Chapter Four: The Game
(Warning! Mention of killing and violence!)
Flora was woken up earlier along with Katniss and Peeta. They had breakfast early. They had to be quick. Flora could feel her heart racing against her chest. She could barely even stomach food. She forced herself to eat anyway. Everyone was silent.
"Any last advice?" Katniss asks Haymitch.
"Stay alive." He spoke. Flora didn't know whether to laugh at that or cry. She managed to finish her food. Taking a last drink of the apple juice she had come to love. Looking around to remember all the faces that were part of the team.
"It's time." Effie spoke. They all looked at each other before following Effie out of the penthouse and down the elevator. There was no smiling or laughing. No one was speaking. There was so much emotion in the air. Flora huffed a couple times. Trying to compose herself. It seemed like everyone was in their own thoughts. Hearing the loud cheering meant they had arrived. Flora looked around. There were several more people chanting and what not. There were even more rainbow flags everywhere. She forced a weak smile and waved at her supporters who were cheering her on. She felt her heart fall again. Katniss, Peeta, and Flora were all herded into a car. Hearing the door slam shut. Katniss was on her left as Effie was on her right. She felt her hand being squeezed. Her tunnel vision looked at her hand. The other hand had a pink glove on it. Flora returned the squeeze only to hear a sigh on her right. The car ride did not seem to take that long. They came upon a large empty parking lot area with a hovercraft waiting for them. They exited the car. The sun seemed to be beating down very little heat at the moment. The other tributes were on the hovercraft and were waiting for district twelve to enter. They didn't have to wait long.
"Well, this is where I leave you." Effie spoke. Flora felt her heart fall yet again. Watching the woman give Katniss and Peeta a hug before they left for the hovercraft. Flora's eyes were on Effie's now. They lowered when Effie raised her hands and took something off her top. Reaching over and placing it upon Flora's jacket.
"Your flower pin?" Flora was confused. Effie had placed a rainbow flower pin on her arena jacket.
"Yes. Well. I want you to have it." Effie spoke. Flora then gave Effie a hug. A tight one. Hearing a sniffle from Effie as she pulled away.
"It's alright Effie." Flora reassured Effie with a smile. She could have sworn Effie's eyes were watering before she turned away. She climbed aboard the hovercraft and took a seat next to Katniss. She began to have tunnel vision again. Frowning seemed to be a comfort thing now upon her face.
"Everyone here? Good. Let's go!" The woman shouted. The door closed. The hovercraft took flight. They were now going to the arena. Flora frowned. It seemed like it was going to be the last time she saw the Capitol woman.
"Arm." The woman asked as Flora raised her arm. Feeling a pinch from the needle. She winced a little from it. "Trackers! So we can know where everyone is at all times. It also tells us about your health. If you die. It will tell us so we can sound the canon." The woman explained. Flora rubbed her arm where the tracker was inserted. It hurt. She had a feeling it would be sore for a few days at least. Watching as the other tributes get their tracker as well.
The hovercraft had finally landed. They were inside some sort of building. They filed out and were led separate ways. Flora was led by a man in white suit. Her hand went to the pin she now had. Frowning at the touch before she entered a room. There was a tube.
"Go inside." He spoke. She nodded and stood in it. She remembered Haymitch telling them to not leave the pedestal until the timer was done or they would be blown sky high. Taking a deep breath as she was starting to feel scared. Her heart was racing as she was trying to calm herself. Her breathing was getting hard and short.
"Ladies and gentlemen." A voice spoke. "Welcome to the 74th annual Hunger Games!" He boomed as the tube sent her up. There was a blinding light before she could make out her surroundings. She looked around and saw the other tributes who were all also looking around. She spotted Katniss and then Peeta. Peeta shook his head at Katniss who was looking at the Cornucopia. Flora followed Katniss' line of sight and spotted the bow and arrows. She shook her head at Katniss as well.
"Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor." The computerized voice spoke as the timer went down. Hearing what she thought was an air horn or maybe her ears were ringing. Watching the tributes scatter. Flora spotted a backpack near her. She sprinted. So fast as she felt weapons already flying past her ear. She skidded on her knees, grabbing the bag before standing up. Feeling a sharp pain in her shoulder as a knife was flung at her. She turned and saw the career girl smirking at her.
