Okay! The next chapter is up! Oh and I want to know you're guys' opinions...out of all the character (All 42) Which one or ones, were or are your favorite...why? Who was or is your least favorite...why? Feel free to answer in the reviews ;)
Saturday: June 3rd, 2008 – 7:30 A.M. (Panem: Everdeen Household)
Katniss' POV
What was my life like before my turn came to play the lovely game known as Battle Royale? God…are you kidding? It's all I can think about just to keep myself sane! I think about everything from before from my best friend Gale- huh, I can't even think his name without cringing. Anyways, you amazing fans are probably thinking this 'Hey Katniss! What was it like in your old school? How did you react during your first time as a BR contestant?' Well…my normal life was okay and uh…normal. As for the whole fabulous competition, it was like some horrible nightmare that you can never wake up from. I know, pretty cool right?
It all started the Friday before the long awaited Grad trip for our class. Let's see…I woke up early in the morning…oh yeah! I woke up extremely early before sunrise so that I could go out in the woods to hunt. That's always been my hobby. Other girls my age talk about idiotic boys that they can only dream of dating or squawk on and on about clothes or whatever. However, give me a bow and a quiver stuffed with sharply pointed arrows and I'm good.
Anyhow, after waking up in with the darkness seeping into my small room I listen for any sound of my sister as she sleeps in the bed right across from me. Her hideous creature, or 'cat', is lying peacefully on the violet colored pillow next to her blonde head. Last thing I want is that little weird monster stirring Prim awake. Yep, my little sis…Primrose. My mom named her based off the morning dew you would see on a beautiful flower. Clean…innocent…radiating with a fresh shine. Everything opposite of me to put it short and sweet.
As I climb out of bed with a grunting noise escaping my lips, I start mumbling about how irritating mornings are. Katniss Everdeen, the girl who is NOT a morning person.
I slip into my bright blue bathrobe before slowly sliding my feet to the door with numerous yawns coming from me. I look over once more to see if Prim is still asleep, and luckily she's snoozing like a wiped out baby. Pretty amazing considering she's been having nightmares for the past few weeks. Horrifying nightmares too.
She told me that whenever she went to bed she would wake up being on The Program in some dank, dark classroom. She told me that she always would be the last one left…and then when she was about to die with an ear ringing beeping searing through her ear drums, she woke up. Every single time she would jolt awake with screams and hysterical cries roaring from her tiny body which woke me up as a result. When this would happen, I would crawl into her bed and hold her in my arms saying " Shh…it's just a dream. You'll never be a part of something so sick and twisted, Prim? Listen okay. Those sick morons will have to blow me to bits before they get their hands on you, and trust me…it takes a lot to bring your big sister down."
All Prim would do in response was gradually slow her tears and sobbing and replace it with a joyful fit of giggles. Her ocean blue eyes would light up as she stared up at me in admiration as if I was her protector and she would say, "Promise? Do you promise me Katniss? Double-Triple-Super Promise?"
"Uh, Duh! Of course little duck!" I would laugh while holding her close to my chest; almost squeezing the life out of her. "I promise you…I will always be there for you. I'll even get Buttercup to claw their faces off. How does that sound?"
"I like it!" Prim would cheer with a squeaky giggle before resting her golden head on my shoulder. "I hope you never have to go either…I hope you can be safe too."
I will little duck…you can count on it. I stare at her and her hideous excuse for a pet one last time before forcing myself into our shambling shower. There are two rooms in our lovely home, or should I say apartment? Whatever floats the boat I guess.
One being for Prim and me, and the other belonging to my mom who still seems bed ridden in depression. Ugh…it's been five years since dad died. Five damn years and she still isn't over it! God damn! I've had to work my ass off just so that we get an adequate amount of food on the table. Hunting even turned from a hobby into a laborious job…
I hear the knob of the shower squeak like a dying cat (if only it was Buttercup…we can all dream though, can't we?) and the hot, steaming water sprayed from the nozzle. I let my soft robe fall to the grungy tile floor and slip from my pajamas before stepping into the delightful rush of shower water. I wonder what's awaiting me today…It is the morning of the Grad trip after all. Maybe I'll sit next to Gale on the bus ride if he's not surrounded by his giggly admirers. Blech...Annoying little fan girls who think him biting into an apple is sexy. How lovely! How hot! Look at that juice dribbles down his chin! Oh god! Where are my ovaries!
Maybe Madge? She's always been a good friend…usually when you look at her in her proper little sundress and her sunshine hair, tied back in beautiful bow and then look at me with my hand-me-down jacket, boyish black hunting boots and casual braid, you wouldn't expect us to even exchange glances. Hmph, stereotyping is beyond retarded, but this is high school we're talking about.
Or maybe I'll sit with Rue? Insane little girl…twelve and she's a senior! Skipped a few grades yes, but she still seems out of place. Reminds me of Prim in a way…Won't hurt to be a friend to the poor kid.
