Blaine Abernathy: A Canary Caged
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games
Chapter 13: Tracker Jackers
Blaine's POV
I felt someone gently stroke my nose in a smooth rhythmic motion. Only one person I knew liked to tease me like that. I stirred a little, opening my eyes to see Finnick by the couch. He gave a comforting smile.
I tried to remember what happened last night, then remembered that Finnick and I stayed at The Gamemaker's headquarters while Haymitch got some rest. Haymitch had been working hard in trying to keep Katniss alive. Last night Katniss received some burn ointment. Meanwhile, Peeta was camping with the Careers, watching Katniss.
I felt the tension since Peeta made this alliance. When Careers form an alliance with another district…those tributes don't tend to last. Many die before reaching the final five since the Career will kill them quickly. Peeta must be careful.
It was still late that Finnick, and I took one of the spare lounges for the Victors. We mainly watched the Games and talked. We talked until falling asleep. It was normal when this happened. I don't know how many times Finnick, and I have slept on the couch these last several years. I know that I barely have nightmares when I'm next to someone I trust. Yet it doesn't stop all the dreams.
Finnick sat up and stretched. I sat up as well, adjusting my clothes. Finnick looked at me as he cradled my cheek, his thumb wiping away a tear.
"You had a nightmare, almost mumbling Mike's name." He murmured.
Mike, I thought sadly.
I sighed; the past will never let me go. As I dreamt about Michael. I don't recall much, but they were good memories before the games. Sometimes I wonder if Michael's reaping was rigged just like mine. Not to punish Haymitch with me but to torture me to go in the arena with my best friend. It was undetermined. In the end, I was alone until Finnick stepped in.
Finnick, with his observation, wrapped his arm around me and gave me a brotherly hug. He knew everything about me, from fears to nightmares. Who I despise, those I care about, compared to the other Victors. We first met during his victory tour for the Sixty-Fifth Hunger Games at the Victory Banquet in District 12. He just turned fifteen years old, who was adjusting as a Victor. I was Haymitch's plus one. We talked as I tried to comfort him until Mags had to take him. I never saw him again until I was Reaped for the Sixty-Ninth Hunger Games. Mainly from afar, but it wasn't until after my Game…after the remake Finnick found me on the roof. I was sobbing, grieving after everything I had done, and Finnick merely sat down next to me and held me. Whispering that everything will be challenging but it will get better.
However, the first year was the hardest. I was suicidal, abused alcohol, and was given drugs by my prep team. Haymitch managed to stop the self-harm, but Finnick saved me from self-medication. He prevented an accidental overdose. And when I turned eighteen, it was Finnick who tried to guide me through prostitution when President Snow drafted me into that practice.
We were bound.
Although our relationship is platonic, I don't think I would have survived this Secret Game without him. I tried to help him the best I could. Whispering secrets that he could use if he ever needed them. We were each other's secret keepers. If anything were to happen to us, there would be some sort of justice.
"Thanks," I whispered, folding the blanket. Pulling out the tablet to see the time, I discovered it was almost seven O'clock. The Game was about to begin again. Or at least the live streaming for the public broadcast. There were many channels and networks that showed their version of the Games.
Finnick waved to the Avox asking for breakfast. The Avox nodded as she left to fetch us food. No doubt in an hour, we would probably head back to the Training Center to freshen up before returning to the Bettings. I focused on the screen that had our tributes on it.
The screens started with Katniss waking up when she heard a whisper. She looked up to see the girl from District Eleven, Rue. The girl pointed at something above Katniss, something big, rounded, and deadly. A mutation that has been created during the Dark Days to use as a landmine. A very common mutt, one whose sting is very fatal. A deadly pest. Tracker Jackers.
Katniss was shocked, fear written in her eyes. Rue pointed at the nest, then down at the Careers. This girl was brilliant, and if Katniss understood, they had a natural bomb that could eliminate the Careers. Also, there is a high risk of losing Peeta.
The screen changed to Claudius and Caesar, ready to give commentary on the games.
Caesar pointed at the screen, "Claudius, I think those are Tracker Jackers? Am I wrong?"
"Oooh, Those things are very lethal." Claudius cooed with a sigh, leaning back in his chair.
"Very." Caesar agreed.
The screen behind them started showing a three-dimensional model of a tracker jacker with information about the wasp.
"To those of you who don't know, tracker jackers are genetically engineered wasps whose venom causes searing, powerful hallucinations, and in extreme cases, death!" Caesar explained in a hush, like it was a secret between life and death.
In this case . . . both.
I sat back down on the couch with worry. If this idea of an ambush succeeds, it will lead to much trouble for Haymitch and me. In other words, the victory's blame game. It was prevalent. The Career victors would usually pull this act when their tribute was killed by underdogs from district seven and up. Damn it, if District 1 tribute dies, Cashmere would have my head. Oh well, I dealt with her before. Guess I'll deal with her in a catfight later.