'Clove' She spoke to herself as another knife was flung at her. She raised her bag and the knife stabbed it. Two knives. She turned her heel and ran. Fast as her legs could carry her. Seeing the other tribute could not keep up and had given up.
She didn't bother to stop running. Her lungs were hurting and felt like they were on fire. Smacking right into someone before falling over. Hearing a soft gasp as she looked up. It was Rue.
"Please don't hurt me!" Rue spoke as Flora raised her hands.
"I won't. Allies?" Flora raised her hand over for Rue to shake. In her relief, Rue shook it.
"Let's find a safe tree to hide in." Rue spoke as she nodded. Both of them ran again in the direction away from the bloodbath. It took several moments before they finally found a decent tree. Watching Rue climb it with ease as Flora followed. Wincing at the pain in her shoulder. They reached a good point high in the tree before sitting down. It was starting to get dark out.
"Is it deep?" Rue asked.
"Huh?" Flora asked. She then realized that Rue was pointing at her shoulder. She wasn't in pain. Maybe it was the adrenaline that was keeping her going.
"No idea." Flora spoke as she touched it. Now it was hurting.
"Let me." Rue spoke as she grabbed it and pulled it out. Flora grunted and bit her wrist to keep her from shouting. Small trail of blood was coming from the wound.
"It's clean and shallow. Here." Rue spoke as she pulled out some leaves and moss. Setting the moss in her wound and pressing the leaves on it.
"Thank you." Flora spoke, sighing a little. Then it happened. The canons went off. Flora was counting each canon that went off. Exactly half of the tributes were killed in the bloodbath.
"That's a cute pin." Rue spoke while pointing at her chest. "Who gave you that?"
"Someone who I care about." Flora spoke. She didn't want to say Effie's name just in case.
"So, is it true? Do you have feelings for Katniss?" Rue asked with a smile.
"Well, Katniss is my best friend. Sometimes you cannot help how you feel. " Flora chuckled a little. Knowing full well that the cameras were watching their every move. She knew she had to keep up the stupid little game that Peeta forced her hand into. She pulled out her bag and began to go through it. A water bottle. A sleeping bag. Rope. Pair of gloves. Weird. Iodine. A poncho. Mortar and pestle. A few plastic looking tubes. 'Was this meant for her?' She asked herself. It was weird. It was like it was made for someone like her.
"What's this?" Rue picked up the iodine.
"It's called iodine. You can use it to purify water." She explained.
"That's good. Now we have to find water and food soon." Rue spoke as Flora nodded.
Night had fallen. They were lucky they found a river near the tree they picked. Rue had made a makeshift nest in the tree. It camouflaged them in the tree perfectly. Flora had found a decent amount of edible berries as Rue got water. Using the iodine in it. They made their way back into the tree and listened.
"Get some rest. I'll take the first watch." Flora spoke as Rue nodded and curled up against her. It seemed like hours. Flora saw a flickering of light. Someone had lit a fire. 'How dumb.' She thought. An ear piercing scream broke the night silence. Rue jumped up as Flora grabbed her and pulled her back down.
"Shhh. It's okay! Someone lit a fire a ways from here. I assume the careers got her." Flora explained as Rue settled down and went back to sleep.
"She went this way." Peeta's voice spoke.
"Come on lover boy!" The voice of Glimmer spoke as Flora looked over the edge. It was an alliance that was formed between the careers. Of course it already happened and Peeta was part of it. Flora frowned. Maybe Peeta had a motive or maybe he was with them for protection for now. Whatever his reason was, Flora did not like it. She then laid down next to Rue. Starting at the sky. Then, loud and clearly, the Capitol's anthem began. Showing the faces of the fallen in the night sky. Katniss was not one of them. Sighing softly as she turned to her side and drifted off to sleep. Her hand on her pin again.
Flora felt heat. It was getting hotter and hotter. She jolted awake and looked around.
"Rue wake up!" Flora shouted while shaking the girl awake. "Come on! We have to go!" Flora shouted as Rue was finally awake and already climbing down. Flora grabbed the bag and followed Rue. The fire was spreading quickly. She stopped and looked behind her. Rue was far behind.
