Act 17
'Perception'

It had been a couple of days since I had been struck by an arrow in my right arm. I had managed to take down Gypsy even with my wound, but still the pain was starting to catch up to me. Even after desperately trying to keep it clean, it was beginning to fester. I didn't whether that was because the wound was so deep, the water I was using wasn't entirely clean itself, or a little bit of both. Either way, my arm was starting to really hurt whenever I moved it. I couldn't put any pressure on it, so that meant I had to hide my bags in a safe place instead of being able to carry them around. I was also at a disadvantage with the sword, which required two hands to wield. I was stuck using a knife, which wouldn't be good against any bigger weapon, like a sword or an axe.

"What am I going to do?" I asked myself.

I had made the large tree from before my main sleeping area. I was able to hide the food I had gathered in its branches with the bags being hidden from anyone's line of sight below. I had also climbed it enough I was able to climb it with one arm in confidence.

I laid there in the arms of the tree, looking up at the simulated night sky. It was rather calming after the past few days I had. Being stabbed with an arrow and having a flaccid arm was just the start of the list of what was wrong with me. I had also killed two tributes in a callous manner. It wasn't like me to kill me… Then again I never really given a choice to kill people in normal life, so how do I know if I am truly not a killer or not?

As if to bring me back to my senses a small beeping noise protruded my thoughts. Scanning my surroundings, I found it not to be another tribute or an obstacle sent by the Gamemakers, but instead a parachuting container with a dim red flashing light and that emitted a faded beeping hum.

"What the-"

It had not only cut off my thoughts, but cut off my speech as well as the container fell right into my lap. I could only assume I was meant to open it, though it was a rather eerie feeling. You know that saying, "Don't press the big red button"? Well I give you a new phrase, "Don't open the flying, beeping container." Catchy.

I somehow succeeded to get the container open with one hand. Over the short time of just using my left arm, I had managed to obtain some muscles in my arm. It helped a lot, I admit. Inside the container were a circular compact and a note sitting atop it.

The note read…

Calico,

Spread this on the wound on your arm. It should help with the pain. Use twice daily until you run out.

It wasn't signed, but I had a feeling that it was Weft. The note was hand-written in a bunch of scribbled letters that just seemed so… Him. I opened the compact he mentioned and found it containing a smelly blue cream. It had a rather oily appearance; not appealing at all. I really didn't want to put it on my skin in general, let alone my open wound. Still, I had gotten something from some sponsors and I wasn't going to ignore it. And it would help my arm, I would definitely take it.

The cream was cold on my arm. Not much else but that at first, though after a little bit after putting it on, the wound started to sting. I knew that stinging meant it was cleaning it out, but it hurt like a bitch. I had to bite my lower lip to the point of it bleeding to stop myself from screaming due to my arm.

As I did so, I heard a noise from aside. Looking down I realized I was right to hold back screams. I wasn't alone. Instead of being the occasional deer or squirrel I had started seeing after staying in the tree, it was a person. But of course it couldn't be the typical tribute, instead it was Helena. She was like a bad pimple, she wouldn't just go away.

She appeared to be looking for something. She stayed close to the ground, scanning the dirt for what I could only assume was a sign for whatever she was looking for. I wouldn't sound conceited saying that she was probably looking for me; me or Dezji, but probably me. I have constantly insulted her and destroyed her supplies. If I was her, I would probably hunt me too. But as if to prove me wrong, she appeared to find what she was looking for.

"You can come out now," she called out.

Some tree branches rattled and a tired-looking Marcello fell down from them, landing on the ground looking slightly disarrayed when he hit the ground.

How did I miss him?! I thought to myself.

He had been in a nearby tree and I hadn't seen him climb up there. He hadn't made himself known to me or threatened me, but still it made me a tad uncomfortable thinking he was right there.

"How did you find me?" he asked.

"You're tracks," replied Helena. "You're incredibly messy when it comes to covering them up."

Marcello nodded, as if understanding what was going on. I sat there watching in silence as they continued to stare each other down. The hostility was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. I had thought them allies, but it appeared I was wrong. At that moment they looked more like mortal enemies. No one would think they had actually worked together once.

"So why?" asked Marcello, being the first to break the silence.

"'Why' what?" asked Helena back in a snide tone.

"Why are you tracking me down?" clarified Marcello. "I thought working together would at least allow me until the final few before I was forced to confront you. I thought we were allies."

Helena scoffed.

"I don't do 'allies'," she mocked. "I do strategy. You're useless to me now, so I'm getting rid of you."

"Useless?" parroted Marcello. "I still can beat you, so how useless am I?"

Marcello went to draw his sword, but Helena beat him to it. She placed her sword against his neck, ready to behead him at any moment.

"You're pathetic," sneered Helena. "You're weak, yet you act like a strong leader-type. But you're not. You're just some yappie mutt who likes to think of them self as the big dog."

Marcello just continued to stare Helena in the eyes as she taunted him.

"I'm not the pathetic one here," said Marcello, cutting Helena off. "You're the pathetic one."

"I'm pathetic, how so?" asked Helena, amused by Marcello's accusations.

"You try to act strong, but that is just the angst," explained Marcello. "You think distancing yourself from people makes you seem tough, but that is just your fear of attaching yourself to people. You are not afraid to throw people under that bus, people who even trusted you and followed you. If it means getting yourself ahead, you'll do it. You're a cold, callous bitch and that in itself is pathetic."

Helena was furious after hearing this. I don't know why Marcello suddenly said this, but he screwed himself. As fumes poured out of Helena's ears and she let loose a battle cry, she swung the sword and cut Marcello's head clean off. It rolled along the ground, ending its roll at the truck of the tree he jumped down from.

Helena shook her head, trying to calm herself back down as she wiped of her sword with part of Marcello's jacket. After placing it back in its sheath, Helena let out a long sigh. I don't know it Marcello's death had affected her, but I know his words had. It wasn't like they were lies either and she knew that.

"Keep moving ahead, Helena," she muttered to herself.

I had barely heard her as she began to walk away. She hadn't noticed me, much to my liking. If she had noticed me, with my wound, it would have been a problem. I don't know what I would have done, but in any case scenario, I would have lost.

From the looks of the situation, Helena had left the Career alliance. If she would just willingly kill Marcello like that, she definitely quit the alliance. Meaning I didn't have to worry about her and Aur teaming up. Both were amazing fighters and I wouldn't stand a chance against both of them. With them split, I might have had a chance to knock them down one-by-one.

Like I said above, the poll isn't closed, but I will give you the stats as of this moment. Another Hunger Games fic has a 71% backing, while the Walking Dead and Game of Thrones are tied at 14%. As the Hunger Games' percentage keeps rising (I think it was 66% last time), it looks like I am going in the way of a Hunger Games fanfiction after this one finishes. I already have an idea for it involving clones. What do you think?

QUESTION: Who do you think is going to die next?

Deaths in this Chapter:

*Marcello - Placed 6th; Killed by Helena.