped collapsing to the ground, next canon fire.
I sat their shaken remembering how I killed the boy from district seven with the poison darts. Now I killed a career with an arrow. My hands shaking while stomach churn to a point I might actually puke. Except Chaff bodies laid couple of yards away. Crawling over to his body to find any chance of life. Chaff was dead, he laid there next turned in an awkward direction, and eyes open and mouth ajar. Tears fell as I closed his eyes and mouth, and then corrected his neck.
"I'm sorry," I cried. "I'm so sorry."
Images of Rue, Thresh, and Seeder came into mind and how they died. Rue trapped and stabbed in the abdomen. Thresh attacked by Cato and killed by mutts. Seeder murdered in the bloodbath. And now Chaff.
"What does this do for you?" I yelled to the sky. "From children to what remain of us victors!"
I grabbed Brutus spear using it as a support to find Gale.
.o0o.
Gale's POV
I sat quickly feeling my head spinning. It throbbed badly while the insects, snakes, and whatever lives in these parts buzzard out. Johanna struck me in the head and Siobhan is in danger. God I hope the Careers get that bitch. I stood up and stumble my way up the rocking trail to reach the lightning tree. I forced my legs and arms to move as I ran faster and climb higher. Throughout the disorientation head injury I was getting close.
Boom!
I stopped hearing cannon fire.
Boom!
Two cannon fires…two deaths.
"Siobhan," I called out, snapping out of the daze and started running faster than ever before.
Shit, how did this happen? I asked myself as I continue to run. I called out Siobhan's name praying she wasn't dead. Hoping it those two cannon fires belong to somebody else. As I got closer the copper wire curled around the dirt and tangle into some debris. There was a knife there too indicating it was cut. Did Odair or Beetee cut the wire? If so, why? Why do this shit if they weren't following to the plan?
Looking up I realized Odair and Siobhan weren't there on watch. I marched forward hoping she was here or ran to another place to hide. I jogged over when a flash of light caught the corner of my eyes. Beetee lay on the ground shaking violently as if having a seizure. His skin covered in soot, suit with electrical burns, and glasses spider web cracked. I kneel beside him calling his name till catching sight of a manmade speared with the coil wrapped around to tie some sort of conducting metal. Confused I looked up to see the force field correcting itself to the jungle image.
Was this Beetee's back plan? Is the electricity of the force field supposed to harvest enough energy to fry up the arena? Then I remember something at the Training Center. How the force field consumed so much energy to a point the center's lighting flickered on and off. That was the plan…it wasn't to kill the careers by electrocution, but to override the force field with so much energy from the lightning to explode. This wasn't survival. This is to escape.
Standing up I yelled. "Siobhan!"
"Gale!" she called out but so far away.
"Siobhan, where are you?" Odair exclaimed chasing after her.
"Finnick!" Johanna shouted out, coming into view. I knelt down hiding behind some bushes watching her. "I can't find Gale!"
I stood up and pull the bow string aiming the arrow at Johanna. She panted catching her breath till she heard the protest of the draw sting. Turning to face me her eyes widen in shock the cursed.
"Gale," She panted opening her arm out. "Do it."
Still slightly disoriented I stared at her panting. Siobhan and Finnick's voice screaming out for us somewhere in the arena. Beetee faintly breathing from behind. Enobaria somewhere along with Brutus, and so is Chaff. There were two cannon sounds…Siobhan, Johanna, Beetee, Odair…so either Chaff, Enobaria, or Brutus are dead. Either of the three is dead, leaving the rest of us. This supposes alliance Haymitch made up.
Haymitch.
Now you remember, sonny. Haymitch voice whispered in my head. Getting it in that big fat stubborn head of yours. The last words he told me before the Game. Gale, when you're in the arena. You just remember who the enemy is.
"The enemy," I whispered.
All this time I thought the people in the arena were my enemy. But I was wrong. The true enemy is the ones who starved, tortured, and put twenty-four people in this place. The Capitol is the enemy. President Snow is the enemy.
I lowered my bow taking deep breaths until thunder erupt the sky. I looked up seeing the clouds swirling into a circle enter of the arena as lightning filled it showing the hexagon shapes. A dome, a trap, force field. This wasn't a nature made…this was a dome.
Johanna saw this and yelled at me to run. Instead I grabbed Beetee's makeshift spear placing it as close to the force field as possible without touching it, then grabbed a coil wounding it to the arrow. I double check making sure everything was secure before standing up and aiming at the sky. The moment the lightning struck the tree I shot to the sky.
Next thing that happened was an explosion.
.o0o.
Siobhan's POV
"Gale!" I called out screaming his name.
I could hear him but I couldn't see him. I was sick and tired trying to search for him. Suddenly the metal in my leg snapped and fell sideways colliding into soft sand. I laid there for a moment trying to catch myself. My body has been beaten up from these games, my mind mentally drained, and emotions were everywhere. The images of the people I met flash through my eyes and how they died or faces in the sky. The blood, organs, wounds, and empty eyes clouded my vision. Why can't the world just open beneath my feet and swallow me whole.
The ground started consuming me.
I sat up but went through a struggle to sit up fighting suction on ground. The ground was moist, close to wet as I slipped in by inch at the minute. Quicksand! I gasped practically my foot a few feet away from the solid ground. I tried to stand up. Big mistake, as I stand more weight went to might right foot going deeper.
"Shit," I cursed.
"Siobhan!" Finnick yelled running towards me. I aimed my crossbow at him to stay back except pain shot through my left arm for Brutus dislocated my shoulder. Finnick stopped skidding on his feet. "Siobhan."
"Stay back," I cried.
"Remember who the real enemy is." He said.
Remember who the real enemy is….How does he know that? How could Finnick know what Haymitch told Gale and me a few days ago? The golden band, the personal words, now him saying that? Haymitch has a part in this. Giving up, I dropped the crossbow.
"I'm dead already," I told him, as the quicksand consumed my knee.
"Not under my watch, Lady on Fire." Finnick said, walking to the edge and handed me the spiked end of the trident. "Grab on."
I did so holding tight to the trident. Finnick mustered his strength to pull me out of the quicksand but the liquid sand sucked faster that I was now at mid-thigh. Thundered could be heard as we looked up seeing the clouds form center of the arena like an eye. The plan…this area is damp along with the coil.
"Finnick, run," I told him. "Get out of here and get to a dry place."
"I'm not leaving you," He forced out.
"Why are you doing this?' I cried.
"Because you're the Phoenix," He said.
"What?" I gasped letting go which caused him to fall back.
A flash of lighting struck towards the lightning tree. The next thing that happens was difficult to explain. White light shot up to the eye of the storm. In that every moment the, like somebody poured water on a computer screen, the image of a stormy sky vanished into black monitors. The center of the dome cracking open like a bullet wound.
We were never in the open.
We were never in nature or fighting nature.
We were in a prison.
And the spark turned into flames.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''';;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;''''''''''''''''''''''''
I hope you guys enjoy the chapter. Two or three more chapters to come before going to Mockingjay inspiration. There's going to be major twists if you haven't noticed.
Thanks for reading and please leave a review.
Reviews make the chapters come faster.