"Here! Climb up!" She bent down as Rue climbed on her back. She made a mad dash away from the fire. It seemed to be keeping up. Hearing the trees fall and crash around them. She could hear Rue coughing.
"Hold on just a little longer!" She shouted while taking a sharp turn. The fire was then moving into a different direction. They came upon some bigger trees again. Across the river this time.
"There she is!" She heard shouting and spun on the spot. Rue still on her back. Katniss was in the water. She saw the career pack go after her. Flora felt her heart fall as Katniss made a run for it.
"Come on Flora! We have to hide!" Rue's voice brought her back as she turned and ran in the opposite direction. She set Rue down. They found another tree and began to climb. This time, she helped Rue make a makeshift bed again. Well hidden again.
"Okay, I'm going to find some plants to make some medicine. Will you look for berries?" Flora asked as Rue nodded. She slid down the tree and watched Rue go silently into nearby bushes. Flora sighed a little while staying in the immediate area. She found more than she wanted. Grabbing the flowers, seeds, plants, leaves. She even found some poisonous flowers. Raising a brow at them before she returned to the tree and climbed back up it. It seemed Rue was also successful.
"Nice haul." Flora smiled at Rue who returned the smile.
"You too." She spoke as she handed Flora the mortar and pestle. Flora began to crush the leaves and seeds and what not that she had found. Making juice before pouring the contents into one of the tubes and making sure it was sealed.
"What's that?" Rue asked.
"It's a numbing agent. Very weak but enough to dull the pain a little." Flora explained as she placed the bottle into the bag. "Next is an antibiotic just in case. It takes longer to make." She spoke as she started. Hearing a small beeping sound. Flora looked up and around. Wondering where it was coming from.
"There." Rue pointed above her head. Flora looked and saw a small metal looking container with a small parachute. She stood up and grabbed the case. Sitting back down as she opened it up.
Don't waste it. -Haymitch
Inside was a smaller container. She opened it and sniffed it. It was odorless. She gently poked it and it was cold. It was a jelly-like substance. 'Oh.' Flora smiled and she removed the leaves and moss from her wound. Cleaning it out as much as she could. Rue poured some water on her wound as it was now clean. She took a finger and placed it in the medicine. Then smearing it on the knife wound.
"Oh. It's medicine. I've seen that before but only in the training infirmary. It's a healing gel." Rue explained. She could already feel it working as the cooling sensation was spreading in the wound. A few canons were sounded. She felt her heart beating fast again. The heat seemed to be getting to her. She leaned back against the tree and sighed. Watching Rue put the medicine into the bag. Flora went back to making her own medicine before finishing up. Setting the items into the bag as she took off the gloves as well. It seemed like the day and night cycle in the arena were short. She laid back down as the anthem began again. Showing a few more faces in the sky.
"I'm so tired." Rue spoke as Flora nodded in agreement. She laid down next to Rue again as the girl snuggled against her. Watching her fall asleep as Flora was still awake. Not sure if she was going to be able to sleep.
Morning had come quickly as night had fallen. The sun was high in the sky as she was on the ground looking around. She moved some branches around to make some noise traps to alert them in the night just in case. She heard a branch snap. She froze. Holding a knife in her palm. Turning in time to see a spear fly past her head. She was quick. Too quick for her own liking as she flung the knife. Hitting the boy square in the chest. Watching the boy drop to the ground as a canon went off. Flora picked up the knife and cleaned it off. Then it hit her. She had killed someone. She fell to her knees. Her face was pale white as all the blood had drained from it. Her chest heaving as she was losing her breath. Her eyes started watering. The tears began to fall.
I…I'm so sorry!" She cried out. Holding the boy's arm tightly. Rue had found her and rested a hand on her shoulder.
"He was trying to kill you." Rue spoke softly. Flora shook her head. She killed someone. Her first kill. It was making her heart break. "We have to move. There is bound to be more near." Rue spoke as she tried to get Flora to stand up. Flora did. She wiped her eyes to dry her tears. She looked around and found flowers. Daisies. She picked several of them and placed them into the boy's hand. Making sure his eyes were closed.
"I'm so sorry." She spoke again. Her voice broke as the tears came again.
