Kyra Valente
I have no time to think, let alone stand here and watch what happens to Boxer. I grab Scout's wrist and break out in a run. Concussion or not, we need to get out of here.
I don't see what's coming out of the barn, but I hear the sound of stomping on the grass. It sounds like a stampede is coming through. I hear the sound of a cannon, and turn around to make sure Scout is still with me. There has to be about twenty or thirty Capitol mutts trailing behind us like the one we shot yesterday. I find my feet moving faster, and I feel a pull from Scout. She's having trouble keeping up.
"Come on Scout, we're almost there."
I see the ladder. We are going to make it. I push Scout up towards the ladder and Dorien descends down to help her up. I quickly follow behind her.
"Scout you need to move," I hear Dorien scream.
I look up to see her swaying. She's dizzy, and for a second she's suspended lost in time. She sways again, picks up her balance and a sigh of relief leaves me, but then her hands slip off the ladder bar, and she falls to the ground, knocking me down in the process.
The stampede is raging towards us. This doesn't look good. I have to make a choice: Scout or me? I think of Colton stuck in the Capitol. It'll be better if you don't tell mom and dad. What if I was able to make it home? Would I be able to live while Colton is an Avox? Would I tell my parents? I think of Scout and her family back in District 10. She has a girlfriend and people who love her, while my parents have left me to find Colton. For a second I feel as though the sacrifice will be worth it. I may be sarcastic and rude sometimes, but I am not selfish.
So, I shove Scout towards the ladder, as Dorien descends down the rungs to help. I grasp the bars and move as fast as I can with Scout in front of me. Of course it's not fast enough as teeth grasp my leg and I am pulled back. I cling to the ladder rungs, but my hands threaten to slip. Am I really about to be killed by cows? What kind of cruel joke is this?
Dorien grabs Scout, and by some amazing feat of strength is able to pull her up to the roof. She isn't going to get down here in time. I am about to die. Please just let it be quick. Let it be quick. Dorien half-climbs, half-falls down the ladder to me, but she is too late. I lose grip with one hand and the other one immediately follows, but Dorien's hand grabs my wrist, and now it's some kind of tug-of-war game between her and the mutts and I'm the rope.
Instead of pulling though, I see her retrieve a knife and aim it at the mutt. A throw and then my leg is free, and she yanks me up the ladder to the roof. Thankfully Dorien never misses.
When we are all on the roof I feel myself begin to shake violently. I examine my leg, which is fine just bleeding. I don't know how, but I am still alive. I glance down from the roof and see Boxer's broken body below. My district partner is dead, and I watch as a hovercraft flies in and picks up his body. I decide I will not let myself be upset. He was the one who opened the doors in the first place.
"Gives a whole new meaning to 'mad cow'." Dorien says as she stares down at the herd. I look at Scout who is passed out on the roof.
"Is this the Capitols way of proving their strength? Because I think they could've done a lot better than a bunch of mutant cows."
Is Dorien trying to get us killed?
"Dorien, shut up! Don't taunt them."
She turns around and looks over at me. "What's your problem?"
"What's my problem?" I feel my face getting hot. "I almost died! That's my problem."
"Yes, but you are here nonetheless," she says as she plops to the ground. "I'm just trying to make this situation a little lighter."
"This isn't a joking matter!"
"No, but it's a way to cope. Besides this isn't my fault. I saved you! If Scout wouldn't have hit her head she wouldn't have fallen off that ladder in the first place. Maybe we just should have left her yesterday. She's becoming a burden."
Dorien's words slice right through me.
"That's uncalled for Dorien!" I snap back. "If you had the concussion I'm sure you wouldn't want to be left alone."
"I would've been smart enough to avoid getting one in the first place! Listen I didn't ask for this alliance. Honestly I should've gone alone like I wanted to in the first place."
"You know what then Dorien? Go then! You should be thankful, not just for me but for Scout too. If it hadn't been for me you would've gotten ran over by that stampede yesterday! Not to mention you would have never found water. Tell me if you would've been smart enough then?"