After spending about fifteen thought consumed minutes in the amazing shower, I begin to dress myself up in my usual attire; Solid blank tank-top (my skin'll be showing but who the hell cares? This is a Grad trip!), a pair of beige shorts that extend to my knees and last but…oh, certainly not least…my hunting boots. People usually tease me because of my 'fashion sense' especially Glimmer and her gang of airheads, but I couldn't care less. I love the way I dress and if they don't like it then maybe they should tape a page from a fashion magazine over their eyes.
I quietly make my way into the kitchen with my raven black hair still damp and dangling down my back. I quickly scrounge up a simple bagel with cream cheese and stick it in my mouth before dashing over to the front door. I hear nothing but quiet…my mother is still sleeping her broken heart away and my sister is still enjoying that last few bits of sleep she'll get before having to go to school. I feel the metal of the knob smoothly rub against my palm as I rotate it to get outside and once it opens I feel the cool summer breeze brush against my face. Thank God for nature…Our little town just so happens to be in the middle of it. Forests and beautiful green mountains surrounding us on all sides. Just breathtaking.
As I close the door with a creak, I manage to race full speed to my infamous spot within the woods. My safe haven. Nothing but sheer purple skies of dawn fill my view while I run down the dirt trail leading through the town and into the heart of the town square where many familiar faces are running amok within the shops.
"Katniss?" I hear a shocked Greasy shriek as I whip by her with my camouflage backpack hanging loosely from my shoulder. I merely wave to her with a slight smile as I take the bagel from my mouth and continue rushing to the forest. The welcoming trees come into view and all I can do in response is beam in joy while leaping over the town limit fence. The leaves rush past my skin and graze my exposed flesh as if they're giving me a friendly hello.
"Missed you all to…" I laugh as I come to a halt by a sparkling stream as the sun begins to rise from beyond the lush green mountain. I throw my backpack against the stump of an old oak tree and take my seat on a patch of soothing grass; staring up at the gleaming sun that was giving the sky a pale orange and pink color.
"Prepping yourself Katnip?" I hear a husky voice laugh from afar which causes me to chuckle due to the fact that I've known this voice and this silly little name since forever. I turn my head with a roll of the eyes before seeing him standing him there with his back leaned against a tree trunk, a smirk on his face. His luscious- luscious? God Katniss this is Gale we're talking about…his black hair was shining in the rising sunlight while he opened his eyes to look at me. They were gray just like mine and glimmered in the light as well.
"Actually…I'm just taking in some nice alone time before being crammed into a bus like a meaningless sardine in a package," I smirk back with my hands pressed into the delicate soil underneath me. "Shouldn't you be beautifying yourself for your fanclub"
"What? Those chicks? I don't even know their names Katnip," he laughs with his hands resting behind his head while he continued. "I only care about what an awesome time we're gonna have this next few days."
"Yep. Screaming kids…psycho momzillas…the sweet smell of greasy foods. Ah, what a life!" I laugh incredulously before hoisting myself up off of the soft grass and onto my feet. Gale gives me a smirk before tossing me my backpack with a chuckle leaving his lips.
"Yeah, yeah Miss. Negative Nancy, well we need to get going so that we make it to the buses on time. You got your luggage?"
"Ugh…yes mom," I groan with a mild laugh as we begin to get our stuff together and head over to our high school. Oh yeah, Panem High…a dream for all that are keen on lovely education centers. Panem High offers a ton of classes that can benefit us in the near future. God…they make it seem like it's heaven before you die. Total lie my friends and wierdos…total lie. But, I do love the archery class they have…
Gale, I believe is doing a mining course so that he follow in his dad's ashen footsteps…Sucks actually. Gale's dad died too in a mining accident. They told us it was just a coincidental "accident"…whatever, I know that it was all set up by those damn government assholes. Both of our dad's were activists against this crappy patriotic system and were doing whatever they could to bring it down. It only sounds dumb when you figure out they died due to a mining mishap even though they've been going in that mine for years like pros…and suddenly get blown up after their plans for rebellion get leaked. Coincidence? Bull.
The walk to our high school from here is fairly short…about twenty minutes. Not too shabby. Especially when senior parking lots aren't even used due to the fact that everyone can basically walk everywhere. Our school is pretty nice looking, I guess. Five chrome buildings that glisten in the morning sun with glass paned windows which give off an ocean blue tint. They are all arranged in a pentagon shape with a beautiful courtyard in the middle decorated with various, beautiful flowers and dozens of shining metal, round lunch tables that are scattered about the courtyard like sparse Frisbees. I usually eat in the tall oak tree in the center of the courtyard to escape reality. Yeah, I'm unique…Point is, I love the feeling of being able to survey the ground from above. It gives me a sense of protection in a way.
Gale strides with a friendly grin as we make our way up the paved sidewalk leading into the bus stop just out back. If you're wondering, probably aren't…but I'm telling you anyway so listen up! The fifth building at the tip of the 'pentagon' layout of our school has the gymnasium on the bottom floor along with the swimming pool for the swim team. Come to think of it…Isn't Finnick Odair coming on this trip? Man! Finnick 'freakin' Odair. Top swimmer on the swim team. The guy who flies through those waters like a shark catching his helpless prey. Hm…pretty good looking too. Meh, not really my type though…
Now, where was I? Oh yeah. You can also find the theater for all the assemblies on the second floor and the rooms where many of the clubs meet after school on the various floors above. It's also the one way path to the bus lot in the back of the campus with bright yellow school buses lined up in an endless fashion; just waiting to escort rowdy teens to their homes. However, as Gale and I leisurely waltz up to the paved sidewalk with our belongings intact, our twenty-eight other classmates our kidding around with a cheerful rumble of voices escaping their groups.
