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The Snake

To my dismay, this is when Clio took charge. She was unhappy that I tortured her, despite the fact that I expressed my regret, although fake. I also healed her too, so I didn't get why she was so mad at me. She refused to take orders from me, and unless I wanted to be blown away by a tornado I was to do what she said. She was forgetting I could kill her in seconds.

I wanted to rip her pretty little head off.

We waited till sunrise, fully armed and expecting an attack that never came. The only people who were arriving at the cornucopia were Iowan and Sunshine. Both of them gloating about the fact that they managed to kill the mermaid girl, and we couldn't even get the measly outlier districts. After thoroughly explaining how it wasn't our fault, Iowan barely listening, they decided on a new vote of leadership. Clio.

"She managed to endure extreme pain and never once let the plan slip. She showed resilience and bravery." Sunshine had said. This brought Iowan onto her side. Theo stayed true to me, and I had a little glow of happiness. District 2's stick together.

But Theo's vote was biased; Clio is now the bitch in charge.

Her first leadership rule was to rest.

Rest.

When there were 4 powerful tributes on the loose with an agenda to kill Theo and I.

So while everyone slept I practiced my throwing knives, doing laps around the field, basically doing anything to get myself pumped up for tonight.

I had the intense urge to slit all their throats in their sleep and even had the cool blade pressed up against Clio's throat, but I needed them. For now, anyway.

By midday, Theo had emerged from his sleeping bag and took over from watch. Too keyed up to sleep though, the both of us stood guard, discussing the new change in leadership.

"Do you think that Clio will be able to track them down by tomorrow?" Theo asked me, swinging his sword and grunting with effort as he attacked an invisible opponent.

` I chewed my lip, not sure of the answer. "Well, all I know is that when the time is right for the careers to split up I'm going to be the first target. Getting me out of leadership was stage one. Clio obviously felt threatened by me last night, from what I was able to do. I just wish I left her for dead instead." I grumble. Theo nods enthusiastically; shooting glares at Clio's sleeping form.

Giggling at the silly way he was attacking the air, I effortlessly created a water-man opponent from the moisture in the air. He looked exactly like the one I made in training, and with little thought I controlled him to attack Theo.

Theo recounted his ordeal with the girls as he fought the waterman. It was difficult for him, as he had never been pitted up against me. We were strangers on the battlefield, unsure on the others technique. And of course, he was male. Therefore multi-tasking was too hard for his brain to cope.

"So Cinder is the weak link?" I muse, glad that something has come out of Theo's torture chamber. "We can exploit that…yes…definitely. Theo?" I ask, and he turns his attention away from the waterman and comes over to me. The water is quickly absorbed into the ground.

"Yes?" He asks warily, looking at me. "You're giving one of your scary evil looks that either makes me think your plotting to kill me or someone else… I hope it's not me." He jokes, still looking slightly nervous.

I laugh a mirthless laugh, and launch into my plan. Clio already had a plan of action for tonight, but that was going to have to change. She couldn't plan anything. She was from District 4 for fucks sake. How did she think she was going to capture 4 powerful tributes with a horse, a flirt and a birdboy. Me and her were the only ones with real power, and yet she couldn't even leave the field. She has to be joking.

I was going to overthrow that bitch, and make her wish she was dead.

I'm like the cute little girl that you get this sense that if you piss me off I could snap your neck, but you aren't sure if I am that deadly. Let me tell you something. I am.

We waited until nightfall and woke up our 'allies'. They weren't happy that they had slept this late, and I got a bollocking from Clio about how I had to respect her and be punctual blah blah blah. I hope my mother forgives me for what I am about to do, but it isn't my fault. Everyone can see that Clio deserves it. Right?

We suited up, even Clio which was stupid because she couldn't leave the field. I changed out of my THG t-shirt and put on a plain black one to easily blend in with the darkness. It didn't matter, however, as Sunshine was wearing a bright red dress and heels. Anyone could see her glowing in the dark a mile away. I nearly wanted to shout at her but I knew the effort was futile. Instead, while Theo was bickering with her about her retarded outfit I took his and my pack back into the cornucopia and loaded up with extra supplies. Who knew how long it would be till we came back? Along with food I also restocked on weapons. It was hard to fit a short sword into Theo's bag but I managed. Knives were easy to fit in.