I shouldn't argue with Dorien. She could easily pull her knife out and stab me without repercussions, but I won't keep my mouth shut. Besides I'm taller and probably stronger than she is. I could take her. Instead of pulling out her knife she sighs and walks over to the edge of the barn roof. She sits down, and lets her legs dangle off the side.
"We need to figure out how to get out of here," she says finally.
Dorien would never admit she was wrong, but I take her backing down as a sign of some kind of apology. She knows she needs this alliance.
I look down at Scout unconscious, the mutts lowing below, and the sun which is beating full force on us. I couldn't agree with her more. If we don't get out of here, we'll die for sure.
Athea DiMae
A cannon boom awakes me from my restless sleep. I wake with a start. Who is dead? I immediately get up and pack my stuff away. I need to find Lucian.
I found a dead end area near the edge of the maze to sleep. It made me feel a little safer, but I hardly slept last night anyways. I need to backtrack to the fork and take the route I had decided against. He has to be there unless he ran to one of the four corners, and if that's the case I'll probably never find him. I work my way back. The maze isn't terribly hard to get through, except that every turn looks the same as the last. When I find myself back at the same fork I try to remember which one I came from and which one I have yet to explore.
It was definitely this one. I don't have to walk long until I find a set of stairs leading down under the maze. Who knows what waits at the bottom? I pull out my little flashlight from my bag, and shine it down. There is nothing but darkness. I need to get over my fear and go. I gingerly step down one at a time, checking for a trap. I disappear under the maze, and when I get to the bottom I see another set of stairs leads directly back up. I emerge on the other side of the hedge.
"Don't take another step!"
I know that voice.
"Lucian? It's Athea."
"I know, but don't move anyways, or you'll be dead."
I grip my dagger as I watch Lucian approach.
"Why do you look so uptight for?" He asks as he approaches me.
I lower my eyebrows.
"What's going on?" I ask.
"I don't want you to run into my trap."
I didn't even notice it at first, but now I see. Copper wires extend from one side of the hedges to the other. There are three running across and three running down in a grid pattern. I remember how I questioned the availability of electricity in the arena. Who would've known the hedges would be barricaded by an electric force field?
"I've been waiting for you to get here. I'm starving."
"So how do I get over there?" I examine the grid structure.
"You have to slide under. Come on I'll help you."
He tells me to lie flat on my back, but there's barely enough space under this wire. One twitch and I'll get a nice shock.
"Uh Lucian…"
"Yes Athea?"
"What happens if I touch the wire."
"Silly Athea what do you think? You'll get electrocuted of course. I estimate that there's almost 100 milliamps flowing through these wires, so most likely it would cause death."
"Great, that's just what I need to hear right now."
"Stay straight and I'll pull you through by your feet. Let me know when we get to your head. I wouldn't want your nose to get caught on the wires," he chuckles to himself, and I feel my eyes rolling even though he can't see.
"Okay here we go!"
I feel myself sliding forward. I want to help him so I can get through faster but I ignore the instinct to move. I hold my breath, and when we the wire is above my neck I tell Lucian to stop.
"Do you think we can get the rest of you through?"
Yes, but it'll be a close call. Maybe too close.
"I don't think so Lucian."
Lucian gets up and comes over to investigate. I feel myself growing more uncomfortable as I lay as still as possible under the wire. I think about moving, and suddenly have the urge to scratch my arm. Stupid body, are you trying to kill yourself?
"Athea you're fine. There's plenty enough room. Be brave."
Easy for him to say.
Lucian grabs my feet and yanks me forward. I close my eyes in fear and when I open them again I am safely on the other side.
"Now that wasn't so bad." He says as I reach under and pull my backpack to me.
"That's because you weren't in my position. Why couldn't you make more room?"
He grabs my bag and begins digging around, pulling out water and some food.
"I wouldn't want anyone to sneak under while I'm asleep."