Hm…I spot Cato first…the top quarterback for our school's football team. Star of our class and probably the biggest jock I've ever met. Remember what I said about arrogant guys and how I couldn't stand them? Oh…Cato is definitely one of those guys. His blonde hair is styled in a punkish faux hawk and he's wearing his bright blue letterman jacket that he proudly gloats about every chance he gets to anyone around him…
"See that! That's the status of a top champion! Yeah! Wooh, Wooh, Wooh! Cato Larek can never be defeated!" he would shout like a war-ready Viking…Charming…
Standing right next to him with her brilliant blonde hair curled glamorously, was Glimmer Daniels; the president of the student council and the captain of the debate team. She was smiling widely and giggling at every single thing that left Cato's mouth like some desperate googly-eyed fool. She repeatedly flipped her curled blonde hair behind her shoulder while a boy with light brown hair was continuously cracking jokes which caused many people to erupt with laughter. This certain comedian who could charm any girl was Marvel Nicks…
He had a kind of you know…boy-next-door type of face. Innocent but not little shepherd boy innocent…and charming but not over bound playboy charming. His hands were moving and gesturing in all sorts of motions as he continued to explain his story about how he realized his ex-girlfriend was truly a mermaid in disguise. "You know. Seriously! I'm serious! I swear to God! While we lip-locked…I thought I heard her squeal in dolphin tongue! Man, do not get me started on the scales on her back."
While looking over my crowd of classmates with squinted eyes and slowly coming to a stop, I spot Madge Undersee (the highly respected daughter of the mayor) strolling over to me from her goody-two-shoes crew of friends in her beautiful light blue sundress with a calm and contained smile on her pale, delicate face. As she walks up to us, she pulls both of us into a friendly hug as if she were a neighborly housewife. "You came," she softly spoke with a tone of joy in her voice. Her hair resembled the golden rays of morning light as she had it decorated with two blue ribbons which separated it into two ponytails.
"Yep…here we are. I'm surprised your daddy let you came Madge! I thought he was keeping you on lockdown for the summer…you know? 'Princess in the tower' lockdown," Gale chuckles with the back of his hand lightly grazing his forehead as if he were imitating some weak damsel. A light giggle comes from Madge's throat as she shook her head with a sigh.
"Well…he thought about it," she began with a reserved smile as she placed her index finger upon her pointed chin. "Then he realized how important this trip was to me, and after bragging and squealing about it since Christmas…I guess he would have felt awful if he had done that. He does smother me though…gets pretty irritating after a few years."
"He's only looking out for you," I point out with a genuine and friendly smile as she gazes at me with her eyes that sparkle like a sun-soaked ocean. I'm usually extremely tough…no emotion coming to the surface. It just makes me feel weak…last time I cried was when dad died. Bawling like a damn baby who needs her milk. Well, those days are over.
"I suppose," I hear Madge sigh as she spins around so that her back is facing us which makes her dress flutter in the summer breeze. Her golden ponytails swiftly fly around with her and land upon her shoulders as she held her hands behind her back. "I'm actually starting to see why he didn't want me to go."
What? That's the only thing I manage to get out of what she said as the glowing rays of sunlight begin to bathe the bus transit. "What do you mean?" I say bluntly with an arched brow while Gale tilts his head as if he's sharing in my confusion. Madge merely gives a light giggle with eyes fixed to what's I front of her before she continues.
"We're growing up Katniss. All of us. At the end of this week we're all going to be graduates… and then, off to the real world we go," she speaks in a dreamer like tone as she was dazed. "My dad doesn't want to grow up…he thinks that by going on this trip I'll be just one step closer to leaving him."
Gale gives a huge nod of agreement while he drapes his beefy arm over me. God…the muscles this guy has! Oh man, Katniss. You. Are. Losing It! This dude is your best friend…practically a brother to you. Incest is not the way to swing…
"True…we're growing up, and God is it scary. I don't even know what college I'll be going to," Gale begins to laugh whole heartedly with his sterling silver eyes brilliantly reflecting the sun. "I'm not even sure what I'm going to do with myself. Feels like it's happening all too fast."
"Not fast enough," I cut in with a groan while walking around Madge's calm figure and plopping down on the edge of the cemented sidewalk with the sound of laughter and joyous cries echoing throughout the morning air. Gale gives me a 'look' and I already know he's upset with me, but I don't really care. I guess my commentary can be a little harsh and well…rude, but I can't really help it.
"Howabout we change the subject?" Gale sighed with his transparent silver eyes still fixed upon my slouched form as I sit there on the sidewalk edge with my braid hanging down my back like a beautiful tail. Madge simply nods her head with a smile playing upon her pale and innocent face before turning back around to face the olive skinned boy.