If I wasn't a superhuman my bag would've caused me much difficulty in carrying, but not with my added strength no one could tell that it was heavier than before. Even with Theo's wraith-like figure he could carry his own with ease. What he didn't know is that I mostly packed the heavy stuff in his bag.

And then we were off. Clio out in front, shouting at us to keep in march formation which included us all huddled together uncomfortably and tripping into Iowans butt.

The anthem blares and Ambrosia (mermaid girl) from District 11 is shown on the screen, having been killed in the early hours of the morning. It was only day 3 and already 11 tributes had been eliminated. These games were going fast. I was just dreading when this kill streak stopped and the audience gets bored… what horrors will be unleashed then? This was an arena like no other. Sure, there have been abandoned cities and derelict towns. But none that were modern and looked as if they were still lived in, fully stocked with supplies.

That only abodes much worse things to come. If the Gamemakers are kind in one thing, they will be cruel and heartless in the other.

Feeling annoyed and disgruntled at being kept so close to Iowans smelly arse I march on ahead and join Clio.

She gives me an angry look. "Olivia! Don't disobey orders, get back in line."

I laugh flatly, and her eyes quickly lose her anger. However, she continues to glare at me.

"What are you going to do about it? Drain out my moisture and attack you with hundreds of knives…oh wait that was me soz lol." As her anger returned I left her side and joined Theo who was snickering at me.

"What?" I ask innocently. He just shakes his head continuing to laugh.

Within minutes we reach the boarder to the town. Street lamps were already on and illuminated the road in front of us. It wasn't like anything in District 2 which had cobbled streets and stone pathways, this was looking more and more like the streets of the Capitol. Pale pink road with a black strip down the middle, houses on either side of the roads looking misshapen and distorted. Some were brightly coloured with many floors, looking like Capitol homes, but further down the streets the houses seemed to get more dilapidated.

Clio turns to face the group. "You guys all know the plan. Use Theo and Liv as bait to draw out the other four and finish them off. If you fail I will finish you off, don't think I won't." I rolled my eyes at Clio's dramatic speech. We could literally just wait on the other side of the boarder and stab her with her not being able to fight back. If she really thinks she is a force to be reckoned with she needs to prove herself, and she won't be able to behind an invisible barrier.

Iowan was her second in command, so he marched us past the barrier and onto the streets.

Theo and I played along for the most part, everyone taking a house each and looking for supplies and tributes. Of course, no one would be there. Tributes who are running for their lives would not camp so close to the careers. They're scared not stupid.

After we had fully cleared out the street and were heading to the next one a canon went off.

Immediately all four of us drew our weapons and poised for attack. But even without Theo's superhuman hearing I knew no one was coming after us. The danger had passed.

After another 5 hours of searching houses and coming up with nothing we picked a blue coloured house to camp in for the rest of the night and continue during the daylight hours.

A quick breakfast of cold beans we were up and armed. Sunshine had finally stopped complaining about how much her heels had hurt and gave in to wearing combat boots. Who knew that she could go from Goth to Girly in a matter of days?

Before we left the building I climbed out of the top window and onto the roof, Theo hovering just above it while we scouted out the area around us. We had just about gone half way through the town, but it would take us days to search every single house. We would have to get a new tactic.

I had joined Sunshine and Iowan and was telling them about what I saw when Theo swooped down, an excited look in his dark eyes.

"Omg guys guess what? I am like the king of tributes and birds and shit. So basically, with my awesome eyes I managed to see a street at the very very edge of the town. But it's the houses of us like the tributes! Our names and district numbers are stamped on the front doors. I saw my house! It's next door to yours Liv! I think there will be some homesick tributes camped out there, or at the very least waiting for tributes to come along and kill. How amazing am I? Let's go kill some bitches!" Theo exclaimed in excitement, barely pausing for breath.