"How are we supposed to get out?" I ask looking under the small opening I somehow fit under.
"I don't expect we will have to anytime soon." Lucian says.
"We can't stay here forever," I say as I take a seat next to him and grab some fruit.
"I'm sure they'll chase us out somehow, but until then we're safe here."
I stare at Lucian's wire trap.
"Wait… how did you get a hold of this wire?"
"It was my token."
Why didn't I think of something like that?
"Is that allowed?" Could a tribute bring in a gun if they wanted to?
Lucian shrugs his shoulders.
I guess it doesn't matter now. I sit back and try to relax. I don't want to think about leaving here, or separating from Lucian. I just wish we could both be saved, but I know that isn't possible.
Shoal Creek
I adjust the knife handle in my mouth and push onwards. I can't go back. I'm sure they have their arsenal ready to attack me. I push on, and thank my lucky stars I'm from District 4. I was never really into swimming which is strange, but everybody from District 4 is a strong swimmer, so I've been swimming practically before I ever learned how to walk on solid ground.
Out of nowhere an image of my older sister Leena appears in my head. 'Stay strong brother, as you always have been,' and I push myself to move faster. I swim parallel to the shore, looking to make distance and find somewhere to hide out. I know there has to be somewhere to hide on this beach. Aeron and Noah may think that I cannot swim far, but they have no idea what I'm capable of. That and the need to execute my revenge keep my arms paddling.
I want to stop and fish. I'm starving, and I need clean water. I could set up a still to catch evaporated ocean water, and remove the salt, but I need a few materials. I'll keep the idea in the back of my mind though. After swimming for an hour I see what I was looking for. A small island about twenty feet from the shore. I probably can't stay here for long, but it'll do for now.
Good, there's a coconut tree. There are only a few ripe coconuts, but I'll take what I can get. My throat is so dry I'm ready to do the unthinkable and drink from the ocean. It's so tempting to have water in front of you, but not being able to drink it.
Once I get my bearings together, I can hunt for David and Jasten. I'm guessing that they aren't here or they would be dead by now. My muscles are sore from swimming so long, but I am still alive and that's what's important. Plus I found myself a knife. I make myself a bed next to a giant boulder jutting from the ground, and fall into dreams of Mika.
The cannon wakes me up the next morning. Somebody is dead. How many of us are left now? The heat is intense, and I'm thankful I took shelter under what little shade I could find. I hear a strange beeping noise and jump to my feet. It's coming from above and I look up into the sky to see something floating towards me. A silver parachute tied to a container falls into the sand next to me.
This can't be what I think it is. I popped open the lid and see a rolled up sheet of plastic. There's a small note inside that tells me it's from District 4. My district is rooting me on?
I unravel the plastic. This is exactly what I needed and I spend the morning drinking coconut milk and building my still that'll evaporate salt water onto the plastic and drip it down in the canister. The good thing about the heat is that this should only take a few hours. After I quench my thirst and fill up this canister I will be on my way. Hopefully Aeron and Noah have given up on finding me.
Aeron Swan
I can't seem to keep my temper under control. Somehow over night I have gone from mom-to-be to a selfish killer, but not without reason. After the Capitol tried to abort my baby I understand the lengths I must go to if I ever want to see my little fearless. I place a hand on my stomach again. My little fearless indeed; one month old and already my baby has stared death in the face.
Jade is still sleeping on her sheet of tarp. Nobody has bothered waking her even though it's dipping into the afternoon. Even after the cannon went off she barely even twitched. Noah wants to look at her leg wound.
After the cannon went off Noah and I came back to camp figuring it was Shoal who drowned in the sea. Where else would he be able to go? He couldn't have swam all night and we would've seen him on the open beach if he crossed onto shore.
"I'm going to wake her," Noah says returning with fish.
"Wait! I need to ask you a question. "I'm curious about something."
He turns to look at me. We've been honest to each other since the day we boarded the train with each other and I expect nothing less now.
