The Third Night
Sevarian Vaask (16) D5M
I should have had known that Reynard would desert me.
Of course, I had my suspicions, but just as his District Partner died? He stayed true to his thoughts and parted ways the moment we were in the final ten. It was almost funny. Almost.
I didn't know where I was. I had a bag with me and an array of knives, along with the hatchet from before, just in case. At least I didn't have to worry; the Capitolites had decided to sponsor me with food and I was full now, resting under this huge tree, with no roses around, thankfully. That would have been bad.
The way Arrington and Bennett had died was… brutal, to say the least. I wished I hadn't seen that. I wasn't really a fan of seeing humans melt in front of my eyes, and after Oren that wasn't a good reminder. The way had been different, but still. It was as if the plants were eating them alive, and the very thought was good enough to make me want to throw up.
But then… I was so close to winning. So very close. I would have enough time to feel disgusted at my memories when I would leave the arena. As the time passed by, I felt a greater desire to be back in Five. Life as a victor would be great.
It started raining.
Maybe I was too tired, or maybe it was so gradual that I didn't register it, but the rain water soon turned to acid.
"AAHH!" I screamed as I fumbled for my helmet, and dropped it in my panic. The rain fell hard on me and I knew I was burning, that my face was ruined, that my head was covered in hair in a very haphazard way, and I knew the pain that I was going through, but soon the helmet was on.
It was after putting it on that I screamed in agony. The pain! It was too much! My face was burning so much and the helmet was making it so much worse, pressing on my head so hard. I wanted to curl in a ball and cry but I grabbed my stuff quickly and ran instead. There had to be some place where it wouldn't be raining acid!
Was it my imagination, or were my boots getting stuck in the mud? It was too hard to run, and the stickiness was not simply like that of damp soil. No, there was something wrong. There had to be. Now wasn't the time to stop and check though.
In the distance I finally saw something that I could make use of.
It was a clearing, and I was surprised I hadn't been there before, because there were so many sheds there. They looked like wooden sheds, but if that had been the case, would they have held on for so long? I doubted that.
So soon, I was under one such shed, even as the acidic rain slapped on the roof over my head, its sound echoing in the air like a cannon. But it felt much safer here than my previous location, and I finally felt that I could let out my pain. Taking my helmet off, I held it over my head in case I had to put it on again, and just stood still. The burning in my head felt slightly better but not much. What did I do to deserve this?! Killing wouldn't, shouldn't, count. After all everyone here was here to kill!
And now my boots…
Catching a small caterpillar stuck to your shoes, glaring at you with blood red eyes, wasn't a good experience. I squashed it against the wet ground, hoping that it was dead, but not daring to look again. What if it suddenly turned into a monster? After this unbearable pain, I didn't really have strength to fight off any big bad mutts.
I just hoped the sponsors would send me something for the burns…
Olympia Rush (17) D2F
Final Nine.
I couldn't believe it was here already. After running from that snake I hadn't found any of my allies, only to know that two of them were dead and that I was in the top nine. I wondered who had used the bell. There had been such a loud ringing in the arena that it had kind of frightened and deafened me at the same time. But it couldn't be one of my allies. I sighed. I didn't want to meet any of my allies now; I had already planned to leave the alliance at top ten. If we met there could only be bloodshed. It was inevitable, yes, but that didn't mean I looked forward to it.
In all honesty I dreaded it so much.
Never did I think that I would start to care about any of them, and yet when Bennett and Cecelia's faces flashed in the sky… I couldn't help but feel something hollow in my chest. I wanted to cry and suddenly the idea of hunger games didn't seem great anymore. It was wrong, so wrong. Seeing death with my own eyes was not a good feeling or experience but now I understood why the Outer District tributes always dreaded it when they were Reaped. Why they cried, why nobody volunteered. It all suddenly made sense.
But now I was here, and I had come a long way. I had made a promise to win, and I was not one to break them. Whether I liked it or not, I had to fight my way through it.
A loud growl from my tummy reminded me how hungry I was, and I felt slightly embarrassed. But there was nothing to eat, and even if I had something I couldn't really consume it due to this rain. I saw the leaves of so many trees wither and melt, so many flowers melt too. But the trees stood strong and I was glad of the small hole kind of thing where I was seeking shelter. It was at the foot of the tree, and although the rain wouldn't affect me much even if I was out in the open due to my suit, I still didn't want to take a chance.
As I leaned back a bit and looked at the downpour, a blurry figure seemed to run past me at such a close proximity that at first I my hand went to my sword but then I decided against it. If during the confrontation, my suit was cut up even a bit I wouldn't be able to return to the cornucopia. The acid rain would burn my skin completely.
I tried to make out who it was though. From the body structure I felt it was a boy. Yes, it certainly was a boy. But who? Could it be Amaranth…?
