The Second Day

Bennett DeVallier (18) D1M

Despite running in two different directions, Cecelia and I still managed to bump right into her. We stared at each other for two precious seconds before taking off again. She slipped again but then got up. There was a tree in front of me, with wide and strong branches, and small little flowers, that were not roses, near the foot of the trunk. Taking a careful dive, I reached out for the lowest branch and soon I was up in the tree, much higher than I would like to be.

Then I remembered that I had to help Cecelia up as well.

"Bennett!" she cried out, "Help me up please!"

I nodded and then slowly started descending. I was too high up, and I had not even noticed when I was climbing up.

I froze in midway.

The snake's ugly green head soon appeared and Cecelia shrieked and took off. I thought the snake would attack me and I slowly pulled myself back on the branch from which I was hanging. Taking care not to move, or to make any sound, I stared at the giant brute in fear. If it managed to hit me even accidently then I would die in less than two seconds.

Perhaps it didn't notice me.

I watched in horror as it slithered towards Cecelia with a new found speed, opening its mouth and revealing its fangs. What happened next was almost in slow motion. There happened to be no way across except going straight, and right ahead of her there was a tangle of trees and bushes and all other vegetation. She tried to cross it but the snake had caught up.

Opening its mouth wide, it gulped her.

The cannon rung after almost three seconds.

The snake hissed and then slithered ahead, using its fangs to get rid of the obstacles in its path, its long tail moving behind. I blinked.

There was no way my heart could beat against my chest so wildly. There was no way a person could die in such a way. But it had happened, and in spite of myself I let out a sigh of relief that I didn't go out that way. Then came the rage that how could anyone be so cruel to let someone die in such a manner for entertainment?! And lastly came the self-loathing.

Maybe I could have saved her. I didn't try. Never did. I should have tried. I had the weapons, I had the aim. But I was too… cowardly to save her.

In the back of my mind I could hear Adrian's voice, chiding me for thinking this way, telling me that I had come here to win. But I didn't care. I had let someone die in this manner. It was wrong. I could- should- have saved her. Done something! Maybe people were right… maybe I was useless because of my disability…

Stop it Ben!

But no matter how much I yelled at myself, the truth would remain the truth. Maybe I did deserve the bad treatment I received back in One.

I didn't know for how long I stayed up in that tree, contemplating on my own uselessness and self-hate, but then a thought struck me, a thought so obvious that it should have dawned on me long ago.

I was separated from all of my allies. Every single one of them.

And I had no idea in what way I should go to arrive at the cornucopia. I didn't even know how far I had come. All I had was a small bag, gauntlets and kunai knives. I doubted these would be enough to last long. Suddenly I was aware of how thirsty I was too. Too thirsty, in fact. My mouth had never been this dry.

I doubted the situation was in my favour.

The Second Night

Galilee Schwartz (18) D1F

"Amaranth? Are you okay? Amaranth!"

I didn't know that his blood phobia was this severe. When Asher had died he kind of… broke down. Not really but he looked ready to pass out and did nothing to attack Alessandra, who took this opportunity to escape.

And then he did pass out.

Not for long, not for long. Maybe for thirty minutes? Twenty? Maybe an hour? It didn't seem that long though. And when he did wake up he looked so embarrassed that I thought he would pass out again.

"Sorry," he had muttered.

But now, due to this excessive heat and thirst, he looked a little weak again. He had asked me to stop for a while so that we could recover and get rested but his face betrayed him. He looked tired. So I agreed. But now, the sun had gone down, there had been two cannons already. We were in the final twelve. Anyway, I needed to wake him up, but I didn't want to. He looked so peaceful…

He stirred.

"Amaranth?"

"Y-yeah…" he groaned and then turned on his side, cuddling in something of a ball as if he was scared. This was a side of him I had never seen. I didn't think anyone had. He looked like a child, one that he was supposed to be.

"Ama…" my voice faltered. No, I'd wake him later.