"What do you think?" Iowan asks Sunshine and I. We share a look, and she chews on her lips nervously.

"We can't know what the tributes will do or where they will go. There has been no arena like this. There are unlimited places to find shelter, supplies in every house and running water. Which, by the way, we all need to use because we stink. There is no knowing where the tributes are and what they are capable of. But… what do we have to lose?" Sunshine said, and I nodded in agreement. I was almost impressed, she did have a brain!

But under Sunshine's orders we all trudged back into the house to have showers. There weren't enough towels so I went next door to a yellow house to get more.

Unlike the other homes we had broken into, the door was unlocked. Warily I pushed the door open with the toe of my shoe and gripped a knife tightly, my hands sweaty on the bone handle. The house was dark, all the curtains drawn over the windows. By the door was an umbrella stand but instead of holding umbrellas there were swords kept in sheaths. Mud was tracked throughout the house on its wooden floor. The yellow sitting room was deserted, but once again unlike a nice neat set up it was a mess with mud and cushion stuffing strewn about. The kitchen floor was littered with broken glass that crunched beneath my feet and the cupboards were bare.

Someone had been here. Recently.

I followed my instinct and tread quietly upstairs. All the doors were closed, and fake names were written on each door in cursive writing: Mum Candy's room; Kyle's room.

I stood in the hall way examining each door. Someone had to of been here. They might still be here. And if I opened one door and it was the wrong one, they could hear me and be gone. If I got the right one… I would be able to catch them by surprise and kill them.

I took a deep breath and went for the door furthest away from the staircase, and Kyle's room.

The room was typically a teenage boys. Clothes strewn about the floor, books on a shelf collecting dust, a sword here and there. But inside, sleeping in the bed was no teenage boy. Not even a tribute.

I couldn't even hold in my gasp; which was my downfall.

Slowly, awoken by the noise, the creature lifted its head and turned to look at me. Its red beady eyes seemed to hold me in place, and all I could do was watch in horror as the 15 ft long snake casually made its way towards me.

And that was where I saw the snake cage in the corner of the room. Holy motherfucking shit.

I ran. I skipped the stairs completely, jumping over the banister and onto the landing below. I raced through the kitchen, knocking over all sorts of pots and pans.

And when I got to the door did I realise it was a nasty trick by the Gamemakers, trying to kill me, ME OFF!

Revitalised with renewed fury, my hair whips around me in a furious, crazed storm. My scales emerge, better than any armour invented. I withdraw two wickedly curved knives and hold them in my hand, waiting for the snake to emerge.

It slithers slowly through the building, its body coiling upon itself as it waits at the threshold of the kitchen. I don't move a muscle, my legs taut and ready to pounce at any moment. I was no longer a tribute, a regular human girl. I was a vicious bloodthirsty mutant, and I would show everyone at home what I was capable of.

The huge snake hissed at me, opening its mouth to reveal fangs as long as my forearm, each fang singularly dripping with venom of a different colour. They must not all kill me, or that would be no fun I rationalize desperately. But if that thing gets a hold of me, 5 venoms would be injected into me at once and I would have no chance of living, mutant or not.

And before I could gauge any more dangers of this creature, or even one weakness, it sprung at me, fangs outstretched.

I leaped out the way and the snakes teeth got stuck in the door frame. I rushed to the snakes midsection and prepared myself to cut it in half, but its body was moving around me. It was too late for me to move before I realised what was happening. The snake had coiled its body around me, squeezing me tighter as he used me as an anchor to pull him off the door frame. My waist was completely encased and I could barely move. One knife remained in my belt which I was unable to reach and my other remaining knife was held up above me and away from the snake and its body.

With just one knife the body was too thick to just chop, I would have had to saw through it. The only way out of this mess was to behead it. Its face still occupied on the door, the snakes body twists tighter around my waist, making it harder and harder for me to breathe. My armour has no power here, being as bendy and flexible as I. Black dots flicker in my vision as I struggle to breathe. I push down on the body, trying to force my way out but it only results in a sickening crunch from my thigh.