"No need Gale. I should get back to my friends so that we can get ready for the bus when it shows up," she gives him a light laugh with her blue ribbons lightly blowing in the caressing breezes and the sun shone over her making her radiate with angelic beauty. She turned on her heel after giving him a truly touching hug and strolled over to me to give me the same type of treatment. I feel her arms softly wrap around the front of me as she hugs me from behind and I feel a small smile play across my face.
"Bye Kat," she says with an extremely kind sound to her voice as if she were some sort of Disney Princess. Weird considering that's where we're headed…
"We can talk more during the trip if you want. Okay?" I suggest considering my rude behavior but I know Madge already understands. We've known each other since Elementary school…so in hind sight, she already knows me like the back of her hand. Rude equals trying to be nice…yup…that's me all over.
"Okay…Oh! I almost forgot!" she gives out a surprised squeal after realizing some deathly important detail. Madge brings her bag over to her side with haste before digging through it in great urgency. I try to look over into the depths of her sophisticated bag that was tinged with blue and decorated with pristine white flowers. I can hear a chorus of papers crinkling madly as she searches her bag for at least a few more seconds. Her pale, angelic hand removing itself from the bag in a tight ball-like fist. I stare at her in confusion before spotting some type of metal object; glistening in the morning sun in the palm of her hand.
"Is that…" I begin to speak with an arched brow as Madge begins to nod in response.
"A mockingjay," she finishes with a hushed tone as if she was whispering her deepest secret into the depths of my ear. Mockingjays? Those are extremely common around here and boy are they frustrating! Singing all day long like a chorus of damn Sesame Street puppets! Hmph, Rue likes them though. Adores and cherishes them actually. Always singing with them whenever I walk home from school with her. Her beautiful voice being carried through the town by the fresh gusts of wind.
"Madge? What? Why are you-"
"It's just a little graduation gift Katniss," Madge gives a soft chuckle before placing the pin upon the collar of my jacket. The surface of the pin shines with a glorious golden light as she pins it onto me so it can bask in glory. "Perfect," she whispers with narrowed eyes due to the light reflecting onto her pleased face.
"Wasn't this your dad's? Madge! Why in the hell are you pocketing and profiting your pop's stuff? Man, thought you would have known better by now."
"So hotheaded…" Madge sighs with disbelief before placing a hand upon my shoulder. I can hear the magnificent roar of an engine bellow from the street leading into our bus transit…the bus has finally come. All of my classmates begin to scream and cheer with giddy amounts of excitement before our classy teacher, Mr. Crane approaches with his usual charcoal black suit with his scarlet red tie tucked underneath. His face sees like a canvas the way his beard was shaved in an intricate design that seemed a bit bizarre and his eyes glare down upon us like some king addressing his meager masses.
"Alright now you guys know the rules! No rough housing! Got it! Last thing I need is a bunch of kids making me look bad! Now, in a nice orderly fashion…please calmly board the bus and keep it at a nice smooth pa-"
Before he could even finish his silly little statement, people began trampling him in a hyperactive herd as they poured into the bus like a school group of colorful fish. I maneuver my way from the rambunctious crowd of kids who are high as kites thanks to dozens of Monster energy drinks and a couple pounds of Fundip sugar…I spot Marissa Finch ( however, I call her Foxface thanks to her sharp intelligent face that still seems calm in a way). She is trailing right behind Thresh, a kid in my homeroom for the past few years who always seems to be off on his own…the lone ranger. He towers greatly over every other person there and his dark skin radiates the sun's golden rays while Marissa, or…Foxface; follows him onto the bus with her face buried within a sophisticated novel. Hmmm…I wonder where Rue is…did she even get on the bus? I look around obviously impatient as can be as our class slowly but surely begins to completely fill the cozy bus interior.
Soon, I witness Clove start to march up the metal steps of the bus door entrance with a look of absolute boredom on her pale face. Clove…smart as hell! She skipped what? Two grades? Crazy! I actually think this level is too easy for her considering the fact that she always looks so unimpressed…or maybe that's just her face.
I hear the bus driver hiss annoyingly at me with his pudgy face facing me; his black beady eyes, boring into me. "I don't have all day! Hurry it up! Hurry it up!" he snapped with his hands violently gripping the steering wheel. Man…what a grouch. As I walk up the cool metal steps with only Gale and Finnick to follow me from behind, I start to make my way to the very back where no one seems to be paying attention to the empty seats as if they don't exist.
"Dude! Seriously?!" A rich blonde boy with beautiful clothing gasped with his porcelain like hand clasping over his mouth as he continued to chat with Marvel.
"Definitely Gloss! Maybe after the trip, we can all take our own grad road trip down to LA. I know how your sister is when it comes to her being 'famous' and what-not, but staying cooped up here like a freakin' parakeet isn't going to do her much good," Marvel sighed with his body pressed back against the soft material of the seat. Gloss nodded with a perfect smile as he fiddled with the silver buttons on his blue velvet coat. Gloss was…'okay'…nothing more though. Now his sister, Cashmere. God, what a freaking nightmare!