Finnick and I watched the screen in what was taking place. We watched Katniss climb the tree after checking her leg to see if the burn was almost gone. She sighed, grabbed her knife, and started cutting the groove. I had a bad feeling, for if her plan succeeded, then Peeta would die. A sacrifice to make that would leave a heavy burden. Finnick grabbed my hand, for he knew what would happen since his last tribute was in the Game, he lost the boy, and soon he would lose Tara Waves.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
When those words came out, Katniss made the final cut, and the nest fell to the ground, breaking like an egg. The Tracker Jackers burst out in furious rage, stinging whoever was in sight! The Careers woke up instantly, trying to get away from the wasps. However, getting stung in a frenzy. Peeta and some bolted up and ran crying out to the river.
Except Glimmer was trapped in the Tracker Jackers swarm, stinging everywhere around her in multiple areas. Glimmer screamed in horror, swatting them away with her bow, but it didn't work. She calls out for Tara, who is trying to escape, but Tara ignores her and runs in the opposite direction. Tara was brilliant as she ran in a zigzag pattern through the bushes, as the wasp lost track of her.
Finnick and I watch Glimmer fall to the ground. She twitched hysterically around for a few minutes and then . . . died. Well, not yet, for the venom was coursing through her veins, shutting down her immune system and poisoning the bloodstream. The sight of the girl from District 1 was different compared to Lapis. Glimmer's body was disfigured. Her entire body was swollen, covered in disgusting lumps that ooze green liquid that was the venom.
So much for the pretty girl! I thought bitterly.
"I think I'm going to be sick," I mumbled.
"Same here," Finnick agreed.
Back to the screen, Katniss came down the tree once the area was cleared from the wasps. She approached Glimmer the moment the girls' cannon went off. Something was wrong with Katniss. She no longer seemed focused, as she seemed to be stoned. Probably from a couple of stings she received from cutting down the nest. Katniss yanked the bow out of Glimmer's hand with difficulty. Once she obtained the precious weapon and ammunition, she collapsed backward.
"Get up," I growled at the screen. "Damn it, get up!"
When somebody came out of the bushes, Katniss took a deep breath, knocking the slim arrow to the bow. She was dazed to see Peeta, who was desperately running towards her. He was drenched from head to toe. He must have jumped in the river to avoid the Tracker Jackers that chased the Careers.
"What are you still doing here?" He hissed at an uncomprehending girl. "Are you mad?" He pushed her to stand up. Forcing her up on her feet. "Get up! Get up!" Katniss, still confused, tried to get up while he pushed her away. "Run!" Peeta screams at her. "Run!"
Cato comes out, slashing his sword through the brush. He was wet and badly injured around his eyes to see clearly. Katniss nodded and ran for her life, tripping her way to escape. Once out of view, the camera focused on Cato and Peeta.
"You Traitor!" Cato bellowed out, approaching Peeta. "You told us she was weak. That she won't hurt us!"
"I didn't know, Cato!" Peeta lied, grabbing his spear, ready to attack.
Cato stormed forward with his sword, ready for the kill. I clenched Finnick's hand, knowing I was going to lose Peeta. Finnick gave a squeeze as Cato swung. But Peeta dodged in time . . . sort of, for Cato cut his left leg deep. Peeta cried in agony, clutching his leg, blood spewing everywhere in the dirt. Cato got his bearings and adjusted his sword.
"Die," he growled.
When he said that, Tara burst out of the bushes with her ax! She charged at Cato, ready for the kill, but the Career turned around and stabbed her in the torso. Finnick yelled 'no,' for he lost his last tribute. Cato seemed not so surprised at all in killing another ally as he yanked the blade up. Tara lowered the ax and touched her torso to feel the blood oozing out of her. Her hand was covered in red. She looked up at Cato, Peeta, and afterward back at her hand. Cato seems surprised that she didn't fall and die already.
Evaluating the location of the wound, she would most likely die from blood loss. Cato sighed, turning around to face Peeta, who was getting up. However, he shouldn't turn his back on the enemy. Tara lifted her ax and smacked Cato with the blunt end in the blade. Immediately, the boy from District 2 fell unconscious. Peeta stood up quickly and ran up to Tara, wrapping an arm around her as they ran away from the area.
The scene changes to show Katniss, who is running as she stumbles. She staggers, smacking into trees, stopping from time to time to see thin air. Like something unique or strange was happening before her. She was a good few miles away from the tracker jackers before stopping and staring in a daze. She tilted her head confused.
Oh no, she's hallucinating, I thought.
A pop-up of Caesar came on the screen, narrating what was happening, "Not only is it lethal, but the venom of a tracker jacker sting can produce powerful hallucinations."
"Katniss!" Rue called out from the trees.
But Katniss didn't respond as she looked at her hand and screamed. Like there was something on her hand. The Girl on Fire ran screaming before she fell into a pit. I winced at the impact. The last thing that happened before the commercial was Katniss tucking her knees to her chin and fainting.
.o0o.
Finnick and I hardly talked for a moment. We tried to absorb what happened in the private room, waiting for the Game to turn on. It was noon, and everyone was buzzing about the recaps for those who missed the early spectacular. I felt sorry for Finnick as he walked around the room, muttering how he had to confront Tara's family as well as the boy's family. I felt the same guilt, how I must confront the Mellark. For the death of Peeta, to give my condolences to Mr. Mellark and his two sons. Mrs. Mellark, on the other hand, I'll have a personal discussion.