"Why are you so protective of her?"
He sighs, "Aeron seriously…"
"No, I'm serious. I want to know why."
"I would be the same way if you were hurt," he says.
"It isn't a jealousy issue. I'm curious."
"Well then go ahead and kill her!" He motions to her still body. "You can't can you? I know you can't because I know you aren't ruthless enough to kill someone you called ally."
"She knows I don't like her Noah."
"Would you kill me in my sleep?"
Maybe, but I won't say that out loud.
"You bring something to the table, she's practically worthless. This is the Hunger Games. We can't all make it out alive."
"Well you can kill her then, but I don't want to. Hunger Games or not I'm not letting them take my humanity. I'll kill and fight sure, but I can't take someone down who is so defenseless. I just can't Aeron. My sister is watching me. What would she think if I just stabbed Jade now? I wouldn't even want to go home and live with myself."
I nibble on my bottom lip. Have I let my humanity slip away from me? Everything has been for my baby, and I have been willing to make sacrifices. I imagine myself victor and sitting in our house one day watching the television as the Capitol makes us watch old footage of the Games. I imagine my child seeing me kill without second thought and I feel sick to my stomach. I never want her to see that.
Noah crouches down next to Jade, and shakes her body. She hardly stirs. Noah places his hand on neck.
"She's burning up." He shakes her a little harder, and I see her eyes open a little bit. A small moan escapes her.
"Jade, are you okay? Can you hear me?"
She moans again and I see her eyes close.
"I'm going to check your leg." He tells her though I doubt she hears.
He rolls her pants up, and I see him turn and gag. The wound looks a lot different than yesterday. The area is swollen and red, and is leaking some kind of discharge, or puss.
"It's infected," he says.
"I'll get the first-aid kit," I turn and grab my bag and open the front pouch. It's just a standard kit with things like bandages, topical ointment, and a bottle of antibiotics. There are only a few pills in it, but I throw it to Noah anyways along with the cream and a set of dressings. He cleans out her festering wound, and I sit back and hand him what he needs. I cannot bring myself to help Jade because I feel like in the Hunger Games it's like taking a step back, but I cannot bring myself to turn my back. Noah's comment about humanity has brought me back to reality. I'm a murder. How many kills have I had? Two or three? I can't even remember. Whose child did I take away while trying to save my own? But this is the Hunger Games, and this is what the Capitol wants us to do. What am I suppose to do: hold my moral values or stay alive? I can't yet decide.
I was able to wake Jade up from her stupor as the sun was going down. Between her fever and the burning sun I feel as though the heat will kill her. We can't stay here for long there's hardly any shelter from the sun. I already feel a sunburn starting on the back of my neck. "Here, drink some water."
She gulps down the bottle. Lucky I was able to get my hands on so much water at the cornucopia.
"What day is it?" She asks.
"It's the second day in the arena, about to turn to into the third."
"My leg. So much pain."
"It's infected." I tell her plainly. What else do I say?
She watches me as I take some of my water in my hand and drizzle is on her forehead.
"Why don't you just kill me now?" She asks. I suspected such a question from her to be sarcastic, but she asks it the same way she asked me what day it was.
"I don't know," is the only answer I have, and I roll up her pant leg to look at her wound. With all the heat, and sweat the dressing isn't staying very dry. We're going to end up going through all the bandages before her wound is healed.
I clean it up for her. The smell is gone, but it doesn't look much better.
"Why are you helping me?" She asks.
"I don't know," I say again. Noah's words burn in the back of my mind. Am I losing my humanity?
Death Count
Glitter Harison- Killed by Aeron
Mikaela Northman- Killed by David
Marilynn Rockford- Killed by Aeron
Daryl Rivers- Killed by Noah
Orion Kelsey- Killed by Ashley
River Belaqua- Killed by Dorien
Stephanie Fox- Killed by Aeron
Boxer Lightwood- Killed by Muttations
Tribute Count: 16/24