"Come on!" Rue's voice shouted as she dragged Flora away from the area. She grabbed the bag and followed Rue down another path. Seeing the hovercraft come out of the sky with a claw. It picked the boy up and carried him out of the arena. She was most definitely not going to be able to sleep now. She was wondering how Katniss was doing. If Peeta had found her or not. Or if the careers did. She pushed the thoughts back as they made their way down another area. Flora grabbed branches with leaves before following Rue up a tree. Helping Rue make another makeshift bed again. Rue pushed some berries into her hand to eat.
"You need to eat." Rue whispered. Flora absentmindedly ate the berries. Was this worth it? Killing innocent people in the game? It was already costing her. Would people think differently of her now? She had killed someone so she could live. It felt wrong. Hearing a few more cannons go off. It felt like it was only a matter of days before the game would end. Sighing lightly at the thought of that.
"Wake up!" Rue's voice spoke as Flora snapped awake and sat up. Seeing the girl place a finger upon her lips and pointed. Flora followed the line of sight and saw. It was Katniss in the other tree. Flora's eyes went wide as she looked down. The careers were asleep below them. Katniss had spotted them. Flora looked around as she heard buzzing. She stopped in horror. Trackerjacks. Genetically modified wasps made by the capitols. Deadly in a swarm. If stung too many times can kill you. One sting will cause you to hallucinate. She saw Rue make hand movements to Katniss who was looking confused. Flora waved her hand at Katniss. Catching her eyes. She picked up her knife and made a cutting motion. Then pointed to the nest. Katniss caught on. Watching her climb the tree and begin cutting. Rue poked Flora who looked at her. She grabbed the bag and followed Rue down the tree slowly and quietly. She looked back to Katniss who was cutting the branch. Hearing a snap. The branch fell and the nest hit the careers. Flora was already running after Rue and out of sight. Hearing several screams not long after. They were hiding in the bushes nearby watching the scene. Katniss was struggling. Hearing the canon go off a few times. It seemed the trackerjackers had taken a few lives. She watched Katniss get stung several times.
"Katniss, run!" Peeta's voice shouted through the buzzing of the wasps. "Run!" He shouted again before disappearing. She grabbed the bow and arrows before running off. Flora and Rue followed Katniss from a distance. Watching the girl slow down before falling over.
"She's too heavy!" Rue spoke quickly as Flora handed Rue their things before grabbing Katniss's arm. Trying to get the girl over her shoulder. Katniss was indeed very heavy. They managed to find a hiding spot in a hollowed out tree that had fallen over. Flora placed Katniss inside.
"Give her some of the pain medicine I made. I'll go find the leaves." Flora instructed as Rue nodded. Flora left the area and moved through the bushes. She spotted some of them not long after. She grabbed a few branches of them before heading back. She saw Rue putting the liquid on some of the wound. "We need to chew up the leaves a little bit before putting them on the stings." Flora instructed as Rue began to chew as did she. Once done, they started covering Katniss from head to toes from the leaves. It was meant to draw out the venom from the bumps she had gotten. Katniss was still alive and she was lucky to be. She grabbed moss from a nearby stream and came back. Gently patting some of the bumps. Wiping them clean before applying the leaves. It seemed Katniss was going to be out for a few days.
"I'm going to set up some noise traps to lead anyone away from this location." Flora spoke as Rue said she would stay and watch. She leaned over and kissed Katniss' forehead for the show before leaving. She rearranged some branches around not far from them. Making it look like a struggle happened in this area. Making it look like the person went to the stream. Then she moved closer and made a trap. Using a knife to make sharp like thick sticks and stuck them on a branch by creating holes to put the sticks in. Tying the tree branch back by using vines she had found. Smiling at her handiwork before heading back. Rue was humming softly as she piled the berries she found so when Katniss woke up, she would have some food. Flora had also gotten fresh water.
"Get comfortable. It's going to be a long night." Flora spoke as it began to rain lightly. Rue made a few bowls out of the clean leaves and set them down in the rain to collect the water. It was smart. She smiled at Rue as she watched the girl lay down.
"I'll take the first watch again." Flora spoke quietly. Watching the girl face Katniss. Wanting to make sure she was alright. It was going to be a long night for sure and she was already tired. Hearing the song again in the sky as over half of the careers faces were on the screen. There were only a handful of people left in the arena.