As I make my way past them, I look over at Annie Cresta who is gazing out the sun painted window frame with a daydreamer's expression. Annie…always the dreamer…never really understood reality. Finally, I make it back to the deep uncharted territory known as…the back of the damn bus. I place my camoflauge backpack on the vacant seat next to me and look around at everyone's smiling faces. Here we go…just a few more days and then it will be all over. I'll graduate and finally make my family proud! I'll be able to go to college…maybe even be a poacher for a living. Holy…the possibilities are endless.
"Excuse me?" I hear a voice speak up from the aisle; obviously talking to me…blech! Way to cut a girl off from her thoughts. I slowly look over with my eyes glazing with carelessness as I face a boy with ashy blonde hair and ocean blue eyes. He smiles genuinely at me as if he was nervous and begins to motion towards the seat that holds my backpack with his pale hand. "Is anyone sitting here?"
I stare at him for a few seconds as if observing him, and I'm sure it's making him feel uncomfortable as my eyes lay upon him. "No," I groan before averting my eyes over to Gale who is sitting near the front with his gangly groupies…fawning over him as if he were God or something. I can sense his body moving awkwardly as he begins to laugh nervously in order to gain my attention once again,
"Uh…c-can I sit here then?"
"I guess," I bluntly state as I roll my eyes in overwhelmed annoyance before looking out the frosted window; seeing the beautiful trees glisten in the sun and watch the roads we're driving on curve every time we turn.
"Um…I don't think I actually talked to you before. My name's Peeta. Peeta Mellark," He gives me a nice smile as he speaks as I turn my head towards him again. His blonde hair is laid out like a sea of waves upon his head and his sparkling blue eyes are like pools of kindness. I see his hand and nimble fingers stretched out in a handshake formation, but all I do is stare at it as if it's some hideous freak of nature.
"Hm…I know who you are. We've had homeroom for the past four years together…we've also had Art class," I say in a harsh ring which makes his face flush from embarrassment as I coldly ignore his gesture. I spot Johanna Mason, the rebel without a reason, a few seats ahead of me with her punk hairdo poking up from top of her seat. Her neon green earbuds are tucked snuggly into her ears as she sits next to the comedic girl charmer, Marvel.
"Ugh! Shut the hell up!" I hear her growl in impatience after Marvel begins spilling out all of his best jokes which only emit an array of groans from everyone surrounding him. Gloss did nothing but burst out laughing as his snobby sister began scoffing indignantly.
"How silly! Gloss! You know mother wouldn't allow this sort of behavior!" she screeches next to him with beautifully decorated hair sitting upon her slender shoulders. The breathtaking jewels within her pale blonde locks of hair twinkle in the rays of light pouring in from the windows.
"Cashmere, why do you always have to be such a bore?" he groans while wiping his pale blonde bangs from his handsome and sophisticated face. His sister merely stuck her sharply pointed nose in the air and flipped her gorgeous hair behind her shoulder before returning her attention to the Gossip column in her magazine.
I finally spot Rue amidst the chaos in the very front with her amazing black hair poof and all. She seems to be sitting right next to our teacher…how lame…seriously Rue?
"Hey Katniss?" I hear the boy known as Peeta start to speak with a charming sort of voice which rings with kindness. I look over to him with bored eyes while my black-as-night braid begins to slide over my olive toned shoulder in response.
Before I knew it, we both exchange sentences like two close friends at laidback party. Hours were passing by as our conversation continued to blossom into an easy back and forth game of word tennis.
"You're on the archery team right?" he asks with a smile before zipping open his bright orange backpack as if he were trying to retrieve something.
"You bet. It's always been my bread and butter…what about you? Art club right?"
"Uh-huh!" he replies enthusiastically as if he just agreed to something ecstatic. "Along with Home-Ec!" he beams while bringing a beautifully decorated cupcake out of his bag in a delicate manner and handing it to me.
"Oh!" I gasp in shock as he lets me observe the gorgeous pastry that was starting to make my mouth water. I turned it around to take in all of its delectable glory. "Home-Ec? Shoulda kept it fixed on the art club dude, or should I say dudette? But hey, great looking cupcake," I sigh with an amused laugh before taking a bite out of it.
"Hey! Guys can enjoy cooking too you know. My dad even owns a bakery in town," he states rather proudly with his muscular arms folded over his chest as he watches me chew the soft, sweet treat.
"A bakery eh?" I sigh with my eyebrows arched incredibly with the tip of my foot tucked under the seat in front of me as I swallow.
"You bet…your mom works as a nurse in the local town hospital, right?"
"Used to. Now she just mopes in bed over my dad instead of working and bringing home some sort of income…but hey, who's complaining other than our empty stomachs?" I say in an irritated tone. I take another savoring bite in order to thrill my taste buds while Peeta gives me a look of sympathy.
"Oh yeah…the whole mine explosion back in 2001. God, I'm so sorry Katniss," he sincerely starts to say as the sound of sugar crazed teens screaming in excitement begins to heighten in volume. I simply shrug it off with a grin before leaning my tired head against the comfortable lavender headrest.
"I've moved on. Besides, I still have many things to look forward to in my life…so why worry about the past?"
