Finally, an update! Those two days felt like ages. That's what you get when you update your story every day, I guess. Ohhh how I enjoy writing this story. Please read and review! Thanks for all your reviews, they really help and motivate me. Enjoy!
"Octavia!" Effie ripped the poisoned plant out of Octavia's hand and threw it away quickly. She kneeled down next to her and placed a hand on her forehead. It felt extremely hot. "Have you gone mad? Did you eat that?" Octavia stared at her blankly and then slowly nodded. Effie started sobbing uncontrollably. "Shit! Octavia! This plant is lethal when eaten! You'll be dead in a few minutes!" She stood up and looked at the clear blue sky. "Peeta! Haymitch! Katniss! Anyone, please help!" she yelled. Nothing. She tried it again and again. She was waiting for the familiar beeping sound of the parachute, but it didn't come. "Help us, please!" She started sobbing even harder and sat down in the grass, defeated. She grabbed onto Octavia's hand firmly.
Felix had woken up from Effie's voice and sat down next to her. "Are you alright?" he asked. Effie's eyes shot up at the boy. This was the first time he had spoken. That poor little boy, she thought. Trapped in these murderous Games. He would either die or live a life time with guilt and nightmares. She didn't want him to have it either way. Sometimes, the living part was worse, she was once told. "Yes." Effie lied, wiped her tears from her face and put an arm around the boy's shoulder. They heard Octavia, she was trying to speak but she was unable to. Her throat was swollen.
Octavia's breathing became heavier and her face and hands were covered in a rash. "Stay alive Octavia. Help will arrive soon." she said. It was a lie. A sick, cruel lie. She didn't know if they could safe her. She just hoped. "Relax and look at the beautiful sky." She pointed upwards. "See those clouds? Amazing, aren't they? They look so soft. Like you could sleep on them for years." Effie could hardly choke her tears back. That's when Eden returned, covered in scratches from the bushes. "Hey, I got some food from the Cornucopia." He gave the fresh pieces of fruit to Effie. "What's going on?" he asked. "Is she doing worse?" Felix stared at the ground, he was as mute as before. "She's dying." Effie answered softly. Then the tears started spilling. Octavia was one of her best friends. So was Flavius. And she had lost them both within a week.
But maybe it was not too late for Octavia. When she heard a sound that made her smile from ear to ear, she jumped up and ran to the big tree. A parachute had landed on the lowest branch. She opened it; a note was attached to a small bottle that contained a purple liquid.
'Let her drink it quickly. Stay alive. –H'
She smiled up to the sky. He hadn't forgotten her. Thank you, she whispered. She turned around and ran back to the group with a smile on her face. "Octavia! I got-" Eden interrupted her. "She's gone." Effie's smile faded. "No she's not. Look I got medicine!" She held up the small bottle proudly. That's when the cannon sounded. The corners of her mouth twitched. "I'm sorry, little one." Eden said. Effie blinked a few times. It was too late. She let out a cry of defeat and threw the bottle at the big tree. It broke into a million pieces.
Effie didn't cry. She didn't wince. She didn't show any emotion nor did she talk. There were five tributes left. Sooner or later, it was her turn. She could not break up their alliance. Eden was her brother and Felix was a twelve year old boy who resembled Peeta in so many ways, aside from his deep green eyes, that it hurt. She didn't want to know what would happen if they killed the other two tributes together and had to kill one another. They would probably die from starvation or mutts, one by one. The desire to die at this point in time was overwhelming, but so was the desire to see Haymitch again.
Haymitch silently cursed himself. He had looked for the sponsors, temporarily leaving the control room behind, and he had gotten enough money to purchase the medicine and send it into the arena with the note. Usually that was Peeta's job, but the boy and Katniss were having an interview with Caesar about their tributes belonging to the final six. Haymitch had decided to stay home and help their tributes if needed. He knew Octavia wasn't one of their tributes. But when Effie had begged for the medicine, he had to give in. Sadly, the medicine had come too late to safe her life. Haymitch felt like he had failed Effie. She seemed so mad, so defeated, so tired and empty. He felt selfish because the sound of the cannon had been like music to his ears; Effie was one step closer to victory. To him.
Now, he was given the hardest of tasks he had gotten during these Games. He had to send in the birds. He called them Maysilee-birds. It was comforting and painful at the same time; the birds were as beautiful as they were lethal, just like Maysilee. It was as if she were still there. He had been too late to safe her. What if these birds killed Effie too? He didn't want to think about it. He swiped the birds he saw in front of him, in blue, 3D lines, to the small arena in the middle of the room and hoped for the best.
"Effie, have you seen the boy?" Effie looked up. "Is he gone?" Eden shrugged. "I think he is, I can't find him anywhere." Effie got a little mad at him, but decided to keep it together, as a lady should. Felix had probably decided to go off on his own, seeing as there were only five tributes left. But Effie's concern for the boy was too big to be ignored. "Then let's have a look, shall we?" she asked and stood up from the ground. As they were walking through the breath-taking forest, illuminated by the soft orange light of the sunset, they saw shadows falling over them. Quick shadows. Eden looked up. Birds. Candy-floss colored pink birds with skewer-like beaks. "Wow, those look like the birds that killed Maysilee Donner." he whispered. Effie looked up as well. Those birds were the birds that had killed Maysilee. The birds were all headed into one direction. "Felix must be there." Effie said softly and pulled Eden with her, following the mutts.
They were right. Felix was up in a tree, climbing higher and higher, fleeing from a young woman with short brown hair who was climbing a few feet below him, dangerously swaying with her sword. "Felix!" Effie yelled. Felix turned his head. "Help!" he screamed. The woman turned her head as well and her mouth formed a thin line in disgust as she took in Effie's figure. "Ah, there she is." she hissed. "The traitor. Have fun watching how I kill this little boy of yours!" Effie quickly stated that it was now or never. She had promised to herself to not kill anyone, but this was a serious situation. She grabbed the biggest knife she had from her belt and threw it in one swift move, hitting the woman in the head. Effie covered her ears and closed her eyes as Eden witnessed the woman falling from the tree and hitting the ground with the nauseating sound of bones breaking. The cannon sounded. Four.
She opened her eyes. She was glad the woman's face was turned away. The angles in her limbs already didn't seem quite right. She looked up. "You should come down now." Effie said. Felix nodded and climbed down the tree. He was soon interrupted by the birds surrounding him and pecking at his face and neck. "Felix!" she yelled, not quite knowing what to do. Eden was faster than she could think at this moment and climbed the tree as well, shooing the birds away and trying not to let them hurt him. Felix tried to smack the mutts away as they, unimpressed by Eden's movements, pecked at his neck. "Eden, climb faster! They will kill him!" Effie yelled. "I got him!" he said and climbed down the tree as fast as he could with the boy on one shoulder. The birds gave up and flew away. Effie sighed in relief. She hoped the boy was alright. As Eden walked up to her with the boy in his arms, she knew she was wrong.