I leaned against the tree trunk under which we were resting and closed my eyes, holding his hand gently. To my surprise he squeezed my hand and tightened his grip. Lazily opening my eyes, I glanced at him and then smiled, before squeezing his hand back. Maybe a little rest wouldn't be that bad…

So when very light footfalls of some night creature was heard, my body decided to ignore it. my brain was yelling at me to get up and run but it was as if I was paralysed or something but I couldn't move. Sleep…that's what I wanted right now. I was tired. Too tired… an earthquake couldn't move me then. All I wanted to do was sleep.

I opened my eyes and tried to hoist myself up but couldn't. It just seemed impossible, I didn't want to get up. How bad could it be anyway? Maybe it was an owl. Yeah… it could be an owl. Nothing else, no need to worry, go back to sleep…

Something like a wolf seemed to be charging at me. Ah, the dreams one could get. So this wolf thought it could beat me, a trained Career? "Bring it on," I wanted to say but no words left my mouth. This was a dream after all… No need to worry. Just relax.

I felt something like a spear flying past me. The dream was vivid; I saw Amaranth fight three wolves with his spear single-handedly. It was quick, very quick. He was cringing at the sight of blood, trembling a bit even, but then I saw him come towards me.

"Wake up Gal," he said in his beautiful voice. Such a beautiful voice, I loved it so much, wanted to hear it all the time. I shook my head and tried to smile but I didn't think I managed it. and then he had lifted me in his strong arms and flung me over his shoulders and ran. Why was he running? We were safe, all was safe. And he had fought so well! Deserved his scores alright, he did.

It wasn't a surprise when I heard the chime.

Anyone would want to sponsor him. He was opening the package and I stared. So tired… so very tired… His beautiful face faded from my vision and then everything was dark.

It was definitely a nice dream.

Bridge Carter (12) D12M

Was it just me or did Perry really not trust me anymore?

She always kept a distance from me and didn't speak much. Sure, she hadn't betrayed me but still… I liked her company. I wanted to be friends with her. I wanted to do things for her, she had been better to me than my family ever was. but I also wanted to live safely, and I wanted her to live as well. Strange, wasn't it? I loved her like I loved Shelly, and I wanted both my friends to be happy.

At the moment, however, I was hating the fact that she was ignoring me so blatantly. I didn't like being ignored… that was one of the reasons behind the 'accident'. But I couldn't do that to Perry, not even if I wanted to. After all, she cared for me. it would be right if I did so too.

"Bridge…" she said suddenly, "I have to talk to you."

"Yeah?" I asked enthusiastically. At least now she wouldn't ignore me!

"Why did you volunteer?"

I straightened my face, the smile vanished and I frowned.

"I told you," I replied, "I… stole something precious. Something precious from dad. I couldn't face anyone."

"What did you steal? Tell me Bridge!"

I took in a deep breath. I had to let her know. How long could I fool her anyway?

"The thing for which each one of us is fighting here."

"What the ***!" she exclaimed, jumping away. I lowered my gaze, this had been expected. Anyone would be scared of a twelve-year-old murderer.

"Y-y-you…?"

"Yes…" I answered slowly, "I-I didn't have any c-control. I j-just had t-to do it. The w-way F-Fynn…"

"Go."

"Perry-"

"DON'T YOU DARE UTTER MY NAME FROM THAT FOUL MOUTH OF YOURS!" she bellowed, "I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE EVER AGAIN BRIDGE! GET LOST!"

"I-I deserve that Perry and I-"

"Deserve that?! You deserve much worse Bridge! That's why you were so calm while killing Fynn! While you threw the disc back at the Careers! I- you- just go away!"

With that she shoved my discs in my hand pushed me away. I stared at them sadly. It would have been better to be ignored than this…

"Why don't you use that?" she demanded, "When you could be so horrible to your father, why don't you use that on me?!"

It was my turn to get mad now.

"He never cared!" I shrieked, "Never! I was a nuisance, a burden on him! So I didn't care either! How can you even think that'll kill you?!"