"Wow…that's some wise stuff Katniss," Peeta gasps with an impressed beaming grin. "Crazy wise."
"What can I say? A life like mine will give you all sorts of talents. Some you can't live without and others you could just couldn't live with," I state with a tone of wisdom escaping my lips. However, there's a zero response. Actually…it's almost dead quiet! How the hell did it go from roaring with youthful ecstasy to library quiet within a matter of minutes!?
I look over to Peeta with my eyes feeling like bowling balls in my sockets; almost becoming overworked with exhaustion. His stocky body is slumped forward as if he had fallen asleep like an overtired worker and his blonde hair was sweeping over his closed eyes. I hear a quiet snore soothingly slide from his throat like a quiet lion's roar and start to chuckle in amusement. How is he asleep? What? Does he slip a little 'something-something' into his baked goods?
"The hell are you packing in them cupcakes Peeta," I laugh as if I'm high on some loop-induced drug and I begin to feel my mind start to float like a drunken butterfly. What the hell is happening? I slowly roll my head over to the rest of my classmates and see them all in Peeta's state. Marvel in hanging over the edge of his seat like some dangled chimp with his arms hanging in the thin aisle. Gloss and Cashmere are knocked out as well; their heads nicely snug against one another as if they were conjoined. "W-What? Wadda hell…happening…"
I struggle to keep my eyelids open since they begin to feel like metal heaps that weigh a few 100 pounds and I feel the spongy cake with icing slip from my exhausted fingers and onto the floor. Gale? I see him as well…his ebony black-haired head sinking into the headrest with his mouth slightly hanging open while he snoozes off to dreamland. "G-Gale? Why are you…helloooo?"
Everyone is passed out like it's the aftermath of some catastrophic rave party…everyone except me that is. "Y'all call this a gradtrip? Everyone sleeping? What kind of grad…trip where…everybody falls asleep?"
As I move my head over to examine the seats behind me, everything begins to look distorted as if there were three figures instead of one and flashes of white light start to obscure my vision as I begin to lose consciousness. I look closely over Peeta's form and closely look at the aisle floor with my sliver eyes narrowed suspiciously…What!
A sheet of white…almost loose white, transparent fog is hovering over the floors…gas? Some type of fucking gas?! I watch my cupcake slowly role out into the aisle; disappearing into the ghostly white fog. I try my hardest to look up to the front only to see Rue dangling off into the isle just like Marvel is and my teacher, Mr. Crane leaning against the moonlit window as night began to approach. Wow…that late already?
However, the one thing that catches my eye is the bus driver. His pig like face is masked with some sort of creepy head gear…a gasmask! I see the thick black straps wrapped around the back of his fat head as the entire front side resembles some sort of robotic elephant. Like one of dem…c-creepy…aliens from da…m-m-movies.
Damn…can't keep this up. The white light…flashing like crazy now. Is this like…anesthesia? To knock you out before surgeries…my mom used them for her patients when they had to undergo procedures. Why in da…What? Why would you use anesthesia on a fugging grad trip bus?
That's it…Kat-Katniss Everdeen…is out. I feel everything in my mind begin to wash away like something rushing off in a stream and everything goes dark…Not fair though! Why us!
N-Not…fair…at…at all…
Katniss?
I hear a voice call out to me…
Katniss wake up…
Tori…
Katniss!
Monday: June 3rd, 2010 – 11:29 A.M. (Deserted Island: Tattered Hut)
"Katniss! Katniss!" Tori cried with her hands jerking the exhausted girl by her broad shoulders. Camille sat off to the side with her eyes gazing out into the rain soaked forest trees while the thunder roared in anguish and the lightning lit up the thick gray skies. "Katniss! Hello! Ugh! Why won't she wake up?!" Tori whispered in exasperation while staring at Katniss slouched body with her head hanging low.
Camille merely shook her head slowly before crawling over to the both of them with her damp chocolate brown curls bouncing with each movement. "Well…she hasn't gotten any sleep…might be best to let her be."
"Let her be?" Tori repeated with her eyebrow arched in concern. "But- The announcements. They'll be coming on soon and if this place, god forbid, becomes a danger zone…we're as good as dead! Didn't you hear that gunshot a few hours ago?"
Camille shook her head peacefully with a patient sigh as she recalled hearing it (most definitely) as well as seeing an entire flock of birds flee from an area within the woods. However, none of that mattered considering they were at least a few miles away from the perpetrator. Camille placed one of her soft, pale hands on Tori's drenched shoulder; the material of the dress shirt squelching in response. "I doubt it Tori…our chances in this competition are magnifique. Magnificent in English terms," the dramatic actress beamed after using her French terminology.
Tori tried to give off the best smile she could possibly muster up, but she just wasn't having it. Her hope and faith were running low. She didn't even believe if they could escape anymore, and quite frankly…she would rather die than have to endure anymore of this terror known as The Program. Beck was gone…who the hell knows where he is. The hanging scent of rainwater is drifting through the island like an eerie fog with a rush of chilling air attached with it.