The mere thought made me stand up and step out from the small hole like thing in that huge tree. I would surely like to give Amaranth a hug right now. I had been so worried…
No… it wasn't him. This guy had a more masculine body structure. Then who? Reynard? Sevarian? Mateo?
It didn't matter. I saw the guy disappear into the thick undergrowth, and the rain formed a veil in front of my vision. There was nothing to see or do.
My shoulders slumped. A part of me had hoped that it was Amaranth. At least I would have known for certain that he was alright. But now, now I didn't have any idea how he was. I wished for his safety.
Slowly dragging myself, I settled back into my tiny shelter, trembling slightly due to the cold, which had suddenly descended on the arena that night, and also due to hunger and thirst. However, I knew nobody would sponsor me. They would let me die just like that, and it struck me too hard that my life mattered to nobody. It wasn't a nice feeling.
If I had to live, to even survive for a bit longer, I needed food and water. I needed sponsors. It was time to make myself cold-hearted and hunt others down. Just the rain had to subside a bit...
Mateo Dorsani (15) D9M
Back when it was raining and I was trying to find a place to take shelter at, I felt at a time that someone was watching me. I did turn back so many times, but due to the rains I couldn't really see anyone. The downpour had come to a halt now, and the land had dried up in a matter of minutes, about which I had been wondering. How could soil dry up so fast? And anyway, all distraction was welcome at the moment. Because when my mind was free, all that came to mind was how I killed Quinoa.
Honestly, had it been anyone else, I wouldn't have minded so much. But that girl was ill, young, innocent. And I had behaved in a very monstrous manner while murdering her, I recalled. That was the worst part. Killing someone by tricking would have been different, at least I would have been prepared. On the other hand, it seemed that it was right that I killed her. She would have died sooner or later anyway. It was better for her, for her family even. The Careers would have dragged it out, the mutts would have made it messy.
Who was I trying to distract?
Sighing, I lied down on the ground and stared at the sky. Nothing much was visible since the leaves blocked my vision, but I could see that the clouds had subsided, and there was something twinkling overhead. It was always so weird to see the weather changes in the arena every year. On screen it appeared to be fascinating. Now that I was here, it didn't.
There was only one thing I was glad about. I was in Final Nine and only four Careers were around. As such four Careers were still dangerous, but seeing that they started off with eight, it was better than the other years. Maybe I had a chance. Maybe I actually had a chance.
I just wanted to live.
The looks on the faces of my enemies if I died suddenly flashed in front of my eyes and I punched the ground hard. No, I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction. They hurt and used and manipulated me when I was young; if I died then they would only make fun of me. I wasn't going to be laughed at, not by those idiots.
"Oh no," I muttered and then got to my feet and then ran. There was someone close by. How come I didn't realise it before?! Had I not been thinking of people laughing at me, maybe I would have had some time to do something. Throwing myself behind some bushed, I watched through the gaps.
My little District Partner was staggering towards me, helmet in hand, and I was honestly terrified of the look in her eyes. They looked… hollow. Demented even. They were bloodshot and I would have said she was crying earlier had she not looked so calm then. She was unarmed, thankfully. At the moment it felt as if she would kill anyone.
"Don't hide form me Mateo!" she shouted, making me flinch on the spot.
Slowly, I emerged from behind the bushes, wondering how she had seen me when she said, "I'm not blind."
"I wasn't hiding from you," I replied in a somewhat shaky voice, "I was hiding from anyone who approached."
"And you did a bloody good job at it," she replied sarcastically.
I was honestly surprised that she was talking in this manner. The Alessandra I remembered was always so proper and sweet. This girl, she didn't even have the shadow of her former self.
"W-what h-happened?" I stammered. Why was I unable to speak properly? Why was I feeling so scared of this tiny girl?
"Nothing happened!" she snapped, "Except that a few people have died, you know?"
"Calm down kid," I said.
"I won't calm down!" she cried and finally I saw her eyes going bleak, "Not till I have killed those Careers! I will kill each one of them for taking all my friends from me!"
I understood the situation completely now. So, her allies were dead, and Aly wanted to avenge them. I wished I could understand the sentiment, but I was failing at it miserably. Nonetheless, I smiled at her sadly.
"We can work together, if you want," I offered, secretly hoping she would decline.
"No," she said flatly, "No more allies. All my allies suffer. No more allies for me."
"But-"
"Just no!"
And with that she simply ran past me. I knew she was finally crying, and I felt sorry for her. But this couldn't continue. I couldn't feel bad for her forever.
I had a game to win.
Another filler chapter. I think the net two may be fillers too, or not. I don't know at this point. So, I know this is late, and I apologise for that. I hope you enjoyed it, and please share your thoughts and opinions on the chapter, although there was hardly anything happening in it…
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
Arrington/ Ivy Hart- killed by Sevarian Vaask and rose mutt
Bennett DeVallier- killed by Sevarian Vaask and rose mutt
Bridge Carter- alive, used the Deserter's Bell
Have a great day!