I couldn't hold it in anymore, I screamed.

The snake, so startled by the noise, dislodged its fangs from the door and whipped its head towards me curiously, as though he had forgotten I was there.

Drained, starved of oxygen and in pain, I stab my knife wherever there is room for me to stab. The snake writhes and hisses, its grip on me loosening. I take my chance.

I plunge the knife deep into the midsection of the snake and it screeches in pain, quickly turning on me in anger. The grip once again tightens, but this time the snake comes towards me, fangs outstretched to take a bite.

The knife embedded within the snake is behind me, moved along by the twisting and tightening of the snake. I grab the snake's neck with one hand, gripping as hard as I could and holding the beast at bay while I scavenged for the knife.

My hand grasping the hilt I manage to extract the blade in a wave of congealed blood, splashing me.

The snake writhes in pain and tries to attack with renewed force. I raise my hand above my head and with as much force as I could muster I bring the curved knife down.

The head lands to the ground with a sickening thump, but not before one of its fangs scrapes my arm on its way down, cutting through my scales. They are turning out to be not as good as I thought they were.

"FUCK!" I scream, examining the shallow cut.

The snake body loses its tension and hold on me, and I easily push the body off from around me.

I try to walk towards the door. I hold in a desperate cry for help and pull myself together.

I give myself a self-assessment.

Knee cap dislocated. Venom coursing through veins. Bruises forming on waist and thighs. Welt on forehead.

I was fine. I would live.

Using the snake's dead body as a cushion I throw myself onto it, taking a deep sigh of pleasure from the brief relief.

That was until I heard an ominous crashing from upstairs. There better not be another fucking creature in another one of those fucking bedrooms.

But no, it was birdboy, stumbling down the stairs with a pink bra hooked onto one of his wings. He didn't seem to notice and I didn't feel inclined to tell him so.

He took one look at me and laughed. Real laughing. Bent at the knees, gasping for air laughing. It was a nice sound.

But instead of joining him I scowled and pointed at my leg.

"Give me a lift then birdboy, I can't walk." He cocks his head slightly, examining me, with a faint little smile on his face.

"The door locked itself and we couldn't get in for ages. Iowan was hopeful that you left the alliance, but I knew you wouldn't do that without me, right Liv?"

I nod. "Right. And I didn't even bring my pack with me, so obviously didn't try leave. Still got our plan too, right?"

This time Theo nods, still chewing his lip in a thoughtful way. He bends down and scoops me up like I weighed nothing, and rushed up the stairs.

"What about the front door. I was right next to it; it was a more obvious choice than jumping out the window you fucktard." I grumble.

Theo laughs and continues to proceed upstairs. We walk into the non-snake room, which was a girl's bedroom. Fluffy pink pillows everywhere and makeup. Suddenly aware of how ugly I look I almost have the urge to take some. But as we walk past a mirror I am once again shocked at my appearance.

What I once thought was makeup, or tattoos which could be removed, I now see that they are permanent markings, the swirls and patterns are no longer still but ever changing. I see a snake slide around the markings before it is gone. They are now jet black like overblown eyelashes, with tear-dropped shaped rubies blunting the pointed ends, like droplets of blood.

"What are you looking at?" Theo asks, looking at me weirdly. I realise that my face is in total awe of what I have become. I am beautiful, in a macabre way.

"Don't you see?" I ask, pointing to my eyes. And Theo grins, full of smiles and dimples.

"I thought you already knew about it! Mine are like that too!" and his face joins mine in the reflection of the mirror.

Instead of swirls of what was once on his face have gone. Now, the black markings come out from his eyes like an extended pair of wings, beating as if in flight. Each feather quivers, and if I look deeper I could probably see a story of his time here. I looked away, not wanting to see him tortured. Imagining it was horrible enough.

Theo must have taken me pulling away as a different sign, and turned from the mirror, not before I saw the hurt in his eyes.

"Theo..."

"We should go." And without another word he scooped me up and we were out of the building and into the fresh air, the wind on my face.

It felt free, but in the Hunger Games there was nothing called freedom.