Katniss stayed in her dingy little corner of the battered hut where they relocated as soon as the rain began to set in. Lucky they caught it early…the laptop she had would have been toast otherwise. The electronic device sat in Katniss's lap with the screen still emitting a soft white glow from the lucid screen and the bold red symbol of the rebellion still stood proudly on the top of it. Camille softly let Tori go with a sigh leaving her as she turned her attention back to the falling drops of rain water. Trina…
Camille felt the name circulate through her mind like an endless phrase on loop. She watched the whole scene again in her head with a feeling of horror arising within her chest while Tori began to stare down at her lap; placing her caring hands in the lap of her plaid school skirt as tears started to form in her eyes. Camille knew she had to tell her. Tell her the name of Trina's ruthless killer…Lucy Stone.
Tall blades of soaked grass were masking the hut as if it were engulfing them and beads of water were trickling from the ruined ceiling. "Tori?" Camille spoke with a deep breath as she intertwined her pale fingers with Tori's. Tori brought her stinging eyes up to face the brunette's delicate pair of eyes which seemed plain yet beautiful. It was strange how a girl could exhibit such a divine look.
"Hm?" Tori choked while her raw emotions began to take her brain by storm.
"Uh…Your sister…Trina?" Camille softly spoke hesitantly as if she was second guessing her decision. She could spot the flash of pain behind the caramel skinned girl's wide brown eyes after she uttered her dead sister's name.
"W-What about her? What about the drama princess?" Tori sadly laughed with a few light sobs leaving her frail body. Camille throat felt beyond tight and dry as she figured out what to say next…Hey? Lucy killed her. Okay, that's all!
She shook the cold explanation from her thoughts and drew a deep breath. "I saw…I saw who killed her."
Tori's eyes immediately grew wide in suspense before she was beginning to tremble like a wet dog. "What?" she whispered in horror; leaning forward with her eyes glued to Camille's mouth so that she could catch every word. "You…Y-You s-saw…you s-saw what?"
"Trina…I saw who killed her," Camille repeated with her lips quivering from the damp, chilling air. Tori almost shrieked from what Camille had just told her and began grasping her by the shoulders, frantically shaking them with salty tears pouring from her eyes.
"Who!? Did you see who it was!? God damn it Camille! WH-WHO!? Who killed my sister!?" she wailed with tears flying from her eyes to resemble the rain. Camille sat there as stiff as the forest trees surrounding them as her hands snagged Tori's from her shoulders gently. Camille's narrowed brown eyes gazed into Tori's as she began to speak rather quietly and everything became deathly silent.
"Lucy…Lucy had Trina by the neck and…It was awful. All that blood. Slit her throat Tori. I saw it all…I'm so sorry," Camille sighed with her eyes now breaking that painful gaze and staring down at her lap while her gorgeous curls of brown hair began to gently sway from the winds around them. Tori almost looked like a zombie the way her eyes slowly looked out of the hut's gaping entrance; her mouth open slightly and her breaths beginning to get shaky.
"Lucy…Lucy?" she asked with a high pitched sob as she imagined her sister's bloody body in the hands of the devil's daughter, Lucy. "Y-You're sure?"
Camille nodded with a sad look of pity before shifting in her spot uncomfortably. "Definitely sure…Lucy Hardcore…she took Trina's life. No mercy whatsoever…"
Tori couldn't believe her ears. Maybe it was because they were still damaged from the constant ringing of gunshots every second…or maybe it was from the harsh falls she would endure after tripping like a drunken dog when someone was frantically chasing them. However, Tori knew that it was simply because she finally knew who killed her sister.
"This rain…it's…it's not gonna die down any time soon now is it?" Tori whispered horrified with her skin now turning a ghostly white color from all the shock; trying to change subjects. Her bottom lip was quivering madly as she took sharp breaths of chilling air into her lungs.
"It doesn't look like it will," Camille sighed with exasperation before returning her calm gaze to the poor girl without a sister. "Tori? Tori, your sister will be avenged okay? We'll find Lucy and stop her. God knows how many others she's killed since Trina…"
Tori couldn't even give off a proper response to let Camille know her thoughts. Not a nod…not a shrug…just a look of hurt mixed with terror. As the rain slammed against the roof of the rotting hut with dripping streams seeping through it, the sound of Tori's fame-hungry sister filled her head.
"Hm, don't know yet. Me, James, Logan and Kendall were all going to unpack first since it's probably going to get to late to do anything anyways. In the morning though, I'm gonna go take as many picture as I can for this trip for my Garside Seniors Scrapbook at home," he beamed.
"Make sure you have plenty of me," Trina giggled causing Tori and Beck to stifle a laugh of pity. Carlos nodded with a big smile and turned to go back to his seat.
"I'll kill her…Lucy…I'll find her and kill her," Tori started to mutter with crystal blue tears forming in her eyes. "I promise I will." Her hand clenched in an angered fist as the rain continued to pour down.
16 Students Remaining
Monday: June 3rd, 2010 – 11:45 A.M. (Deserted Island: Barnyard)
Drake Parker had been wandering the misty island for a couple hours at least. His swooped bangs were now stuck to his forehead in thin sheets as he trudged down the flooded, tar roads in front of the farmhouse. His neck ached he slowly turned his head to let his hazel eyes examine the modern looking house while thunder roared above him in fury. Strangely, it seemed like someone had been occupying it…tarp was covering the transparent windows while rain drops ran down the glass. Wonder who was in there? Maybe someone's in there right now...It didn't matter anyways, he probably figured it was locked anyhow.