"Why the *** can't you?!"

"I will never do that to you, you idiot! You are a friend! I don't do such things to friends! I can never kill you even if I'd want to!"

"Leave Bridge. Just leave."

"Perry-"

"Don't."

I nodded, tears leaking from my eyes. I deserved the hate I received from her. I should leave.

"Bye Perry-"

"It's Persephone for you."

I nodded. "Yes," I said, "Persephone. Goodbye, and good luck. I hope that if I can't get back home, you do."

She didn't say anything and just walked away. I stood where I was, staring at her retreating form. A part of me was angry at her for treating me this way, and it was this part of me that wanted to use one of my discs on her. But I couldn't, even if I'd wanted to. She had done for me a whole lot more than I could have asked.

And then her form disappeared from my view. Not once did she turn back and my shoulders slumped. The next moment I was huddled up and crying, literally crying. Wailing and tears and screaming and all. I didn't care about the wild animals, or even worse, the tributes, that could hear me. I could take down all of them. But I wanted my friend. I wanted to hug her now…

A small hand squeezed my shoulder and I jumped up, startled. Was it Perry? But the hand was too small to be hers…

I turned around, discs ready in hand, only to face Alessandra, staring at me through bleak lidded eyes.

"Your chakram killed my ally," she said, her voice sounding very forced. Her expression was blank, as if she couldn't feel anything.

"It was for the Two boy," I answered honestly, "I didn't know it would hit Asher…"

"I know."

We stared at each other for a while and then she suddenly wiped my tears. I couldn't take it anymore. Dropping all of my discs, I hugged her.

She stood there awkwardly for a few seconds but then wrapped her arms around me even as I cried in her shoulder.

"Why are you crying?" she asked, her voice devoid of any emotion, "Where's your ally?"

"We got separated," I replied, "I-I am scared…"

Neither of these was exactly a lie.

"We can be allies, if you want?" she asked. I saw that she was crying too. Maybe she was missing her friends…

"Okay," I replied and tried to smile. But failed.

She nodded and then bent down to help me collect my chakrams and put them in the bag. I stared at her for a second.

Maybe I was lucky. Maybe fate didn't want me to die…

Shorter than before… Wow. Anyway, I know this wasn't much, but I hope you enjoyed it still. We're in the final twelve already, so I guess I need to slow down that death rate? Hmm, maybe. Let's see. So congratulations to the final twelve!

Eulogies:

13th: Cecelia Vertigo- Cecelia was… interesting. I enjoyed writing for her, and she was different than most other tributes that I had got. Of course, she was intended to be a career but couldn't really make it in, sorry for that. Her personality was really nice and she was a really good character, one whom I really liked to write for. Rest in peace.

Death List:

Fynn King- killed by Bridge Carter

Rowan Clear- killed by Oceane Cascade

Burgundy Lumineer- killed by Oceane Cascade

Aspen Rust- killed by Galilee Schwartz

Oren Harper- killed by Cecelia Vertigo and arena radiations

Aileen Romeri- killed by Bennett DeVallier

Tab Hamasaki- killed by Olympia Rush

Cassidy Kelly- killed by Victory Fervaix

Victory Fervaix- killed by Galilee Schwartz and Asher Ravenstone

Asher Ravenstone- killed by Galilee Schwartz, Amaranthine Carteret and Bridge Carter

Quinoa Callus- killed by Mateo Dorsani

Cecelia Vertigo- killed by snake mutt

Did you find anything unexpected in this chapter? Was it too boring? Hmm, maybe. Did you think that Bridge's and Perry's alliance would break so soon?

Also, in Galilee's POV, she has not been drugged by flowers or anything. What she was seeing and thinking was a dream was actually happening in reality. She couldn't move only due to exhaustion and dehydration. I don't know whether it has happened to anyone here before, but I have faced that, and it was fun and so I decided to include it. :D

Have a great day!