It wasn't long before the Game focused on Tara and Peeta as they reached the river. Peeta settled her by the rocks, bending down and opening her blue jacket. He lifted her shirt and showed a deep cut that was four inches long.
"Why did you save me?" Peeta asked.
"Cause . . . we're . . . allies." Tara panted and groaned. "Want to . . . ah, avenged Ethan."
Finnick stopped watching this. So, the thirteen-year-old boy's name was Ethan. Tara grabbed her neck, pulling out a rope necklace. The center was a carved bone, a fishhook. She stared at her token with dark glazed eyes as tears fell on her tan face that became pale.
Then she looked up to Peeta, "Take me to the water . . . I want to feel the water . . . one last time."
Peeta nodded as he carried Tara to the river and settled her in the water. A smile graced Tara's face to feel the water against her skin while Peeta supported her, ignoring the pain he was going through. He cried silently, knowing his ally was going to die.
Tara smiled, touching his face, "You had been…. a good…ally…Peeta."
Tara stared at her fishhook and did the unexpected. She sang:
"The king and his men
Stole the queen from her bed
And bound her in her Bones.
The seas be ours
And by the powers
Where we will we'll roam.
''''
Yo, ho, haul together,
Hoist the colors high.
Heave ho, thieves and beggars,
Never shall we die."
Tara smiled slightly, shedding her last tear, staring at Peeta. "Never shall… we . . . die…"
Tara gazed in an emotional stare, and the cannon went off. Tara Wave, the girl from District 4, died in an attempt to save Peeta and avenge her district tribute, Ethan. I felt sorry for her as she sang to her death. At least she accepted it and died in her environment of water.
As tears fell down my face, for the honorable girl. Peeta seemed to feel the same as he closed her brown eyes and let her float in the water for some time before a hovercraft appeared in the sky, ready to collect her body. Peeta knew he had to leave Tara's body, so he let go of her remains. Let her drift off into the river. He placed three fingers to his lips and raised them into the air as a crane collected Tara.
Finnick stood there, not moving a single muscle. I feared that he was arguing with himself. So, I got up and gave him a hug from behind. He stiffened at first before relaxing and turning around to hug me. We stayed like this, comforting each other until it was time for recaps. We sat down, listening to Caesar and Claudius discuss the excellent Tracker Jacker fiasco and how clever Katniss and Rue were. Then they discussed the sad song that Tara sang. How strong-willed she was to defy death long enough.
We were surprised that they showed a clip of what was happening in District 4, in their town square. As the locals were singing the same song that Tara sang. The Peacekeepers were there, yet the citizens stood in the square singing the song in unison until another commercial popped up.
"Finnick, what does that song mean?" I asked.
"It's nothing," Finnick said, standing up. "I have to go back to District Four. I'll see you whenever, so try not to get in trouble. Especially with guys. I don't mind breaking a few jaws."
"Oh, Finn! That won't happen anymore," I chuckled. "Say hi to Annie and Mags for me."
"Yeah, see ya, Yellow." Finnick laughed, waving his hand as he left.
Although Tara's injuries weren't severe for a simple remake. Finnick will be leaving tomorrow morning with both the remains of Ethan and Tara. He will have to meet with the parents and give his condolences and the trauma the families have gone through. He will give a speech to the families about the grievance package. A year's worth of supplies to compensate for their loss. But grain, oil, and random ingredients don't replace the loss of a life.
I shook my head, sat down, and rested my head in my hands. Then I looked at the screen to see Peeta on the ground, dazed at the water where Tara was. I felt sorry for him since I knew what pain he felt. To lose an ally so soon and stay with them till their dying breath.
I grabbed my tablet, going through the catalog to find him some supplies and something for comfort. As I clicked on a basic medical kit, a mirror, and some bread. It all cost five thousand dollars. I can do nothing about the laceration on his leg since the medicine for that was over fifty thousand dollars, and he would want Katniss to win. So, I sent him some bread and the essentials, with a note.
A small silver parachute fell, and he caught it. He opens it to see a few rolls, the first aid kit, and a mirror. He grabbed the message and read it aloud.
"I'm sorry. Stay strong, and don't give up." Peeta read aloud. "Use the mirror to hide. -B"
Peeta paused as he stared at the mirror, wondering what I meant. He mentioned during training that he found camouflage useful. He is in an area with enough resources to camouflage. He can use the mirror to help him disguise his face with his environment. It took a moment, realizing what I meant, and smiled softly.
"Thanks, Blaine," Peeta sighed in relief. "At least you got my back."
He ate one roll before hiding the rest in his jacket. Then he started doing his specialty, camouflaging himself into the earth. I sighed, leaning back on the couch. There was no use. I can feed Peeta long enough to sustain him before he dies from blood loss or poisoning.
Great, just great.
Hope you like the chapter.
Song used, "Hoist the Colors," from POTC At World's End.
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