The smell of the damp air filled his nostrils in delight as he turned his attention back to the drenched roads before him. His mind was filled with second thoughts considering his brother…like was leaving him with Lucy Stone of all people, really a good decision. Probably not obviously, but Drake didn't want to assume the worst. He hasn't heard any type of gunshot since the one he fired at Lucy...or since night before when that huge explosion happened and rapid gunfire followed straight behind it.
So maybe there hasn't been any deaths- wait? Would that mean there wouldn't be anyone on the noon announcements? Oh Shit…will that bastard Eikner detonate our collars out of being impatient with us? Crap…No. Drake focus…have to find shelter from this damn rain. Drake thought slowly in order to ponder every bit of info he could muster up.
The smell of soggy, damp hay drifted from the interior of the barn as he began to walk past it and he could hear a stream of dripping water from within as if there was a leak. "Guess I can't make a pit stop…" he groaned as examined a rushing stream of water pour from the entrance of the barn. He decided to keep moving but all he wanted to do was be knocked out in his nice warm bed…of course it was Monday today, but Drake would usually skip school in the beginning of the week to recover from the laziness of the weekend.
As he forced his tired legs to function and move, glanced up at the intersection of the roads he was about to approach and spotted a soaked lump on the side of the road. It was hard to make out at first thanks to the mist and gray spray from the rain but he managed to focus in on the 'lump' a little better. This lump was a person…a person he knew all too well.
"What the hell," he whispered with his lips trembling in utter fear as he slowly advanced towards the body. He realized that it was a girl with darkened skin, but due to the rain and elements, her skin was now pale and dusky; decaying. Her dark hair was sopping wet in a puddle of rainwater and her uniform was soaked. Drake kept moving forth until he finally knew who it was. True Jackson. "Oh God."
He examined her dead body with a feeling of sadness sweep over him whenever his eyes met her pained face. However, she had a twisted smile on it as if she had escaped from some psych ward in a mental hospital.
I'm free! I'm free!
He spotted thick layers of red coagulated blood jetting out from a variety of ping-pong ball sized holes on the side of her motionless body. What caused that? A gun? Maybe…but what kind? These bullet holes are huge!
The sound of rumbling thunder swept over the island in a more pulsing manner as if a bass was being played through an amp. "True…what happened?" Drake whispered as if she were about to answer back, but he knew she couldn't. Just then, a horrible feeling of pain in his bony chest began to arise as he realized something. This was the very first DEAD body he's seen…and man did it feel surreal. His heart felt like someone had slammed it with a hammer whenever he stared into the lifeless eyes of the girl he'd spent countless years with. Drake actually helped True with her dance routines by playing backup for her on his electric guitar.
"C'mon Drake! Keep them tunes flowin'," True said with a smile as she danced with each strum of the instrument.
"Alright, Alright. Get ready for an explosion of pure awesomeness," Drake laughed with a charming smirk before blasting his amp at full volume. The barren auditorium they were practicing in began to tremble from the rocking melody that was surging through the wide walls. Andre, Josh, Lulu and Kevin were all at the edge of the stage jumping up and down like a group of crazed fans.
"Woo-hoo! Now that's what I'm talking about! Yeah!" True chuckled ecstatically as she began to compose a whole new dance number filled with energy. Drake watched her fly across the stage rhythmically as he rocked out on his guitar; falling to his knees like some rock star to be praised.
"Damn…dead now, huh True? All of you. Dying now," he muttered with tears filling his vision along with the trickling rainwater. The dead girl, once filled with life and talent, only laid there with the same look on her stiff face; not even obligating him. "God, I'm fucking losing my mind!" Drake seethed in irritation after looking up the dreary skies with his eyes squinted. "That's just what they want…they want us to lose hold on reality," Drake growled up at the skies, referring to the audience that was currently viewing them. "Fuck you all."
Just a second after he uttered these words, a strange melody drifted through the rainy air. It was a song…a song being played smoothly over the speakers. The announcements must be beginning once again to let them all know who else has died in this fun little game of survival.
16 Students Remaining
So. What did you guys think...Hm, startin to get a bit slow :P But don't worry, the chapters coming up will be pretty up to pace ;) Oh, remember to give me your feedback on Katniss' flashback! Creepy right?
Anywho! What will Drake do now that he is all alone?! Will Tori avenge Trina and take down Lucy? What do you think Zander is up to, know that he's trying to find someone else? What...about Lulu and all of her deranged craziness? Find out in the next Chapter of the 61st Annual Battle Royale Competition!
On the Next Episode of the Program...Drake is finally realizing how horrific this game truly is...but what will he do after coming face to face with another killer? Katniss' plan is starting to fall into place, but as she ventures deeper and deeper into her escape plan with Tori and Camille, she begins to revisit the horrors of her previous competition...What will happen next? No one knows, just make sure to stay tuned into...The Program.